Which birth control??

[shannon0218]

I know this is the wrong forum but I'm going to the doctor in 30 minutes so needed some responses right away.

Here are the concerns:

1)Strong family history of breast and ovarian cancer
2)Full dose pills completely kill sex drive
3)My schedule won't really allow for taking low dose pill at same time every day.
4)Condoms--well, you gotta use em
5)My cervix is VERY high and I can't reach it--will that effect diaphram or the new nuva ring?
6)We want to TTC again in about 5 mos.

What do you all think???

[MomBirthmomStepmom]

I've been on the NuvaRing for over a year. Where you place it inside, doesn't matter, so don't worry about having a high cervix if you consider that.

I've had HORRIBLE side effects in the past with a few pills, and a bad experience with the patch, but I'd recommend the NuvaRing to any and everyone...lol

[my2girlsmama]

4)Condoms--well, you gotta use em



This is the only one we've used since having kids, it isn't as annoying as we assumed it would be.

Or the charting? It does work when done right.

[shannon0218]

Ok, so (this seems like such a stupid question) how does it stay in there and how do you get it out?? Like what if it migrates up to my cervix where I can't reach it?

[shannon0218]

Ok, I forgot to add the most important factor!

*I am downright stupid when I ovulate!*

[fromscatteredtribe]

we used the spermicidal foam or the spermicidal films (that look like listerine pocket pak strips) cost about $1 per intercourse

of course, we have had 6 pregnancies in 8 years (2 were ectopic and related to the POP pills, and bc pills made me feel HORRIBLE)

i think a combo of natural cycle awareness and some back up spermicide with the awareness that you COULD get pregnant at any time and that that IS OKAY if you do earlier than expected is pretty ideal.

hope that helps...

[nora--not a llama]

WHAT is a nuva ring? :bag:

[lena1984]

sorry i am no help

but the pull-out method and condoms don't always work :wink even when used together..i am 99.999999 % sure of this :love

[alegna]

the sponge?

-Angela

[Shonahsmom]

I like the diaphragm best.. although if you have trouble reaching your cervix, it could be a problem for you.

[my2girlsmama]

sorry i am no help

but the pull-out method and condoms don't always work :wink even when used together..i am 99.999999 % sure of this :love


lol personal experience huh? :)


Seem to work for us.....granted we had minor fertility issues after my m/c to get pregnant again so...........

[MomBirthmomStepmom]

http://nuvaring.com

You put it in and the vaginal muscles keep it in place. I have had only ONE time when it fell out and I didn't know about it, but I've heard it's rare (TMI, I had bad diarhhea one week, and believe it fell out then, I know you wanted to know that...lol)

You put your finger in and pull it out when it's time, if it travels higher then you can reach, you can try different positions to reach it, but it's never gone up too high for me.

You don't need to remember it every day, or even every week, and I got this little timer fir it *free from their website) that beeps when it's time to take one out and put one in. You can use tampons etc with it, and have sex etc without worrying about.

I don't ever feel mine (unless in certain sex positions), and it's honestly the best birth control I've ever used.

[shannon0218]

We've been using pull and pray since the last miscarriage. The problem with an unexpected pregnancy is that I have a clotting disorder along with low progesterone so we're almost guarenteed to loose another baby if I'm not medicated ASAP

[my2girlsmama]

Ok I have to ask, and forgive my dumbness....

These rings and sponges...how do you feel during sex? I mean do you feel them? Does the, er, man feel it?

I am sooooooooo stupid I know......I mean I have trouble wearing tampons, meaning I freak out thinking they'll get stuck or I'll lose the stupid string.......I can't imagine enjoying sex knowing I have a ring up there? :blush :o

[LizaBear]

Since you want to TTC so soon, I'd combine natural family planning and condoms.

[MomBirthmomStepmom]

Ok I have to ask, and forgive my dumbness....

These rings and sponges...how do you feel during sex? I mean do you feel them? Does the, er, man feel it?

I am sooooooooo stupid I know......I mean I have trouble wearing tampons, meaning I freak out thinking they'll get stuck or I'll lose the stupid string.......I can't imagine enjoying sex knowing I have a ring up there? :blush :o
hehe Since I'm NuvaRing spokesperson..lol (I seriously tell EVERYone I know about it..lol), I can tell you about that.

SO has said he's never felt it. We've used it over a year. I only feel it during certain sex positions, at which point you CAN remove it for a period of time (then rinse it and re-insert when done).

Otherwise, it's like it isn't there at all.

[Ruthla]

Since you want to TTC so soon, I'd combine natural family planning and condoms.

