Birth Control Options - Chaska,MN

I had the Mirena IUD for a little over a year and never got my period.

However, I now have had it out for 15 months and still have not been able to get pregnant even with trying ALOT. The doctors have no answers for me and say I am normal and everything is fine down there. I will not be getting an IUD again after eventually getting pregnant again.

After the first two months, I never had a period on the Depo-provera shot.

I'm also on the pill and at my most recent appointment, my doctor told me that I had the option (with the pill I'm already taking) to have my period every 3 months. She just wrote the Rx such that I take 3 monthly packs back to back to back and then take a week off. I'm sure this doesn't work with every pill or every one, but it might be worth a call to your dr's office to find out if this would work for you. Good luck!

I LOVE the Nuvaring when not pg. Same risks as the dual hormone pills, same capabilities to skip periods. Put it in for 3 weeks and take it out and either leave it out for a period (mine were 4 days MAX) or put a new one back in to skip it.

My husband says the first time he can feel it but then after that forgets it's even in! Good luck and check into it :)

I see someone else already meantioned Depo Provera.

Here is some information on the drug:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depo-Provera

I believe any birth control pill with a steady hormone level can be taken where you have a period every three months. You just skip the last week of pills (the sugar pills) and start a new pack. I've done this for years with Yasmin. The only thing- when you take the pill like this, it can take longer to ovulate again after you go off it to try for a baby. Good luck.

I used to be on birth control "the pill" and just took the active tablets (skipping the 7 "sugar" tabs) one a day for the 3 packs and then the 7 inactive. This would skip your period for 2 months. This is the same concept as Seasonale or Seasonique. Your OB will have to write the script for more packs with those directions on it for your insurance to pay for the packs early or else they make you wait the 28 days. Seasonale/Seasonique is brand only so it is expensive, but go with a generic pill and skip the inactives for 2-3 months. Ask your OB about it, they do this all the time for patients and will know what to put you on.
If you have questions let me know.

I know you are afraid of the IUD and I was too at first. I talked to my doctor and she assured me that they are much safer than they were years ago and the chance of a pregnancy with one is the same as with a tubal ligation. However, if I ever wanted more children (which I don't plan on), I could get pregnant as soon as the IUD is removed. I love my IUD and have had it for 4 years. I will get another one when mine expires next year. I get my period once a year and it's extremely light and only for a couple days. I love not having to worry about taking a pill every day and I don't even know it's in. I know someone who used the Nuvaring and got pregnant... it somehow became brittle and cracked and released all the hormones at once instead of slowly. This happened to her several times and her luck finally ran out.

K.,

I would look a little further into IUDs if I were you. I have the Mirena IUC and I'm very happy with it. At first I was interested in the 10-year no hormone copper IUD, but was dissuaded by my OB telling me that anyone with a history of heavy periods and lots of cramping may find those symptoms worsen. The Mirena is a low-hormone birth control and it is very effective. After having it inserted I went back a month later to make sure all was well and now just check to make sure it's still there every few months. Insertion wasn't great, but after having a baby and the myriad of intrusive procedures pregnancy and delivery entail, I wasn't too bothered. My periods have now stopped entirely though I did have bleeding the first few months and even some breakthrough spotting for another month after. Plus, I really think in the end it's saving me money and time. My insurance covered it and I don't have to shell out co-pays or pick up prescriptions. I also don't have to panic about missing a pill or not taking it at exactly the same time.

It is not our mother's IUD either and unless you have a history of sexually transmitted disease or are not in a monogamous relationship - it's not likely going to create fertility problems. I have two friends who got pregnant within a month of having theirs removed. I've actually heard of more people taking much longer off a long bout on BC pills to conceive than with Mirena.

You may want to look into Implanon...it's a stick that goes into your arm and is birth control for 3 years. I have had it for over a year and I have had one period. I'm sure everyone would be different...not sure what the "norm" is for it. But I like it. It doesn't make me sick, like the pill does. I don't have to worry about it ever. It's nice. So, maybe look into that and see if it's for you.

one thing to remember about any pill is that if you are the slightest bit overweight, the effects are reduced... no one tells you that you are at higher risk of it not working if you are overweight. also, without perfectly timing each pill exactly the same time every day, the effects also go down. my little brother (who is 11 yrs younger than me and 9 younger than my sister) is a result of the pill just not working out for my mom! LOL we love him, but OOPS lesson learned. :D

so theres some facts for you. also, the pill has to go through your whole body system, while things like the iud dont.

i have the mirena. if you have questions just ask me, i will let you know. but i will tell you my experience. the doctor putting it in was a bit wierd, i mean, ive given birth, and it was pretty wierd. :P however, wierd does not mean bad, i was really happy with the fact that it didnt take a long time, and it was pretty painless. i had no symptoms upon placement, and once it was in, it was in, and i didnt feel it being in either.

there are some risks, but they are small. in the 80s my mom tried the IUD, they were COMPLETELY different back then, and she threw up and had it removed. even the 10 year IUD is different now.

from what my doctor told me, the mirena is a 5 year IUD, and typically, it results in periods that are either much lighter or nonexistent. i have a very light 3 day period about every 2 months or longer. upon placement, i had about 2 months of spotting that was heavy enough to need a light pad.. and it seemed to come without warning. that was a pain for a while, but those 2 months have been worth it. i have little to NO cramping, i still have some PMS, but I FEEL that it is MUCH better than when i was on the pill. the pill KILLED my attitude :P i havent really had to use a heavy regular pad for a LONG time. typically pantiliners are great, and im sure if you are a tampon user, that is probably pretty foolproof with the amount it has reduced my periods.

the 10 year IUD, i was told, has the opposite effect; it can make periods heavier, more cramping, etc. i dont know why the attitude about the mirena being just plain better, but obviously it does not attract me to it :P

so there you go. if you have any questions, please ask! :D

I do the depo shot. I like it. But I see you have a 6 month old... if you are breast feeding it may decrease your milk production.

Hi, I'm taking Seasonique. The side effects are no different than the others but I end up spotting more often which is annoying. Another thing is it is more expensive than the 28 day packs at almost $180 for 91 days.

I've been on the nuvaring for 2 years and I have a period every month, but most of the time it is maybe 2 days and very light. I used to have TERRIBLE periods with lots of cramps and bled for 7 days.

I was on the pill that you take for 3 months at a time. It worked great for me before I had my son. It did take a whole year for me to get pregnant after going off of the pill. After I had my son though I had problems on every pill. I had lots of bleeding in between. I stopped using the pill and when we decided to try for number 2 we were surprised with a baby the first month!

Don't be scared of the Mirena IUD. To have it placed, it isn't much more uncomfortable than a PAP. I felt a little crampy for a few hours after, but now, I can't feel a thing and I love it! The first time I had it, I barely had my period at all--just some light spotting. I got pregnant within a month after having it taken out. This is now my second IUD, and I'm extremely happy that my periods are basically non-existant!

The Mirena which is an IUC is wonderful ... I had my baby 9 months ago and I have only had one period and a 2 day stent of spotting. It is a low dose hormone, and I have no clue that it is even there! Cool thing is that as soon as it is taken out I can get pregnant immediately!

If you don't mind the pill, I would stay on it. The biggest problem with the pills that you only have your period every 3 months, is spot-thru bleeding. But, since you are already on the pill, that probably won't be an issue. There is also the Nuvaring (vagianl ring)...I know two people that used it and they both got pregnant!!!