Contraceptions

[nephron]

accutane can be very dangerous so make sure you see a doctor before you take it. they are supposed to test your blood every month when you are on it so that they can ensure proper liver function etc.

if you have acne past the age of say 23, you have a hormone imbalance. usually this is caused by elevated testosterone levels (referred to as androgeny). you might also have ovarian cysts which aggravate it.  one solution is to take spironolactone along with a low dose, monophasic pill. spironolactone helps neutralize the testosterone.  i have been taking it myself for a year and have perfect skin now.  i order it from a pharmacy in bangkok. make sure to ask your doctor, and keep in mind it can be dangerous in higher doses, but it definitely solved all my skin probs.

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I'm 21, and still have acne- started my period when I was 10 and reached full height when I was 12.

Birth control pills don't fix it. I don't have elevated testosterone. I don't have ovarian cysts.

What does work (and the only thing that works) is Roaccutane and tretinoin (Retin-A) in between courses. They're unfortunately very risky, though.

Cathyy- the implants last between 3 and 5 years. Unfortunately, the NuvaRing has yet to be released in large parts of the world.

[girlx]

well you are only 21 so my post doesn't apply- but most likely, if accutane works for you, you have the cystic kind rather than acne rosacea. acne rosacea is hormonal. you have to check with your doctor of course to know what is best for you, but for those of you with adult acne, check out the spironolactone route. if you do a search on adult acne you will probably find some info. also many woman with adult acne have PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome), which isn't too dangerous but affect fertility, so you should ask your doctor to check for it in an exam.

[nephron]

well you are only 21 so my post doesn't apply- but most likely, if accutane works for you, you have the cystic kind rather than acne rosacea.  acne rosacea is hormonal.  you have to check with your doctor of course to know what is best for you, but for those of you with adult acne, check out the spironolactone route. if you do a search on adult acne you will probably find some info.  also many woman with adult acne have PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome), which isn't too dangerous but affect fertility, so you should ask your doctor to check for it in an exam.

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Well, it does apply, really- my body hasn't changed for the last 5 years, in shape, height, acne, whatever- whereas for most women they'd quite likely still be spreading and reducing in acne-so I have the body and hormones of your average woman in her early-to-mid twenties (23-25), not 21.

The truth is, my acne will be the same when I'm 23, and when I'm 30. I won't suddenly lose my acne at 23, nor will it become treatable by birth control pills (although both would be lovely).

I have no symptoms of PCOS aside from acne, no point testing for it (for me). Certainly for other women, who have a history of glucose intolerance, weight gain, hirsutism or irregular periods it might be.

[girlx]

i also have no symptoms other than i had adult acne and irregular periods... but i saw on an ultrasound when they made the diagnosis that i definitely have PCOS. ask your doctor to check!

[nephron]

i also have no symptoms other than i had adult acne and irregular periods... but i saw on an ultrasound when they made the diagnosis that i definitely have PCOS.  ask your doctor to check!

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I don't have irregular periods. Regular as (Swiss) clockwork, have been since I was 12. I've had 1 period 4 days late in the last 10 years... every other one has come on the expected day (not even a day out!)

But thanks for the concern

[girlx]

no problem, you probably don't have PCOS, but if your acne is progressing into adulthood it very well might be a similar hormonal problem, and it is worth checking into especially since accutane is so dangerous. you seem to have the cystic kind(?) and it is possible to treat it with hormone therapy as well, less dangerous...

Hormonal treatments block the stimulating effect of androgens on the oil glands. Because this form of treatment stops acne before it begins, it often gives the best result. Only a few specialists are familiar with hormonal treatment and it requires blood tests, and oral medication. However, these may be well worth it if your acne cannot be controlled by standard measures. Even quite severe cystic acne which has resisted treatment for years often clears completely with properly planned hormonal treatment.

...Treatment varies depending on the individual but usually involves lowering free testosterone and protecting the oil glands from this hormone. Counteracting the hormonal cause of acne often clears up the skin when the conventional measures have failed.

...

from this site

again, ask your doctor, unless you are perfectly happy with the treatment you are already getting.

[oopapasan]

Hi ladies. I am going to see my gynae next week for a PAP smear and I thought I might ask him about contraceptions. I have a 2 year old boy so I am not looking to having another baby in the near future.

I'm just wondering if you have any experience with contraceptions and how well/ bad they work for you. Is there a reason you choose a particular type of contraception?

Is it true that if you are on the pill you can get some serious side effects like weight gain, mood swings, etc.? How fast does fertility return after you stop your contraception? What kind of questions should I ask the gynae?

I never used contraceptions (which explains my first baby, heh!) except for condoms and I would like to start looking at a long term one for myself.

Thanks in advance for any advice/ input!

(For the guys who are reading this, please don't tell me to swallow) 

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Go out with guys with vasectomies

[threekids]

I had the injections on & off for several years & stopped with the last injection in March 2003, I am stil infertile & have just had two operations to check if I have any long term damage, I have a very bad hormone inbalance (would explain some of my more agressive posts eh? ) from this time which is slowly getting back to normal & have sever PMS, heavy flows & general bloating, weight gain (which is slowly coming off) & mood swings.

