For the Ladies Out There-- Birth Control

[Kidneygirl]

Are there any special considerations when choosing a birth control method if you have renal failure? The pill increases the risk of stroke and our risk is higher anyway so is it safe for us? What do you use if you don't mind sharing?









EDITED:Moved to general discussion area-kitkatz,moderator

[paddbear0000]

I was having a lot of problems taking birth control with both estrogen & progesterone, so my doc had me stop (I was taking Seasonale, then Seasonique). She wants me to use the IUS, Mirena because it's progesterone only. I think it's the estrogen that causes problems. Birth control pills are bad for you if you have high blood pressure anyway, because they make it worse. And since high BP and kidney failure go hand in hand, it makes sense to use something else if you have a problems controlling it. I haven't gotten the Mirena yet because I'm a little freaked out by having a foreign object floating around in my uterus! The next time I actually get a period (it's been incognito for about 3 months now!), I've decided to have it put in. For now, we just use old fashion condoms. Hope this helps.

[monrein]

Condoms for me until menopause when no more need for birth control but I'd suggest buying a chunk of stock in a good lubricant company post-menopause.  That however is true for a lot of post-menopausal women not just those with CKD.  Prednisone may have an impact though on the thinning of tissue.

[alrightstill]

Last summer my ob-gyn had put me on Lo-Estrin but that made my periods all wacky.  I'd get a weird discolored spotting that would last 2 weeks until my actual week and a half long period came!     She then switched me over to another (Femcom I think it was?) - but that was making me feel nautious.

I've been on Yaz for the past 3 months with no complaints.  My bp runs low anyway (80/64 lows) so the blood pressure thing wasn't a problem.. and my neph said it's perfectly ok for me to use this particular pill.  Like I said, no complaints so far and my periods run for about 4-5 days and aren't nearly as heavy as they once used to be.   

[paddbear0000]

Everything I've read or heard about Yaz says you shouldn't take it if you have kidney disease because it increases your potassium and causes heart problems. I had questioned my doc about it and she said NO, NO, NO, I can't take it. It's way too risky for someone with stage 4 kidney disease. I'd get a second opinion if I were you.

[jbeany]

I've got a Mirena.  It's really low-dose hormones, so it hasn't affected my insulin or my blood pressure.  I got it to solve period problems caused by the heparin, and it does wonders.  I've also got my tubes tied.  That's pretty easy to do these days if you aren't planning on trying to have children.  Most insurance companies will pay for that completely - anything that keeps them from having to pay for childbirth and the resulting kids saves them a bundle, I suppose!

[mel75]

I also have an IUD I don't know the name of it but it is the one with no hormeones in it. The neph said my BP was too high with the BC pills I was using and the regular dr said i should have been off the pill a long time ago. I haven't had any problems with it except the 1st one they put in fell out the day they put it in and I went back for the second and i have had no problems. My husband says he can feel it, that is the only thing. I havent had a regular period since then either. Good luck.

[alrightstill]

Everything I've read or heard about Yaz says you shouldn't take it if you have kidney disease because it increases your potassium and causes heart problems. I had questioned my doc about it and she said NO, NO, NO, I can't take it. It's way too risky for someone with stage 4 kidney disease. I'd get a second opinion if I were you.

I mentioned the highering of potassium and the nurse practioner said especially since I do home-hemo 6 days a week, we shouldnt see a  big difference in my potassium.  (Since starting the pill, my potassium has been about 3).


I will definitely get another opinion, thanks for the headsup!