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Birth Control Effectiveness

steph1284

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steph1284 Newbie
steph1284
Posted

I have read on several sites that the effectiveness of birth control can be decreased if you have celiac disease. I have been diagnosed for over two years now and my doctor (OBGYN) has never said anything to me. She knows that I have this and has never discussed the possibility that it may reduce the effectiveness of the pill. Has anyone a conversation with their doctor in which they were given a straight answer? I have a call in to my doctor, of course, but unfortunately with my busy schedule we are playing phone tag so I thought I would try here and hope that someone had some answers. Thanks so much! This thing is amazing.....I only just discovered it and I have already learned so much!

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Felidae Enthusiast
Felidae
Posted

Personally, I have been on the pill for over 10 years and I have never had any problems so to speak. It's worked great for me.

frenchiemama Collaborator
frenchiemama
Posted

If you read the package insert that comes with your pills you will see that it says you should use back up if you have a lot of vomitting or D, maybe that is the reason? I would think that once going gluten-free and healing the effectiveness would be the same as that of a non-celiac.

mookie03 Contributor
mookie03
Posted

I have discussed this with my doctor b/c i had a problem w/ absorption while on the pill and before gluten-free. Essentially it can cause problems (certainly did for me!) most likely due to the D as someone mentioned. BUT if you are on a gluten-free diet, you should be fine, i would just make sure that if you are using it for BC, use a second form (e.g. condom) during any month where you are glutened.

jenvan Collaborator
jenvan
Posted

It absolutely can be affected, if you still have villous atrophy or absorption problems and are not on a strict gluten-free diet. However, absorption should technically return to normal after the gluten-free diet (for a period of time). I switched to the nuvaring b/c of that reason (and also b/c of lower levels of hormones than oral contraceptives).

TCA Contributor
TCA
Posted

WOW! I never thought of this. I've gotten pregnant twice on the pill, but I never thought of this. I wasn't gluten-free at the time, didn't even know what celiac disease was. Now it makes sense. I thought I was just blessed with not having to plan my pregnancies. :P

natalunia Rookie
natalunia
Posted

I got on Nuvaring for 3 reasons: because of the chronic diarrhea/vomiting, because I bleed like a stuck pig during that time of the month (I use Nuvaring continuously because of the extreme bleeding), and I was forgetting to take my pills for anywhere for 1-4 days at a time (could brain fog have contributed to that?). I love the Nuvaring. It has been the best BC method for me. It's easy to put in and easy to forget it is there. I have to use the reminder stickers to remind me to put a new one in!

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jenvan Collaborator
jenvan
Posted

Natalie-

I like those stickers too :)

penguin Community Regular
penguin
Posted

Someone tell me how to convince my husband that the Nuva Ring is a good thing? I don't start it until Sunday, but he doesn't think it'll work, or that he'll feel it, or that it will fall out. I've explained it to him six ways from Sunday and he's still against it. I was thinking of putting it in a few days early and then, erm, proving he couldn't feel it, and tell him after the fact. I'm switching from Kariva, so I don't have to use a backup.

You know the irony of him not thinking the little plastic ring that gives off medication through the skin? His area of research is POLYMERS AND DRUG DELIVERY!!! He studies how medicines get in and out of plastic. :rolleyes: I thought he'd think it was pretty cool. :unsure:

Guest Robbin
Guest Robbin
Posted
Someone tell me how to convince my husband that the Nuva Ring is a good thing? I don't start it until Sunday, but he doesn't think it'll work, or that he'll feel it, or that it will fall out. I've explained it to him six ways from Sunday and he's still against it. I was thinking of putting it in a few days early and then, erm, proving he couldn't feel it, and tell him after the fact. I'm switching from Kariva, so I don't have to use a backup.

