MemberNever needed it before now (well actually not til next year). But i want to start doing my research and find the one that will work for me. Im seriously undereducated on it, but i am trying to learn as much as i can before i visit the gyno.
Obviously i would prefer not to be moody or gain a lot of weight as i need to fit into my wedding dress, and i dont mind taking a pill everyday(at least to start with).
thanks bees
Member@BrittMike12: I think it’s great that you want to research your options! It’s important (IMO) to know your options and also know what works best for you. Different medications work differently for different people. I can tell you which methods are amazing for me, but you may have drastic side effects. While the birth control pill does make some women moody, that doesn’t mean that it will make you moody (it never influenced my mood – but my friend L’s bipolar went totally bezerk when she takes any hormonal method). As for weight gain, that also can vary greatly. There are other side effects commonly associated wtih the birth control pill, and one of the main reasons that women report going off of the Pill is problems with their sex drive. According to Sherri Winton, women’s orgasms are also changed by hormonal methods of birth control (if you read her book, this does actually make some sense, but don’t take it as gospel). If you don’t like the idea that moodiness/weight gain may happen, steer clear of Depo. I had a period the whole time I was on Depo (3 shots… so around 9 months, yeah that was fun!) and in my experience, more women dislike Depo than just about any method. The other problem with Depo is that if you have side effects you don’t like or are having intense side effects, you are stuck with them for about 3 months or more (a friend had really bad headaches that lasted for almost 4 months).
If you want to avoid any chance of moodiness or weight gain, how do you feel about barrier methods of birth control? This includes male condom, female condom, diaphragm, cervical cap, etc. The male condom is pretty effective when used properly and every time. Plus, with any of those you don’t have to worry about taking a pill every day. I like the idea that there are tons of types of condoms out there, so for clients of mine that like using the male condom, I suggest going to a store or a site and buying lots of kinds and trying them out.
You could also think about an IUD. If you’re in America, you have two options: copper or Mirena (has hormones). If you have heavy or uncomfortable periods, you may not want to think about the copper IUD – but it can last longer. Mirena tends to have less side effects than the birth control pill b/c the hormones aren’t going through the whole body. It doesn’t last as long as as the copper IUD and for some women makes their periods lighter or go away. If you think Mirena is maybe an option, you can also consider Implanon (a small rod that is inserted in your arm and releases a steady stream of hormones, and is good for about 3 years).
I’m not affiliated with Bedsider, but think that they’re awesome so that might be a site worth checking out (http://bedsider.org/methods). Planned Parenthood is also good, and this part of their site (https://www.plannedparenthood.org/all-access/my-method-26542.htm) is a neat way to narrow down what MIGHT be a good method for you.
MemberI think the best birth control for you depends on a lot of things. For example, the pill is not a great option for someone who is very forgetful. An IUD is great if you are forgetful, but if you were wanting to have children soon after it might not be worth the cost of insertion.
There are so many great options out there. Its just a matter of finding one that suits your lifestyle, your personality, and your body.
This is a great website to get you started on learning about your options. 🙂
http://www.whatcontraceptiveareyou.com.au/contraceptive-overview/?gclid=CMCwn4fOg60CFeJMpgodzx4ETQ
MemberAsk your gyno and they will suggest what is best for you. Try not to do too much research on the internet as there are a lot of bad reviews. I take Yasmin and I think it is great. I take a pill every morning and I have lost a few kilos, and it has helped with skin impurities and even with digestion. After I was prescribed it I looked at some reviews on the net and they freaked me out lol
The only thing you can do is try and see how compatible it is to your body 🙂
MemberMy only advice is to look at the common side effects, work out which method might suit you best, and then give it a try. Eg, if someone is forgetful a coil, implant or the injection might be best; otherwise the pill would be fine. As a very brief and general overview, here goes:
Combined pill: loads of different types; you might not suit the first one you try, but the majority of women will find one which suits them well; not suitable for women with a family history of clots/heart attacks/stroke, or for women with high blood pressure generally speaking; can expect 3-6 months of side effects inc mood swings, weight gain, breast tenderness, etc (these side effects settle within 6 months max with most women); can expect periods to become shorter and lighter; can run packets together if on certain types of pill (meaning you can skip periods if going on holiday etc); 24 hour window, so if you don’t take it exactly the same time every day, it doesn’t matter; fertility on average takes 6-18 months to return to normal once you stop taking it.
