I don't feel comfortable being on "The Pill" and I'm ready to get off.
June 14, 2013 6:46 PM   Subscribe

Prior to going on birth control I experienced two very severe episodes of pre-menstrual cramping, and I'd like to go off of the pill, but I'm scared! I'm looking for natural remedies to prevent severe menstrual cramping as I ease off of birth control.

My Background: I went on the pill 19 months ago. My main reason for going on the pill was because of two consecutive, violent cramping incidents, both of which, occurred the day before I started my period. In both incidents, I woke up in the middle of the night with a strong pain in my lower abdomen. I felt dizzy and nauseous, broke out into a sweat, and had loose stools all within a 30-45 minute period. I could not walk and felt as though I was going to pass out. About 45 minutes into each episode, my body went into a cold sweat. The second time, my boyfriend was with me and he decided to call 911. When the paramedics came, I was wrapped in blankets with the shivers in my bed. I decided not to go to the hospital because the trauma had passed. I called my gynecologist that week and per her suggestion, went on the pill. I've been on the pill ever since, and I haven't had an another episode.

My Decision: Recently, I've been doing a lot of research on the long-term side effects of being on the pill, and I'm starting to worry. Just today, I was listening to Ben Greenfield (a fitness podcast) and he remarked, "I would run the opposite direction before taking the Pill". I also just bought the book, The Pill by Jane Bennett, which talks about all the long-term risks such as increased chance of breast cancer (I am already very high-risk), fertility challenges, etc. Furthermore, I've been bleeding through each menstrual cycle so I'm basically having two periods every month now. I know that's likely an indicator that I need a higher dosage and I'm just not comfortable taking higher amounts of hormonal dosage everyday. With all this new information, I do not feel comfortable being on the Pill.

My Question:

1) Are there any natural remedies to prevent extremely violent cramping? I'm nervous!
2) Are there any natural alternatives to birth control to regulate hormones?
3) Any other advice on going off the pill would be helpful.

For what it's worth, I am not ready to get pregnant! We are comfortable using condoms and other methods to prevent pregnancy. I'm very active, enjoy eating whole / organic foods, and I'm in my late 20's.
posted by Shaitan to Health & Fitness (20 answers total) 2 users marked this as a favorite
 
Have you been checked for ovarian cysts? I had very similar symptoms to yours (worst cramps of my life, loose stools, nauseous), and that was my problem. I believe they diagnosed it with an transvaginal ultrasound, which was unpleasant but not painful. Unfortunately, the primary treatment for that is birth control pills, but at least it would be good to get the problem diagnosed if that is indeed the issue. They also gave me a strong anti-inflammatory for any flare ups.

Also - you might ask your doctor about Nuvaring. This is not a natural remedy, but it is a much lower dose of hormones, I have never had issues with spotting, and it has completely solved the cyst issue, at least for me.
posted by rainbowbrite at 7:01 PM on June 14, 2013


Why not talk to your gynecologist about trying a different pill? I personally did terribly on Yaz and Loestrin because my body chemistry absolutely wasn't compatible, but now that I'm on Zovia I never have a period and I feel utterly glorious, and my PMS/PMDD symptoms (think your two episodes every single month for 8 years) are gone. It was really a matter of finding the RIGHT hormonal birth control for me, and when I went off the pill and attempted non-hormonal alternatives, it became immediately apparent that my body needs the hormonal treatment to help neutralize the chemical imbalances that I've got. Additionally, I was developing ovarian cysts while off the pill, and now that I've been on it consistently for almost a year again, the cysts are gone. YMMV, as all women are different, but for me, this is significant. You should discuss your concerns with your gyno and ask to be screened for cysts, endometriosis, and other things to see if there is something else you should be adjusting before going cold turkey off of the pill again.

Also, Ben Greenfield comes from a place of immense privilege if he wants to say that women shouldn't take the pill, and there are many women (myself included) who categorically could not function daily without the (hormonal) pill to rely on. I would discuss your concerns with your GP and your gyno, and not rely on men like Greenfield for medical advice.
posted by These Birds of a Feather at 7:03 PM on June 14, 2013 [17 favorites]


IANAD.

"The Pill" isn't one drug.

There are several different varieties of hormonal birth control. Just because you may have an adverse reaction to one, doesn't mean that all of them will affect you the same way.

It's been more than a few years since I worked behind the Pharmacy counter*, but I can't tell you how many times we'd see a younger woman come in and get a three month order of one variety, then come in two weeks later and try another, repeat a couple of times, then they got one dialed in and stuck with it for a long time.

That being said, get checked for ovarian cysts.

