Birth Control?

[NewMom0208]

Wandering what you natural mamas do for birth control.
If you use prescription, which one do you use?

I am terrified of the drungs side effects. I have never used birth control in my life.
Crazy me used the calendar method and Coitus interruptus when in doubt.
Ex and I never liked condoms. (But i would reconsider)

Then I had years of unexplained unfertility. Then I got pregnant the natural way at 38.

Now I am dating and I think it might be a matter of time before I face the decision...so I want to be ready.

Thank you!

[WTHamI?]

We used condoms exclusively and successfully for almost five years. (I use the past-tense as we are now TTC.) I never found a form of hormonal birth control that didn't give me side effects that were too much to deal with. Specifically chronic migraines and depression. I tried the patch and a couple forms of the pill and had bad experiences with all. After we have a baby we will either go back to condoms or I may try a diaphragm, but I will never try anything hormonal again. You can also do a combo of barrier methods with charting/NFP and only use them when youLre fertile if you aren't wild about condoms. My cycles aren't regular enough to depend on it but we would go without when I was sure I had already O'ed and did fine. I will strongly caution against Yaz/Yasmin though. I know several people personally who had issues with blood clots after being on it only a short time. All non-smokers in good health. One very good friend had clots in her lungs and literally almost died, in the ICU for a week and had to take blood thinners for a year after beibg on Yaz for only a month. Of course some are on it and do fine, but I have seen enough people that have had severe problems that I consider it very dangerous.

[Holland73]

I'm on the pill... Microgestin, to be exact. And, use condoms when I am active with anyone. I am a HUGE safety girl, in regards to both pregnancy and STDs. I just refuse to take any risks.

I just don't trust myself with NFP methods AND I absolutely, positively cannot have another child, so I am not going to mess around with it.

Anyway, I have been on birth control pills, off and on, for over 15 years. After the initial few months of adjusting when first beginning the pills, I have never had any problems thereafter.

In fact, bc pills help me significantly with dealing with my PMS symptoms. When I have gone off my pills for long periods of time, my PMS and periods are horrendous.

In the end, everybody is different. It is always best to work with your doctor to find what is right for you and your lifestyle.

[Halfasianmomma]

Ditto for being back on the BC pill (+ using condoms). I was on this awesome pill for 14 years before conceiving DD (Triphasil). It worked really well for me. I went off it for a MONTH and then I got preggo right away. I took Micronor while breastfeeding and had *zero* libido (crankiness, etc etc), so it was a great "contraceptive"

Sadly, the makers of Triphasil had some kind of manufacturing oops sometime in 2005 and they've stopped making it, much to the dismay of many women who found that particular combination to be perfect for them. It was great for me too: less migraines, no more acne, very light 4 day period, no cramps, no mood swings. There was an adjustment period of 3 months when I first started taking them, but eventually, my cycle fell in line and was like clockwork for over a decade after that. The concept of a missed period is completely foreign to me.

I'm taking Tricyclen right now and it seems ok (though I did have some breast soreness at first).

[doubledutch]

i have an iud because i'm not comfortable taking hormones. there's an iud with (synthetic) progesterone, and one without (which uses copper). obviously i have the one without.

eta: with an iud, you have to be cautious about stds/infections, so outside of a long-term monogamous relationship, condoms are a must.

[SophieAnn]

I've been on a combination pill for the last 13 years (Alesse, specifically). No side effects that I'm aware of, though I do get migraines I have no way of knowing if it's related or not, especially as they only started in the last few years.

For approx. 6-12 months I tried NuvaRing but had horrible side effects. Very low libido, raging PMS like I'd never felt before - felt completely out of control every month. Went back to Alesse and felt normal again.

[*MamaJen*]

I don't do hormonal birth control (it kills my libido) so I got a copper IUD about six months ago. I love it. It made my periods a little heavier, but not too bad. Like Doubledutch said, you do have to combine it with condoms.
If, in some theoretical universe, I ever actually have sex again, I will be well prepared.

