Birth control?

babybluu · July 2015

okay I KNOW this is super early to be thinking about birth control already, but I need opinions for women who have tried different kinds. I've only ever been on the pill and that was for a short time but I tried multiple different kinds and they made me extremely moody and depressed and angry. I'm thinking after this baby I want to try the diaphragm but I'm worried that it will be too much of a pain/hassle to deal with. I'm too nervous to try any IUDs because I've heard so many personal stories of them perforating the uterus, or traveling, and/or causing infertility and that freaks me out! I also read the implant can travel in the arm and then they have to cut it out and that sounds freaky lol. Although I would probably choose the implant over the iud. At the moment we want to wait like 3-5 years between kids, but that may change after this baby comes.

So that being said, Which kind of birth control was your favorite?

mrussello · July 2015

I've been on a few pill versions. I switched to a LO one and I loved it. I did have to find the right one, but I couldn't tell you what it was.

daninikicoli · July 2015

I love the pill personally, but I never had any issues. I can't take that while I breastfeed... So I'm an IUD girl, the Mirena. I could do the mini pill, but I had 2 friends get pregnant on it and I'm horrible at taking the pill at the same time everyday.
The Mirena is perfect for me... It's in, I don't have to think about it, hardly have a period. I am aware of the risk, so I'm only planning on keeping it in while I breastfeed (a year or so) then I'll switch back to the pill... Or hopefully my hubby will be fixed.

babybluu · July 2015

Yeah it's so unfair lol. I hate having to remember to take the pill or put in the diaphragm. Men are lucky

daninikicoli · July 2015

Yes they are!

Monilee1017 · July 2015

The pill is the only thing I have ever used. But I was terrible at it because I was always forgetting. After this baby they will tie my tubes when in there for c-section and I won't have to worry anymore!

SummerOH · July 2015

I know you said no IUDs, but Mirena is awesome! I had it before and after DS and will get it again. I was in Depo awhile and liked that, too, but you can only be on it for 5 years (I think) due to bone density concerns. It would be too hard for me to remember to take a pill every day with a newborn and toddler. I don't want any chance for personal error!

babybluu · July 2015

i totally love the idea of the iud! and i know most people who have one are totally fine and conceive normally after having it removed... its just that small portion of people that bad things happen to I've heard...

SummerOH · July 2015

True, but there are risks with every bc! But there's a ton of pill options for those who are squeamish. If my insurance covers it, I may consider Implenon (sp?).

babybluu · July 2015

is that the implant?

steph_pegasus · July 2015

I've not been able to use any form of hormonal birth control without side effects I find unpleasant.
Between DD and this baby we used (male) condoms. Just saying, barrier method does work... ;-)

babybluu · July 2015

thats true, I've just never liked them while we were married. i think dh likes them for certain "reasons' lol. and we have a TON from when i was on bc... they gave us like 38734 colorful condoms.

nanamp · July 2015

I love IUDs.

CaraBoonie · July 2015

I was on the pill for almost a full decade before going off to conceive (was able to conceive 3 months after going off it on the first cycle I tried, so it had no effect on my personal fertility), and I personally didn't have issues...I was on one pill Yaz for awhile at first that made me SUPER moody, but when I realized it and went on a different pill, I was fine. I always just took mine as soon as I woke up, whenever that was (a difference of 5 hours sometimes, especially in college with an erratic schedule) and never had an issues with it, never had any pregnancy scares or anything, I think people are a bit crazy about taking pills at the EXACT same time sometimes, but to each their own.

My sister on the other hand had a lot of trouble with pills, had a period that lasted a month once, and tried every pill under the sun and could NOT find one that agreed with her body (she is Type 1 diabetic, diagnosed at age 5, not sure if that has any bearing on her reaction to b.c. pills or not, but worth taking into consideration). She finally got an IUD and loves it. I think those IUD horror stories (and pill horror stories, and every other b.c. horror stories!) are a very small percentage of people, and finding a birth control method that works for you, doesn't make your body freak out, and doesn't result in any accidental pregnancies is all that should matter, leave the fear aside...I know, easier said than done!

BethP321 · July 2015

I hated the pill. I would always forget to take it and have to double up. And when I actually remembered, it would be in the morning and I was in high school. The pills on an empty stomach would make me nauseous and have super smells and my friends in first period would eat these nasty egg biscuit sandwiches from the cafeteria and send me running to the bathroom.

