PP contraception

[bocaburger]

I'm having trouble deciding what method to use (and having lots of emotions about preventing pregnancy after everything I went through to get pregnant). What are your plans and why?

[misshart00]

I plan on the mini pill for about three months then switching over to the full pill. I've been on the pill forever though because of weird periods so it works for me for now.

[youdontsay]

MH had extremely low sperm count and I'm AMA so we're not doing anything because the chances of us getting pregnant naturally is 1%.

I will say, I had Mirena before and I LOVED it! I would be an unpaid spokesperson for them if they let me, it was the one BC I didn't have to think about.

[thelorax]

We are two and through so DH will get a vasectomy. I'm hoping before the end of the year since we will have hit our OOP max.

In between the two we used condoms and NFP (plus we just didnt have sex a lot).

[kokopelli]

Condoms. I have predictable cycles so I know when I need one and when I dont. But I am also ok if I get pregnant, otherwise I would use them 100% of time. Tip: bareskin by Trojan are the best.

If we decide we are done, H will get fixed. I've been through enough, I don't want to do anything invasive. And hormones aren't my friend. So vasectomy it is.

[hummingbird125]

abstinence.






Just kidding. Sort of. I honestly am stumped on this one, I guess I'm leaning towards the mini pill (but waiting at least 6 weeks to start it), but I'm still worried about that interfering with milk supply. However, I hate condoms and I would NOT be okay with getting KTFU anytime soon....

[joy]

I decided long ago on Paragard.

I did not want an IUD before getting pregnant because of the chance of uterine implantation. I know the risk was small, but I couldn't handle the idea of hurting my uterus before ever using it.

I don't want hormonal birth control (dual pills, progesterone-only pills/minipill/POPs, Mirena/Skyla).

I like tracking my cycles by basal body temp and CM.

I know the side effects of Paragard. If it doesn't work out for me, then I'll re-evaluate. We had unexplained infertility and needed interventions to get pregnant, but that doesn't mean that I plan on acting like I can never get pregnant. We have no idea what was wrong so... better safe than sorry.

[steph]

I was on the minipill for quite some time after I had B and then started the Generess pill. I've got crazy periods (heavy and about 2 weeks long every 6 weeks, crazy bad cramps) and this pill was the first to work wonders for me. If I got a period at all, it was super short and I had minimal cramping. Oh and it's a minty chewable. Lol

[misshart00]

Although, we three under three, it may be vasectomy time over here.

[redhead610]

Last time I was on the mini pill and then switched to Loestrin (what I had been on prior). I was not a fan of the mini pill but stayed with it anyway.

This time I am thinking of trying an iud. Or sticking with loestrin, but the convenience of not having to worry about a pill every day sounds nice.

[bocaburger]

Jul 29, 2016 11:25:18 GMT -5 redhead610 said:

Last time I was on the mini pill and then switched to Loestrin (what I had been on prior). I was not a fan of the mini pill but stayed with it anyway.

This time I am thinking of trying an iud. Or sticking with loestrin, but the convenience of not having to worry about a pill every day sounds nice.

What didn't you like about the mini pill?

[kaitkat]

Condoms, then when we decide H will get snipped. There is a clotting disorder that runs in my family so being on birth control is to big of a risk for my health.

[joy]

Jul 29, 2016 11:27:53 GMT -5 bocaburger said:

What didn't you like about the mini pill?

Not redhead, but I've been on the mini pill.  It was micronor.

- I spotted constantly and without warning.  No true "periods" but so much spotting.

- All that progesterone made me eat my face off and gain weight. 

- My migraines were worse.

- The effectiveness of the mini pill is far less than a dual pill.  It relies on your body getting that you're permanently in your luteal phase (and not recruiting eggs), but is kinda bad at it.  It does change your cervical mucus to something thin and not good for sperm life.  But, you really need to take it every single day at the same time for it to be maximally effective.  And max effectiveness is less than dual pills.  Dual pills you have far more wiggle room due to their mechanism of action.  I understand your history, so this may be less of a concern.

[redhead610]

bocaburger
1) you have to take at the exact same time each day. That was really hard with a newborn!

2) I felt very overly hormonal and crazy. Could have been just postpartum hormones, but I was on it for like 7 months, and I never felt like it leveled out as opposed to on regular bcp.

3) this reason is weird. My doctor says it was not connected, but I really don't have any other reason why. Exactly every 4 weeks to the day I would run this crazy high fever and have intense body aches and chills. This would last for about 24 hrs. No one else around me ever got sick when I had this happen. I think it had to do with the hormones (someone at my primary care office said I should just not sleep with as many blankets - Umm not the problem). This went away once I switched pills. It was very strange.

[misshart00]

Yes to all of the above on the mini pill. I got pregnant on it (I assumed I forgot and took it the next morning sometime). So after my last was born, doc put me on it for three months until my milk supply had established, then switched me over to the regular dual pill. I saw no problems with my milk supply but other people might.

[gratefulgirl]

In the past it was lactationsl amhennorhea until I had to pump at work, then condoms and temping.

This time a tubal. I want DH to get snipped also because I cannot emotionally handle the thought of what might happen if the tubal failed. He is open but not committed.

[penny2103]

Jul 29, 2016 10:06:28 GMT -5 steph said:

I was on the minipill for quite some time after I had B and then started the Generess pill. I've got crazy periods (heavy and about 2 weeks long every 6 weeks, crazy bad cramps) and this pill was the first to work wonders for me. If I got a period at all, it was super short and I had minimal cramping. Oh and it's a minty chewable. Lol

Did not know there was a chewable! I'm such a child when it comes to taking pills. Will look into this!

