Birth control (probably a bit TMI)

[monica]

I have an appointment with my gynecologist coming up, and I'm certainly going to discuss this with her; however, I'd like to have some opinions and suggestions in advance, so I can research them a bit before telling her what I'd like to try.

I'm currently using the Nuvaring, but I've been spotting a bit in between periods which, of course, is a problem. I do, however, love not having to remember to take a pill at the same time every night, which sometimes is quite difficult.

So I'm looking to switch birth control. I've been hearing good things about the injections, but also that they cause a significant amount of weight gain. Anyone here use those? What about the patch? Anything else you suggest?


Thanks so much, everyone!

[BlueKangaroo]

I use the patch. As far as I'm concerned, the *only* thing it has going for it is the not having to remember a pill every day. I wouldn't recommend it, though there's nothing big wrong with it.

It's a lot like a big bandage, complete with adhesive. So you get that black goo most weeks. And the places you're suppose to put it are really not all that nice. Who wants a big BC patch on their shoulder? Not me; I like sleeveless and racerback shirts. On my ass? No thanks. It switches places on my abdomen every week. I'm not thrilled. I have a broken blood vessel (I think) from one week, and that seems to be a permanent addition to my abs.

Then there's the fact that the patch delivers extra hormones into your system than the pills do. So there might be increased risk of clots.

I plan to switch when I figure out what's better for me. At my latest checkup, the new doctor suggested a hormonal IUD. I'd be interested, but I'd always been told that childless women couldn't have them. We'll see.

[Queen Tonya]

I adore my Mirena (http://www.mirena-us.com/index.html), it's far and away the best birth control I've ever used. The Pill was alright for me, I just hated taking them daily. The Depo shot worked well, but making an appointment every twelve weeks was problematic since my doctor's office had weird scheduling issues.

No periods with the Mirena, no spotting after the first three months, no stopping to fuss with anything and complete peace of mind.

[Lissa]

I'm on Depo-Prevera, and I think it's the best thing since sliced bread. I sing its praises whenever I get the slightest chance.

I had a temporary weight gain of about two pounds. I no longer have periods at all, and no spotting. Nor do I have any sort of PMS. The Pill gave me horrible nausea-- this doesn't. The Pill made me moody, and this doesn't.

It's done once every three months, and usually takes me about ten minutes for an appointment with a nurse. You have about a week's window one way or the other before there could be any risk of less efficacy. It can take up to five years for normal fertility to come back after you've been on the shot for a long time, so if you're accidentally a week or so late getting an injection, you don't need to go into super-panic mode.

The only drawback, in my mind, is how achy the injection site can be. It's not as bad as it once was, and I think it's better if you get the shot in the arm rather than the hip. The shot itself is kind of achy-- not painful, but uncomfortable. The fluid is thick and there's a good bit of it. (About 3/4 of a syringe-full is how it appears to me.)

[FilmGeek]

I had terrible problems with Depo (panic attacks) and my sister-in-law was told she was sterile after getting off Depo (took five years to get pregnant).

I hated the patch. Really hated with a passion. Not only am I allergic to the adhesive, it's ugly, it's a daily reminder of birth control, you get the 'black nasty' lint sticking to the adhesive and you have to change it weekly.

I love Nuvaring, so I was all set to come in here and sing it's praises, but I see that's what you're having problems with.

Good luck, and be sure to discuss ALL of your concerns with your doc.

[Apricot]

There's no longer a restriction on nulliparas (no pregnanies) for IUDs. I highly recommend them, but don't consider it birth control for two cycles. The risk for rejection is highest then. You might have to go to planned parenthood, since few other providers have the experience with smaller uteruses.

[Celyn]

No kids and no pregnancies here, and I have an I.U.D. with which I am perfectly happy. (I think it's quite a long time now since they insisted on not giving it to women with no kids or no pregnancies.)

[tashabot]

I'm on Depo Provera. I gained weight on it, but I realized that it wasn't because the Depo made me fat - it made me lazy, less inclined to be active. I started taking B-12 supplements and that cleared that up real fast.

I love the Depo. I stopped getting my periods (which is good because mine were REALLY bad) and it has also helped with my bipolar disorder a lot, oddly enough.

~Tasha

[whiterabbit]

Funny, I spotted on the pill but not a hint of it on the ring. And I too was going to sing the praises of NuvaRing but if that's your problem...hmm.

I've never even been tempted to try Depo because once it's in your system it's there, no going back, until it wears off, and if I reacted badly that would really be awful. At least if I ran into a pill I simply couldn't handle I could just quit taking it.