I know you hear horror stories, but they are the best option as far as not forgetting to take a pill or putting in a diaphragm. IUDs work best for women that have already had children. Your doctor will reassure you of anything you are nervous about and help you decide if it's suitable for you.

babybluu · July 2015

thanks so much ladies! i think now I'm leaning towards the implant, but i will definitely talk to my obgyn about what would be best

jtk4life · July 2015

I used NuvaRing for a year - a flexible plastic ring inserted in the vagina and replaced monthly. It was easy to use and I didn't feel it. I needed to keep better track of the replacement timing though. Other than that, I would use it again.

babybluu · July 2015

oh i totally forgot about that one! thats a good option too

SummerOH · July 2015

I've been on a ton of BCs over the past 15 years...the pill, mini-pill, Depo, NuvaRing, the patch (I think it's been pulled now), and Mirena. Mirena was my favorite by far, followed by Depo. NuvaRing was ok because I left it in continuously to avoid periods, but I didn't like that DH could feel it. I'm lucky in that I've never had any negative issues with BC, though. Some women are sensitive to it. (And yes, I realize this is my third post lol...on an actual computer now so I can respond more thoroughly!)

indibidule · July 2015

I've used so many different forms of birth control over the years (depo, several different pills, patch, nuvaring), and I'm not sure I'd go back to the pill. This baby is a pill baby. I did love my nuvaring though. I switched to a pill because, with the affordable care act, it was free instead of $50 every 3 months. I think we'll go back to paying!

babybluu · July 2015

@summerOH i totally appreciate the responses! its nice to have options, and I'm so glad they keep coming out with more forms of bc.

and yeah i think i will have to try out different forms for a while. i still am not 100% sure if i wanna wait 3-5 years for the next one. i feel like it might be good in some ways to have them closer together, especially if i only want 2

Emott13 · July 2015

I know that this is going to be a completely unpopular post, but natural cycle tracking and planning was the only way to go for me. I can't be on birth control because it makes me severely hormonal and depressed, and my body doesn't accept implantations (even earrings have "migrated" out of my earlobes!), and honestly male and/or female condoms were just such a hassle and ruined the mood for me. I took a class on ovulation tracking and between checking my cervix and temp, we were able to plan our kids almost exactly two years apart (we're due the day after my daughter's bday). I know lots of other methods are easier so you probably will want to try those first, I'm sure, but it is possible to control pregnancy without medical intervention, if necessary! Don't lose hope!

SamJoR · July 2015

I do not do well on the pill either. I had the nexplanon arm implant after DS. I was happy with it, no crazy side effects and it was not a big deal having it removed.

RunnerMeg · July 2015

I was on the pill for many years, but I'm all done with hormones. My Mom has stage 4 triple positive/hormone positive breast cancer (she's in remission!

) so my physician has recommended no more hormones. I'm also planning to breastfeed again. We are 99% sure we're done after this baby (DS is 2), but I'll get the paragaurd IUD until we decide with absolute certainty that we are done.

Estory · July 2015

I used a few different pills over the years and they all made me super moody and angry and crazy. Nuvaring worked best for me. I couldn't feel it at all, and as long as you don't leave it out for more than an hour you can take it out for sex.

willashbaby · July 2015

I've had 3 implanon/nexplanon implants and have had no issues getting them out. The most one ever migrated was one inch and it was NBD. It's what I'm getting again after this baby.

WhitMathis · July 2015

Condoms will be our BC of choice again. I'm with you. The pill made me crazy and everything else scares me. We've used condoms for years and have been satisfied with that.

sgraham1589 · July 2015

I tried depo shot I wouldn't do it I would do the iud next time

claireloSC · July 2015

I think a lot of the IUD stories are from many years ago when they were more dangerous becaused they used a synthetic fiber in the string that caused problems. IUDs work extremely well and have fewer side effects than the pill statistically speaking. I would definitely say IUDs are the way to go.

kwentela · July 2015

I plan to get one round of depo right away, hopefully before leaving the hospital to cover until follow ups and then I plan to get my 3rd implanon/nexplanon! I loved the arm implant which is why I plan to get my 3rd! I spotted on and off the first few months it was in but then I basically went over 2 years without a significant period which I loved. Some people have said that would freak them out but I took a pregnancy test every few months if I got paranoid and my OB said she never had any of her patients get pregnant with it, DH loved it because he could feel it in my arm so he knew we were protected. Plus we were pregnant within 4 months of taking it out and that was without watching our timing so it happened quicker than I expected!

mollyj931 · July 2015

I've used both birth control and an IUD (paraguard).
I struggled with hormonal headaches and low sex drive with bc so I chose the paraguard iud (no hormones) for the last two years.
I never had any issues with it.
Friends that have had mirena either loved or hated it.

