Switching from pill to Depo, Nuva, or IUD?

[reddreams.livejournal.com]

Hello, ladies. I've never posted here before but I find myself here a lot searching for information. I'm hoping that I can get some personal stories about different BC methods. I understand of course that everyone is different and everyone will have different experiences. I'm just hoping to get a bit of an idea of what I'm up against here. I'm currently on a generic birth control pill, and while I have never had issues with it, I would like to find a more convenient method because I just can't remember to take the damn thing!



The only method of BC I've tried besides the pill was the OrthoEvra patch. I liked it for the most part, but I had to switch back because it started really irritating my skin.

I've been doing research on things like the NuvaRing, IUDs and Depo shot. I realize that the best person to be talking about this with would be a health care provider, but as I have no insurance, the only place I am able to get birth control from is the free clinic. I get my pills from my local clinic because that isn't a huge deal, but I don't like most of the clinicians there and don't trust their knowledge on a lot of topics. I like my Planned Parenthood better, but it's a little bit of a drive for me. Which would be my first question. Can you get something like an IUD from a place such as Planned Parenthood?

The main concerns I have about the IUD is I've heard a lot of people say it causes horrible cramping. I usually have very easy periods without any cramping at all, unless I use tampons. I'm fine if I'm using pads, but tampons KILL me. The second I remove the tampon, I'm fine again. Which makes me think my body may have a big problem with something actually being implanted. Also, I've read that you regularly have to check the strings to make sure that it's still in place. If you can insert a finger and feel the strings, I'm assuming your partner will also be able to feel them during sex. Has this posed an issue for anyone? Also, when I do choose to become pregnant (which will be at least a couple of years from now), is there a significant amount of time after having the IUD removed before I will be able to conceive?

As far as Depo goes, I don't think I've ever talked to anyone who didn't experience significant weight gain and that's my major concern. I am not overweight and have never had any problems with my weight fluctuating, however. Hell, I could maybe even stand to put on a couple of pounds. So maybe it wouldn't be too big of an issue for me. Any input there?

The NuvaRing is what I'm leaning towards the strongest, but I have a couple of concerns/questions about that one, too. I'm thinking they may cause the same pain for me that tampons do. Also, do they stay in place easily? My other half is extremely well endowed... it takes tons of lube and foreplay for me to be able to comfortably have sex with him, and I still sometimes have to stop because he's giving my cervix such a beating. So I'm concerned that the sex could dislodge the ring, or cause it to become uncomfortable for either of us.

My other issue is that I seem to be exceptionally prone to infections in that region. BV most often.. and I'm talking like once a month. I also get regular yeast and urinary tract infections. I always go to get them diagnosed and treated, but they always seem to come right back. So I'm looking for a method that is not going to increase my chances of infection, because that's the LAST thing I need! And while we're on the subject, does anyone have any helpful hints about what can help prevent these things?

Those are my main questions, although all other pros and cons about any of these methods would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance, ladies!

Comments

[reddreams.livejournal.com]

I saw your post right after I posted mine, and now I'm totally rethinking that whole IUD thing! I'm so sorry you had such a horrible experience... I wonder if anyone else here has experienced anything like that.

[redneckpast.livejournal.com]

I've been on depo over six months. Lots of women love depo, lots hate it. If your body doesn't take to it, you can bleed/spot erratically for months. I've been spotting for almost three months. I've gained almost 10 pounds using depo and I wouldn't be surprised if I keep gaining. It has really increased my appetite. So even though I try to eat right, I slip pretty often because I'm hungry pretty much all the time. It does cause bone loss, so calcium supplements are a must.

That being said, not having to worry about birth control for three months at a time is worth it to me. And it is very effective against pregnancy. The weight gain does not bother me or my partner. The spotting is very often not even enough to require a panty liner. In the end, I love my depo. :)

[paraxeni.livejournal.com]

Couple of IUD questions answered: I have virtually no cramping with the Mirena, no real period to speak of either, but I've heard Paragard sometimes makes cramping worse.

The strings are fairly hard at first, but eventually soften up and usually curl up round the cervix.

[spamanda77.livejournal.com]

I loved my IUD. I had a mirena. I had no real cramping with it, but I did have a lot of spotting. (I STILL loved it, and would recommend it to anyone.)
I had it for approx. 18 months. Had it placed after my son was born. I had it removed so we could try to conceive -- and conceived 3 weeks later. :) So no, no difficulties getting pregnant afterwards.
If you're seriously considering an IUD, I'd look into the IUD_divas community. Lots of good info, and probably every one of your questions has been answered there.
Good luck!

[yvettel.livejournal.com]

and from the Paragard (nonhormonal IUD) camp............


12 years, no hormones, and I dont have to remember a damned thing!


seriously, yes you are 'supposed' to check your strings. I dont remember the last time I checked mine, few months probably. Can the man feel it during sex- hes felt the strings a few times. they dont poke him as they are curled nicely upwards around my cervix. too short strings are hte ones that can be pokey. when I feel for them, they feel like fishing line. They dont throw him off during sex. And hes open enough that he went searching to feel them when I got it inserted.

Cramping- first few periods werent fun. Ive had my IUD for 18 months now. anymore, cramps arent that big of a deal. first few periods, werent fun. my period has changed in the time that i have had my iud. its gotten better, not as heavy or crampy as a few months post insertion.

fertility upon removal- not an issue.

I used to get yeasties pretty regularly when i was on the pill. since the iud ive had the startings of one or two and those were quickly squashed with acidophilus.

Planned parenthood does do iuds.

