Methods of Birth Control

[irishjewel413.livejournal.com]

So I made an appointment with a gynecologist to talk about methods of birth control. I'm going to inquire about the IUD and Depo shot first but still look into the pill. I was on Cryselle and it worked well aside from the weight gain. I'm looking everywhere to find info on forms of birth control that won't make you gain much weight but so far it seems all the pills make you gain weight and my sister said the Depo shot does too. I'm mostly interested in the IUD however I read that they can be up to 1000 dollars to put in! I do have insurance, however it's medicaid/horizon nj health so I don't know if it would be covered. If not, well then that's out of the question. As of now I have condoms on hand if and when sex happens, although in my last experience as most of you have read we used withdrawal and I had a panic attack for a good week or two until I got my period in which I said aloud "Yes!!" when I saw the blood lol.

Someone here mentioned they have epilepsy too and I should take that into consideration. I'm glad you mentioned it because I didn't think about the effects any new birth control could have on my seizure meds. My sister says I shouldnt think about the IUD because apparantly her friend had it and something happened and it ruptured something, and it could give you problems for trying to get pregnant in the future. I'm just really confused, all I do know is that I cannot keep having panic attacks every time my partner withdraws and he's so sure of himself and I'm a worry wort because we didn't use condoms.

Sure we could use condoms and I'm all for that, but sometimes when you're in the moment withdrawal seems to end up being the better option then pulling out condoms, plus the annoying thing about most guys, a lot of them like to say "Well I hate condoms so lets do it this way". I don't agree with that, better to be safe than sorry. So that's why I'm taking the initiave to get on the pill or some other form of reliable birth control so these panic attacks won't happen again if we do use the pull out method or he accidentally ejaculates in me. I'm just not relishing the weight gain :o(

Comments

[draiochta-faol.livejournal.com]

It sounds like your sister's friend got a perforated uterus from her IUD. That can happen, as far as I know, due to a bad insertion or a small uterus. I have friends who have IUDs and have never had kids and they are fine. The other option you might consider is Implanon. It's a little device that get inserted in your arm. A friend of mine had hers for a few years to help control her endometriosis.

[queensugar.livejournal.com]

Studies have actually found no correlation between the combined hormonal birth control pill and weight gain -- in a review of 39 studies, (http://www.fhi.org/en/AboutFHI/News+Releases/pr2003/april222003researchfindsno.htm) there was no statistically significant difference between control group users and users on combined HBC pills. I believe that Depo Provera is the only method of hormonal contraception that has been proven to have a link to weight gain, although this varies highly by individual and many users will not experience any. Anecdotally, some users do report that they gained weight on the pill, but it's worth weighing the statistical evidence versus the anecdotal evidence and reconciling that with your own feelings on things.

Anyway, first and foremost: have you checked out our Vulvapedia entries on Hormonal Birth Control (http://www.vaginapagina.com/index.php?title=Hormonal_Birth_Control) and Non-Hormonal Birth Control? (http://www.vaginapagina.com/index.php?title=Non-Hormonal_Birth_Control) They may be a good place to start gathering information, and contain lots of links to other sources.

As far as the IUD goes -- IUDs are extremely safe. A complication such as your sister's friend has are extraordinarily rare, and it's unfortunate that based on a single highly rare complication she would say you shouldn't even think about using the most effective method of reversible contraception in the world. Basically -- further research will give you a better idea whether or not it's right for you, but I would not discount it entirely based on an apparently anecdotal report of an extremely rare complication.

[xevv.livejournal.com]

your sister's friend may have also had a type of IUD that is no longer used; I learned about how evil IUDs are in highschool sex ed because of all the horrible things that happened with the old models, but the Mirena is a lot different. I love mine and highly recommend it.

[googoogirl77.livejournal.com]

As a fellow NuvaRing user and a pharmacist, I have to point out that your information is incorrect. The NuvaRing IS a different delivery system for the hormones, but they produce systemic effects just like every other type of HBC out there - not just local effects.

