Birth Control Pill - effect on libido and mental health

[BengalWoman]

Have you ever had several months when you have been off the pill, just cycling on your own since you were seventeen?

At 17, do you remember how many days your bleeding would last and were your cycles less than 28 days? Of course I am not a doctor but I have come to understand that most women who have excessive bleeding are usually deficient in progesterone production. Estrogen builds the lining in the first part of the cycle, then progesterone ramps up after ovulation to combat anymore build up. It mantains the lining until the end of cycle where it allows for an efficient bleed.

A normal period should last 4-5 days and not gush like a river but a good flow is needed to cleanse the uterus. Progesterone deficient women often never have their uterus slough off enough, so it has to start a new cycle only partially cleansed. Also, they don't have enough progesterone to combat their estrogen so the 'build up' can get out of control. This is true 'estrogen dominance'. It's not that there is too much estrogen, just too little progesterone to make the right balance. I could take a guess that might have been part of your problem as it was mine.

Do women in your family start periods early?

Your doc is wrong. There are things you can do about your situation. It may be hard at first but you will be able to get to a far better state of health. Transitioning back to your own cycles may be a big change. I would think you would need to endure a couple of pill free cycles then test for Estadiol (E2) progesterone, and Testosterone (free and total). You can ask to check FSH also

It's best to test your levels between day 18-21 of your cycle. If your progesterone is much below 11 then that will give you an idea that progesterone therapy will help you. I'll get into the best way to do that later. If your estradiol (E2) is below 100, then we'll know you are scraping the barrel there also. Women really need E2 levels 100 and above to feel their best. EStradiol below 30 indicates menopause. Estradiol below 50 means, your'e almost empty and that will usually coincide with a rise in FSH. As E2 lowers FSH rises as your body keeps tyring to kickstart the ovaries back into gear.

Hope some of this helps. Hang in there.

Thanks again for sharing your knowledge.

I forgot to include a major issue in my original post. Since the change in BC I have gotten terrible headaches. Starting several days before my cycle and they typically last 2-3 days.

To answer your questions:
Way back when, my cycles would last 7-10+ days and be heavy a good portion of it. I have never cycled the pills in all the years. I was pretty regular back then - I would hazard a guess to say yeah around 28 days for a cycle. I started my cyle when I was in 6th grade. Not sure if that is early or not.

Would Blood tests be accurate after a couple of months of the BC or because my body is sooo used to them would it take longer to get an accurate test results. Let me know your thoughts.

Thanks! +

[PPC]

Thanks again for sharing your knowledge.

I forgot to include a major issue in my original post. Since the change in BC I have gotten terrible headaches. Starting several days before my cycle and they typically last 2-3 days.

To answer your questions:
Way back when, my cycles would last 7-10+ days and be heavy a good portion of it. I have never cycled the pills in all the years. I was pretty regular back then - I would hazard a guess to say yeah around 28 days for a cycle. I started my cyle when I was in 6th grade. Not sure if that is early or not.

Would Blood tests be accurate after a couple of months of the BC or because my body is sooo used to them would it take longer to get an accurate test results. Let me know your thoughts.

Thanks! +

I got headaches before my cycles too. Adding in E at that time really helps since it raises seritonin which helps lessen pain in the body.

Many AA docs find E creams can help eliminate menstural miagraines in their patients, or greatly reduce them.. But....you said your BC hormones were recently raised to higher doses, so....hmmm. Some women find just the fluctuations of hormones can give headaches. From low to high, high to low can trigger them. That is why it is good to really monitor your cycles, write down when they occur and try to prevent the hormonal drop with bio supplementation if the fluctations are the trigger.

I really don't know if two months on your own will be enough to test your hormones. I just hate to think of you bleeding for ten days each period that you get without BC. But...maybe that won't happen. Probably three months off would give a better indication of where your own hormones are.

I don't think 6th grade is very early to start. Just looking for clues as to why women in your family enter menopause early. Stress is a big eater of E. The more stressful or even physically strenous (think lots of exercise) our lives are, the more our need for E.