birth control- VENT

I am glad you stared this thread. I too am going through a whole isue with birth control. My doctor wants to take me off pills that contain estrogen, because I smoke and am in my 30s, the risk of blood clots go up significantly for me. We talked about an IUD, the Depo shot and tubal ligation. I got the shot on Wendsday and have 3 monthst to try it and keep thinking about what I wan to do.

IUDs scare me, I have done a lot of reaserch on them and the whole idea of having something in my body that may or may not cause problems would just stress me out too much. If it slips its not protectuve, it can inbed itself into your uterus, requiering major surgery to remove. It can pucture you also. Plus the non hormonal one can cause very heavy bleeding for 8 days or more. So much for the spontinayity option. I have pretty much decided that this is no way for me to go.

Now I am thinking very seriously about tubal. I know I never want kids and neither does DH. He is also open to a vasectimy. I know the prosedure is much easier for a man than a woman. Out patient for him, surgery for me. I have 3 months to decide. I also may just stay with the shot if it works with my body. Only time will tell.

Originally Posted by KarmasMom

Now I am thinking very seriously about tubal. I know I never want kids and neither does DH. He is also open to a vasectimy. I know the prosedure is much easier for a man than a woman. Out patient for him, surgery for me. I have 3 months to decide. I also may just stay with the shot if it works with my body. Only time will tell.

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Definately less invasive for a vasectomy, but there were a couple reasons that I chose to have the tubal. I do mean it when I say "I" chose. DH said it was up to me entirely as to who had it done.

It was very hard for me to chose because I wanted a third child. However, my meds, I will be on for the rest of my life and although a pregnancy would give me some hormonal changes that may make the one med unnessecary, I would still have to go through the withdrawl from it. I don't withdrawl well. Took me 3mos to withdrawl from my antidepressent, and I don't mean all withdrawl gone, the psychosis was gone after 3mos. But if I were to go off this one med, the withdrawl is awful, I know because I did try to go off it once. So I had a choice, go off it and not be a mom to my 2kids or stay on it.

Then I had a preg scare, and that decided me 100% that I did not want any more children.

Reason I chose the tubal over him having a vasectomy:

- I have a 15yr old sister. My mom had her at 39. Her husband had a vasectomy. Talk about a surprise My mom thought she was going through menopause at the time, hence no periods... She did not know she was pregnant till she was about 6mos along. (she doesn't show untill she hits 6-7mos preg).

- 2nd reason, Hubby is working, I am not. He only had to take one day off work (the day of my surgery) instead of 2-5 if he had it done.

I couldn't take things like the shot, so the tubal won. Less health risks than the pill for me.

About 2 weeks or so ago, we were watching a show on TV, about women who did not know they were pregnant until they were in labor! They went to the hospital, thinking they were going to die because of the pain, and were quite shocked to hear they had a baby on the way!

Most of them were at the menopausal age.. or were on birth control, or had fertility issues.. many were quite overweight, so they didnt really show.. and either had no symptoms, or passed the symptoms off as flu, menopause, etc.. the thought of pregnancy just never crossed thier mind.


Finding out at 6 months, is better than finding out when you are in labor!

Originally Posted by Snake_Lady

Reason I chose the tubal over him having a vasectomy:

- I have a 15yr old sister. My mom had her at 39. Her husband had a vasectomy. Talk about a surprise

My mom thought she was going through menopause at the time, hence no periods... She did not know she was pregnant till she was about 6mos along. (she doesn't show untill she hits 6-7mos preg).

- 2nd reason, Hubby is working, I am not. He only had to take one day off work (the day of my surgery) instead of 2-5 if he had it done.

I couldn't take things like the shot, so the tubal won. Less health risks than the pill for me.

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You are not the first person who has told me that the vasectomy may not work. A girl at work told me about her father in law and how the doctor messed his up causing permanat damage, ie:it does not work at all any more. That would devistate us in more ways than one. If I had it done the chances are less that I could have that kind of issue. One other thing my girlfriend told me when we were talking was that she herself was an IUD baby. Her mom got pregnant with her while she had and IUD.

I know nothing is 100% except for abstinance but being married thats not really an option . Even with tubal its not 100% but the chance are greatly lowered.

