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Birth control options
AlyceInWonderland
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Alrighty, so this is a question for all the ladies (and dudes who have girlfriends). This wednesday I'm going to Planned Parenthood to discuss birthcontrol, and to get some. I'd go to my regular doctor, but BC is hella expensive, and my insurance doesn't cover it. My boyfriend and I use condoms, but we both would feel better if we doubled up, as we're definitely not ready to be poppin' out babiez.
Now, I've researched a lot of BC (nuva ring, the pill, the patch, IUDs and the shot), but I'd like to know your experiences with them (symptoms, how they make you feel). Though, I really don't want to get an IUD or the shot. I don't think they'd be quite for me.
Also, what kinds of questions should I ask the doctor?
I know BC affects everyone differently, but It would be nice to get a range of opinions, so I know what to expect.
Thanks!
Now, I've researched a lot of BC (nuva ring, the pill, the patch, IUDs and the shot), but I'd like to know your experiences with them (symptoms, how they make you feel). Though, I really don't want to get an IUD or the shot. I don't think they'd be quite for me.
Also, what kinds of questions should I ask the doctor?
I know BC affects everyone differently, but It would be nice to get a range of opinions, so I know what to expect.
Thanks!
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If you can do the daily thing, I'd think the pill would be the place to start to work out any delivery issues or side effects. That one girl that lives in my house used the pill on a lower dose to acclimate to the hormones. I think it was called Yaz! or some other slightly obnoxious non-word with an exclamation point in it.
EDIT:
I'm a little nervous about YAZ, my girlfriend has been considering it, but apparently it's having some very bad death incurring side effects for some? Do some research before signing up for that one
Personally I would suggest a small, non-hormone coil. One reason is that if there is any type of bad reaction you just have the thing removed and voila! things are good. The pill will continue to fuck over your system for a few months, and the side affects of the injection can take up to a year to go away.
Of course, I am from a free-healthcare system, so cost has never been a factor when I think about BC. If the pill is way, way cheaper than the coil, then it may be the best for you. Make sure you get a high enough doseage if you plan to have sex without condom.
Planned Parenthood will give you cheap birth control? This is news since my fiance just recently lost her insurance due to being too old and not a dependent of her mother anymore. This would save us a lot of stress and money.
I'm on Implanon now, an implant they put in the underside of the upper arm. It's a single hormone rather than combined, and whilst I don't get the skin benefits, I've found my moods are a lot more stable (less of the highs/depressive lows of the combined pill) and the BEST THING OF ALL? No periods. Nada. Now this really varies person to person- when I was having it put in they mentioned your periods can be
a) worse/more irregular
b)subtantially lighter/shorter or
c)stop altogether if you're lucky.
For what it's worth anecdotally most women I've known with it (my sister and some friends) have all gone through about 2 months of unreliablefrequent periods before settling to none/very rare ones.
There's a possibility of weight gain but the doctor herself mentioned this is often corellation not causation- people gaining weight look at the newest external influence on their bodies and oftern erroneously blame the implant rather than lifestyle change.
The one I'm on lasts 3 years before needing replacing. Having it put in was fine, local numbing gel and a tiny cut, the implant itself is about the size/dimensions of matchstick. In the days afterwards it bruised around the area a bit, a bit like after having blood taken.
Thing is BC varies a lot in how you react to it, so really you should expect a period of trial and error before settling on one that suits you.
All Planned Parenthoods have different pricing, some will charge you based on income, some have a flat fee. Almost all of them charge you FAR less than even insured BC options. My Insurance charged me 60$ per Nuva ring, PP charged me 35$.
OP: I have used the Ring and the Shot. For me, the shot is the best for me because I have issues remembering to do things on a regular schedule. I found myself forgetting to insert and remove the ring. I never even considered the pill because you really need to take it at the same time every day and I knew it wasn't happening. That being said, the Ring only needs to be dealt with once a month and is low side effect. My period was shorter (2.5 - 3 days), lighter, and VERY regular. It started the day before the ring was due to be inserted. You have to be careful that you don't pull out the ring when changing your tampon (if used), but otherwise it is very secure. Mine only came out during sex once, and I think that was due to me not inserting it fully.
