Girls - Contraception Help?

fudgebudget

I've been on pretty much every pill under the sun from 16 to 26, and didn't have much luck with the side effects - especially with the low dosage pills. I got a Mirena about 2 years ago and loved it until about 9 months ago when my acne started flaring up and got progressively worse from there. I got back on a mini-pill in combination with the IUD (because who wants to give up idiot proof birth control??) and the acne got better for about a month and then got bad again as soon as I got to the placebo pills.

Then I cut dairy out and the acne went away. I miss dairy, but I love having clear skin and my Mirena at the same time. It was a $20 copay on my insurance and I don't have to worry about birth control for another 3 years. Win.

EmCarroll1990

I'm on Depo Provera and have had no issues regarding weight with it. Was also on Triceclyn - low (sp?) gained weight with that, though I also ate like crap.

GinaKurtz

I have tried multiple methods of contraception and will share what I've experienced & know with you. Remember, as others have stated, that every body is different and reacts differently. That being said, here's what I experienced....and we've been married for 8 years this past March & are hoping to start a family later this year or next year. We have no kids yet so it seems to have worked for us....

I was on the pill prior to the wedding. I noticed that I put on a few pounds (10-15) when I started it.
I tried the patch (can't remember the name) & noticed that I put on another 10 or so.
I switched to Jolessa (generic for Seasonale) & my weight stayed the same & I couldn't lose any no matter how hard I tried.
We decided (for my health) to quit pills...after years of putting hormones into my body...that was about a year & a half ago.
Now, we use VCF (vaginal contraceptive film) that you can buy at any drug store. We have also used other female contraceptives as well as condoms. For us and for my health...it was worth the change. I dropped the weight (except for what I'd still like to lose) pretty quickly after I went off of the pill.

Again, this is just my personal experience. You might want to ask your doctor for their opinion as well. Hope that helps! Good luck and congratulations on your upcoming wedding! :flowerforyou:

skendrick0601

I was on the pill forever, so didn't know if I had gained weight when I went on as I was like 17. I got the Mirena IUD a few yrs ago, and I did drop 10 lb in the month after I got it put in, so apparently I was carrying some weight from the Pill?

I got the IUD because I was hoping for no periods--90% of women stop periods altogether, though I seem to be in the unlucky 10%. My periods are really light, no cramps, like when I was on the pill. Overall I like the Mirena, statistically it's more effective even than getting your tubes tied, and I sure like those odds! One note, some providers won't put them into women who haven't already had kids--the cervix is tighter and can make placement hard, which is probably why I thought it hurt like a bizatch.

Another thought, if you're planning on having kids soon you might not want the Mirena--to me it's not worth the pain of insertion (it was pretty awful) if you're not going to leave it in for 5 yrs. Some of the pain might be because I don't have kids--my sister is on her 2nd Mirena, she said the insertion wasn't painful at all, but she has 4 kiddoes, so my cervix is probably a lot wussier than hers.

Totally agree! I couldn't take the pill due to migraine,/blood pressure/weight gain issues. The Mirena works for me. I had the 1st one for 5 years and loved it so much that I just got the 2nd one done (The one I have lasts 5 years). Insertion sucked. Removal wasn't so bad. I would definintely talk to your doctor since you are young and family planning will be an important factor.

sweetpea129

My personal experiences:

I went on the depo shot in college. Gained 20 lbs. NEVER, EVER again would i go on it or recommend it to anyone.

I was on the pill for 10 yrs on and off. It did make me gain weight. About 10 lbs. It just made me very hungry.

I went on paragard (non hormonal IUD) last year and i LOVE it. No weight gain, no hormones. But for this option i think it depends on if you ever want to have kids. If you want to have them in the near future (2 yrs or less maybe?), i wouldnt think its a good option. My dr. said that they at least like a 2 yr commitment to it. I have had 2 kids within 16 months so it was a good option for me.

Good luck.

jules1202

I have used a number of different methods of BC over the years including the pill and Mirena. After Mirena I was done with hormones so on the advice of some wise women I know who had BTDT I read the book Taking Charge of Your Fertiliy which covers everything from how stuff works (so much I wish I had known years ago), how to get pregnant, and how NOT to get pregnant. I would encourage any women to read it because its eye opening in a good way.:bigsmile: I used the Fertility Awareness Method (FAM) for years, along with condoms and/or spermicide during fertile times and loved it and didn't have a problem. Lot s of people who don't know any better think FAM isn't effective but if they researched they would find thats not true. I am part of an online forum with a lot of women who use FAM with no issue (a few who plan to never have kids ever and it works for them). Some use FAM for religious reasons but many of us just hate hormones!! :sick:

Check out the book if you are interested (there is also a website and a forum with more info you check out - TCOYF.com )

LovelyNFit

It had to be a guy who said "pull out" ha ha - They are overly confident but it does not work. It made me a mother 13 yrs ago.

