Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with Hormones

Possible hormone deficiency?

Anonymous — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:45:59 -0800

I think I may have a hormone deficiency. I plan to see a doctor. What should I expect? I (male, late twenties) have recently started to suspect I have a hormone deficiency. This is very unscientific, based on internet diagnosis, but the symptoms seem to fit: depression, fatigue, low sex drive, trouble building muscle/burning fat even when I work out regularly. I'm thinking of going to a doctor about it, but I don't know what to prepare for.

For one, I'm currently unemployed and without health insurance. There's a good chance that will be rectified within a week or two, but no guarantees so I'm anxious about anything that might lead to expensive tests or treatments or be considered a pre-existing condition.

As for the clinical stuff, I don't want to come off as a hypochondriac, or worse yet that I might be trying to finagle some legal steroids (thinking about Bigger, Stronger, Faster* here). What would be a good way to broach this issue with a doctor? Also, is this something I would just bring up with a GP or should I be making an appointment with a specialist?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Help me figure out a direction to go to figure out what's wrong with me?

Anonymous — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:53:41 -0800

Paging Dr. House. Medical mystery involving girly bits and hormonal madness lurks within. Probably SFW. YANMD, and probably YANAD, but my doctors are flummoxed and I'm desperate enough to go to the internet for help. I just want to know what the hell is the matter with me.

I'm 37 years old and I had twins in 2007. The babies were fine, but I ended up getting some sort of infection. About a week after the babies were born, I landed back in the hospital hemorrhaging with a high fever.

In spite of the hemorrhage, I was able to breastfeed to a point and did so until earlier this year. I didn't get a period until June but wasn't concerned because of the breastfeeding. In July, my period got wacky. I've been getting bleeding, at first just spotting and then like a regular period then back to spotting, for two weeks at a time. After two weeks of no bleeding, it repeats. After three months of this happening I got an appointment with a GYN.

The doctor ran some blood tests and found that I had lutenizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in the normal range (I don't have numbers) but estradiol that was unmeasurably low. I got sent off for an MRI to see if I had a brain tumor, which I don't. Yay! In fact, the MRI results were entirely normal.

I was a little surprised about that, since several years ago I had an MRI done for a different condition and my pituitary was abnormally large. On follow-up, the gynecologist did a biopsy for uterine cancer and put me on a birth control pill - Lo-Estrin24. She said that there was little uterine tissue and said that I could have an atrophic condition linked to my low estrogen level. She also said that the Pill would regulate my odd bleeding, which it hasn't.

Along with the odd bleeding, I've also had fatigue, no sex drive at all, thinning hair, horrific night sweats (I soak the bed two to three times a night) and continuing weight loss. I've had night sweats since I was 29 but these are on a different scale of bad. I've lost almost 50 pounds from my pre-pregnancy weight, but much of that could be from effects of breastfeeding and being busy dealing with twin toddlers. My thyroid levels are normal. I'm being referred to an internal medicine doc to check me for lymphoma (!).

My first thought was premature ovarian failure, but the doc said that my LH and FSH should be higher for that. Some googling brought up the possibility of Sheehan's Syndrom (pituitary damage from postpartum hemorrhage) but the doctor said that I wouldn't have hormones in the normal range.

Other stuff that might make a difference:
-My short-term memory officially sucks. I thought it was just from sleep deprivation (twin babies and all) but as the twins have gotten older and I've gotten more sleep my memory has not improved.
-During my whole pregnancy I had hyperemesis.
-At the twins' c-section delivery I had a tubal ligation.
-My mother went through menopause early but after age 40.
-My dad's thyroid is having issues, just developed in the past couple of years.
-Was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis at age 12. I flare a few times a year.

Where should I go from here? Besides being evaluated for lymphoma, I mean.

Thank you for your indulgence. I'm trying to be as clear and calm as I can but it's some work right now, believe me.

How do I know whether I'm depressed, or if it's birth control?

Xere — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:16:43 -0800

I've started hormonal birth control (Ortho Tri Cyclen Lo) for the first time, and am currently on my third day. I've heard/read of the accompanying depression and mood swings. When can I expect side effects, so that I can assess myself and decide whether or not to continue with the pill? What sort of red flags should I look out for, in case I don't realize I'm being depressive, mood-swingy, or sans sex drive? A year's supply of birth control was free, and I consider this much more economical than a $400 abortion. I'm trying to be careful and responsible, by using both condoms and birth control.

