birth control

[LucyKKG]

I just switched mine but I can't remember the name of it! The old one had an easier name (Levlen). It's basically the same thing, both from Planned Parenthood. I'm getting tired of taking a pill every day, but I'm really grateful for their services and not planning on having a baby anytime soon soooo I'll keep at it.

[Jill1228]

Originally Posted by HotDamnImAPhiMu

I don't like the tri-cyclic pills (I've tried a lot of them.) The three cycles seem kind of forced and awkward - I had side effects from the constantly changing levels of hormones. Plus tri-cyclic pills are no good if you tend to have spotting - you need a consistent level of hormones.

Joliebelle, I'm glad you love Ortho tri-cyclen! Every girl's got to find what works for her. And the Ortho cases are a lot cuter than the case my pills come in.

I was glad to get of a tri cyclic pill. Talk about mood swings from hell! OMG I was a psycho bitch!

Originally Posted by HotDamnImAPhiMu

No kidding. A more progressive one, maybe.

Women don't talk about their OB/GYNs the same way they'll share info about a primary care physician or a pediatrician. It's kind of a shame when you think about it.

Oh honey! I will recommend my OB and/or Reproductive Endicrinologist in a New York minute!

I was on the birth control pill for about 20 years (with a few breaks in between). I got pregnant about 15 months after stopping BC. Sadly, it ended in a miscarriage

After my miscarriage and D&C, we used condoms. I was SO NOT trying to go back on the pill (being over 35 and all). Since I had to have a D&C, they want you to wait a couple of cycles before thinking about trying again

We tossed the condoms 18 months ago

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by nikki1920

She needs to find another doctor, then.

She has decided to go to her oncologist to get a referral for the surgery. Given her breast cancer history, she thinks he will be more progressive.

[HotDamnImAPhiMu]

Geez, I would hope so. That's terrible.

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by Jill1228

I was glad to get of a tri cyclic pill. Talk about mood swings from hell! OMG I was a psycho bitch!

Me too! I tried it for two months, and that was the worst time of my life.

[BaltoAlphaPsi]

Originally Posted by FiReKraCkEr

I'm switching to Ortho Lo next month so I won't kill anyone

I'm on it, and it defiantly has ... calmed... me, HAHA. my emotions went from none for 3 weeks and then CRAZY dramatic for a week. To basically, calm sailing, reasonable emotion all 4 weeks of the month, I'm into my 4th month now.

[nikki1920]

Originally Posted by AGDee

She has decided to go to her oncologist to get a referral for the surgery. Given her breast cancer history, she thinks he will be more progressive.

I hope that works out for her. I'll keep her in my thoughts.

[christiangirl]

Originally Posted by Dionysus

I'm wondering if there's anyone on here who purposely do not take BC pills? I've read about the horrible things that it can do to you, I don't want that stuff anywhere near my body!

I feel the same way. I don't plan on having this issue for a long time but, when I do, BC sounds like a good option but that voice at the end of the commercials that rambles off all the side effects scares me. I know that all pills have side effects but women can develop so many things when their hormones are off balance, from minor to life-threatening. Adding extra hormones into my body just sounds like bad news. It really scares me! Looking through this thread has helped a tad to see so many women who have found what works for them, but there are some horror stories in here, too (thanks a lot guys).

[nikki1920]

A lot of it has to do with your chemistry and your overall health. Be an informed consumer and talk with your doctor, and know your body, most importantly. Are you trying to control cramping, blood flow, regulate your cycle or just want to prevent babies? I'm still scared to try Seasonale but I really love the idea of four periods a year. I started on BC at 16 to control dysmenorreha (sp?), or very painful cramps. I stopped taking it in college because my schedule was all over the place and I couldn't remember to take it every day. One baby later, lol, I went back on the patch for a bit, but didn't like the skin irritation and the limited placement choices (having a patch on your left cheek at day six that itches like hell is not cute) and the price just didnt really work for me. Having another baby before I want to REALLY doesn't work for me, either!!

The best birth control: a screaming, crying baby.

[epchick]

Originally Posted by nikki1920

I'm still scared to try Seasonale but I really love the idea of four periods a year.

