Birth Control

Right now we use male condoms. I was on depo provera for two years, went off of it, six months later my period still hasn't returned. They say it can take up to a year. I really don't care for depo. It makes me psycho! I think I'm gonna get my tubes tied but, I was kind of wanting to get my period back first..... We'll see I guess...... =)

I have only used male condoms and the "pill" until getting my IUD. The pill I was on was Ortho Tri Cyclen, and while it worked great for me, I wasn't very good at taking the pill the same time every day. I LOVE my IUD! I have the Mirena IUD which is hormone based but has VERY low levels of hormones. I was able to use it while nursing and it didn't effect my milk supply at all. I got mine in during my 6 week postpartum checkup.

It is a long-term birth control that lasts for 5 years and is completely reversible. If I went and got it removed tomorrow I could conceive during my first ovulation (if only it were really that easy to conceive). Mine was about $700 (well, actually we were freaking broke at the time and it was covered by insurance), but over 5 years it would have a monthly cost of $11.66. I love not having to worry about it. The only thing I need to do is feel it once a month just as a precaution and a reminder that it is there.

I will not lie though, getting it put in was a bitch. I had been given a Rx pain killer before hand to help with the "discomfort" some. It caused a cramp-like sensation very similar to when I was given pitocin after having a baby to make the uterus cramp and shrink faster. It hurt like hell, but it only lasted for a couple minutes until I couldn't feel anything. The string was a little pokey at first and my husband had to be careful during sex so he didn't get poked on his glans. It did soften over time though and wasn't a problem at all after a few months.

After having an IUD, I will NEVER use the pill again. I love it. Besides, I used to have horrid cramps and really heavy periods that lasted over a week, now they are extremely light and only last a day or two and I very rarely get any cramping with it. Many women stop having a period at all when they use the Mirena, but I wasn't so lucky.

I've still got 3 years left on mine before I have to think about getting it replaced. I was planning on trying for another baby during 2009, but those plans have changed and I'm thankful I don't have to worry about birth control for another 3 years.

THE RING THE RING THE RING!!!

I've been on the ring since I started using birth control (earlier this year), and I can't imagine doing the pill thing.

I've always used male condoms, although I'm going to ask to be put on birth control at my gyno appointment in December. I'll probably just go on the pill, since that's the easiest thing for a college student without a steady partner.

I've actually heard that the ring can really effect lubrication...? Is that true?

Also, I've heard of IUDs, but when I look at the little device, is kind of scares me. O_o Bulma makes it sounds so great, though! Except for that horrifying cramping, and the fact that it can pierce the uterine wall. Maybe if I get a long-term male partner, I'll consider saving up for one...but the chances of that happening are slim to none. =P

I use the pill. I can't use a ring because I had surgery there's a lot of scar tissue .... it just doesn't sit very well and it's too much of a pain in the ass.

I want an IUD in the worst way- the Mirena one. I can't, I haven't had a child and probably won't ever be able do so. So it looks like it's pills for me. I've been on them for over 5 years now. My doctor prescribes them in a way so I only have two periods a year (and that's only to gauge my endometriosis).

More information than you ever wanted to know

Right now, I had the Mirena IUD. I've had it for about a year and have had no major issues. I've used male condoms before. I also have been on about 6 different types of BC pill - mostly POP. only 1 or 2 of them worked well. The rest all made me bitchy, fucked with my hormones, made me hairy (actually, yaz did the opposite), messed with my weight etc.. They ALL fucked up my period majorly (but even my IUD does that).

I love my birth control pill. It makes my face totally clear, has the least amount of side effects and is so tiny I barely know I'm swallowing it. Plus there's no hassles or interruptions when my husband and I want to *get it on* ~ lol that was completely cheesy 80s style!!!

i was a ring girl too...loved it! got it when it first came out like 6 years ago or so. i did notice a drying issue, but that was easy to fix. i had issues with the pill making me sick and me forgetting.

after having my son, they put me on the minipill...holy hell! i've never bled so bad before in my life, so back to the nuvaring.

If I still had a uterus I would be on the pill. Its the only BC I trust. I was on it for 20 years with no side effects except slightly bigger breasts.