The shot is what I prefer for me. I have no period while on it, and only have to deal with it every 3 months. I do have mood swings the week after getting the shot, but then it evens out. It does have other side effects, weight gain and calcium loss are prevalent. I up my exercise and calcium intake while on it. I have heard other people have different issues, as women do react differently to chemicals, and the shot dumps in a lot at once.
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I really don't want to insert anything into me (besides the Nuva ring) or get a shot. That's just my personal preference but I would like something to make my cycle more regular. I've always had to deal with it being HORRIBLY irregular (A couple years ago I didn't get it at all for like 3 months), and that's SUPER inconvenient, and scary when you're sexually active.
I'm worried about weight gain, but I just got my self a gym membership, and have been going fairly regularly, so I guess I'll just have to up the activity once I get on BC.
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I've been on Yaz for two years now and I love it - my face is less oily, no weight gain, the mood swings were worse for a month or two and then totally gone. The best part is that if you keep taking the monophasic pills like Yaz, you can only have four or five periods a year, which is awesome.
He put me on Norethindrone and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets, USP, 1mg/35mcg - which I've stayed on for 8 years with no issues except a shorter period the last year which I was told is a normal response to being on the pill for so long. Also, when I was unemployed and didn't have insurance, I was able to get it for $25/month with a prescription from my local Walgreens/Rite Aid/CVS in 2005, so you might want to call up your local pharmacies and ask for the out of pocket price on whatever you decide on. It might be the same price or less expensive than Planned Parenthood.
Whatever you decide, keep in mind that you should be on the birth control for at least a month before you trust its effectiveness (at least that's what my doctor told me for the pill he prescribed).
Edit: For myself, I like to have my monthly to confirm that I am indeed not pregnant. If you don't want to have to deal with it though, I've read and been told that most pills can be used in a similar way to those that only give quarterly periods. My understanding is that the history of birth control pills and the cultural norms at the time caused the developers to build in the period week - the placebo pills to satisfy society's need for women to have their periods regularly...or something. Essentially, (and check with your doctor on this since I'm not one) you can just keep taking the hormone pills, skipping the placebos if you want to not have your period on a given month.
Very easy, very convenient, especially when figuring out when periods were due and for toning down the stomach cramps. Some people claim they gain weight with the Pill, I never have because my metabolism is fast, but friends with an average metabolism have had mixed results - some have, some haven't. It comes down to the individual.
If you can remember to take the Pill I'd go for it. Being in the UK I get them free on the NHS, not sure for you guys though.
That being said. Most people seem to like IUDs, who have them - but I've also had friends who've had problems with them; cramping mostly.
I've been on 2 pills - Yasmin21 which was fine, slight mood swings but there's no avoiding that. Now (due to high blood pressure), I'm on Micronor28 which is okay but I am constantly bleeding. You get used to it, though, and it's not much.
When the Nuvaring came around, she switched to that and absolutely loved it.
No side effects for her, she couldn't feel it (and neither could I).
My darling girlfriend has an IUD in. She's had it for some time and we've never had a scare... until recently.
SURPRISE! We're pregnant!
Now... we went to the Dr. when she found out she was pregnant as she has the IUD in. I thought at the time I wasn't ready to be a father, but I've grown somewhat used to the idea.
So... after a trip to our hospital and then an obstitrician (spelling on that one unsure) we found out the following from the obstitrician.
Her pregnacy has caused the "string" on her IUD to become displaced, meaning they can't get the IUD out.
What does this mean to her according to her specialist?