OMG me too! I would really like to try it, but i'm scared as well.

When I first started thinking of trying BC, a friend of mine was a sooo adamently against it. I don't know if was because she's a "strong" Catholic (her words) or because she thinks she knows everything about the medical world (she's going to be a vet). But she claimed I was gonna get sterile or get cancer or something serious like that. She claims she would never in her life get on BC.

Well that's cool, but if she had the periods I had she might reconsider. I started at 13, and never once was "regular." I went almost a year without having a period....and then there were times it would come twice a month. I never knew when my period was coming, it would always be a surprise. Thank the Lord for BC pills because I know when i'll start my period and how long it will last. It's gone from a 7 day cycle w/ painful, mind-numbing cramps, to a 3 day cycle with no pain.

[SydneyK]

I was on Seasonale for a year and a half before I gave up on it. Yes, it was nice having only 4 periods a year, but the constant spotting wasn't worth it. I kept thinking, "Once my body gets used to Seasonale, I'll stop spotting." Never happened. I put up with it for as long as I could.

I'm finally off bc. With the exceptions of my pregnancies, I'd been on it for 15 years. I never really thought about how frequently I had headaches, but looking back, it seems like I had one all the time. Since I've been bc-free, I haven't had nearly so many. I'm really liking this.

[nikki1920]

My bff is on it and she is having complications, but we aren't sure if its the BC or other issues she has that are exacerbating the constant bleeding. She's been bleeding for three weeks straight. Yes, she's been to the dr, who seems a bit clueless as to why or what to do next. I told her to get another doctor.

[naraht]

My wife and I are probably not the best example, but I thought I would throw in my two cents worth...

My wife and I were married when she got out of college (I'm about 5 years older) and she got pregnant on our wedding night (honestly, we abstained before marriage). After our oldest was born we tried a couple of solutions including Condoms and Diaphragm, but mostly condoms. Two years and three months after the first was born we went off birth control and she got pregnant within the month. The second was born 3yrs+1 day after the first.

After the standard 6-8 weeks, we went back on BC, just condoms for ease of use and then after another year and 3/4, we went off BC and then something strange happened, the Pregnancy test was positive and then she had a heavy wierd flow, the best bet is a *very* early spontaneous abortion. And then she got pregnant *again* a month later...

About six months after the third was born, we decided to call it quits with having kids. We'd talked about having 2 or 3 before we were married and she had more nausea with each successive pregnancy. After looking at the options, I decided that having a Vasectomy was our best option. Given that it only took me five days to recover, I count it as *much* better than having her have a Tubal ligation and besides, I got waited on hand and foot while I recovered.

[VandalSquirrel]

Originally Posted by naraht

My wife and I are probably not the best example, but I thought I would throw in my two cents worth...

My wife and I were married when she got out of college (I'm about 5 years older) and she got pregnant on our wedding night (honestly, we abstained before marriage). After our oldest was born we tried a couple of solutions including Condoms and Diaphragm, but mostly condoms. Two years and three months after the first was born we went off birth control and she got pregnant within the month. The second was born 3yrs+1 day after the first.

After the standard 6-8 weeks, we went back on BC, just condoms for ease of use and then after another year and 3/4, we went off BC and then something strange happened, the Pregnancy test was positive and then she had a heavy wierd flow, the best bet is a *very* early spontaneous abortion. And then she got pregnant *again* a month later...

About six months after the third was born, we decided to call it quits with having kids. We'd talked about having 2 or 3 before we were married and she had more nausea with each successive pregnancy. After looking at the options, I decided that having a Vasectomy was our best option. Given that it only took me five days to recover, I count it as *much* better than having her have a Tubal ligation and besides, I got waited on hand and foot while I recovered.

Thanks for realizing that a vasectomy is less invasive than a tubal ligation, reversible, and taking responsibility for your part in reproductive health. More men need to share in that, and you're a good example.

I heard once (I need to do some research) that there was a male birth control pill, but it was rendered ineffective when alcohol was present.

[ZTA72]

Originally Posted by VandalSquirrel

I heard once (I need to do some research) that there was a male birth control pill, but it was rendered ineffective when alcohol was present.

Which pretty much means, forget about it.