Birth Control Advice

I take YAZ and I love it. Not only is it birth control but it also helps with my mood swings!! So my family loves when I take it!!!

I have a 4month old daughter and I have the Mirena inplant and so far so good! I love it!Its the most effective birth control. And no weight gain

After I delivered my daughter last year, I got on Yasmin. Before I got pregnant, I had been taking ortho tri-cyclen and hated it. It made me sooo moody the last week of the cycle. I don't feel that way on yasmin because it gives you a steady hormone level for 3 of the 4 weeks and then gives you a placebo for the last week. Furthermore, I have very light and short periods when I used to have heavy periods.

I am 34 years old and have a 4 year old little boy. I had fertility issues getting pregnant with him and was not sure I wanted to go through that again, but also knew I didn't want to get pregnant again right away(just in case a miracle happened) I also have had trouble with migranes related to hormones. I had the Mirena IUD placed about 2 1/2 years ago and it is the best birth control I have ever had. I have had maybe 3-4 migranes since then, I only have a period about every 3 months (if you want to call it that I might spot for a day) I would definelty recommend it to anyone who has kids and isn't sure if they want anymore. You can leave it in for 5 years or remove it before and fertility goes back to normal usually within a few months. It is worry free and you don't have to take a pill every day!

Hi N.,
I have the Mirena IUD and absolutely love it. Before having my son, I was on birth control pills for 13 years.
To me, there is no comparison. The IUD was virtually painless to insert and the whole procedure was over before I really knew the gyn had started. I really think I was expecting a lot more pain! For the first 90 days or so, there was bleeding and spotting. I also had cramping at times, but nothing horrible. After having my IUD for about 6 mos, my period got lighter and lighter. Now, I get my normal PMS, and sometimes I even cramp a little, but no period comes- I call it my phantom period! :)
Since the IUD only dispenses hormones locally in your uterus, you don't have the normal side effects associated with oral contraceptives (this is also why your period gets a lot lighter). Basically, you get PMS just like you did before you took any birth control pills or hormones. I never had bad PMS in my pre-BC pill days, so it was a wonderful to be back to normal. The BC pill made me have the worst PMS and terrible cramps!
I have heard one or two of my friends complain about their IUDs, but they delivered c-section. I think the insertion can be a lot more painful in this case.
Good luck in your decision.

I had a IUD and liked it for the most part. I got the one with a little hormone and it gave me back aches but it did make my periods very light and less cramping. I had it taken out to get the one without hormones however, I got preg. between switching and then got my tubes tied. I suggest you get the one without hormones. They are great in that you don't have to remember to take a pill or get a shot or wear a patch or mess with putting in and taking out anything out. Hope this helps you.

Hi N.,

I'm a little late in responding to this. But, I wanted to chime in real quick. My husband and I started using just plain old condoms with spermacide when I was pumping/breastfeeding. Now that I weaning off, we have just decided to keep using them. The condom alone has a high effectiveness and when combined with the spermacide, it has better results than the pill, IUD, etc.

My reason for not going back to the pill, IUD, etc. is that a fertilized egg can be flushed out of your uterus. I'm just not comfortable with that. I also don't like the way any type of horomonal method makes me feel. Anyway, that is my two cents.

I have had an IUD for almost 2 years now and absolutely love it. Birth control pills were always a little scary for me since I have a terrible time trying to remember to take them. So, the IUD works out perfectly. It was a simple 5 minute proceedure for my OBGYN to insert and I only had a tiny bit of cramps right afterwards (which is normal). One of the best things is that it has almost completely taken my monthly cycle away. Apparently it is just as easy to take it out as it is to put it in! I would definitely recommend this method as birth control.

I have an IUD and have had no side effects at all. It is so wonderful to not have to remember to take a pill everyday or go through the stress if something happens and you forget a couple. I have a 5 & 3 year old and about a year ago decided that I didn't want anymore children for at least a couple of years. My doctor recommended the IUD and I am so glad I listened! Good Luck on your decision!

I've had an IUD for three months now and so far I love it. My periods aren't as heavy and even better I don't have to worry about taking a pill every day. I did experience cramping for the first month. Good Luck!

I had an IUD for 6 years and it was wonderful! I had no problem becoming pregnant after it was taken out. Just like you, I cannot tolerate bc that has hormones or spermacides in them. Go ahead and try the IUD.

