Ladies, I need your opinions on birth control!

jackiecamarena

Didn't know in what other category to post this, so I figure it might as well go here!

The only experience I have had with birth control (besides condoms) is the Depo-Provera shot. Was on it for a year and just wound up a crazy, moody, weight-gaining mess. I have now been off of it for about two years and I am ready to try something new. After doing my research, I learned about the mini pill. Only one type of hormone rather than two and from what it seems, less side effects. But the kicker is that it's only 95% effective.

Is anyone currently taking this?
What are you on that is working for you?

LurveTheDoctor

Birth control is HORRIBLE for your body. Your best bet is to track your cycles..

If you insist on having birth control I suggest getting an IUD. They say they don't give them to people w/o kids, but they really do. My friend has one.

Clameater

The Pull Out has been shown to be over 99 percent effective

Amwhite1986

When I was on BC I liked Seasonale. Only four periods a year with that one.

amyschintler

Yeah, 99 % effective in pregnancy lol.

jackiecamarena

When I was on BC I liked Seasonale. Only four periods a year with that one.

I was looking into that. Seems convenient. Any bad reactions to it?

Achrya

I'm using the nexaplanon implant. I am A. Not Preggers and B. Feel fine.

So there's that.

primal_cupcakes

The Pull Out has been shown to be over 99 percent effective

Lies. Pull out is approximately as effective as condom use when used correctly. 27% of women will get pregnant in one year from using the pull-out method incorrectly. Most men don't have enough self-control to do it right.

firstsip

Birth control is HORRIBLE for your body. Your best bet is to track your cycles..

If you insist on having birth control I suggest getting an IUD. They say they don't give them to people w/o kids, but they really do. My friend has one.

False. Birth control can be a life saver for people with certain medical conditions. IUDs carry risks, too, and can't always properly treat some things that oral birth control does.

However, you'll get other people saying this to you, OP: BC is highly, HIGHLY specific to each person. Many people react differently to different birth control pills, because hormones are very "touchy" to each human being.

For instance, I was on Ortho-Tricyclen. Horrible. Now, I've been on Microgestin. No migraines, no ovarian cysts, no acne, regulated periods. Look it up, you'll find people who thought IT was horrible.

Depo is certainly a controversial BC for some pretty chronic negativity (though there's definitely people who swear by it). If it didn't work for you, talk with your gyno. They might suggest a low-dose pill, a progesterone only pill, etc. Unfortunately, if some form of birth control outside of condoms/abstinence/"properly done" coitus interruptus is necessary, you're just going to have to play around with it until you're happy.

BC is truly a case of "everybody's different™."

Achrya

Birth control is HORRIBLE for your body. Your best bet is to track your cycles..

If you insist on having birth control I suggest getting an IUD. They say they don't give them to people w/o kids, but they really do. My friend has one.

False. Birth control can be a life saver for people with certain medical conditions. IUDs carry risks, too, and can't always properly treat some things that oral birth control does.

However, you'll get other people saying this to you, OP: BC is highly, HIGHLY specific to each person. Many people react differently to different birth control pills, because hormones are very "touchy" to each human being.

For instance, I was on Ortho-Tricyclen. Horrible. Now, I've been on Microgestin. No migraines, no ovarian cysts, no acne, regulated periods. Look it up, you'll find people who thought IT was horrible.

Depo is certainly a controversial BC for some pretty chronic negativity (though there's definitely people who swear by it). If it didn't work for you, talk with your gyno. They might suggest a low-dose pill, a progesterone only pill, etc. Unfortunately, if some form of birth control outside of condoms/abstinence/"properly done" coitus interruptus is necessary, you're just going to have to play around with it until you're happy.

BC is truly a case of "everybody's different™."

Ortho-Tricyclen tanked my sex drive which, I suppose, makes it very effective?

bridgie101

Didn't know in what other category to post this, so I figure it might as well go here!

The only experience I have had with birth control (besides condoms) is the Depo-Provera shot. Was on it for a year and just wound up a crazy, moody, weight-gaining mess. I have now been off of it for about two years and I am ready to try something new. After doing my research, I learned about the mini pill. Only one type of hormone rather than two and from what it seems, less side effects. But the kicker is that it's only 95% effective.

Is anyone currently taking this?
What are you on that is working for you?

I'm on cerazette, which is a progestogen (progesterone? I get them mixed up) only pill, or a 'mini' pill.

I personally love it.

