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Anyone Catholic meds and no b.control

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 3/13/2012 1:55 PM (GMT 0)
Another challenge to my situation is that I am Catholic and do not use birth control.  If I go on these bigger meds I have a chance of getting pregnant.  We do chart and use NFP method.  And actually I am open to one more child as well.

Curious if there is anyone out there like me.

Also for the women who plan on pregnancy, how are you going to handle meds then?

Posted 3/13/2012 2:01 PM (GMT 0)
Honestly, if you're doing NFP correctly (charting temp and the like) and assuming your cycle is fairly regular and you have good "fertility signs," NFP has as good of a success rate as the pill/condom. I read "Taking Charge of Your Fertility," and charted when my husband and I were TTC, and feel confident I could avoid pregnancy through charting because my cycle is regular and it was pretty clear when I was fertile.

We are thinking about having a second baby, and if I do get pregnant, I will for sure stay on my current meds (oral/rectal mesalamine). If I happen to flare while pregnant and can't get it in control by upping the mesalamine enemas, I'll first try steroid enemas, and if I have to, I'll use pred. I'd prefer to avoid it in the first trimester, when there's an increased risk of cleft palate.

As for other drugs, I haven't really researched it, but I know of several women who had healthy babies while on 6MP/Imuran, Remicade, and Humira.
Posted 3/13/2012 2:09 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks fruitgirl. I can't take mesalamine so if I was to go on 6mp my ob/gyn suggested going on it to get things under control and taper off it. I know that is not a GIs perspective. Wonder if I would even be able to taper off now. This time it's sooo stubborn. I've always responded quickly to treatment, watched my diet and done pretty well. If any of you have been on 6mp while pregnant please let me know. My fear is not that my child will have birth defects but they'd be at risk for some cancer or something, being exposed in utero.
Posted 3/13/2012 3:56 PM (GMT 0)
When I was at the gynocologist 2 months ago, she said that 6mp is a Category D drug which means that "there is positive evidence of human fetal risk but the benefits may outweigh the risks."

If you have to take 6mp, I guess it should be because you REALLY need it. For me, I wouldn't risk it just because every medication you take while pregnant also goes to your baby.
Posted 3/13/2012 4:04 PM (GMT 0)
I took immuran while I was pregnant, and wass teriffied everyday of what it might be doing to my baby. I was lucky he is fine. One of the most important things for any woman is to take lots of folic acid, it helps fight brain defects, but it needs to be in your system when you get pregnant.
As for the charting method, I've heard it can be fairly effective, but the big meds can really screw up your cycle, so be watchful of that.
Posted 3/13/2012 4:09 PM (GMT 0)
I don't know if they recommend you go off of Imuran when pregnant but the mechanism by which this drug works is so incredibly frightening that I don't know how it could not have some impact on the fetus/baby perhaps long term. I am incredibly scared of this drug, though, perhaps irrationally so. I would do as much research as I could and then assess which risks you were willing to take.
Posted 3/13/2012 8:36 PM (GMT 0)
I am with you killcolitis....it terriifies me too, perhaps irrationally so.
Posted 3/13/2012 8:41 PM (GMT 0)
The thought of passing on my UC genes scares me!!
Posted 3/13/2012 9:27 PM (GMT 0)
don't 90% of catholics use birth control anyway?
Posted 3/13/2012 10:04 PM (GMT 0)
perhaps not such a nice chance to take  - getting pregnant and being on those meds...the meds could hurt the baby and/or you could pass on uc to it.  not a chance i would want to take/do to another human being.
Posted 3/13/2012 11:20 PM (GMT 0)
IF you are in danger of a flare they will leave you on the immuran, because a flare is far more dangerous. And it takes at least 6 months for it to get out of your system. there is no winner there.
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