Girls - Contraception Help?

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.

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.

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 )

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.