Birth Control

[NikkiHorror]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MxAxC-_ATTACK you should also use condoms

Well I'm married and the only guy I've ever slept with was my husband, so I'm not too keen on condoms, lol. Planned Parenthood gave me a year's supply of Ortho-LO so I'll just use it up, but Yasmin sounds really good! I think I'll give that a try next!

Thanks, girls!

 

[MAC_Pixie04]

I'm on OTC-Lo. We occasionally use condoms (i know, i'm bad, we should use them ALL the time) but I've had the best luck with it. I'm already overweight, so my main concern was gaining weight. i only gained weight in my bustline (lol), and i don't feel weird. And my periods are so predictable. I get it every 28 days, right at the same time each time. But like someone else said, there's no 100% chance with anything but abstinence. And OTCLo isn't any more or less effective than any other pill. i also got a years supply from PP.

But whatever you do, stay away from Seasonale! and the patch has been recalled.

 

[sexypuma]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAC_Pixie04 the patch has been recalled.

maybe some batches. i am on the patch right now and i have been on it for a few years now and i am fine. I am actually seeing my doctor tomorrow for a check up.

 

[IslandGirl77]

Well I've said this before on here...I had my tubes tied and it failed. Sooo, I got on Ortho Lo, which I really liked. The only side effect it gave me where these two dark spots on my upper lip caused by the hormones. My periods were on time, I think once it came early and lasted for like two weeks dont' know what that was about. I was on it for 9 months, my fiancee and I never used anything while I was on it. I had to recently get off of it because my blood pressure was high, and my Dr said it could of been cause by the pill. Overall I think it was pretty good. I've been on the shot and Yasmin and hated both. I think it's a trial and error thing. Whatever your body responds the best to, everybody is different so we all wont' have the same reactions. But, I did hear like Mac Pixie said that the Patch and Seasonale are no good.

 

[MAC_Pixie04]

Seasonale made my bff really sick. Since it stopped her period for 3 months and only gave her 4 a year, she'd get really sick. She'd get pregnancy symptoms, which sucks in a birth control pill, you'd really want it to NOT make you feel pregnant, which is its purpose. And she ended up in the hospital. And the Ortho-Evra patch (maybe just some batches) was recently recalled, as I've read and seen on my local news (dunno about national), it was linked to cases involving blood clots, tumors, and a few people died, but they haven't 100% blamed the patch, yet haven't ruled it out either.

I agree, it's trial and error. Just make sure that when you're trying something new, you're using a back up method of birth control, such as condoms, until your body adjusts to the new method.

 

[Ambonee]

BE CAREFUL WITH YASMIN!! I was on it for 2 years and I gained A LOT of weight and it caused severe depression and anxiety. I've been off about 6 months and I'm just now starting to lose that weight. I was a completely different person on those pills. Go look at message boards on the net I found one and I wish I would have read it before I started taking those pills. It's different for everone I know but be carefull and research it as much as you can. I'm on Seasonal now, it's nice so far. No period except once every three months and no weight gain. I haven't experienced what the above poster said about her friend, it's been GREAT so far but it's only been 6 months (this month) so who knows. Just be careful and seriously research it. If depression runs in your family at all I would steer clear of Yasmin.

 

[thestarsfall]

The nature of the birth control pill (and patch, and shots, and implants etc) is that it is going to have different effects on different women. Thats why the doctors are supposed to give you like a couple months trial and then you come back in for a consult/exam and if its all good then you get a longer supply...if its all bad (ie: worse cramps, depression, HUGE weight gain, or whatever) then you tell them and they can prescribe another type.

I want to start birth control, cuz my periods are messed up (especially at school) They are always a like a week late, and then I freak out about pregnancy (although my risk is low) and then I just get stressed and it's even later. I get around 2 weeks of PMS symptoms, my periods are heavy so I am anemic, and my cramps are killer and I am seemingly immune to painkillers (to get any relief I take 2-500mg acetominophen, 2-200mg ibuprofen, and sit with a hot water bottle....then that doesnt work so I take some 300mg acetominophens with the 8mg of codeine and that doesnt even work that well....) My cramps seem to extend from my knees to my belly button, and they give me nausea and stuff like that. It sucks...

anyways, enough with my ranting...I wanted to ask a question:
How much does the birth control cost for you? Which brands are cheaper (me = college student)?

