Birth Control Help

I would look into the depro provera shot. You get the shot once every three months and you basically do not have a period while you are on it. It is not suppose to be taken for the long term but it would be a great way to go for a couple of years. Also comparitively it may be a lot cheaper way to go. I just recently put my daughter on this because I was afraid she would not be able to remember to take the pill every day and she has very bad carmps and PMS. If you don't have a period hopefully you won't have these either.

Hi there : Sorry to be so vague . But lsdt month LHJ had articles on birth control that seemed to be helpful. You might also try Women to Women.com

Good luck /timely health care info seems to be covered up these days.

I used the ortho-evra patch the first year I was married, and I liked it because I only needed to apply one patch a week. I couldn't use it after my son was born because I was breastfeeding. I tried using the copper T IUD and it made me bleed for a month, so I had the doctor take it out.

My sister-in-law uses Implanon (or some other kind of implant) under her skin and only has to have that updated every few months, I think.

Good luck on finding a good birth control! I am still trying to find one. But I will say that I am 32 weeks prego with using the Nuvaring religiously for 6 months. So dont go there, unless you want a little SURPRISE of your own! Haha. Good luck!

I just want to give you a word of caution, it sounds like you're particularly sensitive to the hormones in these birth controls. Please be aware of the higher risk of cancer for you and monitor accordingly. If you're doctor says there's no risk, get a new one.

Awesome. Good for you. The thing about the pill is, the hormones affect you in all kinds of ways. The thing that worries me the most about it, which keeps me from using it, is that it affects a woman psychologically by reversing her mate choice (they've done studies on this). Makes you wonder if this is one of the causes of the sky-rocketed divorce rate since about the 50s. (Another problem is, it adds to the pharmaceutical load in our drinking water. All the meds everyone's on are getting into our water, in increasing amounts! Not cool!)

We just use condoms. I don't know where the bad rap comes from. Your husband could use extra-sensitive so feeling isn't very damped-down. My husband likes them just fine because they help him keep going :) And he seems to be feeling just great in spite of this thin little layer that keeps our family in check.

Oh! You might want to consider the rhythm method. You can get cycle beads and just keep track of where you are in your cycle. If you are regular, of course. If your husband resists using condoms, you could compromise with this method - for a week or two every month, none needed! This method has its failure rate, like any other, of course, and you really have to pay attention. Like, if you change work situations, for example, and are suddenly around a lot of new women, your cycle will shift.

L.

I've seen a lot of suggestions here for NuvaRing, the patch, and the Depo shot. I want to share a word of caution in all three of those. If you have even the slightest sensitivity to the hormones of birth control, they can have a harmful effect. I was on the pill for a while, and I had the same reactions to the pill you did. I tried the NuvaRing and it gave me horrendous occular migraines, an unadvertised side-effect of the ring. (If you have the migraines with the ring, it indicates that you have an increased risk of blood clots.) The Depo shot had my period greatly messed up - I would have seven week cycles with two weeks of heavy bleeding, and it was six months after my last shot "wore off" - while using NO hormonal birth control - before my body began to normalize. I also experienced weight gain with the first shot and emotional imbalance, both things which don't typically come until at least the second shot. Also, investigate the patch. There were lawsuits about it because of severe issues - even death. It messed me up hormonally, but I did not have any of the permanent effects mentioned in the lawsuit.

If hormones are not a problem for you, then my first recommendation would be the NuvaRing because it is the least problematic of the three. But, watch for those migraines. But, if the hormones themselves do impact you negatively, I would highly suggest alternate methods. Condoms with a spermicidal lubricant are effective. Yes, I know they are awkward, but in the larger scope, even a year or two is only a short time to use them if you still want another baby.

Talk to your Dr about the shots

The patch, cervical cap, there is a bc that you change out weekly, but I'm not sure what it is called. Check with your ob/gyn on what would suit you best.

Hey! i loved the pill. put it with ur morning toothp. and brush and go ahead and take it. i did mine at night. try the patch, or a lube. ask ur gyn, or maybe the shot will help. maybe condoms for now until u decide what u want to do. hope this help take care!!

