Seasonal Birth Control?

Updated on July 18, 2008
C. asks from Richfield, OH
15 answers

Hello all,

I'll try and keep this short. I have a history of endometriosis (2 surgeries in about 15 years). At the birth of my 2nd child I had my tubes tied so I am not currently on the pill. That was about 1-1/2 years ago. I got my period "back" around 4 months after the birth. Since then I've had about 4 occurances of "extra" periods. This isn't just spotting, it is a full blown period that last for 5+ days. For example, I just had my period two weeks ago (which was 1 week early) and I got it again yesterday. I went to see my Gyn yesterday and he noticed that I was spotting. Well today it is a full blown period again. He ordered an ultrasound to see what is going on inside and that will be on the 25th. Because of my history with endometriosis I'm guessing if it's that, he may want to do surgery again to clear it up and them put me back on the pill to help contain it.

So..... my question is, does anyone take Seasonal. Before I got pregnant my docotor suggested I go on it for migrains. I just saw a small blog from two people that they had weight gain and acne breakouts after going on seasonal. Does anyone have any experience with it and know of any side effects? In the past I have repsonded very well to birth control and I seem to think I had less weight gain on it than off.

Thanks for any information you can give me.

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So What Happened?

Hi everyone,

Thanks for all of the responses! I saw my GYN and I am going to have the NovaSure procedure done in Sept. Since I'm not in pain he felt a laparosopy was not necessary. But my uterus lining is a little thicker than normal so the NovaSure procedure is a good place to start and recovery time is only 1 day.

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J.E.

answers from Columbus on

I don't know about Seasonal, but I'm on my second month of the Nuvaring, and it's been great! I was experiencing weird things on the pill (mood swings, no sex drive, etc.) and the ring has been great so far.

Good luck!

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H.C.

answers from Cincinnati on

I take it & I love it. I have a history of ovarian cysts so I have tried a lot of different birth control to help reduce the cysts. I no longer get the horrible migraines I used to get, my periods are much lighter as is the cramping, etc. I did not break out or have weight gain, although each person is different. It is also a lot cheaper on my insurance. It costs me $30 for the 3 month supply vs. $40 it was costing me when I used the patch.

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K.D.

answers from Cleveland on

Have you ever tried a natural progestrone cream.. it helps people who suffers from: PMS, Hot Flashes, Night Sweats, Fatigue, Headaches, Depression, Mood Swings, Irregular Periods, Fibrocystic Breasts, Infertility, Lack of concentration, Acne, Low Libido, Insomnia, Uterine Fibroids, Ovarian Cysts, Foggy Thinking, Baby Blues, Osteoporosis, MEN- enlarged prostate and much more!!??? (Taken from "What your Doctor won't tell you about prememopause" By Dr John Lee) Then I encourage you to check out Arbonnes Natural Balancing Cream. I have a great article by a Dr on this. (if anyone wants that article let me know. I have it saved and can email it to you!) Natural Progesterone, which is NOT the same as the artificially created Progestins found in prescription birth control pills and hormone replacement therapies, will very effectively and harmoniously rebalance your body, bringing nature's hormonal balance back into line. Thanks and I hope this helps as I have seen it help sooo many women!!!

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L.L.

answers from Evansville on

Sorry, I don't know about Seasonal birth control, but have you ever considered a natural balancing cream? You may want to try that for regulating your periods and it could help with migraines. You can check with your doctor or refer to one of the books written by Dr. John Lee on hormone balancing.

L.

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J.B.

answers from Dayton on

I did gain like 15 lbs. when I started taking it. I didn't have any spotting in between which is common though. I would like to think that if you are aware there could be weight gain then you might actually be able to watch what you eat for a little while. No one told me about it so it wasn't even on my mind. I love only 4 periods a year though!

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K.R.

answers from Dayton on

I worked in OB/GYN for 8 years. Don't suggest Seasonal. I had the Novasure procedure done myself about 2 years ago. I was having excess bleeding for 2 days a month and then nothing. It was awful. I would go through a super tampon in an hour. Then it started happening more frequently. Novasure isn't for everyone but it was relatively painless. I haven't had a period since I got it done. I think I took about 2 Ibuprofen afterwards and I was ready to go to a football game by evening. Talk to your doctor about that. I am so glad I did it.