The women in my family are either bipolar or depressed (and I'm fairly sure that none of them are on the pill, or ever have been) So far, I'm the only one who hasn't shown any signs of it. I am determined not to become like them.

I intend to quit the pill the moment I find out it's turning me into a depressive. How can I keep an eye out for this, and know whether it's just me having a bad day, or if it's birth control-related? I don't have the option of asking someone else to monitor and assess my moods, because I don't see any one person on a daily basis.

Also: there are three different kinds of active pills in each pack. Could I test out one kind per day, and see how each different kind affects my moods? Seems risky - is it? Or do I have to wait out a month or three, or just wait and see if my moods start to turn?

Help us save Hormona the banshee cat.

Viola — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:58:27 -0800

A cat in heat is keeping up the entire household at night with her werewolf yowling. They're about ready to give her up. What can they do? Much more inside. My friends own Mona Lisa, one of the sweetest, calmest, funniest cats I've ever met. They adopted her from the animal shelter as kitten 3 years ago after she'd apparently been spayed. When the cat went into heat again and again over the next few months, the couple took her to the vet, who performed exploratory surgery to make sure they hadn't missed any ovarian tissue. Vets came up with nada, even suggesting the couple made up the claims. Yet Mona's symptoms are classic ones of a cat in heat--she yowls like a banshee, crouches with her butt in the air, has loose stools, throws up her food, and basically does anything she can to get some action. The symptoms are fairly prevalent during the day but absolutely terrible at night. The couple shut off their bedroom to keep Mona from tearing at the curtains, but the cat just threw her body against the door in a mad frenzy. It was, says the wife, like a different animal had possessed their sweet kitty.

The couple felt they could deal with Mona's hormones every so often until they had a baby who wakes up during these nightly episodes, ending with a screaming cat and a screaming baby. It's gotten to the point where no one in the house can sleep even when they lock Mona in the bathroom with her litter box and put in ear plugs. They live in a small loft apartment, so sounds reverberate quite easily. Moreover, the cat just seems miserable during these cycles.

The vet says he can do another exploratory surgery at a whopping 10K, but he promises little remedy and feels it will cause the cat more stress than good. The family loves this cat, but they're at their wit's end and need to get some sleep. Googling "calming cat in heat" produces some disturbing, NSFW results that no one is willing to do. As of right now, no family friends have stepped up to adopt Mona, so their next option is an animal shelter that will surely have to warn future owners that Mona turns into a horny, leg-biting werewolf every other month.

Is there any hope for this family to keep the cat, any remedies they can try, or will they have to give her back to the shelter? Any help is much appreciated.

coping with new symptoms of PMS

Aleatoire — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 19:10:14 -0800

Seeking advice from someone who underwent a hormonal shift that suddenly had them struggling with the psychological symptoms of PMS when, in the past, a pain reliever and warm compress had been sufficient to keep their period under control. Can this shift from a purely physical to a fiercely mental experience of PMS be, in any way, reversed? [If you have the time to read it, what follows expands on the question above. I apologize for the length. I am aware that, in all likelihood, YANAD, and that I should see one. I will.]

Several months before turning twenty, my period went missing for the first time in my life; though slightly worrying, it was perhaps also a blessing, as it eliminated the intense cramping and fatigue that had always accompanied it. It remained missing until, twelve months later, a nurse practitioner prescribed me ten days of progesterone to (in her words) "get the motor back up and running", countering my hesitations towards the pills with the claim that I should not have waited as long as I did and that my reproductive capacities were at stake.

However, by the third day of the progesterone, it was evident that something was wrong. I entered into an debilitatingly unstable emotional period (others know me as a strong person of a stoic temperament) which began with a cavernous sadness that intermittently surfaced as inconsolable bursts of tears and steadily deepened into compulsive feelings of death (akin to the visceral panic and vertigo felt if one were to accidentally fall from a very high place or onto something dangerous, a downward motion, (mis)recognition of impending doom, fighting against gravity and the weight of one's own body). Physically, half of fingers on my left hand became painful and swelled to twice their normal size and, by the sixth day, had broken the surrounding skin.

Observing the warnings on the enclosed instructions, I stopped at the sixth dosage and my period returned, soon after. When the university health center re-opened for the spring semester (this took place during the winter break all when services were suspended) and I conferred with the nurse, the treatment was taken as a success, despite the anomalous reaction. I was given a steroid cream for my hand (water retention, she said) which returned to its normal size.

