Comments on: Seasonale™ http://electrolicious.com/2003/09/seasonale Daily affirmations of a word mercenary Fri, 16 May 2008 03:06:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Riona http://electrolicious.com/2003/09/seasonale#comment-10941 Riona Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:51:41 +0000 http://electrolicious.com/2003/09/seasonale#comment-10941 Until my midthirties I would wake up moaning one week a month with period pain, and had PMS that I think literally made me insane. I know it cost me at least one good relationship. I don't take Seasonale - I just take my regular pill without a break for the little sugar pills. My only regret? I wish I had started doing this years ago. What a shame to have spent all those days and nights rocking in the fetal position with pain and misery that I could have avoided. Until my midthirties I would wake up moaning one week a month with period pain, and had PMS that I think literally made me insane. I know it cost me at least one good relationship. I don’t take Seasonale - I just take my regular pill without a break for the little sugar pills. My only regret? I wish I had started doing this years ago. What a shame to have spent all those days and nights rocking in the fetal position with pain and misery that I could have avoided.

]]> By: Monica http://electrolicious.com/2003/09/seasonale#comment-2730 Monica Mon, 23 Jan 2006 23:38:00 +0000 http://electrolicious.com/2003/09/seasonale#comment-2730 I'm rather on two sides of this discussion. I'm not an advocate of putting any more chemicals/hormones in my body than absolutely necessary - and strangely enough, I'm a pharmacy student - but I'm also taking Seasonale. I've tried multiple methods of naturally dealing with cramping. I'd be in so much pain that my face and extremities would go numb from it, I wouldn't be able to breathe , and I couldn't even stand up because of the pain. Flaxseed, vitamins, 5 days a week: two hours a day cardio workouts. But when it's at the point where I have to miss classes, can't concentrate on exams, and am incapable of leaving my bed, I honestly don't care what goes in, as long as I don't immediately die. So far, Seasonale is working just lovely. I just hope I don't get blood clots, or cancer later on. But hopefully, whenever I get off bc - which should be in a few years - my debilitating pain won't be so debilitating. I’m rather on two sides of this discussion. I’m not an advocate of putting any more chemicals/hormones in my body than absolutely necessary - and strangely enough, I’m a pharmacy student - but I’m also taking Seasonale. I’ve tried multiple methods of naturally dealing with cramping. I’d be in so much pain that my face and extremities would go numb from it, I wouldn’t be able to breathe , and I couldn’t even stand up because of the pain. Flaxseed, vitamins, 5 days a week: two hours a day cardio workouts. But when it’s at the point where I have to miss classes, can’t concentrate on exams, and am incapable of leaving my bed, I honestly don’t care what goes in, as long as I don’t immediately die. So far, Seasonale is working just lovely. I just hope I don’t get blood clots, or cancer later on. But hopefully, whenever I get off bc - which should be in a few years - my debilitating pain won’t be so debilitating.

]]> By: Kathleen http://electrolicious.com/2003/09/seasonale#comment-2729 Kathleen Sun, 22 May 2005 07:47:43 +0000 http://electrolicious.com/2003/09/seasonale#comment-2729 While I agree that pumping people full of drugs to solve "problems" is completely misguided, I disagree with your take on Seasonale. I first had my period at 13, with cramps appearing at 14. By the time I was 15, my cramps had turned into 3 day long ordeals of throwing up and passing out from pain. During one episode I passed out while on the way upstairs, cracking my head on the corner of a wall and giving me a large goosegg for about two weeks. I had a gynecologist exam at two different doctors, with both of them telling me that my reproductive system was healthy and "normal". Both suggested going on the Pill to help alleviate the pain. I began on the "normal" Pill for about one year. For the first few months, my cramps completely disappeared. I was elated! Finally, something taking me off of the couch with a heating pad for 3 days out of the month. After about 4 or 5 months on the Pill, my cramps began to get worse and worse with each successive period, eventually back to the same level of pain as my pre-Pill days. When I first heard about Seasonale, I did my research. I found that women using Seasonale, although exposed to more days of horomones than those on the regular Pill, actually recieve a smaller amount of the horomones overall, as the dose in each pill is less. I have now been on Seasonale for nearly a year, and while my cramps are still here, I only have to experience them 4 times a year. You cannot imagine how wonderful this is for me. I am no less a woman than a woman who is not on the Pill. Seasonale gives me freedom from pain. I used to work for (and be a patient of until insurance changed) a OB/GYN who practiced home births and preferred more "natural" methods. I could not agree more, except when the natural methods (i.e. not taking the Pill) cause me unreasonable pain and leaves me at more of a risk for diseases such as endometriosis. While I agree that pumping people full of drugs to solve “problems” is completely misguided, I disagree with your take on Seasonale. I first had my period at 13, with cramps appearing at 14. By the time I was 15, my cramps had turned into 3 day long ordeals of throwing up and passing out from pain. During one episode I passed out while on the way upstairs, cracking my head on the corner of a wall and giving me a large goosegg for about two weeks. I had a gynecologist exam at two different doctors, with both of them telling me that my reproductive system was healthy and “normal”. Both suggested going on the Pill to help alleviate the pain. I began on the “normal” Pill for about one year. For the first few months, my cramps completely disappeared. I was elated! Finally, something taking me off of the couch with a heating pad for 3 days out of the month. After about 4 or 5 months on the Pill, my cramps began to get worse and worse with each successive period, eventually back to the same level of pain as my pre-Pill days. When I first heard about Seasonale, I did my research. I found that women using Seasonale, although exposed to more days of horomones than those on the regular Pill, actually recieve a smaller amount of the horomones overall, as the dose in each pill is less. I have now been on Seasonale for nearly a year, and while my cramps are still here, I only have to experience them 4 times a year. You cannot imagine how wonderful this is for me. I am no less a woman than a woman who is not on the Pill. Seasonale gives me freedom from pain. I used to work for (and be a patient of until insurance changed) a OB/GYN who practiced home births and preferred more “natural” methods. I could not agree more, except when the natural methods (i.e. not taking the Pill) cause me unreasonable pain and leaves me at more of a risk for diseases such as endometriosis.