For contraception, if you miss a progesterone(?) pill, you are safe again in a week. for the normal oestrogen/progesterone(?) pill if you forget the pill you are not safe until you have had your next period. This is due to how they work.

Progesterone (I'm just going to go with this name) works by stopping the lining in the womb from developing, so that should a little spermy meet a little eggy and make a littlle zygote poor little zygote cannot attach, and therefore cannot create a placenta, and therefore is flushed mercilessly down the kertuffelpuffe of life. The progesterone only pill means you don't have periods, because there's no blood accumulation. You still ovulate however.

The oestrogen/progesterone mix pill makes your body think you're pregnant so that you don't ripen another egg. you still build up uterus blood lining, and so it still has to be got rid of. The 'full' pill, this combination of hormones, involves 3 weeks of taking the hormone pill, and then 1 week of taking a placebo, during which time you get your period. If you forget a pill your body, waiting in anticipation. will go POP and produce an egg. Bang! So now you're fertile. Doesn't matter if you go back to taking that pill. The fertile egg inside you has now happened. It is waiting for its chance. It is desperate to live! Live! and if Mister Sperm shows up then eggy will be Very Pleased To See Him - whereas you May Not.

There are different kinds and qualities of both pills.

I personally am on a wonderful pill called "Cerazette" which is a mini pill. It is something like $40 for 6 months, not subsidised here in New Zealand, but I am on it because it has extra features, such as inhibiting egg ripening. It is a nice pill with no side effects. I actually am on it due to fibroids, (I'm older, have had children, probably approaching menopause) which make my periods turn into tsunamis complete with drowning and lifeboats. I hit a point where i couldn't leave the bathroom. The cerazette has literally saved my bacon.

Speak to your doctor about the pills and their consequences. Depo provera is a horrible, horrible contraceptive and it's hard to believe anyone would have recommended that to you as a first try.

And of course modern (plastic, not copper) IUD's now are impregnated with progesterone too, so they are very effective things. The only thing about those is that you have to check for the string now and again because they can fall out (probably more relevant to those who have had children) and apparently they like putting them in when you're having your period. EWWW GROSS! Not because they love splashing in feminine, um, egg cushions, but because it opens the cervix a little and makes it all go more easily.

Yes. Have a good good talk with the doc. Condoms are a pain in the *kitten*. Depo provera is the horriblest contraceptive on the planet. There are much better solutions.

jennpaulson

After my daughter was born almost 15 years ago I went on depo for 7 years, gained a ton of weight, not sure if it made me moody or if I finally just started speaking my mind ; ) Went off all birth control for a couple of years then tried the pill that doesn't have estrogen because of my migraines but that was a few years ago and I honestly can't tell you why I stopped taking it at the time. Now I've had the Mirena IUD since May and besides the irregular spotting (it's getting better) I haven't had any issues. My period is even lighter than it was before.

firstsip

Birth control is HORRIBLE for your body. Your best bet is to track your cycles..

If you insist on having birth control I suggest getting an IUD. They say they don't give them to people w/o kids, but they really do. My friend has one.

False. Birth control can be a life saver for people with certain medical conditions. IUDs carry risks, too, and can't always properly treat some things that oral birth control does.

However, you'll get other people saying this to you, OP: BC is highly, HIGHLY specific to each person. Many people react differently to different birth control pills, because hormones are very "touchy" to each human being.

For instance, I was on Ortho-Tricyclen. Horrible. Now, I've been on Microgestin. No migraines, no ovarian cysts, no acne, regulated periods. Look it up, you'll find people who thought IT was horrible.

Depo is certainly a controversial BC for some pretty chronic negativity (though there's definitely people who swear by it). If it didn't work for you, talk with your gyno. They might suggest a low-dose pill, a progesterone only pill, etc. Unfortunately, if some form of birth control outside of condoms/abstinence/"properly done" coitus interruptus is necessary, you're just going to have to play around with it until you're happy.

BC is truly a case of "everybody's different™."

Ortho-Tricyclen tanked my sex drive which, I suppose, makes it very effective?

Same. We're on to them!

kimlynn919

i have found abstinence to work...but not necessarily by choice. I unfortunately haven't been able to get on bc for a while due to high blood pressure.

jackiecamarena

Didn't know in what other category to post this, so I figure it might as well go here!

The only experience I have had with birth control (besides condoms) is the Depo-Provera shot. Was on it for a year and just wound up a crazy, moody, weight-gaining mess. I have now been off of it for about two years and I am ready to try something new. After doing my research, I learned about the mini pill. Only one type of hormone rather than two and from what it seems, less side effects. But the kicker is that it's only 95% effective.

