Category: Health and Wellness
As the title states, I want some opinions on the methods people are using/did use. I was on the Pill, and it didn't work, hence the surprise of my son (Smile). What methods do you like? What worked best for you? What did you like or dislike about the methods you've tried? I'm going to try the Ring this time, and maybe I can get some feedback on that as well. Your input is very much appreciated, and if you are uncomfortable answering, by all means, don't answer, and please don't comment just to tell me it's none of my business. Thanks.
- Brandi
Just a thought. I know allot of people are successful with the ring, but I tried it and I got a nasty infection, and I also found a site recently where women are suing them for the fact that people are dying from using it. Have ypu pssibally conciddered getting an IUD? I know there is a whormonal one that lasts like four years. There's the copper one also that lasts 10 years, but you can have it taken out when ever you decide you want to be fertile again. That's why I'm getting as soon as i have the money is the copper one. Right now it's just the rythem method only have sex when I know I'm not ovulating.. pretty much when on the period and using the poll ut method. Yes I know risky.
I'm on the pill for medical reasons (but started taking it in the first place for contraception; the other benefits were more of a secondary reason for me). I'm not in a relationship at the moment, but when I was, the pill never let me down. Also, it allows me to act more like a human (I went off it unintentionally recently, and... It was not fun.) Doctors tend to start people on the lowest amount of hormones possible (hence all these [insert name of pill]-lows that are on the market now). Most oral contraception failures are because of incorrect hormone level or incorrect usage (skipping too many pills, not taking them at regular times, Etc.).
IUD's are a good option. One drawback is that the insertion procedure is invasive and can be incredibly painful and can cause quite heavy bleeding. (Also, I am apparently the product of a failed IUD... Nice to know...)
The ring never appealed to me. I've heard of many people getting infections from it, and have also heard from many that it's just plain uncomfortable. This is all hearsay, mind you, and I have no personal experience.
I would use condoms for safe sex purposes, but not for contraceptive purposes. I find them very irritating.
I have been told that the IUD has changed over the years and it has a better design and is even more affective than the pill now. not sure on that, but interesting Amanda. One person I talked to said their bleeding level went down, but I've heard the opposite too.
Yeah, they have improved in overall effectiveness, but the insertion process is still stupidly painful. You just have to weigh the costs and benefits (lots of pain for ten years of no babies, Etc.)
I want to have my children around 3 years apart, so I don't want an IUD that lasts for 10 years, regardless of the fact that you can take it out. I've heard the Numarina (the shorter-lasting Iud), is nice, but my insurance won't cover it. I've also heard bad things about Iud's period, (They cause more tubal pregnancies because they allowed a sperm through, but the embryo couldn't get down in to the uterus from the falopian tube, miscarriages, and heapier periods). I've never heard of infections with the Ring, but I'll be careful with it, and if I notice anything, I'll stop. What site did you go to, by the way for information on the Ring? I wanna look it up.
there's also the patch which has worked quite well for a couple of friends of mine.
There's also keeping your legs closed garanteed to work, unless you do strange things with turkey basters.
My method of choice is a diaphragm. Put it in when needed, leave it for 6 hours after, remove and forget it until the next time. No unnecessary artificial hormones in your system, no invasive procedures, as with an IUD. Old-fashioned, but I think it's great. Just be sure to get fitted again if you gain or lose a significant amount of weight.
Damia, you may want to research NFP - natural family planning, or FAM - fertility awareness (which is *not* the useless rhythm method! Don't count on that to work.)
i have the ten year i u d. and i didn't think the procedure of inserting it wa all that bad. It wasn't any worse than the cramps you get while on your period. I chose this method. because as many of you know my blindness is a result of the birth control pill. It caused a blood clot on my brain. so i can't have any hormones at all. The iud has worked awesome for me. i've had it for the past three years or so. I don't even notice it's there. and neither does my husband as a lot of people ask. hehehe I would recommend the i u d!
shea
I'd love to get the IUD, but my OBGYN doesn't insert them anymore, and I don't want any random Joe doing it. I heard Planned Parenthood does it for free, but I didn't have a good experience with them, so no thanks. My OBGYN gave me a prescription for the Nuvaring, so ... we'll see how it works for me. I haven't started it yet, as my baby's still nursing, and the doc said she can't be breastfeeding when I start using the stupid thing. So, I'm trying to slowly but quickly wean her off. Hahahaha. Does that make sense?
Anyway, yeah. The IUD (the five year one anyway) sounds awesome, but my doctor won't put it in and my insurance doesn't pay for it, either. Darn it. I was willing to pay for it out of pocket, but never mind.
