- Blog
- Bios
- Boards
- Classifieds
- DIY
- Gallery
- Vendor Reviews
- Shop Weddingbee
Weddingbee boards
I've only tried pills and an IUD. Pills were okay, when I could remember them. I already have one child so trying to remember to take one tiny pill kinda gets pushed to the back of my mind. I liked the generics better, they caused less havoc on my face for some reason.
I had an IUD for two years. I'd probably still have it but it got displaced by an ex-bf who was well endowed. Yes, it's completely possible for a guy to push it right up into your uterus. I actually never would have known if I hadn't gotten kidney stones and needed some scans. I was told that having it deplaced by sex is very rare and there were most definitely signs that he was hitting it and I brushed them off. (Meaning that displacement could have been avoided) So my suggestion is that if you get an IUD and your man is kinda big (8+), don't get on top. TMI; Your vagina is only about 5-6 inches long so the weight of your organs being upright will force the IUD against the penis with much more force than if you weren't on top.
I loved my IUD though. I was crampy for about 4 days after getting it. But then my period just vanished. It was pretty awesome.
I'm planning on getting the Mirena IUD last this week or next. Ive heard good and some mixed things about it. Everyone I know, personally, that has one loves it, so I have high hopes.
I was on the pill (ortho-novum) for about 3 years. I gained a cup size and about 20 pounds. Ugh. Plus, has crazy mood swings and terrible paranoia from forgetting to take it all the time. lol. That last bit was my fault.
I am only iffy about the IUD because my uncle is an IUD baby... I don't want and IUD baby. lol
I'm on the shot, I've been on it for a little over 4 years now.
Personally... I love it. I've read and heard a ton of bad things from other people but I've never had a bad experience. When I went for my first shot I was on my period (as you normally have to be to start it), within 2-3 hours my period had stopped and I haven't had one since. (So that's about 50 months period-free so far! It's been great!)
I did gain a little bit of weight, 10-15 pounds. Although I can't fully attribute that to the shot since I was 15 when I started it so it might just have been late-puberty/growing up weight. My best friend has been on it for just over a year now and hasn't gained a pound.
As far as side effects go, there isn't many. I do get a "pms" type thing about a week before I'm due for a new shot. Cramps, sore boobs, carb cravings, mood swings and slight bloating. All that goes away as soon as I get the shot however. It isn't any worse than regular pms and my doctor said not many women go through it. So there's a big chance that it won't happen to you at all.
There is a risk of bone density loss, but as long as you start taking calcium and vitamin D supplements you should be fine. I've been on it for 4 years and my bone density is just fine (I had a scan last year.)
I go in for my shot and they give me a card with the next ideal week for the next one. (You don't have to go on one specific day, there's a whole week available, or 2 weeks if you don't mind getting it a few days early). I had my last shot on Feb.28 and am going for my next on on Tuesday, May 24 - as long as the world doesn't end today. 
I have an implant in the underarm.. its smaller than a match stick and 99% effective.. lasts for 3 years too. Look up 'Implanon', I'm on my second one now and will need another next year, so thats nearly 6 years and good results!
I'm pretty sure that any hormonal birth control has the potential to cause weight gain.
@Ms Hedgehog: I never gained any weight with my IUD. But I have heard of a few women who have, but it's supposed to be uncommon.
@Ms Hedgehog: Natural methods, i.e. NFP and FAM. Read "Taking Charge of your Fertility" for more info on that. It's rated to be equally or MORE effective than HBC.
@KLP2010: I'm effective. :(
I'm on the pill and haven't gained weight (beyond a couple pounds that are accounted for by bigger boobs). Almost any method has the POTENTIAL to affect your weight (either by gain or loss).
I currently have an IUD and love it! I also had the Implanon( stick in your arm) and it was ok but I gained some weight on it. I also used the patch for awhile but it left the sticky stuff on my bum when I removed it and to put a new one on and had a couple slide right off if I got too sweaty. And the pill, eh, I couldn't ever remember to take it. So, with all that I've tried my IUD is my fav!
