[MarineWife]

Here a few links about the success rate of vas reversal. It's expensive, too, about $10,000-$12,000, I think I read.<br><br>
"Usually, 50% of men who undergo these reversals are able to produce a pregnancy after vasectomy."<br><br><a href="http://www.pregnancy-info.net/infertility_vasectomy_reversal.html" target="_blank">http://www.pregnancy-info.net/infert..._reversal.html</a><br><br>
"How successful is vasectomy reversal?<br><br>
Between 80-90% of men who undergo vasectomy reversal will have sperm in the ejaculate after a few months (up to 18 months). However, the pregnancy rates are about 50% (if vasectomy reversal is within 10 years) and 25% (if vasectomy reversal after 10 years) due to poor motility of sperm after vasectomy and possibly antisperm antibodies. While pregnancy may occur within a few months, most pregnancies occur a year after the procedure."<br><br><a href="http://www.ivf-infertility.com/vasectomy_reversal.php" target="_blank">http://www.ivf-infertility.com/vasectomy_reversal.php</a><br><br><a href="http://www.vasectomymedical.com/vasectomy-reversal-success-rates.html" target="_blank">http://www.vasectomymedical.com/vase...ess-rates.html</a>

 

[Haselnuss]

I'm completely out of ideas regarding birth control at this point, too.<br><br><div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">I have also read that the Lea's Shield is quite effective, even without spermicide,</td>
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FWIW, I started using Lea's Shield in early March (always *with* spermicide), and the baby's due in early December.<br><br>
As for vasectomies, not only are they not necessarily reversible, but there are scary side effects - you can find the links at the bottom of the Wiki page: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasectomy" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasectomy</a><br><br>
There is no way I could let my husband go through some of those things.

 

[rhiandmoi]

What about a diaphragm or cervical cap? The spermicide used is on the girl side so might not bother your dh, and is not absolutely essential, but does increase the effectiveness a lot.

 

[sunnygir1]

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<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>alyssatuininga</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/12489477"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">We have a 5 week old and I am exclusively nursing so I know we have a few months.</div>
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<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/yikes2.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="yikes">: If it is important that you do not get pregnant, then you do NOT have a few months unless you are abstaining!!!<br><br>
My mother has two children 11 months apart, and she was exclusively breastfeeding my sister when she got pregnant.<br><br>
We use non-latex condoms (they are plastic of some sort, not animal skin) and lubricant (Slippery Stuff is really good). The condoms did take some getting used to, but now we like them better than latex.

 

[calpurnia]

I used to use the diaphragm with a non-standard spermicide - probably wouldn't irritate your husband - all natural or something. I can't remember what it was - I got it from a private family planning clinic in London - but I think I heard about it from the YahooGroup for diaphragms & caps... I didn't get pregnant when I was using that stuff. YMMV.<br><br>
I love my copper IUD now (no pain on insertion, but I haven't had my periods back yet so can't comment on that.)

 

[texaspeach]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>sunnygir1</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/12562455"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;"><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/yikes2.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="yikes">: If it is important that you do not get pregnant, then you do NOT have a few months unless you are abstaining!!!<br><br>
My mother has two children 11 months apart, and she was exclusively breastfeeding my sister when she got pregnant.<br><br>
We use non-latex condoms (they are plastic of some sort, not animal skin) and lubricant (Slippery Stuff is really good). The condoms did take some getting used to, but now we like them better than latex.</div>
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If you follow the rules of LAM, you are considered infertile for a while. It's more than just exclusively BFing, there are time limits, and signs to watch for. ecological breastfeeding by sheila kippley explains it.

 

[MarineWife]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>Haselnuss</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/12562184"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">As for vasectomies, not only are they not necessarily reversible, but there are scary side effects - you can find the links at the bottom of the Wiki page: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasectomy" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasectomy</a><br><br>
There is no way I could let my husband go through some of those things.</div>
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Thanks for posting that. I had a talk with my dh about getting a vas. He wanted to and I told him I didn't want him to.

 

[zjande]

We use the diaphraghm without spermicide.<br><br>
I too am freaked out (paranoid is more like it) by spermicide chemicals, IUDs stabbing me in the uterine wall & the scary potential vas side effects. Since my husband is too we've just personally chose to go the diaphragm without spermicide route, knowing that there will always be a small chance a new family member might sneak in.

 

[sunnygir1]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>texaspeach</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/12562828"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">If you follow the rules of LAM, you are considered infertile for a while. It's more than just exclusively BFing, there are time limits, and signs to watch for. ecological breastfeeding by sheila kippley explains it.</div>
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I don't know what LAM is, but the op didn't mention it...that I can see. Thanks for the book recommendation.

 

[Natsuki]

Why not use regular condoms without spermicide? That will be your cheapest and most effective option IMO if you're not wanting to do hormones/iud/permanent methods.

 

[texaspeach]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>sunnygir1</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/12565100"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">I don't know what LAM is, but the op didn't mention it...that I can see. Thanks for the book recommendation.</div>
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it is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lactational_amenorrhea_method" target="_blank">Lactational amenorrhea method</a>, that's the official name of how not to get pregnant while bfing - she did mention it, just not by name <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/winky.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Wink">

 

[lizziebits]

Just to add on to PP, ecological breastfeeding is 99% effective for the first 6 months post partum, provided that<br>
1) babe is doing all suckling at the breast (bottles/pacificers are super limited) 2)no bleeding (besides lochia, obviously) and<br>
3) babe is not going more than 4 hours during the day and 6 hours at night without nursing (and if you have a child that is before 6 months, then, well, you can probably handle another ;-)

 