-- Allie
I can't do hormones either. I was on the pill for 5 years before I knew that hormones were bad for my disease. They cause the tumors to grow so no more hormones for me. I thought about the mirena iud but it's projesteran so still hormones. So I got the Copper one even though they say it's more painful periods and so on. I got it put in November and wanna know the funny part? December was extremely light period. January was even lighter, february jsut some spotting, march nothing, and then again spotting for liek 2 days this month. So no the periods aren't worse and all that. And getting it put in didn't hurt at all. Just a pinch and then a slight cramp when it got in place and then its over. I totally recommend this IUD.
In the limited research I've done on the Mirena, I've read that you need to already have had a child for it to be inserted. First question: is this true, or is this dependent upon your doctor? Second question: is the same true of the copper IUD?
I have to stick with the pill for now as my ovaries don't produce the correct levels of hormones, which causes my whole body to be incredibly out of whack if I'm not on the pill. I'm well aware of the nasty possible side effects (whoa, Shea, I was not aware that that's what caused your blindness), but for me, at least, it's much, much worse to be without the synthetic hormones. Stupid non-working body.;)
Heard that about IUD'S too. I heard that about the Copper one, but I don't know about the Marena one.
My mom works at an OBGYN processing insurance claims and she says that lots of the claims have been due to infections stemming from the ring. i'm on seasonique (four periods a year) and it works wonderfully for me. I'm the type that faints, pukes and other such fun side effects when I get a period so the distance between cycles really helps my body recover well.
What is Seasonique?
It's a hormonal birth control taken aurally. You're only supposed to get your periods every three months with it.
Isn't that the chewable one? If I ever get back on the Pill, I want the chewable one. Swallowing pills makes me gag. Well, now I'm really scared about the Ring. Makes me almost wanna not use it... Guess I'll try it and see how it works for me.
Isn't that the chewable one? If I ever get back on the Pill, I want the chewable one. Swallowing pills makes me gag. Well, now I'm really scared about the Ring. Makes me almost wanna not use it... Guess I'll try it and see how it works for me.
got this from noovaringsettlement.com... through google not sure if it's spelled that way.
NuvaRing Contraceptive Device Linked to Blood Clots
NuvaRing, a low-estrogen contraceptive device approved by the FDA in October 2001, has been linked to blood clots (venous thromboembolic events) in women.
NuvaRing is a flexible, soft, two-inch vaginal ring that is worn for three weeks and removed for one week. It combines ethinyl etradiol (the estrogen hormone
component) and etonogestrel (the progestin hormone component). Over a three week period the device releases 15 mcg ethinyl estradiol and 120 mcg etonogestrel
per day.
In December 2007, the safety of NuvaRing was discussed at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH). An abstract from the ASH meeting
(Blood, ASH Annual Meeting Abstracts, 2007 110: Abstract 3994) on the safety of NuvaRing highlighted three cases of women who developed complications including
blood clots while using NuvaRing. It also included ten other women with serious side effects while using NuvaRing.
Earlier last year, the health research group Public Citizen petitioned the FDA to ban all third generation oral contraceptives that contain desogestrel
due to increased risk of venous thrombosis (blood clots). Based on evidence from several epidemiological studies, Public Citizen concluded that third generation
oral contraceptives double the risk of blood clots in women as compared to second generation contraceptives. Though not an oral contraceptive, NuvaRing
contains a high dose of etonogestrel, a biologically active metabolite of the dangerous third generation progestin desogestrel.
Side Effects Associated with NuvaRing
Side effects
and complications associated with the use of third generation contraceptives containing desogestrel may include:
list of 6 items
• Blood Clots
• Strokes
• Heart Attacks
• Myocardial Infarction
• Pulmonary Embolism
• Death
list end
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Now I'm scared. Great. Guess I'll talk to my doctor and see what she thinks
Ok, I found the quote interesting. Thanks Damia for posting it. However, I have 1 point, and a couple of questions. I would like to know how well informed these paople are, and how much of a scare tactic they're trying to use. For example, the side effects list. Myocardial Infarction is just the medical term for a heart attack, so why have they put both? Is it because MI sounds much more serious than your common or garden heart attack, and thus,much more scary? Or is it that they don't know that one is synonymous with the other?
Secondly, i'd like to know the sample size of the studies that were done. If they only used 6 women, and 3 got blood clots, then the sample size is too small, but the results are significant. However, if, out of a sample of 10000, only three clotted,it puts a whole different perspective on it, doesn't it?
And thirdly, what is the difference between a 2nd and a 3rd generation contraceptive?
Cheers
FM
Well, q far I've had the Nuva Ring in for a week. It is working as far as I can tell. It hasn't fallen out or caused any infection or bad side affects. So far, I'm pleased with it.
I never had it fall out or anything it was the second ring I had in when i started having trouble, but my body in general doesn't like fake whormoans.
