Another Birth Control Pill Question

[Dancypants]

My endocrinologist is putting me on Seasonal in a couple weeks. I'm 17, weigh 85 pounds, and have never had a period...we're concerned about my bone health. She has confirmed that it is gluten-free.

My question is this...if I'm still not absorbing nutrients well right now, will I be able to absorb the hormones in the pill?

Thank you. I have learned so much from all of you!

Macy

[penguin]

That depends on how bad your malabsorption is, but I always had the pill work whenever I was on it. As in, I didn't have any babies

I certainly absorbed enough of it to get the side effects!

[elonwy]

Hmm. This could be an issue. Are you worried about the pill working for pregnancy purposes, or just so that you'll be getting the effects of the hormones that they are trying to give you? Not a dig, just wondering.

I never saw a change in effectiveness, but my malabsorption never got THAT bad, was relatively mild compared to many.

Is the patch an option? If she wants to make sure you're getting the hormones, that might be the way to go at first, until you start absorbing better. Personally, the sticky stuff irritated the heck out of my skin (same with bandaids) so I couldn't do the patch instead of pill, but it might be something to think about.

Have you raised the absorption question with your doctor?

Elonwy

[Jestgar]

I think it partly depends on which part(s) of your intestine are damaged and where the pill is absorbed.

I'm curious about how taking the pill will make a difference for you. Is you doc trying to induce a "normal" state in your body?

[Dancypants]

Hmm. This could be an issue. Are you worried about the pill working for pregnancy purposes, or just so that you'll be getting the effects of the hormones that they are trying to give you? Not a dig, just wondering.

I never saw a change in effectiveness, but my malabsorption never got THAT bad, was relatively mild compared to many.

Is the patch an option? If she wants to make sure you're getting the hormones, that might be the way to go at first, until you start absorbing better. Personally, the sticky stuff irritated the heck out of my skin (same with bandaids) so I couldn't do the patch instead of pill, but it might be something to think about.

Have you raised the absorption question with your doctor?

Elonwy

Didn't even consider that a dig!

I'm not being put on it to avoid pregnancy, but rather, to restore hormone levels (to keep my bones healthy with estrogen) and so I can shed the uterine lining every 4 months. Since my osteoporosis help lead my doctor in the direction of celiac, she has since been very concerned about my bone health.

The patch wouldn't be a good option for me as I don't want to have periods every month if I don't need to. I dance ballet. Partnering and skimpy costuming make periods a worry. But if the Seasonal doesn't work, patches would be an excellent option for me.

I didn't even think of questioning my doctor about the absorption at the time...I just thought of it. I suppose I should leave a message for her tomorrow and ask this very question.

[TCA]

I've been married for 7 years and have been on the pill most of that time, except when pregnant or breastfeeding. For anyone worried about using it for birth control, I got pregnant 2 times while on the pill. This was all before I knew about going gluten-free and celiac. It now makes sense why it might not have been so effective for me. I'm now on the patch - just to make sure! ; )

I hope this Seasonal works for you and things are better soon!

[sweetie101282]

I've been married for 7 years and have been on the pill most of that time, except when pregnant or breastfeeding. For anyone worried about using it for birth control, I got pregnant 2 times while on the pill. This was all before I knew about going gluten-free and celiac. It now makes sense why it might not have been so effective for me. I'm now on the patch - just to make sure! ; )

I hope this Seasonal works for you and things are better soon!

Ok, I am officially freaked out... when you hear back from your doctor will you please post her response?? Thanks!

Amy

[Electra]

Ok, I am officially freaked out... when you hear back from your doctor will you please post her response?? Thanks!

Amy

Amy try not to get too nervous. My OB told me today that Celiac will not make the pill any less effective. I know some doctors have no clue, but he seemed pretty knowledgeable in both and has recently seen an increase in celiac patients so his practice has been doing a lot of research. I was on the pill for years before I found out I had Celiac and I am FERTILE MYRTLE (I got pregnant on the first try every single time I got pregnant and I've been pregnant 5 times)!! I have NEVER even had a close call with the pill and I even missed pills on occassion. I don't think you have to worry unless you've had issues with the pill not working before now. Good Luck!!

[happygirl]

Macy: I had this problem this year (low weight, poor absorbtion, etc.) due to non-Celiac issues. I was worried about not absorbing and I talked to a nurse and a doctor about this. They both independently relieved my fears and said that BC was absorbed in the stomach, not the small intestine, so even if it was a Celiac problem I was having, I should be ok. I don't have any medical studies or anything to back it up, but wanted to relay what my experience was.

