Uncharted Birth Control Territory

[peggyfromwastate]

Re: Uncharted Birth Control Territory

Um.......the Mirena can fall out???? That makes me nervous. Did you know? (i.e. Could I be pregnant? )

I had an IUD after the twins-- and it did fall out. I don't think it was ever inserted properly, though... (I'm too embarrassed to explain why I thought that, but you can probably figure it out.)

Then we went to exclusively the "family planning condoms/no mid month action" plan...

[Thirteen]

Re: Uncharted Birth Control Territory

So, the appointment for a general exam is Friday.
I'm going to find out if I'm a candidate for the IUD.
If they have reservations about doing it (b/c I've never had a child), should I go another way, or find someone who will?

Your responses have made it seem like this is really not a big deal, and many OB-GYNs do it.

:huh:

[Cumberland]

Re: Uncharted Birth Control Territory

I am getting a mirena at my six week check. I am really nervous after hearing that it hurts. DH says they give me the shot in the cervix first, which to me seems pretty scary too.

Re: Uncharted Birth Control Territory

The shot was the worst part and reminded me of getting numbed at the dentist office. I think I would have preferred to have gone without the numbing so I would be waiting the couple of minutes it takes to be effective. I took a few Tylenol or Advil and fine for the rest of the day. Good luck!

[HouseofWool]

Re: Uncharted Birth Control Territory

When I got the IUD at my 6 wk appt after DS, they didn't give me a shot and it wasn't that big of a deal. (I have a very low pain tolerance...)

[SuzySunshine]

Re: Uncharted Birth Control Territory

When I got the IUD at my 6 wk appt after DS, they didn't give me a shot and it wasn't that big of a deal. (I have a very low pain tolerance...)

[MDPhDWife]

Re: Uncharted Birth Control Territory

I'm curious too. I guess that is why they tell you to check the string every once in a while.

Holy Cow! I've had mine for almost 5 years and I'm terrified to get it replaced because every time I go into the ob/gyn for my annual, I'm always told my strings cannot be felt since they were cut so short. I'm scared that she's going to have a hell of a time getting the sucker out. aranoid:

FWIW, I had the Mirena put in after having 2 c-sections, one of which was emergency and the other scheduled, so my cervix has never been dialated. I don't recall getting the numbing shot, and it did hurt some and I do remember cramping enough to spend the rest of the day in bed relaxing. With that said, it was well worth it and that's why I'm planning on replacing the one that is in now next week at my appointment.

I hope you're able to find a cooperative doc!

Re: Uncharted Birth Control Territory

Umm, I had the first Mirena after 2 vaginal births so that could be why it didn't hurt, but other than a bit of cramping, no biggie!
Yah, we were on a "romantic date night" on an Australian cruise and the thing fell out...
I def knew...it wasn't like I didn't feel it...ir find it in my hand when I went to the bathroom...enough said! My was inserted properly, but I have a really retrograded uterus and apparently that can be bad for IUD's.

[RELLA]

Re: Uncharted Birth Control Territory

I use depo provera and love it. I get no period, and as soon as I go off it we get pregnant on the first try. I wouldn't recommend it though unless you are extremely active in terms of lifting weights regularly ( depo is a hormone methylprogesterone and causes permanent bone loss if you don't do weight bearing exercise and take a supplement). It also causes a huge increase in appetite for most people and they end up gaining a ton of weight. Fortunately for me though, I have no side effects. My last bone scan was perfectly normal and I've been on it for years. It's an intramuscular shot that I give myself once every three months. I LOVE IT!!!!! You may want to try it. You may be like me and experience no side effects.

[MDPhDWife]

Re: Uncharted Birth Control Territory

I use depo provera and love it. I get no period, and as soon as I go off it we get pregnant on the first try. I wouldn't recommend it though unless you are extremely active in terms of lifting weights regularly ( depo is a hormone methylprogesterone and causes permanent bone loss if you don't do weight bearing exercise and take a supplement). It also causes a huge increase in appetite for most people and they end up gaining a ton of weight. Fortunately for me though, I have no side effects. My last bone scan was perfectly normal and I've been on it for years. It's an intramuscular shot that I give myself once every three months. I LOVE IT!!!!! You may want to try it. You may be like me and experience no side effects.

I too liked the depo because I didn't get a period, but I got off of it because I did gain a TON of weight.

[HouseofWool]

Re: Uncharted Birth Control Territory

I use depo provera and love it. I get no period, and as soon as I go off it we get pregnant on the first try. I wouldn't recommend it though unless you are extremely active in terms of lifting weights regularly ( depo is a hormone methylprogesterone and causes permanent bone loss if you don't do weight bearing exercise and take a supplement). It also causes a huge increase in appetite for most people and they end up gaining a ton of weight. Fortunately for me though, I have no side effects. My last bone scan was perfectly normal and I've been on it for years. It's an intramuscular shot that I give myself once every three months. I LOVE IT!!!!! You may want to try it. You may be like me and experience no side effects.

I too liked the depo because I didn't get a period, but I got off of it because I did gain a TON of weight.

I liked not having a period, but not only did I gain about 15 pounds, but had migrains as well. YUCK!

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

Re: Uncharted Birth Control Territory

I gained 10 lbs on Depo in college. NEVER again!

[Rapunzel]

Re: Uncharted Birth Control Territory

I've been married for 12 years and we just use condoms and avoid mid-month action. So far so good.

This is us but we've only been married 11.5 years. We call this our "fly by the seat of your pants" birth control. So far we haven't had any "oopsidents" and all three of our children were planned. Obviously our planning is flawed. LOL

This worked for us for 13 1/2 years. And, THEN (after five planned pregnancies) we had one OOPS! with Lily's method above.

It works - usually.

[Thirteen]

Re: Uncharted Birth Control Territory

After my Appointment:
They are now saying since we want to conceive within the next 2-3 years that I should just go with Mirena and steer clear of Paraguard as it's a 10 year plan.

I'm upset because Mirena STILL has hormones.
Initially, the new GYN said I was best suited for pills, but I turned him down. So for Mirena, he wants to send me to a surgical outpatient center, where they do local anesthetic on an IV and chemically dialate me to implant.


That's not what I want at all - we talked about it, and he said they do in-office all the time, but without the "previously dialated" situation, he felt better first scoping me to make sure I'd be okay and then setting it.
I don't want to be on an IV. I don't want hormones.

At this rate, I'm just considering pill-ing it up. I am so tired and I just can't handle another life decision. I cave.

[MrsK]

Re: Uncharted Birth Control Territory

I suggest you consider a diaphram and/or condoms. Neither is ideal as the diaphram requires you to plan ahead or stop the action once things heat up as condoms do -- also, both have about a 20% failure rate. But if you are really adverse to hormones and you want to use something, you could look into barrier methods.