Anyone ever heard of the chewable birth control pill? Is it both progesterone and estrogen? Or, progesterone only? Do you get a normal monthly period?
i personally don't like the sound of the pill. i know a friend who has been on it for a while and she gets cramps in the month as well as on her period. also i woouldn't like the way it will upset my periods when i had to come off it. the thought of the ring or any otherthing like that just makes me want to cross my legs! lol i know i'm silly but there we have it, its not coz i'm a prude its just coz i don't think that would be my ideal way of contreseption. i like the suggestion of a diaphram though because its something i could do myself so there for i'd be able to control when it was active. i would never recomend the depo injection as my sister has been on it and she lost so much weight and it made her really moody and tearful. i know you're supposed to gain weight but she didn't. i guess what i'm saying is, when the time comes, if it comes, i'll either be using the diaphram or letting my husband sort the contreception. lol, i suppose that's not everyone's opinion, but its what i think i'd be comfortable with. i know some women are ellergic to condoms but if i am then we'll think of an alternative lol like have a baby? joking lol.
The Ring is actually similar to a diaphram. It's a silicone-like ring with hormones in it. The difference between the Ring and the diaphram is, you put The Ring in your vagina for three weeks instead of just when you have intercourse. You can take The Ring out just before you have sex if it's uncomfortable for you or your partner. You just have to make sure it goes back in after two hours. That's it.
ah i didn't know it was that simple. i can see i should do more research lol. thanks for that information!
I was on the pill for many years, mostly for medical reasons, but never got pregnant on it, either. I just made sure to take it regularly. Every day, and at nearly the same time every day. My periods were regular as clockwork, and not painful. I even noticed I had less mood swings. However, I'm now on a medicine that doesn't work well with the pill, so I stopped taking it. Now my periods hurt more, I have more mood swings before and during, and they're back to being irregular! Aarrgghh! My doctor is recommending the Mirena, but I don't like the sound of it. And she said the rumor about you needing to have had a child already before getting the Mirena is false. Thing is, she's only recommending the Mirena to regulate, or even stop, my periods. I had my tubes tied, which is a whole other story, so I can't have kids now anyway.
Well I thought I'd post here. I did try the patch... Worked for me. You put it on every week, and it gives you the right ammount of hormones. Now I have a different method I did. I have had the procedure of having microinserts inserted into the overies. it[s a prevention method of kids permanently. Was very happy with the decision... Hope this helps you all about the patch.
I thought you had to have kids to get your tubes tied? Maybe I'm wrong. Do you have to be a certain age to get them tied? After my baby is born, I want to tie my tubes. I don't want anymore babies. I can't handle any more than two. I was also considering a VBAC, and in that case I would have to wait a few months to get them tied. My husband and I are discussing a vasectomy instead. So, either way, after this baby, somebody's getting their baby-making machinery disconnected.
I tried the patch and that seemed to work for me, as the pill did not The only thing I hated was changing it once a week because it hurts to peel it off when it's been stuck to your body all week long, and I'd defnitely recommend doing that under water, as that helps it to come undone.
it's very well possible that the potency of the pill wor off and your body became useto the hormones. That's very wrar to happen but it does, Have u consider the shot, u go in every three months for a shot the shot,Depovara excuse my spelling, it enables u to have 4 periods a year. I believe for the first few months u do experience some spotting but over time your body gets use to it.
Allso there's another contriseptive out there called Meraina, it's an IUC placed by your docter and prevent pregnancy for five years, u get lighter periods with this one. If u have an in there that IUD needs to be taken out for the I U C to be placed in.
Meraina has a website I believe it is simplymeraina.com
try googling Meraina first, theese to have a high success rating two of my friends have used either the shot or the I U C check out the Nuva Ring first i'm sure u no about that one. well goot luck with your search of a well suitable contreseptive for yourself.
oh and something else I forgot to mention there is herbal emergency contriseptive, after having unprotected sex in order for it to work u have to take it as soon as possible
it's called Rutin it's made in to capsles the prefered dosage is 500 milagrams a day for about three days or more, if your going to go this rout, do a lot of research just because it's herbal doesn't necesarily mean it's safer because anything being over used can be harmful. Rutin is suppose to stimplate the adrenal glands activity witch makes it harder for an egg to stick the the wall. It decreases blood flow to those tissues that support egg implantation. Check out just google Rutin or sellers of Rutin an there's a website that have lots of info about herbal contreseptives and how they work. REmember side affects are different with each personal with synthetic hormones, so don't get to alarmed sometimes u just have to jump in with as mutch info as u can gather. all I read something about lemon juice being used as a form of spermaside,. not sure if that's true or not all so pepper can all so Kiane pepper be used as a contreseptive unfortunately I don't no how it works but check it out. all so Pennyronal, Dong Quie, and Mugwort r plant the can be made in to teas, figuring out the dosages u might want to consalt a knoligeable herbologist. check it out the facts on theese herbs and decide for yourself.
my sister almost died with an iud. I have used the ring no first of all you are supposed to have it come open so ya can have sex, how the hell ya get that fucker in like that. the patch has been linked to death, go for the shot but take a water pill and eat healthy. that way ya just get it every three months. also condoms are a good protection method. shot and condoms thats my plan.