I was on "low dose" birth control pills for 8 years. Then I had a TIA (mini-stroke) and was immediately taken off the pill. Then I got pregnant, nursed for a year, got pregnant again... anyway

Now I have had the Mirena IUD since Nov. 2007. I cannot take any form of estrogen because of the risk factors (history of ovarian cancer too.) I really like the IUD EXCEPT
1. I don't have periods, but I have monthly hormone influxes, cramping and acne, as if I were having a regular period.
2. I've had a couple of instances where my IUD has become misplaced in my uterus, which is horrifically painful. Both times required an ultrasound and the doctor to "put it back in place." So I have to be careful not to have too much pressure against my cervix.

Still. It's nice knowing I don't have to worry about it for another couple of years.

I was on the pill for a long time, but after 2 kids (planned - I went off), we decided that was it. So my husband said if we were done, he would get a vasectomy. That was an experience! But now, we don't use anything.

My wife has an IUD and RAVES about it. She tried various pills and suffered weight gain and mood swings and killed her period for two years. Now she feels natural and healthy with the IUD and out sex life is wonderfully spontaneous.

see i am married been married for over 3 years even before i meet my husband my period was so crazy i knew my husband for about 5 years and all and when we frist got together i went and seen a doctor who put me on the pill to put me on normal times and all causes some days it would be 10 days earlys other months it would be 4 days late. it never had a set time i had barly cramps and when i did get them they would some times come a week to 2 weeks before my period. they put me on the pill me and my husband wanted to start having kids but we was looking at my health frist got on the bill and it made it worse but after taking that 2 months of pills i was unable to get prego for 2 years after that finaly had my daughter and they put me right back on the pill for a month and its hitting the 2 years mark again and its not me having little eggs or us not having enought sex before my daughter came we done it for at least 8 houts a day and he would have cummed so much. i will never take the pill again or anythang like that causes it effects ur bodie so bad if u are not wanting kids the best brith control is not to have sex and if u do just strap a condom on brithcontrol doses help u not get prego but dosesnt help getting hiv or aids. long story short condoms may coast move but they are alot safer.

I guess I'm one of the lucky ones and found a pill (Yasmin) that works for me right off the bat. No crazy mood swings, no weight gain, lighter periods, the only downside is the $50 per month cost. In 2007 I switched to a cheaper brand and found myself on the verge of suicide within a week and got an emergency switch back to the Yasmin.

I will never use the Nuvaring because a dear friend of mine was on it for 3 or 4 months and developed a life-threatening blood clot in her leg. It took her almost a year to fully recover and scared me away from Nuvaring for good.

My b/f and I always use condoms as well, our little rule is that he has to wear a rubber until I get to wear the big, white, poofy dress!

I used to use Orthotricyclen Lo, but it was too expensive once I lost my insurance, so my doctor prescribed a generic of the regular Orthotricyclen. I took that for a few months, but I kept forgetting to take it. Then I started having some depression and a major decrease in my sex drive. Thankfully, I then got better insurance and had him switch me to Nuvaring. He said it could also possibly help with the mood problems because of the way the hormones are delivered (vaginally instead of orally).

Unfortunately, the whole depression (which I think is more circumstantial than hormonal) hasn't really gone away, and neither has the sex drive problem, but I do love Nuvaring. I've only been on it for about a month, but it's so easy. I just have to remember the day I need to take it out and that's it. No remembering to take pills! I haven't noticed any different side effects with it like dryness, either.

When I started college, I was on Ovcon pills for a few months, then went to what I think was a generic called Zovia, for a few years. Zovia worked well but I would feel sad on day 14 of my cycle, sometimes the day before and/or after, too. Last year I stopped taking Zovia and switched to Jolessa, which is a generic for Seasonale...or Seasonique, not sure, one of those 4-times-a-year ones. It was HORRIBLE! I bled and/or spotted for almost three months straight before I just gave up. No way am I ever taking those again. I'd take them at the same time every day, too.

On a happier note, I like what some of you have said about Nuvaring. I tried it once back before I was more sexually inclined, and it was weird. I think I could handle it better now. Thanks for your stories!

When I first started taking birth control, I was prescribed Ortho Tri-Cyclen. Needless to say, like most ladies I'm sure, I forgot to take them every day..or at the right time. Before my husband and I decided to start a family, I was on the NuvaRing for a year. I -love- that birth control.