Has any tried Seasonale??

[charliezangel]

This is that BC pill that only gives you 4 periods a year!!! As much as i would KILL to onlyh ave 4 a year, i'm worried about my body not having period for that long. If i was pg, obviously, that would be different. But is it safe for the body to simulate pregnancy for so long?? Also, i am one to miss maybe 1 pill a month and have to double up, but that can screw the whole thing up. if i don't get my period for 3 months, and keep taking the pill, how would i know if i really WAS pg?? KWIM??? Maybe not...so back to the original question...anyone use it? how did it make you feel? were you periods worse becuse they were so infrequent?? TIA

[greenbunny]

I don't take Seasonale brand, I take Orthocyclen on a three-month cycle. I have been doing it for three years. It is wonderful. Maybe a couple of times per year I have a little spotting, no more than a darker discharge than usual. No problems with it at all.

I am on this because naturally my periods are insane--about 15 days, with migraines, vomiting, and blacking out. Taking these pills has made my life bearable again. It absolutely lessened my pain and flow.

As far as simulating pregnancy, women in the past were pregnant a lot more often than they are now, with the advent of contraception. Many doctors feel that having so many periods might be problematic, but there is not yet long-term research available on this. One problem I recalls specifically is concern about ovarian cancer, due to the constant follicle generation/ovulation and scarring. Therefore, they not only feel that a 3-month cycle is okay, it might even be beneficial.

[amorey]

I'm on Seasonale. I was going to just take my regular BCPs and skip the placebo pills to save money, but my insurance wouldn’t approve the more frequent refills, so I had to do the brand name. I just finished my first pack, and I did get some spotting in month 2, but I’m hoping for less with my next pack.

As for skipping periods, the pill periods you get aren’t real periods. The way the hormones are set up tricks your body into beading to make it seem like you're getting your period. For more info about that and skipping periods, check out Take Control of Your Period (http://tcoyp.com/).

[Rancid13]

I'm on Seasonale. I started it back in January after my annual gyno visit and discussed it with her before making the decision to switch. I love it! I can't say enough positive things about it.

Prior to Seasonale I was taking the generic for Ortho Cyclen for about 3 years and was just plain tired of getting a darned period every friggin month. I talked to the nurse and my gyno, read thru the literature and discussed the pros/cons and ultimately decided that it was for me. I've had 2 periods this calendar year, and can't be happier about it!

One thing my dr. mentioned was that it doesn't matter how many periods you have per year-it's not considered unhealthy to skip a period (or two or three) by taking a continuous active bcp without the 1-week placebo. That was a worry of mine: is it safe to have only 4 periods a year? Her answer was absolutely! There is no reason a woman should menstruate 12-13 times a year...I think one of the shot-based forms of bc (Depo?) also gives women fewer periods, or perhaps to some no periods at all...if memory serves me right.

And my periods are exactly the same as before, they last for the same amount of time (4-5 days), and aren't any more or less painful (I get killer lower backaches the first day) than they were before. I just get them less frequently and it's less of a hassle to deal them this infrequently for me. I love it love it love it.

If you have any concerns about switching forms of bc, definitely make an appointment to talk to your dr or gyno about it. Sometimes that really helps, to get the literature and read about it, and hear it from her/him regarding the pros and cons, then decide from there if it's for you or not. :)

[lml41981]

My doctor said that she doesn't like giving women Seasonale unless they really insist upon it (or I suppose for insurance reasons, as amorey stated) because she thinks the pharm co must think women are too dumb to know that we have been skipping periods for years by skipping placebos and that we'll just fall for this "new" contraceptive because it is packaged differently. She doesn't like the fact that it is marketed as a new thing when it isn't at all.

As for it being safe to have so few periods...I can't imagine why it wouldn't be safer to lose less blood and less iron. Periods are notorious for causing women to have anemia. Plus, with all the cramping and all that comes along with periods...it is just much nicer not to have to have them all the time. Plus, you spend less on pads and tampons!

[PGirl26]

I've been taking Seasonale for almost a year. I've not had any health problems with it thus far. I've never had spotting or any other issues. Having 4 periods a year is WONDERFUL. My only issue, which may not even be related, is that I've gained weight. My weight gain started about the same time as I started taking Seasonale. I'm going to my Gyn. to have it changed, or even come of of BC completed next month. Since November 04 I've gained roughly 30 lbs...and it's KILLING me!! Again, I don't know for sure if that's what caused the weight gain, but nothing else in my life/diet changed.

Anyone else had this problem?

[Georgiana]

My doctor said that she doesn't like giving women Seasonale unless they really insist upon it (or I suppose for insurance reasons, as amorey stated) because she thinks the pharm co must think women are too dumb to know that we have been skipping periods for years by skipping placebos and that we'll just fall for this "new" contraceptive because it is packaged differently. She doesn't like the fact that it is marketed as a new thing when it isn't at all.




Same here. My doctor doesn't like prescribing it either. However she told me if I wanted to have less periods I can to the back-to-back BCP's and get the same effect. I tried it and didn't care for it at all. I prefer my monthly flows.. BTW, I use OVCON 28 I used to have heavy periods and this makes them lighter and bearable....

[tbell]

I love it, too. I've been on it for maybe 2 years. A lot of times, I don't even get a period on my placebo week, which my doctor says is fine. Gosh, I can't even remember the last time I had any flow. I didn't gain any weight; I barely even knew I had switched from Orthocept. As for knowing when you're pregnant, I think your body will tell you in plenty of other ways besides your period!

I recommended it to a friend, but she had a weird reaction to it and had continuous spotting the whole time she was on it.

[shopaholic]

Thought I would bring this topic back up. I am currently on ortho tri lo & I am thinking of switching to Seasonale...or at least taking back to back without my placebo week (can this even be done with Ortho LO?) I am sick of being ill. Yes, my cramps are more berable being on Ortho Lo, but I am sick of feeling nauseated....CONSTANTLY! I was kidding with a co-worker that people probably think I am PG with my constant naseated feeling. It could also be the midol I took this morning but UGH, I feel ill. I am sitting here getting hot flashes and I am only 24!

My annual visit is up in October so I was thinking of mentioning it then.