<p>So my D is going to Ghana next month- she also is afraid she will be getting her period while she is there. SInce it makes her feel nauseous & because they are going to areas where you pack out everything you bring in, she has asked me about getting on the “pill” to make her period lighter.
( actually she sent me an email- so I haven’t responded to her yet)</p>
<p>I know that there is some sort of menstrual cup that I thought perhaps she could wash out instead of having to pack out used tampons- but I also wondered if perhaps they were too large- Ive had a diapraghm before & always had the very smallest size even after I had kids & the cups look huge!
:p</p>
<p>Apparently getting on the pill is something that girls have done before, before going to Ghana- that was mentioned in both a book I got for her, & at prep meetings. I guess I will ask her doc- do pediatricians prescribe birth control pills?</p>
<p>Pediatricians can of course prescribe birth control. I see a couple of possible issues though: first, it may not make a big difference after only one month–some girls I know find their periods to be very irregular right after starting or re-starting birth control; second, she could have side effects from the birth control while in Ghana that could be difficult to deal with. </p>
<p>I also don’t know how her body would react after one month, but considering the relative shortness of the trip (less than a month I’m assuming) she could actually take the BC all the way through her trip and therefore skip her period altogether while there. Of course you would discuss this with her doctor to make sure it’s ok, but many BC’s are perfectly ok to do this with (not long term) in such situations. She wouldn’t take the ‘placebo’ pills that start the period, but would continue to another month packet, thereby skipping it for that month. This is the basis behind “seasonale” and “seasonique”… although I’m guessing they’re formulated a bit differently.</p>
<p>But like I said: Idk how that would go for her 1st month on BC, and you OF COURSE should speak to a doctor.</p>
<p>well I knew they can- & I imagine her Dr who is pretty good- is up on all the latest birth control methods- I guess I was just expressing my difficulty thinking about it- after all her sister who is 25 isn’t on birthcontrol .</p>
<p>I was also remembering how I felt when I was on it- & how awful it was- & while I don’t think they are as strong as they were 30 years ago, she will also be taking malarone at the same time-</p>
<p>I will take her to the doc anyway- perhaps she can give her some ideas.
I think she was also worried about the availabilty of water- apparently there isn’t much- really & she takes showers almost every day here-</p>
<p>She is a very private person- so I have taken to finding books that discuss what could be helpful- cause then I know she can look at it later, instead of just thinking " OMG my mother!" :o</p>
<p>I’m using a new account account because I’m giving out some personal information. </p>
<p>I’ve been using a menstrual cup for the last two years (since I was 17), and I think it’s wonderful! A lot of people in organizations like the Peace Corp, actively recommend a menstrual cup as an alternative to other forms of menstrual devices. </p>
<p>The brand I use is the Diva Cup and it comes in two sizes, one for women who have given birth or are over a certain age, and the other is for women who haven’t given birth. I used the one for women who have not given birth. I was also a virgin at the time I started using it. Insertion did not hurt at all for me. If your daughter has used tampons before than I think she will be ok. To insert the cup, you fold it so its just about the same size as a tampon. </p>
<p>I admit it was slightly awkward at first using the cup, but you learn/adjust quickly. I can never imagine going back to using tampons. Also what is great about a menstrual cup is that you can insert when you think you might start your period. That way there are no surprises. </p>
<p>As for making her period lighter, I have found that by using the cup my period has been shorter and slightly less heavy than before I started using it. </p>
<p>There are also a ton more benefits, and if you’d like anymore information feel free to PM me and I can give you my regular account name.</p>
<p>i started the birth control pill this past summer because i have quite a bit of nausea during my periods, plus some mild acne. i took my first pill at night, and then the next morning i threw up. i had to take some pepto-bismol for the first two or three days, but it has been smooth sailing since then - my body apparently adjusted quickly. i have had no other side effects. i actually feel a lot better than i did before starting the pill - no nausea, and my face has completely cleared up. also, no pms.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>when i wanted to go on the pill, my mom expressed this concern as well. but my doctor confirmed that there are less hormones in the pill now and that they are a lot safer. also, there is no year limit on the pill like there used to be - my mom was told that she could only be on the pill for ten years or something like that.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>i skipped my very next period right after starting the pill, because i wanted to go swimming or something. i just went onto the next pack, and it was fine. i had asked my doctor about it and she said it was okay, but that i should not skip periods too often. </p>
<p>i am on ortho-cyclen, by the way. oh, and also, pediatricians can prescribe birth control, but it will likely be cheaper at a planned parenthood clinic, if your insurance does not cover it.</p>
<p>so, if you guys decide to use the pill, i would recommend that your daughter start it as soon as possible. it will give her body some time to get used to it before she goes to ghana, and if there are any side effects that don’t go away quickly, then she would have time to try the menstrual cup or other alternatives. hopefully this helps.</p>
