Birth Control that is safe for Crohn's Disease. Nuvaring?

[kate.flx]

Okay ladies I'd really like to start looking into some birth control that's safe for Crohns and being on Remicade. I'm going off your guys' experience and then I'll talk to my doctor about it if any of you are using something that's good.

Anyways. I don't have sex very often but my periods are absolutely horrible, I don't go anywhere when I'm on it, I just can't move! Of course at my diagnosis I had taken the pill only for a month then they took me off immediately. What about Nuvaring? Anyone use that? I've heard it releases less of the medicine. Or whatever. Honestly I don't really know why I can't take birth control, just looking for some type of option I can look further into.

I do still want something effective for birth control though because I've been getting 'involved' with someone and am sure there's going to be a lot more 'involvement' I'll just leave it at that. I want a tubal ligation but at 18 my cousin said no OBGYN would do it. Although I feel I have a GREAT reason for it! I'd get sick if I were pregnant, and I only want one child (way later on) and my cousin is going to surrogate.

Rambling, sorry! K just let me know if you know of anything I can do some research on.

 

[spcwife23]

I am on birthcontrol but I use the loestrin fe... I tried the other pills and 3 days into it I was sick.. I use my birthcotrol to control my period since I bleed very heavy.. And it's been really a god sent.. I have no cramps, my period is extremely light and it last for 3 days..

I never tried any other type other than the pill.

 

[kate.flx]

I'll ask about it, thank you : )

 

[dreamintwilight]

My best friend uses Loestrin, but she doesn't have Crohn's. She's been happy with it. Another thing you may want to consider with the pill is how effective it is. There have been reports that with active inflammation, it may be more difficult to absorb properly, since the intestines is where all of that happens. That's why so many people with Crohn's have vitamin deficiencies, including anemia.

Some women do very well on the pill, even with Crohn's though. Just thought I'd throw that out there if it wasn't something you had heard about and/or considered already. I was using the pill up until my diagnosis (was on the pill for a year with no problems before diagnosis) and decided to use something else for my own mental reassurance.

I had tried the Nuvaring before and had a hard time getting it to stay in properly and so it slipped down and caused me a lot of pain. I wasn't interested in the Depo shot either because my family has a history of osteoporosis (not to mention if you ever need to go on steroids those deplete your calcium supply too). IUDs were out because they don't typically do that for women who haven't had children yet (that is me). So, my only other option was the patch.

I was nervous to try it because I heard about the (slight) increased chance of blood clotting, but discussed it with my GI and GYN and both said it was fine to take. I was also nervous I would have more side effects since a higher percentage of hormones are released, but I didn't notice any at all. It's worked great for me. I've been on it for about a year now with no problems.

There is also the option to go natural with condoms and spermicides, but it probably wouldn't be ideal for your case, since you mentioned your periods cause you a lot of pain.

One other thing to mention...I started taking a krill oil supplement (anti--inflammatory) that had primrose oil, which is supposed to lessen the effects of menstrual side effects for pre and post-menopausal women. I don't know if it's my birth control or a combination of that along with the primrose oil, but I don't have to take ANY pain medication for my periods anymore! Could be worth looking into primrose oil supplements and seeing if it works for you

 

[silvermander]

I can understand your issues with childbearing. I was sick at age 8, had surgery, was fine for eight years, then got very sick again at age 16. When I was 16 I made the decision not to have children due to my health issues, plus I have seen the guilt my mother has gone through. She also has Crohn's Disease and was told that there was absolutely no way she could pass it onto me. Well, that was a load of crap!

So I decided at 16, but knew there was no way my doc would tie my tubes. I had a number of surgeries, but was always afraid to ask my doc about tying my tubes. When I was going in for surgery at age 22 I asked my doc if he'd tie my tubes while he was in there. He sat me dawn, we had a long talk about it all. He said he'd do it, but wanted to talk to my mother to make sure it wasn't a spur of the moment thing. My doc knows my family well. My mom called, he tied my tubes while he was in there doing other work.

When I went in for surgery everyone denied knowing about tying my tubes, as they nodded in agreement. No place in my records says my tubes were tied on that day. My medical records go from them not being tied, to them being tied.

So, yeah, a little illegal, but it was the smartest decision I ever made and I have not waivered from it. Yes, I have 'oh, baby' moments, but that's all they are. I took in a child who needed a home seven years ago and my boyfriend has three kids who I'm more of a mother to than their own mother. So everything has worked out wonderfully for me int he child department. Just the way it should have.

But, I have ovarian cysts. So I have been on and off all sorts of birth control to keep them from making my life horrible. About a year ago I had a Mirena put in. I don't have the horrid three days in bed screeching my head off periods I used to have. I don't wish for drugs or for someone to physically knock me out to get away from the pain. My periods have always set off my Crohn's in a huge way. So no matter of cysts or flares, once a month was pure hell.

I hope some of what I said helps. Good luck.

 

[Entchen]

I decided to change from bc pills to Depo Provera a few months after diagnosis, partly for peace of mind and partly because my blood pressure was skyrocketing from Prednisone and I wanted to avoid any possible contributors. I don't use bc to prevent pregnancy, only for monthly pain, and it has Changed My Life. Like someone else said, no more spending 3, 4 days in bed every month.

To try to counterract the negative effects of Depo Provera, I do weight bearing exercise (including a 1 hour strength training class at least once per week), take lots of calcium, and each a higher-calcium diet. Not positive it will work, but oh well!

 

[spcwife23]

i use to use depo also but i got tired of getting poke with the needle lol im a punk when it comes to big needles.. i remember they had to hold me down the first time i ever got it..

i am still freaked out about the side effects of the birthcontrol, but the doctor told me i was losing to much blood every month so i had to go on it.. it was working really fine up until the dang doctor put me on flygal or how ever you spell that medication for 10 days.. let me tell you i have no clue what happen but the next month my period went crazy, i had it for 2 weeks.. well this month seems to be doing ok no pain or cramps and it lasted for 5 days.. so hopefully it will go back to what it was doing before.. but all in all i justn eed to remember to take those suckers..

 

[musogirl]

I've read about the pill being less effective for women with Crohn's - does anyone know if this is generally thought to be true?

I use oral contraceptives at the moment, trying to decide if I should use something else instead/as well. I like the pill because it means I don't have such stupidly heavy periods any more, but I also don't want to get pregnant...