period is being really weird...

[midnitefirefly.livejournal.com]

Ok.. here is the deal. usually my periods are from 7-14 days. Last month mine only lasted for 5. I was SUPER excited. I thought maybe my body was returning to "normal" b/c I haven't had a normal 5-7 day period since I came off Ortho-Evra nearly 3 years ago. I celebrated too soon! I'm not due for my period again until 3/7 and yet I started spotting LAST Monday. That makes a full 8 days now. WHat's up w/ this? I am trying SOOO hard not to get back on hormonal birth control!! What should I DO??

Comments

[t4-flirt.livejournal.com]

well, sometimes you need the hormonal BC to regulate your periods. my cousin was on BC at 15 because she started menstrating at 12 and it would make her so physically ill that she could barely leave her bed. her mom and doc decided she needed to go to a gyno and the gyno put her on BC...she's 23 now and has been fine ever since.

[jennifer19.livejournal.com]

i was the same way, except a late bloomer. But at 16/17 my cramps were crippling, they put me on B.C. I've been on it since.

[h0rsegurrrl.livejournal.com]

Have you considered a Mirena IUD? I agree that hormonal birth control doesn't treat the problem, it just masks the symptoms, but if they can't find a problem with you then a Mirena may be helpful. Many women stop getting periods altogether, and if not, the bleeding, length and cramping is greatly lessened. It does contain a progestin, but no estrogen, and the amount is only equal to about 1-2 progestin-only pills per week. Additionally, the hormone tend to stay localized in your uterus and doesn't travel around your body much, greatly lessening many hormonal side-effects. A good community to look at is iud_divas. Good luck.

[midnitefirefly.livejournal.com]

my doc said she wouln't want to give me an IUD b/c i've not had kids. There is no problem w/ me b/c we did a transvaginal ultrasound last year just to be sure.

[h0rsegurrrl.livejournal.com]

In that case, finding a new doctor is in order. I'm 18, unmarried, no children/pregnancies and my doctor gave me an IUD, and there is nothing about IUD's that makes them inherently better for parous women than nulliparous. It makes me angry when doctors try to make birth control choices for women, especially when they have such difficulty tolerating the one that they're on. Those doctors practice under outdated bias and do not deserve business, in my opinion. You could call Planned Parenthoods and other gynos to see if they'll give you an IUD, so that way you'll know if they'll give you one before you actually make an appointment.

[midnitefirefly.livejournal.com]

I think I am going to find a new doctor. I also think that I may have endometriosis. I have most of the symptoms and probably should be checked. I can have a bowel movement and then have horrible abdominal pain for a day or 2 following. I have pain during sex and sometimes bleeding. ?? How can I ensure that I am finding a GOOD doctor?

[h0rsegurrrl.livejournal.com]

Mirena IUD's are one treatment option for endo :-) I'm not sure if there's really a foolproof way to know that you're getting a good doctor, but maybe make up a sort of list of questions to ask during your phone call to the office. A phone call is good because you won't be obligated to pay any money, don't have to deal with insurance and if you don't think the doctor is a good fit for you, you can easily hang up and move to the next one on the list. Some good questions to ask are if they insert IUD's in nulliparous women, are they interested in the use of Mirenas for endometriosis treatment, how old is the doctor, are they progressive in birth control options, do they encourage safe sex instead of preaching abstinence, where do they stand on emergency contraception and freedom of choice regarding abortion (optional), etc. You could also ask if the doctor allows his/her personal beliefs to influence treatment of patients.

[midnitefirefly.livejournal.com]

Those are excellent questions! Some I would not have even thought to ask but are surely very important to me! I really don't want a doctor who has old timey beliefs and insists on treating their patients with old-timey medicine!

[midnitefirefly.livejournal.com]

I was on hormonal bc before. It gives me migraines and blood sugar issues along w/ weight gain. Before hormonal bc I was super regular. One plus though.. hormonal bc makes my hair straight and shiny! Weird huh?