Need to Understand Long Term Contraceptive Options

Hi M., All contraceptive options have side effects or risks, especially anything with hormones. I was tired of worring about it so i opted for my husband to get fixed (vasectomy)and it made both of us more comfortable not having to worry,so i believe sex is better and the healing time was not bad either. Frozen pea's for the first day and taking it easy thereafter for like 3-4 days. And GUESS WHAT IT STILL WORKS :)

A.

I've never taken the pill and after having a baby I really wanted to avoid hormonal b/c because i was breastfeeding (still am.)
Anyway... I chose Natural Family Planning. There are different methods and it is way more reliable than what you might think. We use the Creighton Model and I was able to pinpoint when I ovulated before I started my first cycle after breastfeeding and not having a cycle for a whole year.... so it works!!
Do a google search on it and read more... consider all of your options. it's the healthiest option... IMO!

After my second son I decided to try an IUD. It last for five years and you never have to worry about taking anything. At the end of the five years then you just go back to your doctor and they replace the old one with a new one. After the first one is put in you do cramp a little bit. The only problem that I have had with it is that it changes your cycle. I have basicly been on my period for the last month. Everyone does react differently. I thought it was worth a try. My doctor told me that it is better than getting my tubes tied.

I absolutely love the idea of the IUD. It's small enough to fit in the palm of your hand and shaped like a 'T'. Your doctor puts it in and you are done for up to 10 years! The first month or two you may have some spotting and cramping as your body gets use to it, and after that your periods my be a little heavy then usual, but that's it for most of the people I've talked to about it. The best part is that if you do decide to have children all it takes is a visit to the doctor office to have it removed and you are able to conceive again right away.

I use the non-hormonal copper IUD and would recommend it as a great form of birth control that doesn't fill you with hormones, but the cramping and spotting are a little worse then the regular hormonal IUD's; however I've heard a lot of great things about the hormonal IUD, I think it's called Mirena (or something close to that). I'd like to use that one myself except I can't be on any hormones. I really hopes this helps.

I am interested to see the responses you get. I was in the same position and couldn't always remember to take the pill let alone the same time each day. I tried the injection (depo provara I think .???). They told me you can only use it for a year or two due to links to osteoprosis and you have to take calcium supplements just in case. But so far no other bad effects (oh, except for the actual shot!!!). Have to go in for another injection every 3 months. My periods have gotten a lot lighter and shorter too. Supposedly they can stop altogether, but I am still having mine (it has only been 2 months though). I would recommend right now but it has been a pretty short time. I love not having to remember to take the pill though!!!

i'm having my one-month checkup after my mirena insertion. i'm happy with it so far, although there's spotting for a while and irregular period stuff, i think. still, i trust it and it lasts for up to 5 years.

I did depo when i was a lot younger and it made me gain weight. I couldnt remember to take my pills either and ended up pregnant. I have been using the ortho evra patch for a couple of years now and i love it!! it didnt make me gain weight or change my periods. You put on a patch at the beginning of each week for 3 weeks. When you start the 4th week with no patch; that is your period week. You can look it up and research it. There are side effects as with any birth control. This one worked for me and i only had to remember it 3 times a month. Hope this helps.

M.,
I was taking the NuvaRing before I got pregnant (planned) and it worked great as I dindn't have to remember to take the pill every day. You do have to be careful the first couple of days it's in as you can ovulate before the medicine in the ring takes effect. (read the instructions it explains better). But the ring was great and it did not interfere with intercourse, plus I'm overweight and the patch was not an option.
Now that I am pregnant with our third child we are opting for permenant birth control. Most insurance companies pay for this if you are ready to stop having kids, plus it's the most effective solution avilable (not 100% as my sister actually got pregnant as one of her tubes healed, oops!!)

I love the patch, you only need to remember it on sundays, it sticks to your skin very well. I love it. I did the pills and did the same thing you did, forgot to take them. I hope this helps you.

D.

I am also a Mirena IUD user and I love it.
I did try the copper IUD after my son and it was horrible. Increased bleeding and pain. The last straw with the copper IUD was when I had an Ovarian Cyst burst. The Dr's said I needed something with hormones to prevent any more cysts.
I ended up on the BC pill until I got pregnant with my daughter.
Tried the NuvaRing for about a year, which worked well but I was looking for something more permanent. I found the Mirena and decided to try it. I've had it for 6 months and couldn't be happier.

I used the shot depo-provera(spelling?) I enjoyed it very much because it was one shot every three month's and at the end of three months you would have a lite period. The dis advantage is that in the begining I gained a little weight. They say that it depends on you. Eventually I started losing weight.

HI M.!