[herdingkittens]

Check out natural family planning at:

http://www.ccli.org/

this is not the calendar method, by the way. It is 99% effective (surprisingly more effective than the pill), and does not involve any chemicals or anything unnatural. Simply learning your cycles and abstaining during fertile times.

Hope that helps, and peace and love!

[blue_victoria]

I love the IUD. No side effects. It doesn't have hormones unless you get the Mirena which has a very low dose of hormones (not the same ones in the pill). You get it put in and just leave it in there for up to 5 years. It's not recommended for someone who has many partners though.

[JunipersMom]

Condoms.. no side effects and I learn alot about a man at how they react and embrace birth control

[One_Girl]

I had my tubes tied. It was a quick and easy procedure and there is no need to worry about drugs or birth control now. I insist on condoms though because stds are a bigger concern. You can give a baby up for adoption but an std is there forever.

[LoveOhm]

I have an IUD (Mirena) with no negative side affects, but I'm in committed relationship and even then we use condoms as well. No need to risk an unplanned preganacy....

[Phoenix~Mama]

I'll be doing the NFP route with condomns as well.

BC screwed me up royally and I didn't ovulate/have a period for like 6 months and it was so scary and I was scared to death that I wasn't ever going to ovulate again. No way I'll go back on that stuff.

[DTmama1]

I have an IUD- Mirena, and I love it. I have almost no period. I have a year left on it and am going to be really sad when I have to switch to something else.

[doubledutch]

Originally Posted by DTmama1

I have an IUD- Mirena, and I love it. I have almost no period. I have a year left on it and am going to be really sad when I have to switch to something else.

why would you have to switch to something else? can't you just replace it?

[~Charlie's~Angel~]

I am on Yaz. I LOVE IT. Light, 4 day periods, prettier skin then ive had ever in my LIFE, and no side effects. I understand thats not the same for everyone, but there it is for me.

Its EXPENSIVE, but you can get online coupons so that it is 20 bucks a month, IF your insurance doesnt cover it. Mine does NOT until I hit my high deductible, so the online coupon is a must for me.

Good Luck!

[GeekMom84]

I'm in the same boat with not wanting to use a birth control with hormones, used condoms for years but last summer I got a copper IUD. I love being able to not have to worry when the mood strikes.

It was annoying The first two months because of the pain factor. I rarely got cramps before but with the IUD I can feel when my period is going to start because I get bad ones now. Nothing a few motrin cant fix but annoying for someone who's never had to deal with them before. It's gotten better since.

Also, my periods are WAY heavier than they ever were. The good thing is that they only last 3 days now instead of a week.

[Bad Mama Jama]

i have the paraguard iud and like it. i don't even usually give it a thought and that makes me happy. i chose the one without hormones because i don't usually respond well to the excess hormones floating throughout my system.

[NewMom0208]

Thank you everybody for your responses, keep them coming!
About the copper uid, sounds great, but I already have 3-day heavy periods with painful cramps. Will an uid make it worse?

I am super fraid of bc side effects when using hormones and stuff.
I did hormones to try to get pregnant and then much more than that when I tried in vitro. I ended up in the hospital with a dangerous condition...

[I got pregnant with my son in 2008 au natural, I think my fertility problem diagnosis is called "God's timing"]

Meanwhile, I wull have to stick to condoms, arg!

[doubledutch]

if you already have heavy periods and painful cramps, i doubt the iud would make it seem worse. i experienced that prior to getting the iud and i really didn't feel like it was any worse. the main difference was that i'd have a day or two of lighter cramps/spotting before my period really hit, which i actually appreciate. i like the warning. that was pre-baby. now i've had two babies (using the iud between pregnancies and since my second was born) and i feel like my periods are normal. some cramping, heavy for a couple days, then a few lighter days.

if your cramps are really nasty, you could look into an herbal supplement, or red raspberry leaf tea or other "women's" tea. it can really help! for thriftiness (and less packaging), you can make your own tea or infusion from the bulk herb aisle.