ITA

If you really want something "idiot proof" maybe an IUD?

[PrettyBird]

Since you want to TTC so soon, I'd combine natural family planning and condoms.

I agree with this. If you haven't already, check out the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler. It taught me SO much about my body! Even if you decide not to use FAM/NFP to avoid it is a great resource for when you do want to get pregnant.

[LizaBear]

It is an excellent book ! I honestly wish I'd read it as a pre-teen, when I first started my cycles. I learned *so* much about my body from that book - my previous ignorance astounds me.

I picked my copy up at Value Village for $3.99 CDN. Prior to that, I'd borrowed it from the library to read.

[lena1984]

lol personal experience huh? :)


Seem to work for us.....granted we had minor fertility issues after my m/c to get pregnant again so...........


yeppers personal experiance, but as much as as a suprise and shock it was...i am just as excited..i guess the higher powers that be had a plan for us :love :love :love

[Girl Named Sandoz]

I agree with this. If you haven't already, check out the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler. It taught me SO much about my body! Even if you decide not to use FAM/NFP to avoid it is a great resource for when you do want to get pregnant.

:yeah:

[kidbound]

We use condoms :)

[Kathryn]

I'd go with the Nuva ring. I did that for a couple months.

[momto l&a]

I'd vote for NFP.

I have done the temp theing and even though I would get up who know how many times a nights and never take it at the same time each moring the temps where accurite.

5 months IMO is not long and I'd stay away from bc drugs

[Penelope]

IUD's are great but must be checked vigilantly every single cycle. Mine came out with my first cycle after ds - when he was 13 months. They are also very expensive unless insurance covers them.

Other than that, a good form of BC - although maybe a lot of expense/trouble if you're TTC in 6 months.

[shannon0218]

Went with the Nuva Ring. I've done NFP and read Toni's book, I have no trouble charting my cycles my problem is that I get really stupid around ovulation and will talk myself and dh into unprotected sex--and since I had a d&c with significant health complications just a month ago, it's important that I wait until at least January (which is when we see the new specialist)
Now I just have to figure out how to get it in there ;)

[MomBirthmomStepmom]

I hope you have good luck with the NuvaRing.

(bend it together like in the middle, put a fingertip in one hoop, and put it in, it's the easiest for me to do it. Also, don't be discouraged if it takes a couple tries to get it, it's something new for you, and every now and then I still have to try a couple times before I get mine in)

[shannon0218]

Thanks a lot for that! It would have freaked me out if I didn't get it in right the first time. It seems fairly hard and large, I can't believe I'm not going to feel this! She gave me three months worth to try before I commit to it.

[MomBirthmomStepmom]

I bet ya once you get it in, you won't feel it...lol

(also, once you've done the loop thing etc, go ahead and push it back just a bit more, so you feel emotionally/mentally more comfortable about it. I tend to use my thumb to do that..lol)

[MomBirthmomStepmom]

OH! And be very careful of your finger nails! I've 'pinched' myself more times than I care to count, YEEEOWCH!!! :lol

[shannon0218]

No fingernails here, I just need 5 minutes where I don't have a whiney 9 mos old hanging off my leg.

[MomBirthmomStepmom]

Good luck with that too! ;) :lol

[Bleu]

No Sponge!!!!!! Its effectiveness drops by half if you've carried a baby to term, regardless how you birthed.

[boysrus]

Shannon, you are able and willing to try again? The last miscarriage was soo scary!
It is funny that someone here said TCOYF should be required reading for preteens. I just wrote that exact statement for my psychology class about half an hour ago!Shannon, I could not use the NFP for the same reason. Too much power, OOOH we could get pg right now! And spending all that time thinking about it really puts me in the mood to

[Godiva]

yeah, no birth control is 100%...the pill is only 99.9% and they mean it!! I thought they were just saying that before.....

[shannon0218]

:lol Our first pregnancy was on the pill, I think I may have missed a day, our last was using condoms--the only successful was with an IUI which seems strange for a couple that conceives just looking at each other ;)

[annakiss]

Moved to Family Planning...

[CinnamonDeMarco]

These rings and sponges...how do you feel during sex? I mean do you feel them? Does the, er, man feel it?


I use a diaphram and we can't feel it.

[MomBirthmomStepmom]

These rings and sponges...how do you feel during sex? I mean do you feel them? Does the, er, man feel it?


I use a diaphram and we can't feel it.
Earlier in the thread I talked about out experience with the ring. We've used it over a year, and neither my SO or I feel it during sex, with the exception of one sexual position. During that, however, you ARE able to remove it for a bit of time (I believe it's up to 3 hours), and then rinse it and reinsert it when you're done.

