Will you ever start/go back to BC?

Schumerator

Just curious to see how many of you out there would either start (if you were never on BC to begin with) or go back to BC in the future. Also if there are any moms out there TFAS, let us know what you did after baby was born and how that has worked out for you I have been off BC since last July and I don't know if I will ever go back! Interested to hear everyone's thoughts and opinions on which category they fall into/plan to fall into!

Lulucooks

If there was any way I could stay on BC and still get pregnant I would never stop taking them ever.  

MamaMunn

I wish I would have been more educated about my birth control from the beginning. Looking back I think it was a great thing while I was younger and could have seen myself being less responsible. Since coming off and ttc though I wish I would have known it would leave my cycles and hormones a hot mess. I really wish I would have stopped taking my bcp earlier so that I could regulate before actually ttc. Now that I know I want a family and I'm educated about my cycles and temping I don't think I will ever go back to birth control. The only possibility would be is if we are 100% sure we are done having kids. Then I might look at a more long term IUD.

simcal18

By birth control do you mean methods of hormonal birth control or are you including barrier methods (i.e. condoms, diaphragm, etc.) as well?

DH and I did not mess around with unintended pregnancies before we were married (we used both hormonal BC + condoms religiously until we were ready to TTC), but as far as I'm concerned I'm done with the pill for life.  If/when we are blessed with a LO, we'll likely use a combination of FAM and/or a barrier method until we're ready to TTC again.  It won't be as effective as our prior plan but we want more than one LO and my biological clock is ticking so having #2 slightly ahead of schedule would not be a big deal.  Once we feel that our family is complete, we'll either investigate a permanent form of BC (i.e. vasectomy/tubes tied and likely the former), or we'll continue with FAM/barrier and be comfortable with the idea of a potential "oops caboose."  

In any event I'm glad to be done with the pill.  I was only on it for a few years and never had any negative side effects from it, and I didn't have a problem taking it every day -- I'm just not a huge fan of unnecessary meds in general, so I'm all for using FAM to ditch the pill.

LastMango

I was on BCPs for 14 yrs before coming off of them to TTC #1. After DD, I went on the mini pill (due to breast feeding) and am now back off to TTC #2. We will be done after this (potential) child and will opt for a more permanent solution (vasectomy or tubes tied). 

I do wish I had known while on the mini pill that it was only 80% effective and I would have used a backup method along with it. No harm no foul, though. 

babymish

I havent really thought about it yet but I miss my lovely BCP skin

comealongponds

I will never, ever take hormonal birth control again. It does bad things to me. I will however, get another cooper IUD in a heartbeat!

hupp0013

I would not go on hormonal birth control ever again.  My husband and I are using the FAM method currently and he will get a vasectomy if/when we have #3.

gardeniagirlknits

I won't ever be taking it again.  Aside from being mad that I wasted all that money/time/energy on birth control when clearly I'm mostly likely not able to get pregnant,  any hormonal medication is going to mess with my thyroid meds...  And once it's off it takes forever to get back to a stable number.  No thanks.  

MrsDramaK

No desire to go back on the pill.  I went off the week I got married cause at that point an "oops" baby would no longer be a scandal.  My body was not happy and I had a two month cycle where I convinced myself I was KU even with negative Pregnancy tests and using condoms shortly after I went off.  It was not fun and I would not like to repeat the experience.

MissAmeliaPond

I was on some form of hormonal BC for the last 11 years. It took a long time to find the right solution for me (which ended up being the ring; I hated mirena). But I wasn't super happy with the ring either. As @babymish said, I do miss my nice clear skin. I've been living in breakout city since going off of HBC. 

I do feel like HBC messed with my cycles, and I'm pretty sure it took a full 6 months for my body to balance back out after stopping the ring. I will not be going back on BC until we're 150% positive we're done with having kids, but I think DH eventually wants to get a vasectomy as a long term solution. 

Zoey1019

Agree with most here, I wish I had known how it would mess with my cycles when I was ready to try. They don't even touch on that! Which I think is kind of crazy, my OBGYN has always been my least favorite doctor, I just don't feel like they offer much information when you go in, just bare minimum " do you want the gardasil vaccine, here take this BCP prescription, have fun." 

It's annoying now that I know what I know. I won't go back on again, just use FAM and barrier methods. 

I miss my beautiful skin as well!!!!! Oh man do I.....

itsmehere1212

Agree with @Zoey1019 I miss my nice skin, but I'll never go back. I feel free not having that alarm set to take it everyday.

runningpenguin

TFAS here. After DS was born, I had the Mirena IUD because we thought we were going to wait longer. After this kiddo we are done but I'm going most likely going back on the Mirena because I'm a hemorrhagic bleeder who is perimenopausal. 

