Birth Control SUggestion...

Jamiebee24

What kind are you on? Weight gain? Side effects? I'm looking to start some BC soon, and would like any input, thanks!!

Amandac6772

I had the Mirena IUD implant put in about 4 years ago...love it, no side effects, no weight gain (that was all me) and hardly ever have TOM, maybe two or three times a year. Plus I never have to think about it.

bhelmreich

I had Implanon put in 4 months ago. Its a small matchstick size rod that is placed in your arm. I love it! I had little side effects, my mood swings are gone, but I did break out a little worse than normal

Raina0512

I used to have Mirena. I had pain during intercourse with it so I had it removed (OUCH!).

I have Implanon now. It's a tiny rod with hormones inside that's 'implanted' in the underneath of your arm just below your armpit. They numb it when then insert it so it's not painful and I never even notice it now... it lasts 3 years. HIGHLY recommended :happy:

XFitMojoMom

Condoms and with-holding until husband gets fixed :laugh:
Seriously though - been like this 2 years and knock wood, been accident free.

Raina0512

I used to have Mirena. I had pain during intercourse with it so I had it removed (OUCH!).

I have Implanon now. It's a tiny rod with hormones inside that's 'implanted' in the underneath of your arm just below your armpit. They numb it when then insert it so it's not painful and I never even notice it now... it lasts 3 years. HIGHLY recommended :happy:

P.S. I haven't had a period since I've had it put in (2 years ago)

Jamiebee24

Condoms and with-holding until husband gets fixed :laugh:
Seriously though - been like this 2 years and knock wood, been accident free.

that's what we've done for the past 4 years---2 kids later, it doesn't work for us! Time to go on birth control!! :laugh:

angiemcgovern

I have Mirena and I love it. I have not experienced any pain or side effects with it, but that could be because I had put in 6 weeks after giving birth. I have heard other women without children say it was painful to get it put in.

JLeeAlton

I heard the IUD can end up growing into you down there, well not into you but it gets embedded into your tissue... someone at work was randomly talking about it. That scares me.

I am still on the good ole pill. Seasonique... no weight gain.. no side effects.. and your TOM comes 4 times a year.

adellepuppy

Well I had my FIVE and took a more permanent route getting the tubes tied. But before that I really never left the diaphragm method I started in the beginning. Seems to work fine. (No, don't look back that number five and think it's an antiendorsement. We actually planned them. ) Diaphragms are less spontaneous for sure. But just know your partner and your rhythms and you can be more proactive then you think.

aippolito1

I'm on NuvaRing and I love it. You use it for 3 weeks, leave it out for a week to have your period, then put a new one in for 3 more weeks. It's good because there aren't many side effects. My periods are shorter & lighter and I feel "normal" as far as hormones. I was a bit more emotional than normal the first couple months while I was getting used to it, but after that, I feel like myself emotionally again.

Sometimes it slips out but as long as you rinse it off & put it back in within 3 hours, you're still protected. I've been on it for a year and we also use the pull out method, and no accidents yet! :happy:

xTattooedDollx

I'm on Ortho Lo. I didn't gain weight, no side effects and my skin is perfect!

jgm8land

I have been on Seasonale for a few years with no side effects! I love it because you only get your period 4 times a year and that is just enough!

Leigh14

Depo Provera! It's a shot. Very easy, very confidential and very good for the people who forget to take a pill once a day! You get the shot every three months. Typically, you stop having a period after being on the shot for a while. Everyone's body is different, though, so it may not work out for you that way.

I don't think any of my weight was caused by the shot because I've been overweight for as long as I can remember - and certainly long before I was on Depo!

Flawlessk

I'm on the injection. I'm not sure of the exact name.

Been on it for 6 months now. You get the injection at the local health centre every 3 months in the very top of the bum cheek. Switch each time. Didn't hurt at all and i'm a needle-phobe lol.

So far, fantastic. I feel good. No weight change or mood change. No periods either. Twice in this time i've felt a little like pmt...little achey, but only for a day.

This was great for me because i used to be on the pill and my periods were all over the place. Plus i travel every other weekend to my bf and i don't have to worry about forgetting it or taking it on time.

Hope this helps xx

Elizabeth_C34

I'm on Seasonique, which is quite nice overall. I do cramp a lot before my period. Nothing a pinch of ibuprofen doesn't fix though. It's much better than my periods without BC which are extremely heavy and painful. Plus, 4 periods a year is nice.

AmandaR910

I think I'm going to go on the mini pill here soon, possible the regular pill. I've never had an issue with either.

michelle_mareshfuehrer

I am on the BC Pill--Yasmin. I didn't gain any weight with it and don't have side effects but it is EXPENSIVE because my insurance doesn't cover much of it. I tried the generic one "Ocella" and had really bad side effects, including blurred vision, lightheadedness/dizziness, and immediately stopped taking it. I'm considering trying out Yaz instead of Yasmin--I hear it is great for women with PCOS, which is what I have.

wilted6orchid

This is a pretty personal decision, but I'll shoot. My last two babies (2 1/2 and 6 mo.) we used condoms. I'm not much of a fan of that route. But, I was harder on my nurse midwife. I wanted NO hormones (most contraceptives) or anything that would alter my body's natural chemistry (which cancelled out the copper IUD). My only options were cervical cap (not recommended for women who have already have vaginal deliveries, of which I have had 4), diaphram, and Lea's shield. I could have gotten a script for Lea's Shield which was the best option for me. But, it was a pain to have it shipped to Alaska. So I went with the diaphrahm. It really all depends on what you comfortable with. You should absolutely read up on the side effects of your chosen method yourself. Don't expect the doctors to tell you all the risks. And then decide which risks are acceptable to you.