If anyone is considering getting the injections, read above & please think again.   

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One of my girlfriends had one injection only. Her period started two days after (was not supposed to) and lasted for two weeks. Her period was soo heavy she couldn't leave her home. She finally got the doctor to see her told her there was nothing he could do about it. Her period finally stopped after the two weeks only to start again about eight days later while she was laying in her boyfriends bed after they had had a very lovey dovey time when all of a sudden a heavy swoosh of blood saturated the sheets and his bed. The boyfriend was fairly new so you can imagine her embarressment as she tried to leave the bed whilst still hemoeriging (cant spell it).

[shadowy]

Be carefull, i am from a medical back ground and some of the pills for sale here have been banned in the western world for causing blood clots and other things.

Dianne 31 is a def nono.

[nephron]

Be carefull, i am from a medical back ground and some of the pills for sale here have been banned in the western world for causing blood clots and other things.

Dianne 31 is a def nono.

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Are you talking about Diane-35? It's available for sale in Australia, Canada and the UK (as "Dianette"). It has a slightly higher risk of blood clots. For me, I'm not concerned- as a 21yo with normal triglyceride levels and blood pressure, who doesn't smoke- the risk is still miniscule.

I suppose Australia isn't part of the "western world"...

[Michael W]

One of my girlfriends had one injection only. Her period started two days after (was not supposed to) and lasted for two weeks. Her period was soo heavy she couldn't leave her home. She finally got the doctor to see her told her there was nothing he could do about it. Her period finally stopped after the two weeks only to start again about eight days later while she was laying in her boyfriends bed after they had had a very lovey dovey time when all of a sudden a heavy swoosh of blood saturated the sheets and his bed.

From what I've read that's fairly normal and roughly matches what happened to my Thai girlfriend when I first put her on the injection (depo-provera). In her case before the injection we had unprotected sex and I thought the prudent thing to do the next day was to take her to Bumrungrad both for emergency contraception and the injection. The EC was a few pills she took over a couple of days while the injection happened at the hospital. I was advised by the doctor for the next week or so that I should either not ejaculate inside her or use a condom until the injection kicked in, and I did the former. I also asked him about any harmful side affects and he was pretty reassuring saying Thai women haven't had problems with it and it's been used here for forty years.

Well everything went fine for the next three weeks after which I had to return home to take care of some business for a month. Maybe a week or so after I'd left her period started again and continued, at times heavily, for the next two weeks. Needless to say, my girlfriend was quite frightened by this as she'd never been on birth control before, and all I could do was try to reassure over the phone that from everything I'd read this was a fairly typical reaction to the first injection, and that she could also go to a clinic and talk to a doctor, which she did, or started to. She spoke with an assistant who said that wasn't a lot to do at the moment and that the doctor wouldn't be able to see her until some hours later in the evening. She made an appointment but never went for whatever reason.

Anyway, after her period finished, it hasn't come back, for four months now -- also completely typical from all that I've read -- and she's now on her second injection.

[markuk]

Hi ladies. I am going to see my gynae next week for a PAP smear and I thought I might ask him about contraceptions. I have a 2 year old boy so I am not looking to having another baby in the near future.

I'm just wondering if you have any experience with contraceptions and how well/ bad they work for you. Is there a reason you choose a particular type of contraception?

Is it true that if you are on the pill you can get some serious side effects like weight gain, mood swings, etc.? How fast does fertility return after you stop your contraception? What kind of questions should I ask the gynae?

I never used contraceptions (which explains my first baby, heh!) except for condoms and I would like to start looking at a long term one for myself.

Thanks in advance for any advice/ input!

(For the guys who are reading this, please don't tell me to swallow)

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Damm that was going to be my helpful suggestion!!

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Hi ladies. I am going to see my gynae next week for a PAP smear and I thought I might ask him about contraceptions. I have a 2 year old boy so I am not looking to having another baby in the near future.

I'm just wondering if you have any experience with contraceptions and how well/ bad they work for you. Is there a reason you choose a particular type of contraception?

Is it true that if you are on the pill you can get some serious side effects like weight gain, mood swings, etc.? How fast does fertility return after you stop your contraception? What kind of questions should I ask the gynae?

I never used contraceptions (which explains my first baby, heh!) except for condoms and I would like to start looking at a long term one for myself.

Thanks in advance for any advice/ input!

(For the guys who are reading this, please don't tell me to swallow)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Damm that was going to be my helpful suggestion!!

[Khun Yak]

Hi ladies. I am going to see my gynae next week for a PAP smear and I thought I might ask him about contraceptions. I have a 2 year old boy so I am not looking to having another baby in the near future.

I'm just wondering if you have any experience with contraceptions and how well/ bad they work for you. Is there a reason you choose a particular type of contraception?

Is it true that if you are on the pill you can get some serious side effects like weight gain, mood swings, etc.? How fast does fertility return after you stop your contraception? What kind of questions should I ask the gynae?

I never used contraceptions (which explains my first baby, heh!) except for condoms and I would like to start looking at a long term one for myself.

Thanks in advance for any advice/ input!

(For the guys who are reading this, please don't tell me to swallow)

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Damm that was going to be my helpful suggestion!!

:D:lol: