Hope this is in the right section!
I have been on birth control for over eight years now. I was initially on it because of my painful periods. I was not sexually active at that time but have not stopped taking it because I wanted to have two forms of birth control now that I am sexually active.
My boyfriend and I use male condoms as well as the pill. We want to have kids in the future but don't want to have them right now. I am looking to go off the pill for many reasons.
I was wondering what you all used and why you used it.
Thank you!
There are several other posts on this topic that you can find under women's sexual health, but I answered anyhow.
Hubby has a Vasectomy. I was on Implanon for heavy periods, but it gave me more periods, so I went off it. Now I'm going to have a D&C (probably) and cryoablation to fix that. I can't wait.
I use the mini pill and it's been wonderful. It caused me a bit of trouble the first two to three months with my libido but then it started to make my periods more predictable and easier. They say it might make them stop but not for me yet...still it's only been 6 months.
NuvaRing for me! It's the only one so far that hasn't completely zapped my libido. Though, I admit, I'm wanting the nonhormonal Paragard more and more. But the horror stories of constant heavy bleeding have scared me off for now.
PassionQT, Trust me you can wait for the D&C, I had one a few years ago for not having periods and let me tell you. I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE. It hurt so bad, bled like I was dying for 2 weeks. When I though the worse was over BOY was I wrong. The day I was able to go back to work, I got my shower and get ready as normal everything was fine. My mom had just got here to watch me son, and as I was fixing to walk out the door I hit my knee screaming. It felt like something was pulling my insides out. I rather going through child birth without meds 1000 times then to feel that pain again.
I'm on the pill to keep my periods regulated and some cyst issues under control. My boyfriend had a vasectomy several years ago so pregnancy isn't a concern for us.
I use the Nuvaring for now. I with Blinker, it hasn't zapped my libido. But the the mood swings should come with a jungle gym and a merry go round.
I do like the convenience of not needing to remember a pill everyday. When my mother told me that she had both me and my two brothers while "on the pill" I had to find something i wouldn't forget to take!
PassionQT, Trust me you can wait for the D&C, I had one a few years ago for not having periods and let me tell you. I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE. It hurt so bad, bled like I was dying for 2 weeks. When I though the worse was over BOY was I wrong. The
...
PassionQT, Trust me you can wait for the D&C, I had one a few years ago for not having periods and let me tell you. I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE. It hurt so bad, bled like I was dying for 2 weeks. When I though the worse was over BOY was I wrong. The day I was able to go back to work, I got my shower and get ready as normal everything was fine. My mom had just got here to watch me son, and as I was fixing to walk out the door I hit my knee screaming. It felt like something was pulling my insides out. I rather going through child birth without meds 1000 times then to feel that pain again.
Wow, I am sorry you went through such pain and bleeding. I've had 3 or 4 D&Cs (in Medicine we call them "Dusting & Cleanings") and I never even had a cramp afterward, and one of them was after a pretty nasty horrible bloody miscarriage, where my body didn't finish the job and I needed the D&C so I wouldn't bleed to death. After the procedure I was fine.
Everyone responds differently. That kind of pain you describe maybe should have been reported to the doctor immediately (in fact we tell women, "any pain more than an average period needs to be reported to us") In fact, if you had been in MY house or MY clinic, I would have dragged you to the ED with that kind of symptomology. Not good.
I'm with GingerKitten and beautifulpierced! I LOVE the Mirena IUD - no cramps, no periods, no pms/pmdd....AND a microscopic chance of getting preggers. I don't want kids at all, so I'll be getting another one in 2014. The only downside to Mirena for me is that I almost constantly have a mild yeast infection. Sometimes it goes away, sometimes it gets worse. I learned that IUDs colonize. Gross!
Condoms and only condoms for me at this point, and probably on until I'm with a monogamous partner with a vasectomy (unlikely in the next ~15 years), or the male birth control pill is approved for use.
I can't stand hormones, even doses as low as Mirena. Too many side effects. I'd consider a copper IUD, but they're known to make your periods heavier, and I'm already borderline anemic.
Now I have an IUD. Prior to that only condoms. Previously I tried most of the hormonal methods but the side effects were too much for me. It took some time to convince my gyno for a IUD as she doesn't use them unless U have had a prior pregnancy and I haven't. So....so far so good.
Prax: I'd say be careful about the copper IUD if you can't afford to have heavier periods. I've had one for three years now, and unfortunately, it's a side effect that I still have. My cramps have gotten marginally better than when I first had it put in (less frequent...I used to cramp lightly for most of the month, with labor-like cramps around period time!) I now just cramp for a few days before/during my period. But the flow is definitely a lot heavier, which is a real pain to deal with. It's only lightened up a little bit in the three years I've had it in, so it doesn't always go away with time :\
But even so, I think the reality of being babyproof for 10 years is enough of a benefit for me. And for me, the most important part is being able to be birth-controlled yet able to experience my natural monthly cycle. I can tell when I'm ovulating, and chart my period based on last month's period, etc. It's great to have that natural cycle going without being able to conceive. Plus, no hormonal worries (cancer and things like that...)
I used to be on the pill, but not for birth control. And it totally f*cked up my reproductive system and I was hospitalized for a near-stroke because of how it affected my blood pressure and hormone levels. Not fun.
Thankfully I don't need a contraceptive because my partner hasn't any sperm because there's no way I would do the pill again.
Now I have an IUD. Prior to that only condoms. Previously I tried most of the hormonal methods but the side effects were too much for me. It took some time to convince my gyno for a IUD as she doesn't use them unless U have had a prior pregnancy and
...
Now I have an IUD. Prior to that only condoms. Previously I tried most of the hormonal methods but the side effects were too much for me. It took some time to convince my gyno for a IUD as she doesn't use them unless U have had a prior pregnancy and I haven't. So....so far so good.
Really good to hear thank you for that. I am looking into getting an IUD and I've been on hormonal birth control for a long time. Thinking it's doing more damage than good. It's nice to hear of someone who hasn't already been pregnant having one since I haven't. Thank you!
My uterus hates me with a fiery passion lol Ive been on pretty much every birth control pill under the sun and been on Lupron Depo with an add back progesterone only therapy system all for me endometriosis. Ive also had surgery to remove the tissue twice in the past 4 years. During surgery the found a dark spot on my uterus which they think is an aneurysm (I find out in 2 weeks). My cervix is also completely under my left hip, to the point that ill have to tilt to get pregnant. I now take birth control without the sugar pills continuously. I haven't had a regular cycle in 4 years the chances of getting pregnant are minuscule for me without actively trying to.