I used the depo provera shot for years (shot once every 3 months) and only for a slight weight gain I experienced no other side effects. Except for NO periods, AWESOME! Be sure to check with your doctor about how they do the shots! Mine charged an office visit to give the shot, ridiculous, AND charged me more for the depo provera than when I got it at the pharmacy (at the time the insurance we had didn't cover any birth control products??). I found a 24/hr walk in clinic that would give me a shot for $10, so I had the doctor write me the prescription and I bought it myself and took it with me to the clinic. You can also get a prescription for the syringes if you know someone who can give shots. I had a friend that was a nurse and did that as well a few times.

Hi there H.!
I can totally feel your pain! I have had trouble w/ the Muriana as well, although mine has fixed it's self after a run w/ pain meds & antibiotics. I'm not to sure on the advice for what would work well but I can advise NOT TO TRUST THE NEUVA RING! This little ring they say will only have to be inserted once per month and then removed, I used this and had terrible side effects and also have TWO FREINDS who now have little bundles on joy on the way, needless to say the ring did not do it's job. Good luck w/ the search! Julie

Have you tried the NuvaRing or the Ortho Evra patch? Each one is changed only monthly and works like the pill so you get the other benefits. I found both easy to use, but of course, the patch was the easiest by far. I too have tried several different things through the years becasue I need the benefits of the pill (regulated cycles, help with PMS, no unplanned babies, etc.) but hate taking pills. I hope you find what is right for you.

Natural Family Planning is a very effective form of natural birth control when done properly. Its very easy, and you don't have to worry about artificial hormones, or unsafe and painful other methods. You don't need to have regular cycles, and when you're ready to try for another baby, there is no waiting period to try, and many couples achieve pregnancy faster since they know how to tell when the woman is fertile. Other than a class fee, perhaps a book, maybe a thermometer, its FREE.
We've been using NFP for years, both to prevent pregnancy before we were ready, and to get pregnant - I have 2 boys 2 years apart, just like we wanted. We want another, but not for a few more years.
www.ccli.org

I'm in the Natural Family Planning camp. Other than being basically free, no doctor appointment necessary, and very effective, there are NO side effects! If you just don't trust your body you could always use a spermicide when you feel like it's necessary. Do some research-you'll be surprised how effective it is.

Hello i am 25 and have a wonderful seven year old son... hence... the way birth control is doing you now that's how i ended up with him... I have used the birth control patch almost the whole time since he was born... and although i love my child like you i am not ready for another one... i like the patch b/c i only have to change it once a week... i put the stickers that come with it on the bathroom mirror to remind me of the day to change it and everything...

I know this is a little late for a response but I wanted to suggest you talk to an OB you trust about this. It sounds like you might have lost some trust with the OB who inserted your mirena and rightfully so. A good OB can talk to you about possible side effects and possibly give you free samples to try. I know you said you don't like the pill but have you tried Ortho TriCyclen Lo? I've been on it for about 9 months and it is awesome! My skin has never in my life been as clear as it is now. I love it. Like one of your other readers, I take it at night before bed so I don't forget. I remind myself of the 3 things to do (I guess I remember better in 3's): 1)brush teeth, 2)wash face 3) take pill. It sounds silly but it works for me! Don't count on the rhythm method- my mom and her brother were born 9 months apart and she's one of 7 children thanks to the rhythm method. Crazy!

I hated using the daily pill so I made the switch to Nuvaring. It was awesome!! You insert it and leave it for a month. On their website they even have a 'timer' application you can download and it keeps track for you and reminds you when to take it out and when to put another one in. I also got a free mini timer to go in my purse that does basically the same thing. The only drawback was that sometimes during intercourse, my husband felt it. It wasn't painful, just wierd to him. I had no side effects and it was wonderful to not have to worry about it all month!!! It is about $10 more expensive than the daily pill packs, but to me it was worth it to free up my month. HTH!!

I do use the birth control pill, and I've got 2 kids, my little girl is three and my little boy is 8 months old. I find it soooo much easier to take my pill in the evenings, right before bed, as I usually go to bed around the same time, like 10pm. It is very hard to try to take the pill in the mornings, and there's NO WAY I would remember to do it if it were in the day, as days with kiddos are stressful and event filled, but I find it very easy to remember to take it right before bed. I keep my pack in my bathroom on the counter so when I brush my teeth, I see it and take it! If you just can't take a pill for any reason, I'd talk to your ob/gyn about the patch. Hope this helps! Good luck and God bless!

