Question:
3 part question about Birth control pills, effectivness, wt gain
Hi everyone. I am considering going on "tricycline" (three phase birth control pills). Has anyone used this brand of birth control pills post op? I am terrified of slowing my wt loss down (5.5 weeks post op). I am interested in finding out who's used these; Are they effective (due to absorbtion problems)after WLS; and has anyone gained weight using them or had their weight loss slow down because of it? I would appreciate anyone's input. I refuse to go on depo shot, as I have heard too many horrors about weight gain and hindered weight loss. Please share! Thanks and God bless you all. — Happy I. (posted on June 20, 2003)
June 19, 2003
I was told by my surgeon - and my OB/GYN - that birth control pills would
no longer be a "safe" method of birth control, as they could not
be sure that they would be properly absorbed. IF you want to use this type
of hormonal birth control, the Patch could be a good option once you are
under 200 pounds. In answer to your other question, if you have any weight
gain with birth control, it is not more than a few pounds, and it will not
hinder your weight loss (my own experience, at least). When I went off of
the pill for this surgery, I did not notice any change in my weight - nor
did I notice a change when I went ON the pill some 15 or 16 years ago. Hope
that helps.
— johanniter
June 19, 2003
I talked in depth with my OB/GYN & my surgeon about this and since
after surgery our absorption is compromised, the pills that are taken
orally are not as effective. I have started using a new thing called the
Nuva Ring (see www.nuvaring.com) and it's just a clear plastic ring that
is inserted vaginally and you leave it for three weeks, take it out for the
fourth week and have your period, and then put a new one back in for three
weeks. You can't feel it and don't know its there, but its time-released
hormones that are released directly at the cervix and have nothing to do
with absorption. And, best of all, the rate of failure for the pill is
3-5% when used perfectly--the rate of failure for the Nuva Ring is 1% when
used perfectly...so its more effective than the pill!! Check it out! I
love it...and you don't have to remember to take a pill everyday!
— dlpnjlp
June 20, 2003
Okay, here's my two cents: I am on depo (had to pick a birth control
method before surgery per surgeon) but was told to get off of it by my OB
GYN due to my concerns of developing osteoporosis. My OB has started me on
Mircette birth control pills to provide estrogen as well as another method
of birth control for when the depo wears off at the end of July. Then I
started to read up on how we don't absorb the pills all that great and
freaked out. I am not sexually active now but.....you never know right?!
So I consulted my OB and she said not to go on a TRI level birth control
pill--for what reason I do not know. She has called the makers of
Orthocycline (which is a stronger birth control pill that she would like to
put me on) to see what they knew about this surgery in relation to
absorbtion of their product. They are researching it right now. So I am
playing the waiting game now. We'll just wait and see what happens but I
am very concerned too. Good luck.
— TP
June 20, 2003
I had this concern as well. I'm currently taking the pill (Ortho Novum
777). Last night we had our bi-weekly support group meeting and I posed
the question. The nurse that runs the group said that he pills are
absorbed just fine and she hasn't had anyone become pregnant that has taken
the pill since surgery.
— Amy D.
June 20, 2003
I can tell you my experience I used the pill from the day I had my surgery
6/01 lost 150 pounds and found out last July I was pregnant!! Gave birth to
a little girl in March:) So becareful!!
— Tiffini P.
June 20, 2003
Its so funny how every doctor has a different opinion about things like
this. I called my doctor after my procedure because i kept seeing people
that would talk about how they would become preganet like 4 months after
surgery. I called my OB-GYN and they said i needed to immediately start
the patch because gastric by-pass patients bodies dont absorb as well. So
im on the Ortha-evra patch right now. I even had a procedure where they
had to put me asleep and right before they were putting me down she said
dont be alarmed if you feel anything, because your body dosent absorb as
well. I guess you would really just need to see what your doctor has to
say. Good luck to you!
— cmontoya324
June 20, 2003
Both my surgeon and pcp told me it was ok to take oral birth control. I was
on ortho tricyclen before and after surgery with no problem. I switched to
the patch (ortho evra) shortly after surgery and didn't really care for it.
I went back to tricyclen until recently trying orthociclen (non tri-phase)
so that I wouldn't have to have a period every month. (You can take these
continuously and skip your period.) It didn't really work for me - I had a
lot of spotting, etc so I've gone back to tricyclen again. I've had no
problems and no weight gain.
— Karla K.
June 20, 2003
I currently use Yasmin bcp both for birth control and to help with my pcos
symptoms. My surgeon said that it would continue to work for me after
surgery, and so far that seems to be the case. I don't have any break-thru
bleeding, so I think that it's probably being absorbed. I have not noticed
that Yasmin has interfered with my weight loss at all. In the past, I
tried Evra (the bc patch) for a month, and my weight loss stopped dead in
its tracks for that entire month. When I stopped the patch, and bega
taking Yasmin again, my weight loss resumed as well.
— Laurie A.
June 21, 2003
I've always heard that birth control can make you gain weight. I was
within 5 lbs. of my goal and went on the patch. I've gained about 10 lbs.
and am not happy about it, though I know that part of it is my eating
habits.....and I AM going to lose the weight! I'm on the Ortho-Evra birth
control patch and absolutely LOVE it! I put one on my butt or hip every
Sunday for 3 weeks and then don't wear one for a week. It's absolutely
wonderful!
— Lynette B.
June 21, 2003
I'm on ortho tricyclene, for control of my PCOS and to prevent pregnancy.
I'm over five months out, and it seems to be working. I've had no signs
that it is not being absorbed, and am not pregnant. However, I do find I'm
losing very slowly --42-44 pounds after 5 months-- this is about 1/2 way to
goal, so it isn't quite as little as it seems. I don't know if the Pills
are the reason or not; I do lose weight during the "off-week",
though. <br>
I tried not going back on it after my last period, but the PCOS symptoms
were just too bad, so I went back. I gained 2 pounds-- but will lose it
next period.
— Beth S.
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