Birth control? - Page 2

[pumpkinhead]

Copper 'T' IUD here, no hormones, not sure of the brand (hafta check). It's only good for 2 years which is right around our projected TTC date anyhow. Some bleeding and cramping upon insertion at 5 mos PP, but no prob's since. Ds was concieved during condom/spermicide use . It's nice that it's something that I don't have to remember to take or do. So far, so good! Ds is almost 15 mos....

I have a friend who's friend's babe was born with her IUD clenched in his fist . Goes to show you that NOTHING is infallible.

[turquoise]

I've used the pill, condoms, diaphragm, and now we're happy with nursing (no AF for at least 13 months) and natural family planning when AF returns. I like NFP because I feel more in tune with my body, kwim? But it's easy for me to say because my cycles are fairly regular. But I have heard it's helpful for women who's cycles are irregular because they get more warning when AF will be around (they're more in-tune). But I imagine it's a harder learning curve for them.

My biological mom got a really bad infection because of the IUD (of course this was 20 years ago) and couldn't have anymore kids because of it. (this can be looked at as a good thing actually : )

DH will never be snipped if I have my say because if I die tomorrow he may meet someone else who wants more kids. And the same for me if he were to go first.

HITH!

[sleepies]

depo

i am on the depo shot

the first 3 months of it i had weird side effects (nothing major), but after the first 3 months it has been totally great. no real side effects (other than no period--which im not complaining).

depo does also tend to make me more hungry than usual, so it is a little harder to resist eating, and i think a lot of women gain a lot of weight from it because of that. if you watch what you eat LIKE NORMALLY then you are fine, but you have to not give in to the "depo cravings".

anyhow, i like it ok. and no babies from it. which is more than i can say for other things i have tried.

[bebe luna]

Well for the past 10 years I have practiced NFP (charting, checking mucus, temp, used to check cervix dilation w/ speculum and mirror, and w/in past 2 yrs used a saliva tester/fertility indicator).
Both my pregnancies occurred using NFP.
I currently strongly believe I am one of those who ovulate more than once a month.
We are not planning to have more children.
There is no way I would ever use any hormone pills, shots, or any chemical barriers, spermicides, sponges, etc... dh hates condoms, I am not confident about diaghrams, definately would never do an IUD...
and now am feeling iffy about NFP for myself...
so, although I am aware of the concerns and possible risks of tubal ligation, I am seriously considering having it done after baby#2 arrives.

[Charmie981]

there is no way I would ever use any hormone pills, shots, or any chemical barriers, spermicides, sponges, etc... dh hates condoms, I am not confident about diaghrams, definately would never do an IUD...

I feel the same way. I'm morally opposed to an IUD and my body is biologically opposed to hormonal forms of birth control. DH hates anything that interferes with the moment (VCF, condoms, diaphragm, etc). I don't do very well with NFP or FAM because during the time when I'm ovulating, I really do *want* another baby. Two days later, I'm thinking "WHAT?! I don't WANT A BABY RIGHT NOW!!" but during that fertile period, I'm essentially in heat. It's CRAZY! That's why I've decided on the cervical cap.

The cervical cap is like an extended wear contact lens for your cervix. It fits on your cervix using the same suction concept as contact lenses, so there isn't any concern about your muscles being strong enough to hold it (or not). The cap itself is made of a soft rubber-ish material and 99% of sexual partners say they can't feel it during intercourse because it is flesh-like enough that it's imperceptible. You can use a small amount of spermicide inside the cap, put it in, and leave it in for two to three days. There is no need to remove it after intercourse or to add more spermicide before a second act of intercourse. If you're sensitive to spermicide, you can use it without, though you are going to sacrifice some of the effectiveness. When you take it out, you wash it with soap and water and soak in a mild vinegar solution to disinfect it and remove protein deposits. Check for any holes (in which case you need a new one), put some spermicide in it and re-insert it.

With a cervical cap you do need to have a pap every 6 months to make sure that it's still fitting properly and not causing irritation to the cervix. I haven't used one yet, but really think that it's the answer to my birth control woes. I sure hope so!

[nutmeggmama]

We use billings, and the occasional latex free condom. On cervical fluid alone we have prevented pregnancy for 8 mo. dd is 18 mo, got af at 11mo. We dont like condoms, so we tend to abstain when im fertile. I LOVE knowing whats going on with mybody. And ive has some crazy wacked out cycles where if i wasnt keeping track, i would have thought for sure i was preggo, or something was wrong. but, i knew what was happening, and i love it.

[petit_bleuet]

I had the copper IUD and loved it but my body, cursed of all birth control, didn't. It fell out into my Keeper during an excessively heavy period with major cramping and clotting. I'm pretty sure I miscarried.