You may want to try the Nuvring. You insert it yourself once every month and take it out. Ask your doctor about it, it was my favorite.

I hope that helps

J. in St. Rose, LA

i used the Nuva Ring for a few months and LOVED it!!!! If we had been able to afford it, I would have continued using it, but at over $50 a month, the pill was just more affordable. The thing I liked about it is, you put it in, leave it in, and then the little cycle clock they give you tells you when to take it out and that is the time you will have your period, then you put your new ring in, nothing to forget!!!

I second the recommendation for natural family planning. You do have to learn how to do it & be committed to doing it for it to work, but it's not hard and when it's done right it works well.

Get a book like The Art of Natural Family Planning by Kippley & Kippley (strongly from a Catholic perspective, but the info on the method is good either way), or Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Weschler. You learn how to notice and interpret your own body's fertility signs, and can tell when you are probably fertile, probably not fertile, and definitely not fertile. When you are fertile you either abstain or use a backup method like a condom. There are different rules you can choose from depending on how strict you want to be - with the stricter rules the method is very effective.

Besides avoiding artificial hormones and being very inexpensive, I really like that I know what's going on with my body throughout my cycle. And when you're ready for another child, the same method will help you conceive.

Good luck :)

To the woman who is looking for a different type of birth control. There is a shot you can take every three months called Depo shot. It will decrease the days of your monthly period and could stop your monthly all together. But you only have to fool with birthcontrol every three months. Just a suggestion.

I used the Nuva Ring before I switched to Mirena and loved it!!! It is a soft plastic ring you insert into your vagina and leave it there for three weeks. At the end of the third week you remove it for your fourth week, have your period, and then reinsert another ring after that fourth week is over. It was really easy to insert, never caused me any trouble, my husband couldn't feel it during intercourse very often, and overall was a good experience. I now have Mirena and so far I like it but now I am wondering if my increase in acne is because of it? Hmmm..... Good luck!!

I LOVE the Nuva-ring. So easy! I was on the patch before and I find the nuva-ring to be even easier!

H.,

I've been there with the pill, I took it for 7 years before I started all of a sudden forgetting to take it. I switched to the patch which I was on for a year before deciding to get pregnant. I loved it! After having my little girl and breast feeding for a year I went back on BC but went with the nuvo ring this time. I am not as pleased as with the patch but that is just because I don't enjoy putting it in or taking it out. However, once it is in I can't feel it at all, and my husband has no trouble with it being in. The ring is a weekly switch, and the ring is a monthly switch. I hope this is helpful.

I love the Nuva Ring. Short periods, exactly when I expect them and really light... I no longer use a box of tampons a period... maybe just one, no period pain or cramping anymore, light to no acne... it's wonderful. Put it in and forget it. Feel free to email me with questions. I was worried about putting it in and living with it in but all my worries disapeared fast!
They are a little pricy, however they are much cheaper then a baby!!!!! ;)We paid for mine for a while before insurance, but I wasn't willing to change and my husband was comforted in the fact that I loved this birth control. I was off BC for a month and got pregnant so I didn't want to take the chance of missing a pill!! I've used it for almost 2 years.
Good luck!
S.

ps. I used the patch before I had Luke and loved it. When I went in for my six week check up and birthcontrol visit my doctor wouldn't put me back on the patch, said that they were experiancing lots of blood clots with it and she had quit prescribing it. I wouldn't go that route.... just say some responses suggesting it so I thought I'd give my two cents! ;)

I am a big fan of the depo shot, no periods at all to worry about, I have even gotten the shot 2 weeks late going 14 weeks instead of the 12 recommended. I am a little overweight so I did not have a weight gain issue. As long as I try to drink at least 4 glasses of water, acne is not a problem (I really just don't like to drink water).

I've been on a couple different Birth controls. I liked the Nuva Ring the best. It was easy and it came with a little timer to remind you what days to take it out and put it in. It can be pricey but, your doctor might be able to give you some of their samples, mine did. I'm on a pill now but, I would rather be on the nuvaring. I can't because of the estrogen. But, I've also been on the Depo and it is a weird BC. It was nice while I was on it, no periods and what not, but the weight gain sucked and then afterwards it has taken my body like 6 months or more to get it out of it's system. everyone reacts different to it, my Moms reaction was horrible she had a period for almost 3 months instead of nothing, so it depends on your body.