 

[MxAxC-_ATTACK]

I dont know if Canada has Planned parenthoods.. but Its totally free there.

 

[MAC_Pixie04]

Planned Parenthood was totally free for me too. Because of my lack of income at the time, I qualified for a california state health card, so all of my services at PP are provided my private funding and donation. Whenever I go, i put in a donation as a thank you for my services, but i never have to pay the actual pharmacy cost for anything. It's great for me, a college student, because if I'd gotten the pill through my regular doctor or my insurance, it would cost me about $24 a month, which i think is completely ridiculous.

and planned parenthood doesn't give you some off brand of anything, which is what a lot of people think, they give you the choice of Yaz, Otho Tri Cyclen Lo, Ortho Tri Cyclen regular, TriLevelin, and one other that I can't think of the name. They give out popular brand, well tested and reliable condoms, and pregnancy tests, pelvic exams, AIDS/STD tests and OBGYN appointments are provided by real clinicians, nurses, and doctors, not just volunteers with scalpels and stethoscopes. If you dont have health care, can't access reproductive healthcare or can't afford them, planned parenthood is a good route to go.

 

[attacuswings]

I was on OTC-Lo for a year and switched off of it because I was having uncontrollable crying fits often enough that it became a problem. The upside of OTC-Lo was that I lost weight but gained two cup sizes, which I certainly wasn't complaining about.

I switched to Yaz and I'm not really sure if I like it. I'm on my fourth month of it and while I haven't gotten pregnant yet, it's not doing a great job of controlling my period, which is one of the reasons that I started on b/c. I had light, short periods on OTC-Lo and now I'm having heavy ones that last for over a week.

 

[asnbrb]

Quote:

Originally Posted by attacuswings I switched to Yaz and I'm not really sure if I like it. I'm on my fourth month of it and while I haven't gotten pregnant yet, it's not doing a great job of controlling my period, which is one of the reasons that I started on b/c. I had light, short periods on OTC-Lo and now I'm having heavy ones that last for over a week.

Really? I am now on Yaz and I noticed that my periods are three days tops. It's kind of odd.

 

[missymaricel]

Pills: I'd forget to always take daily

Patch: Releases large doses of hormones into your system risking blood clots. There are currently lawsuits against Ortho-Evra

IUDs: Will make you prone to internal infections and may even cause damage to your uterus, risking chances of having a baby in the future

Condoms: Well, you all know how that goes

NUVA RING!!!: Has anyone else heard of this? My doctor warned me to get off the Patch since it's so risky (plus I hated the icky adhesive residue it would leave behind). She didn't even bother prescribing the Pill because she knew I'd forget to take it daily. She had me try out Nuva Ring and I LOVE IT! I was hesitant on sticking a ring into my vagina and keeping it there for 3 weeks, but you don't even feel it and you can completely forget about it for 3 weeks until it's time to remove for 1 week to have your period. It gives the lowest, yet most effective, amount of hormones and I've been using it for about 2 years without any side effects such as weight gain, depression, or anxiety. TRY IT!!!

*Tip: normally you can't feel it while having intercourse, but if it's a bit bothersome, you can actually remove it during sex, then put it back in IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS. It works great with me!!!

 

[MxAxC-_ATTACK]

Quote:

Originally Posted by attacuswings I was on OTC-Lo for a year and switched off of it because I was having uncontrollable crying fits often enough that it became a problem. :

Me too, its awful!!! last night I started crying because I had to drive home from my boyfriends house and I was almost out of gas, which meant I had to go to the creepy 24 hour gas station in creep town.So I cried. WHHATT?!

I also have screaming fits...

Its definitely NOT enjoyable.

 

[*Luna*]

I am currently taking Yasmin and love it. I have zero side effects from it and it's been amazing the 5 years I've taken it. I used to take Ortho Tri and it made me incredibly moody and I was a supreme bitch. Anyway... I adore Yasmin, like I said it's been fabulous. I also hear great things about the Nuva Ring. It may be worth looking into if you have trouble taking your pill at the exact same time every day, and since it's Lo that is SO very important.

