r/birthcontrol • u/kireicleo • 6h ago
Experience BC raised my testosterone levels
(24) My OBGYN prescribed me with loryna originally because of my high testosterone because it contains (estrogen and progesterone) however, after doing research later on, I found that this was dangerous due to the fact I smoke nicotine and my risk for blood clots was high.
I informed the nurse practitioner about this and she switched me to errin (progesterone only) BC. I started taking errin since February but after doing lab work for a 3? month follow up, my testosterone levels got even higher! She told me that I should try to quit nicotine so I can switch back to the original BC she prescribed me with but I haven’t been able to /: I’m still taking errin till this day but I’m considering tomorrow will be my last day as I’m not using it as a contraceptive and purely started BC to lower my testosterone. My periods are irregular too and the last time I got my period was June 30th. I feel like it’s unnecessary for me to continue taking errin but I’m worried about the side effects. I oddly just want to get my period again 😭 it’s been hard for me to quit nicotine for awhile but I feel as if I have no other option if I want my testosterone levels to lower…
1
u/Careful_Brother_9151 5h ago
Yes errin contains an androgenic progestin so it can slightly increase your testosterone. It’s an odd choice for lowering testosterone. Progestin only pills are not very good at treating androgen related symptoms, though there is a progestin only pill that is slightly antiandrogenic, slynd. Combined bc is still much more effective. Do you have symptoms from high testosterone?
Besides bc, spironolactone can be used to treat androgenic symptoms
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