Which Birth Control Do You Recommend?

I have the Mirena. I got it around 10 weeks pp which is almost 2 years now. At first I did have minor cramping and I randomly spotted a day or so for a year but it was nothing more than some spots when I wiped. I have had no weight issues nor decrease in sex drive due to the Mirena. I rarely get a period and when I do it is light for one day and then maybe 1-2 days of spotting. I am soon getting it removed to try to child #2 but I would definitely consider getting it again.

I am in the same decision process right now. My doctor said I can get the Mirena which I think is the one with the hormnes or just a regular IUD without hormones. She said she would only recommend the homrones because of a history of cysts. And she said they are equally effective.

I have to have non-hormonal BC (for several reasons). What I use and love is the Paraguard (copper) IUD. 8 years now and sooooo love it. No hormones, no hormone related problems. The only downside is that your period goes back to "normal" (meaning longer for most people), and your first 1-3 periods on it are SUPER crampy. Hello midol! (my ob said I could get an Rx muscle relaxer if it got too bad, since she did with hers for her first 2 periods), but I was fine with midol.

The benefits of the paraguard over any hormonal BC are as follows:
- It works *immediately*, that hour, that day... until you have it removed.
- It's not affected by antibiotics
- It doesn't come along with any hormone related side effects (mood, weight gain, water retention, etc.)
- It's more effective than getting your tubes tied.

i had my son Sept 2006 and choose to have the Mirena IUD put in June 2007. I actually LOVE IT!! I wanted something that was low maintenance, not permanant but i did not have to worry about anything for a few years. My sister had one put in a few months later. Every patient is different and i think that it is best to ask around (as you are) and talk with your doctor. My periods actually stopped but my sisters did not. I used to cramp very bad and now i have no worries. I have gained a few pounds over the last few years but i do not believe that it has anything to do with the IUD. My sister and a friend of our that has one has not gained wieght. I can not speak for them but my sex drive has not changed due to it. I know that there are different types of IUD's such as plastic or copper, hormone released or not, 5 years or 10 years. Definatly research to see what is best for you and your family and talk to your doctor. As for me, i love it and recommend it.

yeah i love the nuvaring. in fact, going for my postpartum check up today and going to get it lol. anyhow, i like being able to control how many periods i have...i don't have any problems with it...no weight gain, mood problems, acne, either (and usually i get acne bad!).

I have the Mirena and I love it Im on my second.
Only draw back I've found is that every few months I have BAD pms, Bloating, Nausea , headaches, moodiness, which happens to be this month. The only new symptoms I've had with the IUD is the nausea and the headaches everything else is pretty normal pms for me. I have no period which is great.
Didn't gain weight from it, sex drive is DEFINITELY not low.
Just having a baby makes your sex drive low so that may be where that statistic is coming from.
After my first I did the patch , it worked for me but not a friend of mine.

Remember that there is a natural bias that people have a tendency to write about things they are NOT happy with, and not write when they are happy with something, unless specifically asked like you have here. I asked my Ob about mirena and her patients' experiences, and she said most patients love it, she puts in a lot of them and rarely takes one out early because of side effects. It does happen, but if you read much online, it might sound like everyone is unhappy with it, and I don't believe that's true.

That in mind, I have mirena, I had it inserted at my 6wk postpartum appointment. Not only did I not gain weight, but I have lost all my baby weight in the 4 months I've had it in, no moodiness, and no change in sex drive (although that naturally takes a hit postpartum and with breastfeeding). I do have random spotting and they say that can happen for a while (6 months or even a little longer). But it's not enought to interferewith life at all (a pantyliner is enough to handle it). I like it because I don't have to remember to take anything, I'm nursing and it's compatible with breastfeeding, and I am looking forward to lighter periods (haven't had one yet b/c of breastfeeding, but I'm hoping).

I would say that if you've been on the pill in the past and it was ok for you, the hormones in mirena will be fine. If you've never handled hormones well, in the pill, etc, mirena probably isn't for you.

I have been happy with the nuva ring.

I have used Mirena and have had a pretty good experience with it. It's basically idiot-proof, which was nice for me. I always seem to forget to refill prescriptions until I desperately need them! I have had no issues with weight gain, but I'm sure that's a person by person issue. The selling point for me was that the Mirena could be inserted for up to 5 years. If you change your mind at any point, the doctor can take it out and your fertility should return just as it was before. But if you opt not to have a child, it's 5 years of not having to even think about it! Talk to your doctor, but I have had a good experience with it!