Mini-pill: progestogen only; typically stops periods completely; may experience irregular bleeding or spotting; suitable for women with a history of high blood pressure/heart attacks/strokes; can expect hormonal side effects for 3-6 months while your body adjusts; most only have a 3-hour window, so you need to be VERY good at taking it on time (Cerazette has a 12 hour window); fertility returns to normal almost straight away.
Implant: lasts 3 years; typically stops periods; can get irregular bleeding esp during the first 12 months; suitable for women with family history of strokes etc; don’t need to remember a pill every day; fertility returns to normal almost as soon as it’s removed; may experience bruising or infection where it’s inserted; can sometimes migrate and may need to be surgically removed in v small number of cases
Injection: very high dose of hormone, and so associated with numerous side effects; average weight gain is 2-3kg in the first year, and 1-2kg each subsequent year; lasts 14 weeks, so if you experience side effects, they will last at least this long; other side effects are as above (mood swings, etc; can also be associated with loss of libido and vaginal dryness); can affect fertility for up to 24 months after you stop having it; other risks inc small risk of osteoporosis in long-term users; usually stops periods completely, though some users get irregular bleeding.
Copper coil (IUD): hormone-free, so no hormonal side effects (mood swings, weight gain, etc); can make periods longer, heavier, and more painful. Fertility returns to normal as soon as it’s removed. Fitting can be uncomfortable (though not too bad IMPO); women who haven’t had children are at an increased risk of abdo/pelvic pain. Very very small risk of perforation of the womb and PID.
Mirena: contains small dose of hormone. The dose is tiny and delivered locally, so although you MIGHT get hormonal side effects, usually they aren’t too severe and don’t last long; usually stops periods; can again cause pelvic/abdo pain, and again thyere is a TINY risk of perforation of the uterus and PID. Fertility returns to normal once removed.
Condoms: much less effective: around 98% if used perfectly, otherwise around 92% (most people don’t use them properly). Can reduce spontaneity and sensation. I personally only use these as a barrier to protect against STDs; I would never use them on their own, or in a long-term relationship
Diaphragm: around 92% effective. Needs to be inserted well before sex so affects spotaneity; needs to be kept in after sex for some time to increase efficacy. I would not use this unless I didn’t mind falling pregnant.
Other methods inc the Nuva ring and contraceptive patch, which are similar to the combined pill in terms of side effects and so on; the nuva ring is worn in the vagina, the patch usually on an arm/on your bum; both are effective for 3 weeks, at which point most women have a 1 week break before applying a new one, but like the combined pill, you can use a new one straight away and skip the weeks break (and your period)
MemberIt wouldn’t hurt to learn about your cycle, the way that your body naturally has fertile and infertile times, by reading a book like Taking Charge of Your Fertility, especially since it would be *perfect* that you would get to “practice” it for a few months before actually needing to have the method down perfectly.
MemberStarting with some version of the pill is probably best for you, and your doctor will have suggestions about this. I second not looking too much at reviews on the internet, because everyone is different and every pill has people who love it and hate it.
I have never had any problems with weight gain or mood swings, but I was nauseous every day at the same time for the first three months. You can take your pill at night, though, which would probably be a lot better.
You may also not end up with the perfect pill the first time. I started on Loestrin Fe 24 which is one of the lowest dose pills. I had too much spotting on this pill, even after taking it for more than enough time to get adjusted. I switched to a slightly higer dose pill and this works much better for me. The bottom line is just keep taking whatever you are on, because it will take some time to adjust. If you aren’t happy after giving it a chance, your doctor should be happy to help you find a solution.
MemberThanks for asking! I’m in the same situation and having been trying to get an idea of what I want to use. Keep the comments coming!
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