| I have the F5 and F2, but not ABO. but if I were a mid-aged woman I would consider an IUD (with or without hormones) as an effective alternative to the pill I take the pill as a treatment for severe dysmenorrhea which did not respond to any other treatments. To my knowledge, regular IUDs do not help with that. When I saw the 23andme results years ago, I didn't know there were any options beside the Pill for dysmenorrhea. I had to make the choice between continuing to hold down a regular job, and accepting the risk. I probably would have been wise to bring up the test results with my doctors, but I have low expectations of them (revolving door treatment). So I just made the decision on my own. After hunting around, I see there are IUDs that come with hormones that have been known to help with dysmenorrhea: http://www.uptodate.com/contents/long-term-methods-of-birth-...
It's something my doctors never mentioned to me. I'm nearing the time when I should stop taking BCP, so I don't see the point in experimenting with other options, given I've survived till now (IUDs are usually planned to be used for 1+ years). I did find that I had to switch between a few different types of pills before I found one that had the best effect, and doing this for an IUD would be quite a production, if it even worked. It's interesting to me that I've never had a doctor mention to me risks for DVT at all. Doctors ask for a family history (no history of blood clots in my family). Based on that, I guess they have assumed I do not have a high risk for blood clots. Here's a relevant quote: https://bedsider.org/features/168-risky-business-2-migraines...
"Some types of genetic testing can reveal a predisposition for blood clots or stroke (though it’s not clear if a genetic test that shows this predisposition actually predicts that the condition will develop)." higher fitness -> lower heartrate -> slower circulation -> clotting Interestingly, Serena Williams was reported to have DVT (she had a PE although I haven't found a source that said it was definitely from DVT). She had recently had an injury to a foot which required surgery and 18 stitches, and also it happened on a flight... I am reasonably athletic, but my resting heart rate is about 80 bpm. Maybe that's something that's been helping me. Aside from genetics, the risk factors for DVT are reportedly:
1) Smoking
2) Birth control pills
3) Hormone replacement therapy with estrogen and progesterone
4) Recent surgery, especially on the legs or belly
5) A long hospital stay involving bed rest
6) Some cancers
7) Pregnancy and childbirth, particularly with C-section
8) Age over 70
9) Obesity
http://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20110302/serena-williams-pulm... Notice they don't even mention travel at webmd.... So if I get off the BCP, avoid surgery, and die before 70, maybe I'll be fine ;) |