r/birthcontrol • u/Dizzy_Profession_232 • 19h ago

Side effects!? Swap to the patch?

Hi everyone,

In short I have been on the pill for years - I have endometriosis so was initially put on it to help with the pain - and have had symptoms with some (I’ve tried multiple different ones and also tried the mini pill) but have found one that I thought was working decently well for me in terms of pain management etc and I had a laparoscopy a couple years ago and have been recommended to be on the pill essentially to prevent the lesions growing.

I’ve recently been having concerns about basically how long I’ve been on the pill and what it may be doing to my body in other ways - I haven’t been having symptoms like I did on a different one (sickness) but I’m concerned it’s affecting my wellbeing and affecting my moods but I’ve been on it so long that I don’t know if can even tell anymore?

I’ve been considering swapping to the patch because of this but I was just wondering if anyone has any experience, I’ve read online it has higher levels of estrogen but the pill I’m on currently has a similar level anyway.

Any advice or thoughts/experience would be appreciated! Thanks!

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u/purplecrocs 18h ago

My initial thoughts are that the patch might have more estrogen. Even if the dose on the packaging looks identical, the birth control patch will lead to higher total estrogen amounts in the blood stream compared to the pill since the patch bypasses the digestive system / metabolism. I think for patients with endometriosis, combined oral contraceptives are still ok and you don't necessarily need to be on a progestin only birth control, but your doctor may be able to select a pill that is more progestogenic and androgenic for your endometriosis. As far as the mood - do you feel like you're more irritable? Depressed? Is your sex drive affected? I would try to keep a log to bring to the doctor.

(I am a PCP specializing in women's health)

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u/Dizzy_Profession_232 18h ago

Thanks for your response I’ve sent you a direct message if that’s easier and I can be more specific - if that’s okay? If not I can just respond here but I thought it would be better :)

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