alternative's to pill?

[J-ROC]

My girlfriend was on the pill for a while until she found out from her doctor that she shouldn't be because she is at risk for breast cancer. I'm not sure which pill she was on though.

Are there any alternative pills that she can take? Or possibly the shot? I'm thinking not.

What about IUD's? Do those work well? feel ok? Anyone here tried one? I've heard of them before, but don't know anyone who actually uses one.

She hasn't been to her doctor yet to check out the alternatives yet. I'm just wondering, until then.

Thanks.

- J-ROC

[Nurse Naddy]

Hey there,

I'll tell you what I know.

As for the BC pill, if she is at a high risk of having breast cancer, it is best to avoid the pill at all as increased levels of hormones in the body are key in the development of breast cancer. The amount and duration of estrogen exposure seems to be the key issue. The younger a woman is when she has her first period, and the older she is when she stops having periods, the more likely she is to develop breast cancer.

If she is determined to go on the pill, there are alternatives such as a mini pill which contains only one of the hormones at a much lower dose. The statistics with these pills do not show any increased risk for pregnancy. They are often used by breastfeeding women.

As for IUD, I had one myself and I don't remember why I got rid of it. It was very uncomfortable to have put in, and I think i just didn't like the idea of having something inside me. However, once in, it was comfortable and worked very well for the eight months that I had it in. It is a good alternative to hormone therapy (which the depo vera shot is as well).

Hope this helps,
Naddy