- Higher (50%) chance of miscarriage at anytime
- High (20%) chance of the baby displacing the IUD which could cause potentially fatal infections in her or the baby
- High (60%+) chance of the IUD breaking her water early, causing a still birth
- High (No number given) chance of the baby being born with not one, but MULTIPLE disabilities
I wish I was making all this up, however this is the information her Dr. gave us... so, in short, I would say good job doubling up, just know what could happen with whatever choice you make should the unplanned happen...
Not being prepared can rip you guys apart emotionally.
They cast a shadow like a sundial in the morning light. It was half past 10.
I've been on various iterations of the "Pill" off and on for the past 10+ years.
Depo was hell on earth...gained a ton of weight, super irregular periods and mood swings that made me seem like Sybil... it was really bad for me.
Currently I'm on Seasonique which, while expensive (even with insurance), is working out pretty well. My first pack (3month supply) went OK, my body kind of freaked out the third month and I had a lot of spotting/breakthrough bleeding, but once I started my 2nd pack (4th month) things calmed down and I haven't had an actual period in ... like 3 months ...
One thing I've noticed with this pill is that if I miss a day and have to double up the next day (as the directions tell you to) that I'll have a little bit of spotting but nothing too bad.
Most of my friends rave about NuvaRing...I just can't do it...I'm weird.
Yikes! That's what my girlfriend uses too. Sometimes I can feel the string. So far so good on the no babies. Have a few other friends who use IUDs too and they've been good on the no babies. I know my girlfriend likes it because its effortless. It just works. No daily pills. It also has fewer side effects. Once upon a time when she was on the pill I remember she'd have trouble getting aroused or getting off.
So yeah, the baby thing sure sucks. I guess the good news is that my girlfriend isn't against abortion? :?
This is why I really don't want to get an IUD. I'm afraid of complications like that, and I don't think it's worth it (for me at least). I'd rather just set my phone alarm every day, and take the pill rather than go through heinous complications like that. I'm really sorry you and your girlfriend are going through that, Jaded. I wish you two the best of luck.
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My intimate details of people's birth control lives come form my two friends; both were on the pill for a year and wanted to switch to the shot to avoid the missing-a-pill problem.
One adjusted to the shot fine and gained a couple pounds she worked off.
One spent and entire year spotting with irregular periods before adjusting to it. She was miserable and for her it screwed up her sex life for a year anyway. She stuck with it because her gyno told her it would eventually go away, and when it did she was fine, but she was pissed.
They are both now back on pills because I guess their gynos told them with the shot it's best to take a break for a while for some reason. Not sure the reasoning or if it's true but it's what they told me. Something to do with the hormones or something.
Alyce, I put a lot of my experience in the previous BC thread a month or two ago so feel free to check that out.
Keep in mind that the first BC you try may not be your last; everything works differently, if you don't get perfect results, try something else. Also try to consider what your priorities are when you start BC, so that it's easy for you to decide whether you should switch. For example, obviously your first priority is pregnancy prevention, but a high priority might be period regulation and control. So if the first BC you try gives you horrible awful no-good very bad periods, drop it and go to another. (anecdotally, one of my friends had this happen with an IUD - we're talking days and days of debilitating, can't-move-without-passing-out cramps)
So this has been my experience:
BC #1: Levora. Got it from my local Planned Parenthood. Made me gain about 5 lbs, wasn't really noticeable, although it made my boobs grow a cup size, easily. Stopped breakouts after a month. Periods were bearable, I had cramps but I was functional, I bled for 5-7 days. Gave me HORRIBLE mood swings. Also gave me cysts in my breasts - not cool.
BC #2: Yaz. Was infinitely better than Levora. Easy cramps, light, short period, no breakouts. I actually lost about 10 lbs, although my boobs shrank just a little.
BC #3: Nuvaring. Current BC and I love it. I will go a little more in-depth into the pros and cons since I didn't have this review in the last thread:
Pros:
-Don't have to remember a pill each day. One time I took Yaz about 1.5 hours late (oops) and I had breakthrough bleeding for the next two hellish weeks. Then my period started. So not having to remember is very nice.
