What Birth Control Do You Use?

[Blancita]

What contraception do you use and do you have any side effects (e.g. weight gain)?

I've been using the Mirena IUD, which contains a synthetic hormone, for the past year and a half but have recently read countless stories on the web about weight gain and a pregnant looking belly as a common side effect. That would be me! So I had it removed 2 weeks ago in the hopes that my metabolism will once again work the way it used to.

That leaves me trying to figure out what contraception to replace it with. I dont like the idea of adding synthetic hormones to my body as our hormonal systems are so key to how we function, and messing with nature in that way bothers me. The hormones they use in contraception are all synthetic. For example, they make progestin (NOT progesterone) out of horse urine and I think the estrogen pills stop ovulation. These compounds are not identical to our own hormone structure, and I hate to mess with nature in that way.

I was planning on getting the copper IUD, but I've just read a bunch of stories about the weight gain around the middle from that too. I also discovered it works by creating an allergic type reaction in the uterus, from the copper, which causes inflammation and secretions because of the foreign object which have the effect of killing sperm. That also worried me.

I hate the idea of anything fake or foreign changing my natural system. For years I used condoms and then I wanted to get pregnant for a while so I've really never faced this issue before.

I'm thinking about trying this device I just discovered on the net which enables you to track your fertile days by a temperature reading taken by the device.



HELP!

 

[maleficent]

I'm thinking about trying this device I just discovered on the net which enables you to track your fertile days by a temperature reading taken by the device.

Taking the temperature was the only method of birth control approved by the catholic church... I believe it's also referred to as PRAYER (please dear god don't let me be pregnant again, we can't afford the 14 children we already have

Vasectomies are non-invasive.. and if done propery very effective and recovery time is pretty much the time it takes a bag of frozen peas to defrost

 

[Kdel]

Taking the temperature was the only method of birth control approved by the catholic church... I believe it's also referred to as PRAYER (please dear god don't let me be pregnant again, we can't afford the 14 children we already have

Vasectomies are non-invasive.. and if done propery very effective and recovery time is pretty much the time it takes a bag of frozen peas to defrost

OMG!!!! So Funny!!!

 

[busy91]

Mal you are funny!

Well I use that other well know Catholic form of Birth Control, Abstinence.

HOWEVER

I tried the pill twice. The first time I started to lose my hair, the second time I bled for a whole month straight. So if I was to 'engage' again, I'll use condoms (male).

 

[James2]

condoms (male)

Bleugh

Also, the female ring thingy is not great for the guy, either. Feels like you're knocking around important stuff on the inside that you shouldn't be.

 

[allyphoe]

this device I just discovered on the net which enables you to track your fertile days by a temperature reading taken by the device.

That would be a $10 digital thermometer and a piece of paper.

I tracked temps to get pregnant - when you only get one try a month (and frozen sperm only lives about 12 hours), you need good timing.

My understanding is that BBT/CM tracking (which is not the same as the "rhythm method," which I agree is about as good as praying not to get pregnant) is much more effective for getting pregnant than for avoiding pregnancy.

If you've got a decent library near you, check out the book "Taking Charge of Your Fertility," which is like the bible for that sort of thing.

 

[somegirl49]

Birth Control

I've been on Yasmin for about 10 months and I highly recommend it. I have had no side effects, such as weight gain. Even when I first started taking it, I had no side effects. I don't know if you are against taking an pill every day, but it's easy and you can keep it in your wllet or purse.

 

[Cowgirl]

I've been on Yasmin for about 10 months and I highly recommend it. I have had no side effects, such as weight gain. Even when I first started taking it, I had no side effects. I don't know if you are against taking an pill every day, but it's easy and you can keep it in your wllet or purse.

Yasmin user here. No side effects, no nothing. But being a long time user, I always worry about the future side effects if there are any.

Side note: A doctor once told me that gaining weight is not from the pill itself, its from being more happier in life and thus we eat more. Sex = happiness. Ha.. that's what he said but I always keep that in mind even if it's true or not.

 

[[Focus]1]

I always worry about the future side effects if there are any.

The biological byproducts of hormonal birth control are making their way into our water supply, and pretty soon we're all gonna die. I'm already thinking about how I'd look in maybe a nice floral summer dress.

Also, one more vote for Yasmin.

 

[somethingnew987]

I tried jumping on the Yasmin bandwagon, but it didn't get along with my body very well. My periods would end up lasting around 10 days (instead of the 4!) and the last month I used it I actually bled for a month. So, I switched back to Necon, which I think is a generic brand, but it works great for me (especially for pms and cramping!).

I also worry about the long term effects of birth control. I have been on it since I was 12 because it helps tremendously with the intensity of my cramps. Being 20 now, I have been on it for more than 8 years.....I guess I better start having babies soon so I can take a break from this stuff

 

[Blancita]

That would be a $10 digital thermometer and a piece of paper.

I tracked temps to get pregnant - when you only get one try a month (and frozen sperm only lives about 12 hours), you need good timing.

My understanding is that BBT/CM tracking (which is not the same as the "rhythm method," which I agree is about as good as praying not to get pregnant) is much more effective for getting pregnant than for avoiding pregnancy.

