Birth Control Advice/ques.

F

fitfoxie

Active Member
Hi everyone,
Okay I realize this is completely off topic, but I really want some good opinions here. I finally made an appt. with my gyno to ask about getting a Paragard (non hormonal IUD) and he said b/c I haven't had kids yet he wouldn't do it. He also said any competent dr. wouldn't put one in any woman that hasn't had kids before, b/c it can damage or tear the utereus since it's so small, thus the risk of becoming sterile. I had never heard this before, and so I was a little confused. My DH thought that was excellent that the dr. was so cautious, and better safe then sorry. Anyways, dr. ended up putting me on a lower dose of bc pills, which he said should help. I was having extremely bad PMS symptoms for the past few months on Yasmin, which I had never had problems w/ before. Only thing is he put me on Yaz, which is slightly lower in estrogen, but you take it for 24 days instead of 21, resulting in a much shorter period. Sounds great, but I got to thinking aren't I just putting more hormones in my body since I'm taking three more days of them now? Sorry this is so off topic, but I'm just so confused and wanted to know if anyone had any advice or experience. Thanks so much... Lisa
Sorry this is so long.
 
I'm no expert, but it seems to me since the dose is lower, you just need less 'down time' from the pills than you did on the higher dose. That's my guess, anyway.
 
Why don't you first of all read up on IUDs for yourself and get a second opinion. Your doctor may not be right. The IUD might be OK for you. My sister used one for years and has never had kids.

Also contemplate the diaphragm. It is non-hormonal, so easy to use and completely reversible. Also, the Nuvaring, whilst hormonal, is a fabulous thing that you only have to think about once per month, which maintains a controlled, steady dose of hormones throughout the month so you don't have the see-sawing of hormones and emotions as you do with BCPs and I can recommend it to all women. It is worry-free, safe, easy to use, high rate of protection against pregnancy contraception that more women should think about trying.

Good luck,

Clare
 
I also asked my gyno about the possibility of an IUD, and she told me the same thing...no kids, no IUD. I currently use the nuvaring, and I agree with Clare that it is really great. No worry about forgetting pills and no hormone fluctuations. I'd definitely recommend it!
Josie
 
i get a shot every 3 months. i looked the depo shot on the web and read that some women have trouble being pregnant after getting off it. it might help to explore the net.

laura
 
As a medical student and a BC user, I have some opinions.

Honestly, there is no reason why not to use an IUD...as long as it is inserted properly. In fact, worldwide, it is the most common birth control method. It works simply by making the cervix inhospitable to sperm travel...kills em.

Personally, I am not a fan of the depo shot. It has been shown to decrease bone mineral density.

The hormones in Yaz and Yasmin are so low you need not worry. Most of the pills on the market are really low dose. Doses have seriously decreased in the past few years. In fact, many women are on Seasonale, which allows you to only have 4 periods/year and studies have shown that it is completely healthy.

Diaphragms are another method, as another poster mentioned...and with "perfect" use their efficacy is pretty high (good at preventing pregnancy). However, with "typical" use, it isn't much better than the withdrawl method (yeah, that surprised me too.)

I am currently on the NuvaRing. I love it. I have my clinical rotations coming up soon and I was afraid I wouldn't necessarily have the opportunity to take my pill at the correct time each day.

If you have any more questions, feel free to ask. We just did a unit on repro so it is pretty fresh in my mind (as well as the fact that I am seriously considering OB/Gyn as my field)

-Becky
2nd year medical student
 
I also wanted to mention Implanon...a 3 year injectible device. As soon as it is removed you are fertile again. A lot of the other products (including pills) don't allow for fertility directly after discontinuing their use. Implanon is different.
-Becky
 
My GYN told me the same thing about IUDs a few years ago (I'll be 27 this summer). She said the main reason is that IUDs have a tendency to be inserted improperly, and have a higher rate of uterine infection/perforation, so they can make you unable to carry a pregnancy. Hence the unwillingness to let childless women use it. My GYN told me that she'd insert one only if I signed paperwork for her office declaring that I had no desire to have children. But I'm still on the fence with that decision, so I decided to just stick with the pill.

