Birth Control Options - Madison,WI

A good alternative to using chemical birth control is called NFP (Natural Family Planning) unfortunately, most dr.s are not taught the truth about this all natural method of birth control. It is completely safe and just as effective if not more so than birth control pills. There are no side affects and can actually help a marriage, good or bad. The best way to find out more about this is to go to the Couple to Couple League at http://www.ccli.org/. Good Luck!!

I have been using the progesterone only pill for almost a year now while nursing. It was great, no mood swings, no decrease in milk supply, yes it this needs to be taken at the same time every day, but I did not get a period until my son was 13 months old!
I am weaning my little guy now (I made my 14 month goal) and was considering the Mirena IUD, it was good to know what other people have as issues.

S.,
I don't have any advice for you, but I wanted to tell you I had a similar experience. I tried the Mirena and hated it. If I had known how much it was going to hurt going in I'd never have done it! But, I also had terrible side effects - similar to actually being pregnant. And whenever I laid down and turned onto my side (like in bed at night or laying on the couch) I could feel it! Ugh. Good news, it doesn't hurt at all coming back out. I was on the pill for years and had a great experience with that. Good luck!

Hi S.. The only safe pill to take while breastfeeding is the mini pill due to it being a progesterone only pill. I've been taking it for 11 months, still breastfeeding and haven't gotten a period yet. That being said, you should probably wait at least 3 months before giving up on the Mirena. I think there's just an adjustment period with an IUD. Good luck.

S.,

I am nursing my third and have take the mini pill. It's just like a normal birth control (take every day at the same time), but you never take a break and never get a period, which of course is really nice :)

Jessica

I had my mirena placed 8 weeks after my first son was born. (I'm curious about the women who's doctors wouldn't do it -- the mirena is especially good for postpartum and breastfeeding!) Honestly I'd wait at least a few months before deciding to take it out. I loved my mirena, it was the best birth control I've ever used. Yes, I had some cramping and was uncomfortable the first week or two. But believe me, it got way better! My only side effect was random spotting. For me the benefits of reliable birth control while breastfeeding WAY outweighed the negatives.
I have two good friends who became pregnant while breastfeeding and on the mini-pill, so I'd never ever trust that option. I also can't imagine trying to take a pill at the exact same time every day with a newborn, lol!
I just had baby #2 six weeks ago, and my doctor told me that the only options for breastfeeding are still the IUD and the mini pill. So we're opting for a vasectomy instead. :)
Good luck, if you have any questions about IUDs please feel free to mail me privately. I had mine for 18 months, then had it removed to get pregnant and got pregnant immediately!

I am surprised that your dr. placed an IUD only 3.5 months after having a baby. My dr. had me wait 1 year. I also had terrible spotting, which eventually got better and to turned to just light spotting, but it lasted for 6 months. My dr. suggested I wait it out and I did. Now (1.5 years later) it is great! I don't have any side effects and I get little to no period :)

Hello S., I also have Mirena. I actually hated it when I first had it put in. I had pain and irritation from the strings/wires being too long and poking me. They actually were too long and I had to go in and have them cut more. Then after a few days the pain and irritation went away. Then my only problem with it was spotting. I spotted on and off for 3 months! I think I ruined every pair of undies I owned! But once the spotting stopped I have not had a period, and really no other side effects. After almost one year I love it! I am not worried about getting pregnant at all. I always had birth control before, and have 3 kids, one of which was planned. I have never been happier with a birth control choice. Good Luck in your choice. Go with what you feel is best for you. everyone is different. Thank god we have options!

The mini pill is the only option (as far as pills) if breastfeeding. It contains progesterone only (no estrogen while breastfeeding). If you decide to use it, you must take it at the same time every day...even a couple of hours late can make it less effective.

I am breastfeeding and I am on Camilla, the mini-pill.

I don't know if it is ok while breast feeding, but I use Loestrin Fe 24. I love it. Periods are extremely light, and even my PMS symptoms are better. I've used this exclusively since I gave birth to my 2 1/2 year old son and am extremely pleased.

Get that thing out as soon as possible! I had horrible side effects with it as well....I think they are extremely problematic and wouldn't want to go through the issues I experienced! I left mine in for nearly 9 months--please don't let it go that long!

I am very surprised that your Dr suggested an IUD while you are breastfeeding.

I had the Mirena put in back in January. The first month or two I had those same side effects. However, now I spot around the time I would normally get my period and apparently that is very normal. My cut-off date is June, the Dr said I should stop spotting around then and if not I need to call her.

