Birth control..help!!

Why not use condoms? 10 years of marriage and we've never used anything else. I actually prefer it because the smell and clean up of semen just really grosses me out. I suppose that's weird, but it's true.

good old fashion condoms. i was dealing w/ BC issues after my daughter (now 20mo) was born. my husband wasn't too pleased about it at first, but after we talked about it, it just made sense. condoms are cheap, non-hormonal & 98% effective. can't beat that!

We used a basal thermometer and the book the Taking Charge or Your Fertility. We were trying to get pregnant, but it will also work in not getting pregnant. It is so simple, take your temp before you get out of bed, record it and go about your day.

Use condoms. After similar problems that's what we do.

Sounds like you may need to read the book "Taking Charge of Your Fertility". That way you can use condoms when necessary but go without for the rest of the month.

Are you done having children? Since you're having problems in the birth control department, maybe your husband ought to step up and get a vasectomy. Sure, he'll be out of commission for about 3 days but that's a heck of a lot better than you always having to bear the burden and stress of being in charge of the contraception.

I got sick of how the pill made me feel and went off in dec and started using condoms again. I like it much better.

Have you been on different pills? I hate hormonal BC but will be going back on because Dh won't get a V when he returns. Out of all the BC pills I've been on, the only one that didn't have bad side effects for me was the good old "Ortho cyclen" (generic is sprintec I believe?). Sometimes monophasic pills are easier on the system (esp. if you're prone to PMS and mood swings) although I found that Yaz, Yasmin, and all its cousins make me CRAZY! Many times, newer isn't better.
Since we've been married, we stuck to calendar/pull out/ condoms and they've worked like a charm...but now after 2 kids, cycle is irregular, and I don't trust that Dh won't try to sneak in a #3 under the radar so to speak! =0)

I hate hormonal birth control.

I've stopped all artificial birth control, and simply track my fertility. Yes, you have to be diligent about tracking, and you do have to use protection (condom) or abstain during your fertile time, but man, I feel soooo much better being off the pill.

It's really quite easy, and it feels so nice to be off everything.

I'm going to add another vote for condoms AND Fertility Awareness Method (FAM) (in which you use temperature and cervical mucus to determine when you are fertile and when you aren't). A lot of people confuse FAM with "the rhythm method," but it's much, MUCH more accurate. I tried the Mirena for a year and half, but I gained 20 lbs and had a decrease in sex drive and I just decided it wasn't worth it! We use condoms when there's any chance I'm fertile (when in doubt, use a condom) and when I'm certain sure that I have ovulated we can have intercourse without using a condom.

Why don't you try old fashioned condoms?

I was on Yaz and it completely screwed me up for a good while. then I started taking low estrin 24. I never felt better, in fact I didn't feel I was taking anything at all. Another plus was that it only costs $24 a month

I felt like I was going nuts on various types of pills too, the one that made me feel like "myself" was the low-dose Camilla (sp)? It's just progesterone because I'm still nursing.

Alice_ I completely know where you are cominng from. I have not tried it, but have heard good things about the copper IUD, as long as you don't have any allergies!
What worked for me? The dreaded condom. I was a bit loopy on birth control and took my self off and loved not being on any kind of crazy form of BC. I don't like condoms, they seem to get "in the way", but I like them better than having another baby!! (since I just had one 5 weeks ago).
I would have suggested a v-sectomy for your hubby, but since you are so newly married I am assuming that's not an option.

We switched to condoms. Honestly, it is the most cost effective and easiest for us!

I take progestin only pills (POPS). No side effects but you have to take them at the exact same time everyday to be effective.

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I take progestin only pills (POPS). No side effects but you have to take them at the exact same time everyday to be effective.

I always HATED hormonal birth control! I am so happy now that hubby got a vasectomy! However, if you want to have more children, of course that's off the table. Keep in mind that the following things are usually NOT as effective as hormonal birth control, but when used properly, they usually do work. Most of the pregnancies happen from improper use, not using the spermicide, etc. You can get fitted for a diaphragm and you use spermicidal jelly with it. It can take some spontaneity out of things, but I never got pregnant using one. One thing you have to watch as that some women and men have a sensitivity or allergy to Nonoxyl 9 -the spermicide. I had to use a special one that was hard to find, but it worked. Of course condoms don't involve hormones and you can also just use a spermicide or spermicide suppository like Encare -again if you don't have sensitivities to it. Good luck! It's a pain!

Do some research on the Nuva ring. It inserts in the vagina and it is low dose. Since it doesn't go in the body it has much milder side effects. If needed it can be taken out for intercourse if it is noticed. Most of the time it can't even be felt.

Alice - You might have thyroid disease. Get your doctor to test you. I know it's a bit of an old fashioned method but until you can get your body and birth control organized use a diaphram. Yes the cream is messy. I could only use the cream and not KY jelly due to allergies. The pill for me wasn't insanity as it made me as fertile as a woman could be and I had a daughter at 20 years of age.
So just use a barrier method until you are ready for a second child and then when you have had all the children you want one of you can have a vasectomy or a tubal ligation.