What kind of birth control should i choose?

I swear by Yasmin, not Yaz, Yasmin...it is low hormone and has minimal side affects. That's my two cents!

I adore mine... Levora (aka Levlen)
it is a monophasic, meaning it has the same dose of hormone all month long.
benefits:
1. less mood swing/PMS symptoms
2. less acne
3. ability to decide to skip a period...just start taking a new pill pack on the day the "active" pills run out of the first pack. (heard of pills like seasonale? that's how they work)

tri-phasic (three levels of hormone) can't offer these benefits to the same degree, and cannot be used to skip your period

I am calling all the women who is using birth control, i can't decide which one to use. I heard that any kind of pills affect your weight, and besides they can cause the stroke. Anyone has any ideas or information?

abstinence, take all that sexual energy and hit the gym..imagine the workout!! :laugh: ..just kidding.

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

I use Mirena (the IUD). IT!!! It's good for 5 years and don't have the weight gain or mood swings when I was on Tri-Sprintec. Since I am going to be in Pharmacy School the entire time... It worked for me. Tri-Cyclen Low is a great one to keep you feeling "normal". Oh FYI...generics are not all they are cracked up to be (read not REALLY the same as the name brand....but close enough). When it comes to birth control, just go for the good ones. Better quality less side effecfts! The Ring has a lot of side effects so does the patch...

all hormones regardless of method of delivery (pill, patch, ring) carry a risk of stroke or blood clot. this risk is WAAAY higher if you smoke as well.

I take a baby aspirin every day to "counter" this. not because I have to, but just in case....

I used Depo Provera for 2 years (the shot) and then had switched to Seasonique, where you take pills for 3 months and then take a week off. Both were my choice becasue they keep you from menstruating.

BUT......

Right after I stopped using b/c, I got a serious DVT blood clot that nearly killed me! I also (although this is less significant than near death) gained 40 pounds while on Depo. This affect is rare, but it happens. I'm off b/c for good!

How about the kind with a period every 3 months?

that's seasonale/seasonique

you can do the same thing with any mono-phasic pill. just ask your doc for a pill with one same level of hormone all month long (one name brand is levlen, aka levora for generic). then when you get to the "inactive" (last week) of pills, toss 'em, and start a new pack. you may have a bit of spotting, but not like a regular period.

I have treid 3 kinds myself.

The patch does NOT stay stuck.

The pill made me hormonal and a bit nuts !

I have been on the Depo shot for about 5 years and have not had any troubles with it, and you only have to worry about birth control every 3 months instead of every day.

All of these have good feedback, now here's my two cents--

I tried several kinds of hormonal birth control-- tri-phase, monophase, progesterone only, and the ring, and had similar results with all of them--crazy mood swings and depression.

While there's anecdotal evidence all over the place and some research, doctors do not tend to take the complaint of mood effects seriously. I was told several times to "just stick with it and wait it out" after 6 months or a year. My doctors also suggested anti-depressants, claiming that the bc couldn't possibly be causing the problem and that I must have a genetic tendency towards depression that needed to be treated with yet more meds (also a disaster--yeesh). When I'd been off the meds for a year, I went into therapy and my counselor was surprised that I'd ever been diagnosed with depression or medicated.

This doesn't by any means happen to everyone, but for every 3 women I know who do really well on bc, 1 has had the same experience as me. It's more common than suggested by doctors.

SO, talk to your doc, find something that you think will work, give it a fair shot (yes, it does take a while to get used to)... but remember that you know your body and your mind. If you're experiencing crazy weight gain or mood swings, GET OFF IT! You're putting extra hormones in your body and messing with its natural balance. Your body may cope just fine with that... or not.

And condoms work just fine, and if you work with your partner to find the right brand and size and activity to go along with them, the sex is just as good imho=)

Good luck!

I have mirena and hate it. As soon as i have health insurance again it is gone. It has caused me problems from the beginning. I bleed for almost 7 months straight and had horrible cramping the entire time (which has not stopped). I get yeast infections constantly and I'm pretty sure I have been getting ovarian cysts (happened on the pill). For me though it seems anything with hormones does this to me. I just seem to have bad luck i guess.
If it doesn't cause you these problems it would be great though. It is supposed to lighten periods and is good for 5 years. But for some people it causes big problems.

I just use ortho tri cyclen lo

I can tell that TOM is a little bit lighter...lol I like to know when it will come instead of SURPRISE!