I have been taking the Depro Shot (Birth Control shot) for about a year now and I love it! I do not have a period at all and no symptoms of a period. You have to get the shot every 3 months. The Dr. will give you a card and it tells you when you have to go in and you just say you want your shot and they just give it to you (it only takes about 5 min.)You do not ovulate so you have no chance of getting pregnant on it unless you dont go take the shot in the two weeks that they tell you. If you do miss the time to get the shot then you have to take a pregnancy test before they give you the shot. I hope I am making sense. I Love it and I dont have to worry about a pill or getting pregnant. I have an 8 year son and I am devorced so I make sure I am very careful. I hope this helps you. L.

H.,
Talk to your doctor about Nuvaring. You insert it and leave it in for three weeks. The forth week you remove it and your cycle starts. At the beginning of the next week insert a new one.

I used that and had no problems with it. I loved that I didn't have to remember to take a pill everyday and it was really easy to insert and remove.

Good luck!

I use NuvaRing and I love it! You put it in and 3 weeks later you take it out...wait a week (this is when you should have your period)...then put another one back in for 3 more weeks. It's easy and you don't have to remember to take a pill everyday. After starting the ring my period is finally normal for the first time in my life! There are risks involved as with any other medication so do your research and pick what's best for your lifestyle. Good Luck!

I know alot of people are saying try the shot but every one is different when I did the shot I had a period the entire time and ended up anemic. You didn't say what pill you were on but I will say I am on Yasmin and I like it it helps with pmdd I take mine in the morning when I get ready to give my daughter her daily medicine. I keep it in the same spot so I see it therefore remember to take it. Please be careful if you decide on the shot because everyone's body acts different just like with any type of birth control your body reacts to it so its all about finding the right one for you. And it may be with the pill you are on it has to much or to little of the hormones. Good luck

I am on YAZ. I like it. So far no side effects except that sometimes I only spot instead of having a full blown period.

I have tried a lot of different ones (including IUD) and had bad side effects. Remember when you switch you should give it about 3 months to become effective so use extra protection.

The simple solution would be to use condoms. That is what my husband and I use. My ob/gyn says they are just as effective as the pill except for when you fail to use them. It sounds like your body is not responding well to the pill. You should listen to it and stop. You could also use spermicide foam.

Avoid Avoid Avoid ANY birth control that will affect your health / hormones.
The patch, the pill, the shot, the ring....FAR too risky.
I teach seminars on this subject. I HIGHLY recommend you do research on these products.
Long story short... because of such methods my system was racked for years and I nearly died. PLEASE do not go this route!!!!!

Try a barrier method.

A diaphram or a condom or both.
Lambskin natural condoms are fabulous. Your husband won't mind them either. Here's the trick ...try the regular condoms first and then try one of these. Your husband will be sold on the lambs.

And your health will not be compromised.

Your body was giving you a huge warning signal...listen to it!

P.S. After reading multiple recommendations below for the Depo Shot, I feel compelled to tell you this:

Depo tricks your body into thinking you are in menopause and thus the deterioration process begins. It puts your body at risk for osteoporosis and MANY other very dangerous health risks. JUST SAY NO!!!

i always used depo provera since i just had to get the shot once every three months. i had no side effects of weight gain etc but i know of others who did. for your cycle to start normally again though you may have to be off of it for a while as it seems to take a while (at least for me). hope you find something that works.

don't get the shot
it missed my system up big time and i have to friends that were on the shot for years and they are having problems getting pg. my reg dr. said the shot can mess your body up for 3 years before things get right again, not sure iif that is true but i know 1 had 1 shot after birth and my system is still not like it was and that was 13mths ago

Ok, I'm not telling you this to scare you...I just want you to be really careful when making your decision. Pretty much every birth control out there puts off hormones in your body. These hormones can have very serious side effects. Sure it's a lot of things that everyone says "it wouldn't happen to me." I was put in the hospital last October because I was having VERY SEVERE headaches. Come to find out, I had a blood clot in my brain!!! It had already grown to be 3 inches long and was a very serious condition. The doctors determined that the clot was from the hormones put off by my birth control. Luckily I didn't have to have brain surgery, but it wasn't too far from the plan at the time. It was the scariest moment of my life! JUST BE CAREFUL!!!!