[luvmi2kids]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>Natsuki</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/12565264"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Why not use regular condoms without spermicide? That will be your cheapest and most effective option IMO if you're not wanting to do hormones/iud/permanent methods.</div>
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Ya I think that Condoms would work also and I have used the pullout method for 8 years and workd like a Charm. So if you put those two together you have a great Birth control!! Use the Condoms and the pull out method at the same time!!!. You can do it!! Really be intune with your Body and make sure that your husband is also.. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/thumb.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="thumbs up"> Good luck

 

[1littlebit]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>zjande</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/12563240"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">We use the diaphraghm without spermicide.<br><br>
I too am freaked out (paranoid is more like it) by spermicide chemicals, IUDs stabbing me in the uterine wall & the scary potential vas side effects. Since my husband is too we've just personally chose to go the diaphragm without spermicide route, knowing that there will always be a small chance a new family member might sneak in.</div>
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<br>
when i talked to my doctor about the diaphragm (which she did prescribe and i used for quite sometime) she said with spermicide and left in for atleast 6 hrs after dtd it is still one of the most least effective barrier methods.<br><br>
I would imagine w/o spermicide it is even less effective. not saying its not the right choice for you!! lol b/c obviously it is... just that if someone really really really doesn't want to get pg this probably isn't the best bc method <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">

 

[sbilady]

If I'm not mistaken, there are more rules to LAM than what the PP posted. I don't know about the book about Ecological BF says, but it's also VERY important to sleep in complete darkness to prevent the return of your periods early. When waking to feed or change the baby, use a small lamp with a red bulb (used in photo developing). Honoring Our Cycles by Katie Singer goes into some good depth about it. There was another I can recall about the importance of babywearing and it's effect on your returning fertility. Really cool stuff about how our bodies work.<br><br>
Another note is if I'm not mistaken, Lea's Shield isn't available anymore. I heard this on the cervical caps and diaphragm group.<br><br>
On the note of cervical caps, I was going to try it, but upon doing some research (on they yahoogroup, never saw this mentioned anywhere else), I found that effective usage of them is HIGHLY relevant to proper fit (and the one doing the fitting's experience). Also a small weight loss or gain can affect it's fit. I believe it's like 8 lbs. or so. As of now, I'm (supposed to be) trying to lose so it would not be good for me.

 

[ShwarmaQueen]

I just don't see (or invision) how weight loss/gain affects the diaphram's fit (unless someone's cervix fluctuates loses/gains <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol">). Mine fits no different today as when I had mine fitted 25 pounds ago (lost). But maybe that's just me...

 

[riversmommy]

Hi, just lurking to get some ideas. My experience with diaphrams is that some people's bodies just don't "fit" very well. Like my cervix is somehow tilted and after a trying for awhile, my midwife mentioned I might want to consider another form of BC. This was after baby #1(not a diaphram issue, an only spermicide during a horny moment issue).<br><br>
Anyway, my thoughts after trying almost everything aformentioned...lambskin condoms! They feel good. They seem to be working. No hormones, no withdrawal(talk about an anti-climax!), and no wierd apparatus to stick up there, ya know!?

 

[lizziebits]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>sbilady</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/12573241"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">If I'm not mistaken, there are more rules to LAM than what the PP posted. I don't know about the book about Ecological BF says, but it's also VERY important to sleep in complete darkness to prevent the return of your periods early. When waking to feed or change the baby, use a small lamp with a red bulb (used in photo developing). Honoring Our Cycles by Katie Singer goes into some good depth about it. There was another I can recall about the importance of babywearing and it's effect on your returning fertility. Really cool stuff about how our bodies work.</div>
</td>
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I'm not familiar with the work of Katie Singer, haven't read it, but according to most sources, there really are only three rules for LAM (no food other than breastmilk, no period, and no more than 4 hours/day or 6 hours/night.)<br><br>
This is a link from Planned Parenthood: <a href="http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/birth-control/breastfeeding-4219.htm" target="_blank">http://www.plannedparenthood.org/hea...eding-4219.htm</a> that says that this method is 98% effective when used improperly and 99% when the rules are followed exactly. This is for the first 6 month post partum.<br><br>
Sheila Kippley also has a book about ecological breastfeeding, and she does have a few more rules -- cosleeping and napping with baby once a day, and very limited separation from baby.<br><br>
I've never heard about sleeping without lights in regards to LAM -- though I have heard about sleeping in darkness with lunaception.<br><br>
Anyway, just wanted to clear that up.

 

[LionTigerBear]

Well, I have similar issues as you, and I am going to get a Mirena IUD. It uses very small amounts of hormones, but they go directly into the uterus, so it's different, and they're extremely small amounts. I feel comfortable wit hthat even though I had hormonal issues with BCP. There's also the copper IUD.<br><br>
For dh and I, getting a vasectony or getting my tubes tied will never be an option for us, because it affects a person's personality/charisma/drive for life. Have you ever noticed how animals (cats, dogs) and espcially the males act differently after they've been neutured/spayed? Getting "fixed" has the same affect on humans. It affects your personality. That's why we would never do that.<br><br>
On the other hand, FAM hasn't worked for us because we have a weakness for deciding in the moment that we want to conceive just one more child. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/redface.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Embarrassment"> So we feel more comfortable with the IUD, where we CAN change our minds if we want to, but we'd need to plan in advance.

 

[rhiandmoi]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>LionTigerBear</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/12675003"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">For dh and I, getting a vasectony or getting my tubes tied will never be an option for us, because it affects a person's personality/charisma/drive for life. Have you ever noticed how animals (cats, dogs) and espcially the males act differently after they've been neutured/spayed? Getting "fixed" has the same affect on humans. It affects your personality. That's why we would never do that.</div>
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Except that when animals get spayed or neutered their gonads are removed and there fore they are no longer being influenced by the hormones produced by the gonads. When humans get "fixed" the gonads are still there, just the gametes are not allowed to travel through their normal tubes.