After taking the pill for about 12 years non-stop, I went off of it for my j-pouch surgeries. My husband made promises of a vasectomy so I've been off the pill over 2 years now. Now, he's not so willing so I am considering the pill again.

My j-pouch functions great - I couldn't have asked for much better. So I am somewhat worried about introducing anything new like hormones into my body. Also, I am 34 but don't smoke and am active/healthy.

Any "older" ladies taking the pill without issue? Does anyone have the paraguard copper IUD - this is another option I've considered since it is hormone free. But I do like the benefit with the pill of being able to control my period and not have one for a few months.

Thanks for any insight,
Kenadi

I'm younger, but I took the pill for like 3 years with my j-pouch. It's never affected my pouch at all, if anything, it was better because I wasn't having PMS bloating and BB and whatnot.

I just read something regarding the pill and j pouches or UC. The jist was you shouldn't take it because of bad side effects.
malaysia.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080113155557AA3LUi1 - 39k -
I googled birth control pills and ibd

Here's the link that Holly was referring to.
http://sg.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080113155557AA3LUi1
It was a Crohn's patient who experienced blood clots with oral birth control pills, a widely known side effect. Plus, it is also well known that IBD can cause clotting disorders. So, I would not go so far to say that it is contraindicated and definitely NOT harmful to your pouch. But, you should be alert for blood clots, obviously.

I had personally decided against resuming BCP after taking them for over ten years and stopping to have my children; mostly out of concern of long term effects that are yet unknown. I just used spermacidal jelly or suppositories until I was 40, then had a tubal ligation.

IUDs are quite safe and effective. They got a bad reputation way back, but it was unfounded.

This link is for medical guidelines and indicates that contraceptive choices for women with IBD are the same as the general population. Contraindications for birth control pills in the presence of IBD are PSC, a history of venous thrombosis, or undergoing major surgery. If you can get by with progesterone only pills, there are no contraindications.
http://www.guideline.gov/summary/summary.aspx?ss=15&doc_id=7100&nbr=4272

Jan

Thanks Jan. You are genius with this stuff. I still feel computer challenged!

WiIsh i read these posts sooner! I too was nervous of taking the pill, and hadn't used it in years, sooooo, after some research, i got a Mirena IUD. So far (3 months) i haven't noticed any negative effect on my pouch at all, and it was approved by my GI dude, since i've had a mountain of complications elsewhere. Best of luck choosing