Rubyee

Forgive me if this has already been posted somewhere.

I was wondering about everyone's contraceptive. I saw that a lot of people use Depo, which scares the shit out of me.

When I was first on Depo, the first three months were great. In fact, I never had a period. I was a size seven.

My second set of three months on Depo, I had non-stop bleeding and gained thirty pounds. I am now a size fifteen.

I would never, ever take Depo again.

However, I hate condoms as well because I feel restrained when they are in use. It feels like they will break or get lost if you are too wild.

I use Ortho tri Cyclein. I love it. I have never had a single problem with it.

sexymama

The patch (Ortho Vera) and LOVE it! I have less PMS, a predictable cycle, and don't have to deal with condoms. I also like that is a month to month choice and only needs to be changed once a week.

__________________
If you can go deeply into lovemaking, the ego disappears. That is the beauty of lovemaking, that it is another source of a glimpse of god

It's not about being perfect; it's about developing some skill at managing imperfection.

SabrinaFair

Totally agree with the Patch. I love me some Ortho Evra. Although my mom and I joke that the "ring 'o lint" around the patch is the actual birth control (it's not dead sexy) I'm very pleased with the patch. And since I'm crazy paranoid, I also use condoms. Yeah, they're a drag. But I'd heard way too many horror stories about girls on the pill getting pregnant and you can never be too safe, especially in your crazy college days (which is where I am right now)

__________________
"With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy."
-Desiderata

SabrinaFair

PS- I used Ortho TriCyclen and didn't really like it, but I got it for free, so I wasn't complaining. It did increase my appetite when I first went on it. But it's not that bad.

__________________
"With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy."
-Desiderata

blossom

I was on Triphasil for 10 years and never had a problem (no breakthrough bleeding, no weight gain) - until I went off - then it took 14 months for my body to figure out it had to start ovulating again (although I have to say it was kind of nice not getting a period for 4 months!)

shannon

i was on tri cyclen, which i liked a lot for the first like 8 months or so, but then i began to have spotting. now i'm on some new pill. same idea, just different doses. instead of there being three different sized doses, there's just one. but i just started it, so it's hard to tell. i wanted to get an idea of some other options, but my doctor only named different pills and depo, which didn't sound like it would be the best idea for me, who originally went on the pill because of irregular periods. we also use condoms, cause yeah, we're paranoid.

__________________
"When I look down I just miss all the good stuff. And when I look up I just trip over things"

*Nikki*

Nuva ring

I love it. NO side effects and you only have to remember it once a month. I have been on it for months and haven't had a single problem. It is almost as if I am taking nothing at all. You can't feel it inside you and it is far enough in that your partner would only feel it with his finger IF he were searching for it.

www.nuvaring.com

Forget the pill, check this out.

yoshi

I take Ortho Tri Cyclen and I love it. I've never worried about weight gain or getting pregnant on this one.

gremlinx8

I have Estrostep- some form of a birth control pill. I've never had any problems though, so I'm happy.

__________________
Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted. -Lennon

lurkette

I'm on ortho cyclen and under doctors orders take it constantly for 3-4 months, so I only have a period 3-4 times/year. It's pretty sweet - if you go longer than that, though, there's a lot of breakthrough bleeding, like with depo. It's also hard to keep the weight off but when I exercise and eat well I stay pretty constant.

I'd love to be off the pill, though - been on it for like 12 years now, and I'm not thrilled about being on hormones for that long. I know all the benefits -decreased uterine and ovarian cancer, blah blah blah, but there are side effects and (this is probably bad math) I feel like the longer I'm on them, the more likely I am to eventually have one of the really bad things (blood clots, accidental pregnancy) happen.

