female problems

After reading all of this, I REALLY don't regret my hysterectomy (not that I ever did). Even though I was only 33, at the time, I'm sure it saved my life. I'm proof that those annual Pap smears are worthwhile. My nurse practitioner caught the dysplasia early enough to get it out, before it spread. Since the average age, for menopause is, now 54 - I, also, relieved myself of 20+ years of cramps, backaches and mess! Any of you, who are not getting treated, to your satisfaction: get a new doctor. Unfortunately, many docs, still regard a lot of "female complaints" as hypochondria. After all, the word "hysteria" derives from the root "hystere" = "womb".

I took Depo Provera for three shots, and quit. I hated how I felt on it. I gained weight, had insane water retention (5-7 pounds over the course of a day), and it worked as BC in the most fundamental sense, ie. I had zero sex drive. I think I only did it about 5 times in those 9 months, and I didn't ever enjoy it. The only time in my life I wasn't able to have an *O* was during those nine months.

The only positive was that I had no menstruation, which was convenient.

After watching me struggle for years through the pill, a diaphragm and then Depo, my wonderful husband decided to have a vasectomy.

I have no idea if these are related to Depo, but in the 4 years since I went off it, I have been diagnosed with endometriosis and PMDD, which is a really bad form of PMS which requires antidepressant medication. I also have these wiry black hairs on my chin and breasts which weren't there before. All these hormone related things since Depo... I'm suspicious.

Even though my operation to remove the endo didn't work, since I am only 30, my doc won't hysterectomize me. He wants me to go on continuous BCP until menopause, ie. no periods again. I don't think so, but I'm humouring him right now and taking Alesse. Most BCP's don't agree with me, but he says these are very low estrogen and shouldn't affect me too much.

Has anyone here taken Alesse?

JulieB: I am currently on Alesse. I've been on it for over a year now, and, at first, it was good. I had no side affects, and everything was great. It wasn't until about 5 months into taking it, that I found that my periods were more painful than before, and I had irregular bleeding. Since then, it's gotten worse, and now I think I may have endometriosis. I read an article about it, and found I have all the symptoms but one. So I'm going to make an appointment with my doctor. I'm due for my yearly pap anyways, so we'll see what happens. I think I'm going to tell him I don't want to be on the pill anymore. I'll keep to condoms and the sponge. They worked fine before I started on the pill, and with two methods of birth control, I think I'll be covered. Good luck with Alesse. I know someone who is on it and has had no side affects whatsoever. So, it's up to your body...

Its a shame that, other than condoms and vasectomy, birth control is aimed at the woman. There has been some research, on a male pill but, not much has come of it. If men could get pregnant, I bet there would have been a safe, effective male pill, fifty years ago.

I can't believe that almost all of the responsibility of birth control is put on us women. They should have thought of something years ago for men to take, so we don't have to deal with all this stuff.

I hate, and do I mean hate, the water retention, too. It seems like if I *really* cut back on soda and salt, that is the only time it goes away. I've tried water pills, but they leave me kind of dehydrated feeling. Exersizing kind of helps, but I don't like that either. I'm doomed.

I guess I am another one that the Depo has not effected at all. I have been on it for about 8 years now and went off of it once. No side effects at all. I just had an annual exam with complete blood work and everything was great.
The pill was awful, I gained weight and had HORRIBLE mood swings.
The Norplant was even worse. I only had the things in for 6 months and gained weight, then when they went to take them out, it took 3 hours because they were becoming one with my tissues.
When it comes down to it, everything we take medication wise may have side effects. Motrin even comes with an insert with warnings. No matter what, the most important thing is to report and keep track of anything that does not seem right. It's also wise to always ask your pharmacist while on more than one medication.

I can't even take the low dose pill without horrible side effects, so I've never tried the shots. I'm pretty sick of the idea that birth control is up to the woman. My husband and I are done having kids, so I really want him to get a vasectomy. He's against it for all the stupid man reasons. I've told him that there's no way I'm having surgery after I've gone through two pregnancies and births. My kids were born with LARGE heads, so I've had all the stiches I'm ever going to have down there. And he won't go get a simple vasectomy. Plus, he hates condoms because he can't ever "finish" with them. So we use the rhythm method; I'll let you know when we are expecting Taylor child #3! But it is nice to be free of hormones and all the other stuff doctors want you to take.