[penny2103]

I'm considering Mirena this time. Last time I was on the mini pill. It was fine and I felt fine but I really don't trust myself with the strict every 24 hour rule.

[joy]

Jul 29, 2016 12:29:16 GMT -5 gratefulgirl said:

This time a tubal. I want DH to get snipped also because I cannot emotionally handle the thought of what might happen if the tubal failed. He is open but not committed.

Instead of having her tubes tied, my sister actually had her tubes removed.  No chance of failure.  It was a newish procedure, but you could always ask about this one!

[redhead610]

joy, I know Paraguard is non hormonal, but it's not as appealing to me with the possibility of heavy periods (mine were very bad already not on bcp). But I thought I read somewhere that Mirena was similar to the mini pill hormone-wise. Do you know anything about that? Questions I should ask my doctor?

[joy]

Jul 29, 2016 12:52:02 GMT -5 redhead610 said:

joy , I know Paraguard is non hormonal, but it's not as appealing to me with the possibility of heavy periods (mine were very bad already not on bcp). But I thought I read somewhere that Mirena was similar to the mini pill hormone-wise. Do you know anything about that? Questions I should ask my doctor?

Yes, Paragard has some bad reviews with regards to heavy periods and cramping.  I won't know until I try and I really want non-hormonal.

Mirena is like the mini-pill in that it only has one hormone associated with it: progesterone.  I was part of a discussion on Parenting (maybe?) that discussed the level of progesterone secreted by Mirena could be less than what is in the mini-pill, meaning that the side effects of the mini-pill may not be the same with Mirena.  The constant eating and headaches from the high progesterone was bad for me on the mini-pill.  But, it's true - Mirena may be less and it relies on both the progesterone AND the device as a birth control, while the mini-pill relies solely on progesterone.

Mirena has really good reviews with many not even having a period after some time with it inserted.  If you don't mind the progesterone, then it's a really nice option.  Skyla is also an IUD that secretes progesterone.

[hannahbear]

It took us so long to get pregnant that I'm not really into anything hormonal or long lasting. Probably just condoms for us.

[elebishi]

Jul 29, 2016 9:27:36 GMT -5 thelorax said:

We are two and through so DH will get a vasectomy. I'm hoping before the end of the year since we will have hit our OOP max.

In between the two we used condoms and NFP (plus we just didnt have sex a lot).

Everything here, exactly.

We're fairly certain we're done and would like to capitalize on having hit our OOP max (DH will be getting a vasectomy as well). But I'd also like to wait a bit to be completely sure we are in fact done. Decisions, decisions.

We also used NFP and condoms in my fertile window between our other kids. Hormonal birth control and me just don't get along, and I never really wanted an IUD. 

[redhead610]

Thanks for the info joy! I couldn't lose much of my pregnancy weight until after weaning/stopping the mini pill - no idea which one it was but maybe I had that same issue.

We are also likely done at 2 kids, but I'm not quite ready to make anything permanent. I want to give it a couple years just in case we change our minds before dh gets a v.

[gratefulgirl]

Jul 29, 2016 12:33:37 GMT -5 joy said:

Jul 29, 2016 12:29:16 GMT -5 gratefulgirl said:

This time a tubal. I want DH to get snipped also because I cannot emotionally handle the thought of what might happen if the tubal failed. He is open but not committed.

Instead of having her tubes tied, my sister actually had her tubes removed.  No chance of failure.  It was a newish procedure, but you could always ask about this one!

I have thought about that! For about 3 months I wasn't sure we were done and so I was waffling and forgot. I will ask next week. It would be nice to get it all over with. Thanks for the reminder.

[ronniesgirl]

Withdrawal!

Seriously, I have like no eggs left. This pregnancy was like winning the mega millions. We have on frozen embryo left. The chances of that embryo making a THB are slim (based on our history of failed treatment cycles). And our chances the old fashioned way are obviously not zero, but very, very slim. If I somehow had a oops baby, I would be just fine with that.

[elm1214]

I'm not sure yet. We are done with #3. In the past I had gone on the pill, but I don't like the way it made me feel.

I had surgery in September to remove a cyst in my Fallopian tube, and it's already back. So I have to have surgery again at some point, and I want both my tubes removed. My doctor mentioned doing a hysterectomy (but leaving my ovaries) due to a family history of uterine and Fallopian tube cancer, but that seems drastic so I don't know yet.

[dc2london]

I had a bad experience with Paragard BUT I seem to have a very delicate system and I think it is worth a try for others bc many women love it.
We are done at 3 so H will be getting a vasectomy. TBH I might have my tubes tied down the road too just to be really safe bc, well, I know a couple of vasectomy babies

[blueinred]

There is nothing positive about infertility requiring intense intervention of IVF, ICSI, PGS, endometrial scratch and supplements to increase the uterine lining; however, that means I will never again use any form of BC. The chance of conception occurring naturally is about .000001, I'm 39' so I'll take that chance.

[meagpt22]

EllieT I've had like 6 friends with PCOS and/or an ovulation and required intervention for first pregnancy, end up with surprise 2nd pregnancies. Obviously I don't know about the people who required intervention for further pregnancies. I feel like people were more open after the fact and more open about their surprises.