I went to the doctor today because my current BC Microgestin FE 1/20 is not being produced any more. I asked the doctor about Yasmin and she said because of increased chance of blood clots, it is being phased out. I know it has been one of the more popular BC choices for PCOS. Has anyone else heard this? What are others going to if so?

The doctor gave me 2 samples, one for Loestrin (the brand name of microgestin) and Orthotricyclen. So we'll see how it goes.

I had taken Clomid about 7 years ago. I am unsure if they still prescribe it a lot though since Yaz and others have since became popular. It did help, but I didn't take it long because I wanted to try to conceive. Now that I am 38 and a smoker they won't put me on BC.


clm72

Clomid is not birth control, but a fertility drug, so Nelie if you want to get preggo then knock yourself out!

I know that Diane 35 and Yaz are very commonly prescribed for PCOS. I started on Desogen and loved it until I kept having a breakthrough bleeding after 3 years and switched to Nuvaring, which is pretty much the best thing ever.

Oh, orthotricyclen was the first bcp I was ever given and I bled for months. Just my experience, though.

Actually the trip to the obgyn made me definitely want to stay not pregnant!! Nothing like seeing a whole bunch of pregnant ladies as motivation to keep taking the pill.

I have been taking CyEstra-35 for my PCOS. Now I'm not 100% sure if it is classed as a birth control or not though. It could be more of a hormone regulation drug. I do know it regulated my periods though. (Before I started taking it I would only have a period about 3-4 times per year)

The only Ill side effect I have ever had with it, is any prolonged sun exposure causes an allergic reaction in my skin and gives me an itchy rash that lasts a few days.

Before I started taking CyEstra-35 I was taking Alesse 28. Those I know for sure are birth control. They are somewhat mild if I remember correctly

I don't do well on the "tri" versions so I take Orthocyclen instead of the Orthotricyclen.

Usually "tri" is in the name somewhere on the triphasic pills. I just do better on the monophasic.

A.

OMG! Honestly, they put me on Clomid they said to regulate my periods. They never told me that it was a fertility drug! Regardless, I stopped taking it to concieve, didn't conceieve, but adopted 2 daughters. I can't get over it!

....Weird, clm72.

From my understanding Clomid is to help you ovulate (much like regulating), and because of that it actually increases the chances of having multiple. I've never been on it, but my sister had to be to help get pregnant with her little boy.

I was just diagnosed with PCOS this past February and after trying Metformin for four months, my doc has started me on Loestrin and I got a period within 10 days of taking the first pack. It had been almost a year since I'd gotten my period and I can't tell you how wonderful it is to feel like a normal human being with emotions and a libido. I give it a thumbs up.

LMFAO...glad someone beat me to it!!! My bestfriend just succeeded in conceiving on her 1st dose of Clomid. HOWEVER, her problem wasn't GETTING pregnant...it was staying that way. So far things are good...but she was definitely put on the Clomid to increase her chances of pregnancy. LOL

I have been taking the "tri" group of BC pills (first Triphasal, then something called Enpresse) for about 10 years. I had some bloodwork done recently, & my OBGYN said my testosterone levels were through the roof!

He said something about the Triphasal being bad for me because one of the hormones (progestin?) can push up testosterone levels.

It really made me wonder, because in high school, I had periods, but they were irregular. Once I went on BC pills though, they were normal until I tried to go off of them. I haven't been able to have a period on my own since I was 18. I wonder if the wrong BC pill tipped me over into full-blow PCOS because it wacked out my hormone levels even more?

Definitely a lesson for the younger ones. When you're a teen, start going to a OBGYN instead of your family doctor for exams, ESPECIALLY if you have painful or irregular periods. Because I was nervous about seeing someone new, I just went to my family doctor, who promptly threw a random pack of BC pills at me to fix the irregular periods without digging a little deeper to see specifically what I needed. Had I went to a specialist, I would've probably been put on a different set & had bloodwork done and could've avoided all these years of craziness.

Not mad at my family doctor; he wasn't a specialist. But it's definitely something to keep in mind when you think your doctor is wrong; push for a second opinion.

So my OBGYN is going to try me on something called Sprintec. Does anything else use that? It's got some different hormones in it to help bring my testosterone levels down. I start it on Sunday and hopefully it helps.

Sprintec is what I have. It is the generic for OrthoCyclen. I've done both Sprintec and Orthocylen brand name and other than the packaging it feels the same.

HTH!
A.

Are you set on taking the pill for BC? I know many find the pill helps their symptoms of PCOS and regulates their cycle, and I used it for this reason as well. After losing weight, I no longer had the same symptoms, and found the effects of hormonal birth control were more annoying than helpful.

I can see you've already lost a tremendous amount of weight (congrats!), so that's why I'm not sure if you still prefer the pill...

IUDs are a good option if you don't like the effects of the pill. The copper IUD has no hormonal component, and the Mirena IUD hormones are localized to the area, rather than circulating through your blood stream.

I don't actually have experience with the IUDs, I only considered them briefly before having a tubal ligation after my last child was born. They are an option worth considering, though, depending on your exact situation.

The endocrinologist I saw recommended Diane 35 birth control for me. One of its purposes is acne control with a side affect of being birth control (is kind of how she worded it... it does both things well) I didn't have a problem with bad acne but she reccomended it because of my hormone imbalances with PCOS. I've been on it since I was 19 and after 3 or 4 years thought I'd try the Depo shot. Big mistake. Gained weight like crazy. I've been back on Diane 35 for another 5 years or so and haven't noticed any spikes in my weight... Its worked great for me might be something to ask about. It is fairly expensive, I pay $35 a month for it and about 6 months ago the pharmacist told me they have a generic brand now as well that I wanna say is around $20 per month but because it was new and the I'm feeling good with the Diane I just stuck with that. Good luck!

Loestrin is the one they put me on once they diagnosed me. I really like it, much better than the Orthotricyclene I was on before (I would still miss periods some times on that one). The only thing I hate about it is the price! I'm getting a discount right now through the pharmaceutical company that makes Loestrin, but once that ends at the end of the year it's $66 per month!!! Sheesh!!! I am sure I'll have to ask for something good for PCOS that is cheaper than Loestrin.