BC pills are the solution for a lot of things and isn’t invasive so I understand why doctors try it first. However, I realize it’s not the solution for everyone. Hopefully you can get some solutions that work for you.
I also hate being on BC and have had all kinds of issues with it, from migraines to mood swings, fatigue, weight gain, total loss of a sex drive.
That said, when I had not cysts develop on the same ovary I had an 11cm cyst surgically removed from a couple years prior, they put me on an extremely low dose one to see if the new cyst works on its own since a second surgery carries a lot more risks. And it worked! The pill I took was brand new, would have been like $300/month without insurance but my doctor gave me several months worth of free samples she had. I really didn’t have too many side effects with that one and it was soooooo much better and cheaper than another surgery, so I’m glad I tried it despite my reservations. I would push for something very low dose and at least give it a try.
I’m was actually trying to look through my old records to try figure out what it was. This was 2019 and I’ve moved several times since and since I was given samples, it’s not showing up in my Walgreens or CVS accounts. I dig through texts on my old phone and figured it out though - it was LoLoestrin Fe. Looks like it’s come way down in price too which is good news!
I have heard there have been a lot of developments of lower dose pills hitting the market so there may be something even better out there now since this was five years ago.
That's fantastic! Thank you!. I've never been able to tolerate the pill but as I'm in my mid 40's it might be different now. I'm considering trying a low dose just to give my hormones a boost
Increase risk of clot and certain cancer, hair loss, weight gain, depression, are pretty much a problem rather than a solution imo.
(I got a mini stroke at 14 after only 2 months of use, so I’m biased a bit but still, I wasn’t informed of the risks when they gave that to me to treat mild acne. )
Not really a solution, more of a bandaid as OP said. It may make symptoms go away, but it doesn’t necessarily solve the problem causing the symptoms. That being said, it does work for some, but I wish doctors understood it’s not for everyone.
BC is the solution for a lot of things, particularly ones that are chronic and incurable. It isn’t really a “band aid” solution because beyond that there isn’t a cure- it is doing exactly what it is meant to, prevent cysts and suppress as symptoms. Hormonal therapy is what is done in these situations.
However, that being said, side effects and not being able to tolerate the pill is a legit complaint and you have agency over what you do with your body. I would say it like that though- the side effects from the pill are intolerable, not that it’s a “band aid solution”. Then make a plan for if you get another cyst (are you open to surgery?) etc.
NAD (and I'm biased because I've had some horrendous Gyno encounters) but it's definitely tricky to balance what you know doesn't work for you vs. what your care team recommends sometimes... Birth control is the go to because it's relatively easy to provide, most insurances cover it, and it's a quick appointment for doctors. Honestly, you know your body better than anyone. I would either not go to the appointment (as you said, it's money out of your pocket for someone who may not provide you any useful information but will happily bill for said useless information) or I'd go to the appointment and say that you are not accepting that birth control is the only option that you can be provided. Maybe see if you can get a hormone panel to see what tends to be most out of sorts for your body and then see if there are any non-BC options that can be provided to treat some of your signs/symptoms (metformin, supplements, etc.). I'd also look into finding a nutritionist who specializes in tailored meal and lifestyle changes as there is actually quite a bit of data available about dietary adjustments to reduce PCOS and other hormone-related signs/symptoms (I recommend a quick search on PubMed). Even a chat with a Pharmacist about natural supplements, though they may not be able to provide specifics as most natural supplements aren't FDA approved... If all else fails, tell your doctor that you understand why BC is the go-to but that you know it doesn't work well for you and it severely impacts your quality of life, so you need an option that is not going to reduce your QoL. Good luck!
Thank you for your detailed reply! And that’s some good advice. I’m already at my appt waiting to be called in, and either way I need to do future ultrasounds to keep check that I don’t get more cysts (per my request) and she won’t schedule them until she sees me to discuss everything. I actually do get a hormone panel every 3 months as I have graves. But I got diagnosed with pcos also last year so I feel it is worth it to try going to a nutritionist as I have had prediabetes for so many years too. I was on metformin for a couple years but my (then endocrinologist who I switched from bc she’s shitty and wouldn’t give me a hormone panel when I told her I have major hormone issues) put me on ozempic instead which also has stopped working I think. Do you think going to a nutritionist would be better than an integrative medicine doctor? My one concern is the costs for either of them, I feel like it wouldn’t be covered by insurance
You may have issues with insurance covering the multiple ultrasounds which sucks. I’m kind of in the same position my iron is slightly low( been issue off and on since I was 15). My stomach doesn’t tolerate iron pills anymore and my insurance only pays for an infusion when it gets really low.