Originally posted by dawnt91
So we use the rhythm method; I'll let you know when we are expecting Taylor child #3!

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OMG! thanks for the laugh!!!

:laughing:

I tried to convince my hubby to get a vascetomy after our second child but he decided not to after my cousins wife got pregnant with their third after his vasectomy I decided to get a Tubal Ligation and it was so simple. I have a teeny inch long scar below my belly button and was awake for the whole procedure. They gave me an epidural and the whole thing was quick and realtively painless. I always had lots of problems with the Pill,plus I've been hospitalized for Liver dysfucntion, so that wasn't an option for me after the children were born. I'd recommend Tubals to anyone if your sure you don't want any more kids.

Btw Dawn..I got pregnant with my daughter using the Rhythm Method

Yep, Melissa, that's what I keep telling my hubby. It's only a matter of time... And then I'll have a nervous breakdown because I can't handle any more kids!

Here they do the tubals under general anestesia, which scares me. I have some very strange and dangerous allergies, including some to drugs. I found out I was allergic to demoral when I was in labor with Amy, and it was pretty darned bad. Also, the other day I found out I am allergic to an antibiotic that was prescribed for my ear infection. Ended up at the hospital for that one too. So I try to avoid drugs when ever I can. Plus, I really think my husband deserves a vasectomy after what I went through having his kids!!

Originally posted by dawnt91
Plus, I really think my husband deserves a vasectomy after what I went through having his kids!!

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Hey now...

NO man deserves one of those... nope, nu huh....
I mean jeeeeez ouch pain nope can't do it

*smiles*
Ken

Men are such babies...a little *snip* and you're done

You do it to your kitties - and they don't even do that much cutting to a human! Doesn't it make sense all around as a form of population control?

Oh, I'm pulling your leg, at least a little . . .

And Melissa, and Dawn, we Catholics are well aware that NFP (natural family planning) almost always results in a pregnancy! I sure understand the dilemma, but it probably isn't sufficient on its own, if you're sure you want no more.

Ok, how did I miss this thread?

I did the Depo thing for 4 years. The worst part was the weight gain, which I attribute to it. Two years after, and no pounds have willingly shed themselves off.

After stopping, the periods were pretty heavy with clots for quite some time. At the time I had zero problems with loss of sex drive.

The current birth control method in use around here is to have no guy in the picture. Not recommended.

Men are SOOO silly about vasectomies. My dad spent 26 years, in the Marine Corps, fought all over the Pacific, in Korea AND Vietnam. HE had a vasectomy, in 1955, before they were well-known. THAT is a MAN: responsible. I was single, 23 years ago, therefor, I had the tubes tied. I learned responsibility, from my dad.

You must have been pretty young when you made that decision. No regrets? It always amazes me when people take strong measures in their youth and don't change their mind about it as they get older.

Originally posted by dawnt91
So we use the rhythm method; I'll let you know when we are expecting Taylor child #3!

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That is too funny :LOL:

Yeah, sunlion, I was 21 and had to fight two doctors and get counseling before they'd tie those tubes. I, already, had two kids (I married too young), was divorced and had gotten pregnant with an IUD and miscarried. The pill worked for me but, I'm a smoker and it wasn't good as a long-term option. The only sensible thing to do was the permanent fix. Some people said, "What if you lose one of your boys?" No matter what, you can't replace a child. Richard and Mark benefitted, from this, too. I was better able, financially and emotionally to take care of them. Also, I afraid that I'd, probably have twins, along the way. Mom is a twin and she's the first woman in our family, in over 100 years, not to have twins. All four of us were singles. Having my kids young meant that I had the energy to keep up with them, when they were young and, now that they're grown, I'm young enough to enjoy my empty nest.

I got my Tubal Ligation when I was 21 as well and so far don't regret it. I wanted to have my kids at a young age for the same reason- so I could keep up with them and still be young when they were grown. Doctors tried their hardest to talk me out of it but I was insistant. I have Rh incompatibilty with my husband , I hemmorhage after the baby is born (to the point of being prepped for a transfusion) and we lost a child at five months of pregnancy due to a genetic disorder, so they really didn't have a valid reason for me NOT to get it done. I absolutely hated being on birth control, I was an emotional mess. If your sure you don't want anymore kids tubals are definitely the way to go ,IMO