Can we talk birth control for a minute?

[Deleted]

Short version:
I know this can be highly variable, but i like anecdotes. Those on hormonal BC, any specific types that can help with PMS/mood swings and preventing weight gain?

Tl;dr version:
At my annual GYN visit today, i brought up thag im struggling with mood swings/irritability through out the month, but more so in the 2 weeks between ovulation and my period. Im not depressed, and i dont suffer from any panic-type anxiety. I do have ativan to take as needed if im feeling overwhelmed/anxious, but i dont need it often. This is mainly just moodiness and irritability. So even though, i dont need BC per se (MH had a vasectomy last year), she suggested maybe trying hormonal BC could help level out my hormones and relieve some of the moodiness and pms stuff.

My main concern is weight gain. I am having a hard enough time getting this baby weight off..i dont want to make it even harder. Can anyone weigh in on this? Im hesitant to go back on hormonal BC at this point. I started looking into pills like YAZ or Yasmin that help with PMS/PMDD and also have reported some weight loss...but ive also read some scary shit about those pills too.

[spooko]

Well, I can't say that I found a BC pill that HELPED, but I've done okay with the mirena (so, mini-pill in essence) in that it didn't cause weight gain or make me crazy. I didn't realize until I was off it, but Seasonale/Seasonique made me a psycho bitch. So I wouldn't recommend that one.

[Deleted]

Aug 17, 2016 18:53:27 GMT -5 spooko said:

Well, I can't say that I found a BC pill that HELPED, but I've done okay with the mirena (so, mini-pill in essence) in that it didn't cause weight gain or make me crazy. I didn't realize until I was off it, but Seasonale/Seasonique made me a psycho bitch. So I wouldn't recommend that one.

I'm ehhh about IUDs if I'm being frank. The fact that Yaz is fda approved to treat PMS/PMDD make me lean towards it, but from what I've read, Yaz and Yasmin contain a different type of progestin (drospirenone) that increases risk of blod clots and other serious shit...which has me feeling not so interested in going this route. Not to mention the lawsuits and all that jazz. I brought this concern.up to my dr and she didnt bat an eyelash though. she basically said blood clots are a rare risk of aby rype of hormonal BC.

[seadragon2013]

Not BC, but I take a low dose of prozac for pmdd. It makes a world of difference for me. There's a large body of research supporting it's effectiveness.

[Sonora]

I have had lots of issues with hormonal mood swings, tried many different types of BC, and I did the best on Loestrin. No moodiness, no weight gain.

[Deleted]

Aug 17, 2016 19:28:24 GMT -5 @martini said:

Also, I go to a large clinic and my OB said issues are rare with yaz and she and the other doctors in the practice prescribe it often. I had the same concerns as you did.

Yes. If I'm going to go this route, I'm obviously looking for a BC thats well known and/or targeted for PMS/PMDD and also one that i know wont make me gain weight. Im working hard enough to lose the weight. I dont want even more of uphill battle. But all the controversy about clots, strokes, and DVT lawsuits from yaz and yasmin have me questioning it.

[Deleted]

Aug 17, 2016 19:13:36 GMT -5 seadragon2013 said:

Not BC, but I take a low dose of prozac for pmdd. It makes a world of difference for me. There's a large body of research supporting it's effectiveness.

My OBgyn also mentioned Prozac as an option. But she also said, if weight gain is my main concern, I'm better off going the BC route, as shes seen antidepressants have a lot more influence on weight than BC does. So idk.

Off topic, but mh takes prozac for depression and does great!

[spooko]

I wouldn't do an IUD just for the hormones since it's such a low dose. I need it bc of actual BC. I was just saying you could do the mini-pill since it's similar in that it's just Progesterone, IIRC.

[JoeLies]

Aug 17, 2016 19:22:56 GMT -5 Sonora said:

I have had lots of issues with hormonal mood swings, tried many different types of BC, and I did the best on Loestrin. No moodiness, no weight gain.

I loved Loestrin.

I was on Ocella (generic of Yazmin) a few years back and it was awful. My body just did NOT respond well to that hormone. The weight gain was minor but it made me super anxious and eventually I ended up with physical side effects. But it could be completely fine for you. Juice whatever option you choose a few months, and DO NOT be afraid to ask for a change if you're unhappy.

[Deleted]

Aug 17, 2016 19:59:19 GMT -5 JoeLies said:

Aug 17, 2016 19:22:56 GMT -5 Sonora said:

I have had lots of issues with hormonal mood swings, tried many different types of BC, and I did the best on Loestrin. No moodiness, no weight gain.

I loved Loestrin.

I was on Ocella (generic of Yazmin) a few years back and it was awful. My body just did NOT respond well to that hormone. The weight gain was minor but it made me super anxious and eventually I ended up with physical side effects. But it could be completely fine for you. Juice whatever option you choose a few months, and DO NOT be afraid to ask for a change if you're unhappy.

So interesting how every persons experience is so different. I took Yasmin like 15 years ago, and loved it. I lost weight on it...the reason i had to switch it bc it gave me awful headaches.

[JoeLies]

@mrst0514 - I started with headaches but ended up so lightheaded - 24/7 for months - that I couldn't drive. It took ages to pinpoint the cause but only a couple days to feel normal once I chucked the pills. Such a weird experience.