Work is also an issue. I am the one who works but I also have AR(absentie reserve) built up so I can get paid while I am out. DH works at home and if he had to take it easy for a few days we lose that income. Financialy it makes more sence for me to be out for a few days.

The other thing is because I am on Medical for all my female issues it is fully covered by the state. We do have very basic insurance through my work but it would still cost us a few hundred dollers for DH to have his done. Also since DH and I are skateboardes we try not to use any insurance unless absolutly needed. We only have a small amount to play with and we want to leave it all incase we realy need it for broken bones or worse.


How was the surgery for you? How long were you down? I know now with lasers and things they can go through the belly button which to me makes it seem like its less invasive. Do you suffer any side effects?

When I was asking around on other places about options, one person did actually tell me to use abstinence!

We're not married, but we've been together over 2 years, we live together, Im 27, he's 33.. um, abstinence is NOT GONNA HAPPEN!

Most methods are pretty effective.. well, a hysterectomy would be 100%.. but Id figure if I got pregnant while using some form of birth control, then perhaps it was just meant to be!


James' brother had a vasectomy done after his wife had 2 kids 9 months apart.. she would like a 3rd, I think she keeps hoping that he's one of those few that the vasectomy fails LOL.

Originally Posted by KarmasMom

How was the surgery for you? How long were you down? I know now with lasers and things they can go through the belly button which to me makes it seem like its less invasive. Do you suffer any side effects?

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It was a day surgery, home that afternoon.

3 small incisions, 1 in the belly button and 1 on either side (where the ovaries are). You can't even see em now. (had the tubal May 2007)

I was quite sore for 2-3 days, after that it wasn't bad except for going from a laying to sitting position. I mistakenly thought because it was laproscopic that I'd be fine, but one needs to remember that even though its small incisions, they still cut through tummy muscles so using said muscles was uncomfortable for about a week. If I had had a desk job, I would have gone back to work 2 days after the day of surgery. I only needed pain relief for the day after surgery.

I was back to most activities in bout 7 days.... lifting in about 10 days.... completely normal in bout 2wks. (I do have a high pain tolerance, and I did keep active even though it was uncomfortable).

After all was said and done, the only thing I've noticed is that I cramp more during my period.... and its heavier than it was. Now that could be related to getting older, or the tubal, who knows. But it started the cycle after the tubal.

Hope that helps

someone else I knew who had a tubal told me that she cramped more after the surgury too... so I'd assume thats a side effect from having your tubes tied.

I didn't have to worry about birth control as DH is not able to have kids. Now I don't have to worry at all since I am basically free of my monthly visitor. I haven't had a real one in over a year, just some minor spotting in November. I am just waiting now for the hot flashes to start bothering me. I have them every once in awhile, but not very often.

Originally Posted by Tara & Rob

(And before I get the barrage of people saying I'm going to want kids, I will tell you I despise the idea and thought of having kids [and have felt that way since I was 13-14, and never played with doll babies as a kid] and I don't even want other people's kids into my house). Its a pet peeve of mine when everyone starts getting in my face telling me I'm gonna have 5 kids in a few years because I don't like them now - something I deal with at work every time the subject comes up! Lol.

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DH and I have been married for almost 30 years and are childless. I didn't have to worry since I knew before we got married, having a child was going to be a very long shot. With Mike's reason for being sterile, and my NF any child born to us only had a 25% chance of being born without any problems. I don't like those odds. And with a 25% chance of the child having BOTH problems is way too high!

I can't believe how many people berated me for not even using artificial insemination or adoption. But, it was our personal choice as it is YOUR personal choice.

Not everyone needs children in their life to feel whole or complete.. and that should be respected.

I say if you dont have a desire for children, then there is a reason behind it. Not everyone is cut out to be a parent (be it your own child or an adopted one). Do we berate people who choose not to have pets?

Sometimes you just dont want kids because you're just not ready for them. When I was younger, I certainly was not ready. Im glad me and my ex never had kids.. we've been apart almost 3 years now.. if we had kids, Im sure we'd be dealing with custody battles to this day!

Since Ive been in a more stable situation, having a baby didnt seem like such a bad idea any more. Besides, Im 27.. the older you get, the harder it is to get pregnant, and the higher the chances are of complications. Figured if it was going to happen, now was better, than deciding later when it was too late.