That said, I've been on Seasonale for the last year, and it's WONDERFUL!!!! Four periods a year... you can't beat it! I have fewer migraines (I'm a chronic sufferer, thank you mom and grandma!), no cramping, and really only 3-4 actual days of bleeding, and it's pretty light.

I didn't have any of the traditional side effects (spotting, nausea, breast tenderness, weight gain), but I've been on various brands of the pill for for 8 years and never had any of them, so I am one of the lucky minority, I suppose.

If it's the artificial hormones you're worried about, is it from a cancer standpoint, or general health? In that case, I'd probably talk more in depth with your doctor. If you're worried about female cancers, lower-dose hormones would probably be your best bet, like Lo-Ovral, Loestrin, Levlite, Alesse, etc. I've been on lower dose pills, too (Lo-Ovral and Loestrin), and they seem just as effective at preventing pregnancy.
 
I've had many friends who's dr's told them the same thing about IUDs. In fact, I had a conversation with a doctor friend of mine who said that it is just too risky for women who haven't had children.


Carolyn
 
I use Nuvaring, too, and it is the best bc EVER. Seriously, my periods are much lighter and shorter and I don't have to worry about taking a pill every day. (I tend to forget, plus bc pills give me terrible headaches.... plus weight gain, bloating, and all of that other crap. Yuck!)

I'm not surprised to hear of the IUD issue. I don't know of anyone who has ever used one.

Marie
 
I was 26 when I got my IUD and I did not have any children-My Gyno told me all the risks and I was willing to get it done. I loved it and I did not have any problems. I am now 35 and we decided we are not going to have children. Hope that helps some.

Lisa
 
"My GYN told me that she'd insert one only if I signed paperwork for her office declaring that I had no desire to have children."

That's impressive. Most GYNs wouldn't do it for a childless woman, even if she took out a billboard to announce she doesn't want children, because all women are expected to be pining away for the day they can finally reproduce and have all of their womanly dreams come true. They just can believe that some women have chosen not to reproduce.
 
I had never heard of that stipulation with IUDs. My former roommate had one for years, had it removed when she got married and had their first child last November without problems.
 
why take a chance?.

If you want children, why take that chance? My preferred method has always been the diaphragm. Used it for probably 20+ years. A friend had a b/c shot (not sure what kind) and was not able to have a second child. Marnie
 
RE: why take a chance?.

I have never used birth control, hormonal type that is. I am scared about that kind of "altering" the body. I used the FAM method for over 15 years. Get the book Taking charge of your fertility. It helped me not get pregant when we wanted that and the first time i tried to get pregnant, we did thanks to this book. You learn all about your body and your fertility. I will not go into full details here.. but it is so easy. All the signs of your cycle are easily spotted.
 
RE: why take a chance?.

I had an IUD for 13 years and loved it. I had already given birth, however :)
 
Not sure if this helps .. but I am on Yasmine (have been for several years) .. and I love it .. I don't have many migraines anymore ..and I only bleed for like one - two days .. cramp for one and that is it .. and on the other types of BC pills I had HORRIBLE pms .. HORRIBLE cramps .. and long periods ..

.. that being said there was an adjustment time frame .. it took a couple of months b-4 the bad PMS symptoms faded and the fewer flow days took affect ..

I don't have breast tenderness anymore .. and although I still bloat .. not near as bad!!
 
Brigitterenee: I immediately got pregnant while trying to prevent it on the "rhythm method" to which you refer. It was a bummer at the time because I was only 21 and a newlywed. Ah well!

And my hat is off to anyone who has mastered the diaphrammy whammy as my husband and I called it. That darn thing was so slippery and boingy that I ended up shooting it across the bathroom everytime! We ended up laughing so hard that the "moment" was lost, but we sure were entertained! That was pretty good birth control in itself!:p
 
i am on depo becaus i sometimes forget to take my pills and i have no periods,headaches,or anything else and can jump in the pool any time. is Seasonale a shot? what other methods of shots are there?

laura
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Our Newsletter

Get awesome content delivered straight to your inbox.

Top