<p>Not for me! I’m done with that business. :)</p>
<p>Took my D2 (age 16) to the doc today for ongoing miserable menstrual cramps. Her pediatrician had prescribed Naproxen, but after a year + on it, it really only takes a little edge off - still is in rough shape a couple days a month to the point of having a tough time making it through the school day.</p>
<p>The ob/gyn NP has suggested hormones in the form of either the patch or the daily birth control pill. Hate starting this at her age-not due to the sexual part of it - but just pumping hormones into her starting at age 16. Then again, popping Naproxen/Ibuprofen to maximum amounts monthly can’t be great either.</p>
<p>Anyway, wondering if you have teens who have used patch/pills for the purpose of helping cramps what your experience has been - pros/cons/preferences for one over the other. </p>
<p>As I read some of the literature we received, I’m sort of thinking that for a teen, the patch - though it can be placed in a few places on the body, might be awkward. D2 is very reliable and I do know that I could count on her to take the pill daily.</p>
<p>Appreciate any input. D1 went on the pill at 18 for the same reason but at that point the patch was not an option.</p>
<p>Carefully review the side effects of each. I have a friends who ended up with severe bleeding caused by the patch (this was several years ago so the formula might have changed since then) and had not had nay problems on the pill.</p>
<p>I work in a GI lab and see the adverse effects of NSAIDS daily. Yes, there is a price to pay for every medication we take. That’s why an analysis of risks/benefits is essential for each medication considered.</p>
<p>As far as your other concern goes, if her problems are indeed the result of an abnormal balance of hormones, perhaps you might think of this medication as more of a balancing tool rather than about “pumping” something harmful into her body. I say that not knowing what her hormonal status is, just that it’s something to consider if, in fact, there is something abnormal occurring in your daughter’s current unmedicated state. I do get that this is something you want to consider very carefully, however. Hormones can certainly be the wrong decision, depending on various factors. I know that it has been a really big dilemma for me personally, and I have chosen to forgo them.</p>
<p>True on the balancing part. The right dose of hormones might be what her body needs to function better. The NP mentioned other less desirable options like the IUD - but the patch and pill seem the best fit for her.</p>
<p>I would not want to be on the patch-- REALLY would not have wanted to be on the patch as a self conscious teenager. What does your D think? It’s a very personal decision, if you want something on the outside of your body all day long, or if you want to have to remember to take a pill every day. If she likes the idea of the patch but isn’t keen on the visibility, she could discuss nuvaring with her doctor, too.</p>
<p>I never had cramps pre-BC but I did have other issues that led to missing a lot of school, which the pill helped in addition to clearing up my skin-- I was very happy. I have had to switch medications every few years to maintain that. Once I got into my 20s it didn’t seem to work the same way, but I think I am an anomaly. My cousin and sister went on BC due to cramping and other issues and never had another problem. </p>
<p>I think the quality of life and sense of control is worth it. I have considered going off BC lately because I have been having some unrelated hormonal issues and I wanted to see if it would help, but I am very reluctant to do it due to the quality of life issue. Pre-BC i could barely leave the house for 7-10 days a month, now I am slightly inconvenienced 2-3 days a month. It is so much better.</p>
<p>Ema, thanks for your input. We both had to rush off to work after the appt so agreed to talk more later - she was just happy that there may be a solution to her dreading that time of the month - which ends up being a dread of a week or more for her - as you said, quality of life and sense of control would be worth it.</p>
<p>I know basically zero about hormone patches. But I do have a friend who wears hers on her lower abdomen and I’ve never laid eyes on it, even in the summer, when we are around each other wearing swimsuits. Is this not an option for this kind of patch?</p>
<p>I’ve been on the pill (orthotricyclen) since I was 15 die to intense, heavy, 3week long periods. It was incredible. Within just a few short months, my periods were regular, light, and relatively pain free. I would recommend the pill, just explain that there are side effects that may make her more susceptible to heart attack or stroke if she smokes. Talk to your doctor and see what’s best for her best of luck!</p>
<p>I was on the patch and one point and gained at least 20 pounds because of it. Look at the side effects of it and see if you are concerned with them. </p>
<p>I am currently on BC in pill form and find it convient. I take it for PCOS but have known friends and family members who take it for cramping/acne/etc. If you think your D is reliable try the pill and see what happens.</p>
<p>OP have you heard of the Nuva ring? I have been on it for several years and I love it. It is very discreet and you have the same benefit of the patch since you only switch it out once a month.</p>