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D.B.

answers from Cleveland on

Hi C., If you are referring to the birth control, that's supposed to allow you to have a period 4 times a year, I haven't tried it myself. But I haven't heard good things about it. It was nothing like weight gain or hair loss, it was more like blood clots, and heart attacks. And in one girls case, who went to school with my sister in Alabama, she died! They are trying to see if there is any link between her mysterious death and seasonique. In addition I've gotten several emails about the dangers of it, I don't know if they're true but I figured I'd pass it on, so you could look it up, better safe than sorry, hope this helps.

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S.K.

answers from Cleveland on

hi there, i worked for an ob-gyn office for 5 yrs... seasonal will make you spot far more than any other pill. it's a continuous pill for 3 months. i recommend seeing what they say but it sounds like Novasure would be good for you. It's a surgical procedure that dr's have been doing for women with bleeding abnormalities. practically painless too.

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D.M.

answers from Columbus on

C.,
Most BC pills are made from different combinations of a few types of hormones. Everyone's body reacts to these hormones differently. One person may experience weight gain and acne while another may experience moodiness and decreased sex drive...it is very individualized. I would guess that, for the most part, your body would react in a similar manor as it did when previously on BC pills. The way seasonal works is that you continue to take "medicated" pills throughout your cycle instead of the "placebo" pills, resulting in a period every 3-4 months. I am sure you could always check out the BC manufacturer's website for more detailed information. Also, I am sure your doctor could answer any questions you may have. Hope this helps.

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O.K.

answers from Cleveland on

I don't know much about seasonal birth control, but I too have endometriosis (a very bad case) and have had four surgeries prior to me recently getting pregnant. From experience and trying all types of things to help... it doesn't really matter what type of birth control you use as long as it works for you. So if you try one and it has side effects ask to try something else, because its the hormonal balance you need not a specific pill.

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S.E.

answers from Cleveland on

I'm on a generic of it now. The first packet I bled for the last 6 weeks of the 13 week pack. Not amused. The next pack I had some spotting at the 7 week mark or so then it stopped. So far so good for this packet.

I have had no weight gain. I weigh more than I want, but didn't gain any.

I have not had any complexion issues.

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H.C.

answers from Indianapolis on

Advice from a migrain sufferer- DONT USE IT!!! It was the most horrible 6 months of my life!!!! My GYN put me on it for the same reason, I had spotting after my son was born and I got back on BC. I did not have any spotting with seasonale, but the day I went off of it to have my period, I had an instant migrain for 3 weeks straight. I am not usually one to vomit with my migrains, but I sure did after this. My husband almost took me to the ER twice because I was in sooo much pain. After that, I got on the NUVA ring, which I had heard some bad things about, but I have had all GOOD experience with it. I have almost NO migrains anymore, maybe the start of one around the beginning of my period, but it's easily controlled with Excedrin Migrain. And NO SPOTTING. I would check into something OTHER THAN SEASONALE. I do not recommend this at all. You never know until you try, everyone's body is a little different. Good luck.

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L.B.

answers from Indianapolis on

I was diagnosed with mild endometriosis about 12 years ago when I was 19. I had the same problem about 6 months ago accompanied with sever ovarian pain. I had an ultrasound and they discovered that i had a mild case poly cystic ovarian syndrome. My doctor suspects the endometriosis could also be contributing, but at this point did not see any reason to do a laproscopy (sp?) to check for that. She put me on a birth control pill called Lybrel. I no longer have periods (which the doctor says is okay) and within 2 months the pain was gone. I did have breakthrough bleeding the first couple of months, but have been period and pain free for the last 4 months. I was very skeptical at first of this, but have had no problems.

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L.G.

answers from Lima on

since you've had your tubes tied, if you really don't want anymore children, ask your doctor about ablation surgery. I am finished having children and now have irregular periods, and my doctor has told me to have ablation surgery (some do it as outpatient) and my periods will most likely stop altogether, or at least slow down.
With this procedure, even if the periods stop altogether, you DON"T have to take any medicine (hormones) for it.
It is also suggested that you DON"T do this procedure if you still want m ore kids.

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D.G.

answers from Columbus on

If you don't want to have any more children why don't you just get a hysterectomy and get rid of the whole problem.Plus you will also get rid of chances of many female cancers.Endometriosis is awful I know but it is not completely curable.I had to take horrible amounts of drugs , hormones and have surgerys over and over to remove adhesions from surgerys.Things are much easier now and less painful and quicker healing.My last surgery was about 6 years ago and it was 3 tiny holes and they used a laser to rid me of the damage being done.The first 2 they cut my stomach open , fished around and it was awful, I have scares on both sides of my belly button going from there completely down to the privates area.OUCH and 8 weeks healing and horrible time trying to do much of anything.

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