Contraception Question.....Please Help!!

[Sassy69]

thx baby doc - I expected to see differences (e.g. no period) when I stopped taking OCP, not 4-5 months later. I'm not anywhere near too low bf% right now - basically I had very few results from the one cycle I did and very low dosage. So was confused. The only time I've ever missed periods was back when I first moved away to college - due to major stress. Otherwise regular as clockwork.

 

[supergirl]

i am so afraid to try birth control again... i tried depo and then i tried the pill and both experiences were bad. Now with being on gear, i don't know if i should try to start birth control again... plus i don't want my body thinking it is pregnant and start adding fat on my body!!! Guess i will stick to condoms.

 

[Star]

When I did winny I lost my period for two years.....my BF% was not too low either. I just started getting normal again and that was with the help of the pill. Ya'll are scaring me with these weight gain stories though. My question would be.......What are the chances of pregnancy if you are not getting your period? Hmmmmmm

Star xoxoxoxo

 

[Sassy69]

Star - why would you lose your period for 2 years after a winny cycle? I'm confused now. Most of what I've read about AS & female reproductive issues is more surrounding the use of novaldex to avoid estrogen-related fat gain. But that actually makes you more "fertile" and negates any birth control pills. I've also read that women on AS shouldn't consider getting or trying to get pregnant while the stuff is still in the system. If lower than "normal" body fat is not the culprit, what is??

 

[Star]

As the doc said

"A big problem is the use of steroids, which I TRULY abhor from a medical perspective. This contributes to another, more complex, problem which is caused by many factors, including the use of AS, as well as low BF%, and excessive exercise called hypogonadotrophic amenorrhea, which simply means that it's coming from the brain and not the ovaries"

I am not a real expert but I bet it has a lot to do with the aromatizing effects of winny and it fuckin with your hormones. Takes a long time to get it back to normal. Definately NOT anything I would EVER touch again.

Star

 

[thebabydoc]

I would like to get back to the IUD issue.

I used to have many patients who were dancers (strippers) and were extremely uptight about even a couple of pounds. After trying OCP's and depo (gotta at least give them a try first) we went with the IUD. The vast majority were ecstatic and could put up with the extra cramping for 2 or 3 days a month. If you haven't had kids, then the uterus tends to not have "stretched out" (for want of a better explanation) and often this results in stronger cramping during the menstrual cycle. Getting it through the cervix is never a problem.

For BB's, who are even more concerned with the effects of estrogen (and progesterone) on body fat and weight, the copper IUD is far and away the best option provided informed consent is obtained. Doctors provide and get informed consents to CYA (Cover Your Ass). As with any procedure, patients MUST be informed of ALL the risks, no matter how remote, and this discussion of the risks often uneccessarily scares patients such as Star. As a result, they tend to scare off other patients..."I would say the odds are 8 out of 10 women have them removed after insertion because of complications.......Cramping......bleeding.....yada yada yada" (Thank you, Star...(Remember what I said earlier about SAMPLING ERROR?) Don't get me wrong, this is as much Stars doctor's fault as it is hers. I place approximately 100 IUD's yearly and I have removed perhaps 6 of them.

The IUD can be a bit pricey though, as the Paragard T380 costs me $297.50 wholesale. Plus you gotta pay the doc to put it in, average total- around $450-$500. Most insurances do cover it though. If you don't like it, you can have it taken it out. Only 10% of women experience significant side effects and of those 10%, 90% experience resolution of these symptoms within the first three months. Failure rates are typically less than 1%.

As for the hormonal methods, you have to give them a try to find out how they will affect you. After all, you spend YEARS building, shaping, and defining your bodies, what's a few extra months to find an effective contraceptive?
And yes, as a few have noted, when you're not having your periods, it is harder to get pregnant. Anovulation (not ovulating) is usually the cause, whether it be central (hypogonadotrophic- from the brain) or ovarian (ovaries not working). If you're not ovulating, it's pretty tough to get pregnant. The problem is that there are 12 months a year for a "breakthrough" ovulation to occur, and because ovulation preceeds menstruation, you only know about it once it's too late...

babydoc

 

[supergirl]

so with all this said babydoc... is there a way, with the use of gear and lower bodyfat, to trick your body into not ovulating or inhibit the chance of pregnancy? Can you get pregnant while on gear? Is there a pill that won't put on weight?

thanks for all your help and info.. it is great for all the women here!!!

 

[thebabydoc]

Supergirl:

Sorry, I'm not familiar with the term "gear". Does that mean supplemental drugs?

The only thing that I can think of that would work to stop ovulation (with a minimal failure risk) would be Lupron.
This is an injectable medication which temporarily induces a menopause-like state identical to hypogonadotrophic amenorrhea. Unlike exercise, stress, and lowering BF%, there is no breakthrough ovulation...e.g. it does not fail. one shot is only good for 6 months, results in an initial surge of estrogen (for about 2 weeks), and
it is EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE. Typically you would need to add back estrogen (in low doses) to ameliorate the symptoms of menopause. This is a bit extreme, but I guess so is using AS.

As for getting pregnant... That is primarily what the female of most species is designed for, it's tough to fool mother nature, you know. What I mean is that you could get pregnant on pretty much anything. Even women who have had their tubes "tied" can get pregnant (the failure rate is from 3-30 per 1000 depending on the procedure and the surgeon).

As for the pill question, that is what I alluded to earlier...Different women react differently to different progesterones and estrogens and it is difficult to predict who will be affected and how. That is why you sometimes have to experiment until you find the one that works best.

I almost forgot!!!!
There is a pill called micronor (minipill) which contains progesterone only. Some female BB's used this in excess quantities as a legal steroid (I'm just gonna assume many/most of you have a basic knowledge of steroid synthesis in the body). Basically, the idea is that the excess progesterone "backs up" the steroid synthesis pathway and is diverted towards the synthesis of other "better", er...more desireable steroids. The bleeding effects are similar to depo and the minipill must be taken at the same time each day or the failure rate is high, but weight gain generally is not a major issue because of the low doses and the progesterone used. Also is rapidly reversible (just stop taking the pills!)

Definitely something worth trying (for contraception)!

 

[Star]

Sorry Doc but my Physician did not scare me. The things I spoke of I experienced. I also have NEVER heard of a reputable doctor that would insert an IUD into a woman who has not given birth. I have always been told it is NOT an option. The IUD was hellacious. I had constant cramping, spotting..etc. and I did keep it in past the usual 3 month adjustment period. I guess I live in a weird place cause I also have not met but one woman that has had no problems with their IUD. Maybe it's all the hay in the air.

Star

 

[FitFossil]

I have the copper Paraguard IUD and love it. Doctor was wary about giving it to me because I'd never had kids. Had to convince him I was not going to change my mind and want them later. Insertion was painful; they had to stop halfway and go hunt down some pediatric-sized cervical instruments. (I had no idea there were nerves in the cervix!) Cramped and bled pretty bad for a few days and my periods were crampy at first, but fine now. I've had it about 4 years. For me, it's been WELL WORTH getting off hormonal BC.