Is anyone currently taking this?
What are you on that is working for you?

I'm on cerazette, which is a progestogen (progesterone? I get them mixed up) only pill, or a 'mini' pill.

I personally love it.

For contraception, if you miss a progesterone(?) pill, you are safe again in a week. for the normal oestrogen/progesterone(?) pill if you forget the pill you are not safe until you have had your next period. This is due to how they work.

Progesterone (I'm just going to go with this name) works by stopping the lining in the womb from developing, so that should a little spermy meet a little eggy and make a littlle zygote poor little zygote cannot attach, and therefore cannot create a placenta, and therefore is flushed mercilessly down the kertuffelpuffe of life. The progesterone only pill means you don't have periods, because there's no blood accumulation. You still ovulate however.

The oestrogen/progesterone mix pill makes your body think you're pregnant so that you don't ripen another egg. you still build up uterus blood lining, and so it still has to be got rid of. The 'full' pill, this combination of hormones, involves 3 weeks of taking the hormone pill, and then 1 week of taking a placebo, during which time you get your period. If you forget a pill your body, waiting in anticipation. will go POP and produce an egg. Bang! So now you're fertile. Doesn't matter if you go back to taking that pill. The fertile egg inside you has now happened. It is waiting for its chance. It is desperate to live! Live! and if Mister Sperm shows up then eggy will be Very Pleased To See Him - whereas you May Not.

There are different kinds and qualities of both pills.

I personally am on a wonderful pill called "Cerazette" which is a mini pill. It is something like $40 for 6 months, not subsidised here in New Zealand, but I am on it because it has extra features, such as inhibiting egg ripening. It is a nice pill with no side effects. I actually am on it due to fibroids, (I'm older, have had children, probably approaching menopause) which make my periods turn into tsunamis complete with drowning and lifeboats. I hit a point where i couldn't leave the bathroom. The cerazette has literally saved my bacon.

Speak to your doctor about the pills and their consequences. Depo provera is a horrible, horrible contraceptive and it's hard to believe anyone would have recommended that to you as a first try.

And of course modern (plastic, not copper) IUD's now are impregnated with progesterone too, so they are very effective things. The only thing about those is that you have to check for the string now and again because they can fall out (probably more relevant to those who have had children) and apparently they like putting them in when you're having your period. EWWW GROSS! Not because they love splashing in feminine, um, egg cushions, but because it opens the cervix a little and makes it all go more easily.

Yes. Have a good good talk with the doc. Condoms are a pain in the *kitten*. Depo provera is the horriblest contraceptive on the planet. There are much better solutions.

Thank you for such a thorough response! I am really interested in this "mini" pill, but the 95% thing is really throwing me. It seems to have the least horror stories out of everything I've researched, however.

Frankie_Felinius

Ugh. Depo caused me weight gain and depression about ten years ago...also some hip arthritis and I was only in my early 20s!

I liked the implant...til I got raging daily headaches, but if you don't get that side effect, I'd recommend that.

The ring...what a pain in the *kitten* and fiancé hated it.

Now we use the sponge. It has it's cons...inconvenient (you either have to pre-plan action or stop when its getting hot-n-heavy and go put it in), kinda messy to remove, not cheap ($15 for 3!) and not the most effective thing in the world. But it has no hormones, which is why I like it best!

lovebig30

i liked my iud except for the weigh gain. depo was ok untill i stopped taken it then had month long tom. obly time i took pills was high school and they made me nausous.

shedboy

The Pull Out has been shown to be over 99 percent effective

LOL :laugh:

HI 5

jackiecamarena

i liked my iud except for the weigh gain. depo was ok untill i stopped taken it then had month long tom. obly time i took pills was high school and they made me nausous.

After I quit depo, I was bleeding non-stop for a whole year. Worst experience ever. The whole Depo experience really scared me away from birth control.

Naomi0504

In many cases, the mini pill (progestin only) is given to breastfeeding women. I stopped breastfeeding in March and I'm stil on it; however, my OB did say to use something else mid-cycle or I could get pregnant....you're right, it's not as effective as the other pills. I'm looking into other options.

If you miss a pill, you can start to ovulate as early as the next day. You are supposed to take it at the same time each day.

eta, I've had no weight gain or moodiness

jackiecamarena

My OB did say to use something else mid-cycle or I could get pregnant....you're right, it's not as effective as the other pills. I'm looking into other options.