<p>I used the patch for three years when I was 16 - 19 years old. It worked fine too, and the only problem I noticed is towards the end of the three weeks that I needed to keep it on, it would start to get a little itchy.</p>
<p>You can wear the patch on the lower abdomen. There were 4 places mentioned- abdomen, upper arm, upper quandrant of back to the side and one more.</p>
<p>She did mention Nuva ring - D prefers not to use tampons so this method is probably not the best choice for her.</p>
<p>How much ibuprofen does she take as a dose? Up to 800mg/dose? If not, try it first. (400 won’t cut it very often). Maximum 3200mg/24 hours. I know this is higher than stated in packaging but the maximum range has been lowered over the years so not really “out there” especially on a very short term basis. Just make sure at least 600 up to 800mg taken as one dose. Take with food. It takes pretty high doses sometimes to counteract oxytocin. Much better in my opinion to take ibuprofen in higher doses a couple days per month than start on continuous daily hormone therapy. If she has actually tried ibuprofen at that dosage with no relief, I would go the route of low dose BC pills rather than the patch.</p>
<p>I would assume the BC patch can be places where nobody else would see it, but it would still bother me personally-- i think i would be hyper aware of it. Not saying its rational!</p>
<p>I’ve been on nuvaring for maybe six months now and have mixed feelings about it. I have a harder time remembering to change it out once a month than I did remembering to take a pill every night. The first four or five months it was fine, I was very aware of it at first but I don’t even know its there anymore. But now I am getting hormone headaches and very heavy bleeding like before I went on the pill. So I will probably be going back to the pill. But if the pill is not appealing, nuvaring is certainly worth a try! I have been having problems after four or five months on all birth control lately, so my negative experiences need to be taken with a grain of salt. My experience with BC has overall been positive.</p>
<p>Personally, I would feel more comfortable with the pill than with the patch. I feel like I’d be checking to see if it fell off, or something. </p>
<p>Being on BC is great. I used to get menstrual cramps - nothing horrible/debilitating, but definitely unpleasant. I haven’t had cramps once since I started on BC five years ago.</p>
<p>As for potentially missing a pill, that’s really not a big deal if your D is not using BC to prevent pregnancy, but instead to treat menstrual symptoms. Taking it the next morning will result in increased risk of pregnancy and MAYBE at worst some breakthrough bleeding. Plus it might be good for her to have a long time for it to become part of her routine before she thinks about employing BC for its original intended purpose.</p>
<p>I 100% recommend Seasonique/Seasonale, the 3 month pill–I had debilitating cramps and they decreased them to 1 day every 3 months and shortened my actual bleeding to only 3 days! I also gained a cup size and a few pounds, but nothing major. I would highly recommend them!</p>
<p>All the doctors at my gyn’s office regularly prescribe any birth control to be taken constantly to prevent menstruation. My mom had her write my scripts that way in college, even though that wasn’t how I was taking them, so that she had more flexibility in when to pick them up and bring them to school for me. I’ve never heard of any other doctors doing this. My sister gets really horrendous cramps, and she still does on BC, but now it’s only once or twice a year. Personally I am afraid to do that for fear that I could get pregnant and not find out until later than I would have otherwise.</p>
<p>No one should have to suffer through the effects of horrible cramps, it is such a problem. I remember the first time I discovered Advil, for post-childbirth pain, I had an Rx then and kept it going, doing the happy dance when it went OTC. Gouf is right about the old amounts, my Rx back in the 1980s was 1600mg at one time!</p>
<p>Patches can make itchy red spots and can also come off, especially in water, so swimming. Pills, too have side effects. IUDs are now being used for woman pre-childbirth (it used to only be for postpartum women), but I would not jump to that at 16. Also check into the shots, there is a Progesterone injectable that lasts for a long time and I think reduces or eliminates periods.</p>
<p>All of them can cause weight gain, it could take a while to find what works best for her body, but I would highly recommend being more assertive than I thought to be, back in the day.</p>
<p>Hyperjulie, that is what we talked about tonight - that IF she missed at this point - she is not dating or anything close - it would not be as much of a concern as of she was using the pill for BC.</p>
<p>I think we’ll be going with the pill- hoping for relief for her!!</p>
<p>I was briefly on the patch and it was the only thing I ever reacted poorly to. I have sensitive skin and kept getting a rash from it. I have cysts, very heavy periods, and debilitating cramps. While the pill regulated me and took away the three week long bleeding cycles, it did nothing to calm cramps when I actually did have my period.</p>
<p>It’s why I’m such a huge fan of Implanon. Only need to do anything once every three years and completely does away with periods.</p>
best of luck!</p>