End Of Road: Options...
JMay
member
Hi Ladies,
I know some of us are near the end of the road with the 2IF journey, or have thought about it. How many of you are going to "prevent" vs just not actively "try", after the end of the road is reached? If you are going to "prevent", have you made a decision as to how?
We have always known we'd prevent once we were done. It's just too hard wondering, not knowing - my mind needs the relief of knowing for sure I will not become pregnant. We were going to go with a vasectomy, but with the PCOS, my RE is recommending hormonal control, preferably an IUD to reduce risk of uterine cancer, which is a problem without regular cycles. I'm not sure how I feel about this. I get psycho on the pill, even low dose, and I'd prefer to not put anything in my body, especially with a constant drug stream, but I'd also prefer to not get cancer. Decisions, decisions.
"Just keep swimming, just keep swimming..."
Miracle DD born 12.2005
TTC #2 since Dec 2008 w/ PCOS
***P/SAIF Always Welcome***
Keep it Natural, Baby!
Re: End Of Road: Options...
I don't think we'll ever prevent. We never have (we were ready for kids as soon as we got married,and ready for another one soon after DS was born, breastfeeding did hold off AF for ten months if you count that as birth control). We keep setting deadlines for when we will quit "trying". Our latest deadline was supposed to January (1 year after my m/c) but we've already decided that we're not *quite* ready to give up yet. Maybe next summer...or if we ever get a baby through adoption we will quit TTC at least for awhile.
I've been trying to figure this one out too. We are going to go through with the four IUIs that our insurance will cover, but if we don't get pregnant we are done actively TTC. But after three years of trying it seems so weird to do anything to prevent pregnancy.
Part of me would like to do something so I'm not always so hopeful every month, but another part of me isn't sure I can do it.
I can speak to having an IUD. After my DD was born, I opted to get the Mirena because I was too out-of-it forgetful to try and go back on the pill. DD was a difficult baby and I was scared I'd forget a pill and get pregnant too soon (HA!). If only I knew then what I know now .. Anyways. The Mirena did not help my PCOS; it sure did let it run rampant. It allowed the cysts to grow, something that wouldn't have happened on BCP. That's how we even found out I had PCOS because it reared its ugly head after not being controlled by BCP. Is that a concern of your Drs? If you don't have a problem with cysts, and just need to prevent cancer, then I'd say go for it. I too was terrified of having a foreign object in my body, but I came to peace with it, and once I had it, it was a relief to have a "worry free" option that had ZERO side effects.
3/11 DX: lean PCOS/anovulatory
9/11 ovarian drilling to remove cysts + 5mg Femara = BFN
10/11 5 mg Femara again = BFP, ectopic pregnancy at 5w4d
11/11 diagnosed with breast cancer
12/11 bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction
http://annefightsback.blogspot.com
"Just keep swimming, Just keep swimming"
My journey hasn't been as long as some of you ladies but lately I think about this question too after 15 months I am getting to my breaking point mentally.
At first I thought we would definitely prevent because I can't deal with the unknown or the constant thought that I might be pregnant.
Then I learned that a friend that had their first child through IVF was pregnant again naturally (this is after trying IVF for a second with no luck) so that made me believe again that anything is possible.
So I guess I am torn, but I don't think I would prevent for a while. I don't want to have a newborn when DD is 10 so I think as time goes on I would get to a point that we would prevent.
I hate that this even has to be a decision for any of us. We start not actively trying in January. I have to stick to it because I need my life to revolve around everything else and not my cycle.
If we don't get pregnant by my birthday next December, I have agreed that dh could get a vasectomy. I honestly don't know why he needs one...I mean, over 2 years of well timed sex and I can't get pregnant. But whatever...
Whenever we come to the end of the road, we will have to actively prevent - because we seem to be able to get pregnant fairly easily and I can not face the reality of living with miscarriage after miscarriage. I will probably use an IUD. Neither of us care for condoms and hormonal birth control has never suited me well.
TTC since 6/02 (age 22) K/U instantly despite no AF for 5 months--preemie baby boy 1/03
M/C 11/04 - M/C 05 - M/C 06 - BFP 2/08--fullterm baby girl 10/08 - M/C 4/11 - went to RE at age 31
DX: crappy quality & infrequent ovulation, mild MFI
Stimmed cycle #1 C/P 7/11 - Stimmed cycle #2 C/P 8/11 - Stimmed cycle #4 C/P 10/11
On Stimmed Cycle #5
Always thought I'd be a "mom of many"--now just hoping to be a "mom of one or two more!"