Ladies on birth control...

[autumn_rose]

So, I'm just wondering if anyone has any info on what birth control methods are best for us chicklets with Crohn's. I'm currently on 150mg of Imuran. I've heard some birth control (oral variety, I believe) say to check with your doc if you have IBD or other inflammatory conditions. So... any info from those who have already gone through this is appreciated :-)

[Tan]

Ohh good point I have never even looked at my oral contraception to see what its says I just assumed it would be ok. Im on Nordette 28 (pill) not sure if its just an aussie brand tho. I tend to skip every second month as I get really bad pain during my cycle and the doctors advised me this was ok but that of course was before I was diagnosed so might have to re-check that out with my GP.

[imisspopcorn]

Sorry.... I had a Tubal ligation after #3. Your OB/GYN should be able to help you out.

[chubb]

I got a contraceptive implant inserted. The family planning doctor advised me that oral contraceptives would be fine, in my case certainly - i have never had a surgery or anything. However, i was concerned about absorption and just didn't feel happy/trust the Pill.

There's loads of options, i like the implant as it lasts for three years so don't need to worry about anything in that time (excellent for a scatterbrain like me) and also didn't involve anything being inserted in regions that may already feel sore! Didn't like the idea that something going wrong with a coil would cause abdominal pain when i so often just brush off abdo pain as my crohn's.

Hope this helps

[pewpewlasers]

I get the depo provera shot every three months. My doc decided it would be better to stay away from oral contraceptives because of my digestive problems.

I like the shot because I don't get monthlys anymore!

[Cookie]

I was also on Nordette 28 day pack. It is a very low-level dose compared to some others. It took me a while to find one that worked for me...some of the others were too hard on my stomach. But I was on the nordette for years without any problems. I have been off of it for 2 years now (wanting to conceive) and I must say, my periods are tremendously worse now. Not sure if it's related to being off the pill or that I've been in a pretty constant flare, but ugh! I miss the nordette! Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

[forum contributor]

I'm on Seasonale - only get my period 4x/year. Love it. Haven't noticed that it affects my stomach at all (I have switched between pills).

[Becky]

I am on Loestrin and havent had any problems.

[Jennjenn]

I needed a very low dose. I am on loestrin also. My doctor said that it would be good because it shortens your period.

[katiesue1506]

I was told by my OBGYN that if you have the disease in a certain part of your small intestine, you could have absorption problems when taking an oral pill.

I've opted for the Nuvaring. Very convenient, low and very steady doses. Plus you don't have to remember a pill everyday at the same time. I've been on it 3 years now with no problems.

[dayng1016]

I'm on Seasonale for 3yrs now. I should have 4 periods a yr, but I have opted to skip that week that I should have my period and just continue on the next month. I have not had a period now since June of 07 and have not had any problems.

[Guest1]

Love, love, LOVE my NuvaRing. I won't ever go back to having to deal daily with bc. It's in three weeks and out one week. Very simple.

[pb4]

Definitely different things will work better for some than for others...

I had the clips put on my tubes after baby #2 so thankfully I haven't had to worry about BC for 16 yrs now.

The pill can exacerbate IBD symptoms for many women, and on a few occassions I've even read and heard that it's suspected to be linked to the cause of CD or triggering CD for some women. I've also heard that for women with CD, the pill may not be absorbed well enough and may lead to unexpected pregnancies as a result.

It's a great idea to discuss your options with your GP or Gyno on this one. Good luck.

[ErinDF]

I got the Mirena implant (even though I haven't had a baby...HA!) After my ileostomy (now colostomy) I couldn't be on the pill anymore. I also couldn't go on the patch because of a history of a blood clot. Mirena is great. It lasts for three years and I don't have to take a pill everyday. Just don't get chlymidia (sic?)...that would be bad.

[dustydshook]

I am looking into essure it is a permant procedure but I already have 3 children. I have been all natural for the last 10 yrs.

[MissMel]

I just switched from Nuvaring after several years of success. I love the fact I didn't have to remember to take the pill. The only reason I switched was because my new onset of Crohn's seems to be exacerbated by my cycle. It was getting horrible. I have been on Seasonale for about 1.5 months and I am not so happy. I keep getting break through bleeding. Which is why I loved the Nuvaring. I am now questioning if using the Nuvaring may have triggered my onset since I am not the typical age of onset. Hummmm???

[BWS1982]

My fiance is one of the unlucky few who has very bad hormonal results from BC, mainly moodiness...I guess her chemical balance just gives her a susceptibility to an be very sensitive to the artificial hormones. She keeps getting told by Gyno's that it's her individual chemistry/personality that lends such propensity, and it's frustrating for both of us. She's a whole other person on that stuff, very agitated and confrontational, then very sad and depressed later, very unlike her normal self. I know it's supposed to make your body think it's pregnant, but still, we hope she'd never be like that during a real pregnancy later.

