Riding with the pain

[indysteel]

I used to have horrible cramps and somewhat irregular and/or heavy periods until I stared birth control pills in 1999. I also suffer from menstrual migraines that are bad enough to interfere with several days each month and my doctor has played around with various pills to see what effect they might have. After years of being on various triphasial type BCPs, I am now on Loestrin 24. Thanks to the Loestrin, my period is now very, very light (I typically use between 2-3 tampons for the whole thing), very, very short (two days at most) and virtually cramp free. It hasn't eliminated my migraines, but they're easier to treat with Excedrin versus prescription migraine meds. The adjustment period to Loestrin was a bit rough. Emotionally speaking, I had a couple of bad months, but once that was over, it was smooth sailing.

I don't have any issue with altering my period almost to the point of elimination. The reading I've done has suggested that there's nothing wrong with it and that, in fact, by mimicing pregnancy (I don't have and probably won't have kids), you actually lower your chance of certain cancers. That said, I understand why it feels "healthier" to some ot have a regular period.

K-

[meridian]

I too had horrible cramping until I start a low dose pill form birth control (ortho tri cyclen lo). (Depo Provera did evil evil things to my body).

Ever since I was a teenager, the pain would consistently be on the 7-9 scale. For years I suffered through the agony and nausea and emotional havoc which affected me so much I would often have to miss school, leave work, and call in sick. Nothing did the trick.. heating pads, loads of otc pain relievers, herbs, exercise, etc.

With the form of BC I am on now, the pain is very manageable w/o treatment and often non-existent (0-3). The longer I have been on my prescription, the more manageable and less existent my symptoms have been. This is a solution you may want to try out.