The pill...

[meganmila]

Ok I'm just curious. I have been on the pill since 2009 and have had no problems. When other sites say relying on the pill when you have crohns can be unreliable does that mean that cause we tend to have diarrhea more then people without Crohns or cause we don't absorb/digest the pill correctly cause of the intestines? I'm sure it's the former and I haven't had diarrhea in a long time. I get worried easily and wondering what is true. I know a lot of women do use the pill while having crohns so I am sure we can take it and still be effective at preventing pregnancy.

Thanks!

 

[Jennifer]

I've been on it for 15 years (different ones but always on one, currently taking Junel). Never had a problem. There are a lot of things that affect the pills effectiveness like diarrhea, vomiting, inflammation, the use of antibiotics (mainly because it causes diarrhea and vomiting) etc. But that doesn't mean the effectiveness goes down to 0 or even anywhere near 50%. Its still up in the 90% range (everyone is different but from what I read it lowers the effectiveness down by ~3% so that's still ~96% effective). From what I've read is that taking a higher dose may be just as effective as someone without IBD taking a regular or low dose pill. There are so many different studies out there where it just makes it all so confusing. Make sure anything you read is legit, not only the source but the date as well (people used to think that antibiotics prevented proper absorption but more research recently (if 2002 is recent... ) found that it speeds up absorption and that its the vomiting and diarrhea that the antibiotics can cause that affects the pills effectiveness). Everywhere still warns to use a back up method though. I don't unless I'm trying to prevent STDs/STIs.

This topic has come up a lot on the forum so I'm sure if you did a search you'd find the other threads. Problem is that there was a user who was very anti birth control pill and made it their mission to flood the forum with "information" and "sources" that backed their hatred of the pill. Problem was that most if not all weren't credible sources and were out dated. So if you find the threads you'll see a lot of conflicting information. Better to just talk to your doctor (GI and OBGYN) and maybe your pharmacist and make your own informed decision that way. Although so far it seems like you're doing just fine. Which one are you taking?

 

[meganmila]

I didn't know that about the antibiotics. I mean I know now that not all antibiotics interfere with the BC. That does make sense about the side effects from the antibiotics to cause the lower effectiveness of the pill.

Thank you for lowering my worried/paranoid mind. I love taking the pill it seems way easier then the other options. I have been having normal bowl movements so pretty sure I am ok. I'm taking Loryna a generic of Yaz.

 

[Jennifer]

I've never taken that one but have heard of it. I used to take Ortho Cyclen and Ortho Tri Cyclen. Out of the three I've taken I like the higher dose ones (Ortho Cyclen and Junel) because my periods are more predictable and are shorter. I just started taking Junel this year and have only had one period while taking it for the last 4 months (no I'm not pregnant). It'll take some getting used to not having a period but that's one of the main points for Junel to have fewer/shorter to no periods.

 

[chrisnsteph1022]

I've never had a problem. But my husband is sterile, so I wouldn't know if it failed. LOL I never have periods, though.

 

[meganmila]

Yea taking Loryna it has made my periods shorter for like 2 days. I can handle that. And it's more predictable. Without taking anything I never knew when it was gonna come and it will last like 5 days..I hated that.

 

[Jennifer]

Mine always seemed late, was super painful and made me vomit and lasted for 7-8 days. Hence why I started taking the pill when I was 15, 15 years ago.

 

[GutlessWonder86]

your best bet is to talk to your GI and make sure your Ob/Gyn is well versed in how IBD affects the female body parts. Make sure they can work together so if you have "hormonal flares" during that time of the month--example changes in bowel habits, abdominal pain--that way they can work together to lessen your discomfort.

good luck.

 

[hlmurray99]

I was on birth control for years before my crohn's diagnosis without any problems. Since my diagnosis my period has been very irregular while on birth control. Originally thought maybe it was the variety, so I tried 4 different kinds and then gave up and went off of them. My period is now normal without birth control, so in my case I tend to think that my inflammation or something kept me from absorbing the pill normally (I rarely have diarrhea so I don't think that was the problem). JI now use condoms (which I hate) because I can't trust being on a pill anymore. Just my theory though....

 

[Rebecca85]

I have been with my partner for 10 years, throughout that time the only method of contraception we used was the pill. I became ill with Crohn's just over 2 years ago. When I stopped taking the pill, I became pregnant within 2 months. So I am guessing that the pill was effective for us! But I don't often have diarrhoea, and my period was always regular as clockwork with no breakthrough bleeding or anything while on the pill. If you're getting irregular periods on the pill I would take that as a sign that it isn't suitable for you!

PS women with IBD taking the pill should be aware that there is a small increase in the risk of blood clots.

 

[GutlessWonder86]

here is a link that is very recent, July 2012. http://www.empowher.com/birth-contr...rol-pills-and-digestive-side-effects?page=0,1
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Part of the article states this:

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are beginning to be studied as possible outcomes of birth control pill use. A researcher presented his preliminary findings at a national gastroenterology conference in May 2012.

Dr. Hamed Khalili from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston said he found an association between birth control pills and Crohn's disease, a serious inflammation of the intestinal lining, when he studied data from the large U.S. Nurses Health Studies I and II.

"If you took oral contraceptives for more than five years, you have a threefold increased risk of Crohn's disease," he said during a Digestive Disease Week presentation.

Estrogen can change the permeability of the colon, perhaps making it more vulnerable to inflammation, Khalili said.

Hormone-laden birth control pills have a long history of success in family planning. But as with any prescription that you plan on taking for a long period of time, it's good to discuss the side effects with your health care practitioner.


In many of the medical websites and even the news for this year, there seems to be studies going on that if a woman is on the pill for over a certain time period they can develop Crohn's or UC. AGAIN, these are just studies and recent findings. BUT like Rebecca said women with IBD taking the pill should be aware that there is a small increase in the risk of blood clots.

For certain types of family planning to be effective, (ex- the pill, patch) the woman has to be vigilant with it and not forget to take it.

As stated before in the article, it is always best to talk with your GI, Gyn, and or pharmacist to see if you are at risk for clotting, liver, pancreas, or gallbladder problems before using any type of hormones to prevent serious complications.

 

[KMoose]

Has anyone ever taken the pill that lets you go 3 months without your period? I forget what it is called... I have been on the same normal monthly pill for 5 years and haven't had complications, even once I was diagnosed with Crohn's, but sine my diagnosis, getting my period is just plain awful. Everything just increases ten fold, and so I'm wondering if I can eliminate the amount of periods I have, but switching pills makes me nervous since my current works fine, and I don't know anyone on the 3 month dosage.

 

[Jennifer]

KMoose I think you're referring to Seasonale. I haven't used that one personally though. I do use Junel now though (almost been a year now since I switched) which pretty much gets rid of your period entirely (you could have a small one at first for a couple days but after a few months you or at least I stopped having one). There's no medical need to have a period so why bother I figured. I started on Ortho Cyclen and then switched to Ortho Tri Cyclen (and have taken the generic for both). Never had an issue with any of them (other than having a period with the first two).

Talk it over with your GYN. My old ones always said that if I'm not having an issue then why switch? Well I hated having a period for reasons you mentioned yet none listened to me. My most recent one asked me straight up if I wanted to switch and I said yes so we gave it a go. All good so far.