Hubby will get the V in a few years!

jennaymg13 · July 2015

I was on and off Depo-Provera for 10 years. About a year ago I quit that and we went with old fashioned condoms. I'll never go on BC again. If husband weren't going to get snipped after this one I would stick with condoms.

Rakastajatar · July 2015

My DH is getting fixed

When i got off the pill after 15 years, i gained 15 pounds

I know i'll never go back to the pill since it screwed up my hormones.

If i would to pick one, I think the IUD. since it's non horomal

LauraFi · July 2015

I have been thinking about birth control options for after this pregnancy as well, and timing for having our next child is a factor. This is our first child and we are planning on having 2 or 3 kids, hopefully spaced about 2-2.5 years apart. I had been on birth control pills for five years (throughout university) but then took a couple year break from hormonal birth control opting for condoms, then I had a mirena IUD put in because I didn't want to go back to pills. If you have used birth control pills and were happy with it that's fine, but I don't think it is something I would go back to. I did really like the Mirena IUD and think I would use it again if wanting a longer period between children (lasts up to five years). I had my IUD taken out this April, so as you can tell I was able to conceive right away. During my research before getting the Mirena I had looked at the Depo shot (which isn't recommended for a period longer than 2 years because it has been shown to decrease bone density), and other methods. In terms of chances of the IUD perforating the uterus apparently chances of it perforating are increased if it is put in immediately after child birth (I am assuming this is because the uterus will be contracting and shrinking). So I currently think my DH and I might be using condoms until we start trying for the next baby... worst case scenario we get pregnant a little earlier than planned

Or I will wait a couple of months before getting another IUD put in because my body responded very well to the IUD, I loved it because it was something I didn't have to think about, my periods were super light almost none existent, it is effective as soon as it is put in, and you can start trying to conceive as soon as it is out.

karenmartiinn · July 2015

I had the mirena iud for about 3 yrs until I started to notice my hair falling off and DH started to feel it , but other than that I loved it and my cycles went back to normal right after removal with no problems. Thinking after baby comes I will try the implant on your arm because not quite sure when we want baby#2

mrhargr · July 2015

I was on the pill for years then the mini pill for about 6 months. It took almost a year to conceive DD. After DD was born I got the Mirena IUD. I loved it. I had it for 2 years and never had a period. I was able to conceive 2 months after having it removed. I will get either Mirena or Skyla IUD once this LO is born.

cyanope · July 2015

I was on BC for about 5 years, and then found out it was causing cysts to form on my liver. Yikes! I only found that out because I went to the ER for an unrelated issue, and they did an US on all of my organs to try to figure out what the problem was. The Dr. suggested that I find a BC method other than the pill. DH and I were planning to start trying soon anyways, so we just switched to condoms for several months. After baby, we'll probably stick with good ol' fashioned condoms. I won't go on the pill again, and I don't particularly want an implant. DH won't be too happy about it, but he'll deal!

arose3eb · July 2015

I totally understand being freaked out about IUD's and implants, those things make me a little squeamish too. I was on Yazmin (sp?) for a few years when I was younger and didn't mind it, and then tried the NuvaRing which I really liked, but then when I went on Junel 1/20 (pill) for the simple reason of "well that doesn't have a copay and does the same thing" I got pregnant and that's how I met all you fine ladies. Of course I was in the 2% minority, but I just refer to that brand as sugar pills now

I think I'll probably go back to NuvaRing after the baby is born. They also make chewable pills now too if that interests you, but for me it was a $40 copay which I had zero interest in.

Knottie78468180 · July 2015

I love charting with the kindara app! No Bc needed

babybluu · July 2015

I was temping and charting when we were ttc this baby for the better part of a year, and as much as that helped, not sure how long I would want to continue

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