__________________
"If ten million people believe a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing."

- Anatole France

Apache

Now the ortho is what I was on and had so many problems out of I started my first pack in Jan. and by around Sep. I had already gained so much weight. I went from a 6/7 to a 12. (which was really hard for me because i had always been small) Another hard one was my loss of sex drive, which too really sucked!!!!! THen there were my breasts. They would get so sore that it hurt to even touch them. I had breakouts on my face quite often. I mean any side effect you could get, I got it. The only three good things that came from me being on the pill was that I didn't get pregnant (wasn't ready back when I used to be on them), two, that I went from a size 38B cup size to a now 38C cup size. And third was knowing what week I would have my period every month (actually one reason I picked my wedding date. lol) and how light it would be. It was three to four days and very light. That part I loved, not like now, just guessing the week when I'll have my period, if I even do for the month
Anyway, after a year and a half taking them and then going to a new dr. he tried switching me to another pill, which he said weren't as strong as the ortho. After only a short time on them, and no sign of releif from those either my husband and I talked about it and just decided that it wasn't worth it for me to have this many problems out of them. Now we only use condoms (when we use them. there have been those times.......lol) anyhow I too HATE them and it just feels SOOOOOOOOOOOO much better without them but there are no side effects when using them. True that you have to worry about it breaking, but since I'm married and having kids now is ok, not like it was several years ago, the condom seems to be a pretty good choice for us.

StormBerlin

I am on Depo and I love it. It makes me kinda moody, but thats it. I gained five pounds my first three months on it, but that's it. I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. Except the male birth control... that I would do

__________________
"if anal sex could get a girl pregnant i'd be tits deep in child support" Arcane

emidew22

I take some generic form of the birth control pill. The co-pay is only $5 a month, which works for me since i'm so poor. It's the third type of oral contraceptive i've been on and it seems to do the job. I don't love being on the pill, but i imagine i'd like being pregnant at 20 even less, so i deal with it. My boyfriend and i usually use condoms, too, i guess cause it's safer, and there's less mess when you're done! I know i'm gonna sound like your health teacher when i say this, but it hasn't been said here yet, so i'm gonna: Don't forget that the pill, the patch, depo, and nuva ring don't protect against STDs, so if you're with someone new, use condoms till you've both been checked out by a doctor!!!

ally

i use orthotricyclen. I've never had any problems with it.
i was so afraid when they told me that my breasts might grow though!!!!!! I want them to be smaller not bigger!!!

Eowyn_Vala

I use Nuva Ring, I just started using it but so far I love it! I am not a pill person. I never remember to take them so I knew that I could never be on the pill. When I went in to find out what I could try, the ring seemed perfect! So far there are no complaints!

__________________
Cain: I know what you're doing. I've lead troops into battle before.
DG: And, how am I doing?
Cain: Well, there's less *hugging* when I do it

Concertina

I did the ortho tricyclen....spawn of the devil if you ask me!!!Weight gain, sex drive loss, crying spells....ick!! And that one with only one hormone for women who are nursing...forget the name. Now I'm on triphasil;...not that great...but I'm going for my check up on December, and I'll be changing then...

I'm thinking about the patch...I like how that sounds...
m

__________________
~I got a fever above my waist~

canon

My man had a vasectomy but now that he is gone and I am not getting any it is not an issue. I would use condoms if the opportunity arose.

shannon

i may look into this nuva ring sometime. it's good to hear some alternative that's getting good reviews. thanks, ladies.

__________________
"When I look down I just miss all the good stuff. And when I look up I just trip over things"

Forever

I use the Nuvaring, after using Mircette for approximately two years (and condoms before that), and I will never ever go back. The ring kicks some serious ass. You only have to think about it twice a month, you can't feel it, it doesn't fall out, and no bad side effects. I also very very highly recommend it.

raeanna74

I'm on the pill. I'm also still breastfeeding (3 yrs) and haven't had a Real period yet since giving birth. I have a sister-in-law who was on the shot and loved it but she gained so much weight that she's noticeably heavier. She used to be an exceptionally skinny size 4.

Once my daughter weans I have talked to my Dr about an IUD or something a little longer lasting and not entirely dependant on hormones as mine are already a little messed up. Prior to pregnancy I used to be so regular without any BC that I could count on my period with a day. If that's the case once I wean and got off the pill then an IUD without hormones would be best for me I think.

Concertina, the one hormone only pill - Progesterone only Pills "Pops". I used them too. I liked them best but went off and onto estrogen because of migranes.

