Birth Control Question - Everett, WA

Ditto previous poster that bc is highly personal, but I will second the wonders of an IUD! I had the copper-tipped IUD placed when my daughter was 6 weeks old (that was December 1997), and had it removed October 2006 (we got pregnant three months later...I'm now 8+ weeks). I had ZERO problems with it...only thing I ever had to do was checks the strings every month. A little cramping coming in and coming out, but nothing worse than menstral cramps. I'd highly recommend asking your doctor about it.

the natural way is good sometimes but, the pull out method is how i got pregnant. The IUD isn't all that bad, i'm on the 5 year plan and it's great, no periods, and i'm doing fine all other ways too...talk to your doctor about it or not, thats ok to. i'm not too foand of any other methods

You ever hear about the Nuva Ring? I'm actually considering it after I have my baby in August. You can do your own research, but from what I know, it's just a little plastic ring that has to be inserted by a doctor, simple procedure. I believe you can keep it in for up to 2 years. Another good thing is that it is completely safe for breastfeeding. Again I said, you should probably do your own research on it, because my memory is bad. But my ob/gyn actually recommended it, after I had my daughter a couple years ago. Hopefully this helps you. Another option that you have, even though you don't like pills, is the Ortho Tricycline Lo, which is also safe during breastfeeding.

I had the Mirena IUD put in six weeks after the birth of my daughter. There were no complications, I comletely forgot about it, had no period for two years until having it taken out. I had NO complaints, and every other woman I know has had none either. I'd reconsider! Try it, see if you like it, you can always have it taken out. Talk to your doctor again!

M.-

I've been on the Mirena (a new kind of IUD) for about 3 months now. So far I've had very little problems with it. The only drawback that I've had was some hormone fluctuation that made me wonder if I was pregnant. But I was told that the hormones would even themselves out after time (which they have). I've had no problems with sex drive ;-) and no excess weight gain (other than what I did post-baby the last two times)

There are plenty of options out there, but I can personally reccomend the Mirena. Your Dr. should be able to help you sort thru the options, though.

Best of luck to you!
B.

Have you looked into natural family planning? mostly tracking ovulation and avoiding sex during that time, as well as the pull out method, it is a little work, and not 100% effective, elsewise you would have to use a pill ( a pain I know) I used to keep mine next to the coffee pot :D I am also preggo 36 weeks I have a 6 year old little girl and another girl on the way.

I have been useing condoms or pull out method since my daughter was born 2 1/2 yrs ago and that is great for me plus when you are ready to get preg again you don't have to do anything. good luck.

Hi M.,

I had great success with an IUD, I had the Paraguard (the one without hormones) as I was breastfeeding and didn't want to have birth control with hormones, which eliminates many of the choices. I had the IUD put in 2 1/2 months after my son was born (condoms worked fine in the mean time) and I had it in for 2 1/2 years with no problems what-so-ever. I had it taken out Dec 4th and found out I was pregnant Feb 4th. So I would have to give it a great recommendation!

M. F.

Hi. I thought I would share with you my expereince. I have a an IUD, which is comfortable and does not affect my sex drive. I got the one that has a local hormone, as opposed to the one with copper. After I got it, my periods were much lighter for the forst few months and then I got to where I am not having much of a period at all. I do still feel some of the same symptoms such as tender breasts and moodiness, but it has worked great! SOmetimes I don't like the idea of not having a regular period but it's actually been kind of nice not having one too.

Hi there. well I have a non hormonal IUD and it works wonderfully. I don't know what you mean by 'a lot of work'. my doctor put it in at 6 weeks after i gave birth to my son and he is now 13 months old. i haven't had any problems at all. and it's good for 10 years. and i can take it out whenever i want. i know all women respond differently, but for me it has worked very well. no insane hormone surges when I'm on my period at all. and I'm regular every month. you might want to try. or there is also the nuva ring, my friend uses that and she loves it. i don't know if you can use it while nursing though. my IUD is completely safe, as i am still nursing my son. i hope you find what you need. good luck and congrats!!....K.

hey there,
i know i chose to go with an IDU and i love it!. i have been able to loose weight with it, no having to worry about did i take my pill, and i also have had the added bonus of no period. you are suposed to be able to start trying for another baby as soon as it is out.