I love deppo it is wonerfull for me it has low risks and works effectively one easy shot that last 3 months and one of the reasons I also like it soo much is their is no menstral cycle at all!I havent experianced any side effects so I'd recomend that over the pill any day.
A friend of mine had the miridia I hope i spelled that right well any way it was painfull for like 3 days then a month or 2 later she seen a strings hanging called her ob an they removed it and asked her if she would like it replaced and she declined their are benifitts but also high risk involved me personaly I'm just not willing to take, and those three days she sounded awfull!

Hey, just wanted to give my opinion on the Mirena IUD. I got it in May when my son was about 5 months old and have had NO problems from it at all. I absolutely love it. I will say that they tell you that your periods will become lighter and mine have basically disappeared. I am not complaining though. Anyway, hope that helps.

Oops I just wrote a long response to you and then got interupted by my 4 year old and I did something to erase it. Ugh. So now I'll be more brief. Whether you use the nonhormonal ParaGard or the progestin release Mirena IUD, one function of both IUDs is to create a thin hostile lining in your uterus so that an ALREADY FERTILIZED egg cannot implant and is therfore expelled. This was concerning to me ethically so I have not used any IUDs. I also am not a fan of the side effects of hormone based BC pills so we are relying on barrier methods at this time. Not as fun but oh well. I did confirm this info with my OB/GYN. Hope you find what is best for you.
Jennifer

I used the patch a while back and found that it was very effective as well as convenient. IUDs are not bad from what I have heard of them. I don't do well with pills or the depo due to the hormones in them. Now I don't have any of my baby making parts left, so I don't know about some of the newer things out there...but the patch was good at the time

I had the Mirena IUD inserted 2 months ago and it has been great! I would highly recommend it!

I love the Nuvaring. I only have to think about it one time a month, and it has really regulated my period and PMS symptoms. It took several weeks for my body to adjust, but it has been great. My OB-GYN also taught me a little trick to skip a period if I am going to be out of town, or it's a special occasion. It is a little pricey if you don't have insurance, but not out of the question. I don't think I would ever use anything else unless it was an IUD.

I am not a fan of the pill either but I have a good friend who has the IUC (Inter uterin Contraceptive) Merina (sp?) she loves it your gyn puts it in and its good for 5 years, if you want a child before the 5 years is up you just go in and they take it out. I was on the orthoevera patch for almost two years and had no problems, but after my next child I'll be switching to the IUC Merina. I would recomend either of those two. Good luck.

I had the Mirena put in after the birth of my 2nd child. I love it! At first, I spotted for a while, but now it is worth every minute. I don't have to worry about taking a pill or forgetting to. :) I haven't any weight gain or moody feelings.

IUD is the way to go. I have had one for over a year and I am thrilled. NO side effects. Hardly andy periods. And the best part is you don;t have to remember to do anything. It's just there and working. Best part is if and when you do want kids, just have it removed and off you go! I really am not sure why anyone takes a pill anymore. Oh, I have the Mirana (I think that is how you spell it.)

N.,

I have an IUD that was put in in December of 07. I absoulutely love it! #1 make sure your OB/GYN puts it in while you're on your period; and even then it hurts. I had major cramps for the rest of the day, but it was worth it, knowing that I'm protected from the ol' Prego. I had the strings cut short on mine so that my hubby couldn't feel them during penatration. I love it and my period is almost gone after 3 months. I occassionally spot some.

At the same time I was on the Depo shot for years before switching to a 5 year treatment versus a 3 month treatment, and I loved it too.

PS, I had a C-Section with my little boy, but he's 4 now. So I'm sure my scar tissue has had time to fully heal. But it may make a difference if you just recently had one. And yes, there can be complications, but that's just a risk you have to be willing to take.

Good Luck

I absolutely love my IUD. The only thing that sucks about it is that it makes you have weird leg cramps now and then. I have tried the five year one with the low dose of hormones and i have had no problems. Good luck in your search!

I have the Merina IUD for 2 yrs and I have loved it. I have lost weight, no longer have headaches from the hormones problems with the pill, and my periods are very short and light (2 days). My doctor explained that I wouldn't get as moody because the ingredients are going into my uterus, not through my whole body. I found that interesting! There is a CD that's available (my Doctor's office had it). It was helpful for making my decision.
Good luck

I also have the Mirena IUD and love it! Have had it since my six week after giving birth, so for about 15 months and no problems. I have very very light periods. It's great to not have to think about your birth control.