[Carlyjay]

I tried Depo and found my body went haywire; it didn't like not having periods. Also, I'm so bad at remembering things that I even forgot to reschedule for an injection. Yeeeeek.

I'm on the patch now, and what the others say is true: the gummy residue does happen. But I generally don't mind. It's annoying if it gets stick to the fabric of your pants, but overall it's nice to be able to slap it on and forget about it for the rest of the week.

However, recent medical reports worry me: because of the constant level of hormones, it can greatly increase your chanceof blood clots. So I'll likely be switching to something else when I'm up for my annual checkup.

[monica]

The spotting's not dreadful, and it doesn't happen every time; it's certainly bearable. I was just hoping there might be something easier.



I have to say, though, it's certainly better than the 2 weeks of bleeding and heavy cramping of before birth control.

[Amaranta]

Like Lissa, I thought Depo was straight sent from heaven above. I loved it, I loved the no periods, I loved the no side effects. After four years or so, my doc felt uncomfortable with the potential bone loss thing and I wanted to switch it up anyways. I tried the NuvaRing for a couple months, and hated it with every fibre of my being. Then I got the Mirena IUD.

After that first day of cramping, it was like the clouds parted and sunshine alighted on everything and the angels were signing halllelujah. Okay, maybe not that great, but up there. My skin looked cleaner and brighter, I was back to no periods, I knew that I wouldn't have to think about birth control for five years. So much love for my Mirena IUD.

It's interesting how many people are anti-anything-other-than-the-pill. When I was on Depo, my friends were all "Ohmigod your hair is going to fall out and you'll gain 50 pounds and be so depressed". When it was the NuvaRing, my chicas were all "Ew but you have to touch in there and the guy can feel it, can't he? Ew". Now that it's the IUD, I get "But I heard that your skin breaks out and you gain weight and BABIES GET BORN WITH THE IUD STUCK IN THEIR HEAD OMIGOD!!!!!111!!".

[Helen's Eidolon]

Another very very happy Depo customer. I'm not supposed to have been on it this long due to the bone-mass thing, but they can pry my Depo from my cold, dead hands.

I may have gained some weight due to it, absolutely. But I've had weight issues all my life, so I couldn't say what was Depo and what's lifestyle. I adore the lack of periods and I love not worrying about pregnancy.

[Seren]

I keep seeing commercials about a lawsuit against the makers of the Ortho Evra patch. (Here's a site about it, too. (http://orthopatchlawsuit.lawinfo.com/)) So, that might be one type to avoid.

I use pills (Yasmin) and so far I haven't noticed any bad side effects. No particularly good ones either. Might've helped clear my skin a little, but I can't really tell. The other pill I used to take (ortho tricyclen) eliminated cramps almost completely.

[taxi78cab]

I'll give Depo a mixed review. Not having periods was great. Not having any libido was not.

I didn't mind the injections at all. They always warned that it could sting, but I never really noticed any discomfort so I think that's a very subjective thing.

It did take a full 6 months after I stopped using it to start having periods again so that stuff does stay in your system for a really long time if you have a problem with it. It took about 3 months to start having any sort of sex drive, and it seems pretty much back to normal now at 7 months off it.

So my conclusions on Depo would be that if it's right for you, it's absolutely fantastic. But if it's not, you're stuck with it in your system for quite a while. Obviously, I thought the risk was worth it when I started, and I wouldn't tell anyone not to try it. Just be aware of how long it can take to get back to normal if you don't like it.

I just put in my first Nuvaring today so I'll see how that goes!

[DiosaBellissima]

It's interesting how many people are anti-anything-other-than-the-pill. When I was on Depo, my friends were all "Ohmigod your hair is going to fall out and you'll gain 50 pounds and be so depressed".

That's exactly what happened to me. Even though I watched what I ate like a hawk and went to the gym at least an hour a day (the doc warned me of potential weight gain), I gained 50 lbs. Fifty pounds that still wont come of 2 years later (the doc said to keep working at it and it'll eventually completely flush out of my system and the weight ought to drop off). My hair also fell out in giant clumps, about half of it. And I got depressed, really, really depressed.

Actually, I'd have really weird mood swings. One minute I'd be happy, then freaking out at my boyfriend for being the most evil person since Hitler, then crying because I was yelling at him, then laughing at him. All in one minute. I felt insane, particularly since I've never before or since been like that.

That's not even the end of it: my migraines got so bad that I'd pass out from the pain, my vision got worse, my stomach got this weird, bloated, hard feel to it, and I was just generally miserable. I've never felt so bad in my entire life.

