Ok Ladies...Tell me about your birth control!

[TnTsParty]

I am 36 and have never taken BC pills in my life but my dr just put me on Femcon FE for 3 month to hopefully get rid of ovarian cysts. I just started on Sunday and yesterday and today I have felt sick to my stomach, no real appetite and an uneasy, anxious feeling. I have done nothing different beside take these pills so I am not 100% that is what is causing these feelings but its a good possiblity. Although my best friend has told me there is a good chance its not the pills - I asked her then if she knew what was wrong with me - she had no answer. I am still giving it a chance though and hopefully these feelings won't last too long since I have to get my marathon training started and can't do that feeling like this.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

Love Seasonale!! Absolutely love it. No side effects!

Four periods a year - very light. One box of tampons lasts a whole YEAR.

It is truly the best drug ever.

 

[lauraDar]

Was on Depo Provera for a number of years, ended up getting terrible migranes! Came off when I wanted to get pregnant and 2 hours after giving birth I was in the OR having tubes tied!

 

[ZuZugal]

Mirena IUD for me. I'm on my second one now. They last 5 years after being inserted. You eventually have no period at all. Nothing to think about. Some people will tell you they gain weight on this but I haven't. It uses only trace amounts of hormones.

Slight cramping when inserted, but that was it. Love it!

 

[pppiglet]

I think I'm on the generic for Loestrin and it's called Microgestin. I love it! I've been on the pill for 30 years. DH wouldn't get snipped and I don't want to get pregnant at 49! (DR says hormones still raging). So....hardly anything now. Period is basically down to one day and very light. No PMS, no bloating, no acne, but I do get slight migraines. With all the problems my mom and sister had with bleeding, I'll gladly take the migraines any day!

 

[Forevryoung]

I've been on Nuvaring for 3 years and I swear by it. Some people are grossed out by it because you put it in and take it out yourself. It stays "in" you for 3 weeks and then comes out for a week. When it's in right, I don't feel it and my boyfriend hasn't mentioned it ever. And he would say something if it bothered him.

I think that there has been weight gain ("the girls" are definitely bigger and I've gained weight) but I could attribute it to several other things as well (what I eat, less exercise).

I don't skip my period but it's short (4 days) and very very light. According to many sources, you could skip your period and just replace the ring instead of taking it out for the full week.

I feel better (and dbf does too) knowing that I don't have to remember to take a pill at the same time every day with the same high percentage of protection. To me, that's worth the 10 lbs I've gained in 3 years

 

[redlight]

I'm not on anything now, but I've been on OTC and had no problems.

 

[Vixen]

i take this pill called yasmin its good but the side effects i get are nausea! i get really sensitive to smells

 

[kt_mom]

I've been on Nuvaring for 3 years and I swear by it. Some people are grossed out by it because you put it in and take it out yourself. It stays "in" you for 3 weeks and then comes out for a week. When it's in right, I don't feel it and my boyfriend hasn't mentioned it ever. And he would say something if it bothered him.

I think that there has been weight gain ("the girls" are definitely bigger and I've gained weight) but I could attribute it to several other things as well (what I eat, less exercise).

I don't skip my period but it's short (4 days) and very very light. According to many sources, you could skip your period and just replace the ring instead of taking it out for the full week.

I feel better (and dbf does too) knowing that I don't have to remember to take a pill at the same time every day with the same high percentage of protection. To me, that's worth the 10 lbs I've gained in 3 years

I did nuvaring for awhile and I gained weight on it. I do attribute a good deal of the weight to it because my eating habits and stuff didn't really change. THe only change was the nuvaring. I switched back to the pill. I've still never really lost the weight although I lost about 5 pounds in the first week or two I was off of it. Unfortunately I had gained a bit more than that.

 

[Disney Ron]

I was on Ortho Tri 28 longer than I care to remember without any side effects such as weight gain or acne. Just don't miss a pill... I am happily holding my 10week old beautiful DD because I did. I no longer have to worry about BC because I had a tubal right after delivery.

