Birth Control

[Yami.Brooke]

Okay, so I have been doing the depo shot since my daughter was born because it was convenient and really the only thing I could do besides the IUD that wouldn't interfere with breastfeeding. But this last time I read the warning about bone loss, and being female I'm already at risk for that, right? And my daughter is done breastfeeding after a year and a half (woo!!). So now I wanna talk to my doctor about a different birth control. I've heard that Tricare covers IUD, pills, patch, diaphragm, all that, but I've only ever used the shot so what would you guys recommend? I've heard conflicting stories about the wire with the IUD and I've never even heard of the patch, I don't know anything about diaphragms. I had almost gotten the IUD after my daughter was born, but at the last minute they said i was too young (1 week from my 18th birthday, lol) And now I'm a little scared of getting it because of all the horror stories my mother told me about women she knew who got it. So I really need current advice about this!>.<

[Yami.Brooke]

Since I started asking around after my last Depo shot I've heard so many side effects about it that I was never told! I take vitamins everyday and have an  alarm set on my phone to remind me, so I think I could do the pill. I think I might give the IUD a shot. I'll decide for sure after talking to my doctor. I have no problem at all with having blood drawn, I'm actually going on Wednesday to give platelets at my local blood donor place.^^

 

Also, just for future reference, the copayment for Depo is $3. In case anyone wanted to know. But seriously, look up the side effects. Bone loss, hair loss, weight gain. Not happy now! Might be why I wasn't losing a whole lot of weight even  though i was breastfeeding...I never lost hair, but a friend did.

[motherinlawtobe]

Just for the record, my daughter was on Yaz and doing wonderful, then she wanted to NOT take a pill, so she tried the patch which put her on a perpetual period and she reacted to the adhesive, then they tried nuvaring.  If I were young, I would love the convenience of the nuvaring.  My daughter however, is now 9 months pregnant - she conceived while using ...nuvaring.  Do what is right for you.  There really is no wrong choice.  If you are disciplined enough and not breastfeeding anymore, the pill is the most effective form of birth control, outside of abstinence.

[Yami.Brooke]

I just remembered one more thing: My mother and sister both had ectopic pregnancies. Does anyone happen to know if any birth control particularly helps prevent that as well? I will make sure to ask the doctor, but extra knowledge never hurts.

[Anti M]

I had two ectopic pregnancies.  Very scary, I nearly died the first time from a rupture at 11 weeks.  I hope your mom and sister are alright.  Very difficult emotionally, even decades later.

Do ask your doctor, but from what I was told by mine, avoiding pregnancy at all was the only way to avoid one of those.  I ended up with a tubal ligation, I was at a 98% risk for another tubal pregnancy if I tried a third time.  

 My tubes were scarred from a bad infection as a teenager, that's why I had ectopics.  Talk it over with your mom so you know why they had theirs, of it was something like an infection, or if it is genetic (shape,texture of your tubes).  It would be excellent information for your health history.

[Yami.Brooke]

I think they just got pregnant while on birth control, so it was an ectopic. I will ask if there's any way it could be hereditary, though, thanks.

[Anti M]

Birth control doesn't cause a fertilized egg to lodge in your tubes, there has to be something about the tube itself.

[Yami.Brooke]

But isn't a pregnancy while taking birth control more likely to be ectopic?

[Anti M]

No.

[Mama Bearr293]

I take loestion 24FE (the pill)

Been taking it for over 4 years. And except for the few times i've forgotten to take it... I never got pregnent! haha Not reccomnending forgetting about it though!(only would forget a day every once in a great while) But it's been good. Get my period monthly. But sometimes I don't have one. It's just the effects of the brand of pill I suppose. But it's good.

[TickledTink]

The patch has caused a lot of issues for women as well, so I wouldn't recommend it.  I used Nuvaring for a couple of years and liked it well enough.  I'm just not a fan of hormonal BC in general, especially for long term.  I was on one kind of hormonal method or another for 13 consecutive years, so my body was kind of...rebelling.  But I did never get pregnant.

Then we did Natural Family Planning for almost 2 years.  Yes, it does work.  IF you do it right.  Read "Taking Charge of your Fertility."  I think EVERY woman should read it, even just to have better knowledge of how things work.  I used fertilityfriend.com for my charts, it's free.  I ovulated anywhere from day 13 to day 27, so just goes to show that you can't just assume a day, you have to TRACK it.  Many people don't follow the rules.  If you learn about it thoroughly and completely follow the rules, it is very effective.  But many get lazy with the temping/checking cervix, or want to have sex when they are fertile (which you can do if you really want to, just need to use a barrier method the most effective of which is a condom)

When we decided to TTC, we did in 2 cycles, so just goes to show that we are in fact fertile and that the BC methods we used did work. 

[J]

Love "Taking Charge of Your Fertility!" I agree that every woman should read it. I couldn't believe how much was going on with my body that I didn't know about!

[meagan5220]

Its really not too crazy hard to remember to take a pill, I do it in the morning, just put it in my "get ready" drawer. Along with my makeup, toothbrush, hairbrush, etc. If I forget to take my pill chances are I also havent brushed my teeth, or fixed my hair and face. (HOT MESS ;), lemme tell ya.) I have only forgotten to take it a few times and it was when I was sick and my hubby was in BC/A School anyways. I was on Loestrin 24 seemed good at first but I never had a period and if I happened to it was one or two days randomly throughout the month, I also started crying about everythiing (literally over some water I spilled one day, on a counter) and I am not a crier at all! I was soo emotional, and depressed and lots of break outs.

 

Now I am on Mircette which I was anxious to try bc a lot of bad reviews but I love it! In less than a month my face has cleared up really well :) and I am def a lot happier, still have sad moments but not like it was before!! Then again EVERY pill will affect ppl differently. I have heard many bad things about the Depo shot... never met a friend that liked it. :(

 

Also if you can take your RX on base then its free for a 3 month supply :) With tricare at most other pharmacies I think the most it can be is like 20$... Idk for sure. But Mircette is super expensive supposedly but I got it for free. I would also say stay away from generics. I have not heard of generics being good for most people. Lots of bad side effects!