I asked my doctor to prescribe me a 'traditional' birth control pill to take. I thought it would be nice and easy, since I could just take it with my copaxone injections nightly, right?

My GP discouraged it, saying my neurologist would not want me to take a 'traditional' type of pill.

So she put me on Depo Provera. Been here before with horrible results a few years ago. Horrible results yet again.

Why would the doctor discourage the pill? She said I could take the progesterone only pill, but wouldn't that be the same thing as the Depo P. shot that's progesterone only?

I'm just curious what the pill does to those with MS that neurologists would discourage taking it.

Laura -

I was on traditional birth control pills up until October. All of the neuros I've seen (including my neuro at Hopkins) are totally fine with BC pills. In fact, I think the hormones help with MS stuff.... there is that study with estriol and copaxone even.

I'd ask around some more about this. I know a lot of people with MS who take regular bc. I used to take Lo-estrin 24. My first exacerbation happened last December when I accidentally went off the pill for a few weeks!

I'm curious to hear what others think. But if you've had a bad reaction with depo, I wouldn't continue to take it unless you find out more concretely if/why bc pills aren't good with MS.

~Keri

I've never heard of that either, Laura.

Since your GP is suggesting that it is your neuro who might have a problem with rxing b/c pills . . . why don't you go right to the source to ask if he does?

Cherie

Yep, I'd do what Cherie has said. I'd ask my neuro. Let us know what you find out please.

I think I'll definitely call Monday and find out, because this is unreal.

I flat out said I'd rather be pregnant than get another shot of Depo Provera. That's how awful the shot's been for me (I'm certainly not ready for children at this time!).

I would ask, although undx here, even with my sxs..at one point one dr was thinking of putting me on them to see if some of my sxs would subside as she knows when preggo I feel GREAT so she was thinking if on BC maybe same effect. We havent done it yet but just thinking as others that it is ok...ask the neuro..hugsss,sarah

I have always been on the pill, before MS and during MS. I asked my neuro about it, and he was fine with it. I have had a couple of ob/gyns turn me down to get my tubes tied and/or a hysterectomy. They told me they don't want to "put my body under any stress", like contiuously wondering if your pill is working isn't being under any stress. I asked the neuro about that too, and he pretty much told me they were crazy. I am to live my life as a normal healthy person, until I find out otherwise by trial and error.

I couldn't take the regular BC pills (before my hysterectomy) they made things much worse. Now I take a low dose estrogen (post hysterectomy) and have for 8 years. I tried depo when I was hemorraghing (sp) and it also made things worse. Hence the surgery since the pills and shots couldn't help me.

I'm on traditional BC pills and have been on them for years. My GP prescribes them for me and my neurologist could care less about them. LOL

I was on depo provera for about 3 years in the early nineties. My experience with it, in hindsight, is that it caused me to gain weight and contributed to a waning sex drive. Everything got back to normal once off that form of BC and I realized only then how it had been somewhat detrimental to me.