Hormonal Contraception & Azathioprine

I've recently been to see my Family Planning clinic to get more of my contraceptive pill (combined pill) who have advised me that as I have Crohns, I may be better off getting the implant due to possible problems with absorption & fact they dont want me having any unplanned pregancies while on Azathioprine.

Ive had a look into this and it seems that both the pill & the implant are not recommended for anyone with a history of liver disease (Ive been on the pill for 12 years & never known this before). I havent had any liver problems as yet but wondered if this would have a correlation with the possible liver problems posed by being on Aza? Is it safe for our livers to using hormonal contraceptives whilst on Aza? I really dont know. My GI advised I was fine to keep taking my pill when I started the Aza but it doesnt seem to add up.

Any thoughts?

ps. In addition to this - there seems to be a risk of infection when having the implant fitted - would this risk be higher when immunosuppressed?

Maybe Dusty has looked into the effects of aza and the pill.

Indeed I have Catherine! :lol: I actually sought advice from Crohn's and Colitis Australia.

As you have been advised starsparkle, their concern centred around the possible absorption risks. This was particularly so because my daughter has had a small bowel resection. They advised that if she was taking the Aza with no issues then the pill wouldn't pose an increased risk and if using an oral contraceptive to ensure that condoms were also used. As far as I am aware my daughter did not use the pill.

She did however get an implant. She did not experience any side effects with it nor with using it in conjunction with her Aza. Her bloods remained stable as did all else associated with Crohn's. She is in remission.

Dusty. xxx

Great - thanks for the info!

I had been advised by specialist IBD nurse that as long as I did not have active D - then I shouldnt have problems with absorbtion (I havent had any surgeries as yet) - I suppose its just something to consider - will maybe need to have a think about getting the implant.

Thanks!

I don't know if this will be of any use. But when i was on the oral contraceptive and aza it didn't seem as effective as it once had been. I was spotting sometimes etc and the nurse said it can be common for oral contraceptives in crohns so I went onto the depo shot. Everyone's body works differently though.

I was on both Aza and the pill. Although my liver functions were all normal blood work wise, I was processing the pill too quickly (per my GI and GYN doctors) and having periods every 2 weeks. As soon as I quit the pill, my cycle went back to normal. I'm still on the same Aza dosage.