Also, I was on Depo for a year, hoping my body would adjust. It didn't.

Now I'm on Yasmine and it's wonderful- no cramps, light period, no babies :D . Supposedly, Yasmine has an effect that leads to little or no excess water rentention. I love it! My migrains have also stopped.

Now if only the stupid weight would start dropping off...grumble grumble.

[SnakesCatLady]

I'm another singing the praises of Depo. I love it! No periods, and better yet no PMS. I was the PMS bitch from hell - I didn't even like myself! I hated not having control of my emotions - crying my eyes out for absolutely no reason at all, and knowing I had no reason to be upset!

I have had some weight gain, but since I have always had weight issues I can't honestly blame that on the Depo. It does sting when you get the injection, and the area can be quite sore for a day or two because the liquid is very thick. I get mine in the hip - the one time I got it in the arm I couldn't raise that arm over my head for 3 days!

I have also read that it can take quite a while before you become fertile again after you quit using it, but since I don't ever want children that isn't an issue for me.

[Kalhoun]

I have an appointment with my gynecologist coming up, and I'm certainly going to discuss this with her; however, I'd like to have some opinions and suggestions in advance, so I can research them a bit before telling her what I'd like to try.

I'm currently using the Nuvaring, but I've been spotting a bit in between periods which, of course, is a problem. I do, however, love not having to remember to take a pill at the same time every night, which sometimes is quite difficult.

So I'm looking to switch birth control. I've been hearing good things about the injections, but also that they cause a significant amount of weight gain. Anyone here use those? What about the patch? Anything else you suggest?


Thanks so much, everyone!
I never knew that was a downside of the injections, but it explains my friend's daughter's 75 lb. gain. Wow. Who knew?

I'm on the hormone patch for menopause, and I gotta tell ya, if the BC patch is anything like it, it rocks. Totally.

[Sattua]

I have to throw in my irrelevant, dissenting two cents and ask what precisely is such a hassle about taking the pill? You only have to see the doctor once a year, there is no pain, no discomfort caused by a device, and if you react badly to it you can stop taking it *now*. Yes, you have to remember to take it every day, but you have to remember to brush your teeth too, right?

Of course, I have other mandatory daily medication, so I'm stuck with that anyway.

[Anne Neville]

I have to throw in my irrelevant, dissenting two cents and ask what precisely is such a hassle about taking the pill? You only have to see the doctor once a year, there is no pain, no discomfort caused by a device, and if you react badly to it you can stop taking it *now*. Yes, you have to remember to take it every day, but you have to remember to brush your teeth too, right?

Of course, I have other mandatory daily medication, so I'm stuck with that anyway.

Same opinion here. I take it first thing in the morning, when I'm pretty much on autopilot. I can't remember to take medications at the same time every day unless I do it in the morning when I'm on autopilot. Taking it at exactly the same time every day isn't so important unless it's a progesterone-only pill, AFAIK.

I couldn't do Depo- I have a phobia of needles, and hate hate hate going to see the doctor (my cats probably like going to the vet more than I like going to the doctor). And my doctors only make me see them once every 2-3 years now to get my pills :D I'm squeamish about any kind of birth control that I'd have to put in there- I'm also very, very bad at spatial stuff, so I'd be worried about getting it in right when I can't see it. So something like Nuvaring isn't an option for me, either.

An upside to the pill- if one kind of pill has bad effects for you, there are several others to try.

[Salt Seller]

I don't know your personal situation, but if you have a permanent SO, and you don't mind some advice from a guy, I highly recommend getting a vasectomy. The dude. Not you.

Best thing I've ever done. It wasn't even all that uncomfortable.

[Lissa]

I have to throw in my irrelevant, dissenting two cents and ask what precisely is such a hassle about taking the pill? You only have to see the doctor once a year, there is no pain, no discomfort caused by a device, and if you react badly to it you can stop taking it *now*. Yes, you have to remember to take it every day, but you have to remember to brush your teeth too, right?

Of course, I have other mandatory daily medication, so I'm stuck with that anyway.

It made me as sick as hell, and miserably moody. Didn't help me with my cramps, either.

[Carlyjay]

It made me as sick as hell, and miserably moody. Didn't help me with my cramps, either.

Agreed. Even the act of taking the pill made me feel nauseous.

Also, I forgot to take the pill A LOT. Sure, you have to remember to brush your teeth, but it's all there in the washroom waiting for you when you have your nighttime pee. The pill? Can't store it in the washroom, because of the dampness and heat. So you keep it elsewhere, and then you don't have a glass of water handy, so you think, "Oh, I'll pour a glass of water after I get my purse together" and then you're out the door and halfway to work before you think, "Shit! I forgot!" So you promise yourself you'll take it that night, but of course you forget then, too. And suddenly it's the next morning, and you're halfway to work again...