Hey! My name is N. H, too! Funny! Anyway, I've been on Micronor birth control for about 2 months now and I'm kind of on the fence about it. I've been on a couple of different kinds of birth control nonstop since my son was born in 2005.
My hair has been falling out in clumps since right after my son was born and the GYN thought it may have something to do with my hormone levels so he put me on Orth tricyclen lo (low hormone bc). That got to be too expensive at about $60 a month so she switched me to just Ortho. But my hair kept falling out and that pill made me CRAZY! One minute I'd be just fine and the next I'd be angry for no reason. I had high blood pressure too and started having terrible leg cramps that the doctor thought could be blood clots due to the high blood pressure and extra estrogen and I gained weight like crazy. So she put me on Micronor (another ortho pill, but with no estrogen) and it's pretty good. My hair stopped falling out and my moods have leveled off. Each different pill or method works differently with each person, but hopefully this will help a little. Hang in there!

I recently had the Mirena inserted. It's a five year IUD that can be removed at any point if you decide to have more children.

I did a lot of research before choosing the Mirena. According to my research, it was a great option for me with few side effects. For more information on the Mirena, go to www.mirena.com. You can listen to a podcast that answers a lot of questions about the IUD. They also have a great FAQ section on their website that will answer a lot of your questions.

What was really great about the Mirena is that I didn't feel a thing and it only took about 5 minutes.

I am using the mirena IUD. It was put in about 2 months ago. So far, no negative side effects and I am told that there really shouldn't be. I was in the same boat as you. I have tried several pills and they have all caused me to gain weight. So anyway, so far so good with this.

i've heard great things about mirena.

N.,
I got the Mirena IUC ( http://www.mirena-us.com/index.html?WT.srch=1 ) put in in November. I have not had any problems with it. They told me it might hurt a little bit to have it put in, but I barely felt anything. It is supposed to reduce or eliminate your period (which was a HUGE selling point for me.) I have not had my period since I had my daughter b/c I am still breastfeeding. I have spotted a little bit, but that is it. I love it. It is worry-free birth control.

Hi N.. I have a Mirena IUD. I had it placed in 12/06 after having my first and only son. I chose it just for the convenience of not having to worry about remembering to take the pill and my doctor told me that it was as effective as sterilization. I have really not had any problems with it. The only thing that I have noticed is that I am a little more moody during my period, when I have one. I would definitely recommend it. It was also relatively painless to have it inserted. I was a little concerned about the pain before my appointment, but piece of cake after having a baby. Hope this info is helpful. Let me know if you have any other questions, I'll be glad to answer.

I have an IUD and I love it. It was the best decision I ever made. I took the pill for years and I was tired of taking a pill and thinking about it everyday so I switched. After I switched I relaized all my headaches that I always had were gone, so i had a double benefit. I honestly forget that I have it. They do saythat some women though have heavier periods and cramping but that it goes away after a year. I have not had any changes in my period. THere are 2 different IUD's a 5 year and a 10 year, I chose the 10 year because that no hormones at all and I did not want to run the chance of my headaches coming back. I highly recommend the IUD.

Hey N.,

I have been where you are! But I have 3 children that are 3 and under! I Love my kids but we did not want any more surprises for a little while.I took the pills and was on the patch at one time. Neither did me any justice. I now have the Mirena IUD It is the best decision I have made concerning birth control! I have had it for almost 18 months now After having it only six months my periods stopped altogether! Of course there is only one side effect that I have recently dealt with and that is Ovarian Cysts They can be painful but that is just recently. My Doctor said it was normal and a side effect to not having a period. You know what? It is much better now. I don't want to scare you I just wanted to put all your options out there for you. Goodluck to you! ~T.

After I had my two boys I chose to use the Mirena IUD (the one with the hormones). I too could not handle the side affects of birth control. I LOVED the IUD. It hurt a little bit when I had it put in but after experiencing childbirth it was nothing. While I used the IUD I had no side affects, if anything it was a blessing because my periods were much lighter and only lasted for like 2 or 3 days with absolutely NO CRAMPING. (My periods are typically very painful, heavy, and last about 7 days.) I am pregnant now with our third and last :) and my husband is planning on having a vasectomy after the baby is born. I still plan on getting another IUD just for the facts that while I was on it my periods were so easy. Good Luck!! Another side note.. My boys are only 1 year 10 days apart. I delivered both by C-Section and had no problem with my IUD because of a C-Sections.

After my 5 year old was born, I had the paraguard IUD inserted. It can stay in up to 10 years. I chose the paraguard because the Mirena had hormones and I didn't want that. (I have also heard horror stories about Mirena) I kept it in until we decided to have another baby. I now have 2 beautiful boys and had the Essure procedure on Tuesday for permanent birth control.

Please be careful with hormonal birth control. I know it's hard to think long-term consequences right now, but these synthetic hormones are really making women ill.

While researching, be sure to read 'alternative' opinions, not just the propaganda from the manufacturer. Two good places to start: www.mercola.com and www.naturalnews.com

(Send me a message, and I can link dozens of articles for you.)