*Not a Pharmacist, I was the assistant.
posted by Sphinx at 7:09 PM on June 14, 2013 [1 favorite]


Your two episodes sound similar to every period I had before the pill. Ok I exaggerate but that is how it feels from my memory. The first couple of years in high school were definitely awful. My mom's md luckily suggested taking 3-4 Advil as soon as my period or symptoms started and as long as the cramps continued, which helped tremendously. Taking ibuprofen prophylactically can be effective in reducing the overall amtsof drug you take because the whole cramping, intestinal symptom set is a feed-forward snowballing cascade. However, even with the improvement obtained by ibuprofen, I have never found anything to work as well as the pill. Even better, the pill continuously. I understand your concerns ant putting unnecessary hormones into your body, but unless someone can suggest an amazing 'natural' remedy, I feel way more comfortable with the pill or nuvaring than taking high doses of ibuprofen. Ymmv of course. Good luck-hope you find your solution!
posted by Tandem Affinity at 7:13 PM on June 14, 2013 [2 favorites]


Your two episodes could also be something like gallstone attacks and it could just be coincidence that they occurred the day before your period. I've had gallstone problems that sound just like those episodes, and typically do have several within a few months and then nothing for years.

On the other hand, if it is period cramps, I second the prophylactic ibuprofen advice. And people say evening primrose oil can help - I had terrible period cramps as a teenager and started taking that daily when I was 19 or so. Didn't notice any obvious difference but YMMV.

I do notice that exercise helps. Even though it is uncomfortable to exercise during cramps, an intense session of cardio or yoga seems to banish them for the rest of the day afterwards. And similarly, although you might not be feeling so sexy, orgasms seem to help as well.
posted by lollusc at 7:19 PM on June 14, 2013


The things that helped my hideous premenstrual symptoms were vigorous exercise, giving up sugar, and getting a Mirena. that last one worked the best.
posted by KathrynT at 7:20 PM on June 14, 2013 [1 favorite]


I am not a doctor. I am, however, someone who has fought a nightmare battle with similar symptoms (I'll take cramps that make me cry for 100, Alex!). I tried maybe three or four oral contraceptives and hated them all. Most of them made me feel nauseous. I hated having to remember to take them. I was about to give up. I went to my OB/GYN in desperation. He diagnosed me with ovarian cysts and prescribed a Mirena IUD. Did it hurt to get put in? Yes. Did it give me bad cramps for a little bit? Yes. Has it totally, 100% changed my life and made my terrible periods a distant, fuzzy memory? One thousand times yes. I would choose it again tomorrow. I barely have any cramps ever. It's that good.

You may not have ovarian cysts. An IUD, or Mirena specifically, might be totally wrong for you. But alternatives to the pill are out there, and your doctor is the absolute best person to help you explore them! I think you will be better served by consulting with him/her than trying random natural remedies suggested by Internet strangers. I don't mean to diminish or minimize, because I totally get where you're coming from, respect a holistic approach to medicine, and have been in your shoes. But as someone whose life was totally changed by pushing just a little bit harder for a diagnosis and an evidence-based prescribed treatment, I encourage you to consult with your doc one more time.
posted by anonnymoose at 7:26 PM on June 14, 2013 [2 favorites]


I am not familiar with that book or the author, but I would be very cautious with their belief about breast cancer risk and hormonal contraceptives. This has been studied repeatedly and extensively and anyone saying anything other than "it is controversial" is severely overstating the evidence of a cancer link. The same goes for fertility problems after stopping birth control.

I just wanted to say that so you know this topic is not as black and white as it may seem. I respect your decision to stop taking artificial hormones, and it is true that there are real health effects associated with their use in the long term.

Side note, you may also find that the characteristics of your period have changed since you began taking birth control pills, so don't be too alarmed if it isn't exactly how you remembered it to be, at first.

Ultimately, trust your judgment and choose what feels right to you. Best of luck.
posted by hobo gitano de queretaro at 7:41 PM on June 14, 2013 [5 favorites]


I also strongly encourage you to talk to your doctor about this again.

That said, you may want to do some research on chaste tree berry extract, which has been clinically proven to treat the symptoms on PMS. It's a supplement that can be found at a health food store.
posted by Specklet at 7:41 PM on June 14, 2013 [1 favorite]


Please talk to your doctor.
posted by radioamy at 7:43 PM on June 14, 2013


Calcium.
posted by lulu68 at 7:45 PM on June 14, 2013


Btw, I agree with previous posters--I would think very carefully before making treatment decisions for yourself based on medical advice from non-medical sources. For the record, the doctor who prescribed my Mirena also happens to be a well-established researcher and physician in specialties including gynecological oncology. For ME, he felt confident enough to prescribe a therapy containing hormones. Again, neither I nor my physician are your doctor....but you need to talk to yours.
posted by anonnymoose at 7:50 PM on June 14, 2013