]]> By: Amanda http://electrolicious.com/2003/09/seasonale#comment-2728 Amanda Wed, 27 Oct 2004 02:08:57 +0000 http://electrolicious.com/2003/09/seasonale#comment-2728 Maybe I am a little late on the draw here, but I wanted to clear up some myths about the IUD and some other stuff. I couldn't be on the pill because no matter what pill I tried, I had terrible side-effects. But, I think for anyone who is on the pill, Seasonale is not really any less-safe (as someone else stated, a pill-period is actually not the same as a true period. If it's not a real period anyway, why feel compelled to have it??). In fact, doctors have been doing it for years with any monophasic pill. HOWEVER, this assumes that the pill is entirely safe, which is up to the individual to decide. It certainly can't be argued to be natural, and it certainly causes problems in some women (libido problems are more widely seen in women than I think the pill companies are willing to admit. Our patriarchal society doesn't seem to look into it too much either). I am also allergic to spermicide, so after my pill debacle, I really only had two options: fertility awareness, and the Copper IUD. Fertility awareness didn't have the flexibility I wanted, and I wanted something a little more foolproof. I've never had children, and yes, I definitely found websites that say you ABSOLUTELY shouldn't have an IUD if you ever want children. This is a myth that is being debunked, but there are many "old school" practioners out there who just shudder because of the Dalkon Shield problem in the 70s. The Dalkon Shield was an anomaly, it was unlike any other IUD that had ever been put on the market and it caused a lot of SERIOUS problems. The IUDs currently on the market are Mirena and Paragard. Mirena has progestin, so it's similar to Depo or Norplant. Paragard is just copper, an IUD type that has been considered safe for decades. One of the things about IUDs is that the companies that make them don't recommend women without children to get one because they are afraid they will get sued if the woman later can't conceive. The thing is, some women just can't conceive anyway, and it's these women that the companies are afraid of, because ever since the fertility issues associated with the Dalkon Shield, people's minds link IUDs with fertility problems, even though that's not accurate. IUD's, in actuality (as more recent studies, and re-analysis of old studies, have shown) have no higher risk of infertility than any other method, provided you don't go untreated for PID. You can get pelvic inflammatory disease faster from STD's if you have an IUD (but either way PID untreated will make it difficult to conceive). When the data was analyzed, from both old studies and new, it was shown that there was no correlation between IUD users and infertility, but rather a correlation amongst chlamydia/PID history and infertility! So basically, that's the chief risk with an IUD. You need to make sure you're monogamous, or use condoms, and get tested for chlamydia yearly because you could be asymptomatic. And you just have to pay attention for PID symptoms, because treated early, it's not an issue. From what I've heard, PID is a pretty painful disease, so I would think it would be hard to miss, especially if you knew what to look for! I got my IUD 6 months ago and I love it. It was less than pleasant on insertion, and has made my periods heavier and crampier, but I LOVE not having hormones in my system. And I love the spontaneity. I wouldn't trade it for anything, and will have one always (except when I want to make babies, or when I get my partner to have a vasectomy!) If you want an IUD, talk to your practitioner about it. They are hesitant to put it in without counseling just because it's not cheap (not like the $20 you will have spent on a pack of pills you end up tossing out!), but they're good for 10-12 years, so they are cheap in the long run. Anyway, just wanted to throw in my $2. Maybe I am a little late on the draw here, but I wanted to clear up some myths about the IUD and some other stuff.

