What birth control method should I chose?

I'm not completely convinced that birth control makes you gain weight, or that you can't lose weight on birth control. Even if I'm wrong about it making you gain weight, the idea of calories -in and out should be the same. How accurate do you believe yourself to be when logging?

I believe I am pretty accurate. Also, hormones definitely affect your body. That is why it's so much harder to lose weight, the older you get. If you don't believe hormones have an affect on your body, then we might as well all be taking testosterone to beef up. Not trying to be mean, but it's just like any medicine, it does have an effect. I do know that a lot of it is my fault, but I am SICK of the hormones. Also calories in vs. calories out is all good but when birth control tricks your body into thinking you're pregnant, your body definitely wants to hold onto fat.

Oh, I get it. I have some pretty bad pms problems and crazy hormones. I still believe you can lose weight though.

I'm going in a different direction with my response. I was 20 when i had my tubes tied. And that was a LONG time ago. Yes the doctors think they want to "save" you from regret later. But it really isn't their business. If you TRULY KNOW in your heart you never want kids, keep looking till you find a doctor who will do what you want. It's not their business to decide for you. And yes I had to fight for it too. but I didn't give in.

I have horrible cycles and have the Paragard copper IUD. I do notice the cycles are a tad worse, but not as bad as I feared. I am able to be off prescription meds. I just load up on ibuprofen.

Have you given thought about the Mirena IUD? It has hormones and only lasts 5 years. I have quite a few friends who LOVE it.

There is a new method of sterilisation for women, Essure. It can be done in Australia for those over 25 without "counselling" needed. I suggest you head over to thechildfreelife.com and see if there are any Australians there, or do a web search then call them. I read about the 25 year limit about 10 years ago, so it may be different or I may have misinterpreted it. If you can get it done at your age, then travel there and get it. Good luck.

Essure is probably the cheapest form of sterilisation, it can be done without major surgery. Most forms of medical treatment are cheaper outside the US, but my recommendation is based on the 25 year option, rather than cost. I know how you feel, I'm childfree myself.

I have horrible cycles and have the Paragard copper IUD. I do notice the cycles are a tad worse, but not as bad as I feared. I am able to be off prescription meds. I just load up on ibuprofen.

Have you given thought about the Mirena IUD? It has hormones and only lasts 5 years. I have quite a few friends who LOVE it.

I have thought about it but I am really trying to avoid hormones

Mirena is the hormonal birth control that I can tolerate - because the hormones are localized in the uterus. Honestly, if I were you, I would give that a try before Paragaurd. I also had horrible periods and am extremely sensitive to hormonal birth control -- my doctor was pretty much like "Try this and if it doesn't work, we will try that".

But I would find another doctor that takes your desire to not have kids more seriously before you do anything.

Condoms or Diaphragm and spermicide; or demand to get your tubes tied. You have to sign all this paperwork saying you consent to it; so it's not a liability for your doctor. Doctors don't usually give copper IUD unless you've had a baby. I worried about that it might cause copper toxicity, which causes a lot of mental disturbance. Honestly, cut down on sugar. Sugar will mess with hormones too.

I don't have any personal experiences with IUD's, but have you asked about a progesterone-only pill? I started out on a regular combination pill when I was 18, but my doctor switched me to a low-hormone progesterone-only pill a few years ago, and I really like it. The downside is that it's still a pill you have to take every day, and since it's very low hormone, you're supposed to be very careful about taking it at the exact same time every day. But my periods are much better with this pill (ortho micronor/norethindrone) and my pms/TOM symptoms are much more mild and manageable.

Edited to add: the post directly above mine is a good one. Definitely make sure you're being accurate, precise, and consistent with your calorie intake before you can be sure that there's an underlying issue complicating weight loss for you. I agree that hormones can certainly affect weight loss and gain, but from what I've read, oral birth controls may cause an increase in appetite but do not cause weight gain in and of themselves. I've been taking oral birth control for 10 years now and haven't had any issues losing weight. If you're sure you're accurate with your food, talk to your doctor about underlying medical issues that may be affecting your CICO.

I have horrible cycles and have the Paragard copper IUD. I do notice the cycles are a tad worse, but not as bad as I feared. I am able to be off prescription meds. I just load up on ibuprofen.

Have you given thought about the Mirena IUD? It has hormones and only lasts 5 years. I have quite a few friends who LOVE it.

I have thought about it but I am really trying to avoid hormones

Mirena is the hormonal birth control that I can tolerate - because the hormones are localized in the uterus. Honestly, if I were you, I would give that a try before Paragaurd. I also had horrible periods and am extremely sensitive to hormonal birth control -- my doctor was pretty much like "Try this and if it doesn't work, we will try that".

But I would find another doctor that takes your desire to not have kids more seriously before you do anything.

I have Mirena, too, and I'm very happy with it. All of my weight loss has come since having it inserted, although I know there are other threads around where women have had different experiences. I had been on oral contraceptives for ~20 years (with a couple years off for my pregnancy/breastfeeding) and just didn't want to take systemic hormones anymore, but the amount in the Mirena is pretty small comparatively. The best part? I haven't actually had a period in the whole time I've had it. I think I might be due for a new one, and definitely will be getting another unless menopause magically appears.

EDIT: math fail.

something that you should bring up to your doctor the next time you see him/her!

Condoms for the next 20 yeas does not sound like a good solution to me...

And I am old enough to know that I MEAN it as well... I don't appreciate the insinuation that I'm not.

I'm sorry that I offended you.

It's just that MANY women in their twenties know for sure that they do not now, nor will they ever want children. They are confident and adamant about it. Later on, they change their minds. It happens a lot. Because everyone knows those young women so often change their minds, doctors don't want to do something they cannot undo.

I knew a girl who, even at 25 was always getting miffed about people suggesting that she might change her mind about becoming a mother. She took offense, too. At 35, she had four children. It happens. It happens a lot.

When a couple is 40 and 44 years old and says, "We've raised our children and there is no way in hell we want to start that crap over again!" it's very different than when they're 25 and 29 and saying, "We don't want them and we know we won't ever want them!"

That's all I meant. No offense to you, personally.

I didn't want children. I would have been sterilized had it been an option (I didn't have solid medical insurance - so it wasn't).

I had my daughter at 28 - unplanned pregnancy on birth control.

I love my daughter very much, but I struggle daily with the responsibility of loving another human and providing them with the nurturing they need to flourish. I rely heavily on my husband - he gives me more "me time" than he takes. He is my sounding board when I don't feel like I can do it.

I certainly don't regret my daughter - not even for a minute, I am very glad she's here - but I wasn't "wrong" about not wanting children. My life would be very different, but I am confident it would have been equally fulfilling and wonderful. Just in a different way. It's really, really not a good idea to suggest that because *some* people change their minds *ALL* people should have to repeatedly defend themselves and be denied medical treatments.