 

[user79]

Quote:

Originally Posted by giz2000 DH and I use condoms...I cannot take any hormonal BC method and he doesn't want a vasectomy...it's worked for the last 10 years so far (my youngest is 10).

Same, we use condoms. I've tried the Patch method, and 3 birth control pills. All of them didn't work out for me. All those hormones can't be good for you over a long period of time.

 

[glamdoll]

I went to planned parenthood wen I decided to take that "extra" step in my relationship. and I didnt get the choice of what pill I wanted to take, like someone mentioned above.
The doctor gave me some bright green pills. She just told me to take them everyday at the same time, and that if I missed one I could take it the next day.
WRONG!!!

When I went to an OB/GYN for my first prenatal check up
she asked me if I had used any protection at all and I told her
yes, and I showed her the pills.
and she asked me what intructions was I given
and I told her, to take it once a day everyday, xcept wen on my period and if I missed one to take it the next day.
and she said no. That since they gave me the "mini" pill
I had to take it everyday ON THE HOUR cus its such a low dose
and that I had to take it during my period
because thats why they were all the same color.

but oh well.
I was so mad, that I had searched for appropiate
help and I couldnt even receive that!

I was so surprised because everyone talks so good about PP
but they didnt workout for me =[
Im sure its not always like that for everyone but for me they werent
helpful. and when i went to take my pregnancy test it was positive
and they told me they could no longer help me an just gave me a list of numbers to ask for prenatl help.

so yeah.

I learned my lesson.
Ill go to the OB for birthcontrol.

 

[kradge79]

I recently went off OTC-Lo due to my period still being inconsistent and the horrible mood swings it caused. I've been on BC pills (various different scrips) for about 4 years and none of them have ever regulated my period and they all caused problems with moods. I am now using a diaphragm and I love it. It takes a little getting used to, but I don't think I will ever go back to hormonal BC.

 

[Raerae]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissChievous Same, we use condoms. I've tried the Patch method, and 3 birth control pills. All of them didn't work out for me. All those hormones can't be good for you over a long period of time.

While I'm a strong supporter of condom use in casual relationships, I always felt one of the perks to being in a comitted relationship was that condom use wasn't mandatory anymore hehe... You both get tested, and then enjoy hehe... Sex is so much better w/out a condom for me in so many different ways. But I can totally see the value in having that option availible if BC doesn't work for you.

I know my Mom used a diaphragm as a BC method, and until she made it not work (lol, I was a planned, un planned ;p hehe), it worked fine for her and her husband.

 

[sharyn]

I started taking the pill when I was 15 and I did not gain any weight and my skin remained as clear as it always was - but a few days after I began taking it, I started throwing up almost every damn night. I dont know why, I just got very sick every night after I went to sleep (after I took it) and at about 2 am, I'd be in the bathroom throwing up. So, the pill is not an option for me. Has this happened to anybody else?

 

[user79]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raerae While I'm a strong supporter of condom use in casual relationships, I always felt one of the perks to being in a comitted relationship was that condom use wasn't mandatory anymore hehe... You both get tested, and then enjoy hehe... Sex is so much better w/out a condom for me in so many different ways. But I can totally see the value in having that option availible if BC doesn't work for you. I know my Mom used a diaphragm as a BC method, and until she made it not work (lol, I was a planned, un planned ;p hehe), it worked fine for her and her husband.

Very true, I mean I was on various methods of hormonal BC for years and yeah, having sex w/out condoms is definitely nice. But the downsides of the hormones def outweighed the minor nuisance of switching back to condoms. I don't really want to go back on the Pill, nothing I tried really worked for me, so for me, I just feel the best and most myself when I'm not taking hormones. Condoms aren't actually THAT bad, you can still have a fulfilling sex life using them.

And no other non-hormonal BC method aside from the condom is really reliable enough for me to trust using it. Even tho my bf and I have been together a long time, I am not ready for a baby.