Combined pill and bowel habits

[tryingtoexplainmyself]

Has anyone had experience of the combined oral
contraceptive pill causing a change in bowel habits? It’s a coincidence that things have changed after starting it. Obviously if it persists I will check
in with my GP, but just curious.

How strange. I’ll definitely go and see the GP next week. When I suggested I wondered if it could be hormonal she was totally onboard and said she’d once written a paper on the effects of hormones on bowel function so she’ll will be fine with switching me to a different pill.

I just hope it is all pill related and nothing more sinister!

Do you also happen to be on iron supplements OP? I seem to have a pattern of weird BMs since starting the progestin only pill but it looks like it coincides with the iron pills I take every other day. Currently quit both (spoke to my gp about it first) to see the effects over the next few weeks and determine the culprit..

I have 2 theories:
1- the hormonal shift caused a more sensitive gut which isn't able to process the iron pills anymore

2- My body now has enough iron/has become more sensitive to iron (after2,5 months of supplementing every other day) and just 'refuses' to absorb more it like it did in the beginning

(I take 28mg iron bisglycinate which is supposed to be gentler on the gi tract)

I started the mini pill as well as the iron tablets bc I was dog tired due to heavy periods, so i hope i can restart the pill next month. 🤞

I did see some articles about hormonal birth control messing with your gut microbiome and/or the permeability of your large intestine.. Your GP probably knows a lot about this connection! Hope she can find a good solution for you.

Sorry I seem to be repeating myself a lot in this thread!! Thank you brain fog 😆

I’m not on iron tablets, but do take a daily vitamin that has 4.2mg iron. That isn’t new though, I’ve been taking that for years

Then probably not likely to be the cause but also worth to try eliminating for a week or so... It's frustrating isn't it? Hope you feel better soon!

Heading back to doctors this morning - I’m not sure if this pill related, ibs related, something more worrisome or more than 1 thing going on!

Good luck op!

She seems fairly set on it being ibs and is willing to consider that the pill has made symptoms worse. I’m having a blood test in a couple of weeks including celiac screening and then if that all
coles back ok it’ll be time to try changing pill. She’s also asked me to keep a food diary in the meantime

@MozzarElla84interestingly I have stopped my vitamin (because I ran out and forgot to buy more) and I’ve now had 5 days in a row of normal for me stool. And out of the last 8 days only 1 episode of sofight be coincidental but I’m kind of scared to re start the vitamin now 😂

That sounds a bit like what happened when I quit my iron supplements. This was iron with a copper, vitamine a and vitamin C I think. I read a medical article yesterday (nerd alert 🤓)about how iron can mess with your gut, especially combined with vitamin C. Something about the alteration of gut bacteria and this can cause long term effects. I'll send you the article if I can find it again! I also had 2 crampy soft stool episodes since quitting iron the past 2 weeks but otherwise normal, and i suspect its because my gut is more sensitive now to things I was okay-ish with before... it's all mildly interesting. And annoying lol. To be continued....

I was happily taking this supplement before I went on the pill, so either it’s just coincidence that I suddenly can’t tolerate it, or the hormonal changes have made me unable to tolerate it, hopefully my iron will come back ok when I get it tested next week!

Same story here!

Did you ever try restarting it? I feel like my iron levels are probably dipping now - although periods are lighter since being on the pill so I guess maybe not…

Spoke too soon. Back to a soft stool this morning :(

Asking here because some of you are very knowledgeable re the pill. I’ve just had my 4 day break between pill packets and haven’t had a withdrawal bleed. I feel like it’s imminent with period cramps but nothing yet. Do I take pill 1 of my new pack today or shall I wait a few more days to see if it turns up?

I don't think I can advise you as I am on the progestin only pill which doesn't have breaks. (Unfortunately still have my heavy periods on it so hopefully that changes).
From what I have read re combined contraceptives, there is actually no need for breaks ot withdrawal bleeds; the reason women have a break and then withdrawal bleed is apparently 'designed' so that women who are on the pill secretly still have a "period" every month. Don't take my word for it though..😉. Hope someone else has the right advise for you here x

Thanks, I got breakthrough bleeding when I went longer than 7 packs so have been having a 4 day break every 6 weeks. I’m not worried about the lack of bleeding as such, but I don’t want to restart the next pack and then continue with the cramps for the next 6 weeks or something terrible like that!

Same.

I would start taking again.

I only have a 4 day break when break through bleeding starts but sometimes that might be for one day or just spotting and nothing substantial. Any symptoms I have clear up quickly when I start restarting.

I was advised to only have a 4 day break when my body was telling me it was ready for that break, be that end of pack or mid pack.

How are the bowel movements now?

@CluckycluckI've missed it this morning now, usually take it first thing. Would you say take it now or wait until tomorrow morning (so it will have been a 5 day break)?

BM are much the same, I’ve been keeping a good diary but not really been able to pinpoint a trigger. I’m planning to go back to the dr next week and potentially try a different pill. What u actually want to do is come off them completely but I’m scared this’ll cause be problems with cysts and endometriosis

I personally would take it now but it won't make a difference if you wait until morning.

I completely understand. I have some medical issues that need investigating but I get severe headaches without the pill to the point I can't do anything so I'm terrified of coming off it and just live with the other issues.

Exactly the same for me. Happily, menopause solved lots of problems!

Thanks @Cluckyclucki think I’ll leave it until tomorrow now, but at least I feel a bit more informed if this happens again. I’ve never not had a withdrawal bleed before, I wonder why it’s happened.

It’s rubbish isn’t it? I feel I’ll end up either stopping the pill and risking the gynae stuff or having to go through a colonoscopy possibly unnecessarily

Hi OP.

I was on Gedarel for around 15 years, depo jab for 10 years before that.

I have Crohn's disease, I always thought there was a link with my periods (when I got them), as my symptoms were always worse. However, I stopped taking the pill around 4 months ago, and my bowel habits are now the most 'normal' they've been since I can remember. I'll never go back on hormonal contraception.

@TwinklingPotatoits crazy how much we’re pushed to take these hormones without anyone really understanding the side effects. Women’s medicine needs such an overhaul!