__________________
"Always learn the rules so that you can break them properly." Dalai Lama
My Karma just ran over your Dogma.

cruisergirl

I've been on the pill, and I hate it, because I never remember the damn thing every day. So then I got on the lunelle shot, which is a lower-dosage once a month shot, because the depo scares me so, everyone I know who's been on it has had horrible bleeding and weight gain. I loved lunelle, they just kept running out, so I would get it for 5 months, then have to go without for a month, then get back on, and that's never a good way to go. I've also considered an IUD, because they're actually quite safe, and you can get one good for 5 or 10 years, maybe longer, and after removal you can get pregnant almost immediately. So, for now I use condoms, until we get tested and I can get on something else.

__________________
If your going to ride my ass, at least pull my hair. Love, Cruisergirl.

daydream

I'm taking Yasmin... and I've been on it for 6 months now. I haven't noticed any weight gain or negative side effects, except for the fact that for the first month I found myself to be tired a lot of the time but that went away and I feel fine now. I also experienced a growth in my bust size... I went from an A cup size to a B. Which I'm def NOT complaining about The only downside to the pill is remembering to take it everyday at the same time. But if you're thinking about goin on the pill I recommend Yasmin... it's also great bc it really minimizes cramps and you always know when you're going to get your period.
As far as other contraceptives I'm a lil paranoid about getting pregnant and so I still use condoms...as much as possible. It sux but I don't want to take any chances.... I'm a college student and getting pregnant is not an option right now...

__________________
"Can't help it if I space in a daze, my eyes tune out the other way... I may switch off and go in a daydream... in this head my thoughts are deep, Sometimes I can't even speak, would someone be and not pretend, I'm off again in my world"

shannon

just wondering if anyone knows if nuvaring is available in canada, cause my doctor didn't mention it to me when i asked her about my options...

__________________
"When I look down I just miss all the good stuff. And when I look up I just trip over things"

BlueBongo

the nuvaring is available in canada... previously worked for a health management company. Unfortunately I'm not sure of the laws regaurding prescriptions up there.. but I do know it's available.

I personally use depo... was akward when I started out though, had my period for a couple weeks straight... and then it stopped and then it would start again. But it's been over a year and I enjoy it... I like not dealing with my period. One less thing I need to worry about in my body that's already falling apart.

__________________
"Things can only get so bad before they have no choice but to get better.."

gummby

Depo

I have been on my shot for years and have never had a problem but it's a birth control that you either love or hate. I'm one of two people I know that hasn't had a problem with it. Everyone else had major problems with it. It's all about how your body handles certin forms of hormones, I think its so different for everyone. I feel lucky that I like and didn't have problems with the first type that I tried

xtra_smurfy

I'm using Ortho TriCyclen, and have been for many years, the main reason I started is b/c my dermatologists put me on Accutane, so they needed to be sure I wouldn't get pregnant...
Now that I'm off Accutane, Orthotricyclen keeps my face so clear, and the good thing; it cut my length of my period in half, and alot lighter flow....
My cousin was on the patch and she ended up getting pregnant, but who knows exactly what happened, and if it was used correctly...

sillygirl

I was about 125lbs when I started Ortho-Tricyclen. I gained 50 lbs in the course of a year taking it. I also had random cramps, migraines, stomach problems. It made me moody. The first week I'd start taking it again after my period I'd be sick. Sure, I knew when I was going to have my period, it was shorter, and it was lighter (I used to have REALLY heavy periods), but I was sick 3 out of 4 weeks and the 4th week I was on my period! No fun.... no fun at all.

__________________

Anyone can be passionate, but it takes real lovers to be silly-Rose Franken
....absence makes me miss him more...

gabshu

I was on Mircette, but it made me waaaay too emotional on my periods, and craps were horrible. I switched to ortho tri cyclin and I get nauseos every time I take it and the cramps are still horrible. I think next year, after I finish all my packs of ortho I'll try to get on the patch, seems like it has worked for some of the girls in here.