[imisspopcorn]

No worries Bens....BC pills did the same thing to me. I was normal (that's debatable) while pregnant.

[katfisher]

I have an IUD because the doc said that you can't take hormone bc with many of the mainstream Crohn's meds. I've had it for 4 years so far and it is good for 5 year. I don't have a period so that is nice, especially during flare-ups! I have no complaints about it other than it hurt like crazy when they put it in - but only for a couple of minutes so it was worth it.
I'm hoping to get it taken out next fall and start trying to have a baby... though sometimes I'm not sure how good of an idea that is. I wonder how CD patients are able to take care of a baby when sometimes I feel like I can barely take care of myself!

[pb4]

I thought about getting an IUD to stop my periods as well, but I was told they also have hormones in them so I didn't know if it would do me any good since my IBD is strongly affected by hormones...now I'm sadly just waiting for menopause to kick in, in the hopes that it will put me out of my monthly misery...I'm sure I'll just be trading one misery for another, or worse, have even more misery.

[pewpewlasers]

I thought the copper iud didn't have hormones. I could be wrong, but I think I remember reading that it didn't. Mirena and those kinds use hormones though.

[tamesis]

MisMel, i find that interesting....I just started nuva ring about 6 months ago, and all my symptoms started two months ago...i wonder if there's some corrolation?
i haven't been using it since i started feeling so rotten because there's really no need for it, and i haven't been feeling any better, but yeah, i wonder if somehow it brought things on?

[pb4]

If I remember correctly my GP explained to me that the copper ones had more hormones in them and the newer types like minera have a lower dose of hormones...I know of quite a few IBDers that do well with IUD's in general but they also might be the same ones that didn't notice exacerbation with their IBD while on the pill...I had exacerbation while on the pill which is why I enquired with my GP about the IUD and when he confirmed they all have hormones in them (that's apparently what makes them work to trick the body the same way the pill does) I decided against it.

I figured if I could stop my periods then I wouldn't go through the added hell every month but as long as hormones are involved then I'm no better off...his other suggestion was ablation (getting the lining of my uterus burned off to stop my periods, he said the success rate for that was pretty good for most women, but the idea of that kinda scared me). Just waiting for menopause I guess, unless they come up with something better the the above mentioned options before I hit menopause.

[Peaches]

I have had both the copper T and Mirena. The copper T does not emit hormones - it emits a small amount of copper which acts as a spermicide. I finally had to have it removed because I was anemic on it as it made me bleed VERY heavily - horrible actually. The Mirena does put out hormones - but it is very localized to your uterus, so not systemic like the pill. I have had two of these and no periods with them. My GI was a little concerned at first because she didn't like the idea of me having something foreign in my body (possibly causing inflammation) but I can tell you it has helped me with my flares from my periods. I tried the pill many years ago and it made me pretty sick and symptomatic Crohn's wise.

[pb4]

Well, that's good to know...I may have to reconsider the minera option and see how it goes, afterall I can always get it removed and my insurance covers 80% of it so it'll be cheap enough to get done especially since you can leave it in for 5 yrs.

[Peaches]

Well - super double check with your GI first - just to make sure they don't have any new info I don't as it has been years since I discussed it with mine. You are lucky that your insurance will cover it. My insurance wouldn't pay a PENNY towards mine - $795.00 all at once. Very painful.

[pb4]

Yeah, I checked with my insurance and they said it would cost me 80.00 out of pocket and the rest would be covered by them...pretty good eh...thank goodness for hubby having insurance through his work (he doesn't pay for it, the company he works for does). So it's definitely an affordable option for me if I want to go that route...thanks, I will tripple check with my GP if I do decide to go that route...have to admit, waiting for menopause in the "hopes" that it will help me CD is pretty depressing...I'm only 42 now LOL.

[ErinDF]

Hey...on the mirena front...my GI had no problems with it. Also...could you appeal your insurance's refusal to cover? Maybe if you get a letter from your doctor saying it was medically necessary?

[MINI Cooper]

I have the Mirena also. I was on too many meds to also take the pill
anymore. And now I don't get periods at all either. Honestly, it
has been great, and one less pill to remember to take!

[Peaches]

Originally Posted by ErinDF

Hey...on the mirena front...my GI had no problems with it. Also...could you appeal your insurance's refusal to cover? Maybe if you get a letter from your doctor saying it was medically necessary?

Great idea Erin - hadn't thought of that before. I am about 3 years into mine, so when the time comes, I'll try that on for size! Hopefully it'll save me $$$.