Best of luck.

Amy: I wouldn't worry too much, as TCA said she was NOT gluten free at the time. I see you have been gluten free since 2003, so even though according to my above post you should be ok, but even if it were an issue with the small intestines, you have been gluten free for so long that you should be healed and properly absorbing.

[penguin]

Didn't even consider that a dig!

I'm not being put on it to avoid pregnancy, but rather, to restore hormone levels (to keep my bones healthy with estrogen) and so I can shed the uterine lining every 4 months. Since my osteoporosis help lead my doctor in the direction of celiac, she has since been very concerned about my bone health.

The patch wouldn't be a good option for me as I don't want to have periods every month if I don't need to. I dance ballet. Partnering and skimpy costuming make periods a worry. But if the Seasonal doesn't work, patches would be an excellent option for me.

I didn't even think of questioning my doctor about the absorption at the time...I just thought of it. I suppose I should leave a message for her tomorrow and ask this very question.

Here's a secret my ob/gyn told me: Seasonale is Mircette packaged differently.

If your doctor allows it, you can take off your patch after 3 weeks and then immediately put on another one, and repeat the process for 3 cycles. As long as you have a constant flow of hormones, you won't get your "period"

You don't get a real period on bcp's, you get withdrawl bleeding from a lack of progesterone when you're on your sugar pills. You only have a "real" period when you've ovulated and had a luteal phase in which the uterine lining builds up. Otherwise it's anovulatory bleeding or withdrawl bleeding, just FYI.

[Felidae]

I've been on the pill basically forever. I was on it for over a decade of being constantly sick and I didn't have any problems. Let me tell you it has worked like a charm. I think it is absorbed pretty quickly, but I'm just guessing.

[Looking for answers]

The disclaimers that come with BCP state that D can affect the effectiveness of the pill . . . but they don't say anything about absorption issues.

[Sillyyakdidi]

That depends on how bad your malabsorption is, but I always had the pill work whenever I was on it. As in, I didn't have any babies

I certainly absorbed enough of it to get the side effects!

I'm the same as you, never had any problems. Although, I would def. say if you are still having tummy problems one way or the other, and things are coming back for a visit sooner than they should, you should look into a different form of birth control if that is what you are using it for, good luck!

[Sillyyakdidi]

Hmm. This could be an issue. Are you worried about the pill working for pregnancy purposes, or just so that you'll be getting the effects of the hormones that they are trying to give you? Not a dig, just wondering.

I never saw a change in effectiveness, but my malabsorption never got THAT bad, was relatively mild compared to many.

Is the patch an option? If she wants to make sure you're getting the hormones, that might be the way to go at first, until you start absorbing better. Personally, the sticky stuff irritated the heck out of my skin (same with bandaids) so I couldn't do the patch instead of pill, but it might be something to think about.

Have you raised the absorption question with your doctor?

Elonwy

I think you should go talk to your gyno again, the patch, i think its called nuvaring is also another option, then there are the things like an IUD or other things, better safe than sorry!

[Adelle]

I was on the pill for probably 3 years (pre celiac dx) and it worked for me. Just a warning tho, DO NOT get the depo shot! I had it for a year and now that we're gonna start trying soon I decided to stop taking it. I'm on week 3 of my period!!! I know it's just my body kinda trying to put itself back. But it still sux. While on the shot I had maybe 2-3 days of super-light bleeding, which was nice. But I'm kinda making up for it now!!

Oh have u ever thought of getting like an ovulation predictor kit? So u can track urself while on the pill, cause if u ovulate obviously you aren't absorbing enuf of it. I dunno if it would work but maybe ask ur doc?

Hope u find something that works!!

[hannahsue01]

I was on the shot for 4 years between my two kids and after a couple months never had a period untill after my 2nd daughter was born. I got pregnant about 6 months after going off the shot and never had a period. I was only on the pill for about 6 months after my last baby but never got pregnant. I went off of it as it made me sick. I am now back on the shot and continue to have no problems with it except for the fear of a needle every three months.bbI think as stated above that the idea of testing for ovulation after on the pill would be a good idea and a good indacator to whether or not you are obsorbing the pill or not. There are allot of options out there anymore that contain hormones.....I would discuss it with your doctor and see what they think.