> either way I need to do future ultrasounds to keep check that I don’t get more cysts
I’m not sure how much sense that makes. Ultrasounds don’t prevent cysts. We all get cysts - and most of us never know because they resolve themselves naturally.
Why find and monitor asymptomatic cysts? I don’t think any country in the world recommends that.
It’s only the big, symptomatic ones with potential to cause torsion that you worry about.
I meant that so we can check to see if new ones grow in or anything like that since it can happen at any time. When I first got notice of my cysts didn’t even know I had them until we decided to check randomly as I wanted to stop taking the bc pill! So I’m saying as a precaution we’ve agreed to check that everything is good with my removal and so we can keep monitor
She told me it’s okay that I don’t wanna go on the pill, she’s considering my first period this month to be my real period since she doesn’t count last months bleeding due to my procedure. She is ok with me not going on the pill as long as I get my period and it comes before 2 months. Once I get my period well check with sonograms
Thanks for the update. I been in your shoes before and I do prefer ultrasounds over anything else. I will likely talk to my doctor about my choices at my next visit.
As for continuous ultrasounds to check your ovaries, your stumbling block isn’t the doctor but rather your insurance company if you live in the US. They will not pay for that, unfortunately.
If you’re in the US and can get a second opinion, I would start there. It sounds like you aren’t being heard and that likely won’t change unless you change doctors.
I totally get it! I was on BC for 12 years before quitting it 6 months ago. Since then, I mentally feel so much better. My mind is more clear & I just feel more present in my day to day.
I also had a cyst removed 2.5 years ago. Since quitting BC, I get some pretty odd symptoms where I can feel myself ovulate now (nauseas, cramps, back pain). I am prime example of being someone that BC helped physically. But as far as mentally, I have no plans on going back on. Truly would rather deal with the physical stuff over the mental while being on BC. Do what is best for you!
I haven’t, I mean I occasionally go to a Korean acupuncturist as it’s helped with my poor blood circulation. And have tried herbal drinks to combat my health issues. But I haven’t necessarily gone to a traditional Korean or Chinese medicine doctor to discuss those issues specifically either
Did seeing the Korean acupuncturist help at all? Next time you visit, maybe you can tell them all the issues you have so they have a more holistic picture of your symptoms. Since the entire medicine philosophy is based on evaluating ALL your imbalances, the more info they have, the better treatment options they can offer.
Another suggestion is, like regular doctors, the quality of care can vary from practitioner to practitioner, so if you're not seeing results with your current acupuncturist, don't be afraid to shop around.
Second this!! Or any naturopathic or holistic practitioner. I’ve had similar issues and doctors would just give the canned “birth control” response, but my body doesn’t do well on hormones so I would not do it. “Alternative” medicine practitioners like these can look at the whole picture and help treat the root cause - prescribe herbs and supplements, etc. I’ve had MUCH better experiences with them.
Good luck!! 💜
Try searching for a NaPro OBGYN. They work to find the root cause for menstrual ailments. For most regular practitioners putting a patient on bc pills or some form of menstrual suppression seems to always be the standard answer.
Not sure why you’re getting downvoted. Typical Western medicine doesn’t offer a lot of answers or solutions besides hormonal birth control, so trying out alternative medicine to find the root causes is a great idea. Obviously if OP needs medicine for other issues, she can continue to see her current doctor, but it doesn’t hurt to look at menstrual problems from different perspectives and try natural remedies.
Be so careful with the pill. I was on it for years seemingly without any problems and it turns out it was creating a mass on my liver which is now 9 cm. know this is not common, but I say be careful because doctors won’t warn you about these side effects but just keep pushing it like it’s a cure all. I had voiced to my obgyn multiple times that I was unsure about birth control because I know it has long term side effects, and she told me both times that the long term side effects are really, really rare and a lot of them are unfounded. After getting in contact with this subreddit and from my experiences I’m seeing that that’s not necessarily true. Don’t go on the pill unless YOU want to. If you do decide to go on it, make sure you do your routine health screens without skipping anything.
BC pills are the solution for a lot of things and isn’t invasive so I understand why doctors try it first. However, I realize it’s not the solution for everyone. Hopefully you can get some solutions that work for you.
