Need advice from the ladies... (birth control help!)

Sparrowly wrote: »

If your body has issues with hormonal birth control, you could learn Fertility Awareness. It's simply a matter of tracking your body's symptoms so that you know what days you are fertile, and avoid unprotected sex on those days. It's free (unless you use Clear Blue method) and works with your body instead of trying a one size fits all pill that may or may not cause a blood clot or stroke.

A woman's body temperature, discharge, hormone levels, and cervix position change during the cycle while gearing up for ovulation. If you look at some of those symptoms, you can pinpoint exactly what is going on in your body. It's science.

I am 36, never used hormonal birth control, and I have one planned child. I chart daily cervical discharge and can see exactly when I'm about to ovulate. Generally, a woman is fertile about 5 days a month! You only need to avoid unprotected sex during those fertile days.

Taking Charge of Your Fertility is a helpful book on this topic.

I know someone who did that, they ended up having 5 kids, ,when they only planned for 3.

And I know one girl who got pregnant twice on birth control. And a cousin who did as well. So...that tells us exactly nothing.

All types of pregnancy avoidance have user error issues and/or method failure. You just have to choose what is more concerning to you--the possibility of an "extra" child (ugh, I hate even typing that) or health issues if you are contraindicated for hormonal bc. Not trying to get debate-y, but we can all pull out stories of people we know who have had unplanned pregnancies with pills, IUD, natural methods, etc.

janjunie wrote: »

Sparrowly wrote: »

If your body has issues with hormonal birth control, you could learn Fertility Awareness. It's simply a matter of tracking your body's symptoms so that you know what days you are fertile, and avoid unprotected sex on those days. It's free (unless you use Clear Blue method) and works with your body instead of trying a one size fits all pill that may or may not cause a blood clot or stroke.

A woman's body temperature, discharge, hormone levels, and cervix position change during the cycle while gearing up for ovulation. If you look at some of those symptoms, you can pinpoint exactly what is going on in your body. It's science.

I am 36, never used hormonal birth control, and I have one planned child. I chart daily cervical discharge and can see exactly when I'm about to ovulate. Generally, a woman is fertile about 5 days a month! You only need to avoid unprotected sex during those fertile days.

Taking Charge of Your Fertility is a helpful book on this topic.

I know someone who did that, they ended up having 5 kids, ,when they only planned for 3.

Hahahah, I saw that after I typed it.

PaulaWallaDingDong wrote: »

gradchica27 wrote: »

And I know one girl who got pregnant twice on birth control. And a cousin who did as well. So...that tells us exactly nothing.

All types of pregnancy avoidance have user error issues and/or method failure. You just have to choose what is more concerning to you--the possibility of an "extra" child (ugh, I hate even typing that) or health issues if you are contraindicated for hormonal bc. Not trying to get debate-y, but we can all pull out stories of people we know who have had unplanned pregnancies with pills, IUD, natural methods, etc.

janjunie wrote: »

Sparrowly wrote: »

If your body has issues with hormonal birth control, you could learn Fertility Awareness. It's simply a matter of tracking your body's symptoms so that you know what days you are fertile, and avoid unprotected sex on those days. It's free (unless you use Clear Blue method) and works with your body instead of trying a one size fits all pill that may or may not cause a blood clot or stroke.

A woman's body temperature, discharge, hormone levels, and cervix position change during the cycle while gearing up for ovulation. If you look at some of those symptoms, you can pinpoint exactly what is going on in your body. It's science.

I am 36, never used hormonal birth control, and I have one planned child. I chart daily cervical discharge and can see exactly when I'm about to ovulate. Generally, a woman is fertile about 5 days a month! You only need to avoid unprotected sex during those fertile days.

Taking Charge of Your Fertility is a helpful book on this topic.

I know someone who did that, they ended up having 5 kids, ,when they only planned for 3.

You speak the truth... But I just had to say I'm laughing at this tidbit.

*slinks away in shame*

PaulaWallaDingDong wrote: »

gradchica27 wrote: »

And I know one girl who got pregnant twice on birth control. And a cousin who did as well. So...that tells us exactly nothing.

All types of pregnancy avoidance have user error issues and/or method failure. You just have to choose what is more concerning to you--the possibility of an "extra" child (ugh, I hate even typing that) or health issues if you are contraindicated for hormonal bc. Not trying to get debate-y, but we can all pull out stories of people we know who have had unplanned pregnancies with pills, IUD, natural methods, etc.

janjunie wrote: »

Sparrowly wrote: »

If your body has issues with hormonal birth control, you could learn Fertility Awareness. It's simply a matter of tracking your body's symptoms so that you know what days you are fertile, and avoid unprotected sex on those days. It's free (unless you use Clear Blue method) and works with your body instead of trying a one size fits all pill that may or may not cause a blood clot or stroke.