[shannon0218]

I put the ring in last night, I have to admit, I can't feel it at all. I was surprised because it's a decent size and while flexable, it's fairly stiff. Had a bit of trouble getting it in until I got the right angle (thanks for the warning!!!) Haven't had sex yet to let you know about that--but I'll be sure to report when we do :lol
My gyn said she likes the ring so much because the side effects are much more liek the low dose pill but you don't have the responsibility of taking it at the same time each day to make it effective. She's been prescribing it for a year and says she has rave reviews. So far I like it :)

[Bleu]

These rings and sponges...how do you feel during sex? I mean do you feel them? Does the, er, man feel it?I can't speak to the ring, but I couldn't feel the Sponge when I used it (back in the '90s, before it became unavailable) and I ***loved*** the Sponge. "The, er, man" :lol claimed he could feel it. I don't think he was flattering himself, either. But it wasn't unpleasant, it was just there.

Of greater concern was, er, taste. I used to insert it and then take a bath, or at least sponge-bath the hell outta myself to try to minimize the mouthful-of-spermicide effect for the er, man. It's not a nice taste and it can numb your mouth. The thing is, it's not just whatever leaks out when you insert it -- your juices get all bug-killer-y, too. Not an issue specific to The Sponge, really, since ANY use of spermicide can have this effect.

And I still have to lapse into my PSA: How Well the Sponge Works

Sixteen out of 100 women who have never given birth and use the sponge will become pregnant during the first year of typical use. Nine will become pregnant with perfect use. Of 100 women who have given birth and use the sponge, 32 will become pregnant during the first year of typical use. Twenty will become pregnant with perfect use. [italics added]from Planned Parenthood page on The Sponge (http://www.plannedparenthood.org/pp2/portal/files/portal/medicalinfo/birthcontrol/pub-birth-control-19.xml)

IOW, the failure rate for The Sponge is TWICE as high if you've given birth vaginally. I haven't found any studies on c-section moms, but since you can't use the same diaphragm after a c-section birth, I'd be inclined to stay away from The Sponge regardless how the baby came out of your body.

I know I repeat myself, but I loved The Sponge, I wish I could still use it, nobody knows how much childbirth compromises its effectiveness, so it's quite a bee in my bonnet.

[mommyofshmoo]

I've been thinking about the nuvoring and I had a question.

I'm allergic to spermicide and latex, so a lot of brith control gives me irritation and infections.

Has anyone had problems with this? Discharge?

Also- is there a taste issue? Spermicide is so nasty. It's not just a problem for my partner- he gets it in his mouth, i kiss him and get it in mine. Any kind of touchingof nether regions gets on hands which eventually go in your mouth at some point. ICK!

I'm glad I've heard goopd things. I don't really trust myself to take the minipill religiously, so the ring may work well for me.

[shannon0218]

I can't imagine there'd be a taste issue with the ring, it's not wet or anything and the hormone is released from the little ring over a month-there is no spermicide in it. Dh is off on Fri, Sat night so I'll let you know after the weekend ;)

[MomBirthmomStepmom]

There is *no* taste issue here.

Umm the allergy thing, I also have a mild latex allergy, the only *symptom* I've ever gotten with the NuvaRing was extra discharge. Nothing major, and after that first month, not even noticable to me.

It's been over a year for me, and I absolutely love it, there's nothing bad about it, doesn't interfere with a normal sex life, no remembering to take it right on time each day etc.

Also, if you go to the website, you can get a free timer sent to you that beeps when you need to take it out and put a new one in. It also comes with calendar stickers to help remind you as well.

[Lucysmama]

The website says you can't use the NuvaRing while nursing, though...?

[Bleu]

That's because hormonal bc can tank your supply, and because some of the hormones come through in the milk -- hormones which have not been proven safe for babies.

[crazy_eights]

No Sponge!!!!!! Its effectiveness drops by half if you've carried a baby to term, regardless how you birthed.

Wow. Didn't know that. I have a 'sponge' baby (not telling which one ;) , but not my first). I'd love to see a cit. for that info (and would spread that word far and wide).

ETA -- duh. read farther and see the info. thanks!

[crazy_eights]

That's because hormonal bc can tank your supply, and because some of the hormones come through in the milk -- hormones which have not been proven safe for babies.

The insert (which I read on their site) says something like even if it doesn't 'tank your supply', you baby can develop breasts and have other hormonal side effects. The other thing I was wondering is that seeing as the 'patch' (ortho-evra) just made an announcement (http://www.cnn.com/2005/HEALTH/11/10/patch.warning.ap.ap/) about 60% more hormones being absorbed b/c it bypasses your GI tract, and hence the 3x higher clotting problems and death rate vs. the pill - wouldn't the same be true for the nuvaring?