-Periods are still easy and light.
-Breakouts aren't bad, although I do notice more crap happening around my period (so, hormonal breakouts I think).
-My boobs shrank a little more.
-No weight gain.
-No noticeable mood swings. Although I do still have some mood swings around my period.
Cons:
-It took me a while to get used to having the ring in. I felt extremely awkward about it when I had sex with my boyfriend the first few times after putting it in; I had warned him but I was still nervous. It really has not been a problem though.
-I have sorely missed the PMDD benefits of Yaz. It's not THAT bad with the Nuvaring, but it was just so nice on Yaz... no bloating, no mood swings EVER, cramps were extremely light. These effects are pretty minimal on the Nuvaring though.
In summary, I would recommend Yaz if you KNOW, for a FACT, that you can take it at exactly the same time every single day. The reason I was so late that one time is because I was at home, with my super-conservative Catholic parents, and they might disown me if they find out I use BC. If you have ANY REASON to doubt your ability to take it at the same time, use the Nuvaring.
If you know you can take the pill at the same time each day easily, then it doesn't matter which you choose. In my opinion, both have their pros and cons and they come out about equal.
Whenever I take a medication, or anything of the sort that has side effects, I never ever get them. I had to take a pill recently that usually makes other people rather nauseated and such, but never have I once dealt with anything like that while taking a medication.
Do you think that's a good sign for birthcontrol? :P
Edit: Spacemilk- Wow, thank you SO much for that. That really helps (infact, everone's responses have helped a lot). I remember your thread, but I decided maybe it would be a good idea to make my own as my appointment is in 2 days.
Also, gyno exams. Scary, or not a big deal? I'm sliiiiiightly nervous about that...
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BTW, I forgot to mention in my last post that Yaz gave me the raging sex drive of a 14-year-old male. With Nuvaring, it's definitely dropped but it is still above my previous drive pre-BC.
Well, BC is basically a drug that is mimicking hormones that your body produces, so it's really a whole different ball game.
Spacemilk- Oh shi-- I basically already have the sex drive of a 14 year old male. I...really don't think my boyfriend could handle it any more than it is.
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On the other hand, I've only been on it for about a year. I have read about "birth control" (no specific type cited) causing side effects only after years in, so I'm somewhat nervous about that.
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Gyno exams should not be scary if your doctor is professional. If your doctor tries to talk you into some test that you aren't comfortable with (pap smear, etc) just politely decline, you can always get it done the following week when you've had time to make an informed decision.
It's just flesh and skin down there same as the rest of your body, might as well get it checked.
I was nervous the first time I had one done, and I'm always a little nervous whenever I have a new doctor after moving...
But they're really not so bad. It's a bit awkward between the sheet and foot rests and probing but nothing major. As cheesy as it is... just relax as much as you can.
Breast exams never bother me; paps can be a little annoying but they're not majorly uncomfortable. The speculum can feel tight and tends to almost verge on pain for me but it's no unbearable. The pap itself is usually a tight pinch and then it's over.
I usually just go to the bathroom as soon as it's all done; most of my gynos have left the room after the procedure and given me something to "clean up" with (from the lube), but I still go after and make sure that's taken care of.
My friends and myself tend to get a small amount of spotting after having it done; personally, it's never been bad enough to require even a liner and it's usually over in a few hours. I only had it last longer than that once.
I just view the appointments as a necessary inconvenience now; I have to get them to get my pills renewed every year and they are annoying but it's nowhere near as bad as other things I've had to do at the doctor's.
Depo made me gain weight and at first I was able to keep it off but after the Depo built up for so long going to the gym 4 days a week I still gained weight, that's when I decided to change my BC. Other than that, no periods and it was hassle free.
Negative there, it you are having sex you NEED to have a pap. You should be getting your pap every year, make sure you are healthy, early detection means a much better chance of, you know, living. Gyno exams aren't scary, they are sometimes uncomfortable but they are necessary when you are female, and doubly so for a sexually active woman.