We actually were not planning on having children, Ian was quite a surprise, so DH got snipped. At the ripe old age of 29. I asked him repeatedly to make sure he was ready for it, to consider that something could happen to me or our relationship and he might one day be in the position to remarry and she might want children. His response was that if she wants children she would not be right for him.

And as an aside, we saw Kevin Hauber's site between DH's initial consultation with his urologist and the snip. DH received an extensive packet of information about potential side effects leading us to believe some of what Hauber writes about certainly is possible. However, we both found this paragraph telling:

By now you have probably asked yourself, ìHow can this guy be saying all this? After all, he doesnít have ëDr.í in front of his name.î Actually, I have lived the nightmare of chronic pain and autoimmune reactions since my own vasectomy in August of 1999. Twelve surgeries and nerve blocks, and well over a hundred medications and therapies that I have pursued in the interim have not resolved the pain I experience on a daily basis. Other men have told of similar experiences for even longer durations. Many men are reluctant to discuss this issue due to its highly personal nature

[applejuice]

Originally posted by USAmma
.... You have to check for the string after each period and knowing me I'll check more often than that. ...

Darshani

The problem with the old IUDs and all IUDs is the infection rate.

One of the ways the infection is introduced into the pelvic cavity is through the string...it acts as a wick for germs and bacteria to invade the uterus and the pelvic cavity, which is the old problem with the IUD thereby causing infection and scar tissue.

[pumpkinhead]

This is from http://www.wdxcyber.com/ncontr07.htm

In most instances it has been shown that infection rates are not
increased with long term use and there are definite benefits to using a contraceptive that
does not have unwanted hormonal effects. Thus the IUCD has been given a bad but
undeserved reputation and it is really worth looking at as a method of contraception for
many women.

The strings they now use (microfilament polyethylene) are very safe and anti-bacterial. But, the risk IS still there. You just have to weigh your options: hormonal vs. mechanical vs. barrier vs. chemical vs. PREGNANCY

[chiromommy]

I am also birth control challenged. My body does not like hormones or spermicide (Isn't amazing how our bodies have a natural disdain for anything trying to prevent procreation!)
I had an IUD when dh and I were dating but my GYN did not listen to my history and put in a progestasert instead of the non-hormone copper iud i requested. I was a wreck (Way worse than normal cramping, clots, super heavy flow, and emotionally a mess) for several months before I finally had it taken out (I switched GYNs) and found out it was a progestasert. So i don't know how much was iud and how much was hormones, but it was bad enough for me that i will not do it again no matter what kind.
We use condoms and abstain during ovulation, but that's how we got # 2 when I ovulated super early with no warning (my cycles are typically VERY regular). We don't want any more kids right now, but i am concerned about anything permanent beacause of dangers and our age ( i am 25 and dh is 30). Whether the info on the net is true or not, it is something i had thought about before - it makes sense.
Barrier methods are about our only option - i am leary of nfp after last time.
So that is my story - probably of no help (other than check the pkg before your doc puts in the iud)

[turquoise]

a little T : has anyone here used an ovulation predictor kit to augment their NFP/FAM? I've heard it can be helpful and cost about as much as BCP.

[USAmma]

Have you all heard of that new form of permanant birth control where they insert little coils into the fallopian tubes? It's non surgical, they go through the cervix to the uterus. After a period of time the tubes build up scar tissue around the coils and bingo-- you are sterilzed. No hormones or anything. I was thinking about doing this in 5 years or so when we are sure we are done, rather than dh getting snipped.

Darshani

[aircantu1]

Isn't the cervical cap only like 60% effective after you've had kids?

[Jane]

Originally Posted by USAmma

Have you all heard of that new form of permanant birth control where they insert little coils into the fallopian tubes? It's non surgical, they go through the cervix to the uterus. After a period of time the tubes build up scar tissue around the coils and bingo-- you are sterilzed. No hormones or anything.

It's called Essure (http://www.essure.com/consumer/c_homepage.aspx). I know a few people who looked into it, but were turned off by the inexperience of the practioners (burned by norplant, I guess). Also, sometimes it doesn't take and you have to get tied anyway. I think it could be a very nice non surgical way to reduce fertility if not prevent conception entirely.

[Ragana]

Originally Posted by turquoise

a little T : has anyone here used an ovulation predictor kit to augment their NFP/FAM? I've heard it can be helpful and cost about as much as BCP.

I'd be interested in hearing about this, too. Especially if you've had experience with Persona. It's a system they sell in Europe, not in the US (maybe they do now?), but I've seen it available on the Internet. I am thinking about this for extra security (very fertile! - with DD1 it took 10 days after going off the Pill and with DD2 it was about 2 months of not actively trying...) although it's kind of expensive. Not as expensive as another child, though!