Considering changing from my old pill + condom method and wondered what other methods other people use that they are happy with. I am not thrilled about hormonal methods at my age (36) but accidents are simply NOT ACCEPTABLE!!! Condoms are additional no matter what for added disease prevention. I am not thrilled about IUDs, and I have had friends complain about those patch things getting all dirty and rolling up under your clothes. I took Depo provera shots and liked the lack of periods but I gained weight…what else does anyone like or not like?
Well, you’re ruling out the pill, IUD’s, patches, shots… you’ve got diaphragms, cervical cups, the sponge, and sterilization left over, and probably something else I’m forgetting.
So which one of those is the most acceptable?
What’s wrong with the IUD? The more I reasearch it, the better it sounds.
It’s very effective (equal to sterilization). It’s completely reversable. It lasts a long time (8 to 10 years of not having to think about birth control). It’s very safe. It’s affordable.
World wide almost twice as many women use the IUD as use the pill. What’s not to love?
try my birth control method: Being a frigid Bitch, So far its worked for years
anecdote alert
One of my mom’s co-workers got pregnant with an IUD in place, and was a little worried when they couldn’t find it during the pregnancy.
The baby was born holding it in her hand.
IMO, sponges are great.
:eek: 
:eek:
You’ve asked the question I need answering. I’ve gone off of the pill as the hormones are messing with my system. No more hormonal methods for me. I’m allergic to metal (most will say nickel) so I don’t think I can have an IUD.
Most IUDs are made of copper. Are you alergic to that?
My doctor told me that I could not use the IUD since I have not had children.
I use a diaphragm and have no complaints. No hormones to worry about, and if you know you’re gonna get lucky, then you put it in before the action starts so you don’t have to worry about pausing all the romance.
The only downside is that you have to keep it inserted for at least 6 hours after intercourse. Sometimes I notice a little pressure (in the morning, mostly), but usually have to remind myself to take it out. So, it is pretty comfortable, though YMMV.
Hope this helps and isn’t TMI!
Good luck.
I have the IUD and I do not have children.
You just have to shop around for a doctor willing to give you what you want.
I think they finally caved in when I told them I had wanted one for years AND don’t want children AND have been married for a while AND over the age of 25.
Don’t let them bullshit you about this! It is definitely possible to have one.
I loooooooooooove mine
My sex drive has skyrocketed since I got it…no longer have any worries about getting preggers.
I think the story mentioned above in an urban legend.
I was on Depo for six months and hated it. I had some spotting and it seemed like I often had very mild menstrual crampy feelings.
So, I went off it.
And then I discovered that no method suits me better. I went back on Depo and wouldn’t consider switching now. The spotting stopped. The crampy feeling stopped. And, most importantly, the periods stopped (woo!).
Even if I were celibate, I’d get this shot. 
Julie
Thanks for your imput! I wanted the IUD just because it seemed so much more…convenient. The thing my doctor kept emphasizing was that it could build up scar tissue that might possibly hamper any future attempt at becoming pregnant.
Is this possible? I have no plans or desire for children at the prestent time (I’m 32), so don’t know if this is such a serious drawback to having an IUD.
Thanks in advance for any information.
My first lover had a dalkon shield and she’d never had children. I agree with **Elysian[b/] – shop around and find a doc who’ll give you what you want.
When the shield was suddeny recalled, we had a discussion, and I got snipped. I was old enough by then to know whether I wanted children or not, and the surgery was a lot more minor for me than it would have been for her.
We parted about a year after that. I’ve never regretted my decision.
DD
There are 2 kinds of IUDs. One is just metal (copper). The other actually releases hormones into you (called the Mirena).
The copper one has a small statistical increase in the chance of decreasing future fertility “While most women who stop using IUDs are able to become pregnant, IUDs can have negative effects on a woman’s fertility.”
The Mirena doesn’t have long-term negative effects on fertility, but it can cause it to take a bit longer to get pregnant. “The synthetic hormone in the Mirena IUD can cause a delay in return of menstruation and fertility after it is removed.”
Hope this helps.
The Nuvaring is hormonal, but it’s got a low dose and instead of the hormones being ingested orally, it just releases the them locally. You shove it up your cooter and leave it there, changing it once a month. I love it.
I have Norplant, the birth control that most women have refused to have. I know there were a lot of bad cases, but in my case, its been marvelous. Unfortunately, my 5 years is coming up next year. I don’t know what I’m going to do for birth control. I’m thinking of the patch. True, the sticky stuff sucks, but to me that is better than an unplanned child.
Norplant to me is great birth control. It took care of itself. The downside? Injury to the insertion site hurts like a bitch. My periods are totally unpredictable, but they were lighter. I gained about 20lbs. And my depression worsened. But that was mostly the 1st year. Still inspite of all this I still like it. I don’t have to remember to take pills, insert things, or get stabbed with a needle.
My wife had an IUD, and then we had two children (planned - no accidents). We had the second when IUDs were basically banned in the US for insurance reasons. We thought about going to Denmark so she could get one, but instead of that I had a vasectemy, the best method of all.
Then we took a nice cruise up the Orinocco river to celebrate.
I had an IUD between child 2 & 3 and had complications. It became dislodged and I started to hemorrage. I didn’t have that much blood during child birth scared the living crap out of me and I am hesitant to try THAT again. I am not sure if that is a rare thing to have happen or not but it was definitely not a good thing!!! BAD, BAD, BAD!!!
I’d forgotten about Norplant but again I am hesitant about hormonal…I have spent sooo many years on hormonal forms of BC and coming up on my late 30s, I am kind of trying to get away from hormonal. I’d like to give my body a chance to progress through it’s changes naturally. Maybe I should try the IUD thing again - it’s just scary.
Are you considering permanent methods? You might try Essure. It’s as permanent as a tubal but without requiring any cutting.
Gah. How about Essure.