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Gyno exams are only uncomfortable if you go into them nervous and there are specific things you can do to calm yourself down before you go. Sometimes you can chat with the office nurse about the exam procedure, also you can request a female doctor (I find that helps a lot). Or you can talk to us online and let us relate our non-event doctor visits
I also have a coworker who had the speculum get stuck. She said it was very awkward while people came in an out to to fix it but that it didn't hurt and now is a funny story to tell.
Two years is the general time limit for a pap smear - probably no need for overkill. Especially if you've had the HPV vaccine (Gardasil), and double especially if you're young and got it before becoming sexually active. And if you haven't had it yet, you really should.
A regular gyno exam is very important, though. Its hard to criticise people who avoid them because some of those people have experienced significant trauma and have real trouble placing themselves in a situation they perceive as terrifyingly invasive, but if you're just a bit nervy and/or squicked out about your ladyparts, you really have to find a way to cope - get over it. Otherwise you're only fucking yourself over by neglecting a major aspect of your healthcare; I've heard some real horror stories of women letting major health issues develop because they were too inhibited to tell anyone what was going on, or even acknowledge to themselves that there was a problem. And that leaves aside early detection of things we can't easily spot - quite a few STDs can be almost asymptomatic in females while wreaking internal havoc, for instance.
For the record, I've had only good experiences with the pill, but I went to a hormone specialist first and he recommended a formula that's pretty non-standard, because the blood test results indicated to him that I wouldn't react well to a lot of the synthetic estrogens used in the mainstream brands. If you're in a healthcare system that gives you a reasonable chance of accessing someone like that, I strongly recommend it. I think a lot of that pill-swapping experimentation and the associated problems could be avoided, frankly, and I'm not terribly impressed with health systems that effectively force people to experiment on themselves when its now avoidable.
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I actually take the Pill, and have now for a few years. I initially started taking it to regulate my hormones, because I realized I was getting extremely weepy/irritable over NOTHING, and for three weeks out of every month. (I think my limit was when I was watching a commercial for electric-fences for dogs...and they had a scene with an amazingly cute puppy running across a lawn...and I started getting weepy because "the dog was so cute").
I haven't had any weight gain or any negative side effects while I've been on it - I do, however, get a little nauseous almost exactly 5 hours after I take it, unless I've eaten some starchy thing around the same time. However, I just decided that I'd take the pill in the evening, then (around 10 or 11pm), so by the time I would end up feeling nauseous, I'd be asleep...and that's seemed to work out for me very well.
Different BC works for different people, though. One of my friends went through a couple before she found something that wouldn't make her turn into mega-bitch every month. Another friend of mine had issues with intense nausea, and had to switch to something else. I was lucky in that the first kind I tried worked out for me almost perfectly. Don't hesitate to try different options if one isn't working for you.
I next went on Depo Provera. Which I loved at first but then gained oodles of weight with. If I hadn't gained all that weight it would've been a great option for me. *However* a lot of women seem to get lots of side effects from it, and it's definitely not for women who are sensitive to hormones, thus I don't really recommend it to people as their first BC method, or if they're having too many side effects with the pill.
I'm currently on the generic of Alesse, which is called Aviane. I lurvs it. No ridiculous yeast infections anymore, a regular period that's typically quite light (save for those obnoxious stressful months, but that's more me than the pill), no noticeable side effects for me. It's also a relatively low dose pill (without technically being labelled one) so it's a bit better for some femmes.
The physical/gyno exam, meh I say. The speculum ain't exactly a cuddly teddy, but it isn't a horrible experience either. A little uncomfortable, c'est tout. Mostly there's a minor pinch, and if the room is cold then the speculum itself usually feels ucky cold. My doctor has always offered to have a female nurse in the room (actually, they usually just say they'll be back with a nurse while I get nekkid and hop on the table).