Hi, all. I just started looking at this thread again.
Brandi, no there are no specific rules on criteria for having your tubes tied. It's between you and your OB/GYN. In this case, I got mine tied because of the fear of passing cancer on to any child I'd have. I'm a carrier for the cancer that blinded me, and have a 50/50 shot of passing it on to a baby. I don't fear raising a blind child: who better to raise a blind child than a blind parent? But I do fear cancer. I've known families that have lost children to the same cancer I had, and I don't care to take that risk, or to watch my child go through cancer treatments, knowing I could have prevented it. If, someday, I decide I want kids, I will adopt.
Anyway, I talked all that out with my doctor, and she agreed with my reasons, and told me she could tell I had thought them out quite thoroughly and wasn't just making a snap decision. So that's why she did it, even with me being as young as I am and never having had children.
Jenny, I'm glad the shot works for you. I was on that years ago, and it messed me up something fierce. Mood swings like you wouldn't believe, and that's an understatement. It was almost as if I could feel my body rebelling at not being allowed to do what it's supposed to, not being allowed to have it's monthly cycles. That shot stops your period altogether, which sounds great on the surface, but didn't work for me at all.
Can't I just rip the uteris out while I'm fingering a girl?
Jared. If a girl is going to have you around in your zoner form... that's birth control for anyone. *smerk
Yeah, really. Anyway...
Alicia I commend you for making such a wise and yet major decision to not have children. Sorry if it seemed like I was prying, I was just curious about the limitations of tubal ligations. I've heard so many crazy rumors. It takes a very strong person to make a decision like the one you had to make. I have to say that if I were in your position, I too would choose to not bear children. Like you, I could deal with a blind child, but I could not have a child knowing there was such a huge possibility of that child developing a terminal illness. Again, I commend you and wish you the best in all you do.
Jenni, that is so scary what happened to your sister. I refuse to get an IUD or even an IUC. I have heard that those things have actually wound up inside of a fetus' head! That alone freaks me out, as I can very well see how it is possible. IUD's don't always prevent a pregnancy. Therefore, if an egg is fertilized and implants itself in the uterus, guess what else is sitting in the uterus with this fertilized egg? Yep, the IUD. Since the baby's head is the biggest and fastest growing part of the body during development, the IUD can find its way inside the head.
Brandi, I didn't feel like you were prying at all. I understand you having questions, and I'm not ashamed of the choice I made and what I had done. And, there's no way I would get an IUD, either.
Oh, ok. I'm glad I didn't offend you. Smiles.
wow I didn't no it was possible to still have your period after having your tubes tied how it that possible, this whole timed i thought if someone made that decision someone would face menapauz or something.
No no. The only thing the tubes being tied prevents is the egg actually getting to the uterus, or for that matter, the sperm reaching the egg to fertilize it. Your body has no way to know that the egg won't get fertilized, or ever reach the uterus. So, every month, the uterine lining still thickens in preparation for that fertilized egg implanting. The body still has to slough off that uterine lining, thus, you still get your period.
A full hystorectomy, on the other hand, would definitely send a woman into menopause, as it removes everything, including the uterus.
I'm currently on the pill, but tried the nuva ring for a short while and didn't like it. It always seemed to migrate into the part of my vagina where I could feel it, and while I could feel it there, I couldn't think of anything else LOL. So back I went to the pill. I'm really scared to go off of the pill actually, as when I did, I gained some weight and was generally very messed up. I have thought about an IUD, but as I'm a menstrual cup user, I've always been worried about somehow expeling out the IUD along with my cup. That sounds like it would be a bitch to deal with. And, sister dawn, I too think it very strong of you to make the decision not to have kids. It was a mature decision, I think, and I hope you're happy with it. And of course there's always the possibility of adoption should you want kids, so it isn't as though you don't have options.
And shae, I had absolutely no idea that you went blind as a result of being on the pill: that's horrifying, and I can see why you'd hate the pill now!
Skyla, thanks for your compliments. Yes, I am happy with my choice. I've had a strange sense of peace ever since I made the decision and had it done. I still don't think I want kids, but if I change my mind, adoption is the way I'll go.