MissingMinnesota

I have been on Kariva since august and had no gain or problems with it.

balfonso

I was on the depo provera for 8 years.

Hassle free. Had it injected every 12 weeks. No TOM, just spotting. Like most BC, it made me a little spottier and gave me mood swings. But I now take Primrose capsules 1000mg a day to curb the mood swings naturally which has helped tremendously.

With many BC methods, it DOES make you crave a lot more. It can make you hungrier. BUT the weight gain is down to YOU.

If you can control your cravings, you won't gain weight.

I gained roughly 15lbs in the 8 years I was on it, which is not a huge amount. My weight fluctuated in that time. But what is apparent with BC methods is definitely the cravings.

I'm now on the progestrogen only pill. Similar side effects to most BC. Reason for going on it. Needed the change.

All BC methods affect people differently. So choose what works for you!

ctheslayer

I had Mirena implanted right after giving birth to my son. I had one side effect - my menstrual period has stopped. I physically know when I am about to hit the cycle but I don't have Aunt Flo visiting anymore. I swim, bike and run so I totally love the freedom of not having to wear a mattress in between my legs.

I do agree with women on the forum about some side effects experienced by other women. A friend of mine had difficulty with the actual implanting process that they had to switch to another birth control method.

Ding724

I had Implanon put in 4 months ago. Its a small matchstick size rod that is placed in your arm. I love it! I had little side effects, my mood swings are gone, but I did break out a little worse than normal

I had Implanon & HATED it. I gained 25lbs in 5 months & then had it taken out early...taking it out also left an inch long scar on my arm because the dr said it was put in wrong :grumble: sheesh.

Good luck!!!

ComfortFoodAddict

Okay, so this may be the only area of my life that I am an expert lol... I have done everything except for the shot just about. Here are the problems and benefits that I had with them: (note: I don't know what weight was gained/lost specifically due to the medication--- how are you suppose to know?)

Benefits/Problems:
pill easy to take, no surgery, more consistent period/couldn't remember to take it all the time

nuvaring easy, can't feel it (well the man can), no side effects/ Ijust didnt think it was sanitary, not regular

patch easy to wear/rash, irratation, looks gross, not regular

implanon no remembering for 3 years/I catch it on my bra all the time- that pinches!, sore arm sometimes, requires a doctor to go off of it, not regular, I just had a 9 week one!

CakeFit21

I LOVE my Implanon. No weight gain, no side effects. It has been my very favorite form of BC. I need to get it replaced in July, and I'll be good for another 3 years! Love it!

LorinaLynn

I'm on Depo but considering switching to the implant or Mirena next time I'm due. I love being free from visits from Aunt Flo, but I gained weight on it. Not much, maybe 10 pounds, but in places I never gained weight before: lower abdomen and my back. A friend had the same experience while on Depo.

TheMaidOfAstolat

Bump....need to read this later.

Cina04

I think I'm going to go on the mini pill here soon, possible the regular pill. I've never had an issue with either.

I just got off the mini pill since I haven't breastfeed in months. The Dr told me that type of pill is only 80% effective! I had no clue and I hardly been taking it...hahahaha I would go days without taking the pill since I forgot.

I'm surprised I didn't get pregnant! Unless some who my husband and I had good timing and did it whenever I wasn't fertile. LOL

I'm back on Ortho Novum. I don't remember if I gained weight strictly from the pill. Guess I'm going to find out since I track my cals and workout!

doobabe

I have been on about every pill out there and I am now on Yasmin (pill). I have literally had bumps/hives/weight gain/headaches- you name it with other pills out there. No weight gain or major side affects and everything is regular/normal for me on Yasmin (which it was NOT before I started the pill). Yaz, in particular, is not good for me- gave me brown spots on my face (NOT COOL) and I was moody all of the time.

I have never tried the iud or shot, however my sister-in-law was on the shot and has 2 kids to show for it lol.

courtrey88

I take a generic brand of Ortho Tri Cyclen Lo birth control pills. I had been taking it for years before I started gaining weight so I'm pretty sure the pills are not the reason for my weight gain. Overall, I'm pretty pleased with it!

jmanthei98

I used the diaphragm at first, but I wanted to get my cycle switched around so I didn't have Aunt Flo visit duing my honeymoon, so I started the pill. I used both for awhile. After my second child was born, I did the pill only and ended up with a 3rd child in '02. :-O I started the Depo injections after that. The only side effect was I didn't get my period until just a few months ago. :-) Actually, that's not true. It's not meant for long term use, so I had some mild bone loss in my back, but was able to regain it. I definitely don't want any more children, so I had the Essure procedure done about a year ago...the tubes are blocked and it is done in the doctor's office. It is permanent and less invasive than a tubal ligation.