I couldn’t be on the pill because no matter what pill I tried, I had terrible side-effects. But, I think for anyone who is on the pill, Seasonale is not really any less-safe (as someone else stated, a pill-period is actually not the same as a true period. If it’s not a real period anyway, why feel compelled to have it??). In fact, doctors have been doing it for years with any monophasic pill. HOWEVER, this assumes that the pill is entirely safe, which is up to the individual to decide. It certainly can’t be argued to be natural, and it certainly causes problems in some women (libido problems are more widely seen in women than I think the pill companies are willing to admit. Our patriarchal society doesn’t seem to look into it too much either).

I am also allergic to spermicide, so after my pill debacle, I really only had two options: fertility awareness, and the Copper IUD. Fertility awareness didn’t have the flexibility I wanted, and I wanted something a little more foolproof. I’ve never had children, and yes, I definitely found websites that say you ABSOLUTELY shouldn’t have an IUD if you ever want children. This is a myth that is being debunked, but there are many “old school” practioners out there who just shudder because of the Dalkon Shield problem in the 70s. The Dalkon Shield was an anomaly, it was unlike any other IUD that had ever been put on the market and it caused a lot of SERIOUS problems. The IUDs currently on the market are Mirena and Paragard. Mirena has progestin, so it’s similar to Depo or Norplant. Paragard is just copper, an IUD type that has been considered safe for decades.

One of the things about IUDs is that the companies that make them don’t recommend women without children to get one because they are afraid they will get sued if the woman later can’t conceive. The thing is, some women just can’t conceive anyway, and it’s these women that the companies are afraid of, because ever since the fertility issues associated with the Dalkon Shield, people’s minds link IUDs with fertility problems, even though that’s not accurate. IUD’s, in actuality (as more recent studies, and re-analysis of old studies, have shown) have no higher risk of infertility than any other method, provided you don’t go untreated for PID. You can get pelvic inflammatory disease faster from STD’s if you have an IUD (but either way PID untreated will make it difficult to conceive). When the data was analyzed, from both old studies and new, it was shown that there was no correlation between IUD users and infertility, but rather a correlation amongst chlamydia/PID history and infertility! So basically, that’s the chief risk with an IUD. You need to make sure you’re monogamous, or use condoms, and get tested for chlamydia yearly because you could be asymptomatic. And you just have to pay attention for PID symptoms, because treated early, it’s not an issue. From what I’ve heard, PID is a pretty painful disease, so I would think it would be hard to miss, especially if you knew what to look for!

I got my IUD 6 months ago and I love it. It was less than pleasant on insertion, and has made my periods heavier and crampier, but I LOVE not having hormones in my system. And I love the spontaneity. I wouldn’t trade it for anything, and will have one always (except when I want to make babies, or when I get my partner to have a vasectomy!)

If you want an IUD, talk to your practitioner about it. They are hesitant to put it in without counseling just because it’s not cheap (not like the $20 you will have spent on a pack of pills you end up tossing out!), but they’re good for 10-12 years, so they are cheap in the long run.

Anyway, just wanted to throw in my $2.

]]> By: Kasie http://electrolicious.com/2003/09/seasonale#comment-2727 Kasie Sun, 29 Aug 2004 03:00:39 +0000 http://electrolicious.com/2003/09/seasonale#comment-2727 I'd just like to say, yes I was on Seasonale. For my doctors experimental purposes. I knew clearly the side effects and everything that was expected from it include over active hormones and breakthrough bleeding. I agreed to go through with the "experiment". She put six of us on Seasonale and by the end of the second cycle all six of us requested a change. Breakthrough bleeding is a light word to be used in this instance. I myself bled almost 80% of the 6 month period I was on the pill. Depression and moodiness were also very bad on all of us. I have never considered myself a depressed person, but on this pill I seemed to find every reason in my life I should be depressed. Thank God for a good boyfriend who hasn't left me yet due to the complete bitch trip I've been on over the past six months, but as a consumer of Seasonale I wouldn't advise anyone to take this particular pill. So, like everyone else said, the idea of only having a period 4 times a year is great, but the reality turns out to be that each period continues for numerous weeks completely destroying the idea. I’d just like to say, yes I was on Seasonale. For my doctors experimental purposes. I knew clearly the side effects and everything that was expected from it include over active hormones and breakthrough bleeding. I agreed to go through with the “experiment”. She put six of us on Seasonale and by the end of the second cycle all six of us requested a change. Breakthrough bleeding is a light word to be used in this instance. I myself bled almost 80% of the 6 month period I was on the pill. Depression and moodiness were also very bad on all of us. I have never considered myself a depressed person, but on this pill I seemed to find every reason in my life I should be depressed. Thank God for a good boyfriend who hasn’t left me yet due to the complete bitch trip I’ve been on over the past six months, but as a consumer of Seasonale I wouldn’t advise anyone to take this particular pill. So, like everyone else said, the idea of only having a period 4 times a year is great, but the reality turns out to be that each period continues for numerous weeks completely destroying the idea.

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