Hi there. I just wanted to pop in and give you my experience with the Nuva Ring. The doctor gave me one to try for free to bring home and see how I like it. I couldn't even get the thing to stay in for 2 minutes before it fell out! No matter how many times I tried inserting it it fell out and felt funny. It felt like it would fall out the first time I had to urinate, but didn't even last long enough to try that one.
I was VERY dissappointed with it and stopped using it that first night!
H.~

You know, I thought I was going to be horrible about the pill, but I put the pack right next to my toothbrush, so every morning after I would brush my teeth, I would take it!! And, I got preggers again less than a month after I stopped taking it, and I had been on it for almost 5 years!! Also, while nursing, you can take Pop's, which are progesterone only pills, so it doesn't affect your milk supply. The pill will also help regulate your period once you've stopped nursing. I was HORRIBLE about getting my period on time, and once I started it, I could tell you what HOUR of the day I was going to start!!

It sort of sounds like you've pretty much said no to every method out there except condoms. I think, however, that there are probably a lot of people that can tell you good things about Mirena. I have Mirena...I didn't get it put in right after my son was born like most do...I had it put in after I quit nursing him after my periods returned, but haven't had any problems with it. I did bleen more heavily for the first month or two, but since then, i don't even notice it. In fact, my periods only seem to last about 2 or 3 days instead of a week. I think that you just sort of have a tendency to see more of the bad things about Mirena on this website. I don't know where you did your research on it, but the people that don't have any problems at all with it don't exactly seem to come out of the wood work as much as those with questions do. Hope this helps. Perhaps ther are other people on here that can share some good experiences with other types of birth control? Hope this is helpful.

lots of responses here. I got the IUD 7 months ago after my second. I like the not having to worry about remembering pills and besides some annoying spotting its been great. Also, unlike a pill the hormones are localized and not throughout your body. I have the merena but there are quite a few out there. I am mildy allergic to condems and hated the planning involved in some of the other methods. Thats me though. Good luck. Hope all works out for you.

Hi,
My name is J.. I am a single mother of a baby girl. I have the IUD I got the 5 year one because it has been known to shorten peirods which I have a lot of trouble with. I have had it since my daughter was 12 weeks old and she is about to be 8 months. I was told within a year I would no longer have a peirod and I stopped having one 2 months later. I have a new boyfriend and have been together for 3 months and everything has worked according to plan. I have had no side affects either. Also you can have it taken out whenever you want and within 1 month you can get pregnant...I say whats not to try....

I was usung the IUD and it did work great for me..... But now I have been using the RING and it helps shorten periods for most women. And my skin looks great so I mean every one is different... But if you dont want to worry about your birth control I think the IUD is the best way to go especially if your doctor is a Doctor you trust to put it in....
Because the IUD you dont have to change or remember to take it every day. You just leeave it there and it doesnt hurt to remove it either. The ring you change every month and I am ok with that..
So best of luck finding the right birth control....

H. German

I personally love the iud. I cant take the pill or the patch cuz I have high blood pressure and besides the little pain Ive had when they put it in have had no problems with it.

M., bc is such a personal choice, but since you are asking, I have no problem telling! :) I absolutely LOVE my Mirena IUD. I know there are "horror stories" out there about IUDs, but seriously, there are a ton of happy customers as well. Like you, I am horrible at taking pills no matter where I set them and I really didn't like the heavy dose of hormone from other types of bc, like the depo shot or patch. After weighing all my options, I decided to go with the IUD and am now very liberated! No more thinking about bc for 5 years and due to the lack of worry, my hubby and I are having a great time! :) There are some side effects in the beginning, like more bleeding the first 3 months, but after that, your period will regulate, or if you're lucky like me and 3 of my girlfriends, it will stop all together except for slight spotting for a day once a month, IF that! It wasn't so bad getting it placed either. I just made an appointment, took a couple Advil prior to my doc visit and before I realized it, it was done! No pain other than some very slight cramping. No big deal at all! Okay okay, this is starting to sound like a sales pitch, but I really am happy with my IUD after thinking I would never go that route. Good luck with the decision making and congratulations on the little one that's almost here!

Me: 35yo SAHM with 3 boys, ages 7, 3 and 22 months. Want to try for a girl in a couple years and that's why an IUD is so great...can start trying right away after it's removed!

I'm breastfeeding and my OB prescribed me what she called the "mini pill" its progesterone only so it wont effect your milk. Its a daily pill (which sucks cause I'm a teriible pill taker too) that NEEDS to be taken strictly at the same time every day. Although its a pain to do, its amazing what you'll remember if you arent ready to have another baby yet, the thought scares the hell out of me. My husband sets his alarm clock on his phone to remind me to take it every night. Good luck