GhanimaAtreides

I answered "other" since my hormonal BC experience was 12 years ago.

I took hormonal BC briefly from ages 15-18 and it was the worst ever. On Depo I bled for 6 months straight. On the pills I'd get migraines and randomly be blind for chunks of time. The only thing mildly successful was the patch which I kept 13 months. I'm so glad I figured this all out before 23. I'm 35 now and have had nothing but Paraguard IUDs since and will only ever use them until menopause is confirmed. We have military healthcare so I can have as many IUDs as I want free of charge.

To top it off I have genetically missing secondary laterals and that gene mutation has been strongly tied to epithelial ovarian cancer (correlation in that of all ovarian cancer patients, women with hypodontia are 8 times more common than the <2% found in the general population), so I've always felt it is IMPERATIVE that I don't suppress ovulation because anything outside of my normal could be my one heads-up for the big C.

**** (TWs other children/loss) ****

I've had 3 Paraguard IUDs now; 1st was put in after my post-partum checkup from my 2nd child in Nov 2004, had it removed in Apr 2009, pregnant by Jun 2009. 2nd one put in at post partum appointment from 3rd child in May 2010, removed in Apr 2015, pregnant by May 2015 but ended in loss late Jun. Wanted to take a mental break. 3rd Paraguard put in Jul 2015, removed Jan 2016. I'm on CD8 of my second TTC cycle.

MrsDho11

I don't think you're meaning non-hormonal options when you say BC, so I put other.  I was on hormonal for a few years, but eventually switched to the copper IUD.  Even with the longer/heavier/crampier periods, I could definitely see myself going back on that.

edit to add:  I will never go on hormona again if at all possible.  It made my migraines worse and more frequent.

Schumerator

@simcal18 Yes I was mostly referring to HBC, but there are so many other options out there I figured I wouldn't specify  

Love hearing all the different answers! Agree with most that my skin has had more break outs which I have not been used to since my teenage years.

I also wish that I had been given more information on options besides just HBC. It does seem that doctors seem to push it without much information otherwise. My cycles were quite irregular prior to BCPs, every 3-4 months never any sign when they would show up. I think after learning more about my cycle and seeing how cool it is to be in tune with your body (even though it can switch it up any time it feels like it!) I like the idea of not having to go back to BC.

I asked the question to see if others felt similar to myself, that after learning so much about TTC and menstrual cycles sans BC, they felt they could do without it. Thanks for all the answers!

FiancB

I took BCPs on and off for years. I did all right on them, but I am enjoying being off of them. I am thinking the copper IUD might be next. I did get the nexplanon implant but I bled for almost the entire year that I tried it before I gave up and had it removed. 

Hmph. Hate condoms, dislike BCPs, so far bleed on "other". I guess technically I've done FAM as well but I got a little too careless. 

Schumerator

GhanimaAtreidesMrsDho11

I've heard stories from a few friends that have had horrible experiences with HBC and it sounds miserable! Making them extremely high strung, irritable, migraines, etc. I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

I wouldn't be against doing Paraguard or something along those lines. If/When I have a LO I think that would be the option I would go with if I did choose to go with anything at all.

NamelessAria

Apparently I don't need any birth control to prevent pregnancy as it turns out.


I'll do what I have to do to manage Endo between TTC #1 and #2 but unless I end up needing some form of BC to suppress Endo I have no intentions of going back on BC. I don't want to spend another 6 months waiting for my cycle to regulate and all that nonsense. And honestly I'd rather do the whole NTNP for awhile between #1 and #2 and have #2 a bit earlier than we would have planned as opposed to waiting and then spending another year or 2 doing the whole stressful TTC thing for #2.

ETA: When DH and I are both 100% completely and totally sure that we're done having children I'm going to talk to my doctor about possibly having a hysterectomy. Because F--- Endo.

Schumerator

FiancB - I have heard a lot of people say that about nexplanon, I also had it and was lucky enough to not have that happen, and it was good for what it was when I needed it, but I did notice that I had a lot more mood swings coming off of it and did not realize that I had been so "even keel" so to speak for so many years. I also strongly dislike condoms as they highly irritate me (sounds like a male excuse ha!) but it's the truth. 

NamelessAria - Good points! I also find that to be frustrating and something that seems to be lacking in the education portion of going on BC, is that it may take time to regulate after coming off them as well as the fact that it is not so easy as hey I'm done with BC I'm ready now! Which seems to be the widely accepted misconception of how this all works. I still find that when talking to people about being off BC they are so shocked saying things like "Oh, you'll be pregnant in a few weeks!" ... ummm no. But thanks....

