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Does Stopping Birth Control Pills Have Side Effects?
I just turned 50 and stopped taking my birth control pill (Cryselle) about 2 weeks ago I am experiencing lower abdominal and back pain on my left side. Could this be related? Could I be ovulating? I have only spotted very lightly most months for the last few years. My perimenopausal symptoms have been very mild on the pill, but I am prone to migraines and almost always had them during the placebo week.
Wed, 5 Apr 2017
I totally understand your concerns regarding the pain and the possible correlation with stopping your usual birth control pills.
1- Cryselle does stop ovulation and thus stop the pain of ovulation and decreases the pain during menstruation. Since you stopped using Cryselle your ovulation might have reccured and thus you may feel more pain on the site of ovulation, but this pain is only after the ovulation and stays for few hours to 24 hours. Your continous left sided pain for 2 weeks cannot be correlated to ovulation. And thus other etiologies should be considered.
2- The possible etiologies might be correlated to urinary problems, gynecologic problems or gastrointestinal problems.
3- The following tests should be ordered :
a- We start with an ultrasound of the pelvic area in order to visualize your ovaries, your uterus, and make sure there are no gynecologic reasons for your pain
b- urinanalysis should be ordered to detect any possible kidney stone or urine infection
c- eventually a CT-scan of the abdomen and pelvis should be ordered to detect a kidney stone, a gastrointestinal problem (such as diverticulitis), or a gynecologic disease confined to the left ovary.
d- I would highly recommend doing a colonoscopy due to the fact that you are 50 years old to detect problems within your colon as per the recommendations.
Best regards,
1- Cryselle does stop ovulation and thus stop the pain of ovulation and decreases the pain during menstruation. Since you stopped using Cryselle your ovulation might have reccured and thus you may feel more pain on the site of ovulation, but this pain is only after the ovulation and stays for few hours to 24 hours. Your continous left sided pain for 2 weeks cannot be correlated to ovulation. And thus other etiologies should be considered.
2- The possible etiologies might be correlated to urinary problems, gynecologic problems or gastrointestinal problems.
3- The following tests should be ordered :
a- We start with an ultrasound of the pelvic area in order to visualize your ovaries, your uterus, and make sure there are no gynecologic reasons for your pain
b- urinanalysis should be ordered to detect any possible kidney stone or urine infection
c- eventually a CT-scan of the abdomen and pelvis should be ordered to detect a kidney stone, a gastrointestinal problem (such as diverticulitis), or a gynecologic disease confined to the left ovary.
d- I would highly recommend doing a colonoscopy due to the fact that you are 50 years old to detect problems within your colon as per the recommendations.
Best regards,
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