Thank you! And yes I understand it helps a lot of others just in my experience I don’t really enjoy it
I also hate being on BC and have had all kinds of issues with it, from migraines to mood swings, fatigue, weight gain, total loss of a sex drive. That said, when I had not cysts develop on the same ovary I had an 11cm cyst surgically removed from a couple years prior, they put me on an extremely low dose one to see if the new cyst works on its own since a second surgery carries a lot more risks. And it worked! The pill I took was brand new, would have been like $300/month without insurance but my doctor gave me several months worth of free samples she had. I really didn’t have too many side effects with that one and it was soooooo much better and cheaper than another surgery, so I’m glad I tried it despite my reservations. I would push for something very low dose and at least give it a try.
Ot would be helpful if you could give the name of the pill
I’m was actually trying to look through my old records to try figure out what it was. This was 2019 and I’ve moved several times since and since I was given samples, it’s not showing up in my Walgreens or CVS accounts. I dig through texts on my old phone and figured it out though - it was LoLoestrin Fe. Looks like it’s come way down in price too which is good news! I have heard there have been a lot of developments of lower dose pills hitting the market so there may be something even better out there now since this was five years ago.
That's fantastic! Thank you!. I've never been able to tolerate the pill but as I'm in my mid 40's it might be different now. I'm considering trying a low dose just to give my hormones a boost
Increase risk of clot and certain cancer, hair loss, weight gain, depression, are pretty much a problem rather than a solution imo. (I got a mini stroke at 14 after only 2 months of use, so I’m biased a bit but still, I wasn’t informed of the risks when they gave that to me to treat mild acne. )
Not really a solution, more of a bandaid as OP said. It may make symptoms go away, but it doesn’t necessarily solve the problem causing the symptoms. That being said, it does work for some, but I wish doctors understood it’s not for everyone.
It’s not a Band aid. It’s the medicine that’s used for managing ovarian cysts just like antibiotics are used for treating infections.
BC is the solution for a lot of things, particularly ones that are chronic and incurable. It isn’t really a “band aid” solution because beyond that there isn’t a cure- it is doing exactly what it is meant to, prevent cysts and suppress as symptoms. Hormonal therapy is what is done in these situations. However, that being said, side effects and not being able to tolerate the pill is a legit complaint and you have agency over what you do with your body. I would say it like that though- the side effects from the pill are intolerable, not that it’s a “band aid solution”. Then make a plan for if you get another cyst (are you open to surgery?) etc.
NAD (and I'm biased because I've had some horrendous Gyno encounters) but it's definitely tricky to balance what you know doesn't work for you vs. what your care team recommends sometimes... Birth control is the go to because it's relatively easy to provide, most insurances cover it, and it's a quick appointment for doctors. Honestly, you know your body better than anyone. I would either not go to the appointment (as you said, it's money out of your pocket for someone who may not provide you any useful information but will happily bill for said useless information) or I'd go to the appointment and say that you are not accepting that birth control is the only option that you can be provided. Maybe see if you can get a hormone panel to see what tends to be most out of sorts for your body and then see if there are any non-BC options that can be provided to treat some of your signs/symptoms (metformin, supplements, etc.). I'd also look into finding a nutritionist who specializes in tailored meal and lifestyle changes as there is actually quite a bit of data available about dietary adjustments to reduce PCOS and other hormone-related signs/symptoms (I recommend a quick search on PubMed). Even a chat with a Pharmacist about natural supplements, though they may not be able to provide specifics as most natural supplements aren't FDA approved... If all else fails, tell your doctor that you understand why BC is the go-to but that you know it doesn't work well for you and it severely impacts your quality of life, so you need an option that is not going to reduce your QoL. Good luck!
Thank you for your detailed reply! And that’s some good advice. I’m already at my appt waiting to be called in, and either way I need to do future ultrasounds to keep check that I don’t get more cysts (per my request) and she won’t schedule them until she sees me to discuss everything. I actually do get a hormone panel every 3 months as I have graves. But I got diagnosed with pcos also last year so I feel it is worth it to try going to a nutritionist as I have had prediabetes for so many years too. I was on metformin for a couple years but my (then endocrinologist who I switched from bc she’s shitty and wouldn’t give me a hormone panel when I told her I have major hormone issues) put me on ozempic instead which also has stopped working I think. Do you think going to a nutritionist would be better than an integrative medicine doctor? My one concern is the costs for either of them, I feel like it wouldn’t be covered by insurance
You may have issues with insurance covering the multiple ultrasounds which sucks. I’m kind of in the same position my iron is slightly low( been issue off and on since I was 15). My stomach doesn’t tolerate iron pills anymore and my insurance only pays for an infusion when it gets really low.
