The Pill No Longer Working?

You might try the copper IUD paragard. It is hormone free. Please be aware though, that the pill and any IUD or any other hormonal method allow conception to take place, and prevent a fertilized egg from implanting. If that is a concern for you, you should look into barrier methods such as the diaphragm or cervical cap used with a spermicide. Or else talk hubby into a vasectomy.

Like Carrie S and Kristine C I recommend the uterine ablasion. I had one done in Dec. in the dr. office. It's supposed to stop periods all together but so far I have a very light one, much better than before.

Get off the pill. You have a hormone imbalance and need to take a break. You could do the natural family planning for a while or try an IUD hormone free of coarse. Do your own dilegence in researching estrogen dominance. Lots of info on the internet

Have you ever thought about using another birth control method. I had a IUD and loved it. For a few months I spotted on and off then no more periods.

I've had problems with the pill the last 3 years, and so I now have an IUD. I use the Paraguard (hormone-free), and it will last up to 10 years. My body is adjusting really well to it.

I can't answer the pill question for you because I cannot take hormone's due to a tumor in my liver. However, after I had my twins I bleed heavy for 14 months straight! I was week and was very tired of bleeding. The MD doctors couldn't help me. I talked to my Chiropractor who also does herbal medicines about my issue and he gave me 2 pills one that heals my uterus and the other that heals my ovaries...and you know for the first time in 14 months I quit bleeding! My periods became normal, like I had before I had kids...3 days a week, light-heavy-spotting, no pain...

About the Vasectomy. You need to play that one up if you can. My husband was a little scared about it, and when I told him all the things we could do and not worry about getting pregnant, he was sold. And also how much of a less invasive, not so risky procedure it is compared to anything a woman has to go through. If your husband is adventurous then talk to him about all the places you could go together and then if you were in the moment you wouldn't have to worry about it, it could just happen.

Hi M., I am not sure on the effectiveness of the pill but I did want to say that there is a no needle vasectomy procedure that he may be able to endure if willing. I had my tubes tied so I don't have to worry about it but my DH refused to go in... The vasectomy has a better chance of being reversed.. I am not sure I helped you at all, but good luck!

During my last c-section I had a tubal ligation AND my husband had a vasectomy. Maybe overkill, but after in-vitro with the resulting twins and then a little surprise (shocker) of a daughter 18 mos later (after being told we couldn't have children on our own) we felt we needed extra protection! My hubby recovered very quickly with his manhood intact. Thankfully I never have to deal with birth control again - good luck to you - tell the hubby to get the snip!

Get the Mirena! It's FABULOUS!

Most men do have a fear of a vasectomy and that is totally normal but having a vasectomy is so much easier on a man than it is for a woman to get her tubes tied. With a vasectomy the guy only feels mild pain for a day and a half and the procedure only takes like 30 minutes. For women, recovering from tubes tied, I have heard from sisters, is worse than after giving birth and it takes a week or so of recovery. You should have your husband go talk to your family doctor about a vasectomy. They aren't used to being looked at "down there" so it sounds really scary and embarassing but so easy for them. My husband and my brother in-law got theirs the same week and it was NOTHING. Also, a vasectomy is done in the doctors office and getting your tubes tied requires a hospital. I'm not a good person to tell you about birth control pills because they gave me migraines everyday even on the low dose ones and the Mirena gave me horrible lower back pain so sorry that I can't help you there but I am a firm believer in the vasectomy because women go through the whole birthing experience and pain so men can definately go through "a little" bit of pain for a vasectomy. Good luck!!

Hi! I didn't read the other responses because there were so many, but thought I'd toss in a couple things. 1st, if you're definitely done (and it sounds like you are) a vasectomy is the best! I can understand his hesitation- who would be thrilled with this procedure? But my husband had it done and it was not bad at all... and very well worth it! I think most men are a little more open if they talk to some other guys who've had it done. That alleviated a lot of anxiety for my husband. And he also got his hands on some literature that sited a study showing most men have an increased enjoyment of sex after, probably due to the anxiety of possible pregnancy being removed. However, if he is still not willing, we tried lambskin condoms instead of laytex. We used them for several years. The upside is they feel WAY better and you don't have to deal with laytex allergies/sensitivities. The downside is that they are considerably more expensive (well worth it to us!) and very slightly less effective than laytex condoms. They also don't protect against STD's for couples with this issue. We used them alone for several years and were hands down our favorite method, 2nd only to the vasectomy! Good luck with whatever choice you make!

I've had great luck with an IUC Mirena. I was scared about it at first, but with a new baby it has been great not having to remember to take the pill every day.

OK, so all guys are hesitant to get "the snip". My husband was. Fortunatly (for him) I needed a hysterectomy. My advice is to get a different doctor. It seems to me that if you are having this problem over and over, something isnt right, and your doctor isnt interested in finding the root of the problem, rather than just throwing different contraceptives at you. I was having severe problems, but my doctor wasnt interested in finding the real problem. I had to find a different doctor before my problems were adressed. I dont know if you live in Colorado Springs, but if you do, I can reccommend my doctor to you. Another thing to think about is that you may be mildly allergic to latex...I am, but I can wear gloves and stuff, but bandaids and condoms bothered me. They do sell latex free condoms that you could try, but they are more expensive (of course). I am not a fan of IUD's but the Mirena IUD may be what is right for you. I would also sit down with your husband and have a serious talk about him getting a vasectomy. It is quick and now can be done as an outpatient surgery where he is back home in an hour. There is only pain for a few days, and you both will be much happier, and in reality it will solve a lot of problems. Maybe he just doesnt know how important it is to you that something needs to change. Believe me, I know how torturous abnormal bleeding can be! Good luck!

