QuestionHi again. I have inquired of you several times in the past year or so and have appreciated your help. I am 22 yrs old. I have 2 children. My last menstrual period was Jan. 31. I have had 2 laparscopy surgeries for ovarian cysts in the last year. I have been on birth control pills for the past 4 years to help with this problem. I have extreme sensitivity to the pills. You name the pill and I have tried it. I try very hard not to give up to easily on any certain pill. I usually try them for 3+ months before the symptoms overwhelm me. The symptoms include: nausea, severe migraines, weight gain, moodiness, and just not feeling well. ALong with birth control pills, I have tried the Mirena IUD, which did not work well, the patch, and the nuvaring...all with no success. My most current pill is lo-ogestrel. during my last period, from Jan. 31-Feb 3...I became so overwhelmed with my headaches that I woke up with a headache, and went to bed with a headache.After my period ended. I stopped my pills and have been off them for 3 weeks. The headaches stopped. ANd here we are again..big surpise. I have another ovarian cyst on the right side, about 5 cm. same as the two previous times. I feel I am so out of options. I am tired of surgery and the run-a-round with birth control pills. I have gained so much weight despite my continuous efforts with diet and exercise. I am just down right miserable! any ideas would help. Thank you.
AnswerIf you continue to have migraine headaches and weight gain, as well as nausea from the pills, you should not be using ANY hormonal methods of birth control (pill, Mirena, patch, nuvaring). Unfortunately, you appear to be prone to the development of ovarian cysts. If the cysts were less than 5cm in diameter, they can be ignored. However, cysts that are upwards of 5cm have the risk of torsion or rupture and can cause a problem. If you have completed your family, you may have to consider oophorectomy (removal of your ovaries) if you continue to be plagued by ovarian cysts. However, that would cause you to immediately reach menopause, with its own set of symptoms (flushes, flashes, night sweats, dryness, etc). Certainly the safest method of birth control at this time is the diaphram or natural family planning. The entire situation warrants a careful discussion with your gynecologist as to all the options and the course that is most beneficial to you.