Mrs. Disney Ron

 

[Philagoofy]

menopause

 

[KimD]

I have an IUD I can't remember what it is called but it is cooper so there not any hormones. I love it I will say my periods are a little heavier & 1 day longer but mine used to be only 4 days so now they are 5. and I am really regular. You can use it up to 10 years before having it removed. Cast all together about 750.

Kae

I have this and it's called Paragard IUD. I'm on my second one and it's been really great.

I've done pills, Norplant & Mirena. They all had hormones and really really messed with me. The Mirena was the worst of all and I thought I was going nuts until I read up about it and found I was not the only one by a long shot so I had it removed. Within a week every side effect was gone and I felt human again. I had the Mirena put in when my 1st Paragard's time was up and gave it about 8 months before I gave and needed it gone. The paragard doesn't have any hormones and aside from cramping upon insertion and a bit heavier period for about 3 months there are no side effects at all. I have Kaiser and mine didn't cost me anything but my copay of $15.00.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[ohiomom28]

I am struggling with my BC now. I have been on and off BC pills for 13 years and up until a couple years ago I never had a problem. 2 years ago, my doctor put me on Seasonale, HORRIBLE! Mood Swings and anxiety and it made me constipated to the point I was in the ER, I know TMI. But seriously, within a week, I was back to normal. Since March I have been on Mircette/Kariva. Now that I look back at it, I have had anxiety slowly creeping up on me. Now, it rules me everyday. My doctor says she doesn't think its the pill and thinks I should go to my PCP. I have never had breast tenderness or spotting with any other pill and I do with this one. I always worry about everything but I have been extreme lately! The week before my period is HORRIBLE! I had anxiety attacks last week. I am better this week, thankfully. My doctor says if I want to change BC because of this, I should try NuvaRing, it is less hormones than the pill I am on. I have heard horror stories of this too about weight gain and bad mood swings. I can't get Mirena because my insurance doesn't cover it. I'm at a loss at what to do, except deal with it the best I can...

Good Luck!

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Surprised I haven't seen this one yet:

 

[figaromeetsmarie]

Thanks!

I am not old enough for menopause yet, so it isn't an option. BC is a very tough decision since there are so many types!

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

I was on Trinessa (generic for Ortho-Tricyclene (sp?). I hated it! It made me nauseous and the week before my period I was so emotional and crazy. The doctor told me that that was common as the level of hormones build each week with the last week being the worst. My insurance didn't cover any of the cost of any low hormone birth control.

I have been on Trinessa for many years. I haven't gained a single pound, and I have had absolutely no problems with this pill. Each woman certainly responds differently.

 

[CharityLynn]

I was on YAz before the hubby got the snip. I am thinking of getting back on it I miss it so much lol. My periods are horrible now. While on BC, my skin was clearer, a had few cramps, my flow was a lot lighter and didn't last nearly as long as it does now.

I do know that Yaz and Yasmine are in the news for bad stuff not sure what exactly but I remember seeing something about it. I would go back to Yaz in a heartbeat if we could afford it.

 

[postage stamp]

I have the Mirena IUD and I love it.

This will be my first trip to Disney with it, and lets hope it keeps working. Every other time we've gone to FL we get an extra souvenir!

 

[locolala]

I was on the ring (now we're ttc) and I absolutely loved it. No weight gain, no acne, and it helped with my cysts. I was on the implanon (arm implant) for a few months and hated it, so they took it back out. Thank god for Tricare (pay nothing for any of my health care, perk of being a military spouse) because otherwise that would have been pricy!

 

[gk90]

For all who've had problems with contraceptive side effects, why not look into Fertility Awareness? For over 10 years it's worked very well for us and for a number of couples we know.

While Fertility Awareness takes some learning, it has lots of advantages--no side effects, low cost and natural. Many people think that an inevitable "side effect" of FA is pregnancy and that oral contraceptives must be more effective. But figures show that "when used correctly and consistently with ongoing coaching, some studies have shown some forms of FA to be 99% effective, the same as oral contraceptives"--look at the Wikipedia article and also this report on some recent research studies: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6375261.stm