Contraceptive Choices

I have been on NuvaRing for 14 months, and am coming off it at the end of this cycle (one week!!) I have gained too much weight and I'm generally tired of being on hormones. I plan to track my cycles like a mad woman and use condoms with spermicide. Anyone done this also? Would love advice!

i have been using the Evra patch for a few months, it seems to be working..judging by the fact that im not pregnant yet lol though sometimes i have to tape it on because it will start to fall off..i also don't put it anywhere then my lower abdomin because it leaves an ugly mark..not to mention when i wear it on my arm people come up to me for advice on quitting smoking ;p but has anyone ever had it fail? just wondering..or had any crazy weight gain from it?

I have had the Paraguard IUD for 3 months now. So far my journey has been just so so. First of all, insertion was a bit painful followed by days of pretty intense cramping and spotting. When that stopped all was well and good until my period came. Periods now are super heavy and SUPER painful. I am hearing that it is supposed to even out within a few months..so I am still waiting to see what happens..I really want to like it!

My husband and I talked about what type of birth control we would use well before we were engaged in the marital arts... far enough in advance to take a look at a couple of different forms. A friend of mine suggested Natural Family Planning - I did the research and liked the idea of knowing more about my body and when I was fertile/etc... but I also didn't think that abstinence during my less fertile times would be ok with me - we went with the Fertility Awareness Method... the use of temp, cervical fluids and charting as well as using a barrier method for less fertile days (we abstain during very peak days)... We like it a lot. :D

I'm currently using the Mirena IUD. Here are my pros/cons...
Pros:
-Never have to think about it (except to check strings occassionaly)
-Lasts 5 years and I can take it out when I'm ready to conceive again
-Light periods

Cons:
-Although it this doesn't happen to everyone, I had really painful insertion of the device. Hurt like a son of a gun + cramping after for a day.
-More discharge throughout the month
-My period may be light, but it actually lingers longer for me

This was a good choice for me. I would definitely use it again in the future. Despite the cons, my pros totally outweigh them.

I've just recently had a ParaGard inserted, and thus far my body is responding quite well to it. I don't tolerate hormonal birth control well at all (dryness, loss of sex drive, yeast infections, and I turned into a completely different person). Condoms worked well, but in a long-term relationship they become rather expensive, not to mention irritating. I've never had children, so my gynecologist was a bit reluctant to give me an IUD at first, but the insertion went much more smoothly than either of us had anticipated (albeit still quite painful). I'm on day 5 with it, and I've felt entirely normal since yesterday (save for minor cramping and spotting).

I'm really excited about my ParaGard, and hopefully things continue to go well. If it doesn't expel or move out of place, I'll be protected for 10 years. ^-^ Fingers crossed...

There aren't very many cons which come to mind. It's possible to experience an increase in menstrual flow and/or cramping while using ParaGard, but I haven't had a period with it yet, so that remains to be seen. As long as it doesn't become dislodged or expel (which is very unlikely to occur, especially after the first few months), it's as effective as a tubal ligation.