[ghostmonkey]

Aug 17, 2016 19:26:05 GMT -5 @martini said:

I have PMDD and I take yaz. I know there's been some controversy about it but it has made a huge difference for me, both with the severe cramping and intense mood swings/depression.

I got precisely dick out of it and everything I read says it helps for 3 months max when it comes to PMDD issues. 

Instead of it being really bad for a week it was bad all month (moodiness wise). 

I did not gain weight on it though. Nor did I lose. 


Unfortunately with hormone altering stuff **everyone is different dust** is accurate. 

[jags8]

Before TTC, I was on NuvaRing. Freaking loved it! No weight gain. I loved being able to put in a new one every four weeks (so only got my period every 12-ish weeks). And then I didn't have to remember to take something every single day. When I'm done nursing, I plan on going back on it.

[Deleted]

Aug 17, 2016 20:45:10 GMT -5 jags8 said:

Before TTC, I was on NuvaRing. Freaking loved it! No weight gain. I loved being able to put in a new one every four weeks (so only got my period every 12-ish weeks). And then I didn't have to remember to take something every single day. When I'm done nursing, I plan on going back on it.

I was also on nuvaring for a good 8 years before going off to ttc and have my kids. I loved it. I tried going back on it after ds1 was born and unfortunately, my body did not have the same awesome experience with it. 🙁

[Deleted]

My dr did also mention taking upwards of 3,000mg of fish oil daily can help with mood-related disorders. So i plan to grab a new bottle of fish oil asap. Tbh, im not thrilled about going back on BC, period. So its sort of a last ditch resort if vitamins/minerals or other treatments don't yield results. Bc these.mood swings suck. My poor kids catch the brunt of my snatchiness lately.

[anakah]

I have pretty bad mood swings in general but have never outright been diagnosed with pmdd. I took yaz for a couple years before ttc and it was awesome. My moods were even I was able to think clearly through the issue when I could see my pms getting the better of me. I had to go in yearly for blood work though cause I think it causes an increase in potassium in your body?? We convinced entails started ttc when all the media attention started with the lawsuits and whatnot. Now that we are done with kids I'm on lo estrin and Prozac to help with the mood swings.

[abvintage]

Before this kid I was on Nuvaring. I loved it because it made my flow lighter and made me less crampy.

That being said I'd turn from Ice Queen to girl who cries over dropping a french fry to raging bitch.

TL;DR probably don't want to try nuvaring

[ghostmonkey]

Aug 17, 2016 21:04:18 GMT -5 @mrst0514 said:

My dr did also mention taking upwards of 3,000mg of fish oil daily can help with mood-related disorders. So i plan to grab a new bottle of fish oil asap. Tbh, im not thrilled about going back on BC, period. So its sort of a last ditch resort if vitamins/minerals or other treatments don't yield results. Bc these.mood swings suck. My poor kids catch the brunt of my snatchiness lately.

I need to get back on fish oil too. 

Magnesium and calcium supplements can help too. I started back on magnesium this morning. I'm planning to add calcium back tomorrow.

[auburn]

I've taken loestrin and orthotricyclein. Neither caused weight gain but loestrin was by far my favorite. It made my period incredibly light - like only need a panty liner for 2-3 days light.

[Deleted]

Aug 17, 2016 22:23:16 GMT -5 ghostmonkey said:

Aug 17, 2016 21:04:18 GMT -5 @mrst0514 said:

My dr did also mention taking upwards of 3,000mg of fish oil daily can help with mood-related disorders. So i plan to grab a new bottle of fish oil asap. Tbh, im not thrilled about going back on BC, period. So its sort of a last ditch resort if vitamins/minerals or other treatments don't yield results. Bc these.mood swings suck. My poor kids catch the brunt of my snatchiness lately.

I need to get back on fish oil too. 

Magnesium and calcium supplements can help too. I started back on magnesium this morning. I'm planning to add calcium back tomorrow.

I also take a magnesium supplement (mostly to help avoid headaches- hormonal, sinus, or otherwise), good to know it can help mood as well.

Do you know how much calcium i should be taking?

[plorange]

I take evening primrose oil for my PMS mood swings and menstral cramps. I would try that as well.

[elephantastic]

I've personally had patients that have had success w/ weight loss on Yaz (after weight gain on other BC pills). What did you read about that scared you about Yaz?

Eta- NVM I read further. All hormonal birth control increases risk for clotting. If you have a clotting disorder or history of blood clots they are contraindicated. I also never start women on hormonal BC if they smoke. If you are over the age of 35 there is more caution (clot risk increases with age) but it's not an automatic no.

[Deleted]

Aug 18, 2016 6:46:51 GMT -5 elephantastic said:

I've personally had patients that have had success w/ weight loss on Yaz (after weight gain on other BC pills). What did you read about that scared you about Yaz?

Eta- NVM I read further. All hormonal birth control increases risk for clotting. If you have a clotting disorder or history of blood clots they are contraindicated. I also never start women on hormonal BC if they smoke. If you are over the age of 35 there is more caution (clot risk increases with age) but it's not an automatic no.

I have no hustory of blood clots or clotting disorders. My dr did mention that its a rare risk no matter what brand i take.

My main concern with yaz and yasmin is just mainly the scary shit ive seen about the lawsuits due to fatal clots, strokes, and DVT. But im sure there is always.more to the story than us shown on commercials or the internet. My dr didnt seem to bat an eyelash either way.