After my girl was born I got the IUD - It hurts like hell but well worth it. The replacement after the 4-5 yrs - The take out & put in -in one visit takes you half way to hell and back -but worth it! - had it for about 9 yrs

Downside for me: you never know when your period will come; first, mid or end of the month. But your body will most likely retain water/feel different 2-3 days prior.

My doctor does not give it to women who have not had kids, he says women may not have kids after. I don't think I would try the pill for fear of weight gain.

McMomsie

MY SUGESTION: IUD
I have a bad time with emotional mood swings and weight gain on any hormone replica birthcontrol out there.
I recently had an IUD inserted. Inter Uterine Device. Fexi-t, non hormonal. ( this is different form Mirena as there are NO hormones at all. jus tthe plastic flexi t, and a copper coil. Once its in, you cant see it, or feel it.
Sounds scary, and I WAS scared, but i TOO needed to get off the hormones. Not only for my emotional sake, but long term studies show scary stuff about synthetic hormones. thats a whole other post though.
So, It was mildly painful getting it insterted. minimal to no cramping afterward. NO monthly cramping, no spotting, (however this was the norm for me prior to the IUD also) but a definate INCREASE in menstral flow. my period was light and about 4 days prior, now it is HEAVY and 7 days for sure. TMI alert.. durring the 2 heavy days i need a super tampon and a pad. But its only 2 days, and the trade off seems worth it to me.

Good for 5 YEARS, can be removed by DR. at any time before the 5 yrs if you want to conceive, and its imediate... no waiting for the pill to "wear off" .
I like it because, it doesnt mess with my own hormones, I dont have to remember to take anything on the daily/weekly/monthly, and its as effective as getting my husband a vasectomy without the permanancy. 2 thumbs up from me!

gemini0689

I got the depo shot and gained 30lbs in 2 months. I would not recommend it if u are already trying to lose or maintain your weight. Although it was convienent, I had to get off of that and get on the pill.

I havent had any freakish weight gain since ive been on the pill.

katieoliveb

I was on tri-cyclen lo for a year and gained about 15 pounds, but I realized this and managed to lose 20 while still taking it. I recently switched to alesse and have noticed an increased appetite, but nothing I haven't been able to control. My weight spiked up again over the winter but I've had no trouble losing weight on either pill. I think it's all in how well you are able to control your appetite and avoid gaining water weight.

angryguy77

Hi everyone,

So i need to start some form of contraception ready for when i get married in September, and i've worked SO hard to lose all this weight, I couldn't bear to put it all back on due to the pill.

Does anyone have any good advice of options? FYI i can't go on anything high oestrogen (sp?) due to migrane problems.

Thank you!

Being married will provide all the bc you need without having to take a drug.

Signed,

Average Married Joe

Daytonsmommy

I've been on the Nuva Ring for about a year now and I love it. Never really noticed any weight gain, but I think the side effect is normally an increased appetite which leads to the weight gain. I have not had that problem though.

katy84o

My doc reccommended Paragard- it's a copper IUD. I never got it, mostly because I read some bad reviews that it could make you have your period from 11-14 days. I don't take anything now, because the pill made me have high blood pressure, and the patch made me go from a C to a DD in about 3 months. Plus all of the complications with clots from the patch just made it sound scary. Look up paragard though that might be good for you if you don't want something with high estrogen.

sweetpea129

My doc reccommended Paragard- it's a copper IUD. I never got it, mostly because I read some bad reviews that it could make you have your period from 11-14 days. I don't take anything now, because the pill made me have high blood pressure, and the patch made me go from a C to a DD in about 3 months. Plus all of the complications with clots from the patch just made it sound scary. Look up paragard though that might be good for you if you don't want something with high estrogen.

Just wanted to say, that for me, it did cause my period to be heavier and longer. But only by a day. It was normally 4-5 days, now its 5-6 on paragard. Its the only side effect i've had They say that it evens out after awhile. The first 4-5 months my period was VERY heavy. Now its starting to regulate.

veganbaum

Does your doctor know about your migraines? She/he would be the best person to make suggestions about which hormonal methods to try in terms of migraine issues. Be aware, though, that women who get migraines are still going to react differently to different hormonal methods so you could try one that works for others that will not work for you in the end.

You could go with the non-hormonal IUD, condoms, diaphragm, or try reading Taking Charge of Your Fertility which is a natural way of monitoring your fertility (do not confuse this with the rhythm method or junk like that which is in no way reliable. You track your fertility using three symptoms and it is a very reliable method *if* you have a regular cycle and track your symptoms appropriately).

Write down a list of methods with questions and take them to your doctor. Be aware that many doctors tend to have biases with *any* medication. So it's up to you to be your own advocate and get the information and make a choice.

Superchikanthem

NuvaRing I love it. I'm not quite a uppity as I use to be but that's fine I was a bit over whelming so now I'm more balanced as for weight gain not to sure if it was from the pill at all I just ate bad so I gained weight.

Kimik0123

I use the non-hormonal coil and I've LOST weight since getting it.