You know the irony of him not thinking the little plastic ring that gives off medication through the skin? His area of research is POLYMERS AND DRUG DELIVERY!!! He studies how medicines get in and out of plastic. :rolleyes: I thought he'd think it was pretty cool. :unsure:

Chelse-In men, the worries over certain bodily functions take over brain cell activity. :blink:

jenvan Collaborator
jenvan
Posted

First off, remind him its your body :) And that it is no biggie. I have several friends who use it and all of them, including myself, have no issues with the ring and sex. Don't notice it on either end... :) It may take a few times to figure out how you are putting it in, but it stays in there pretty darn good... Good luck, hope everything goes smoothly!! I love it...

eleep Enthusiast
eleep
Posted

This sounds interesting -- the thing I'm concerned about with the ring is whether it could increase my chances of getting regular UTI's -- which the diaphragm definitely did (I HATED the diaphragm) -- anyone got any experience with this?

jenvan Collaborator
jenvan
Posted
This sounds interesting -- the thing I'm concerned about with the ring is whether it could increase my chances of getting regular UTI's -- which the diaphragm definitely did (I HATED the diaphragm) -- anyone got any experience with this?

I haven't heard of that issue with the nuvaring. Not sure why the diaphragm would--perhaps transfer of bacteria?? Anywho, I do not think the nuvaring should cause that problem for you. There is a 'risk' of vaginal infections, but I don't know anyone who has had any issue using it.

natalunia Rookie
natalunia
Posted

I've had no increase in UTI, hubby definitely can't feel it, and I say go for it putting it in a few days early to prove your point.

My doctor told me the hormones are released at the normal rate for 35 days, then fade greatly after that point. He instructed me to wear it for every 33-35 days then change it out. I don't have a period because of that. If I do choose to have a period, mine are always 9-14 days (on any BC or not), so that is why we do the continual hormones. My endometriosis seems to be in check now with this method.

eleep Enthusiast
eleep
Posted
I haven't heard of that issue with the nuvaring. Not sure why the diaphragm would--perhaps transfer of bacteria?? Anywho, I do not think the nuvaring should cause that problem for you. There is a 'risk' of vaginal infections, but I don't know anyone who has had any issue using it.

The diaphragm has to be inserted every time you have intercourse -- with a dollop of spermacidal jelly -- the jelly has to be reapplied with a plunger-thing if you're going to have intercourse more than once -- and the whole thing has to stay in for two hours afterwards. I always tried to be very careful with handwashing and disinfecting of diaphragm and plunger-thing, but inevitably I'd get a UTI every other month or so.

It was a mess -- and I think I'm the only one among my cohort of friends who's ever used one (I'd had a severely bad reaction to OrthoNovum 777 which scared me off of the pill during a two-year relationship) -- when the mini-pill came out, I switched over and I've never looked back since. However, I'm intrigued by this ring and the new IUD.

jenvan Collaborator
jenvan
Posted

Erica-

Yeah, that kind of bacteria transfer was my one guess.... Perhaps the diaphragm materials were just irritating to you also.... I think the nuvaring would definitely be worth a try!

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    • cristiana
      Coeliac or not coeliac

      By cristiana · Posted

      Hi @CC90 Ah... that is very interesting.  Although it is very annoying for you to have to go through it all again, I would say that almost sounds like an admission that they didn't look far enough last time?   I could be wrong, but I would not be at all surprised if they find something on the next attempt.  Coeliac damage can be very patchy, as I understand it, so that's why my own gastroenterologist always likes to point out that he's taken lots of samples!  In the kindest possible way (you don't want to upset the person doing the procedure!) I'd be inclined to tell them what happened last time and to ask them in person to take samples lower down, as  if your health system is anything like the one in my country, communication between GPs, consultants and hospitals isn't always very good.  You don't want the same mistake to be made again. You say that your first endoscopy was traumatic?  May I ask, looking at your spelling of coeliac, was this done at an NHS hospital in England?  The reason for the question is that one of my NHS diagnosed friends was not automatically offered a sedative and managed without one.  Inspired by her, I tried to have an endoscopy one time, in a private setting, without one, so that I could recover quicker, but I had to request sedative in the end it was so uncomfortable.    I am sorry that you will have to go through a gluten challenge again but to make things easier, ensure you eat things containing gluten that you will miss should you have to go gluten free one day. 😂 I was told to eat 2 slices of normal wholemeal bread or the equivalent every day in the weeks before , but I also opted for Weetabix and dozens of Penguin chocolate biscuits.  (I had a very tight headache across my temple for days before the procedure, which I thought was interesting as I had that frequently growing up. - must have been a coeliac symptom!)  Anyway, I do hope you soon get the answers you are looking for and do keep us posted. Cristiana  
    • CC90
      Coeliac or not coeliac

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    • Wheatwacked
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