Lets talk birth control ladies...

karmasmom · Feb 6, 2007

As you know from my post about BC I just got switched to higher dose pill. I love taking the pill. I take it every night at 10pm. I always awake at that time. Tohelp me remeber for the first 6 months or so my DH put a big note in dry erase marked on the bathroom mirror. All it said was "did you take your pill???" every time I saw it I checked the time and took it if I needed to. Now its so antural for me that if I am late my body starts to tell me. I am afraid of the IUD, I don't like the idea of having something foreign in my body. I don't understand how the ring works and if it will stay put, no matter what. As for the patch, I too am allergic to adhisive, glad I am not the only one. Anything with glue will actually start to bond with my skin. I have some nasty scares from bandaids.
Basicly talk with your doctor about your options and the 2 of you can decide what is best. It may take a few tries. Iwas told to watch my cycle and other side effects for 3 months. If I notice anything I am to go back and try something else. Its a pain but the benifits are woth it.

erinandseamus · Feb 6, 2007

Originally Posted by Phenomsmom

Does it hurt when it is inserted? I read you can experience cramping after it is inserted? Did you have cramping and how long?

My sister uses the ring and loves it.

I didn't really think it hurt that bad when they inserted it. I did some deep breathing and that helped. I was supposed to take motrin 45 mins beforehand, but didn't. I did have cramping afterwards, but not bad enough to interfere with my day. I continue to have mild cramps periodically, but they're not bad. Enough to notice but not enough to care. They can last up to six months after its inserted. My friend got one and experienced some spotting, which is also a side effect, but I didn't have any. We both had some issues with our husbands being able to feel the strings, but that was taken care of quickly

I'm pleased though. My period is lessening and I feel like my body is getting back to normal after so long on the pill.

phenomsmom · Feb 6, 2007

I was wondering about the string too. I think i am too chicken to get that. And the one they implant in your arm for 3 years too. Owie!

sarahp · Feb 6, 2007

Originally Posted by Phenomsmom

I was wondering about the string too. I think i am too chicken to get that. And the one they implant in your arm for 3 years too. Owie!

They use a local anaesthetic, and I'm told it's not at all painful. In hindsight, I wish I had have gone for this option!

phenomsmom · Feb 6, 2007

I just looked it up. They offer it in the US. I might look into that option at my next Dr. visit. But I am scared! Do they use da big needle or do they cut your arm open?

rosyc · Feb 6, 2007

I am a HUGE, HUGE proponent of the ring. I tried the pill first (a really low dosage too), and after 3 weeks of bleeding, bloating and crazy mood swings I gave up and asked for something else. I got the ring and I love it. It completely regulated my periods, my skin cleared up, no mood swings... I LOVE IT!!

It's really perfect because I'm pretty bad at remembering to take pills every day. You just put it in, leave it for 3 weeks, take it out for a week, have your period, and put in a new one. You can't really feel it, kind of like how a tampon is. And then you don't have a bunch of pills lying around your bathroom

.

I know it varies from person to person, and I'm not sure about the breastfeeding issue. Just my 2 cents.

FYI, here's the website: http://www.nuvaring.com/Consumer/index.asp

sneakymom · Feb 6, 2007

If you're nursing, and want to take a pill, they usually give you the low-dose ones (I don't remember the name of it). Well, I took it after dd#2 and HATED it. It made my very irregular cycles even MORE irregular.

I didn't like the depo shot either. I tried that 1 time, never again.

I wish I didn't have to take them at all. (see my post below about BCP's). But faced with the alternative, I'll just take them.

My mom made me mad one day.

