Question for the ladies - contraception!

[Sophabulous]

Hi everyone

Basically I'm losing my faith in the pill. I suffer horrible depression/anxiety, particularly at this time of year and I would like to try going pill free for a while to see if it helps. My GP told me that I might not be absorbing the pill properly but the IBD nurse said it was fine. I've never been pregnant so I suppose she's right on that front.

I'm a bit confused on what else to go for I have to say. My IBD nurse told me that the implant can cause flares so to stay away from that. I know 2 people who have had the injections and both said it made them crazy with mood swings from the hormones being injected all at once.

I like the idea/practicality of the coil or IUD as it's often known but that seems pretty invasive and if it doesn't work out it's just an invasive to remove. I also have 2 friends who had terrible experiences with this.

Can anyone offer their experience? Basically I'd like to not have to worry about it. I'm brilliant at remembering to take the pill (anxiety again lol) but that's not the issue. If it lasts a long time with minimal involvement from me and doesn't piss off the Crohn's then that would be ideal.

Thanks in advance!

 

[valleysangel92]

Hi chick. I had a similar issue where I was on the mini pill and was told it might not be absorbing properly. I was on it because of very painful periods rather than for contraception, so at first that didn't bother me but over time I noticed my periods were coming back and were just as painful as before.

I went to my IBD nurse and asked if there was anything I should avoid. She told me that the mini pill and pill wouldn't be suitable because of absorption, and the injection wasn't a good idea for me because I already have thinning bones.

She then referred me to see a gynaecologist who after a process of illumination recommended the implant. I asked my IBD nurse if this was OK from a crohns point of view and she said there wasn't any reason why I couldn't try it.

I had the implant put in back in may this year and have had no problems since.

I think contraception is a very individual thing and what works for one person won't always work for others. It's about finding the things that suit your body.

If you like the pill but aren't sure if you're absorbing it you could ask about the contraceptive patch, it's the same hormone as the pill and you just pop it on your skin and then change it weekly. It wasn't suitable for me because of a family history of blood clotts but it may be a good option for you.

 

[Sophabulous]

Hi chick. I had a similar issue where I was on the mini pill and was told it might not be absorbing properly. I was on it because of very painful periods rather than for contraception, so at first that didn't bother me but over time I noticed my periods were coming back and were just as painful as before.

I went to my IBD nurse and asked if there was anything I should avoid. She told me that the mini pill and pill wouldn't be suitable because of absorption, and the injection wasn't a good idea for me because I already have thinning bones.

She then referred me to see a gynaecologist who after a process of illumination recommended the implant. I asked my IBD nurse if this was OK from a crohns point of view and she said there wasn't any reason why I couldn't try it.

I had the implant put in back in may this year and have had no problems since.

I think contraception is a very individual thing and what works for one person won't always work for others. It's about finding the things that suit your body.

If you like the pill but aren't sure if you're absorbing it you could ask about the contraceptive patch, it's the same hormone as the pill and you just pop it on your skin and then change it weekly. It wasn't suitable for me because of a family history of blood clotts but it may be a good option for you.

Thank you, I also went on the pill for crazy periods but I was still quite young then so it could have settled down now. There's a strong history of fibroids in my family too, lucky me! ;-)

I would like to give the implant a whirl, can I ask if you suffered any bleeding and if so for how long? I tried a mini pill once because I was having migraines and it was pretty horrendous. Managed for 3 months and then went back to the GP begging to go back on the combined pill. I'm just concerned with the implant being progesterone only the same thing might happen!

 

[valleysangel92]

Unfortunately bad periods seem to be a common thing with IBD.

I've had no bleeding at all since I had the implant at all. I've been lucky and have got on really well with it and haven't noticed any side effects except for the sore arm for a few days or so.

 

[Sophabulous]

Unfortunately bad periods seem to be a common thing with IBD.

I've had no bleeding at all since I had the implant at all. I've been lucky and have got on really well with it and haven't noticed any side effects except for the sore arm for a few days or so.

Ok, I have a pill check coming up so I think I'll ask about it then. Thank you for your help!

 

[Sophabulous]

Update! I've had my pill Check, and this nurse had done her research on my history lol. As I suffer from migraines with aura I should never have been allowed to go back on the combined pill when I saw the GP again regardless of what the cause was.

Apparently migraines with visual disturbance thicken the blood and my risk of stroke was up by 60% when on the combined pill. I'm sure it was still only a tiny risk but the answer was definitely to come off it immediately.

They've given me a different mini pill this time which I was dreading because of what happened last time, although to be fair I've been on it for a week now and so far so good. If I can get to 3 months on this with no issues I will ask at the hospital about the implant again, my Crohn's is now finally on a medication that is helping so hopefully now it's under control she will be a bit happier for me to give it a try.

Thanks again for your help!

 

[Pilgrim]

I would look at the hormone releasing IUD. It's invasive however the medication stays predominantly in your uterus and so you don't get the systemic absorption issues.It also lasts several years.