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Birth Control Forum - Birth Control Causing Depression/low Sex Drive??
Birth Control Causing Depression/low Sex Drive?? Posted: 08-15-07 13:50pm
I've been on Microgestin FE 1/20 for a
little over six months now. I switched to
that from Yasmin b/c the side effects were
too much (extreme nausea, adomenal craps),
and my gyno thought I should switch to a
pill with less hormone dosage (hence the
20 mg now). (I don't take anyother
presecribed medication, so I'm not used to
having to watch out for noticeable side
effects from drugs.)
The pill was great at first, no nausea, no
cramping, no break-thru bleeding; when I
did get my period, there was hardly any
bleeding even, my acne has definetly
decreased, and my boobs got bigger. (Kind
of nice not having to buy pads that
often!).
Unforunately, I did notice that my sex
drive decreased, I'm not even interested
in being sexual or thinking about it
(though that might just personally be me,
I'm not sure). I don't even feel like
getting off once in a while...it's
annoying b/c I have a boyfriend now and
I'm unsure about having sex with him (like
I said, this part may not be related to
the pill)...but I'm worried that the pill
has decreased my sex drive.
Also, when I began the 7th month of
Microgestin, I noticed that everytime I
take the pill at night after eating
dinner, I get stomach/abdomen pains, I
don't feel really nauseous, but I become
bloated and burp a lot. I only get this
discomfort after I take the pill, I don't
feel the same feelings in the morning
after eating breakfast or lunch. Could
this discomfort be caused by the pill?
And also, I'm afraid Microgestin might be
giving me depression, b/c I don't feel
happy anymore on a daily basis. Sure, it's
different when I'd go to work (I work with
little kids, so of course I have to appear
happy at least). But I've noticed I've
become more negative than usual and
experience a few social anxiety
symptoms...Maybe I already had a bit of
depression and social anxiety, but could
Microgestin be making it worse?
I'm considering just going off the
pill...I don't think I'd want to switch to
something else right now though it's
annoying to have to make an appointment
with the gyno and try something new. Like
I said before, since I don't take anyother
presribed meds (birth control has been my
first prescription for a long time), I
don't like having to watch out for the
side effects. Anyone have any ideas on if
these "side effects" is related to
Microgestin? I'm disappointed b/c this
pill has had some good side effects, but
if I'm afraid it's making me depressed,
then I wouldn't want to continue with it.
If anyone has anything to share, or have
taken this birth control pill, I'd love to
hear your input! Thanks so much.
|
Georgia59
Supporter
Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 5557 Location: Along the Mississippi, USA
Thanks: 90
Thanked:32
Posted: 08-15-07 15:48pm
While it doesn't happen to most people,
depression and lack of sex drive are
actually quite common side effects of any
hormonal bc.
Since every pill has a different
type/different concentration of the
hormones, most people find one that works
for them without having these side
effects. But I'd definitely suggest
switching.
If you don't want to have to see your gyno
again, you can call and maybe get some
sample packs of something else. I'd give
it a try.
|
postfetalphase
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 17 Nov 2006 Posts: 58
Posted: 08-25-07 12:56pm
Birth control pills increase sexual
hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), which
means more of your sexual hormones are
being bound (including testosterone, which
controls body hair, acne, and sex drive).
When the hormones are bound, they are not
as easily utilized/absorbed (not too sure
how this works). So this means that your
body isn't using the testosterone it is
making as it normally would. Pros: less
acne, less body hair. Cons: loss of sex
drive.
The progestin in Microgestin Fe is
norethindrone actetate, a relatively
non-androgenic (low in testosterone)
progestin.
You could try to find an aphrodisiac that
is compatable with birth control (I am
trying to find one myself). I believe that
when they did studies, the Patch didn't
have as much of an effect on SHBG as the
combined pill did, so you could try that.
If you were to switch to a different pill,
hypothetically you could switch to one
with more androgenic activity containing
either levonorgestrel or dl-norgestrel.
Pills that contain these progestins are:
Alesse, Levlite, Levlen, Levora, Nordette,
Lo/Ovral, Triphasil, Tri-Levlen, Trivora,
and Ovral.
As for the depression, you will want a
pill with lower progestin potentcy.
Microgestin has 1.5 mg of norethindrone
acetate, which equates to 1.8 mg of
norethindrone, a pretty high dose of
progestins. Avoid triphasic pills (packs
with different hormone levels every week)
as these can cause depression, so that
eliminates Triphasil, trivora, and
tri-levlen, which leaves us with Alesse,
Levlite, Levlen, Levora, Nordette,
Lo/Ovral, and Ovral. Microgestin has 30
mcg of estrogen, so we will look for a
pill with a similiar level of estrogen
that is low in progestin, which has some
androgenic activity. Hang on... Keep in
mind that your bc has an equivalent to 1.8
mg of norethindrone.
Alesse (20 mcg of estrogen, 0.1 mg of
levonorgestrel which equates to 0.53 mg of
norethindrone )
Levlite (similiar to above),
Nordette (30 mcg of estrogen, same dose
you are on now, with 0.15 mg of
levonorgestrel, which equates to .795 mg
of norethindrone)
Overall, I would suggest Nordette, because
it is the same estrogen level you were on
before but it has less than half the
progestins of Microgestin (which will help
with depression), and is more potent in
androgen so it will hopefully help with
sex drive too.