Said to me that I should have a hysterectomy if I'm having so many problems with my period, and I'm not going to have any more kids. But- I just can't afford to be on my back recovering for a week or so! I have 2 kids to shuttle around to various activities, and I've got school as well. And I've also read that a hysterectomy isn't necessaraly a cure for endometriosis (though it makes it go away 99% of the time). So I'll deal with the inconvenience of daily hormones, at least for the time being.

jenny82 · Feb 6, 2007

I also wanted to add that with the ring there is no cramping, it stays in place, and neither you or your partner can feel it.

rosyc · Feb 6, 2007

Originally Posted by Jenny82

I also wanted to add that with the ring there is no cramping, it stays in place, and neither you or your partner can feel it.

van gogh · Feb 6, 2007

Have you thought about talking to a gyn. about the IUD? It's a piece of copper that is placed in the uterus/cervical opening. It's good for about 10 years, a friend of mine had one, she had no problems with pregnancy!

She said that her periods came on a regular basis and that if she decided to have another baby she could go to the Dr. office and simply have it taken out.

sarahp · Feb 6, 2007

Originally Posted by Phenomsmom

I just looked it up. They offer it in the US. I might look into that option at my next Dr. visit. But I am scared! Do they use da big needle or do they cut your arm open?

They just make a tiny incision. Definitely talk to your doc though and see what they think and ask lots of questions!

wookie130 · Feb 6, 2007

Go with the ring...love it!

missymotus · Feb 6, 2007

Originally Posted by sarahp

Anyway, there's something called Implanon which is a single small rod that gets implanted into your arm just under the skin. It lasts 3 years, and you can get pregnant as soon as it's removed. I think it's in the process of being approved for the US, and has been in use in Australia and I think the UK for a fair while now.

I've just had my Implanon replaced. I love it and will keep using it, nothing to remember, no monthly periods or spotting.
It doesn't hurt to get it inserted or taken out, just a little bruise and the site is a bit tender for a few days.
My doctor injects some anesthetic first so I didn't feel a thing either time.

The only trouble I had was finding someone in Canada to remove it once the 3 years was up, no one would so I had it in a bit longer until I came back to Australia.

goosehazel · Feb 6, 2007

Originally Posted by Jenny82

It freaked me out a little at first but I really like it. IUDs are what freaks me out.

Same here. I loved the ring. It was so easy and it worked great!

catsallover · Feb 6, 2007

Originally Posted by Februa

at all. One thing I do know is that higher estrogel levels can decrease both quality and quantity of breast milk, so if you are still considering a hormonal option, Id go for something Progestin-only. Alternatively, try the dreaded condom or have a diaphragm fitted for that period of time during which you will be breast feeding.

This is all my OB gives for breastfeeding moms, for exactly that reason, as you are absolutely correct

. I actually liked the Progestin-only pill better than the regular (that I had taken 9 years earlier

), but ended up with the rare liver problems, and had to quit. Now we use nothing, as I seem to still have the dreaded "built in" birth control

, but we're delighted beyond measure to have the one child we do

.

After the sleep deprived first week, you won't have to remember- your OH will probably remind you!

lionessrampant · Feb 6, 2007

Um...do you have to reach all the way in there to get the ring in and out? So it would probably not be a good option for someone with a particularly deep cervix then?

starryeyedtiger · Feb 6, 2007

Originally Posted by lionessrampant

Um...do you have to reach all the way in there to get the ring in and out? So it would probably not be a good option for someone with a particularly deep cervix then?

My cervix is tilted all the way up at a pretty bad angle. My doctor told me it wasn't a good option for me- but i like my pills better anyways, so i'm ok with it. Talk to your doctor and see- sometimes it depends on the tilt of your cervix. What might not work for me and others might be perfect for you

lemur 6 · Feb 6, 2007

Hmm... am I like the only person here who thinks it's the guy's responsibility for birth control? I'm a guy, and as a guy, I can tell you one guy can get many more women in trouble than one woman can with many guys. It's the guys that get blamed for unwanted pregnancies. Guys also don't get periods or mood swings, so should have no side effects from any sort of birth control (might shorten our lives, but everything we do shortens our lives).