Good Luck :)

Hang in there! I've had the mirena 3xs (after having each of my children). I too had side effects that made me want it out, but they do go away (I hope your doc explained that) you will end up really liking it: u don't have to remember to take a pill and it contains MUCH less hormones than any other form of BC. Just don't get the copper IU u will have twice as many probs! Make sure u are able to check for the 'string' monthly because my last IUD fell out! Its very very rare though so don't let it scare u lol

I had those same symptoms for about six months after mine was inserted. Although, I wasn't breast-feeding, so they might not have felt as bad as yours do! I can tell you that during those six months, I was pretty much ready to throw in the towel with the mirena as well, but now that I have had it for a year, I love it. All of my side effects are gone, I don't have a period and I know that my b.c. is covered for the next four years!

I love that you're exploring your options. I just wanted to add that I had a horrible time on Mirena too. Yes, these could just be temporary but I have to add that the hormones in Mirena were way too much for me. I was fighting with my husband constantly and when I found some side effects of other women I got it removed and saved my marriage! :) I realize it works great for many women but please don't discount anything during this time. Good luck finding what's right for you.

Before I became pregnant I always took Ovcon 35. It worked great. Your doctor should be able to recommend some good ones that are on the market today. There are those pills like Seasonale that you only have periods 4 times a year or something. I think Yaz is like that too. I could never do it because I could never stop spotting, so it wasn't worth it to me.

A.

I have the merina. I don't remember a lot of side affects..just a little spotting. I love it now though...I hardly know it there...and no periods. Sounds like your body is having a different reaction. Are you having any more children? My doc just told me about getting the tubes blocked is now an option It, however, a permenant thing. It's called ESSURE. You might want to google it. Good Luck.

Hi S.:

I've had the Mirena IUD in for the last 5 years and loved it. I never had a period or any side affects. My only issue with it was the dr. cut the strings too short, so removing it was not an easy task.
Good luck,
S.

I have mirena and am currently breastfeeding as well. My doctor told me it was perfectly safe for breastfeeding. I have not experienced and reduction in milk flow either.

With that said - HANG IN THERE! once the side effects go away, I think you will love it. I've had mine for about 7 weeks and the spotting seems to be slowing down - I have had spotting nearly daily with a few clear days on occasion....but I can tell its near the end...the clear days are becoming more frequent and the spotting is much lighter.

My doctor told me the side effects would be magnified since I was breast feeding - but he also said that it will go away.

I too am breastfeeding and my ob told me the only pill that's safe to take is a non-hormonal pill like the mini pill.

yes. i had side effects too, and they seemed to last forever.

have patience. its expensive. it does pay for itself after a year, but i wouldnt recommend wasting your (or the insurance company's) money when it works so well after a few months.

the biggest complaint i had was that it seemed like i was spotting for weeks and then i would have a few days off and spot some more.

but that stopped completely around 2 months after placement, and i have had maybe 5 spotty periods in over a year - its comfortable, and i dont have to think about it. my husband loves it, though he at first had complaints about getting poked by the string, after about 3 months the string finally softened, and its fine now.

also, if you are doing a check for the string periodically, dont panic if it disappears, mine has disapeared, the doc did an ultrasound to find it, and it was still there, just the string is up in there too.. which is fine, it can sometimes disappear, then come back out... but for sure have your doctor check it out.

patience. it will calm down soon, and you wont regret it. :D

one important thing to remember is that the pill goes through your whole body. if you are the slightest bit overweight, it doesnt work as well as it says it should. and the guilt you will have if you get pregnant while on the pill, you always worry if you somehow hurt your baby. my brother is the result of the pill just not working. also, the blood clot risk ... and the fact that you HAVE to take it the same time every single day or it wont work... and the breast cancer risk... all these things are almost nonexistent with the mirena. it works in the uterus, not your whole body, so its pretty reliable, and there is no such thing as perfect/imperfect use. you dont have to remember to do anything, and it shouldnt at all affect breastfeeding. i breastfed my son until he self weaned at 19 months with the mirena, and everything was fine because its localized in the uterus

anyway good luck

I know you are asking specifically about a pill, but I wanted to say that since I had my son, I've been using a diaphram and I love it!! No one even thinks of diaphrams anymore, but they are a very viable option, especially if hormones are a concern, which they are if you are breastfeeding. Let me know if you want more info.

S., I'm sorry to hear about your stress, but hopefully I can encourage you. I had Mirena placed about 6 weeks ago now and I struggled many times with wanting to have it taken out because of the bleeding but I've stuck it out.
One thing I might recommend is giving your doctor a call if you are having real heavy bleeding since the time it was put in, maybe have them check and make sure it's where it belongs!
I didn't have hip pain like you explained but the bleeding and breast tenderness *sometimes they would hurt so bad that a tshirt was painful*
I still spot a bit, but everything else seems to have gone away!