GhanimaAtreides

@runningpenguin Could you explain what you mean by hemorrhagic bleeder?

I've had PPH after all three deliveries requiring meds, aggressive massage, double IVs, etc. I also hemorrhaged with my assault-related EAB and miscarriage, both requiring D&Cs to stop the bleeding. I've always been told uterine atony was the cause. How would a hormonal IUD help?

ashleyluxe

I chose other. 

I am undecided.  I took Alesse for many years to regulate my cycle.  When I was a teenager AF was not kind to me at all.  It was long, crampy, and very heavy.  For now, things have been lovely and a nice routine (Knock on wood!) but if it changed I might consider going back on when we're not trying.  I am also getting older so I should stop taking it eventually/soon.

furbabymom2007

babymish said:

I havent really thought about it yet but I miss my lovely BCP skin

This might be my only reason.  

6 months ago when we first ditched the pill and I literally knew nothing about how my body worked, I would have said "absolutely, back on BC as soon as possible afterwards.  Don't want an oopsie right after #1 is born!!"  Now that I realize the delicately balanced cycle we actually go through, I am not sure I could stomach messing with it again.  FAM should work well enough, and barrier methods of we just have to do it during FW.  And if we have an oops (which id be greatful for at this point) then so be it.  It's not like we aren't in a position to handle it.  When we are sure we are done with the business of making babies, snip snip. 

Of course... As I pull out yet another oil absorbing sheet for my forehead...  It makes me want to consider BC for the nicer skin alone. 

Megzb510

I have been on the pill, the ring and Mirena. Mirena was the easiest.  I didn't get my period on that so I might do one more stint on there. I plan on DH getting a vasectomy after this baby.  I'll have a repeat C section so I have contemplated getting my tubes tied but I've heard of so many other issues/ side effect people have with that and I'm really not on board with permanent side effects from that.  

britters314

I didn't go on birth control until I was 22 (wasn't sexually active before getting married), so I never had it long-term. I wish I had known about FAM, though. I didn't want to go on hormonal birth control, but my doctor wouldn't give me an IUD until after having sex and I wanted to start BC before my wedding, and BC was free while condoms were not. So I ended up getting nexplanon (I would never have remembered to take the pill at the same time every day) and it was awful - I bled for 2 and a half weeks every month. I got it taken out in less than a year and we switched to condoms but apparently I have a latex allergy so that didn't work lol. Then I looked up natural family planning and started temping/charting for the last few months before we started TTC. Long story short, that's what we are going to use in the future.

FloridaStanley

Was on the pill before ttc #1. After DS, I got mirena because with his birth defect and special needs I was like "nope never happen in again ever nope nope nope"
...and now here we are. I think after we have the next baby, I'll go back on the pill. That way I can decide when to go off of it if we decide to have #3, and I feel like my detox from the pill wasn't as bad as post mirena. When we're really sure we're done, I'll probably get mirena again- and then after those 5 years evaluate what else to do(like a more permanent thing like a vasectomy) 

britters314

@FiancB  I feel you on the nexplanon bleeding. 2 and a half weeks out of every month pretty much. I gave up after about 9 months.

atcwag

I originally went off the BCP April 2012 after being on it about 10 years. Our son was born October 2013. I didn't go back on BC because I just didn't like how it made me feel. I felt much better overall without it. I have pretty good O signs even without temping/charting. That, combined with breastfeeding (my cycles returned regular right off the bat the week before my son turned 1, he's still BFing 2-3x/day) and, let's be real, lack of sex with a 2 y/o running around has kept me from being KTFU with #2. 

GhanimaAtreides

Something to consider for those wanting to go the vasectomy route: You could lose the antidepressant effect of non-barrier methods.

https://www.popsci.com/science/article/2011-05/controversial-ideas-semen-natures-antidepressant

https://www.popsci.com/science/article/2011-05/come-again-science-semen-part-deux

So far it's anecdotal, but I really think they should study it. 

"Do vasectomies matter?
They might. Again, Gallup says that no one has yet studied how male sterilization affects the possible mood-boosting effects of semen. However, anecdotal evidence does indicate a correlation: "We've had a number of women contact us to tell us that as a result of their partners having vasectomies, they've experienced a return to depressive kinds of symptoms," he says. "Prior to being in a relationship with semen exposure [the women] were depressed, but as long as they were being inseminated their depression was diminished. Now that their partner was vasectomized, the depressive symptoms returned, suggesting that vasectomy may have an impact on seminal chemistry."

britters314

@GhanimaAtreides   To do a study on this, there would need to be a group where the men and women think the men got vasectomies, but they didn't. Who is going to volunteer for this study if that might be them?

