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Relatively short term birth control options- advice??

MKM2014MKM2014 member
in Babies on the Brain
Hello,

I've taken a bit of a break from this board because my TTC date was pushed back. I have decided to go back to school for my masters degree & my husband & I felt that it would be the easiest/best option to make sure my due date clears my graduation date. This has pushed TTC back to August or so next year.

Since I will be in school full time I chose to take a part time position at a new company. my health insurance changed with this transition. Nuvaring (which I had been using for 4 years) went from being $20/month to $100/month- just too much to seem worth it. Many generic birth control options are free on my new insurance plan.

I started using a generic BCP this month & I'm quite annoyed by all the spotting. The first week was fine but the 2nd week has been light bleeding all the time. I keep an alarm on my phone to remind me to take the pill each day but already have found myself in situations where I've taken it an hour or two late. I'm not sure if it's just adjustment to this BCP that's causing spotting or if taking the pill literally an hour and a half late will cause that for a couple days. Either way it's super annoying!

Non hormonal BCP isn't a good option for me- my cramping is very bad when I'm not on it & I have a strong family history of endo so I'd like to keep taking something until we are ready to try.

Has anyone else had this spotting problem with pills and it went away? I am wondering if I should try sticking it out longer or if I should look into other hormonal options. I would love to avoid taking something every day if there was a feasible option.

Nuvaring is no longer an option. I feel it's not worth it to have an IUD or implanon type device placed for only a year or so.

I'm curious about the shot but also don't want the fertility delays that seem to come with it. I've read that it takes an average of a year to become pregnant after the shot. Would not want that unnecessary delay but the convenience of just one shot every 12 weeks is tempting!

Also wonder about the patch? I think there is a generic version of this.

I know everyone's experience is different but I just wanted to hear about your experiences/advice- especially with the shot.

Thanks!
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Re: Relatively short term birth control options- advice??

  • penelope4612penelope4612 member
    Sorry, I have no experience with the patch or the shot.  I do think that the low estrogen forms of the pill are more likely to cause spotting than the regular estrogen formulations, so if you're on something with the name "lo" or "low" that might be the culprit.
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  • FemShepFemShep member
    Condoms are a great short-term option. If you want to keep taking hormonal BC, however, I'd stick with the Nuvaring. Better to stay with something that works for you and your body than to mess up your hormones.
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  • vampbride99vampbride99 member
    I used to take Ortho Tri Cyclen Lo when I was in college until I ended up switching insurance, which in turn switched me to a generic brand of the the bcp.  The Ortho Lo I was taking was actually really good for me, I liked it.  However, with the generic I took, I spotted  ALL. THE. TIME. I hated it.  So after a 2 months of taking it, I stopped.  We plan ttc in a few months, so until then we've just been using condoms.


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  • jandmkeyjandmkey member
    I take The pill Levora. I have been taking it for 5 years and have never had any problems or spotting until I skipped my period 3 months in a row because of trying to avoid being on my period while on vacations. My OB-GYN even suggested that I stay on it until we start TTC in September because there's a pretty good chance I will get pregnant within a month or two after I stop taking it. Good luck with your masters! My husband and I both got ours together last year and it's a great feeling once you're finally done!
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  • g8trkimg8trkim member
    If you don't mind using them, I think condoms are the best short term option. That's what we did between kids since we only planned on waiting 18 months. After #2 I got Mirena because we wanted a bigger spread. I definitely wouldn't recommend that! It took my body like 6 months to adjust which wouldn't make sense in your case. Personally, I would either stick it out with what you have (you will likely adjust) or use condoms.




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  • Xstatic3333Xstatic3333 member
    I would probably tell your doctor that you'd like a pill with a similar chemical combo to Nuva Ring. When I've had problems with one pill, my doctor has had great suggestions of others to try. There really are lots of different combos out there.
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  • lbalek2lbalek2 member
    I had the mirena placed after baby #1 and I'm getting it taken out on Tuesday so we can start ttc #2. It has only been 14 months and totally worth it! Everybody's body is different but I had no weird side effects from mirena. I have a light period once a month when it used to be super heavy. I wouldn't completely take it off the table
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  • satuttle1014satuttle1014 member
    I can't say anything about Nuvaring or shot/patch but I used the pill Junel and it was amazing, like my periods were barely there. Also depending on your healthcare plan but it was always $0 and I have bounced between different healthcare plans such as United (which I currently have), Cigna and Aetna. 

    If you are concerned about cost, which I would be too maybe talk to your doctor. I'm sure he/she could give you some brands of bc that would work with your healthcare plan. 
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  • Evil MaleficentEvil Maleficent member
    I liked Nuvaring. I liked not having to remember to take a pill every day.

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  • mackenzie07mackenzie07 member
    I am back on the Nuva Ring and it is by far my favorite. Plus mine is $40.00 with insurance. The only other pill that worked for me was lo loestrin fe. Its a low dose and I have terrible cycles and it really helped me with that and the pain and cramping that comes with it. As with the patch it didn't work well for me but I am a really active person. And for the shot if you want to try again soon I wouldn't risk the long term effects from it.
    Married for 3 years
    Me: 28 DH: 33
    Together for a total of 6 years
    Fur mommy to two rescue dogs
    DX: PCOS and Insulin Resistance

    History:
    Irregular Cycles
    2010: Laproscopy with Hystroscopy ablation. Tubes were clear.
    1/5/2016 : DH sperm analysis is excellent.
    February: Switched to a new RE
    Two failed clomid rounds
    March 2016: New HSG and found tubes are open
    April 2016: Round one Letrozole 2.5 mg. Ultrasounds day 13 &16. No follicle grouth
    May 2016: Had to take a month off
    June 9th 2016: Started Letrozole again but at 5mg
    July 5th: bfp beta 31
    July 7th: Beta 97
    July 9th: Beta 231
    July 11th: Beta 500
    July 13: Beta 1400
    Beautiful son born 3/16/17 @ 1:38pm




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  • MKM2014MKM2014 member
    Thank you all for your advice! After 8 days the spotting let up before the end of the pack so I'm going to try again with this pill next month & see what happens. I haven't had any nausea/motion sickness like I've had with other pills I took before the Nuvaring so it's only the spotting that needs to go- here's hoping my body adjusts to this one! otherwise I may need something with a little more estrogen to prevent all the break through.
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