I use the OrthoEvra patch. I know there has been alot of controversy about this method of b/c. I don't smoke and I drink occasinally. If you fit into the category that this method recommends, such as no history of strokes, n/smoker to name a few.. This method has reduced my periods to no more that 3 days. Usually 1-2 days of very light and regular monthly cycles. I can hardly remember many cramps since I have been using the patch. I had a hard time remembering to take the pill daily once both my children were born. I had regular weight gain b/f the patch. Can't blame the patch!! It stays on while bathing and swimming. We spend alot of time in the pool all summer and throughout the year. You can place the patch in a variety of places on your body and it will stay on.You only have to change it once a week. And it is not worn on the 4th week. The cost is not the cheapest and certainly not the most expensive. I have found it for aproximately $40-$45 per mth.in the Metairie area. Check with all of your pharmacies. You Ob/gyn can start you off with few months sample to get you started. That way when you see your ob/gyn ask for samples and you may save yourself a few months throughout the year when you have your check ups. IUD's were not ever my choice. You cemented my decision about those things. Shots like Depo-provera were not a consideration too me. Shots affected a friend of mine badly a few years ago. When I wasn't chasing babies around the pill was great. Too much to remember to this day! Good luck.

I went through a recent experience with Mirenea and like everyone else it was a horrible experence. Since Mirenea I have started using the Orthro Evra patch and it works out great for me. I would suggest asking your OBGYN about it.

I took the shot depo for a few years and I loved it BUT I didnt have a period the whole time which was a blessing but concerned me because there is a reason God made us that way. I did have weight gain with in also. Some women bleed the whole time.
Please be careful about skipping pills, actually when i didnt get pregnant as fast as i thought i should I got a friend of mines extra pack and took them for one week, stopped and the next month i was pregnant i did this with both of my boys so if right now is not an option DONT TAKE THE PILL it is too easy to get pregnant with them.

Try the NuvaRing. I have migraines and deal with weight issues. This BC is the only one that I have tried (out of the Depo shot, and several types of BC pills) that doesn't make my migraines worse and I haven't had a lot of weight gain.

You put it in...leave it for 21 days. Take it out for 7. Then start all over with a new one. Very Simple.

Look into the Depo Provera shot(quarterly injection) or the patch, Ortho Evra (you wear it for 3weeks then the 4th week you dont wear it and your cycle starts). I used both of these methods (changed only because of insurance) and was able to conceive. I liked both methods although I gained weight with the shot. Pros and Cons to both websites orthoevra.com and depoprovera.com
Good Luck !!!!

Hey H.. You might look up the Depo shot. My youngest daughter is 13 months and I have been using it since she was 6 weeks old. I get the shot every three months in the arm. I don't have a period which is sooooo nice and I don't have to try and remember to take the pill. I had a horrible time with that, at one point I wouldn't take it at the same time every day and end up with a period and then my doctor switched pills and it wasn't strong enough. So far, I don't have any complaints about the shot.

Please please stay away from Depo Provera. Granted for some it is a wonderful form of birth control but before you make that choice RESEARCH IT. I wish I had then I wouldnt have had to deal with infertility and other issues. I was only on it for 6 months but I still to this day 12 yrs later deal with issues from it. My second son we had to have help to get pregnant. I havent been on any form of BC since he was a year old and no pregnancy(he turns 8 in Nov) so 7 yrs of no BC.
Also a couple of years ago Depo was black labeled. In other words those that are put on it are only suppose to be on it for two years due to health issues that can come from being on Depo. The main reason is Bone Density loss. Also with Depo if you have bad side effects you are stuck with them til it gets out of your system. I had one of the worst migrianes of my life while on depo.
So please if you think Depo is an option for you research it throughly. Just a side note I found out after I researched it during my fight with infertility. Here in the states it is actually used to chemically castrate sex offenders that chose that option as a part of their release. Think on what that can do to a woman's sex drive.
Now there are women who do great on it so for those that did great. That is good but there are those like me who have paid a huge price for making that choice.

hey H., i have heard alot of people say they love nuva ring! there's also the depo shot, but i've heard bad things like weight gain, light bleeding, etc can happen. then there's always the rhythm method, but that's how i and at least one of my friends got pregnant! i think there are more options, i would google it!
good luck!