It's been seven months. Though my cycles have, since then, been restored, they have returned unlike any that I have experienced. The somatic symptoms that had in in the past accompanied my period are dwarfed by the emotional state that anticipates it. The period before my period (which, if I am late, can last more than a few weeks with a palpable peak in intensity immediately preceding it), I am prone to enter into--and lose myself in--a state of intense depersonalization and depression (dysphoria is the more appropriate word). What's immensely frustrating is that it is precisely when I am selected for a scholarship to study and write on what I love that functions as a point of entry into graduate studies (my greatest desire) that I am swept up into this emotional vertigo whose source is not circumstantial but internal. When I am in it, I am too wound up to be able to focus and I am deeply afraid that the consequence of this change in hormones has changed who I am as a person -- or, at the very least, has created a difficult obstruction for who I want to be.

Is this something that will remain with me throughout my life or is there a possibility of returning to that prior state where a period was just bad cramping and heavy bleeding? If so, what does it take? If it is permanent, what can I do to cope with this increasingly emerging aspect of PMS and what helps to mitigate its effects (giving up sugar, wheat, and dairy, on top of being a vegetarian)? How tightly related are the intensity of the symptoms and diet?

With my psychologist's encouragement, I have made an appointment with another nurse practitioner but am unsure what to do if I am prescribed another series of hormone pills (as some form of birth control), now knowing the some of the possible repercussions. Would suppressing my period be the best solution, in the long run, or is PMS still prone to occur when menstruation is synthetically inhibited?

Thank you, tremendously.

Atlanta doctor filter: help me find the right doc

shaarog — Mon, 04 May 2009 07:42:17 -0800

Good Bioidentical doctor in Atlanta? I want to give this a try. Several relatives have had good success with using these for various solutions. I do not want to go to a doctor to "look younger." Not that I would mind looking younger....but it seems that some are pitching just that aspect.
Short story is I went through menapause in my early 30's, was on HRT for 15 years and have been off for 7 years. Yes I am older than dirt.
I have been to several endocrynologists and they all seem to think I have hormonal problems when they take my history but never find anything after testing. I would like to get some baselines and see if something can be done for a few lingering symptoms. But I do not want to go to some hack who is looking to make big bucks by promising me the moon.
Can anyone recommend a legit doc in Atlanta who is good with bioidenticals?

I don't read Chinese, but I do speak Science.

i_am_a_fiesta — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 16:57:02 -0800

I'm thinking of getting a tattoo of a bunch of organic molecules that represent positive traits, feelings, etc. More along the lines of serotonin representing happiness than ethanol or caffeine representing happiness. What are your ideas for emotions/ traits and their corresponding chemicals?

Bitter little pill

t0astie — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 21:01:13 -0800

I want to take birth control pills again. But in the past I've had lots of problems with the three different pills I've tried. I know you are not a doctor, or my doctor, and I will see my doctor. But your experiences with birth control might help me make my choice when I do see the doc. So please, tell me, have you ever taken a birth control pill WITHOUT loss of libido, mood swings, madness, weight gain and skin issues? If so, what pill did you take? Background
I've tried Diane-35, Triphasil and Marvelon at various times, all with devastating and completely unacceptable side effects. I stopped about nine years ago, after a particularly terrible six months on Marvelon. On all of them, I had mood swings, depression, weight gain, nausea, tearfulness and zero libido.

On Marvelon I felt possibly the worst I have ever felt in my life, ever.

I am not prepared to kiss my sex drive goodbye, be transformed into a raving unstable psycho, have my face covered in zits or stack on a stone to take the pill.

But. My period is agony, I am miserable and PMS-y for a fortnight each month, then exhausted and crampy and faint and sick for three days out of the seven I bleed for.

Have tried everything else I can think of to fix the period issues: acupuncture, lifestyle changes (exercise, cut down caffeine, increased whole foods, fruit, veggies, minimal processed food, a range of supplements including evening primrose); acupuncture; massage; anti-inflammatories; various prescription and non prescription painkillers. All of these have helped, but have not fixed the problem. Also, yes, I have been checked out, I don't have endometriosis, cysts, fibroids, or any other problem like that. At this point, it's so terrible and debilitating, the pill is finally starting to look like something I'd consider again.