I haven't personally had it ...yet but did you check into the non-hormonal IUD? I think its called Paraguard.
I'm pretty much RIGHT where you are. I'm 38wks prego with my 2nd and am not sure if we want more after. I know that I don't like the way my body feels on hormonal BC & like you..condoms don't really "work" I honestly hate having to use them with my hubby. Seems weird haha

I know that when this baby is born I'm having the Paraguard put it. No hormones, still effective. and From what I've heard the only side effects are there is a chance your periods will be a little bit heavier than normal. And some cramping is expected for the first week or so as your body adjusts.

Also if you have it in for like 3 years then decide to have more kids, you can take it out and get pregnant pretty much right away.

A great question to ask and get some feedback from other moms! I had a tubal a year after our second child was born. I never regretted it and it made life so easy. (And they can be reversed.) I think its great you are taking time to consider all of the options available, and certainly use your doc as a resource. In the end though, it comes down to what feels right to you. It's a decision you want to be comfortable with. You'll put all the pieces together and come up with the best approach for you. (and your hubby)

Hi, Lauren:
Have you thought about a cervical cap?
Good luck. D.

I actually have the Mirena IUC. I haven't had any side effects like weight gain, moodiness, or low sex drive (actually, it's been quite the contrary on all those points.) I had it put in about 12 weeks after my second child was born. It was uncomfortable getting it put in and I did have some bleeding that day, but otherwise it has been great. I haven't had a period since I got pregnant with my second. After I stopped nursing, I did get some cramping and some breakthrough bleeding, and I do still get a little cramping, like I would've gotten leading up to my period, but that's been it. It really has been great. I would recommend it.

I forgot to mention that I've had it in for nearly two years.

The other option which is not hormonal is the paragard which is an iud which is not hormonal like the mirena. It does last for 10 years and your periods are little heavier and so are the cramps for the next few month. If you are not totally sure you want to be permanently fixed then this a good option. Good luck. The good thing is that unlike the birth control pill I think the paragard is effective right away. Check with your doctor

I love my NuvaRing, but if you're breastfeeding, you can't take it during bfing. I started mine right after I was done bfing. It dried me right up and I never lost my sex drive. The only side effect I've gotten is that I'm "drier" in my nether regions so we have to use lube.

Other than that (I'm prone to weight gain)... Nada. No weight gain, no extra moodiness, no loss of sex drive, no acne (also prone to that)... AND I only have to set my phone calender for a reminder once a month to remove and insert again! Now that it's been awhile that I've been on it... I basically only need the reminder to take it out.

I like the fact that I still have control of my birth control. With Mirena, a Dr has to insert it and (if appropriately inserted) needs to remove it for you. I prefer to have my own control.

Hello, I use the Mirena iud, I got it after our third baby, and it was uncomfortable(mostly for my husband), for the first 4-5 months, but since then we've adjusted or the iud has adjusted. Either way I've had it for about 2 years and havent' had any weight gain, infact my weight is better than it was before the baby! As for the sex drive, we haven't had a problem, other than being exhausted from the 3 kids. There is one downside for me though, the spotting. I still get my period for a long 7-8 days, but lighter, and there is still some spotting in between....but the convenience of not having to worry about another baby on the way definitely outweighs all this. Hope this helps, I guess the Mirena effects everyone differently.

I love love love love my IUD!! I've had mine in for almost 3 years. I had some severe bleeding at first for a couple of months and was tempted to get it taken out, but I'm so glad I didn't. When I do have a period, which is now only every few months, it is very light and only last a couple of days. I didn't gain any weight, I didn't get moody, and my sex drive definitely didn't decrease, if anything it increased because I knew I wouldn't get pregnant. My husband can't feel a thing, but I have heard some wifes say their husbands could. There was one time when I was getting very bad migranes and thought that it might have been from my IUD, I went in and got checked and my doctor couldn't find the string so they sent me in for an ultrasound, I was terrified it had came out some how and that I was pregnant, but it was right where it needed to be. After my 5 years are up I will definitely get another one.

I have the Mirena and I love it. I had it inserted about 3 months after I had my baby. You have to wait until your uterus is back to it's normal size. My doctor prefers to insert them when you're on your period, but I was nursing and never got my period, so she just went ahead and inserted it. I never had any problems weight gain or loss of sex drive. In fact, I think my sex drive is increased ;)
All of the side effects that you listed are possible with any hormonal birth control. So, you just kind of have to flip a coin and decide what will work best for you. Pills, Nuva Ring, IUDs are all easily stopped, so if it doesn't work, you can always try something else.
The only birth control I ever had a problem with was Depo. It made me bloated and just sick the whole 9 months I was on it.