Contraceptive Choices

My husband got a vasectomy last year when our 3rd child turned one. Now, we both regret the decision deeply even though we thought we were done then. I regret it more than he does because I made the decision while still suffering from post-partum. Now it is impossible for us to have another child because reversals are very expensive and not guaranteed to work anyway. This has put a huge strain on our marriage and has made me depressed because I want another child so badly. Think twice before making a permanent decision like this and make sure you think about it for a long time. That's just my advice-I would hate for someone else to go through this.

I use Yaz birth control, and I am in LOVE with it.
I used to have a seven day period, with a heavy flow and within a month, it changed my flow to three days, light flow, and little to absolutely NO cramps. My moods have been better, and yes, my acne has cleared. Everything on the commercial, is a definite correct. It is the BEST pill ever. The only con for this is the rememberance of the pill. I haven't missed a pill and I have been on it for four months, however I have taken the pill 15-30 minutes late sometimes. That has no effect and really, I am happy with the pill. I HIGHLY reccommend it. It is pretty expensive also. I have insurance and it costs almost 60 dollars a month. Some other insurances cost 10 dollars a month, so the prices may definitely vary. But all in all it is a great method of birth control.

I have been on the Depo shot on and off for about 6 years. I absolutely loved it! I always had horrible cramps and it was nice not to have them anymore along with the absence of a period. Whenever I decided to stop getting the shot because of a relationship ending, it only took a few months for my period to return. The Depo shot works different for every woman, I never had any weight gain, mood swings or lack of a sex drive. I went to my gyno today to go back on the shot and now I'm just waiting a few days to receive the shot again. If you are thinking about getting the shot, doctors prefer to give it to you a couple of days into your cycle. I highly recommend the shot for the young people, if you're not on any medications that can affect BC, the shot is the most effective....well besides abstinence...but what's fun about that...lol

My doctor advised me I was not a candidate for tubal ligation, but suggested I got an IUD instead. I agreed and was fitted for the Paragard(copper)IUD or the 10yrs one in April 2005. Immediate cramping. It seems like there's no end to the pain. I begin what feels like contractions about two weeks before my period starts and the pain last all the way through the last day of my period(which lasts a week now and is extremely heavy). Basically during the month I have about one week of pain free days. Also, I have begun many boughts with bacterial infections.

While it may seem that I should absolutely hate my IUD, I don't. I am totally confident that this is the best method of BC available. Since having it placed I dont have to worry about taking a pill everyday, changing a patch every week, removing and replacing a ring every month, having an injection every three months. Pretty much I dont have to thing about anything else for up to another seven years.

Only thing I would say at this point is I am actually considering the Mirena(5yr with horomone)IUD only because of the lightening of mentrual flow. But I will definitely not give my IUD up for anything!!

I had a 5 year IUD "installed" in January 08. I have never experienced so much pain, cramping and bleeding for the next 2 months. It has finally calmed down, but I am still unhappy with it. My doby keeps trying to reject it- something strange about a small string hanging outside my cervix that makes me uneasy. It has been effective in the BC department. My periods are so light that I dont really know if I am spotting or if it counts as a full blown period. Which is strange. Even after 4 months I still get some horrible cramps that make me double over no matter where I am. If I still feel like this in July I am having it taken out- and you can know I will be taking lots of heavy pain killers before they attempt that!
I have been through a c-section, a VBAC and an abortion and none of them compare to the pain this IUD has caused me!!! I have even been on at least 4 different antibiotics to battle different bacteria or yeast because of my angry cervix!

I have the Paragard (Copper) IUD. LOVE IT!!! It's good for up to 10 years, the copper kills the sperm and we don't have to worry about any surprises!!! Also, in the event we decide to have another child, we go to the dr, have it removed, and don't have to wait for any hormones etc. to cycle through my system; which is also another perk, no homone changes to go thru. I just get to be me.

There can be complications, as with anything we put into our bodies, so check with you dr. and get all the info before making a decision!!!

There's my two cents worth! Hope it helps.