Yikes.

Naomi0504

The Pull Out has been shown to be over 99 percent effective

Also known as pull and pray....don't trust it

Naomi0504

My OB did say to use something else mid-cycle or I could get pregnant....you're right, it's not as effective as the other pills. I'm looking into other options.

Yikes.

Exactly. Lol. She said You're on the mini pill so you're still bf'ing, right? I said No, I stopped in March. She said You could get pregnant, use condoms mid-cycle :-/

jackiecamarena

Ugh. Depo caused me weight gain and depression about ten years ago...also some hip arthritis and I was only in my early 20s!

I liked the implant...til I got raging daily headaches, but if you don't get that side effect, I'd recommend that.

The ring...what a pain in the *kitten* and fiancé hated it.

Now we use the sponge. It has it's cons...inconvenient (you either have to pre-plan action or stop when its getting hot-n-heavy and go put it in), kinda messy to remove, not cheap ($15 for 3!) and not the most effective thing in the world. But it has no hormones, which is why I like it best!

How much did the implant cost you?

Artaxia

Hello. The mini pill made me crazy and I had break through bleeding. The regular birth control I used was Loestrin24 FE, Yaz and orthotricyclen. Those made me gain a lot of weight and I was crazy. I did not have break through bleeding. I will not use an IUD.

I do not use hormonal birth control now, only condoms! I don't need anything else causing my weight gain or mood swings!

Good luck on your journey of what's best for you!

lyssad86

My sex drive was lowered so dramatically by birth control, though I didn't have any trouble losing weight while on it (I didn't gain because of birth control, either--that was all me, lol). It also altered my mood/emotions pretty dramatically.

I will say this--after I went off birth control and started using condoms exclusively, I have never been happier. I wish I had done it from the beginning. Just be careful, and do know when you are most likely to get pregnant. everyone saying "track your cycles" has also got the right idea.

If you MUST use the pill, you can go for a lower dosage of hormones. Just be aware, however, that the mini-pill is slightly more likely to fail. I have had friends get pregnant while nursing on the mini-pill. The "real deal" is more effective.

Seasonale is quite a strong dosage. It will likely do some fairly dramatic things to your body chemistry. While I think not having periods as frequently must be nice, there is something to be said about that "Whew!" moment every month!

shali34

Here is my two cents: I've tried regular pills but they effective me too much. So..

I've been on ortho-tri lo on and off since I was in college (now 28). There is another brand called lo-lo estrogen that I was considering, but I just stuck with what I was use to. Lo-lo estrogen is a pill with one of the lowest doses of hormones in a bc pill.

Hope this helps!

TheSlorax

Birth control is HORRIBLE for your body. Your best bet is to track your cycles..

If you insist on having birth control I suggest getting an IUD. They say they don't give them to people w/o kids, but they really do. My friend has one.

this is horrible advice and completely untrue. seriously, shame on you. tracking your cycles is NOT an effective form of pregnancy prevention. "insist on having birth control"... wow. just wow.


OP, look into IUDs or there is an implant that actually goes in your arm. it is more popular in the UK and not always covered by insurance in the states but after my mirena comes out I just may go for that.

mockchoc

SNIP!

RebekahR84

I've used almost every kind except the shot. I've used Lybrel, which makes you skip your period completely. I stopped it because my insurance decided not to cover it anymore. I've used regular Ortho and Ortho-low. I preferred the low, because I was less mood-swingy with it, but another insurance change nipped THAT in the bud. I've used Nuva-ring, which was great for about a year. Suddenly, it just started feeling uncomfortable. So now I'm on regular Ortho again.

The husband and I are giong to start trying for kids soon, so I'm worried about getting off the pill. I have the kind of cramps that make me curl up into a fetal position. Not looking forward to that.

Italia2229

I have used Ortho and didn't have any problems with that, but I had to stop having periods because when I started having, I would have horrible cramping and could hardly get out of bed. Started on Depo a couple years after I joined the military and it was great except for a little bit of weight gain. I am using Yaz as of right now, only for my deployment (can't be on this one for a long time and I think my sex drives sucks right now on this one), but I am still not allowing myself to have my cycle and I have lost 20lbs in the last 4 months, not only because of BC changes, but I am sure it helped. The ring absolutely was horrible for me because it wouldn't stay in. Am looking at other types for when I return to the states in a couple of weeks.

Best of luck on finding the right one that works for you.