__________________
Go Kool Aid. OH YEAAHH

http://www.retrocrush.com/archive2003/koolaid/

Kim_type_thing

I'm glad the nuva ring is being brought up. My cycles had always normal before I stated using orals.When I wnet on thepill my weight went up, my skin turned to shit, I was spotting all the time and stated getting PMS for the first time.And no pill was any better then the last
When I switched to the ring my doctor told me that I didn't even have to bleed if I did'nt want to. I 'm much happier with the ring

em1014

I started on ortho tri cyclen lo at the beginning of this year. It was great not to have to use condoms.. other than that I hated it. Sex hurt all the time, that was when I wanted it (which was not very often). I gained weight and horrible eating habbits which I'm still trying to break. I had what seemed like a constant uti. The doctors say uti's aren't linked to bc pills but a friend of mine who also took the new lo pill had them. I'm now on desogen and love it. Oh yeah, I also had break through bleeding on ortho tri cyclen lo which I don't have now. It's great. I'd love to be able to have the depo shot and not have a peroid all together but I need my monthly reassurance that I'm not pregnant.

StormBerlin

I just found out that the only type of hormone in Depo is Projesterone (sp?). That made me feel better about the shot. I've been on it for two and half years.

I don't really want to derail this thread, but no one mentioned being on a copper IUD. This is something I'm interested in. It lasts ten years, no hormones (yay!), the only downfall is the surgery and the price (Planned Parenthood wants $250, but I guess that would be 15 months on Depo for me so no biggie). If anyone has any info, I would appreciate it. Especially about the pain, infection, overall risk factor? Thanks gals.

__________________
"if anal sex could get a girl pregnant i'd be tits deep in child support" Arcane

raeanna74

I spoke to my Dr about this. I am still nursing and have had severe cramping in the past so she said I needed to wait until my daughter was done nursing and my body got back to normal. She wanted to see if my periods would become heavy again (they're still very light) and if I got my cramps back again. Some of the drawbacks are that to begin with you can have some spotting between period and you can have some pretty severe cramps. There are two IUD's that you can get. One without hormones and another one that's impregnated with hormones to prevent the spotting and cramping.

Here's a good summary of what the Dr talked about with me. I'm still considering it but waiting to see how my body acts after everything returns to normal and my milk has dried up.

__________________
"Always learn the rules so that you can break them properly." Dalai Lama
My Karma just ran over your Dogma.

Cherry

I've just discovered the joys of a man with a vasectomy. ::wiggles::

Life's never been easier.

__________________
In walked a man in the shape of a man, holding a hat shaped hat...

Silverbrain

//SiN-edit - I forgot to look in my pants (or sign into my own account?)

__________________
Over Thinking, Over Analyzing
Seperates the Body from the Mind - MJK

kittenpie

ah, the joys of hysterectomy! i have my ovaries...so no hormonal problems...just no periods or worrying about pregnancy. woohoo for me!

__________________
She had diamonds on the inside.

~Ben Harper

Untitled

I think its very much a personal thing - whichever works best for your own body. I've never seen so many complaints about ortho tri cyclen than I have here, and yet I've been on it for 3 years and absolutely love it.

Eowyn_Vala

I am still on the ring, I love it, but after reading about the IUDs I am thinking about trying that. First I need the money and I should talk to my b/f. Right now my major concern is that I am currently using my last month supply of the ring and don't have one for next month. I used to buy it on campus for $15 but I am no longer a student or living in Emporia so I can't do that.

I was wondering if anyone had any advice or tips on where to go, how much it might cost, or what I should do?

__________________
Cain: I know what you're doing. I've lead troops into battle before.
DG: And, how am I doing?
Cain: Well, there's less *hugging* when I do it

qtpye4u84

I use Ortho tri Cyclein!!!!!!!! its great I have tryed the ring its great to but it bothers me I always feel like it is going to slip out and the patch thing I think would be to confusing and not wearing a patch for one week is kinda scary.

__________________
The QTpie

jazz

I started out on Ortho Novum 777 and had 3 day periods. It was amazing. After about a year I was always fatigued and so I switched to Ortho Tri Cyclen..which led to more cramps and 5 day periods. Now I am on Ortho Necon and am hungry all the time!! My boobs do seem to have grown a bit since being on the pill and I have noticed a small weight gain, but nothing where I would need to stop taking them.

__________________
"Dreaming permits each and every one of us to be quietly and safely insane every night of our lives." -Michael Dermott

Mel

Monofeme, its good as long as I never forget to take it...

__________________