When I go and see the doctor, I'm thinking of asking about new low-dose pills and giving those ago, maybe having my period six monthly, or quarterly.

I've read through a stack of birth control questions, and anecdotally, it looks like Tri-cyclen in all its forms cause depression and anxiety symptoms, as do Microgynon, Alesse, Loestrin and Desogen.

Yasmin, Yaz and low estrogen pills seem to show up in the ''it worked for me'' responses, with less mood swing madness. But they also seem to cause loss of libido. This is a deal breaker.

I looked at this table, but it doesn't cover loss of libido (a real deal breaker) and also lists Triphasil as good for s moodiness and depression. Which. No.

So: Does anyone have any recommendations for side-effect minimal birth control pills that might let me keep the lovin' feeling, stay a normal weight, and not go stark raving mad?

Yep, I know, in the end, it will just come down to me and my unique reaction. But your annecdata will help me decide what to try first.

I am NOT interested in: and IUD, a diaphragm, patches, nuva ring or implants.

Trying to decide if I should stay on birth-control pills or not.

CrazyLemonade — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 08:58:40 -0800

Trying to decide if I should stay on birth-control pills or not. Please help. I'm taking pills called Gynovin, composed of 20 mg ethinylestradiol and 75 mg gestoden. Some googling tells me those are very small amounts of hormones, which apparently "provides great acceptance in women and a high tolerance".

I started taking the pills about 8 months ago, two months before I got married. I don't think I've had any physical adverse effects except maybe feeling tired a lot, but that could be caused by other stuff. What makes me ask this question is that recently I've began to think that a lot of my emotional problems could be caused by the pills, but I'm not sure, as there's also been a lot going on in my life.

Some "symptoms":
-complete loss of libido, (which is funny, since we waited for sex until we got married, and I DID have a pretty fine libido before)
-I feel angry all the time, plus, I get very explosive
-I've been feeling "randomly" depressed sometimes during the last few months, watching tv for hours or feeling ignored and unappreciated

Things going on in my life right now:
-I'm a high school teacher with a lot of work (4 groups with a total of 118 students)
-I'm studying my master's degree online (almost all the work is done in teams)
-my husband are in the last stages of building a house, with lots of details to oversee and lots of people and suppliers to supervise
-generally adapting to married life (has been mostly easier than I thought)

So, sorry for all the info, but I really don't want to spend my first year of marriage angry all the time and having no fun with sex. It's no fair for me, OR my husband, who I really love, and has been getting most of the second-hand effects of my emotional craziness. Yet, I don't know if I should blame the pills or if I should just blame life. I've always been prone to feeling emotionally stressed and anxious, but the thing that makes me most unsure is the complete loss of any sexual desire (or enjoyment). I'm considering going off the pills and maybe using some of the natural methods, which mean a lot of work, but no hormones.

I know this isn't really a concrete questions, but I know there's a lot of Mefites out there with a lot more experience with birth contro. Help me figure this out, please.

It's a ring thing

chickaboo — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 19:02:37 -0800

I think my nuvaring is improving my complexion. true? I have not had any success with hormonal birth control clearing up acne in the past, but I've just realized that my skin is much much better, even in the humid summer months, and I'm wondering if I can credit the nuvaring?
Has anyone else had the same experience?

Any way to reduce the size of Montgomery's glands?

Anonymous — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 06:44:32 -0800

I've wondered forever, and now I'm finally asking: Has anyone out there had success with diminishing swollen Montgomery's glands? I'm 33, never had children, not on the pill or other hormones, in excellent health, and very physically active. No serious complaints, fortunately--only one nagging question that neither doctors nor Google have been able to help me answer: Is there something I can do to reduce the size of the Montgomery's glands on my breasts?

Shortly after I hit 30, I began noticing large Montgomery's glands forming on the areolae of my breasts, which (after repeatedly making sure I wasn't pregnant) I chalked up to my getting older and the normal changes of life. They never went away, and as I've aged, they've gotten even bigger, more swollen, and more pimply-looking (sorry, folks!), much to my chagrin.

I've asked two OB/GYN practitioners and one general practitioner about this, and all of them have said that it's normal, nothing to worry about, just a sebaceous gland, etc. Internet searches have revealed similar information. I'm glad there's nothing serious going on, and I know this is probably just one of many cosmetic changes that happens during the aging process.