[Sarah'sMama]

I've been following this thread with much interest. I've been unhappy with my birth control pills, but don't like the idea of the patch or iud, or condoms, and I, too, become stupid during ovulation, so nfp is not good for us. The thing I really don't like about the pills is I believe it decreases my libido. Does the nuva ring have the same effect, or is it different? I'm really interested, and seriously considering switching, so I'd like to know if that's a potential side effect. Thanks!

[shannon0218]

Sherri, I can let you know soon on whether it decreases my sex drive. That was always my big problem with the pill too--I could have cared less if I was ever touched again :lol
Right now my arthritis is flared so I don't have enough drive of any kind, but hopefully I can fill you in soon.
I'm not nursing but I do have a clotting disorder. My OB called the hemotoligist before giving me the nuvaring and he said the risks are the same as the mini pill (technically the regular pill is out for me and the patch is VERY out) so I'm thinking the risks to nursing may be the same but it's not something I looked into. One thing she said is that blood values of the hormones are not very high and that is because they get absorbed directly into the uterus. So similar to progesterone supplementation while pregnant. I for instance had horrible blood levels of progesterone but when I miscarried anyway this last time I had my OB take a progesterone level of the uterine lining and my progesterone level there was quite high and nothing to worry about (my blood level was 6-and I was on hugh progesterone doses)

[Sarah'sMama]

Thanks for the info, Shannon. I hope your arthritis flare up is clearing up.

on a side note, every time I see a post from you I think of my sister, her name is Shannon, too! :p

[MomBirthmomStepmom]

I've been following this thread with much interest. I've been unhappy with my birth control pills, but don't like the idea of the patch or iud, or condoms, and I, too, become stupid during ovulation, so nfp is not good for us. The thing I really don't like about the pills is I believe it decreases my libido. Does the nuva ring have the same effect, or is it different? I'm really interested, and seriously considering switching, so I'd like to know if that's a potential side effect. Thanks!
My libido was also NOTHING while using the pill (tried 3 or 4 different kinds, and same thing), I could care less if anyone even looked at me.

Not a problem with the NuvaRing for me. I have my normal sex drive, and it just isn't interfering at all for me (I know it might be different for some!)...

[shannon0218]

Oh great nuva ring guru. So far so good with the ring, but man oh man, I have tons of "discharge" It's exactly like when I was like 8 mos pregnant. I saw up in the thread that you noticed that too but what I'm wondering is did it subside or did you just get used to it?

[MomBirthmomStepmom]

It DID subside, but it took a couple cycles to do it, 2, maybe 3. It went back to totally normal after that. Not sure why *shrugs* Never asked about it either, but others I knew using it, had the same thing...

[tink79]

Alright, someone help me please :)

I've tried the low dose pill several times and it always causes constant migraines, the NP at my last appt said that it was the only kind of BC she could prescribe because I have PCOS. Anyone have any info on that? I know my cycles and I know when I ovulate, however that's when I seem to want to get busy the most :mischief and condoms are yucky.

The nuva ring sounds too good to be true, I'm wondering if it's a possibility.

[marilynmama]

Ok, I am another raving lunatic for the NuvaRing. It is the BEST birth control I have ever used in my life (and I've tried them all...lol).

I've been using it for about a year now (?). For *me* it is simply perfect. I did NFP for about 4 years and I just wanted birth control I didn't have to think about.

Someone asked about the discharge? I had discharge with it for about the first 2-3 months and nothing but normal after that. Remember the first 3 months your body is adjusting to it. I also had pretty sore boobs the first 3 months and now nothing at all. All that is normal for hormonal birth control though, and it doesn't last.

I never feel it, it has never once fallen out, I can skip my period with it (leave it in for 4 weeks, take it out and put in a new one the same day), with sex I leave it in because I can't feel it nor can dh...but you CAN take it out for up to 3 hours, wash it off and reinsert if you don't like it with sex. My dh has never tasted anything whatsoever during oral sex with the ring in :) I asked because I was worried about it as well.

I have not lost my sex drive like I did with the pill. The pill basically dried me up and I never wanted to have sex, I haven't had that problem with the NuvaRing.

I just love the NuvaRing!! :bouncy

[Yama]

Alright, you women have convinced me to get the NuvaRing. I tried the sponge just two days ago for the first time....and it was ok until I pulled it out and what a !!%&# mess! I was disgusted. I'm not interested in digging in my vagina everytime I have sex :lol I don't mind doing it once every three weeks with the ring.
Also, I almos sh*t my skirt when I read that the effectiveness of the sponge decreases after the birth of children :jaw I've got three! So, I feel like I just had unprotected sex...

