Thread: Questions about Seasonique?

While I agree that the website can be helpful, they rarely discuss any of the REAL side effects many women suffer while taking the drugs. There is also no way on most of those sites to see user reviews, which IMO is the true test. The websites are there to promote the product, and though informational, simply do not provide women all the information they are going to want to know before taking these very life altering drugs.

Anytime you start the pill and stop the pill like that, you're most likely going to have spotting/period issues. So yes, what you're experiencing right now, the spotting and sore nipples is most likely a direct result of the three pills you took. Your entire cycle all month long is a process, each part of the cycle happens for a reason and is directly related to another part of the cycle. When you took those three pills you were telling your body to stop that normal process, then when you abruptly stopped your cycle had been interrupted. Give your body a chance to get through this cycle and once you have your next period you should be back on track.

It's true the web sites are general in nature, they have to be, which is why they also provide toll free numbers should any consumer have further questions.

Since everybody's body is different you will react differently to a drug then a perfect stranger to whom you know little and are trying to advise.

I think we are treading on very thin ice when we give medical advice to people of whom we have no history and no little about. We wrongly assume that since A or B happened to us, then it must mean the same thing if it happens to them. Maybe, or maybe not.

Let's leave the study of science and the answer to scientific questions up to those whose job it is to answer them based on years of research, education and knowledge.

It's just my opnion.

Seeker that's why most of us here are very careful about giving any sort of medical advice. There is a distinct difference in telling someone your own experiences or giving your opinion based on your own experiences, than giving someone medical advice. And I must say, thank goodness for sites like this one, because it has eased my mind in times when I would continously be told by my doctor "well lets wait until after your next period and if you're still having the problem we'll look further into it". Who wants to spend 2 or 3 more weeks suffering and worrying and still have no possible answers? People sharing their own experiences is what teaches us gals what to expect, what to look for, etc.........because our doctors don't often provide that info. In regards to the birth control pill, the side effects I've heard doctors refer to as "not the norm", seem to be the same side effects that you hear almost every female you talk to experience. Thank goodness we have each other to share with.....otherwise there would've been times I seriously thought I was dying of some strange rare disease. That's the whole point of the Birth Control forum, to share experiences, to ask questions to others who have used the same birth control, to have our minds eased when we're experiencing crazy symptoms etc. It's not to be confused with "medical advice".

Who said anything about "medical advice" or even "doctors" for that matter? Not me.

The only points I shared with Cl!ck were A) that advanced scientific knowledge is available, and B) If you can't afford your meds, ALL of the pharma co's. have programs that may help.

The product specific web sites, set up by the drug manufacturers and approved, monitored and regulated by the FDA are far more than marketing arms.
To claim that "websites are there to promote the product" only is to not be informed or not willing to share the entire story with someone who obviously has concerns about it.

I agree that forums like this can be very helpful in many areas and are, I've learned a lot in the short time I've been here, but only if those that participate give all of the helpful information that they can.

Provide as much information as you can and let the reader decide what course of action and/or opinion is best for them to pursue.

Who said anything about "medical advice" or even "doctors" for that matter? Not me

Yes....you dear.

I think we are treading on very thin ice when we give medical advice to people of whom we have no history and no little about

Let's leave the study of science and the answer to scientific questions up to those whose job it is to answer them based on years of research, education and knowledge.

Do doctors not fall into this category? I guess I could've said "customer service representative for a pharmaceutical company", but I figured "doctor" was more practical considering anyone on BC has one.

The websites are there to promote the product, and though informational, simply do not provide women all the information they are going to want to know before taking these very life altering drugs.

This was the entire sentence, which is important in understanding what I meant. And I still mean just that. After taking birth control pills for 10 years (lots of different kinds), I have been on many of these FDA approved company websites. Though informational (as I said above) in reference to that particular pill, why it's better than other pills,etc......they simply do not often cover issues like the OP posted that many women who have actually taken birth control pills understand and can relate to. The OP took three days of pills. She came on here asking if that's what could've caused her to have the spotting and sore nipples. The only thing she's going to find on Seasonique's website in regards to spotting is the following: "Keep in mind that when starting any new birth control pill, some women experience bleeding or spotting between periods." That' just my opinion.

Again, to count only on a web site for information when they provide toll free numbers in which to speak to actual researchers, as in scientific researchers, as required by law, is ignorance by the consumer and has nothing to do with the manufacturer, their web site, their research staff or their product.

Do physicians fall into what category? As those that have done years of research, education and knowledge? In some cases, absolutely. Not all physicians are researchers and not all researchers are physicians, but it's fair to say that either have more knowledge about the human body and how products may effect it, then the average consumer who uses those products.

It's also interesting to note, that EVERY pharmaceutical product contains what is commonly called a PI or Package Insert as required by law, as part of it's FDA approved and regulated packaging...ever read one in it's entirety? Less than 4% of the prescription drug consuming public ever has...

The websites are there to promote the product, and though informational, simply do not provide women all the information they are going to want to know before taking these very life altering drugs. Because they are not allowed to under current federal laws. So they provide toll free 800 numbers that nobody calls...why?

Medicine is a study, not an art, as we are all guinea pigs that provide our PCPs and others with data that may help them treat the next person who presents with similar symptoms. That's why they say it's the "study or practice of medicine".

Medical specialists, scientific researchers and in some cases, physicians, are readily available to anyone via a toll free number and they can answer all of your questions. They are there because they have to be as part of the FDA's requirements for all pharmaceutical companies.

They are also the most under utilized FREE RESOURCE available to every consumer.