[reddreams.livejournal.com]

Very helpful, thanks! :)

Paraguard IUD

[gold-heron.livejournal.com]

I've had my paraguard for 6 months now, and here's what I can tell you about it:

Check out the IUD DIVAS live journal, it's just the best.

1. Cramping. I won't lie, the cramps are bad when they decide to be. I've learned to take things a bit slower, and drink lots of water when I notice the warning signs of an oncoming cramp attack. Before the paraguard I rarely ever experienced anthing other than a mild yucky feeling. However, at five months with the IUD they were half gone, and now a six months I haven't had any except where you would expect them (giving a public speech).

2. Strings, not a problem. I kept mine long, never had them trimmed, the boyfriend has never felt them, and checking for them is no problem.

3. Cervix issues. I have no controll group for these observattions, so I can't be sure if the issue is IUD related or not. If while having sex my boyfriend's penis contacs my cervix strongly, it hurts. To fix it I just shift, or have him shift so that he's no longer striking my cervix. I do experience a similar pain if I insert a tampon really deeply, so it may just be that squishing the cervix always causes pain.

3. Heavy periods. I had pretty light periods before the IUD, two days of super sized tampons, and then the rest of the week was really light. I hated using tampons after getting the IUD, due to the cervix squishing issues, and 10+ days of using tampons really dries you out. I now use a menstural cup, and I put them in the top 10 best things that I've ever discovered. I'd rather give up coffee than my menstrual cup. It's solved the heavy period issue to the point where my period is now easier than it was before the IUD. Check out Menstrualcups.org if you're interested.

3. I'm thinking over your thought about that if you hate tampons, than an inserted contraceptive might not be good. My thought is that tampons are a whole different ball game than an IUD, and not comparable.

4. Yeast infections: the VP vulvapedia can give you better info than I could, because most of my info comes from there! The garlic works wonderfully in my experience, stops the itch within 10 minutes, and it's so cheap!

Re: Paraguard IUD

[gold-heron.livejournal.com]

P.S. I got my Paraguard from a Planned Parenthood in MN, they paied for the whole thing. Not every PP has a practioner who can insert them, so call ahead and find out.

Re: Paraguard IUD

[reddreams.livejournal.com]

I did a little surfing at iud divas, and I definitely plan to go back there and read up some more.

Thanks for all the info. :)

[cage-this.livejournal.com]

I've been on the NuvaRing for a year now, and I wouldn't trade it for anything (maybe an IUD, but the word 'perforate' gets me every time I think about getting one -shudder-). There's only maybe one or two days a month where I feel uncomfortable with it, but that's because it's sitting too low and pokes out of my vag lol And that goes away when I get past whatever point it is in my cycle where my cervix sits lower than usual. I've never had any problem with tampons though, so my case is not indicative of how your own comfort level would be with the ring.

As for sex, sometimes I can feel it, sometimes he can feel it, most of the time we just take it out (and then put it in right after we're done). As someone said, you can take it out for up to 3 hours, but whether that's 3 hours a day or 3 hours a ring, is up for debate.

Just a personal little anecdote - I used to get yeast infections pretty often before I started using the ring, but have only had one since I started using it. I'm not sure why that would be - less discharge, perhaps? I've heard a lot of people complain of dryness with the ring (myself included), but that's why they invented lube! Speaking of lube - are you using lube that has glycerin in it? That can cause yeasties, because it's sugar. My sure-fire way to avoid infections of any sort in that area involve drinking lots of water and cranberry juice (not cranberry cocktail), making sure to alwaysalwaysalways pee after sex, changing my undies probably more than is necessary, and sleeping commando. I also have this tendency to throw out undies that I've worn when I've had an infection (but maybe I'm just weird).

Best of luck making your decision =D

[reddreams.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the word "perforate" is a pretty big turnoff for me, too. And knowing my luck, something horrible like that would happen! lol

Is it easy enough to put in and take out? Enough so that it's not an inconvenience to do so before sex?

I'm not worried about dryness, since like I said, I have to use tons of lube anyway. And I made sure that the lube we selected had no glycerin. It's called Jo Premium... and while it's fairly expensive, it works amazing for us.

I always pee before and after sex and change underwear a lot (which are plain cotton briefs, since I heard dyes and thongs can add to bacteria-- I feel like a bad Catholic girl. LOL) I hate cranberry juice, but I bought some cranberry tablets. I just unfortunately have the same problem remembering to take them as I do my BC. lol.

Thanks for your help.. I think I'm going to try the NuvaRing and cross my fingers.

[cage-this.livejournal.com]

Sometimes the ring will be a bit high, and takes a second or two longer to get out than usual (and then I'm all "well, I guess we didn't really have to take it out that time" lol) but it's really easy. We actually kinda work it into the foreplay, since he'll just slip a finger in there and pull it out - I barely notice it at all. But yeah, you pretty much just hook a finger around it and pull (sometimes nails can be painful, but aren't they usually?). Putting it back in is even easier - you just squish it together and put it up there. I rarely ever have to push it up, because it gets sucked up there lol.

What kind of soap are you using when you're in the shower? Maybe that is having a hand in your infections? Other than that, I'm at a loss!

[threemadness.livejournal.com]

It's funny how everyone's bodies are different! For me the ring caused almost constant discharge and made for reoccuring YI's ! Everyone is so different.

OP! Give whatever you want a try because really these things are different for everyone :)

[freshgroundfemm.livejournal.com]

This was my experience with the ring too. I've been off it for two months now and it is so nice to not have a constantly itchy vag.