I’ve been on ortho-tri-cyclen lo for about a year, which is The Pill without the hormone impact, and it’s made me into a stark raving lunatic. In the past, I took the regular old pill, and it worked well in regulating my cycles, though I did have some pain and insanity, it wasn’t at ridiculous levels. Unfortunately, I am having too much trouble taking The Pill consistently, and I think my days of oral contraception need to be put behind me.
So I am going to the doctor next week. I want something economical that I don’t have to think about every day, and ideally suitable for use during long travel excursions. (By long, I mean 6 months to 1 year.) Most importantly, I need something WITH HORMONES.
One suggestion that another (non gyno) doctor suggested was an Intra-Uterine Device. I am fascinated by the long-term, ‘‘no-fuss’’ approach to these devices, but a little concerned it will make my cramps worse and unsure if it can deliver the hormones.
Please tell me about your experiences with IUDs, the Patch, Depo, The Ring, or anything else that doesn’t require you to take a pill.
FWIW: I don’t want to get pregnant. Ever. We’re going to adopt. I would be delighted to never have my period, ever again, though I balk at the idea of serious surgery, and I doubt it would be approved at my tender age of 24, because you know, I might change my mind later. :rolleyes:
Years ago a friend had an IUD and the thing “migrated” on her. She spent time in the hospital before they figured out the source of her back pain. Yowza!
I hated Ortho 7/7/7 too, but did OK on Nordette, it has something hormonal to help (and it cost more).
Then I turned 36, got off the pill entirely, got my sex drive back and switched to the “rhythm method”.
Is it hard to put in? Can it fall out easily? Does it ever get in the way of intercourse?
Ouch! The info thing on the Planned Parenthood website says you can avoid these complications by checking the string every month to make sure the length hasn’t changed. Do you know if your friend was aware of that, or did the complications result anyways?
My friend has the capsule/catheter? thingie in her arm. Predates the depo shot. cant remember the name. Totally satisfied w/it for years. but when she had to switch Gyno’s she found them inexperienced with extraction and reinsertion. Hurt like a sob.
According to the Planned Parenthood website, that’s a requirement with diaphragms. Part of the reason it doesn’t appeal to me. I run the risk of allergic reaction to spermicides.
My Mom did this, but it did nothing for her hormone regulation. I need to kill two birds with one stone: stark raving PMS lunatic + never want to get pregnant.
I’m 35, and have been using depo-subQ provera (low-dose Depo, given subcutaneously instead of intramuscularly) since May. I’ve had 2 shots so far. My periods stopped right away, and except for a recent week of erratic spotting I haven’t had any problems/issues. One thing, though, is that it’s relatively expensive: even with insurance I’m paying $70 for each shot, plus my regular office visit copay to have it administered. But so far, I think it’s worth it.
In addition to olivesmarch4th’s own answer, it’s my understanding that many doctors won’t perform that procedure on someone as young as her because she “might change her mind.”
I was the first patient in my doctor’s practice to use depo-subQ instead of regular Depo (and I think I’m still the only one), and none of the nurses knew how to administer it. I had a wicked bruise after the first shot!
I had great success with Ortho Tricyclen. Never any mood swings, and only a little queesy the first days of the first few months. Feeling adventuresome, I tried the patch and hated it. I didn’t like the way it got fuzzy around the edges by the end of the week. I didn’t like the way it felt. The deal breaker was the weeklong rash it left behind no matter where I put it. Rather than go back on the pill (were planning on TTC again soon), we used FAM (poorly) and wound up with child #2 sooner than anticipated.
Once I finished nursing child #2, I used Nuva ring. I love not having to remember. I can’t tell it’s there (my husband can, but doesn’t complain). It’s easy to insert. It doesn’t fall out under normal conditions (exercise, toileting, etc), but we did find it between the sheets after one particularly vigorous evening. I didn’t spot, get naseuated, or pregnant with it.
My problem with the ring? The third Friday of every month I turn into a homicidal maniac. Sure, I don’t *act * on these urges, but I want very much to growl loudly and bite the heads off of people then run snarling up to the top of the nearest mountain and throw rocks. Except for that one month when I lost my grip and cried in front of my boss.
I gave it eight months, thinking maybe I’d adjust. I didn’t adjust. I never had PMS before, either on or off birth control - now I understand it.
Yesterday I got a scrip to go back on the oral pill. I will miss my happy jelly bracelet of no baby, but I value control of my own emotions. I checked with a friend of mine also on the ring, and she has the same mood trouble but has decided to live with it as it’s only one day.
I suspect all hormonal methods squish my libido a bit, but it’s nothing a determined (read horny) and loving partner can’t help with. This time I’m trying OrthoTricyclen Lo to see if that’s any better. I’ve been told to let my midwife know if I still turn into the Hormonal Hulk, and I can try a different pill. (honestly I think I’d rather just get knocked up again if that’s the case)
I’ve had an IUD for a year. Not really much pain in insertion, but I was also 6 weeks PP (C-section, but I was fully dilated at the time of the C-section, so it was the best of both worlds :rolleyes: ), so that may have had something to do with it.
It is supposed to be HIGHLY effective in terms of birth control. However, I had a freaky pregnancy scare two months ago that was either the result of faulty pregnancy tests or a pregnancy that didn’t fully implant and then miscarried very early (both could have been the culprit, and I’m just not sure which it was). I’ve had a friend who just had the exact same thing happen. And for us, we seem to have symptoms that mimic pregnancy symptoms once in awhile, which is why we’re both starting to get a little paranoid. However, the Mirena IUD claims to be 99.9% effective, so there’s probably not a more effective form out there aside from abstinence.
I’m considering having mine removed due to the issues above, but OTOH, I know that I’ve had other friends who adore theirs and wouldn’t change it for the world.
Just ONE DAY a month??? :eek: I’m SOLD!
I just um, at this point, seem to be absolutely stark raving mad the week preceding my period, and week of my period, and a few days after. So, at least half the time. It really sucks, because I am otherwise a happy and healthy person.
The “traditional” copper IUD is, of course, a no-hormone thing, so not what you’re looking for. It also has a nasty tendency to make periods heavier and cramps worse, at least in the short-term.
The hormonal IUD (usually referred to as the Mirena in the States, I think) can cause a lot of cramping immediately after insertion, that goes away within a week or so. After that, periods and cramps are significantly reduced and can disappear altogether. Mine are practically gone. I don’t know how well the hormones will work for you, but for me, the fatigue/short temper/general b*tchiness trio of PMS significantly improved. Most months I don’t feel that I have PMS at all; the occasional month that I do, it’s a lot milder than it was pre-IUD.
I’d call it well worth considering. It’s a bit expensive, but I figured out what I was saving on pads and tampons in a month, multiplied that by its five-year lifespan, and realized it was actually a good deal :eek: And if you end up not liking it, it can be removed, and the hormones clear your system pretty quickly.
Yes, exactly. I know women older than me with severe uteral problems whose doctors will not approve surgery because, despite the fact they are lesbians and have no interest in ever bearing children, they ‘‘might change their mind someday.’’ Don’t even get me started on this.
That seems to be the tricky thing about hormonal birth control, YMM(almost definitely)V. I never had PMS before going on birth control, I didn’t have it on the regular variety of OrthTriCyclen, and I didn’t have it on the patch. So maybe you’ll be lucky enough not to have it at all on the ring, or maybe it will be worse. The only way to know is trial and error.
If OrthoTriCyclen Lo doesn’t work for me, I’ve thought about trying Yaz - supposedly it’s better for those with PMS but I don’t know anyone who has tried it.