There ARE safer non-hormonal options out there.

S.

*** EDITING to add:
There are so many of you using Mirena! Thought this might interest everyone... Mirena uses the same hormone that was used in Norplant (which was taken off the market).
www.virginiahopkinstestkits.com/mirenareport.html

Read what she says about Mirena and breastfeeding. ***

N., I had a friend who had an IUD and she had alot of problems. The IUD caused her alot of pain and lots of scar tissue. After she had it removed she had a hard time conceiving and had to go to a fertility specialist. They told her why she wasn't getting pregnant was from the IUD causing so much scar tissue. As for me I can't take any kind of contraceptives. I would rather not have all the side effects. I stay nauseated the whole time. It feels like I am morning sick all day long. Well good luck and I hope you find what you are looking for.

Try the ortho evra patch. you only have to worry about it once a week and i didn't have any wierd side effects and my weight didn't fluctuate any more than was normal for me.

i was on the pill before getting pregnant with my son and it always made me sick, so i decided i wasn't going back on something that made me feel so aweful. My husband and i just use condoms, the are cheaper than anybirth control contraceptive i know about and they are probably more effective too. plus i don't have to worry because i forgot to take the pill three days in row (i always forget to take pills it's awful) anyway, it works for us, and there aren't any adverse side effects for me, it's fabulous.

I am on the Merina (sp) It is a plastic IUD and it works AWESOME for me. I had mood swings in the first couple of months but it has gotten a lot better and my periods seem to be pretty regular. sometimes there is spotting but not that bad. I like it. Hope this helps

I completely understand what you are going through, especially with the babies. I never tried the pill, mostly because i have trouble remembering to take a pill every singe day at the exact same time (UGH). I have tried the depo provera shot (which i DO NOT recommend because it has several complications once you stop taking it) and Nuva ring. I would recommend the Nuva ring because it is safe, stays put for 3 weeks (even during sex) and very easy to use, if you're used to using tampons. You can even download a nuvatimer onto your pc or order one to sit on your desk (or whereever) to help remind you when it's time to take it out or put one in. It's only 97% effective, but it's better than 94% with just condoms. It will also regulate your periods and they only last 3-4 days, and are extremely light. Which was a HUGE PLUS for me especially since mine lasted from 7-9 days and were constantly irregular when not on birth control. A close friend of mine used an IUD and the patch. With the patch, she would find blood clots on her skin where the patch was placed and this scared her, so she tried the IUD. She had to take a pregnancy test every month when she missed her period with the IUD because of the risk of ecptopic pregnancy. Basically the IUD just blocks the egg from exiting the fallopian tube and implanting into the uterus. Which increases the risk of ectopics. She eventually had the IUD removed, but shortly there after she lost her uterus to cervical cancer. I'd research the different types of birth control on line and see which one is best suited to your needs and desires and fits your budget. But one thing to remember is not all birth control works for everybody and you might wanna try and experiment (if you can) with different types before making a decision. Ask you Ob/Gyn for some samples of the Nuva ring, they might have some. I hope this advice has helped you to make an informed decision!

Hi N.,
I'm a mom to a 23 month old boy and after he was born I had an IUD put in. I was never able to handle the side effects of birth control pills or a patch, which is how I had an Oops baby :) I have a Paraguard IUD which is good for 10 years. The only side effect I get from it is more painful periods, but Advil and Midol help that. I also had a little bit of cramping after it was put in. It is, to me the easiest form of birth control. Hope that helps...good luck!

I got pregnant 3 times on the pill... I tried the depo shot and had a ton of problems... bloating, irritability, weight gain.. even after I stopped taking it, it took at least a year to get back to normal. I then started using the patch which I loved!! It worked effectively for 2 1/2 years until my husband had the big "V" and I could stop BC altogether..

Just my two cents worth! Good luck!

I got an IUD after I had my daughter. I like it because you don't have to remember to take a pill every day. My periods are very light and short now and you can leave it in for up to five years. The device is inserted in your uterus and the strings hang down to the end of your vagina. I was a little worried about the strings, but I don't ever feel them (nor does my husband). My insurance covered the cost and there was no copay (like the pill). I think it's a great way to go.

I hated the daily pill taking so, I tried the Nuva Ring...Super easy. www.nuvaring.com You change it every month. I inquired about the Mirena IUD with my DR. I had 2 c-sections - he advised not to because the Mirena can go through the scar tissue at the incision from the c-sections and be floating around your body...not a good thing. And if they don't attact properly they will come out. I hope this is helpful.
K.