However, curiosity and vanity got the better of me this evening, and I gotta ask: Is there anything I can do to decrease the appearance of these glands? Thanks.

Hack Hack Hyeeeuuueegh

Ambrosia Voyeur — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 10:19:18 -0800

What can I do about this empty-stomach retching? When I haven't eaten, like first thing in the mornings, I retch a little at the drop of a hat. Yeah, I know what that sounds like. BUT I'VE NEVER BEEN PREGNANT. So unfair.

I think this has only been the case since I got off the birth control pill, and I probably think that because I had some vaguely hormonal nausea-related issues in the past. When I was on the pill, for example, taking it on an empty stomach or even a relatively empty stomach would give me horrible nausea leading to copious retching and vomiting. Now, what I have feels more like a nervous stomach. If I get up quickly, or see something unsavory, smell smoke, or jeez, encounter a stiff breeze, I cough and retch a little, but it's not a down-on-my-knees-hugging-the-toilet situation. I never actually throw up from this, but I bet if I went down in front of the toilet, I surely would.

If I've eaten a meal, this goes away. Unfortunately, I can't just be putting food on my pain all the damn time. A big breakfast does not jive with my weight loss plan. I think eating too much and drinking too much booze may have contributed to this sorry state of affairs, too. So, I'm making a big effort to put those behaviors in check. I'm also a sufferer of Generalized Anxiety Disorder, so this kind of thing could be yet another creative way my body expresses stress. There are many, after all.

So, that's the whole picture. Please assist. What are good ways to settle my stomach, short off going back on the pill or eating heavy foods? Herbal tea? Pepto Bismol? Old Morning Sickness aids? Any recommendations would be appreciated. Coughing and gagging in front of people is getting old. Thanks.

How can I shorten my period naturally?

Anonymous — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 15:11:47 -0800

Is there a way to shorten my period that does NOT involve birth control? I have a period that lasts seven to nine days, seven if I'm lucky. At least three to four of those days are quite heavy. It's a huge pain, for reasons detailed under the cut. Would weight loss work? Diet? Increased exercise? Ancient herbal secrets? Is there anything, anything at all? Has anything caused a permanent shortening of your cycle? The heavy seven-to-nine day period has been the norm since I hit puberty, minus the time I was on birth control. Three to four of that is extremely, change-a-heavy-flow-tampon-every-hour-or-two heavy. Another three to four is moderate flow. I get one or two light days on a good month. It is a pain--it's expensive as I go through pads and tampons like mad. The heaviness is a deterrent to my sex life, since neither of us are keen on doing it under an endometrial waterfall. It provides a week of constant worrying about leakage. And due to the length combined with the need for the pad-tampon duo, I don't get as aired out as I should and develop a monthly yeast infection at least halfway through.

My total cycle length is anywhere from 30-32 days. While on birth control, it shortened to 28 days, with a four-day period of light to moderate flow. I was very pleased, just not with all of the negative effects of it. I have tried multiple forms of hormonal birth control and all have caused problems, so I'm not looking for that answer right now.

I would like any suggestions, even wacky ones, of ways to shorten my cycle naturally. Weight loss, diet, herbal remedies, whatever. Please, I'm desperate!

Help me find this website again.

arianell — Wed, 21 May 2008 02:37:56 -0800

Does anyone know where I can find a comparison chart for different kinds of hormonal birth control? Once when I was browsing the internet, I came across a very helpful website that had a lot of information on different types of birth control. In addition to information on lots of major types of contraceptives (the pill vs. the patch vs. an IUD, etcetera), it had a really cool chart that compared different brands of the Pill, listing the types and amounts of hormones in each brand, and it had some advice on which brands were more likely to cause which side effects (weight gain, mood swings, skin problems, and the like).

Does anyone know where I can find this chart, or a similar one? For some reason, I think the website was maintained by an organization in the UK, but I could be wrong. It seemed very official and well-researched.

No ovaries, now what?

Anonymous — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 07:50:45 -0800

I recently had an operation to remove my remaining ovary. I just turned 40 and am now on hormones. What should I expect? About 7 years ago, I had surgery to remove a twisted ovary. This past week, I had the same procedure to remove the other one. Now that I am ovary-less, the doc put me on hormones and I'm wondering what will happen.

