I have a couple of questions relating to birth control.
I have been using the Patch for over a year. I recently took it off and havent put it back on because I have not been able to get to the doctor to refill it. Now, I've been told not go back on it because its recently been discovered to kill some women and cause blood clots. It was in the paper.

So now I'm not sure what to do as far as birth control. We use condoms, but that's not enough for me because I suffer from terrible cramps, and no birth control isnt really an option. I don't particularly want to go on the pill because I'm a little scatterbrained, but I might have to. I was wondering if anyone knew of any other good methods. I've looked into Depo, but my friend has been on that for a few years and she gets no period, which I don't know if is healthy or not. She also gained a lot of weight, but that was partly because she never stopped eating.
Does anyone know what the Nuva-Ring is? The IUD and the other one that goes in your arm doesn't sound too good either.

I'm looking for something that won't kill me, make me fat, is easy to remember and lessens my cramp pain. Any ideas?

The Today Sponge is finally back on the market!
http://www.thetodaystore.us/
This easy to use non-hormonal sponge is a great alternative to the pill and other hormone based contraceptives, ALL of which carry nearly identical risks

A girl I know took the depro shot and gained 100 pounds. (I'm not exaggerating) The Norplant sticks that go in your arm will also make you gain weight.

I don't trust the Nuva Ring. You insert it yourself and your vaginal muscles are supposed to keep it in place for 3 weeks. I have heard it can come out. I have also heard the IUD your doctor inserts can fall out. (that is NOT a risk I would be willing to take)

I personally think the pill is the way to go. If I didn't want to get pregnant, I would want to be as close to 100% protected as I could get. I just hear too many stories of problems with these other contraceptives. The only mishaps I hear with the pill is taking it wrong. I was on the pill for many years and it worked great. They now have the pill in a once a week patch.

Here is a list of the many options available to you.

One also hears stories of infants born with Mama's IUD clutched firmly in a pudgy fist...My very first visit to the clinic, my first question was "What are the most serious risks with an IUD?" The reply was "Death, hemmoraging, uterine infections..." I cut her off before the rest of the list....
While the pill IS very effective when taken as directed, it carries the same risks as all these other, newer hormone based methods and offers no protection at all against STDs.
I've been way happier since I quit taking the pill, and positively brimming with joy since the return of the sponge!

I'm thinking about the pill. I'm not too keen on the idea of having to stick anything up me, and the patch worked great, but now my family is worried because of all the recent deaths and strokes.
And that pill Seasonale, where you get periods 4 times ayear....yeah thats a bad idea. I did that with the patch, put it on for 9 weeks and then had a looong period.

quote:

Originally posted by clarebear:
A girl I know took the depro shot and gained 100 pounds.

I agree that's a pretty good method of birth control, but not 100%

Did I read your response right? Gaining 100 pounds as a pretty good method of birth control?

I'll act like you didn't say that.

Well, there are cheaper ways of birth control than taking Depro and gaining 100 lb.

- Wear a burlap bag over one's head, with little slits cut for seeing out of

- When a man asks "What's your sign", always respond with "Toxic waste hazard area: Keep out!"

- When a man asks for a date, reach into your purse and hand him one, including adhered pocket lint etc.

- For perfume, use mercaptan or pyridine dabbed at wrists and behind ears

- When a man asks what you like to do in your spare time, tell him: planning the escape of your husband, a convicted serial killer, from death row; you married him in prison, after a long and passionate internet courtship

and so on.

Come to think of it, these aren't really 100% either.

] Bab, an aspirin is 100% effective.....
Take one a day, held tightly between the knees



(MrsS is blushing furiously...She meant to reply with quote, and accidentally edited...Mea Culpa)

This message has been edited. Last edited by: MrsS,

That's good.

Actually when I was younger and noticed that someone I wasn't particularly interested in, was interested in me, I found that if I said something incredibly weird, it did the trick.

There was one guy, Don, I didn't like him because he smelled bad. But he liked me, and was always hanging aroung my desk. So one day with no one else around I said very seriously that I liked picnicing on a grave in the graveyard because eating nice fresh food with the thought of the rotting corpse just inches away was a major thrill.

No more b.o. around my desk.

The side effect was, of course, that he repeated it. I explained to a friend, "Well, you know, if someone doesn't like someone else, disgusting them is a good way to get rid."

The light dawned, and he grinned in complicity.

Ummmm....I actually do like picnicking in a graveyard...I find it calm and relaxing.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Georgia85:
] Bab, an aspirin is 100% effective.....
Take one a day, held tightly between the knees


QUOTE]


Uhm, actually, I know several positions in which the aspirin would not be at all effective

Yabbut will conception result?

Oh Yeah Bab, it would. Animals (and dogs) get pregnant that way all the time!

BTW, a hundred pound weight gain didn't help me.... my husband still found me attractive and we have two very lovely boys now!

As for birth control methods and the risks involved, you can speak to your doctor about the percentages of problems in clinical trials between various methods.

Some meds only increase risk of stroke and heart disease for some people if you smoke or already have a family history of those problems.

MrsS, those pearls of wisdom came from my great-grandmother and back in her day, she was born in 1879, I'd be willing to bet prim and proper ladies knew nothing of those types of positions!

Yea, I wondered how your edit appeared in my initial post. Thought I was losing my mind! lol

Taking a pill once a day is not hard. You brush your teeth every morning right? Put the pill near your toothbrush and take it right when you brush in the morning... or put it by your deordorant. Even if you put the deodorant in a drawer, it will help you remember to do both of them. (I keep both together and put away and haven't had a problem since.)

I am scatter brained too, but it really isn't a problem to take a pill every day... I had a problem remembering for the first two months.

Yasmin is a pretty good pill in my opinion. I haven't had any of the problems with it that I had on some other prescriptions in the past.

quote:

Originally posted by Georgia85:


Yea, I wondered how your edit appeared in my initial post. Thought I was losing my mind! lol

No, Darlin', that would be ME losing MINE...again, my blushing apologies....That'll teach me to post before me second cup takes effect!

Carmen - I was on the patch for a year and a half. I switched doctors and they pulled me off of it right away - Imagine that the male doctor put me on it but the female doctor told me why I shouldn't be on it! If you have any history of high blood pressure or heart disease, it is not good for you to take. Also I found that there is only one strength - high. That made me very nervous reproductively. I say go back on the pill - the right strength and stick with that!