Birth Control w/ Health Insurance

[Marilyn. 340]

yeah I guess that is what is happening to me... I can't go back on the pill though...

I need to do something because the bathtub keeps getting clogged

I am going to make an appointment with my gyno soon to discuss my options..

I stopped the pill last August after our wedding since we were going to apart for a while. I thought I'd give my body a break from synthetic hormones. BAD IDEA. My hair started coming out in clumps in the shower, everywhere. It was really bad because I've had really thick hair and have never lost more than a strand or two even though I subject my hair to a gruelling blow-drying and straightening ritual. I thought I had cancer or something, I was so freaked out, but then figured out it must be because of the stoppage of estrogen in my system. I went back on it for two months and it sorted of helped. But then I ran out of my usual U.S pills and I had to take over-the-counter pills in India. The estrogen fluctuation didn't help. Now I'm back again on my old triphasic pills, been about a month. I'm hoping my body and hair will return to normal in a few weeks or so. I've been shedding massively since last October (happened exactly a month and a half I stopped) and it needs to stop.

I had no idea that stopping the pill could result in severe hair loss but I spoke to a gyno and she said it was sort of similar to post-partum hairloss. The lack of oestrogen sends a shock to the system and the hair falls out as a result.

Edited June 30, 2010 by Marilyn.

[sachinky 464]

Same thing happened to my roommate last April. She went off the NuvaRing last year and then she lost a lot of hair in the shower as well.

It really sucks. I don't know what to do. I don't want any kids. At all. EVER. But I don't think I can get a IUD till you have at least one kid.

So it's condoms which are only about 75% safe in regular use conditions. So that leave just the BCP for me.

Hair on my head or safe sex? This really shouldn't be an exclusive choice.

[Gemmie 142]

Condoms are about 99% effective, aren't they?

[Marilyn. 340]

yes they are but they are a pain to use.. I would rather be on the pill or soemthing else...

the pill helped me keep my monthly on track too.. before it would always be all over the place..

[Gemmie 142]

Yeah, I heard it was good for regulating periods.

I tried it but I turned into a complete monster on stilts that would stomp over and eat my husband whenever he opened his mouth.

To be fair though, you are supposed to give it 3 months to get adjusted to your body.

[CDAgirlMI 51]

the pill helped me keep my monthly on track too.. before it would always be all over the place..

That's a bonus with the pill I absolutley love!

So on-time, almost to the hour!

[Marilyn. 340]

That's a bonus with the pill I absolutley love!

So on-time, almost to the hour!

yeah I liked knowing when I was going to have my period... now I am back to not knowing. it sucks

[yohino 22]

That's a bonus with the pill I absolutley love!

So on-time, almost to the hour!

That's the only thing that I'm not to happy about switching from the pill to Implanon.

I used to be able to tell time by my period...not any more!

[Vivi6 12]

That's the only thing that I'm not to happy about switching from the pill to Implanon.

I used to be able to tell time by my period...not any more!

That's what I was talking about with my mom, with Implanon the bleeding can be very irregular or can even stop. So in case you are the unlucky 1 in a million that gets pregnant on it, how do you know? But then my mom pointed out that the period you get on the pill is not a "real" period and she said she has heard of women getting pregnant on the pill (mostly because they weren't taking it correctly or were on heavy medication that were intercting with it) still getting the bleeding/period for at least the 1st month. So she says, what's the difference, you should be ok. My gyno in Italy told me after a long time on the pill I'm taking there is even a possibility my period would stop(freaked me out, hahah!) so I think I would be ok with Implanon.

It sucks that it's not available in Italy yet(wonder if the Vatican has something to do with it hahahaha) because I'm sure it would have been cheaper. I will see my gyno when I go there in 2 weeks but my mom says I should also spoke to a doctor here because they would know it better since it's a method available here and not there.

I haven't noticed any hair loss when I quit the pill for 4 months last year. I am assuming it depends on the levels of estrogens in my pill? I know it's quite low (not as low as Yaz though). The reasons why I want to change are A) It's a pain to take it everyday B) I feel like the way it delivers the hormones is too heavy on my body C) I have experienced some CRAZY moodiness 1 week before my period in the past year or so. I don't know if my life suddenly became very stressful with the wedding and the move (and USCIS!!! ) but I want to discuss that with my gyno too.

Ahhhhh I LOVE being a woman!!!

[that_girl 9]

What health insurance companies do you recommend? Also, why most health insurance companies in the US don't cover pregnancy and giving birth?

Health insurance is very regional, and can't be sold across state lines, so you have to look to see what the options are in your area and figure out what is best for you. This .gov site has information and a search engine that will help you compare health insurance available in your area and at your price range.

Same thing happened to my roommate last April. She went off the NuvaRing last year and then she lost a lot of hair in the shower as well.

It really sucks. I don't know what to do. I don't want any kids. At all. EVER. But I don't think I can get a IUD till you have at least one kid.

So it's condoms which are only about 75% safe in regular use conditions. So that leave just the BCP for me.

Nope, you don't have to have a kid to get it. I've never had kids, and I've got an IUD. They recommend it after having given birth because the insertion may be more comfortable, but I didn't have any problems with it. A bit pinchy is all; some women, however, find the insertion process really painful. I got an IUD about 3 months ago (the hormonal one, not the copper one) and it's great. I was sore for a couple of days after the insertion, and it takes a little while for your period to go back to normal (similar effects to the implanon, it sounds like). My insurance didn't cover it, and I got it from Planned Parenthood. In the long run (i.e. over the five years that it's effective) it's the least expensive form of birth control, but you have to pay all up front (unless maybe PP has a payment plan?) Anyway, you can go to Planned Parenthood website to compare methods.

Best of luck finding something that works for you!

Edited July 2, 2010 by that_girl

[sachinky 464]

Condoms are about 99% effective, aren't they?

In perfect laboratory conditions, yes.

Apparently, they have a higher rate of failure. This is according to my gyno. It's only 75% in 'regular use' conditions.

[Ninahi 53]

In Finland my BC is covered by state health insurance because I take it for medicinal purposes (severe acne and endometriosis, no alternative treatments for the latter). I don't suppose US health insurances care about things like these? In Finland if I were on the pill to prevent pregnancy the percentage covered by insurance would be smaller, but because it's to treat a medical condition the coverage is higher. I better stock up before I move, birth control sounds really expensive over there...