I have two small boys that exhaust me by the end of the day as well and we got pregnant with the first one because 'alas!' I forgot to take my pills. I have never been happy with BC pills, the hormones were always off for me, I couldn't find one that worked....I am allergic to the latex in condoms (and frankly, when you are married, who wants to use them?) and who wants to get up and run to the bathroom to use spermacides when its gettin hot and heavy? Not me, after a long day with boys, if we get it goin, it needs to stay goin or I'm gonna fall asleep! ha ha
After the birth of my second child in 2004, I opted for the IUD (Intrauterine Device) I chose the Mirena brand IUD. It was covered by my insurance, but did have to pay the standard office co-pay and also a fee ($60) for the doctor to insert it(guess they don't make enough money) I chose the 5 year one, but they also have a 10-year one. I have NEVER had any problems with it. I LOOOOOOVE IT!! There is no maintenance, AND, I haven't had a period since BEFORE my second son was born. I had it inserted at my 6-wk check-up after baby and haven't had a period or cramps since then. It is wonderful!! I have recommended it to many people. I still have a couple years left on this one, but when its time to change, I'm going to opt for the 10-year one. We don't plan on having any more kids, and if we did...for some strange reason (like a sudden case of amnesia..ha ha) it can easily be removed in one office visit, and you can get pregnant right away.
You can look up information online about it on their website (www.mirena-us.com) Talk to your doctor and I'm sure he/she can help you decide which brand you prefer. I love the Mirena and will use it forever!!!
I hope this helps...if you have any more questions, please do not hesitate to email me!!
Take care and good luck!
S.

I use the Nuva ring. It's not necessarily "long term" but you only need to worry about birth control once a month instead of everyday. It's really easy to use, a small ring...looks like a small jelly bracelet that you place in your vagina for about 3 wks then take it out for a week for your period, then continue the cycle. It never bothered me to put it in, it isn't bothersome once it is in, didn't interfere with sexual activity. My OBGYN was able to explain a couple alternatives to the daily pill and this works well for me. In the end I would discuss your ideas and get advice from your OBGYN. Good Luck.

I was on the shot for about a yr. It made me gain some weight and I got one of thoughs ugly vains on the back of my legs. It also would meke me verry lazy and moody. I hated it so I stoped taking it.Then went to the condoms. So realy i dont recomend the shot. I tide My tubes after my last one.

I take depo. It's a shot that you can get in your arm or hip. You have to get it every 3 months during a certain two weeks or it WONT work. I got off the shot to get prenant with my daughter and did within the first month. So it's very important. Also some people (25%) stop having there perios, another 25% get it all the time. 3 out of 4 weeks. The other 50% stay the same with their period. I had it for 3 1/2 years after I had my son and now for a year. I like it and think its a good one. I DON'T recommend the patch though. Some people may like it but I have two friends that have gotton pregnant while wearing the patch. Hopefully this helps. J.

Hi M.,

I have one daughter and am married as well, and my body can't handle ANY hormones or I turn into a crazy woman :) So I use the copper IUD. It takes two minutes to insert and two minutes to take out. It's painless, easy and requires no hormones. It lasts for 10 years, and I highly recommend it.

Hope this helps!

i'm curious and interested in the IUD myself....

I've tried a few.

Depo- Put me on my period for 9 months. Most people dont have a period during it. I was the opposite. It took 9 months to get out of my system. I think I've tramatized my husband. Even though he works in a hospital, "periods" gross him out now. If you decide your ready to have another baby, it can take up to 2 years or so before you can conceive. I've also heard that some doctor's take you off of it after a few years of years for a "break". My friend was on it, and gained about 30 pounds.

IUD - I used the 10 year one (non hormonal) which I personally LOVED. One downside is that it can give you a heavier flow on your monthly. It can also increase your cramping. (I didn't have cramps at all). I didn't gain any weight from this birth control. If you don't have insurance this is a costly item. I had insurance but at the time they weren't paying for birth control. So it was about $150 just to have it removed. TO have it put in... well that was years ago so I don't remember how much it cost. I may have gone to a low income clinic for it. (that was before I started making money.) I will be using this again as soon as I can after I have my baby in August.

Hi, I had my first kid when I was 16 after that I was taking the pill but I gained a lot of weight and I had water retention so my doctor recommended the injection(I don't remember what is called) ,and guess what? I got pregnant with my second child( I love them both), 2 months after she was born I got the IUD(YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY IF YOU DIDN'T TAKE YOUR PILL OR IF YOU GET MAD ALL THE TIME BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAVE HORMONES YOU DON'T EVEN GAIN WEIGHT. iT LASTS 10 YEARS, i HAVE 6 YEARS WITH IT AND i'M REALLY HAPPY.

Hi M.,

I was in the same situation for a while. I hated to take the pill. I tried the Copper IUD, that just made me feel miserable. I had cramping all the time, and heavy periods, when normally I wouldn't. Then I heard of Mirena, it is a IUD that is great, you feel a little cramping the first month ( body gets used to it) then some spotting for 2-3 months. After that it is like nothing is there. And you dont have to worry about anything. You are protected. The thing I love the most is that you don't have to worry about that you will get pregnant. Mirena also makes your period shorter and lighter as time goes on,(at about 3-6 months of having it). i really recommend that you look into it. It is not that pricey either, compared to the pill in a year. Mirena is about $300+. www.mirena-us.com.

Good luck in your search.

D. Pace

I can't do hormones...depo made me go a little crazy (and once they've shot you, you can't stop it). I've had good success with the IUD, except long, sometimes crampy periods. They make an even better one now. I have a 10-year model that is about to expire in a few years. My doctor just told me about a new 5-year IUD that is a big improvement over the one I have (normal periods).