I recently stopped breastfeeding my youngest child, at 15 months, so I made the switch from the "mini-pill" I've been using back to the regular birth control pill (Loestrin) I'd used before. When I went to fill the prescription, I found out that as of January 1st of this year, our insurance has changed the way they cover the Pill. Instead of a 3-cycle supply covered by 1 copayment, now it's 1 copayment for each cycle. So since they just essentially tripled my copayment, I'm now thinking about alternative birth control methods.
I've been on the Pill for ages, and it's worked exremely well for me and for us. We had no trouble getting pregnant both times we wanted to and had no concerns when we didn't want to. I have a history of truly nasty periods that last for 8 days or more and are accompanied by really awful cramps and other terrible stuff, so I like the hormonal control offered by the Pill. We're not interested in more kids, but I'm not really ready for permanent birth control, plus I think I like hormonal advantages.
So I think I'm going to make an appt for a consultation about birth control options, but I'd also like to hear other opinions. I've never really considered anything but the Pill and don't know much about what's out there or what experiences are like, so I'd love to hear any advice or input you have!
Thank you so much for all your advice! I haven't made any decisions 100%, but I've made an appointment with my dr. to talk about my options, and I'm really thinking about the IUD now that you've all said such good things about it. I feel much more educated than I did when I first asked!
I really like my IUD. I don't ever have to worry about forgetting to take the pill or anything like that. In the beginning it was a little uncomfortable but now I love it. One of my biggest selling points for me was that unlike the depo shot once I have it removed I don't have to wait months or years to be able to have children again.
I just say this is why I love this site...although this was K.'s posting it helped me make up my mind on going with the Mirena IUD instead of the copper. I just met w/ my OB today and will have mine put in next week. I have a six week old baby and I can barely remember to brush my teeth everyday let alone take a pill.
However to add my two sense on the Nueva Ring...my sister uses that and she had one fall out and didn't realize it for several days. Thankfully no accidents happened in that time, but she happened to be in Mexico when it happened and she had to wait til she got back to the US to get a new one. On the other hand, that seems to be the only problem she has had with the ring.
I'm sure if nobody has yet, someone will tell you do NOT do the shot if you want more kids. There is an iud called mirena I think, and that is good up to five years with low side effects. It can be put in and taken out at the doctor's office. Fertility returns as soon as you take it back out again. The worst complication is it can puncture the uterus while being put in, but it is rare, comparable to the increased risk of stroke on the pill.
This is probably a good question for your Dr. but I know people who have the Mirena IUD and love it. It lasts for like 5 years and you can just pull it out if you want to get pregnant.
Good luck and I hope you get lots of info,
J.
I use to have bad periods also.I used to get the shot and I loved it because it stopped my periods altogether. But after my daughter was born a year ago I switched to an IUD just because its more convenient every 5 years versus every 3 months with the shot. Hope this was of some help to you. While everything works differently for different people I have concieved two children after using Depo. One after a month after the skipped shot and the other after three. While ultimitely the decision is yours alone your doctor may be able to offer the best advice because he/she knows your body. Best of luck.
I agree with pretty much everyone..... IUD. I have the Mirena one and its great! the inserting... i was so nervous....nothing to be nervous about! It was a breeze and then you don't have to worry about doing anything on a daily basis like a pill. Most insurance's will have high coverage since it prevents the company to pay for prenatal care and well checks if you were to get pregnant. Most insurance companies have a separate company who actually handle the pharmacy( a vendor) so the insurance company has no control and also your employer are the ones that chose your benefits so let them know your unhappy about it and if more come forward they might be able to change it ( can you tell I worked at an insurance company????) Good luck
K.-
There are many forms of birth control that are safe and effective. You may consider Mirena an IUD- it is olaced in the uterus, is 99.9% effective and is good for 5 years. It won't fall out and works great on heavy, painful cycles often stopping them completely. The best part is it is removable and does not have lasting effects i.e. you can remove it an there is virtually no wait time before you are able to conceive again. The progesterone hormone is mild and you can still safely breast feed. The first three months after insertion you will spot but gradually the cycles regulate. (I am a physician in case you are curious).
A Mirena IUD would probably help with your painful/long periods. With time, many women stop having a period at all. You're still ovulating, but the period is very light. There is a tiny bit of hormone in it, but not nearly as much as in the pill. It can stay in for up to 5 years.
I chose an IUD because I think we're done with kids, but I wasn't ready to do anything permanent yet. It's worked well so far. I've had it in since August.
Like you, I also was on the Loesterin (sp). After my 2nd child I decided to get an IUD...it's been great! I suffer from long and very heavy cycles myself. But with the IUD they last maybe 3-5 days and are very light. Talk to your Doctor/Nurse about it...it's been great! The procedure for inserting it was kind of like going in for your annual pap...I did experience cramping with it for about 2 days but after that it was fine. Hope this helps.
I have been using the NuvaRing for about 18 months now and LOVE it. You only have to worry about it once a month. You leave it in for 3 weeks and then take it out for one week (the week you get your period). It works great!!
Not sure if your insurance company has this option, but I use the mail order service through ours for my monthly prescriptions. It ends up only costing me 1 co-pay for the 3-month supply, so maybe you could look into an option like that.
What ever you do DO NOT use the depo provera shot! I had miserable side effects. I am still desperatly trying not only to lose the weight I gained but also to conceive another child. Personally the best option for me and my husband was FAM. We have used it as a form of birth control wonderfully and are now using it to conceive. Good luck!
I was also on Loestrin before I was pregnant and it worked well for me. I actually used the generic Apri. It is the same, but some insurance companies, like mine, only accept the generic of a drug for a cheaper price. I don't know if you are interested in Planned Parenthood, they usually work with women and their insurance to get the best deal. Otherwise, I would call your insurance company and see specifically what they will cover.
You could try a generic birth control pill which may decrease your copay per month. Or you could try an IUD if you are a candidate for that option. The Mirena IUD is hormonal and many women have very light periods or no period at all. It is good for 5 years. And the best part is, it would more than likely be an office copay for you and that is all it would be for cost. Of course, you should check with your insurance first.
I am on the Nuva Ring and have been for over a year! I have tried many diffrent forms of BC and by far this has worked the best! I love it becaues you never forget to take a pill. Its a flexable plastic ring you insert for three weeks and then take it our for 7 days. After you have been on it for 3 mo, you don't have to take it out and you never get your period, but you have that choice, unlike many other forms.
I have not had cramping or anything.
It has not been a problem with falling out or feeling diffrent during sex, I highly recommend it!
I would check with your ins company, some companies offer the option to send for your Rx and get a three month suppy and only pay on copayment. I would look into it it saves you money in the long run and allows you to still you the pill you want.
I am in love with Depo
If you want to try something that's still pill form, I started on the knockoff version of Seasonale. You take it everyday for 3 months. I love it since I only have 4 periods a year now (can't beat that). We don't have insurance and it's about 110 per 3 months supply (might cut out the amount of co-pays you have now...been there). As for comparing it to the pill, it's basically the same thing just no placebo till the end of the 3 months.
Never really considered an IUD before. Always made me a little nervous but listening to the others makes me want to look into it.
Anyways, good luck and hope I was able to help some.