If you've got a decent library near you, check out the book "Taking Charge of Your Fertility," which is like the bible for that sort of thing.

LOL, I realize I could probably do this with a thermometer and a calendar, but I'm not that disciplined a person and need something to help me with that. I wouldn't remember to take the pill everyday, and I'm worried I'll forget this too, but I'm running out of alternatives and thinking of trying it. Here's what it says about this "device" on their website:

Lady-Comp & Pearly - For Birth Control


*Removes the uncertainty and risk associated with learning to use a method of natural contraception.

*99.3% effective in identifying infertile days accurately. The rate of error is only 0.7%, as effective as the pill based on method effectiveness.
*Requires no subjective interpretation.

*Only takes an average of 30 seconds per day.

* Provides protection if you miss a temperature reading on a day.

*Verifies and checks for accuracy of the temperature as it is being taken (which must be taken from bed in the morning before you've moved around).

*Stores and evaluates all data for you, no charting required.

*Easy to use and flexible, can be used at home or while traveling.

*No additional costs or supplies required.

If I couldn't afford this I'd try the temperature and charting but this seems easier for me. Still worrying that H will somehow screw this up for me though as he wants another baby!

 

[Blancita]

The biological byproducts of hormonal birth control are making their way into our water supply, and pretty soon we're all gonna die. I'm already thinking about how I'd look in maybe a nice floral summer dress.

Also, one more vote for Yasmin.

Okie dokie! LOL Fooling with nature's most powerful drivers of human beings, our hormonal systems, by injecting synthetic man made hormones to significantly alter our systems (such as stopping ovulation and menstruation), shouldn't be taken lightly. You hear countless stories of mood changes, loss of libido, loss of fertility (esp. when the pill is started at a young age), weight gain and a million other side effects that are real for many people. On the other hand its probably irritating to hear about it as we have such limited options in preventing pregnancy. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

I guess I was hoping for some natural answer to this BC problem but I guess I already know there really isn't one, aside from abstinence during our few fertile days of the month. It can be so annoying being a female sometimes! LOL

If anyone's tried the copper IUD, let me know how its been.

 

[allyphoe]

I was hoping for some natural answer to this BC problem but I guess I already know there really isn't one

Barrier methods still work. Condoms, diaphragm, cervical cap. You have to be fitted for the second two, though, and IIRC, they work better if your anatomy is typically shaped and oriented.

I've had two friends get pregnant with 5 days between sex and ovulation. They were trying, so that worked fine for them, but 5 days before ovulation would normally be considered "safe" - and if it isn't, you've got quite a few abstinence days in there.

 

[Blancita]

This method, once the computer establishes your rythm, requires you to be abstinent or use barrier methods for 6 days as it includes the 5 days prior. I'm still unsure about this though.

 

[Voose Lagina]

I've been on the depo provera injection since i gave birth, so i've been on it for nearly a year now, and i have to have an injection every 3 months. I was on injection that you have to have every 5 months up until November, when i was diagnosed with epilepsy, so i was told to swap to the 3 month one. It's supposed to make you gain weight which i was worried about, but the only weight i gained was my own fault lol.

 

[maleficent]

Depo has a lot of serious side effects - far worse than weight gain - in some people.. (not all but enough that it's gotten a lot of negative publicity) many of htose side effects are decreased libido (which increases it's effectiveness I suppose) as well as wild mood swings... if a person has any predisposition towards depression or anxiety issues -the dep can really bring those to the forefront...

 

[allyphoe]

This method, once the computer establishes your rythm, requires you to be abstinent or use barrier methods for 6 days as it includes the 5 days prior. I'm still unsure about this though.

If you don't have clockwork cycles, IMHO you're taking a big risk. The "you've historically ovulated on CD15, so we'll assume you're not going to ovulate before CD15" method only works if your cycle never changes.

Part of the problem is that the hormonal trigger for ovulation (LH surge) happens 36 hours before you ovulate, and 36 hours isn't enough abstinence. And basal body temperature only tells you when ovulation has occurred, not when it's going to occur - so if all you're using is temps, you're using past performance as a predictor of future results, which may work for some people (I'm not one of them). Checking cervical mucus (which requires virtually no effort) if a much better predictor, but it's going to give you a much longer abstinent period (up to 2 weeks out of a typical cycle). It also works pretty well for women who have long / irregular cycles. But some people think the idea is icky.

 

[somethingnew987]

Aren't they coming out with male birth control soon?

 

[Voose Lagina]

Depo has a lot of serious side effects - far worse than weight gain - in some people.. (not all but enough that it's gotten a lot of negative publicity) many of htose side effects are decreased libido (which increases it's effectiveness I suppose) as well as wild mood swings... if a person has any predisposition towards depression or anxiety issues -the dep can really bring those to the forefront...

Hmm that would explain a lot. I keep thinking i'm bipolar, sometimes i'm hyper, and it takes one unhappy thought to send me in to a really bad mood. I've been on anti-depressants since i was about 13 years old, but i was taken off them when i got diagnosed with epilepsy, so i was also told that my mood swings are caused by epilepsy, i get blind rages which is apparently a form of seizure. I guess the 2 together don't mix very well lol.

 

[Cowgirl]

I heard the depo shot caused bone density to decrease if you use it for over three years>?