PCOS, birthcontrol, and...how much is that copay?!?!?

First of all, try a Different Chemist....

Secondly go back to your Doc and ask for a refund (Joke).... ask for a different EST only pill... there are more than one!

Wow! That is a lot. I agree about asking your doc if maybe there is another (cheaper) pill that you can be on. Personally, I have the Mirena IUD. It's the 2nd one I've had and I love it. It cost money in the beginning though (about $300 with my insurance) but it's good for 5 years and I don't have to remember anything.

holy hell, i pay $7 a month, soon to be $5...with a manditory physical every year...you must live in the States...I'm on Alesse but to be honest with you, it's just because I have PMS so bad it's either Alesse with calcium and evening primrose oil, or prozac...if you aren't worried about getting pregnant than maybe you should try a homeopathic doctor...

So I decided to get off Depo. I researched PCOS friendly pills all weekend and Monday my doc prescribed a high estrogen pill for me. (that's what all the sites recommend) So Tuesday I went to my pharmacy to pick it up and they inform me that they had to special order it and it will be a $50 copay! That is twice my normal copay and with Depo it was only every three months, not every monthly. So now I'm trying to decide if it's worth the extra money. I don't like to waste money and since we're basically infertile I really don't need it for that reason...I don't know... What is everyone else taking??

First and foremost... before those doctors recommend those high priced, name brand medication never be afraid to speak up and ask... I'm on "so & so" insurance, how much does that cover? My gyn actually called my pharmacy to check if my BC pill comes in generic form. I changed to 6 different pills to just go right back to the first one I had that worked better for my bad periods. I even tried taking the pill to have less periods and in turn I started having serious side effects and found that the diabetic type symptoms I had were not my glucose levels and they were the dangers of suddenly being low in b12, and having an extreme high levels of triglycerides and cholesterol. Moral of the story is... always speak up on cost and if you have something that works without side effects then stick with it. Hormone changes can lead to so many other health issues the GYN never tells you about.

oh and P.S. high triglycerides are your enemy and the belly fats best friend and that's why I can't seem to lose the tire fast enough! lol

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4778
What are triglycerides?

Triglycerides are the chemical form in which most fat exists in food as well as in the body. They're also present in blood plasma and, in association with cholesterol, form the plasma lipids.

Triglycerides in plasma are derived from fats eaten in foods or made in the body from other energy sources like carbohydrates. Calories ingested in a meal and not used immediately by tissues are converted to triglycerides and transported to fat cells to be stored. Hormones regulate the release of triglycerides from fat tissue so they meet the body's needs for energy between meals.

http://www.webmd.com/cholesterol-management/tc/high-triglycerides-overview
What causes high triglycerides?

High triglycerides are usually caused by other conditions, such as:

* Obesity.
* Poorly controlled diabetes.
* An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism).
* Kidney disease.
* Regularly eating more calories than you burn.
* Drinking a lot of alcohol.

Certain medicines may also raise triglycerides. These medicines include:

* Tamoxifen.
* Steroids.
* Beta-blockers.
* Diuretics.
* Estrogen.
* Birth control pills.



Hope this is helpful to anyone!

Yaz is also $50 because there is no generic version. My gyno luckily gets free samples from the company and passes them along to me. I've only had to pay (actually fill the prescription) once!

Don't think that just because you have PCOS you can't get pregnant. It is LESS likely to happen, but that doesn't mean that it won't!!!! I know plenty of women with PCOS who have been able to get pregnant naturally (no infertility meds or ivf or anything like that). Just be aware. Even if you only ovulate twice a year instead of once a month, there definitely is still a chance that you could end up pregnant. It happens.

Before I was diagnosed w/ pcos, I was on seasonale/seasonique (or the generic brand of it) & never had any problems w/ it. I don't have drug coverage, so the brand name was ~$120 for 3 months....but I know they make a generic one now, which would be cheaper. My gyno would also give me free samples whenever I went it (& if they had them on hand). So you could always ask if they have any samples. They are usually more than happy to give them out. Good luck!

I have PCOS and did the BCP thing for a while. I live in Canada and don't have coverage for prescriptions and my pills were only about $40 for a 3-month supply. It was Yasmin28.
I stopped taking them though after reading about class action lawsuits in the States regarding that particular pill and I didn't like the possible side effects and health risks from taking the pill. Personal choice on my part, not saying it isn't for everyone.

I went the Metformin route as well and needed Clomid and Metformin to get pregnant back in 2004 (miscarriage) and again in 2005. My daughter is now 4 years old.

An OBGYN put me back on Metformin a couple of years ago claiming it was the only way to manage PCOS. I stopped taking them. I'm not a fan of medications at all. I started losing weight this past January without Metformin. Just some Apple Cider Vinegar, diet and exercise.
I find A LOT of doctors don't even understand PCOS. I know mine (nurse practitioner) certainly doesn't. I'm on a waiting list for a family doctor in my present town so it will be interesting to see how much he/she knows and understands it.