Exercise and Breakthrough Bleeding

S

saia11

Cathlete
Hi,
I posted this on the Open Forum as well, but I didn't know if I would get more responses here or there, so just to be safe it's here too. I also know you ladies go to your OB/GYN's fairly often so you might be able to help. Thanks in advance.
Has anyone had an increase of breakthrough bleeding or other menstrual irregularities while on the pill and "on" Cathe or other intense exercise? I've been consistently working out for about 1 1/2 a day and have not had trouble with breakthrough bleeding for years on the pill, but this month I'm about 4 to 5 days earlier than I should be. Could the increased intensity from Hardcore be the cause? Maybe my metabolism is faster now, I've certainly been much hungrier this past week, and I'm metabolizing the pill faster(orthotricyclen-lo)? I'm fairly sure I'm not pregnant because between starting a new semester, my DH starting student teaching, and my DH also having problems with hematuria and his new exercise intensity, it's been a slow new year in that department
Has anyone else experienced this or do you know if this might be the case? I've also recently upped my soy intake in an attempt to get enough lean protein, but I have eaten soy regularly for years. Any suggestions would be appreciated as I don't relish the thought of a ten day period every month. Sorry to ramble on so!
Thanks,
Mattea:)
 
I don't know for how long you have been using this pills, but I had that problem with the orthotricyclen-lo. I was bleading non-stop for 2 months and got anemic. The GYN stated that the hormons level was too low for me and that I needed something with a higher hormone level. I changed to the patch and did fine. I was always doing intense exercise, so I can't tell if that was a variable or not.
Be careful with the anemia part. Take your vitamins and don't let it go as long as my doctor (which I changed after that), let me go.
Take care.
 
Thanks for the advice, I'm usually careful about iron levels b/c I'm a vegetarian I go for leafy greens and blackstrap molasses a lot (never together though, ugh). I'm due for a checkup next month so we'll see what my doc has to say.
Thanks again,
Mattea
 
Hi everyone thanks for your responses! Before I update I just wanted to say I love the atmosphere of this forum! It makes me smile just to see the tickers creeping along! Well it happened again this month only now I'm looking at a 12 day period instead of 10 and the cramps actually woke me out of a sound sleep last night. So I called my Doctor today (although my appt. is on the 8th) and she decided to switch me to Ovcon 135(?) is the number that I think she said, but I can't find any info. on it so I was wondering if anyone had taken it or knew any information about it? I'll let you know if it does the trick.
Thanks and stay well,
Mattea
 
Ovcon 35 (http://www.warnerchilcott.com/products/ovcon.php). What do you want to know specifically? I have prescribed it so I will answer what I can. The side effects, risks, benefits, etc. are the same as for all OCs. Do you have cramps regularly? Ovcon 35 has a high estrogenic activity which can cause cramps... but EVERYONE responds differently.

Here is a link that may be helpful in explaining pills. Based on my experience, I agree with the author that "some women still have side effects according to the different oral contraceptive components and their doses in a given pill formulation"... BUT not all doctors agree with this thinking. :)

http://www.wdxcyber.com/ncontr13.htm

HTH!
 
Hi Mattea,

I have no comments to make about the bc pill, but something you said in your original post caught my attention. Twice in recent years I have suddenly introduced significant amounts of soy in my diet, and both times I had substantial break through bleeding that month. I've never had break-through bleeding at any other time in my life. It only occurred for the first month of the increased soy intake, and then I seemed to reregulate, but I am very wary now of ingesting large amounts of soy. Are you still eating as much soy as you did last month?

Good luck trying to find the right pill! I hope you find something that works for you.

Cheers,
Sandra
 
Sandra,
I picked up the OVCON 135 today and start it in about two weeks (the length of this period if things go the same as last month!), so we'll see how that goes. Yes, I've been eating the same amount of soy because as a vegetarian it's pretty much a staple for me in terms of protein. I eat dairy and beans/legumes, but I love soy stuff and for the calories/carbs/taste you just can't bean it. I have about 2/3 c. of soy milk lite, 1 serv. lite tofu, 1 serv. tofu "turkey" or "salami" slices, plus a half cup of kashi golean or golean crunch each day. I don't really want to change that too much, so hopefully my doctor can help me to work it out. How much soy did you add into your diet when you experienced breakthrough bleeding?
Best,
Mattea
 
Autumn,
Thanks for the info. I just couldn't find anything on it, especially in comparision to the previos BCP's that I had been taking and wondered if anyone could offer a reasoning behind the choice of this particular pill.
I have some cramping every month, but not to the severe degree that I did two nights ago, i.e. I haven't needed any OTC pain meds for cramps since I've been on the pill.
Thanks again for the links,
Mattea
 
If you have any additional questions regarding the difference between the pills, feel free to ask. I hope this pill change does the trick. Oh, and please don't think that you absolutely have cramps with this pill, but if you notice worse cramping with the Ovcon 35 there is a reason. Take care!

Autumn
 
Oh gosh, I can't remember specific amounts. Hm. I probably had some form of tofu or soy protein with at least two of my meals each day, as well as smoothies made from soy milk. It was a dramatic increase from the almost-zero quantity I was ingesting before that.

From what I've read, the connection between soy and the menstrual cycle is still unclear, although it appears that the thyroid can be affected by high soy intake, and the menstrual cycle is regulated to some extent by the thyroid.

I hope your new bc pill works for you!
Sandra
 
Hi everybody,
Thanks for all of your help, expertise, and well-wishes. I just wanted to update you after I visited with my doc. She had switched me to Ovcon 35 over the phone, and I haven't experienced any breakthrough bleeding with it, but I did gain about two pounds of water weight in the first ten days. So during my visit she switched me again to LoOvral which I'll be starting in about a week. Hopefully all with go well and I won't have to feel bloated or have a period for about half the month. The only complaint with the LoOvral so far is the cheesy and awkward packaging. They are strips of pills about 6 inches long, bright pink, that slide into an equally bright pink plastic sleeve with a trashy "rose" on the side. I'm hoping it's just the sample packs that look this way!
Best,
Mattea
 
Hi Mattea! Lo Ovral is one of my fav pills to prescribe, I hope you do well on it. I have always wondered why the manufacturer didn't use a more inconspicuous packaging. :) Best of luck!

Autumn
 
Thanks Autumn,
I'll let you know in about 10-15 days. You mean the rest of the pill packs will look the same as the sample packs? Oh my, I need a night stand with a bigger drawer!
Best,
Mattea
 
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