Guys also produce new sperm on a regular basis, women are born with their ovum and keep the same ovum throughout their entire lives. Start screwing around, and you might mess up all of them and then you're done. It also takes hundreds of thousands of sperm to break through the ovum's outer layer to allow just one to get through, even if there are a few sperm floating around, chances of them breaking through are abysmally low, so statistically male birth control makes more sense.

Problem is, we don't have many options (vasectomy and getting tubes tied, both of which are quite invasive, vasectomy being permanent, and tied tubes can untie themselves). I hear there's a hormone injection (which I hear will leave you limping for a week), and a pill in the works (which apparently has zero side effects). Need more options here, and I bet we'll start seeing some better results.

Anyway, male birth control FTW!

starryeyedtiger · Feb 6, 2007

Originally Posted by Lemur 6

Hmm... am I like the only person here who thinks it's the guy's responsibility for birth control? I'm a guy, and as a guy, I can tell you one guy can get many more women in trouble than one woman can with many guys. It's the guys that get blamed for unwanted pregnancies. Guys also don't get periods or mood swings, so should have no side effects from any sort of birth control (might shorten our lives, but everything we do shortens our lives).

Guys also produce new sperm on a regular basis, women are born with their ovum and keep the same ovum throughout their entire lives. Start screwing around, and you might mess up all of them and then you're done. It also takes hundreds of thousands of sperm to break through the ovum's outer layer to allow just one to get through, even if there are a few sperm floating around, chances of them breaking through are abysmally low, so statistically male birth control makes more sense.

Problem is, we don't have many options (vasectomy and getting tubes tied, both of which are quite invasive, vasectomy being permanent, and tied tubes can untie themselves). I hear there's a hormone injection (which I hear will leave you limping for a week), and a pill in the works (which apparently has zero side effects). Need more options here, and I bet we'll start seeing some better results.

Anyway, male birth control FTW!

I definitely think you've made some wonderful points!

I belive they are currently working on developing new birth control options for men

Hopefully they will come out with something reliable,safe, and good on the market soon for all of the guys out there.

juliekit · Feb 7, 2007

Originally Posted by Lemur 6

Hmm... am I like the only person here who thinks it's the guy's responsibility for birth control? I'm a guy, and as a guy, I can tell you one guy can get many more women in trouble than one woman can with many guys. It's the guys that get blamed for unwanted pregnancies. Guys also don't get periods or mood swings, so should have no side effects from any sort of birth control (might shorten our lives, but everything we do shortens our lives).

Guys also produce new sperm on a regular basis, women are born with their ovum and keep the same ovum throughout their entire lives. Start screwing around, and you might mess up all of them and then you're done. It also takes hundreds of thousands of sperm to break through the ovum's outer layer to allow just one to get through, even if there are a few sperm floating around, chances of them breaking through are abysmally low, so statistically male birth control makes more sense.

Problem is, we don't have many options (vasectomy and getting tubes tied, both of which are quite invasive, vasectomy being permanent, and tied tubes can untie themselves). I hear there's a hormone injection (which I hear will leave you limping for a week), and a pill in the works (which apparently has zero side effects). Need more options here, and I bet we'll start seeing some better results.

Anyway, male birth control FTW!

That was a wonderful post! This is so true, I would love for DH to be the one worrying about birth control, but in all honesty I wouldnt be 100% at ease! I'd always worry about 'did he forget?' 'is it working?' I'd be more at ease if I were the one taking control and making sure I dont end up pregnant again. I know DH is a bit paranoid and he will still doubt the effectiveness of the BC but I know I would be calmer.

I dont know what kind of birth control I want, but I definately know I dont want these:

I dont want to get the 'clamp'. My cousin had one in for quite some time and ended up getting pregnant. Unfortunately she miscarried. Ive also heard alot of stories of people who get this done and end up pregnant.

Im not getting my tubes tied! I dont want them to untie and have me get pregnant again.

I dont want to go back on depo-provera, I had non stop periods on that.

Im probably leaning towards the tube implant things that are pretty long term, or the IUD

Lets talk birth control ladies...

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