I was on depo for a couple of years and gained about 20lb. My sex drive was insane, but I couldn't stop bleeding, so I had to take estrogen BC constantly to make it stop, making the depo pointless. Then I switched to the NuvaRing. Effective, convenient...loved it. Except it killed my sex drive completely. So now I'm on back on the pill (Loestrin). My sex drive isn't back to normal, sadly.
I've considered Mirena, but I love being in control and surpressing my period.
I"m interested in this too... can we get some more testimontials.
I have the nuva-ring. I really like it because I only have to think about it twice a month. It comes with stickers to put on calendars for when to take it out and put it in again. The only thing I can think of is I have gained about 20 pounds from it.
I was on the pill for years until December when I got the Mirena IUD. Besides the first few days when the cramps really hurt, it's been great! I actually lost 15 pounds in the months since I've had it, although it's hard to say it's related to a change in my bc. I love not worrying about a pill, and I don't have periods like I used to. If I do get my period it only lasts a couple of days.
I was on the pill for years until December when I got the Mirena IUD. Besides the first few days when the cramps really hurt, it's been great! I actually lost 15 pounds in the months since I've had it, although it's hard to say it's related to a change in my bc. I love not worrying about a pill, and I don't have periods like I used to. If I do get my period it only lasts a couple of days.
I'm a die hard depo (shot) user. I went though a varity of bc methods before I turned to depo. The pill: coulnt remember to take it. The Patch: falls off way to easily. Ect. But Depo I dont forget, and its just a quick shot evey three months. I have been using depo for like 2 years now and have had no weight gain, or any of the side effects. Like a previous poster said, be sure that you get plenty of calcium and vitamin D as it can cause bone density loss.
I'm on a generic pill - Necon 1/35. It's been okay. Periods have been great! They are really light and short. I did gain about 20lbs about 3 months after I started it. My butt, hips, and boobs got bigger. My sex drive has been pretty normal. It's been low recently, but that's because of stress. My acne cleared up, and let me tell you, I had HORRIBLE acne! I say do your research and talk to your gyno. They can give you the best advice!
i was on the shot for 10 years. I loved it! I never had a period, never gained weight. It was also very economical for me. Try it out. If you dont like it, you can stop taking it. I got off it recently because we want to start a family after the wedding and it can take over a year to get pregnant after being on the shot. Hope this helps :)
Im on the Nuva Ring, I didnt gain any weight, only have to remember it every other week (twice a month), a little more emotional but not to the point i cant handle it. I have been on Yaz and was way too emotional, crying all the time, or got my feelings hurt easily. Then i was on the implant Implanon, that was scary, cause i never had my period... like ever.... I feel better knowing i had my period every month. Plus when i got it taken out it left a fat scar on my arm. And it is very uncomfortable when it was in my arm. Then the Nuva Ring, my fav so far. I dont plan on changing anytime soon.
Different BC works better for different people, sometimes you just need to try them for a bit to see if it is the right one for you. A friend of mine is on the shot, and hasnt gained ANY weight, while others friends i know have gained 30+.
I use Seasonique, but am seriously considering an IUD because I still have some spotting issues. As a medical student, I am familiar with the raw data of the different options but have only tried pills myself. I am a psycho about taking it on time though. FYI, the only proven birth control that can cause weight gain (not to say it always does) is the depo provera shot every 3 months.
I'm on NuvaRing and I LOVE it. Everyone that I know that has been on it has liked it too. I set reminders in my phone when it's time to take it out and put a new one in. It's supposed to be worn for 21 days, but actually has enough hormone to be effective for > 28 days so it's not the end of the world if you accidentally leave it in too long. It's not generic so may not be covered by your insurance.
Getting the IUD put in can be painful if you've never had kids. It can can cause your periods to become lighter (in case you suffer from heavy bleeding).