Of course, that's the extreme, and I am VERY forgetful. But even taking it a few hours late can reduce the pill's effectiveness. And I know a LOT of people who wouldn't remember to take it at the same time each day. Especially if you do shift work, or otherwise don't have a set schedule.

Sometimes, it's just way easier to do something like Depo or an IUD so that a stupid slip of the mind doesn't end up in a baby you can't support. That's something to take pretty seriously and not leave up to chance.

[tashabot]

I have to throw in my irrelevant, dissenting two cents and ask what precisely is such a hassle about taking the pill? You only have to see the doctor once a year, there is no pain, no discomfort caused by a device, and if you react badly to it you can stop taking it *now*. Yes, you have to remember to take it every day, but you have to remember to brush your teeth too, right?

Of course, I have other mandatory daily medication, so I'm stuck with that anyway.

Yeah, well, the reason I remember to brush my teeth is that my mouth starts feeling icky after I eat. I can't even remember to take my vitamins every day, and when I was still having my period, I used to forget to put a tampon in or a pad on when I got out of the shower (that SUCKED). I'm that forgetful.

I have to make myself lists for what I have to do that day when I get to work. There is no way I'd be able to remember the pill. The only reason I remembered when I was on it is because my boyfriend at the time would ask me at the same time every day, because he didn't want babies and had the memory of an elephant. My current SO is just as forgetful as I am (and boy is our room an amusing place to visit with our memory problems).

Oddly enough, while I can't remember mundane tasks like taking daily pills, I CAN remember the exact phrasing of almost every conversation I've ever had or listened to, and I can remember the words (assuming they're clearly sung), timing and pitch of every song I've ever heard. It's weird.

~Tasha

[flodnak]

Another fan of the hormonal IUD here (not Mirena, in my case, but another brand). I hated the way I felt on the Pill - as a friend pointed out, it's not hard to keep from getting pregnant when you never want sex. And other things, I just didn't feel like myself. I was a bit hesitant about trying another hormonal method after that, but the doses in the IUD are much smaller and didn't cause the same changes. Plus, I get a few little spots in my underpants once a month - some months not even that - no periods! I did the math and I am actually saving money compared to what I used to spend on pads and tampons, plus getting very reliable birth control for five years at a time. Can't beat that!

[Queen Tonya]

I have to throw in my irrelevant, dissenting two cents and ask what precisely is such a hassle about taking the pill? You only have to see the doctor once a year, there is no pain, no discomfort caused by a device, and if you react badly to it you can stop taking it *now*. Yes, you have to remember to take it every day, but you have to remember to brush your teeth too, right?

Of course, I have other mandatory daily medication, so I'm stuck with that anyway.

Yep, not having a set schedule made me not such a good candidate for the pill. Luckily, I'm not on any other daily medication, I'm horrible about getting thru a round of antibiotics in the allotted time.

The Depo worked for me, although even then remembering to make/keep that appointment for the shot every twelve weeks was sometimes problematic. The IUD is the best solution I've ever tried, and the 'set it and forget it' aspect is a big part of that.

[elfkin477]

Do any of you who have an IUD use the copper one? I think I might get one at some point and was wondering about people's experience with it, since it's the only one I know of that isn't hormonal.

[Amaranta]

That's not even the end of it: my migraines got so bad that I'd pass out from the pain, my vision got worse, my stomach got this weird, bloated, hard feel to it, and I was just generally miserable. I've never felt so bad in my entire life.


Wow. Did you have migraines before you went on Depo? Probably the first question my doc asked me was if I or anyone in my family had migraines, and AFAIK it mentions several times in the literature that comes with each injection that women prone to migraines should NOT use Depo. Yeesh, if your doc didn't tell ya.... that's awful.

[miamouse]

I've been using seasonale. I love not getting my period/not filling a prescription every month, and not getting any real cramps when I do. I love not having mood swings, I like being able to take cough medicine when I'm sick and not be falling down drunk (Ortho-lo did that to me).

[Hello Again]

It made me as sick as hell, and miserably moody. Didn't help me with my cramps, either.

You know that there are like 40 formulations of "the pill" and they can each affect women differently?

I am constantly suprised at the number of people who don't know that.
They try one, it doesn't work out, they give up on the whole concept, declaring "'The Pill' doesn't work for me." This may not apply to you. You may have have already worked your way through the entire Ortho product line in reverse alphabetical order. I'm just saying.

