birth control question (yes again sorry!)

thanks sarah! i have a friend with the copper IUD and she swears by it.

let me add two other comments, because i just took the time to read some other people's responses in more detail: i have never had a kid, and although i also had heard that the IUD is better for women who have had children before, i still don't understand why that would be -- it's been a great, great solution for me, and came into my life just at the time that i decided that there were absolutely NO good birth control options! i also was looking at the depo conversation and thought i would add a little more detail on my experience with depo: i, like the other woman who mentioned it, LOVED being on depo -- no periods!! -- what could be better? ... but the first thing i hated about it was the INTENSE (like nothing i had ever experienced) mood swings right after the shot was wearing off before you got the next one (although i've heard this can be avoided if you get yours subsequent shots a little earlier). the thing that topped the cake, though, and put depo in my "absolutely never ever do again" category was what happened after i stopped: even though i had no periods for a full year, i had my period (without stop) for 6 or 7 months after i stopped getting the shots. crazy moods, crazy skin, etc. etc. -- not pleasant. i don't know if i was an extreme case or not, but i do know i was just glad to be off that and all other hormonal bc. whew! that's my 2342340928 cents... s

whoa baby!!! 6-7 months of your period?! i would rather be dead.

i'm glad to hear you've never given birth... my friend who has the copper IUD hasn't either, and she is fine.

Well, I went onto Yaz about 3 or 4 months ago.  I was at goal weight - 135. I've since gained about 8 lbs. I think 5 of those are from the pill, the other 3 from not having a proper fill.  The pill definitely changes my appetite, so even if I have a fill, i still have cravings for bad stuff that get worse with the pill.  Yaz also gives me crazy ridiculous night sweats!!!  I am seriously considering Mirena at this point.  Does it hurt when they put it in?  I absolutely hate how the pill messes with my hormones, and the weight gain is absolutely frustrating.  i was told it was not a typical side effect of yaz, but my doctor said every pill affects everyone differenlty.

hi kim, thanks for the reply!

night sweats, eh??? that's scary. hm.

from what i hear the copper IUD doesn't have any hormones, but mirena does. the IUD also seems to not affect weight at all and is listed on various websites as 99.9% effective, as opposed to the 92% effectiveness of the pill.

like you said - everyone is different. my friend who has the copper IUD said it didn't hurt her and that it wasn't a big production to put it in. just did it at one of her regular visits.

good luck if you decide to switch.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the NuvaRing.  After both my pregnancies I used this and loved it.  Just once a month insert a pliable plastic ring 'up there' and that's it.  Three weeks later take it out and my period would start in a few days.  (It has an unadvertized benefit that you can fudge the removal by about a week if you need to for things like vacation or honeymoons, etc.)  The first month or two it was weird trying to get it in there, but that was my own ackwardness...not the actual difficulty of insertion.  I loved it when I had it.  I was really sad when I had to go off of it due to migranes (it actually happens to me with any hormone based birth control so I've had to switch every few years). www.nuvaring.com

interesting. i have heard about it, but i don't know much about it. i will read up on the website. thanks!

Nuvaring!!  It's super convenient and easy!!