Some background: I've never had any PMS issues; in fact, I didn't have a cramp until my 30s and thought other women were making stuff up or being dramatic about weight gain, mood swings, etc. (Sorry, ladies, I had no frame of reference.) My periods have been like clockwork, 28 days apart every month. I have heard that women who don't have PMS have an easier menopause (hoping this is more than wishful thinking).

My questions: will I immediately start looking old? (I know this is superficial but, hey, that's why I'm posting anonymously.) Or maybe better since I've only had one ovary/half the hormones for a while? What about hot flashes? Other menopausey things I need to know? Sex? Bones? If I get symptoms, how long will they take to manifest? I've been on the estrogen for a week now and don't feel a bit different.

FWIW, I never planned to have kids so I'm OK with that aspect. If I ever get the itch, I'll adopt one of the many who are waiting. I bring this up to avoid any consoling comments on not being able to conceive.

I know that YANAD and YANMD. I'm interested in hearing personal stories from women who have had the same experience. If you'd like to respond privately, email no.ovaries.now.what@gmail.com. Thanks for your help.

Hormonapalooza

thehmsbeagle — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 19:59:33 -0800

Can you suggest articles or books that are anecdotal descriptions of people taking opposite-sex sex hormones? Once upon a time I read the blurb for an article that seemed to be about how a woman had happened upon a stash of testosterone injections and had, uh, experimented on herself. I vaguely remember that she suddenly "got" visual pornography, and theorized that this was testosterone at work.

Like an idiot, I put the link by to read later and then lost it. A recent FPP on the "third world squat that led me to the mind-blowing Testosterone Nation Magazine reminded me of my interest in these things, so:

I'm not so much interested in things about gender reassignment as I am in, say, some guy's book about how he took estrogen as a one-person experiment and discovered X,Y and Z, or as above, a woman taking estrogen and experiencing this and that.

I guess I'm interested in layperson accounts of how sex hormones might affect the behavior/emotions/thoughts of someone who grew up in the kind of body that doesn't normally have much of that hormone, and not in stories about someone who feels like a man trying to become a man, or stories about what being a woman is like, since those probably won't have the contrast-and-compare thing I'm looking for.

Does that make any sense? I'm not a scientist, so I'm fumbling through the language of what I'm interested in, sorry.

i'm not hormonal, you're just stupid!

kerfuffled — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 10:48:56 -0800

Is there a way to tell the difference between real emotions and crazy emotions caused by temporarily messed up hormones or brain chemicals or whatever? Is there even a difference? Last night, my boyfriend made some stupid comment, but instead of rolling my eyes or punching him in the arm, I had a mini-freak-out and was just inconsolably sobbing for hours. Eventually, he quietly suggested that maybe the birth control (which i've recently re-started after a three month break) was making me this emotional. I at once thought "How DARE you not recognize the VALIDITY of my VERY IMPORTANT EMOTIONS?!?" and "Huh. Maybe that's why I've been such a crazy wreck the past few days."

I felt justified in my reaction last night, but this morning, I really don't have any idea why I was upset, so I think maybe he was right. The thought that it might just be some brain chemicals or hormones on overdrive makes me feel very uneasy, like I have no control over myself.

I am basically oblivious to patterns in my life (even on bc, my period comes as a complete surprise every month), or to how little changes affect me, like how I don't notice any difference between eating healthy/taking vitamins daily and eating nothing but milkshakes for weeks. How do I become more aware of how my body/brain responds to things, so that I'm less likely to flip out over stuff that would otherwise not bother me at all? How do I even know if that's what was going on?

Let's hope this doesn't jinx it.

crinklebat — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 19:03:03 -0800

Why would using a menstrual cup make periods shorter? To the squeamish: this question, shockingly, contains details about menstruation. I have lost about a day off the end of my period since starting to use the Divacup six months ago. I'd say this was something I was making up, but other people on the web have observed it too. I'm not complaining, but why would this be the case?

For background, I started using Nuvaring in January which took me from about a week to about five days of bleeding almost immediately. Then I started using Divacup around May (at which point my boyfriend remarked that I had delegated all my girly tasks to my vagina) and it seems like every period has been slightly shorter than the last. At this point I can take out my cup after the end of my third-and-a-half day or so and experience only minor spotting.

Again, I love this, but I can think of absolutely no reason why it would happen. Anyone else experienced this? Any medical types with thoughts on possible reasons?