[jsgoddess]

I'm another Depo lover. I don't have issues with making appointments because I make them directly after getting my shot. The shots hurt sometimes, with an icky achy hurt, but no periods, no pregnancy likely, it's a worthy trade.

[DiosaBellissima]

Wow. Did you have migraines before you went on Depo? Probably the first question my doc asked me was if I or anyone in my family had migraines, and AFAIK it mentions several times in the literature that comes with each injection that women prone to migraines should NOT use Depo. Yeesh, if your doc didn't tell ya.... that's awful.


Yup, they didn't tell me. I remember going in and asking about birth control, she said to do Depo, handed me a brochure and walked out of the room for a bit. I was reading the brochure and when she came back I asked, "Hey, um, this says that common side effects include weight gain, hair loss, headaches--" And she cut me off, "Oh, those are so rare. I've never seen then, not once. It might make you more hungry, just eat less" Looking back, she was probably dismissive because I was young (16 or 17), but that's really not an excuse.

Anywho, when I finally started complaining about being miserable (it got worse and worse with each shot), the nurse said, "Yeah, we see several girls a day having the same problems you've got. Frankly, I don't get why she keeps telling people to take Depo, we see more problem cases than happy cases." So the doctor lied to me. Good times.

I go to a new doctor now. :)

[jsgoddess]

I'm another Depo lover. I don't have issues with making appointments because I make them directly after getting my shot. The shots hurt sometimes, with an icky achy hurt, but no periods, no pregnancy likely, it's a worthy trade.

[Motorgirl]

Do any of you who have an IUD use the copper one? I think I might get one at some point and was wondering about people's experience with it, since it's the only one I know of that isn't hormonal.

I had a copper IUD several years ago. The Paragard T 380A. It was good for 10 years, or would have been if I hadn't expelled it.

I had it in for about two years. There is a higher chance of expelling an IUD if you've never had any children, so I was not terribly surprised that mine got expelled. Disappointed, but not surprised. To be precise, mine was in the process of being expelled when I had it removed. I noticed one month that the string was significantly longer than it had been, so my doctor sent me for an ultrasound and ta da! it was apparetnly on its way out, so we removed it. I went on the pill for a while to think over my options.

Some Pros of the Copper T:
- the only thing to think about was checking the strings once a month
- no hormones, so I didn't have to worry about my 35 year oldbody reacting badly to hormonal birth control (clots and whatnot become more likely the older you are)
- IUDs are very effective birth control - one of the most effective available
- good for 10 years
- reversible in an instant, fertility may take a little while tobe rsetored, but most women can get pregnant right away

Some Cons (for me) of the Copper T:
- it hurt like hell to have it put in. discofort my ass! It hurt so bad I threw up and fainted. Many women don't experience pain during insertion, though, so YMMV
- heavier crampier longer periods. and chunky. yuck yuck yuck yuck

I will be talking to my doctor next month about my next option. It will either be vasectomy, tubal ligation or the very-low-does 5 year hormonal IUD 9the Mirena, maybe?)

[Lissa]

You know that there are like 40 formulations of "the pill" and they can each affect women differently?

Yes, I know. I tried three different brands of oral contraceptives. I swear to Og the bitch of a gyno I had must have been getting a commission, because she absolutely refused to switch my pills even when I told her about all of the problems I was having.

I found a new doctor, and she immediately switched me to another brand. When I had no changes, she said we'd try one more. In the meantime, she referred me to another gyno for my menstrual cramps, and she suggested Depo.

I have HIDEOUS menstrual cramps, as in rolling-on-the-floor-puking-and-crying-and-hoping-I'll-just-die-and-get-it-over-with pain. I wouldn't wish them on the most evil human being on earth. I had different prescriptions for muting the pain, but I also had somewhat irregular cycles, meaning I'd sometimes be stuck somewhere with no pain medication.

Since Depo stopped my periods, I don't have the cramps any more. Honestly, it changed my life.

[Precambrianmollusc]

I don't know your personal situation, but if you have a permanent SO, and you don't mind some advice from a guy, I highly recommend getting a vasectomy. The dude. Not you.

Best thing I've ever done. It wasn't even all that uncomfortable.

In the same vein, my wife seams to react badly to all the chemical solutions, and so after number 3 is out shortly, it's my turn to pop down to see a doctor with a couple of bricks. It sounds uncomfortable , hope mr saline purveyor is correct.

[jsgoddess]

Since Depo stopped my periods, I don't have the cramps any more. Honestly, it changed my life.

I could have written that!