HELP...I Need Advice on Birth Control...what Do You Use/like?

The only thing that I have found that is hormone free is the copper IUD. I can't use the synthetic hormones found in birth control. So my only option was the copper IUD. My periods are somewhat heavier and a little longer. But there's no spotting all the time. The cramping starts off really bad in the beginning, but I've had mine for a little over a year and they don't seem as bad anymore. And where there aren't any hormones you don't feel "crazy" the weight gain and other hormonal side effects aren't there. Hope this helps in your quest in the right birth control. The only other thing I suggest is an array of ways to convince your husband to get the snip and clip. 1. you had how many children come out of your reprductive system, and he can't go and have a small little office procedure? 2. If he gets it done then he knows that he's not going to get you pregnant. 3. Having a tubal ligation is an actually operation where you have to go and be put under and have a hospital stay. 4. Get a large cast iron fry pan and whack him on the head and drag him into the doctors office :).

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In my younger days I used the pill. After the birth of my second child in 1987 I went back on the pill, Ortho Novum. But its such a pain trying to remember that dang thing daily. My husband was the same way. He didnt want to get a vasectomy. So in 1994 I decided it was time to get the tubal. It was great. No more worrys, no more condoms, no more pills. It makes a big difference in your sex life. I had my tubes burned, not just tied. In 2005 I got very sick, I lost 21 pounds in a 2 1/2 week period. I went to the doctor and he sent me to a gastoric specialist. Well guess what? I was pregnant! Yes, after 11 years the surgery failed. Boy were we in shock! I was 40 and pregnant...LOL. My point is, if you are planning some form of permament birth control, BOTH of you should take on the responsibility. He should get the vasectomy and you should get the tubal or there is a new procedure called Essure. Go to http://essure.com/ . Its permament b/c and its done in the doctors office and takes something like 90 secs. Wish I had heard of it before I had my tubes reburned. Yep, Ive had 2 tubals in my lifetime...LOL.

Good luck with whatever choice you make.

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The pill Karva is good I use to take something else and it made me to emotional. This one I am fine.

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You may want to look into "natural family planning"! I think in your case it may be helpful! You will learn a lot about your body and how it works! You will learn when/and when not to be intimate! Or if you do take extra precautions! Once you get the routine down it will suit you perfectly! My co-worker is married with 2 kids and she has not been on BC for years (none)! And her youngest is 5 soon to be six! So natural family planning does work! So may you should give a try!

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I have been on the pill for most of my adult life. It's fine if you don't smoke! I Have been only having a three day spotting period for several years now! Talk about an easy period. and now that I am nearing menopause (I'm 48) I hardly notice any pre-menapausal symptoms which my dr. says is from the low dose pill. For me it's the only birth control! I feel it has been the right choice for me.

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We are in a very similar situation. We have a 3 year old born 3/05 and a baby born 5/07. We are using condems, but I'm scared I will get pregnant again. I am still breastfeeding, so I don't want any hormones. I concidered getting an IUD, but I'm hearing alot of negative things about them. Good luck!

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I use Natural Family Planning, but you do have to work at it and it is harder to do if you don't have a normal cycle. There is also a copper IUD that doesn't have any hormones. It basically blocks the area for the sperm to go meet the eggs. I have heard good things about that. I plan on trying that next time. All the hormones I have tried give me lots of migraines.

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Hi M.,

For personal health reasons I cannot use hormonal birth control, so after the birth of our second child (both of ours were surprise blessings!) just 21 months after our first, I decided to get a copper IUD. I think it is called Paraguard. I do have some spotting in-between, and the periods are certainly heavier than they were pre-IUDs, BUT it is 99% effective in birth control, so to me, the benefits outweigh the side effects. I've never had migraines, so I can't speak to that other than to say that I've not had any with the Paraguard. We weren't ready for any surgical options -- we haven't ruled out future children, we just would like a small break! Oh, and by the way, we were using condoms and still got pregnant with our 2nd child, so much for that. So the Paraguard was the best option for us. Hope this helps and good luck.

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I too have problems with hormones and migraines. My headache specialist informed me that I better quit taking hormones for birth control because my clock work migraines were precursors to stroke. That is when my husband and I started using condoms. We had no problems with them other than the less than romantic pause to put it on. We later had a daughter which I got pregnant with right away and 3 years later a son. Both of our children were very much planned and since we had one of each we agreed to be done. He had a vasectomy a year after my son was born and we ceremoniously threw the condoms away. I would caution you about implanting devices and taking hormones. Both seem to cause more problems than a simple out patient procedure like a vasectomy. Just be sure that your husband clears all the sperm out or you might be in for one more baby.

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