Is it hormones or in my head?

lxs — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 11:55:41 -0800

Am I hormonally impaired? I am a female in my mid-twenties and I haven't had the slightest desire to have sex in a little over a year. Absolutely nothing. The thought of sex isn't traumatic to me but I'd just rather not do it. And I can't figure out why, although there's no shortage of potential explanations.

I had a pretty normal sex life previously. A few things happened between now and then, and I can't figure out what is most likely making me so asexual. My suspicion is that it might have something to do with going off birth control. I took the pill for about 12 years but stopped because my health insurance expired. I'm afraid that having stopped taking something that affected my hormones from mid-puberty until adulthood has screwed up my hormones.

A little less than a year ago, I also stopped taking antipsychotics, which I had been taking for depression in lieu of antidepressants. I went off them very, very slowly, though, and didn't have any problems with withdrawal. I had serious issues with depression for much of my life and the way I feel now is totally distinct from that sort of experience. I dealt with an incident that was vaguely sexual assault when I was a teenager but have been through years of therapy since then and have generally not felt affected by it.

I also moved in with my boyfriend (of approx. five years) about two years ago and he has been incredibly understanding and supportive about me basically asexual, telling me that he's there for me/that he's not going to leave unless I tell him to/etc.

I can't figure out whether this is hormonal or in my head. It doesn't help at all that I can't go to therapy because even reduced rate appointments are more than I can afford right now (no insurance), plus I work very long hours and don't have the time for it. This will likely change in a little less than a year, and hopefully I can see someone then. In the meantime, I am desperate, at this point, to figure out what the hell is wrong with me and how this abrupt, seemingly out-of-nowhere change came about. Am I doomed to a lifetime of asexuality?

Ring thing

chickaboo — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 05:21:02 -0800

Nuvaring and the holidays... so I'll be out of town for Thanksgiving weekend, and that is the Sunday when I am supposed to put a new Nuvaring in... I obviously won't be able to keep it refrigerated. My question is, can I leave the ring in an extra two days the previous week, and then put a fresh one in on the Tuesday after THanksgiving?
I am not worried about birth control efficacy, simply avoiding my nemesis, breakthrough bleeding. This happened to me in July when I just threw the nuvaring packet in my suitcase with no refrigeration.... everything was a mess by week 3.

I don't think it's practical to try to take it with me and keep it cold. People kind of don't like to see that in their fridge.

Is my almost-vegetarian diet making me fatter?

Unicorn on the cob — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 09:03:23 -0800

My boyfriend is an avowed vegetarian, almost vegan. Out of respect for him (and the desire to live healthier), I have switched to an almost completely vegetarian diet. Now I've gained weight... why? I'm thinking that it's the switch from eating meat to eating lots and lots of soy products, which I know can affect estrogen levels in women. I also had a wicked sweet tooth before (imagine eating half a pound of candy in one sitting... that's me!) and have just recently cut back significantly on sugar in an effort to drop the unwanted weight (the past 60 days I have only consumed sugar for about 6 days total, and you can guess when). A few more tidbits:

1. I am a 35-year-old female.

2. I work out at least 4-5 times a week, with a minimum of an hour cardio, preferably 90 minutes of cardio with 15 minutes of weight training, should I actually make it to the gym. At the gym I use the elliptical, stair climber, recumbent bike and treadmill, and vary my times/workouts each time I go to avoid stagnation in my workouts. Otherwise, I use my elliptical at home and hand weights.

3. In the year we've been dating, I have cut back to eating meat maybe 3-4 times per week (usually in a sandwich or soup form), and our typical meals consist of such things as: tofu and veggie stir-fry, veggie burgers, Quorn fajitas with beans, falafel on pita with baba ghanoush, fake-lunchmeat sandwiches and low-fat cheez-its (I know, I know... sodium!).

4. I only drink alcohol once a week and drink coffee maybe 3-4 times per week, one cup or less. I drink regular sodas at the movies maybe twice per month and mostly drink spring water or sparkling, and avoid fruit juice and sweetened tea.

5. I am on birth control pills.

6. Over the course of the year, I tapered down on eating meat until I now no longer eat meat at all in his presence, nor do I keep it in the house, unless it's in a can of soup. At the same time, I worked out LESS at the beginning of our relationship due to the honeymoon factor, and now work out probably twice as much as I did six months ago.

7. The majority of the weight gain has been in 3 pound increments, very suddenly, over the course of, say, a two-week period when I notice it and then can't get it to budge.

