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Hey all what are your thoughts on changing from birth control pills (ortho cyclin) to an IUD (Mirena) right before starting Accutane?
Ive been wanting to get off my pills and change to an IUD for a while (possibility of no more periods, convenience of not having to take pills daily and going to the pharmacy every month to pick up another pack, etc.). But Ive been terrified that I will break out like crazy since most people seem to break out once they stop their pills and/or when they get Mirena.
I dont want to go through a round of Accutane, make the pill to IUD switch, get an awful breakout, and then go through a second round of Accutane. So my logic is why not move that awful breakout to just before Accutane and (hopefully) be forever done with Accutane after this first round? But since my IUD will still be in after I stop Accutane + if my body doesnt like the IUD will my acne just come raging back? Is this a really stupid idea? Should I just suck it up and continue taking my birth control pills until I decide I want to pop out some babies (since Ive had no major problems with my pills) and deal with it then (which might not be for a while...or ever)
My first pregnancy test for Accutane will be 5/27 and the earliest I would be able to get an IUD (if Im lucky) is 5/25, more likely 5/26
Thanks in advance!
Hmm tough one!
I guess if you have been approved for accutane now, then being on the pill has not really been doing wonders for your skin... so coming off them maybe wouldn't be toooo much different?
I don't think its a stupid idea! You should use whatever contraceptive you want! I think your logic is pretty good, I mean there is no way you can predict if your skin will get worse after accutane if you have the IUD, but none of us can really be sure that accutane will 'cure' us anyway, so it's not a sure thing vs a mystery, it's a mystery vs a mystery!
Have you discussed it with your derm?
Since there is a good chance that Accutane will make you break out more at first before it starts to get better and since going off BC might make you break out more at first, it would seem to kill two birds with one stone and get the breakout over with all at once! Also, I think it's better to change your hormonal makeup (is that a thing? I made it a thing) now BEFORE you go on accutane than to do it after and risk the acne coming back because of getting off of the pill then.
As an aside, I've had the the Paragard for 3 years and love it. Don't believe the horror stories. I also got the paragard because it's copper, not hormones, and doesn't effect acne.
FURTHER, spironolactone worked miracles on my hormonal acne after I got off of the pill. If you go off BC AND if the Accutane doesn't help, Spiro may be a great option.
On 5/5/2016 at 1:23 PM, bigappleedubs said:Since there is a good chance that Accutane will make you break out more at first before it starts to get better and since going off BC might make you break out more at first, it would seem to kill two birds with one stone and get the breakout over with all at once! Also, I think it's better to change your hormonal makeup (is that a thing? I made it a thing) now BEFORE you go on accutane than to do it after and risk the acne coming back because of getting off of the pill then.
As an aside, I've had the the Paragard for 3 years and love it. Don't believe the horror stories. I also got the paragard because it's copper, not hormones, and doesn't effect acne.
FURTHER, spironolactone worked miracles on my hormonal acne after I got off of the pill. If you go off BC AND if the Accutane doesn't help, Spiro may be a great option.
There was no time to get an IUD 
but I will keep spiro in mind after I finish Accutane...Did you just have to take it for a couple of months or is it one of those things that you just have to keep taking indefinitely?
On 5/26/2016 at 5:53 PM, elee92 said:There was no time to get an IUD
I was on spiro for about 8 years (maybe slightly longer...I can't remember exactly when I started). For me to be clear, I had to stay on it. It did take a LONG time to fully work on me, but I got clear and stayed clear for about 7 of those 8 years. As soon as I got off of it, my acne came roaring back, worse than before, which was why I am now on Accutane. Accutane cleared up my face at around the 2 month mark, and it's now almost cleared my back and chest going into month 5.
14 hours ago, bigappleedubs said:On 5/26/2016 at 5:53 PM, elee92 said:There was no time to get an IUDI was on spiro for about 8 years (maybe slightly longer...I can't remember exactly when I started). For me to be clear, I had to stay on it. It did take a LONG time to fully work on me, but I got clear and stayed clear for about 7 of those 8 years. As soon as I got off of it, my acne came roaring back, worse than before, which was why I am now on Accutane. Accutane cleared up my face at around the 2 month mark, and it's now almost cleared my back and chest going into month 5.
I'm a bit weary of medication that only works when I'm taking it - i.e. I have to continuously take it for years and years so Spiro doesn't sound right for me.
Accutane working for you is great news! Thanks for the replies and best of luck ^.^
I can't advise you what to do but I can share with u that Mirena iud was the worst decision of my life. I had so many problems with that thing, it was bad! I'm on ortho tri cyclin (month 3) and my cystic acne is disappearing before my eyes.....all I can say is wish I could have taken this stuff a long time ago to save me from a bunch of depression and stress but still thankful it's almost over! My skin looks great now.