Let me start out by saying that I don't want to start a moral, ethical or religious debate here. I would just like some honest opinions/evaluations of the form of BC that you use, if you use any.
I'm 3 weeks from delivering my second child and would like to start using BC as soon as possible after delivery.
Prior, I used Ortho-Tricyclin (sp) which was ok, but I'm not that excited about using the pill again. I'm thinking along the lines of and IUD, but I just don't know enough about them or many women who have one.
My husband has offered to get "fixed" but I have a bad feeling about either of us doing anything permanent.
Any advice, tips or experience you could share would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Ame

By Rayanne on Tuesday, August 24, 2004 - 08:32 pm:

I use Tri-Phasil and have never had a problem with it. This is the first and only pill I have ever used, except for the one that you can take when you are brest-feeding. I think that I felt a little natiuos in the beginning, but it wasn't too bad. I hope this helps you out. Good Luck and I can't wait to see pictures of your beautiful bundle of joy.

By Melissa on Tuesday, August 24, 2004 - 08:37 pm:

I have had a Mirena IUD for a year and a half. I love it. Mirena has a bit of progestin in it so you get less bleeding and cramps than you would with a Paraguard. Even though we are quite sure we are done with having kids I couldn't accept the finality of Dh having a Vasectomy. This lasts 5 years and I have had no period for at lest 6 months. Another bonus for a lot of users!!!

By Monicamomof3 on Tuesday, August 24, 2004 - 08:38 pm:

diaphram

By Debbie on Tuesday, August 24, 2004 - 08:39 pm:

I use the pill. I too was on Ortho-Tri, but I recently switched to a new pill called Yasmin. My doctor switched me because it doesn't have all the testosterone(sp?) that most pills have. I really liked it in the beginning. However, I am noticing, after being on it for 3 months, that I am getting pretty major PMS. I may have to go back to the doctor if things don't get better soon. I have a friend that has an IUD. She loves it. She said the only bad thing is that her periods are heavier then they used to be. I am seriously considering this also. I have been having trouble with the pill lately and am getting sick of taking it. I also have several friends that have gotten the Depo shot and hated it. They said they gained weight and had spotting, headaches, etc. So, I would not consider getting the shot.

By Kellyj on Tuesday, August 24, 2004 - 09:13 pm:

I use Ortho-Tri-Lo. It's a lower dosage than the normal Ortho-Tri. I don't notice any differences between that and when I wasn't on any BC.

By Dawnk777 on Tuesday, August 24, 2004 - 09:16 pm:

No pills for me. Just would have trouble remembering. Sometimes I don't even take my BP medication every day! We use foam and withdrawal and sometimes foam and condoms. Both of us prefer au naturel, though! LOL! Since my youngest is 12, it seems to be working!

By Karen~moderator on Tuesday, August 24, 2004 - 10:11 pm:

I couldn't take the pill due to migraines when I was younger, so I opted for IUD's. I wore an IUD before I ever had kids, and again after Jen was born. I only had one slip, and that was before I had my kids.

The down side was heavier bleeding and cramps, but I dealt with it.

By Luvn29 on Tuesday, August 24, 2004 - 10:49 pm:

I have just started the new thing called the Nuva Ring. I have my tubes tied, but I have endometriosis, so I am using it to try to control the symptoms.

I cannot handle the bcp's because of nausea and vomiting. This ring is inserted inside of you, and you leave it in for three weeks, take it out, have a period, and do it all over again. It doesn't go through the G.I. tract and uses a smaller amount of the hormones so the side effects are much lower. It doesn't affect sex, and you cannot tell it is in at all.

I actually am leaving mine in a month, replacing it immediately and doing this for three months so I have fewer periods and hopefully, fewer problems with the endo. So far it is working great. I was supposed to have a period this week, but haven't had it or any of the pain. Yay!!!

By Nicosmom on Wednesday, August 25, 2004 - 12:41 am:

I don't like using the pill b/c of weight gain and other factors either. I did like the patch though. Ortho Evra. You only have to put it on once a week, very simple and it does stay put. I really don't remember any negative side effects.

By Paulas on Wednesday, August 25, 2004 - 01:36 am:

nothing here either. We use withdrawal...I know...dangerous but it works for us.

By Ladypeacek on Wednesday, August 25, 2004 - 03:36 am:

i used the ortha evra patch for more than a year after ds. I loved it! Once a week and i always knew when my perios was coming since it came the week without the patch, i had no side effects at all. Now dh will be snipped, lol so no more bc for me!

By Kittycat_26 on Wednesday, August 25, 2004 - 07:51 am:

I've had a Mirena IUD for almost 10 months now and have been doing fine with it. I had a lot of breakthrough bleeding with various pills after Timmy was born and finally ended up with the IUD. I've had no cramps or bleeding at all after the first 2 months. It's definately been my wisest choice.

By Kaye on Wednesday, August 25, 2004 - 09:14 am:

We currently use the big v....but before we had that done for yeas we used a film, the name escapes me, but it is with the contraceptives and say "contraceptive film", in general it is a 1-2 inch square similar to the listerine mouth freshner thingies. You fold it up, stick it in and wait 15 minutes. It worked great for us, it wasn't as interferring as condoms, not as slimy as a foam or contraceptive gel. Overall we used this for about 3 years before we decided to go ahead and make a more permanent decision.

By Lauram on Wednesday, August 25, 2004 - 09:19 am:

Yasmin (BCP)

By Colette on Wednesday, August 25, 2004 - 09:25 am:

Loestrin (BCP)

By Emily7 on Wednesday, August 25, 2004 - 11:54 am:

I use the depo shot & I am not sure how I feel about it. It is easy to use, but I have gained 30 pounds since being on it. For the first week I take it I am a little "sensitive". I should have gotten the IUD, it is good for up to 10 years, costs $400.00, & you can get it with hormones so you don't have a period. Now it isn't worth getting because we will be TTC in just over a year.

By Cybermommyx4 on Wednesday, August 25, 2004 - 12:38 pm:

Kariva. Works great for me, and I take it continually (skipping the inactive pills) for three cycles, so I only get a period 4 or 5 times per year....has cut back on my migraines considerably! It must work for me, because my youngest is going into 2nd grade, lol!

By Amecmom on Thursday, August 26, 2004 - 02:09 pm:

Thanks, ladies. I'm not sure which route I'll go, but all the info is very helpful.
Ame

By Mrsheidi on Thursday, August 26, 2004 - 11:59 pm:

If you're not bfeeding, Elesse (sp?) is incredible. No weight gain, bleeding is minimal, and cramps are never an issue.

By Melana on Friday, August 27, 2004 - 09:02 am:

I'm going to go ahead and add this here, I don't want to start a whole new thread on this subject.
Does anyone know what kind of BC can you use while breast feeding?

By Mommyathome on Friday, August 27, 2004 - 09:20 am:

I got pregnant while taking Alesse. (sp?) I never missed a day taking it. I was on it for about 3 months. My OB said that it is one of the lower doses of BC pills. She switched me to Ortho-Tri which is supposedly one of the higher doses. It worked well.
Currently I'm not taking anything. I hate the way the pill makes me feel. We are on the fence about getting preggo sometime soon, so we are just using natural family planning. If it happens, it happens