FWIW, Depo is the only hormonal BC that has been associated with weight gain in controlled trials. Lots of people report gaining weight when they started BC, but it probably also coincided with the time they went to college, moved in with a boyfriend, would have gained weight in their late teens, etc. The bone density loss usually reverses once Depo is stopped.
I've been on about 6 different birth controls.
Went on the shot when I was like 14, right after my mom passed away, my dad wanted something he could control. He knew it was going to happen, so let's stop it now. That time it was great.
When I went to college (switched around 17), I switched to nuva-ring to give it a shot. I loved it. (TMI) But I got a yeast infection every month. And I just had a year long prescrption of Diflucan. Not to bad, it happened whenever I get a period. It just went threw off my pH.
Went back to the shot (about 19 this time), gained 30 pounds in a cycle. I still haven't gotten rid of it. It's really bad.
Went to the pill, like a month later. Not sure which it was, and I guess I had a really bad reaction to the horomoe Levonorgestrel. I had the cops called on me it made me so crazy.
Switched to another pill. The sugar pills had a slight amount of horomones, that dropped down after like 3 days. And then goes back up after the week with of low horomone. I liked that, couldn't remember to take them. And I'd def. end up pregnant.
Got Mirena IUD Sept of 2009. And I've never looked back. I've not gained anymore weight. No side effects, even though it's the same horomone I can't really tollerate in the pill. They said because it's in my cervix. And not all in my blood.
I say it's a tie between Nuva Ring and Mirena for me.
You can also look at getting Paragard IUD. It's copper, no horomones. But you might get heavier periods. But it's 10 years.
@medsie, yes it's everything 3 months or actually every 12 weeks. They give you like a 5 day grace period. But if you go beyond it, then you have to wait until you have your period to go back for another shot. And, it has to be administered by a professional, not self administered.
Depo - Got the shots when I was about 16. I gained weight and it made my hair come out in clumps
BP Pills (Many different brands) - Also made my hair come out. I always forgot to take them. It's a wonder I didn't get pregnant during that time
Paraguard - Had it for 2.5 years. I never think about it, never worry about getting pregnant. It will be effective for another 8 years!!! My periods are a bit heavy and long but they were like that before I got it. And you pay for it once and never again
So much too consider... it seems like a trial and error thing. I've had some major issues with BC pills (when I took them when I was 18-20) I was fine, but now they just give me UTI symptoms and bladder spasms. The progestin only pill made me REALLY bloated and gain like 5 lbs (which I lost within a week of gettign off of it). I've thought of IUD's but the thought of some device just hanging out in my uterus doesn't make me happy. I may just have to play with different pills. All I want is no UTI symptoms and no weight gain... is that too much to ask?
You must log in to post.
| Visit our sister sites | eHarmony Online Dating |
eHarmony Advice Dating Advice |
Project Wedding Wedding Songs |
JustMommies Pregnancy Calendar |
Create the honeymoon of your dreams.
| User | Posts Today |
|---|---|
| MissBoPeep | 56 |
| hisgoosiegirl | 39 |
| ndreighton | 38 |
| akp0702 | 37 |
| Mrs.KMM | 36 |
| beargoose | 34 |
| BetterSherm | 31 |
| Gemstone | 29 |
| Beckster329 | 28 |
| stardustintheeyes | 27 |
| User | Posts Today |
|---|---|
| Gemstone | 1 |
| hotchildinthecity | 1 |
| Gabrielle123 | 1 |
| DeathByDesign | 1 |
| KristenGotMarried | 1 |
| DevolSyawla | 1 |
| Future Mrs K | 1 |
| GroovyHippieChick | 1 |
 nellie_pie |
1 |
| vorpalette |
1 |
I am thinking about getting the 3 month shot and I want to hear your guys' experience with that or your preference on BC. I can read articles all day but I really want personal experiences.