<p>Before going on the pill, be aware that sometimes there is bleeding or spotting between periods, especially in the first three months - at least on some pills. If that happens, it will defeat your D’s purpose in going on the pill. </p>
<p>By the way, I had never heard of the menstrual cup before, so thanks for the info.</p>
<p>I don’t think starting the pill right before a trip to a remote area is a good idea. Some people have side effects, which doctors often respond to by changing to a different oral contraceptive formulation. A new pill user may need multiple doctor visits, which is something that wouldn’t work out well for your daughter.</p>
<p>Stress can make your period late or lighter, which would work in your daughter’s favor.</p>
<p>I would suggest that she prepare for the eventuality as follows: thin ziplock bags–I used the sandwich ones, which are thinner–one of which contains the tampons for the day, a few sealed handwipes, and a packet of tissues. Then she uses a second bag for the used ones and cleans herself with the wipes. No water needed. The “trash bag” can go into a pocket until a trash can presents itself. (My family still refers to a ziplock bag that contains a ziplock bag, a packet of tissues, and handwipes as an “African toilet” because we developed the system when we traveled to Tanzania, where real toilets were sometimes hard to come by. We found four handwipes/day and half a packet of tissues was about right.)</p>
<p>I wouldn’t recommend your daughter try the pill at this point. Other people have mentioned the risks.</p>
<p>You might want to point out to your daughter that half the population of Africa is female, and that they have periods too.</p>
<p>I also recommend those wipes if she’s worried about staying clean. Tampax actually sells some wipes specifically for use during periods, but I’m guessing they just put their name on normal wipes. </p>
<p>Since she’s going as a part of a program, can she ask other girls going or female alums what they did or are planning on doing?</p>
<p>I think that is where she got the idea of going on the pill- they had a retreat in November with all the kids and the adults who would be going, so they could get to know each other better and work together.
But since she didnt mention to me till yesterday of her concern & it will take a month to get in to see her dr, I don’t think the pill is gonna be a solution.
But I appreciate the info about how many wipes and things to allow for, Im sure that will help ease her mind- since I also doubt that she is the only one who isn’t sexually active and on some sort of birth control- she won’t be the only one having to deal with it & although it may mortify her, coping could also be a way to build a bond with the girls in the village.</p>
<p>EK - try calling her doctor’s office and see if you can get a call back from the nurse. They may be able to get her in sooner, or prescribe a short course of OCPs over the phone for this circumstance. Some women have to go through 2 cycles to completely shut down menstrual flow, but if she starts on the pills between now and when she leaves for Ghana, it will greatly reduce the problem.</p>
<p>Oh silly me- I forgot that her school not only has a health clinic on site- but that I know the school nurse ( she was advisory board- when I was involved with Parents of Prematures) they also have a nurse practitioner who prescribes and several mental health staff as well including a psychiatrist.</p>
<p>I think I will give that a try.
While I like the pediatric clinic & the docs, I was so frustrated about the length of time before non emergency appointments, that I took her to a naturopath ( after trying other clinics) for about 9 years until recently- when the naturopath stopped taking our insurance & also some conditions that needed different medication.
It is just really busy- and to get seen quickly if you can’t get an appt, you have to come in before office hours @ 8 & they only take 10 patients.
Still if you have a sick baby- it is reassuring- but when I had to take D in recently when she had an ear infection ( her first since she was 2), it made me smile to see all these parents with babies that had stuffy noses ;)</p>
<p>Um no , but thats pretty good:)
perhaps if one of the other more uh-“traditional” posters was the OP.
I don’t really think generally in terms of “girl stuff”.
But I did think I should warn the unsuspecting- after all I grew up in a time when mothers could send away for a little kit and tell their daughter to open it in their room & they never had to discuss it again!
[Are</a> you in the know? (Kotex ad) at the Museum of Menstruation and Women’s Health](<a href=“http://www.mum.org/InTheKn2.htm]Are”>Are you in the know? (Kotex ad) at the Museum of Menstruation and Women's Health)</p>
<p>and my H? after I had my 2nd ( I was in the hospital for a week after my 1st)
I sent him to the store to get “supplies” - and he made like it was going to compromise his masculinity. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:</p>
<p>My D leaves is leaving in two weeks to spend two and a half months in ghana volunteering. she has the same concerns your daughter has. She is making an appointment with her GYN to discuss going on the new pill that stops your period. I am intriqued by the poster who mentioned the menstrual cup. Excuse my ignorance, but I have never heard of it and would love to know more. Sounds environmentally appealing.</p>
<p>D went today to her school health clinic to get the pill- amazing- my school nurse wouldn’t even give us asprin!</p>
<p>After finding out they have to not only pack out all their refuse but pack in all their water , I am glad she has this alternative- one less thing to hopefully worry about.
However, sounds like it will be a great time- the people are very friendly and it is a good time of year to go.</p>
<p>Another method you might consider is the Nuva Ring - it’s a flexible contraceptive ring - about 2 in in diameter of low dose - slowly released hormones. This alleviates the need to remember to take a pill once a day. My D who had terrible side effects - headaches, weight gain, nausea from BC pills has found her periods much lighter -</p>