Hi M.,

I know you have had a lot of advice already, but this might be new (sorry this is so long). You might want to see an endocrinologist to see if there is a hormonal imbalance. When I was trying to get pregnant the second time, I just kept having a period every two weeks. As it turned out, I was not ovulating, so I was missing one of the hormones (can't remember which one). The endocrinologist really helped to get my hormones in tune.

Now that I am done having kids and my husband can't get a vasectomy (on blood thinners), I decided on Mirena. Since November 2007, I have had no periods, just three times where I spotted very little. I still have a great libido and no worries about remembering to get pills or take pills. While it is on the expensive side, I would definitely talk to both doctors about it. Just be sure it gets fitted properly and that you are comfortable checking for it periodically. Good luck!

If you don't want any more kids and you are having so much problems with the bills. Why won't your husband get the vasectomy? It's so much better than what we have to do thru. I talked my husband into it real easy. He saw what I had to go thru with both of mine. With my second she was an emergency c-section and if we had known 1 month prior the insurance would of fixed me up, but he didn't want to see me go thru that again and he volunteered. It wasn't as difficult for him as it was for me. He did it on a Friday, but a bag of frozed pees on it, had me baby him for a few days and boom he was back at work on Monday.

I, too, have too many periods. My doctor first did a D and C to clean out all of the extra blood and then put me on Depo Provera. If you don't know, it's the shot that you get every 3 months. I LOVED it. I was on it for 3 years and then went off to get pregnant. The first 2 days post shot brought some nausea with it (like when you forget your pill and have to take 2), but went away. I had some spotting intermittently, but no heavy bleeding. I also had a problem with "personal dryness," but that was easily taken care of with some KY.
Good luck!

I noticed that one person recommended Depo, and I wanted to say that I had a horrible time on it. I'm also a mid-month spotter and was desperate to try something different, so I did one Depo shot. I spotted on and off for the entire 3 months and had NO sex drive. It was a very stressful time for me/us and I ended up just going back on a low-dose pill. Obviously you've had a lot of pro-vasectomy advice. That's the route my husband and I have decided we'll take when we're sure we're done having kids. Good luck. I know how stressful this can be.

My Doc suggested and we are seriously considering a procedure called Essure. It was explained by my Doc as a spring put around the tubes and it creates scar tissue and is removed. It is an inpatient procedure very safe and vertually no recovery time. Easier than "tubes tied" and unfortuately, easier than vasectamy. Ask your Doc about it or they have a websit too. Essure.com

If you are definitely done with having kids, sterilization is the best way to go. Either vasectomy for him or you get your "tubes tied". Sit down and talk to him. He may feel more comfortable going in for an outpatient, local anesthetic, less expensive procedure than sending you in for a general anesthtic surgery with probably at least a day in the hospital and all the expenses and risks with it. He may just need to see it that way.
He may also not be completely sure he doesn't want any more. He may feel his manhood is threatened if it means he can't father kids. These aren't necessarily conscious issues, but if he has them he needs to deal with them.

If you aren't ready for sterilization, ask your doctor about Mirena. It's only one hormone and most women have shorter lighter periods, and less often (and some don't even really have a period). It's good for 5 years but can be removed sooner. But make sure that your doctor knows about your difficulty with the pill and your concerns and he can help you make a good decision.

Since as you have said your periods return to normal when not on the pill, I would recommend staying off the pill. My husband and I have been using Natural Family Planning for the past seven years and have used it to both postpone and achieve pregnancy (2 times, both planned). NFP has an effectiveness rate similar to better than the pill. You also get the added benefit of not putting chemicals into your body. During each cycle, you monitor your body's fertility signs to determine when you are and are not fertile. Please check out www.ccli.org for more information and to find classes that work for you. I hope this helps you and good luck!

I would have your husband try to get used to the idea of getting snipped. It's an outpatient procedure and it's a lot better than you suffering through two periods a month. It does seem like your body cannot handle the pill.

Hi M..
The same thing started happening to me in my early thirties (I have no idea how old you are) and I was completely puzzled. The doctors always wanted to put me on the pill and I seemed to have the same situation with all of them. I recently met a lady at the gym and she told me about a doctor that specializes in the natural bio-identical hormones. I went to see him and get my hormones checked and I almost had no progesterone in my body. He told me that was why my periods were so crazy. I started taking the progesterone and thyroid medicine and I feel great. My daughter recently got her hormones checked and she is low on progesterone also. She is only 18 so it really has nothing to do with age. I chose to have the ablation done before I went to the hormone doctor because of my heavy bleeding. Maybe you should think about getting your tubes tied since you want no more children. That is something only you can decide, but I think I would do some research and find a hormone doctor in your area. I would give you the name of mine, but we are in different states. Good luck!!

I am allergic to latex - couldn't use condoms. I don't knwo if your insurance will cover it, but if hubby is completely against a vasectomy, ask your doc about a endometrial oblation. It's an outpatient, or maybe even in-office procedure. My sis had it, and there were no side effects, just no more periods.