Also, I just wanted to say that I came off as being hyper-pro birth control in my previous response to you. BC is definitely not for everyone, and if your gut is telling you it's no good, it's no good, and that is totally okay. My concern stems from the fact that this feeling of discomfort seems to be stemming from some information disseminated by someone who is not all that qualified to be dispensing advice about hormones and birth control and gynecology, and for that reason I hope you discuss this thoroughly with somebody super qualified so your concerns can be taken seriously and so that you don't have to find yourself in pain just because you no longer have a hormonal BC to help your body equalize itself as you seek a solution. Good luck to you, and sorry for my polarized response earlier.
posted by These Birds of a Feather at 9:20 PM on June 14, 2013


The are some conditions that may cause the symptoms that you experienced that are well controlled with hormonal contraceptives. So, whether you get off or stay on, it's probably a good idea to get to the bottom of that.

Should you have that kind of extreme pain again, please seek emergency help, because one of the possible causes is a ruptured ovarian tube cause by an ectopic pregnancy, which would be life-threatening.
posted by bq at 9:51 PM on June 14, 2013




Not a doctor, but as others have mentioned, the descriptions of your severe cramp episodes sound a lot like ovarian cysts. Leaving aside issues of stopping/changing forms of hormonal birth control, you asked about natural remedies...you might consider trying one or all of the following: red raspberry leaf tea, vitex (chasteberry) tea or tablets, or cramp bark. You are likely to find them in a health food store, vitamin shop, and/or on Amazon. I personally had good luck with red raspberry leaf tea.
posted by skye.dancer at 10:21 PM on June 14, 2013


Get checked for ovarian cysts.
Supplements that work for me:
- b-complex;
- magnesium (or calcium/magnesium/zinc);
- apple cider vinegar
posted by Think [Instrumental] at 12:20 AM on June 15, 2013


i also take what is considered a prescription dose of ibuprofen (4 advil tablets which i believe is 800 mg.) right at the first sign of painful cramps. taking it at the first sign of pain makes a big difference. i can't seem to remember how many times my doc told me i can do that in one day but i think it was 2 or 3. check with your doc about taking the prescription dose of advil but i don't know if that will do anything for your nausea, chills or loose stool.

this women to women site has some good info for more natural remedies but of course they are going to try to sell you stuff. i've only read a few of their articles but not bought anything from them and wouldn't as i'm guessing they are quite pricey. wholehealthmd also has a whole page on PMS and various ways to alleviate the symptoms using supplements, herbs, food, etc. i've heard that calcium, magnesium and B6 are helpful and you can look up the right amounts there. just be really careful about taking all sorts of drugs even if they are "natural". natural doesn't always mean safe. going to a nutritionist, a certified dietitian is best, might be something to consider.
posted by wildflower at 3:07 AM on June 15, 2013


You need a proper work up with your primary healthcare provider, including ultrasound and bloodwork, and a long discussion about your concerns about the pill and other ways to manage cramping and pain.

It's very trendy right now for health and fitness experts and 'natural' health practitioners to be skeptical of the pill. I can understand why. They're a complex class of drugs that women take long term and, like any drug, they have side effects. I'm off HBC at the moment because it was causing me to lose my hair and also because my partner and I are ramping up to trying to have a kid soon, but I'm still grateful for my years on HBC because they suited my life and my needs at the time.

THAT SAID: I'd be nervous about making health care decisions based solely on the opinion of someone who wasn't a doctor and didn't know my personal medical history. You need to talk to a doctor. If they dismiss your concerns, you need to talk to a different doctor, but still a doctor. Those episodes of cramping sound really worrying and I'd want to get a proper work up to rule out ovarian cysts, endometriosis etc. You might want to investigate other options, like the Mirena IUD, which is intended to treat pain and excessive bleeding from conditions like endometriosis.
posted by nerdfish at 9:14 AM on June 15, 2013


First, yes, doctor. Second, I have recently had a sharp uptick in menstrual misery, not as severely acute as what you describe, but brutal cramps and lots of thick clotted blood. I actually asked to be put on BC pills (which I used for all of my twenties and part of my thirties, probably about a dozen years, very happily and successfully) thinking I could just dispense with my period altogether.

My doctor wasn't enthusiastic about that, and strong recommended I try Naproxen instead. I was skeptical, but it has actually been great. Similar to the way people above are recommending ibuprofen, I take a big dose prophylactically, and then as required for the whole period. I had previously been taking a PMS med with ibuprofen, but it wasn't doing the trick. The Naproxen has hugely improved my quality of life. FWIW, I have a friend with the exact same problem (we're both in our early 40s, so it's a peri-menopause thing) who was given the same advice as her doctor with the same result.
posted by looli at 8:13 PM on June 15, 2013


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