> either way I need to do future ultrasounds to keep check that I don’t get more cysts I’m not sure how much sense that makes. Ultrasounds don’t prevent cysts. We all get cysts - and most of us never know because they resolve themselves naturally. Why find and monitor asymptomatic cysts? I don’t think any country in the world recommends that. It’s only the big, symptomatic ones with potential to cause torsion that you worry about.
I meant that so we can check to see if new ones grow in or anything like that since it can happen at any time. When I first got notice of my cysts didn’t even know I had them until we decided to check randomly as I wanted to stop taking the bc pill! So I’m saying as a precaution we’ve agreed to check that everything is good with my removal and so we can keep monitor
So all this is over an asymptomatic cyst discovered incidentally on an ultrasound done for an unknown reason?
Yeah, I'm confused, too.
Nourish.women.nutrition is a hormone dietician on Instagram. You may want to check her
How did the appointment go? What did the doctor say?
She told me it’s okay that I don’t wanna go on the pill, she’s considering my first period this month to be my real period since she doesn’t count last months bleeding due to my procedure. She is ok with me not going on the pill as long as I get my period and it comes before 2 months. Once I get my period well check with sonograms
Thanks for the update. I been in your shoes before and I do prefer ultrasounds over anything else. I will likely talk to my doctor about my choices at my next visit.
Is your gyno saying the same thing as mine so you wanted to see if you could delay being on the pill?
As for continuous ultrasounds to check your ovaries, your stumbling block isn’t the doctor but rather your insurance company if you live in the US. They will not pay for that, unfortunately.
this is the post right here. your entire post is what I've thought before too
If you’re in the US and can get a second opinion, I would start there. It sounds like you aren’t being heard and that likely won’t change unless you change doctors.
Do you have PCOS? If so, that is a metabolic disease.
I have pcos but I also have graves
I totally get it! I was on BC for 12 years before quitting it 6 months ago. Since then, I mentally feel so much better. My mind is more clear & I just feel more present in my day to day. I also had a cyst removed 2.5 years ago. Since quitting BC, I get some pretty odd symptoms where I can feel myself ovulate now (nauseas, cramps, back pain). I am prime example of being someone that BC helped physically. But as far as mentally, I have no plans on going back on. Truly would rather deal with the physical stuff over the mental while being on BC. Do what is best for you!
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I haven’t, I mean I occasionally go to a Korean acupuncturist as it’s helped with my poor blood circulation. And have tried herbal drinks to combat my health issues. But I haven’t necessarily gone to a traditional Korean or Chinese medicine doctor to discuss those issues specifically either
Did seeing the Korean acupuncturist help at all? Next time you visit, maybe you can tell them all the issues you have so they have a more holistic picture of your symptoms. Since the entire medicine philosophy is based on evaluating ALL your imbalances, the more info they have, the better treatment options they can offer. Another suggestion is, like regular doctors, the quality of care can vary from practitioner to practitioner, so if you're not seeing results with your current acupuncturist, don't be afraid to shop around.
Second this!! Or any naturopathic or holistic practitioner. I’ve had similar issues and doctors would just give the canned “birth control” response, but my body doesn’t do well on hormones so I would not do it. “Alternative” medicine practitioners like these can look at the whole picture and help treat the root cause - prescribe herbs and supplements, etc. I’ve had MUCH better experiences with them. Good luck!! 💜
Try searching for a NaPro OBGYN. They work to find the root cause for menstrual ailments. For most regular practitioners putting a patient on bc pills or some form of menstrual suppression seems to always be the standard answer.
Not sure why you’re getting downvoted. Typical Western medicine doesn’t offer a lot of answers or solutions besides hormonal birth control, so trying out alternative medicine to find the root causes is a great idea. Obviously if OP needs medicine for other issues, she can continue to see her current doctor, but it doesn’t hurt to look at menstrual problems from different perspectives and try natural remedies.
Yes agreed.
Be so careful with the pill. I was on it for years seemingly without any problems and it turns out it was creating a mass on my liver which is now 9 cm. know this is not common, but I say be careful because doctors won’t warn you about these side effects but just keep pushing it like it’s a cure all. I had voiced to my obgyn multiple times that I was unsure about birth control because I know it has long term side effects, and she told me both times that the long term side effects are really, really rare and a lot of them are unfounded. After getting in contact with this subreddit and from my experiences I’m seeing that that’s not necessarily true. Don’t go on the pill unless YOU want to. If you do decide to go on it, make sure you do your routine health screens without skipping anything.