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Menopause (Expert Forum)
birth control pill to stop heavy periods
Answered by
Machelle Seibel, MD - Women's Health, menopause, ReproductiveMedicine
University of Massachusetts Medical School
MA
Questions in the Menopause forum are answered by Dr. Machelle Seibel. Topics covered include menopause issues, depression, hormone replacement therapy , hot flashes, joint or muscle problems, memory problems, mood swings, osteoporosis , sexual problems, skin changes, sleeping problems, vaginal problems, and weight problems.
birth control pill to stop heavy periods
by kmcc, May 16, 2006 12:00AM
I'm 53 (my mother went into menopause at 55). I had approx 6 months of heavy periods with clotting - each incident lasted for 2 weeks - then 2 weeks later, it started again. Went to a new gyno - who prescribed both an ultrasound and an emdometrial biopsy - both showed no internal problems. She put me on Seasonale bcp which works on your hormones to give you a period every 4 months. Bleeding stopped in 2 days - worked great in that regard. However, I've been on the pill for 5 1/2 months and have gained considerable amount of weight and have been reading all the negative side effects (experiencing a few myself). I decided to stop taking them (doc said well, you'll start bleeding again). I'd like to try some alternative solution - since I really believe someone my age should not be on bcp. Any advice? thanks - Karen
Doctor's Answer
by Machelle Seibel, MD, May 17, 2006 12:00AM
, May 17, 2006 12:00AM
A. There are many birth control pills. Perhaps one that causes a period each month would be more comfortable for you to take and not cause the weight gain to continue. Some are low dose and designed for women near menopause and are a reasonable choice for women in your situation. However, after the 4 months of Seasonale, you might not bleed for a while or even not at all anyway. You’ll have to wait and see. In the meantime, exercise, watch your diet and see how things go. You might also want to take iron pills for three months to build up the blood that you lost with the 6 months of heavy bleeding. Low iron is a cause of bleeding.
Machelle M. Seibel, MD
Machelle M. Seibel, MD
Member Comments (2)
by kmcc, May 19, 2006 12:00AM
Thank you for your response. I have stopped taking seasonale and, if my symptoms reappear, I will ask for another way of treating them.
