Birth Control Questions.

[Aletheia*]

Hey guys.

This is purely informational based for someone in my family. I have a cousin who is in her mid-late twenties (not sure how old she is really), but she has Down's Syndrome. For whatever reason, her father and step-mother had decided to put her on birth control, despite there being no chance of her having relationships or having sex. Not because of her disability, but because of her father's orders and keeping a close watch on her.

They give her the depo provera shot (SP?) and then also give her birth control pills. She has some crazy periods now, and when she comes to visit from her home in Tennessee, she always has her periods, constantly, while she's here. Not sure what it's like for her at home since I don't live her, but we go through about 3 packages of pads while she is here. And, they are huge packages.

Isn't the depo shot the same as any other birth control? By this I mean, preventing pregnancy and helping regulate periods. Was it advisable for them to put her on both the shot and the Pill? I'm thinking not since she never had problems with her period until being put on the shot and the Pill at the same time.

Please help?

[escape_thereal_world]

Shannon, I have heard the Depo shot causes you to not have a period (at least from 4 people who have had it), and the birth control helps regulate your period.

Though, I wouldn't think being on both would be good, as that is a lot of hormones and such in your body.

[Magic.]

The problem with any birth control is that they can do crazy stuff to your periods. Ultimately they should stop your periods / make them light and short, but to begin with your body can go a bit crazy with the introduction of extra hormones. So it is an accepted side effect of the shot. Often the pill is used in conjunction to regulate periods (I was put on the pill with the implant), but it doesn't always work, for the same reasons ...

[Cmblack9871]

The shot is supposed to basically make your period go away (that's why I got it), but the pill regulates it (kinda) I don't think the two would be a good mix since they both aim to do two different things. All the hormones cant be good for her and the constant bleeding could lead to alot of health problems hopefully everything will work out for her

[Angel]

Isn't anyone concerned about all this blood loss?

[Tigerlily.]

That's exactly what I was just thinking, not only does that sound like way too many hormones but all the blood loss could be very dangerous.

[Aletheia*]

I would be concerned about this too. She's here with my grandparents, and the insurance that my uncle has on her is only effective here if it's an emergency. My grandparents can't afford to take her to a doctor to check on the blood loss. I'm thinking of getting into contact with a doctor in my area tomorrow to get their take on this, and to get some suggestions on what should be done. I'm also thinking about messaging my uncle about it as well. She's going to be going home here in about a week or so, so maybe he could take her to the doctor when she gets home.

[ShimmeringFaerie]

I can't think of any reason that someone would need to be on two types of hormonal birth control at once. But surely a doctor would have had to sign off on both the shot and the birth control pills? Or is there a way that her parents could get birth control without seeing a doctor and therefore without being advised on both? Also, can you really force someone to take birth control, especially if they are in their mid-late twenties? I understand that your cousin having Down Syndrome makes it an unusual situation, but it just doesn't seem ethical for a doctor to prescribe birth control if the patient hasn't consented to it.

If it was me, I would either talk to the father myself or get my parents to do it (since it would be one of their siblings). He may just not understand that what he has done is not safe and just needs to have it all explained to him.

[Revolution]

This seems dangerous to me, I know they're two different hormones, and that seems excessive. She doesn't need to be on both, and the loss of blood and very high chance of blood clots seems...very dangerous. I would talk to them about this, and see if this was all doctor approved. I mean, if the doctor said to do it, I would trust a doctor, but my instincts say something is wrong.

[blumemusik♫]

From what I know, the blood loss shouldn't be too big a problem. Usually, blood loss from a period, even a really heavy one, is accounted for by the body, and so has no bad effects (except occasionally anaemia.)

However, these sound EXCEPTIONALLY heavy, and it must be due to the two types of hormonal contraception being used. If there's no chance of her getting pregnant (unless she's on it in case of a rape incident) then she doesn't need to be on the Pill AND the shot, which as far as I know is very dangerous.

I'm not sure what to recommend except to advise her guardian to take her to the doctors when she gets home, or stop her taking the Pill.

[Angel]

The blood loss that occurs from a normal menstrual cycle isn't usually a problem, but if Shannon's cousin is having a really long and heavy period, it could be problematic. It just doesn't sound like a good idea to be put on the shot and be taking the pill.

[Sincerely Yours ♥]

Blood loss could definitely be an issue as far as losing too much iron. Aside from the fact that she probably shouldn't take both, she might want to take vitamins with iron in them.

When I first got my period, I used to have heavy periods every few months due to the irregularity, but there was so much blood loss that I would get dizzy & close to passing out.

[Aletheia*]

I've just gotten word that my cousin is NO LONGER on the Pill. She was on the Pill & getting the shot at the same time at one point, but is no longer taking the Pill. Her step-mother keeps stressing that she needs to get the shot, but from experience here and what I've heard from stories passed on by her father to my grandmother, whom I live with, the shot wasn't helping stop the periods as they're supposed to do. I'm going to have my grandmother speak to her son, my cousin's father, about it. I don't feel as if it's my place to interfere, but I do think something needs to be done.

[NorielM]

I think it would be better to bring her to a physician so that you won't have any worries. Anyway, women should be happy because included in medical care reform legislation, no insurance business can require that everyone have any co-pay whatsoever for contraception medication. Though there will be exceptions, no female with health insurance will have to pay any cash for contraception drugs. Here is the proof: Insurance companies cannot demand co-pays for birth control.