Straight from the NuvaRing website: "NuvaRing® contains 2 types of hormones: estrogen and progestin, which work together to prevent your ovaries from producing mature eggs. These are the same hormones found in the Pill, and they work the same way in your body even though they are administered differently with NuvaRing®."

[googoogirl77.livejournal.com]

Sorry it's taken a few days for my reply and the original poster probably has all the info they need, but I did want to address your question. The NuvaRing works the same way that oral contraceptives work, that we can both agree on. However, the hormones -do- need to go through the entire body. They are absorbed into your bloodstream. While the organs that they are intending the target are in the genital area, the way they accomplish this are by triggering your hypothalamus and your pituitary to release/not release certain hormones during your cycle. It requires most of your endocrine system (which regulate your hormones) to make this happen, not just the organs.

Hope that clears things up a little. It's a large misconception about the NuvaRing.

[chipie.livejournal.com]

I have had two IUDs, and the first one came out without my noticing. I panicked and thought it had perforated my uterus (which sounds like what happened to your sister's friend). I spoke to someone through a sexual health clinic help line, and she told me that perforation sounds scarier than it is. The uterus actually heals very easily: for example, a c-section involves cutting open the uterus but doesn't lead to infertility.

So, perforation is very rare, and complication caused by perforations are probably even rarer.

[ljquin.livejournal.com]

I was epileptic when I got my first (copper) IUD over a decade ago and the epilepsy was not an issue at all. I mentioned the history of epilepsy to my gynaecologist before switching to a Mirena (hormonal IUS) and it was still seen as not an issue even though I was still taking carbamazepine for seizures.
I have had no ill-effects from any of the four I.U.D.s I have had although the copper one was less than ideal because of my very heavy periods.
The fpa site (http://www.fpa.org.uk/helpandadvice/contraception/guidetocontraceptionmethods) has information about different methods of contraception from a source I would consider trustworthy.

[knittinggoddess.livejournal.com]

I've had the Mirena IUD for six months now, and I love it. Since insertion, I haven't had a period longer than three days! There hasn't been any weight gain--thought since I was going off of the Nuvaring, there was some weight redistribution--and it's been wonderful having a worry-free birth control. I liked the Nuvaring, but now that I'm in grad school, I like that I don't even have to think about switching the ring out, replacing it in a week, and dealing with the withdrawal bleed. It was simple, but probably too much for my addled brain at this point.

Perforation is a possibility, but it is rare, and you can minimize that risk further by choosing a doctor carefully. Planned Parenthood is usually a good bet, because many PPs do IUD insertions constantly: One doc told me that she had done three just that morning. Would seeing data about perforation and experience of the practictioner help you feel more comfortable?

As a bonus, many Planned Parenthoods and county clinics have extra funding for people who cannot afford birth control. These cover multiple options, and IUDs are likely to be one of those.

[mangofandango.livejournal.com]

The complication your sister mentioned is extremely rare. IUDs are very safe, and as long as you're having your theoretical IUD inserted by a physician who has experience with IUD insertion, you should be absolutely fine.

If you're concerned about weight gain, anecdotally, a lot of people have issues with weight gain on the Depo shot - and I believe that is proven in the research as well. Depo is the one hormonal birth control method I would advise you against, because once it is in your system there is no way to get rid of it for 3 months, and so you're stuck with the side effects, if any, until it clears.

[saraf3m.livejournal.com]

"I'm mostly interested in the IUD however I read that they can be up to 1000 dollars to put in! I do have insurance, however it's medicaid/horizon nj health so I don't know if it would be covered. If not, well then that's out of the question."

There are different types of IUDs out there. Mirena has homones, and copper ones like Paragard do not. Not sure of other brands, but Paragard has a program to give low income individuals a free IUD, so this may be an option for you for the cost of services, depending on location/who inserts.

Lots of good advice here, I encourage research to explore what will be best for you, and I personally have a Paragard without complication thus far - no kids.