Alright, I'm done ranting and cursing....carry on :blah

Lioness
from Jersey

[shannon0218]

Well, I have to say that so far I'm thrilled with the ring. I just had my first period since starting it and it was 3 days of spotting and then over. Every since Molly was born--even on the pill and without anything, my periods have been 10-12 days long and horribly heavy!!
Also, since being a teenager, I've always had migraines for the first month of new birth control. Generally 5 or 6 in the month. This time, I had one (and I confess that MAY have been mostly hangover)

[MomBirthmomStepmom]

Shannon, I'm so glad it's working well for you!! I also noticed my periods were MUCH shorter and lighter on the ring (3-4 days, light, as opposed to my old 8 days of mostly heavy).

[TechnoGranola]

The other thing I was wondering is that seeing as the 'patch' (ortho-evra) just made an announcement (http://www.cnn.com/2005/HEALTH/11/10/patch.warning.ap.ap/) about 60% more hormones being absorbed b/c it bypasses your GI tract, and hence the 3x higher clotting problems and death rate vs. the pill - wouldn't the same be true for the nuvaring?I was wondering the same thing.

[MomBirthmomStepmom]

I was wondering the same thing.
I did have worry about this for a bit, but NuvaRing is a very low dose of hormone... ALL hormonal bc's have this risk really, so yes you have to weigh the pros and cons for yourself...

[TechnoGranola]

I did have worry about this for a bit, but NuvaRing is a very low dose of hormone... ALL hormonal bc's have this risk really, so yes you have to weigh the pros and cons for yourself...It is less than the patch then?

[shannon0218]

Yes, it's less than the patch. The ring was actually the only hormonal birth control that my hemetoligist said was fine to use. Apparently because the hormones are absorbed directly into the uterus, the actual blood load is VERY low. They are however still there--just like with the mini-pill, he said some women still clot on these low dose ones. In his opinion the benefits of the nuva ring are that the birth control is FAR more reliable than the mini pill, with a similar blood load of hormone. As he said to me--for me, the risk of an unnoticed pregnancy for me carries with it higher risks of clotting than a low dose hormonal b.c.

[MomBirthmomStepmom]

It is less than the patch then?
Yes, it's much less.

Shannon said it well. :)

(Shannon, once again, just wanna say I'm glad you're happy with it :) )

[TechnoGranola]

Thanks for the info shannon0218. I am very interested in it, but yet super scared of it at the same time. Over the years I've tried several pills and even when on the lowest of the low dose ones I had problems. Very sore breasts every month and I would get more emotional (and other symptoms). When I quit taking the low dose one after having been on it for just under a year, my periods were lasting 14 days and I had severe cramping. It took me over 2 years to get them back to normal and they are still a little long. Thus, I am scared to try anything hormonal!

[shannon0218]

I was scared too, my OB said she's had a lot of success with it in people who've had major issues with hormonal birth control.Fortunately, I really trust my OB

[midwestmeg]

I'm so excited I found this thread! This bc thing after kids is tricky! I've been using the minipill, but I hate the cost and since we plan on having more than one dc, I am mostly interested in family spacing.

That said, I've been working on learning NFP and charting from good ole Toni. It's okay, but I realized reading this thread that I totally want to cheat when I'm ovulating- I didn't even realize that's what I was doing until I read that others have a hard times then, too.

So I'm interested in this ring talk.... anyone using it while nursing?

And THANKS for the info on the sponge; I've been looking everywhere for them, I used them years ago, before they when off the market and loved 'em.

Right now we're using condoms (how exciting) and charting, but I'd like something a little easier, especially since we spend a lot of time together during these long Minnesota winters!!

Oh, and, when I got pregnant, it was because dh convinced me to try a month or two off the pill because he thought it was 'making me crazy'. I told him HE was crazy, but you know what, the pill totally removes my sex drive and makes me emotional. Or else I was just a very dramatic person for the last 10 years.

Anyway, sorry for all the :blah ! Meg

[TechnoGranola]

So I'm interested in this ring talk.... anyone using it while nursing?From the web site http://www.nuvaring.com/Consumer/isNuvaRingForMe/thingsToConsider/index.asp

Do not breast-feed while using NuvaRing®. Some of the medicine may pass through the milk to the baby and could cause yellowing of the skin (jaundice) and breast enlargement in your baby. NuvaRing® could also decrease the amount and quality of your breast milk.