I'm on birth control and I'm 7 months post partum. Well, he'll be 7 months in a few days. Anyway, since I was taking my prenatals at the same time every morning, I just take my birth control instead. I take Seasonal. I love it! I took it before becoming pregnant and my cycles were easier to handle and less of everything.

Good luck with whatever method you decide. I'd love to get a tubal and hubby a vasectomy. I don't want anymore children.

I loved the seasonale when I was on it!

I just noticed your siggy.. I have a friend who named her first little boy Devon Michael! well, her little boy isnt so little any more, he's about 9 years old now!

Originally Posted by nekkiddoglady

I have heard of women having issues with even some of the newer IUD's, such as the Mirena.

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I've had Mirena for a year and a half and have had NO problems with it at all.

you know what i love? most insurance companies will not cover birth control, yet if a single woman has a kid the government will pay for it. seems kinda backwards huh??

birth control is far cheaper than a pregnancy!


I find it disturbing that teenagers can easily get free to low cost birth control.. but not an adult!

Originally Posted by nekkiddoglady

birth control is far cheaper than a pregnancy!


I find it disturbing that teenagers can easily get free to low cost birth control.. but not an adult!

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If you have financial need, Planned Parenthood will give you free to low cost birth control.

ETA: I've had my birth control covered by insurance. I don't know if it makes a difference why it's prescribed, for me it was painful periods.

Originally Posted by cats4sky

you know what i love? most insurance companies will not cover birth control, yet if a single woman has a kid the government will pay for it. seems kinda backwards huh??

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Surprisingly, my cheapy insurance company covers all of $11 of my pills every month. The coverage amount has been going down the last year or so too My pills used to cost me $45, and then they were $48, then $50, now they're $53 (and each time on the receipt it says my insurance covers just a little less...) Which is crap because I ended up paying MORE this year to stay insured since the company raised its rates (too many people claimed on their insurance last year with the company).

And I agree, it is very backwards. I'm tired of paying for other people's kids. My best friend brags about how she's on WIC and Welfare and Medicaid with her two kids, and that we're all paying for it..

I am on the medical card, and also WIC to help with formula.

Getting our own insurance is just not affordable tho.. however, since both of us work, we are paying back into medicare/medicaid.. i dont feel quite so guilty about using these services.

Even before I got pregnant, I tried looking into getting insurance.. it wasnt much cheaper to get it thru the company than to get my own.. and honestly, just to cover myself.. I felt I was better off paying for Drs out of pocket! I dont go to the Dr very often.. Im young, I dont smoke, I dont have any mojor medical problems that require on-going care.. yet it was going to cost me quite a bit to have some insurance that pays for practically nothing!

Originally Posted by nekkiddoglady

I am on the medical card, and also WIC to help with formula.

Getting our own insurance is just not affordable tho.. however, since both of us work, we are paying back into medicare/medicaid.. i dont feel quite so guilty about using these services.

Even before I got pregnant, I tried looking into getting insurance.. it wasnt much cheaper to get it thru the company than to get my own.. and honestly, just to cover myself.. I felt I was better off paying for Drs out of pocket! I dont go to the Dr very often.. Im young, I dont smoke, I dont have any mojor medical problems that require on-going care.. yet it was going to cost me quite a bit to have some insurance that pays for practically nothing!

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I totally hear you. After I graduated college, I didn't have a job. (I was looking for one!) I used the PP for my birth control. Now I have medical coverage through the university as part of my support package. There's no shame in using public assistance if you need it, especially if you give back when you're able to. Insurance is expensive.

Originally Posted by Going Nova

I totally hear you. After I graduated college, I didn't have a job. (I was looking for one!) I used the PP for my birth control. Now I have medical coverage through the university as part of my support package. There's no shame in using public assistance if you need it, especially if you give back when you're able to. Insurance is expensive.

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oh heck no, i totally agree. theres nothing wrong with using it if you need it. What gets me mad is the ones that milk the systems by refusing to marry their SO's, and keep having the kids so they can get more money.

When i was younger i had a few pregnancy scares and honestly i dont have a high paying job so if i ever did get PG i would have needed that help as well.