A woman's body temperature, discharge, hormone levels, and cervix position change during the cycle while gearing up for ovulation. If you look at some of those symptoms, you can pinpoint exactly what is going on in your body. It's science.

I am 36, never used hormonal birth control, and I have one planned child. I chart daily cervical discharge and can see exactly when I'm about to ovulate. Generally, a woman is fertile about 5 days a month! You only need to avoid unprotected sex during those fertile days.

Taking Charge of Your Fertility is a helpful book on this topic.

I know someone who did that, they ended up having 5 kids, ,when they only planned for 3.

You speak the truth... But I just had to say I'm laughing at this tidbit.

*slinks away in shame*

You are faster than me... That's what I was going to say. :laugh:

annacole94 wrote: »

My problem with using natural methods is it tells me not to have sex for the week of the month I want to have sex.

Ultimately, the husband preferred the dreaded vasectomy to a lifetime sentence of condoms. Which haven't been mentioned, but are an option.

There is that. But honest question--do you still have that desire surge in bc? I haven't been on it in 15 years, so I don't know and I've heard some ladies get decreased libido as a side effect. Just curious.

I was actually in the exact same position about a year ago. I had been on the pill for 10 years and had migraines with aura for 2-3 of those but my doctor never said anything. Cut to me moving, getting a new doctor, and being told that those two things were a terrible combination.

My doctor gave me the same options but she told me she wouldn't 100% recommend the Nexplanon because its really unpredictable. She said she removes those from about 20% of her patients within the first 6 months either because they bleed continuously or have no period which freaks them out. She said everyone reacts differently to it so she can't prepare them for what will happen.

She recommended mirena, skkyla or paragard. Both mirena and skkyla are hormonal and should reduce or eliminate your period. I personally have a strange paranoia about being pregnant, I wasn't thrilled about the idea of not having my monthly confirmation lol.

I ended up going with the paragard and I (now) love it. The first 6 months were rough and I had a lot of adjustments to figure out how to manage my new, significantly worse symptoms. Since I'd been on the pill since I was 16 and they make everything so mild, I hadn't really ever had a "bad" period or cramps. Terrible cramps are no joke.

gradchica27 wrote: »

And I know one girl who got pregnant twice on birth control. And a cousin who did as well. So...that tells us exactly nothing.

All types of pregnancy avoidance have user error issues and/or method failure. You just have to choose what is more concerning to you--the possibility of an "extra" child (ugh, I hate even typing that) or health issues if you are contraindicated for hormonal bc. Not trying to get debate-y, but we can all pull out stories of people we know who have had unplanned pregnancies with pills, IUD, natural methods, etc.

janjunie wrote: »

Sparrowly wrote: »

If your body has issues with hormonal birth control, you could learn Fertility Awareness. It's simply a matter of tracking your body's symptoms so that you know what days you are fertile, and avoid unprotected sex on those days. It's free (unless you use Clear Blue method) and works with your body instead of trying a one size fits all pill that may or may not cause a blood clot or stroke.

A woman's body temperature, discharge, hormone levels, and cervix position change during the cycle while gearing up for ovulation. If you look at some of those symptoms, you can pinpoint exactly what is going on in your body. It's science.

I am 36, never used hormonal birth control, and I have one planned child. I chart daily cervical discharge and can see exactly when I'm about to ovulate. Generally, a woman is fertile about 5 days a month! You only need to avoid unprotected sex during those fertile days.

Taking Charge of Your Fertility is a helpful book on this topic.

I know someone who did that, they ended up having 5 kids, ,when they only planned for 3.

I wasn't advocating hormonal birth control. Just saying I know someone who had two unexpected children using that method, just like someone else here mentioned that they got pregnant on the IUD.

I have had the Mirena for almost 2 years. I had some minor issues with one string but since then have had no issues.
I can't take the pill because it puts me on an emotional rollercoaster. It made me feel nuts. So my doctor recommended Mirena since it's a very low dose of hormones.
It effects different people in different ways. My best friend got one as well she doesn't get her period at all but I spot every month.
It was uncomfortable for me when I first got it but I went out and did errands after, so it wasn't that bad. Some people said they were in so much pain that they were crying... But they also have never had children.