#but they don't have any adjustments to their app for people on hormonal birth control? no info on how that impacts your 'cycle'?

[girlitfeelsgood]

I'll never understand why clue insists on telling me which menstrual cycle phase I'm in or when I'm gonna ovulate when I've been on birth control pills for years

[beautifullychaoticworld-blog]

I've never related so much to someone about the whole cabergoline thing. I've been on it for almost 3 years now due to hyperprolactinemia that was causing galactorrhea and we we're supposed to start weaning me off the med but instead we ended up having to double the dose because all of a sudden the galactorrhea came back... I don't have a prolactinoma but my hormone issues are just caused from an enlarged pituitary gland that I was born with that left damage to my pituitary and hypothalamus, but as of right now it's looking like I'm gonna be on this med for either a very long time or just the rest of my life... It's both a big thank you to cabergoline but also just wanting to throw the bottle across the room some days

Hi, sorry that you have to experience this as well... but at least we both feel more understood because we are going through the same... most of my friends are healthy (literally nothing knocks them down) and don't believe that it's that bad... or they dismiss it, some people are so ableist :( so I've been really isolated from people last few years as they don't understand and they think I'm a freak... : |

I have a micro-adenoma - it was 5 mm in the beginning but too small for brain surgery, cabergoline helped me shrink the tumor to a barely seen on the MRI size but when they enlarged the MRI in summer 2022 it was still there unfortunately. My endocrinologist said that it has to show 0 mm on the MRI scan for at least 3 years and then I can stop cabergoline but there is always a chance that it could grow back. We tried to lower the dose a few years back because everything looked seemingly okay with my prolactin levels but then my prolactin started rising again... so then I was back on the old dose they had put me on initially... and that prolonged my treatment. I think my endocrinologist was just experimenting with my condition when we lowered the dose haha Yes I remember being examined for galactorrhea as well in the beginning.

I got problems with my thyroid and they told me I could have Hashimoto (my most recent blood tests showed that my TSH levels are still not balanced) but it's not confirmed.

Not sure what causes prolactinoma but my doctors said it was stress. The pituitary gland enlarges from too much stress... I'm happy that my doctors found it because before cabergoline I felt soooo bad, lethargic and I was gaining weight like crazy... also mental health problems.... the side effects from cabergoline were hard to deal with the first 3 years though... but now it's okay. I had a horrific hormonal imbalance. I don't mind being on cabergoline (edit: in the beginning it was hard to deal with the side effects for at least 3 years, it was making really hormonal, I was jumping from guy to guy and almost got pregnant by a random internet stranger from the dating apps but was on birth control thankfully, since the side effect was increased sexual urges and there was nothing my doctors could do about it so had to wait until I got adjusted to the side effects), only take two halves, twice a week but looks like I can't stop it any time soon as well and I started wondering if it will be a lifelong thing... but my endocrinologist hasn't confirmed this yet either.

Glad you could relate to my post and hope you feel less alone.

[librarychair]

Ok. If you menstruate, here is your task list.

Delete any period tracker apps, and make a habit out of not posting on social media about your period.

Get on implantable or hormonal birth control asap, if it's medically safe for you to do so. There are several options for IUDs, subdermal implants, rings and pills. If you're trans and hesitant about hormones, you can get a hormone-free copper IUD. Get what you can afford, and reliably access. If you've been thinking for a while you want to get surgically sterilized, this is your sign to move on that. You'll probably have to fight for it, so prepare to be insistent, rude, and/or try multiple doctors.

Buy a small stock of hormonal "plan b" type medications as well as pregnancy tests. You want them already in your house when you need them, and not as a suspicious purchase at the time of need. Familiarize yourself with their usage (may need to adjust depending on your weight) and shelf life. Replace them when they expire.

If you make sperm, protect yourself and the people in your life by always carrying condoms that are not past their expiry date. If you don't want kids, consider getting a vasectomy. It's a much less invasive procedure than sterilization for someone with ovaries.