8. I still drink regular, 1% milk and eat regular 2% cheese, but have subbed out Quorn or soy-based products for virtually every dinner meal where I would normally have eaten meat instead.

Now, a co-worker of mine recently gave up meat and dairy in an effort to curb her food allergies and she ALSO gained 10 pounds in 6 weeks. She is a woman in her mid-40's. She and I were commiserating over this fact on Friday, and we both thought... hmmm, is it all the soy? Could the extra estrogen be making me gain the weight? I'm trying like hell to lose the weight and I just... can't.

I have reduced the number of calories I eat, I'm pretty sure, because I no longer eat sweets or snacks (except things like birthday cake if it's a special occasion). I realize that over time, cutting out the sweets will probably help me lose the weight, but for right now, I'm beyond frustrated. The most I can get my weight down is like maybe 3 pounds, and I want to fit in my clothes again! I know this is a time in my life when my metabolism slows down, but this seems really sudden to me and not gradual at all. I searched previous questions and didn't see this exact issue addressed. Hope me, hive mind!

PMS. WTF.

Ambrosia Voyeur — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 09:35:21 -0800

What is the evolutionary relevance of PMS?

Fear The Pill.

ElectricBlue — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 08:39:01 -0800

Could birth control cause a phobia to rear its ugly head? If birth control pills can sometimes produce anxiety and depression, is it possible for them to elevate pre-existing anxiety into a full-blown phobia? Also, could the wax and wane of hormone use cause one to be depressed and anxious at similiarly fluctuating rates (i.e., a woman's chipper in the morning, then has a panic attack at night, to use an extreme example).

Any personal anecdotes are appreciated, though speculation is fine too!

Why doesn't my b/c love me back?

sunshinesky — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 11:29:45 -0800

Hormonal Birth Control woes... I'm going to try to keep this as coherent as possible:

22 years old and in a committed, loving relationship. On b/c for 5 years, NuvaRing for the last 9 months.

problem #1: No sex drive. Before birth control I was an uncontrollable 'nymphomaniac'. I rarely, if ever initiate sex anymore and it is not for lack of attraction or functionality of our relationship. I simply have no desire for sex until I'm actually doing it. Even then, I dry up easily despite plenty of desire to want sex.

problem #2: Onset of depression almost immediately after starting NuvaRing, with no other obvious trigger. Life was good, and since I became depressed I have felt basically disabled. My mood swings are awful. I scream and do things I would usually find completely unreasonable, torturing my boyfriend and roommates. Enough suicidal ideation often brought up by inconsequential difficulties and plenty of self destructive behaviour that leads to further depression.

problem #3: God-awful latex allergy, and a propensity to have an upset vaginal pH and subsequent infections.

So my question is: What are my options?!

I've skimmed through previous posts and found plenty of great advice, but none that really seemed to fit my needs.

Ideally I'd like to be off hormonal b/c as soon as possible. The implications of that move are a bit bothersome though:

- Non-latex condoms are awesome, but they are also relatively expensive. A pack of 5 runs about $18 at my local pharmacy. $15/mo for b/c is already stretching the budget, so I can't see me with increased libido buying all those condoms.
- Given my tendancy toward infection, I'm extremely wary about a copper IUD. I seriously don't want PID.
I also get enough cramps already, thanks.
- BBT charting was suggested in another thread, but while I'm in a stable relationship, we are by no means ready for an accident. I am thoroughly pro-choice, but have recently questioned my own ability to have an abortion. I'd rather not put us in that position.

So MeFites, is there any hope for me? Is there some miracle out there?

For the record, I have my annual exam with my GYN coming up, and I fully intend on bringing this up. I was just hoping I could get some anecdotal info before I go in. Thanks so much, and sorry for the length!

Is it possible to artificially jump-start the onset of puberty?

scarylarry — Fri, 18 May 2007 15:48:02 -0800

Question for a short story, not a creepy science experiment: is it possible to jump-start the onset of puberty through hormone injections or other means? I'm sorry that this is such a creepy question (it's a dark, dystopian scenario). Without divulging too much, my story concerns a group of 8-10 year olds who are accelerated both intellectually and physically. (It's not an Ender's Game ripoff). I'd like to ground the physical acceleration in science, if it is in fact scientifically feasible to force the onset of puberty. If not, I'll make something up. It's not hard sci-fi.

Bonus points for references to any actual experiments to this end.

Thanks very much.