What birth control are you using?

I've tried the pill, the shots and the Mirena and all made me a psycho person. So now I use the pull and pray and condoms occasionally. I track my cycle too and am pretty regular so I just have to put the brakes on around certain days.

We are wanting another baby so it wouldn't be the end of the world if those methods didn't work.

After baby #2, I will probably explore non-hormonal methods because anything with hormone, even if it is "low dose" does not react well with me.

Good luck! From what I have found with my own experience and talking to friends it is a hunt until each person finds the perfect thing for them. :flowerforyou:

True, everyone has to find what works for them. We do not plan on having our own kids (I can't for medical reasons, and we decided 17-18 years ago not to have our own) so this was something that could not be left to chance.

Pulling out - it has no side effects.

This works for me!!!:laugh:

I'm on aviane. It is a generic, not sure of which brand name though. I haven't had any side effects and I've been on it for several years. I love it. I don't get pimples as easily, my "time of the month" has minimal cramping and no heavy flow like I used to get. I want kids really bad but don't want to get off the pill to have them. :sad:

Pulling out - it has no side effects.

This works for me!!!:laugh:

It totally worked for me too until I got pregnant. Oh, and I was on Yaz at that time too. Double whammy!!

That's why we use rubbers with spermicide. Kills the little effers if they escape.

Hello ladies,
I have been on birth control for about 17 years. I have heard it can make you gain weight. I recently gotten off of the pill and am looking to try something different. I really do not want to do an IUD or implant. Can you tell me what works for you and side effects? (would really like the hubby to do the snip snip... but I don't think its going to happen:blushing: )

Other peoples bad kids do the trick...

Like others have said what works for you will vary.

I got the implant fitted just over a year ago and I love it, I don't have to think about it and I have had three 2 day super light periods since it started.

I used to use nuva ring which at first seemed convenient but eventually I realised it was making sex painful so I had to stop using it, but I imagine that's a fairly rare thing

Menopause :laugh: Used the Pill for years, it worked great for me.

Not having sex. Works perfectly!

Although it does make me stressed and angry.

Vasectomy! Wahooooo! :happy:

I know you said you don't want an IUD, but I'm going to recommend something that is different than most IUDs.

I use Paraguard and what I love about it is that it's 100% hormone free (unlike Mirena). Due to past experiences I am a firm promoter of avoiding the addition of hormones to the body if at all possible, because they can really mess with you, physically & emotionally. I'm not one of those "natural family planning" freaks, just know that adding hormones to the body can really screw with you.

Take a look at their website, I've had it in for about 3 years and it's good for 10. The only negative is I have pretty heavy periods, but I will take that any day over being psycho crazy girl on hormones...

Good luck!

My periods have gotten lighter since I was put on the paraguard though they couldn't have gotten much heavier I guess. I just had some bad cramping for the first few months when I had my period but it has subsided since and I feel like a normal person. It's definitely a great IUD and there are no hormones woo hoo

Fertility Awareness Method (NOT rhythm method). Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler.

OMG I was waiting for someone to say this! It is called understanding your body! Women can only get pregnant for a small window in their cycle, when they ovulate. And if you have minimal days of what they call "Fertile" cervical fluid, the window can be very small. Have as much sex as you want when you are NOT ovulating and either abstain for the 5-6 days while you ARE ovulating or use a rubber! As far as I am concerned ALL other forms of birth control probably have some type of side effect, whether we know it or not. I just got off Nuvo Ring and I have not ovulated for over 70 days now! I am giving it another couple of weeks then I am going to go see the doctor. I would not have know what was going on had I not been tracking my temperatures per the above method. I just read the above book and I am 150% a total advocate that ALL women should read it.

I feel your pain, my hubby won't anyone near his family jewels either. Sigh. Just be careful with the nuva-ring, I've heard it's caused a lot of blood clots (which can be deadly!) And i've had 2 IUD's that have perforated, OUCH!!!!!!

Tubal ligation. Minimal recovery and permanent.

This. I wouldn't have it any other way. They snipped and burned the tubes gave me picture proof and I was walking out the door all within an hour or so.

My cousin was using Nuvaring. Almost a year later she finds out she is 3 months pregnant. :huh:

Tubes tied, best ever. I had it done during my last C-Section though, so don't know what all is involved otherwise. I have several friends who like Mirena.