Big problems with Birth control

[bizzarossal.livejournal.com]

I'm currently freaking out because i feel trapped with hormonal birth control and yet trapped without it.
I started taking ortho-evra tricyclen LO about two months ago but then, at the month and a half mark, started getting cystic acne (never had that before) all over my face and went off it. Surprise, surprise, the acne started to disappear the day i quit taking the pill. A heavy period ensued, but i'm fairly sure i'm back to normal.
I visited the doctor the other day to explore other birth control options. She didn't listen to me, cut me off a couple of times, and seemed far to busy to really care. She prescribed (or, shall i say, threw at me) Estrostep, which i'm supposed to start tommorrow, but i am, frankly, terrified of it.
I looked into alternate methods like Lea's Shield and spermicide and am seriously considering trying both. I'm going to the planned parenthood clinic on Tuesday to get a Lea's Shield.
The only problem with THAT is that my boyfriend is big. 9 inches. I don't know if the lea's shield will interfere with intercourse or vice versa, if you catch my drift.
Caught in a tizzy. Don't know what to do.
Any suggestions? Similar experiences?

Comments

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[rockstarbob.livejournal.com]

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Re: Friendly Mod Request

[bizzarossal.livejournal.com]

ok, changed it.

Re: Friendly Mod Request

[rockstarbob.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much!

[velfadar.livejournal.com]

It sounds to me like you need to change your gynecologist, rather than your birth control method: Not all hormonal based contraceptives have such dramatic side affects. What your gynecologist should have done before prescribing anything to you (much less after having realized you're sensitive to tricyclen), was run some blood tests, to see if there's anything you are, indeed, sensetive to. Also - different women with different hormonal structure tend to react differently to various quantities of hormones, so a good doctor should adjust the pill to his patient's hormonal needs.
I take Orthocyclen myself, and it actually clears my skin and does wonders to my complexion.

Get a new doctor.

If you're not feeling secure enough with Lea's Shield - use a condom as well. I know, it sucks, but as they say (oh, and believe you me - they KNOW): Better safe than sorry.

Good luck.

[mmmmhmmm.livejournal.com]

Definitely get a new gyno...and have you thought about an IUD?

[bizzarossal.livejournal.com]

yeah, for sure i will. About the IUD- i'm 19 and it was told to me that it wouldn't be good for someone my age. It's more for people who've had kids and don't want any more as it's hard to become fertile for a while after it's removed.

[frolicnaked.livejournal.com]

True on the "more recommended for people who've had kids," but some of this is lingering medical professional prejudice (seen largely only in the U.S.).

It is, however, safe for a 19 year old who's nulliparous, though you might have a slightly higher chance of expelling it.

Not true on the "hard to become fertile" after it's removed. Fertility returns almost immediately. Check out the memories in iud_divas for more information.

[diamondxavenue.livejournal.com]

maybe it was that specific pill itself that didn't work for you. that's why people get prescriptions, because their bodies are all different. you might try the patch?

[bizzarossal.livejournal.com]

thinking about it..

[frolicnaked.livejournal.com]

There is something to be said for trying different types of HBC to find one that does not give you godsawful side effects; many women are able to do this.

Then again, there is also something to be said for finding a doctor who will listen to you instead of throwing more medication at you.

Condoms with the shield might be good. If this is a long-term thing, there's also the possibility of learning fertility awareness methods (http://www.plannedparenthood.org/pp2/portal/files/portal/medicalinfo/birthcontrol/pub-fertility-chart.xml), if you're dedicated and committed to doing that, and using a barrier and/or spermicide as a backup.

This is purely anecdotal, as I've never tried it, but it seems a lot of women are happy with the Nuva Ring (http://www.plannedparenthood.org/pp2/portal/files/portal/medicalinfo/birthcontrol/pub-contraception-nuvaring.xml).

Personally, I have a non-hormonal intrauterine device (http://www.plannedparenthood.org/pp2/portal/files/portal/medicalinfo/birthcontrol/pub-contraception-iud.xml) and am madly in love with it. It's a more long-term option, and it may or may not be right for you.

But there are other options out there, just as there are other pills out there. Look into them all and make the choice that's best for you.

P.S.,

[frolicnaked.livejournal.com]

Sorry about the deleted post. I goofed on the formatting with the first one.

P.P.S.

[frolicnaked.livejournal.com]

Deleted comment, I mean.

Wow. I did not bring my A-game today. ;)

[bizzarossal.livejournal.com]

thankyou, all of this is nice to know. i'm going to planned parenthood on tuesday. i'm surprised they even mentioned fertility awareness methods.

[frolicnaked.livejournal.com]

In all honesty, I'd guess that no doctor or nurse at PP is going to recommend FAM as an option. Because it requires so much user intervention, a lot of people are hesitant to recommend it, especially if they don't know how diligent the couple is prepared to be regarding fertility monitoring.

If this is what you want, and you bring it up with them, they might be supportive. Then again, they might not. The mention of FAM as contraception inspires a lot of different reactions in people.

[bizzarossal.livejournal.com]

well, yeah, looking over it, it looks hard to manage. i don't think i'll do it, really. probably a diaphragm or lea's shield for me. what do you use? recommend?

[frolicnaked.livejournal.com]

I've actually never used either a diaphragm or lea's shield.

In fact, the only 2 methods I've used while sexually active are fertility awareness and my (current) copper IUD.

A lot depends on your personal situation: what's right for me may not be right for you. Important factors to consider are ones like age, relationship status (long term? mutually monogamous? STI-tested?), how soon (if ever) in the future you want to conceive, etc.

[grammars.livejournal.com]

All I can tell you is that Ortho Tri Cyclen Lo FUCKED ME UP. Extreme depression, chronic migranes that were so bad I passed out, periods so heavy I used a super plus tampon every 45 minutes, all my hair fell out, I got FAT, it ruined my complexion, the list goes on and on and on and on. And my doctors wouldn't listen to me either. :/

[bizzarossal.livejournal.com]

Oh my god. That's awful. And i've heard tons of the same things from other ladies. I'm glad i quit it because i was getting the extreme depression as well. And i had a really heavy period on it, too!
Are you better now?

[grammars.livejournal.com]

Yes, much. I took it for about 9 months before I realized everything that was going on with me was related to the BC. I stopped taking it about two years ago. Last summer I tried Yasmin for about a week & experienced pretty bad side effects within like, three days (like extreme weight gain, for instance.. I couldn't fit into ANY of my clothes). So I've come to the conclusion that hormonal BC is not for me.

Another thing about Ortho Lo.. I've heard that it has the highest rates of accidental pregnancies. So, you know. I feel like dr's really like to prescribe it though, especially for first timers. Makes me nervous.. :/