AliciaGoose

Bye bye BCP. I'm never going back. I am so thankful I stopped when I did because it took a year for my cycles to regulate. At that point I wasn't close to TTC yet, so luckily it was ok. I would have been devastated if I waited until TTC to go through that experience. That being said, I do miss the 3 day long AF compared to my usual 6/7. And like most of you, my clear skin!

PensiveCrayon

Geez, interesting topic! DH and I actually had this conversation a couple weeks back. The church we belong to (Eastern Orthodox) officially frowns upon birth control. I mean, our priest wouldn't go so far as to tell us to stop using it, but we both agreed that we don't want to get back on it now that we're off. Now that I've seen the TCOYF light, I'm pretty confident I can make FAM work for us should we actually have a baby. And if it doesn't work 100%, then that's completely okay too!

LadyMillil

I don't want to go back on birth control until we are done having kids, but it looks like an IUD is the only way to stop unexplained bleeding problems and I was fed up with dealing with the bleeding months ago.

Everycol0r

Been off BCP for nearly 5 years. Only 1 pregnancy. Never going back on it.

beforeyou

I was on BCP for 10-11ish years. Best decision of my life to get off of it. I went probably through 5 different types in that time, none regulated my cycle, all made me a miserable bitchy hormonal mess. Honestly I can't believe DH put up with me during that time. Also I never was blessed with the beautiful BCP skin.... I break out no matter what. I found, too, that after I stopped taking it, my cycles became completely "normal" in the sense that I wasn't having break through bleeding anymore and I wasn't having 2 periods a month. It was amazing.
The only thing I will say is that I originally went on it when I was around 16 for intense back pains during my period. That has come back, but only for the second day of my period and if I nip it in the bud with midol then it isn't an issue. 

Long story short: FAM works for me, I will never do birth control pills again (not sure how I feel about BC besides the pill), and I am a much happier and healthier person off of them. 

skiingstark

I choose other, I am looking into copper IUDs. I just do not want to have to worry or think about an accidental pregnancy and I am guessing I will not not have the energy to do temping when I have a baby to take care of along with everything else I have to do. 

mrsdaddario

This discussion is fantastic @Schumerator

I went on the pill at 14 to regulate an extremely heavy AF.  I didn't even use it for protection until well into my late teens, mainly twenties. I WISH I had known more before hand but at the time, why would I have questioned the doctor? Fast forward 13 years, now TTC, month 5 off HBC and my cycles are completely haywire. I had a 30 day cycle, then a 32, then a 49 and currently am on CD 55. I waiver between, it's normal for my body to take this long to adjust, however frustrating, to OMFG I'm never going to be able TC because something must be terribly wrong with me. Overall, regardless of my cycles, I feel much better OFF. I had raging PMS on the pill, I couldn't even stand myself I was so crazy/emotional/mean. Now I barely have any PMS. And I can also feel ovulation pain, which I never could on the pill. When DH and I are done having babies, if we're lucky enough to ever have even one, I will never go back on BC. Not matter what type! 

sarahmsoda

I blame BCP for a part of why it has been so difficult TTC. I had a very stable cycle before and since coming off it my cycle is all over the place and I am not always ovulating. I was on Seasonale which also made my "cycles" 3 months long so I wouldn't have to go through the pain of AF every month still because I had really bad PMS so I am not sure if it was the kind I was on or just BCP in general but I just don't think they are worth the risks. 

I also felt 100% better within days of being off BCP. I felt less moody and clear headed... it was night and day difference for me!

EML2011

I was on some sort of BC (pills or the depo shot) until a couple months before we got married in 2011. At that point I was told I couldn't use an IUD because of my septated uterus (abnormal shape) but I've been told since that it might/might've worked. Then it took us over 2 years (14 months of which were medicated cycles) to conceive #1 so we pretty much decided we would NTNP until we were ready for #2. It's been 21 months since the birth of DS (12 of which we have been actively TTC) and we just started our first medicated IUI cycle. We are still unsure about what we'll do if we are able to have another. DH wants to be done at 2 but I'm open to the rare possibility of having an oops. I will likely have to get a hysterectomy because of endo at some point, but I want to be sure we are done before that happens. 

writeress

I was previously on a low dose BCP that I loved, as it caused almost no symptoms and my AF was super light. However, if you missed like two doses you were SOL and I'm awful about keeping track of things...

If I do get KU and deliver, I'll hopefully have gotten over my fear of pain and will do a copper IUD until I feel like TTC again.