Women and Birth Control??

I did seem to flare after taking the pill, and you have to be careful because if you're having excessive diarrhea, you might not even give the pill time to absorb, thus decreasing its effectiveness.

I've been using the NuvaRing for two years now and have had NO problems. You just leave it in place for three weeks and then take it out for one and have a regular, predictable period. It might take a month or two if yours aren't regular now (mine NEVER were) but they will regulate with it. Also, I used to have such heavy periods that I would have to wear a super plus tampon AND a pad because I would bleed through them like crazy, but now I usually have one or two heavy days, then maybe two or three light days and that's it, for a period that typically lasts three/four days.

Also it has never caused a flare and I think it's because it's a lower dose than the pill (but still just as effective)

I have never had a problem with the pill, I was on it for over 10 years now. I was on Marvelon 21, and now on Alysse. Although, I started the pill long before I was diagnosed with Colitis. I started it to regulate my periods also.

some women benefit from being on the pill. Because it mocks pregnancy, and pregnancy can cause remission in some women, i was actually told by my GI to take the pill, i was already on it, but he told me not to stop it, that it could help keep it from getting worse. And when i did actually stop, i would have worse times than before.

If you can find another good method besides the BC pill then go that route...the pill is basically based on hormones, hormone fluctuations are very much linked to IBD (and IBS) in actually exacerbating symptoms, reason why many of us have worse times during that time of the month...also the BC pill can increase or bring on yeat infections due to hormonal imbalances caused by the pill...needless to say and actually either way (pill or not) taking probitoics is essential to aid with the bacterial over-growth that can be brought on by the pill (reason behind yeast infections) which is a big reason why our symptoms become exacerbated (bacterial over-growth and relation the exacerbation of IBD symptoms).

:)

Those of you not on the pill - whats your method of choice to avoid pregnancy?

My husband uses condoms! So low tech.... I don't want to go on the pill- have never been on it, I smoke a little, & the thought of taking hormones for any reason freaks me out. Plus, they do wreak major havoc with IBD. And I figure I take enough necessary pills daily as is- no need to add an optional one! I looked into an IUD after our daughter was born- the science behind those is that the body treats it as a foreign object, & causes low-level inflammation in your uterus to prevent eggs from attaching. I have enugh unwanted inflammation as is- not gonna use anything to cause more! I had a diaphragm when I was younger, but stopped using it with the advent of STD's (this being back in the '80s, when the whole safe sex thing was just beginning). We had always used condoms prior to pregnancy, they're cheap, portable, easy to use & obtain. Especially since I work in a health clinic, & just grab handfuls from the lab when we need them. We waited on the vasectomy because I had been seriously considering surgery for the UC, so one surgery in the family per year is enough. And he just never pursued it afterwards. Some day he'll go ahead & do it, but for now, condoms it is! I'm cool with that.

I used birth control, before and after UC, to regulate and improve my periods. A few years ago, I took Ortho Tri-Cyclen (sp?) and I had breakthrough bleeding all the time for the first two months. And it only improved my periods for 2 months. I took Kariva earlier this year for two months and it made my periods WORSE. I would have uncontrollable diarrhea (25+ BM's), vomiting, and nausea for the first two days of my period. The second time I even went to the ER. And I think this is what caused my current flare; before that I was in remission with just 6 Asacol. Now I'm on Remicade and considering surgery...I am totally kicking myself for taking bc pills.