Birth Control Options - Omaha,NE

Hi A.,
Have you ever considered learning natural family planning? My husband and I have used it for almost 15 years and it's been great for me physically and great for our marriage. It is NOT the rythmn method, like so many people confuse it with. I don't think anyone teaches that anymore. There are a few different methods of NFP to learn and choose from. It is great because you empower yourself by knowing your body so well.
Our bodies are meant to ovulate each month and not be intruded by unnatural means of preventing that from happening.
If you're interested then I would gladly give you the resources, web sites and phones numbers for you to check it out for yourself.

I don't like taking drugs whatsoever, so I use the fertility awareness method. I also don't really care if I get pregnant, but the FAM isn't at all like the "rhythm method" (which doesn't work). You can most likely find the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler, MPH at your local library. It's long, but it reads easily. That way, you can have another drug-free option. You may be able to combine it with the breastfeeding method mentioned earlier. :)

I love the Mirena. I am also in my early 40s and had it inserted last June. I told my dr that I was done having kids, didn't want my period anymore, and didn't want a tubal. He suggested the Mirena. It was uncomfortable, like bad menstrual cramps for the first week and I spotted and bled for a couple weeks which was a drag. Since then I've only had a little spotting a couple days a month, not the kind you even need a liner for! It is a hormone but I like that it's concentrated right where it's going to work, not flowing through my system. I was on the pill forever, before I had my boys. So glad I don't have to think about it everyday!!
Good luck!

If you have struggled with infertility, I would steer clear of any hormonal methods. They can screw your cycle up for months after you stop taking them, which is something you probably don't want to be dealing with.

After using The Pill for a decade, I now use a diaphram w/spermicide. I think it's interesting your doctor only listed 3 choices for you, when there are countless methods now on the market. No one even mentions diaphrams anymore, but for me, they are the perfect choice: economical (after insurance, I paid $70, and it's good for 2 years); ecological (there's really no waste, except the spermicide tube, which can last months and months); it's immediately reversible (just stop using it); and I don't have any hormones gunking up my body.

Diaphrams are NOT difficult to use--if you can insert a tampon, you can insert a diaphram.

Depo Provera mimics menopause, and can lead to bone loss. Before considering this method, I'd encourage everyone to watch the documentary: "Period: The End of Menstruation".

If you are thinking about trying an IUD, I personally would NOT recommend the Mirena IUD. I was told the hormones would mess with me for a month or two, but after 8 months of sore breasts, migraines, and a period that lasted 2 weeks at a time every month, plus a vaginal infection, I couldn't take it anymore.

Personally, if you are only looking for a year or so of birth control, I would recommend the shot or the patch, or maybe the nuva ring. An IUD is intended for 5-10 year birth control in general. I really liked the nuva ring, although it did seem to cause more yeast infections for me, but I am somewhat prone to them anyways. I'm on the shot now and I love it.

What it comes down to is how your body reacts and what works best for you. I've tried almost all the kinds of birth control over the last 12 years, but all I can say is, anything but the pill if you can help it! Its so easy to forget to take it at the correct time and is the least effective in general.

Good luck and I hope all this advice from the wonderful moms on here helps you out.

S.

Hi A.,

I struggled with infertility for quite awhile, was blessed with a baby girl, then blessed with another, seven years later! My experience with birth control is limited mostly to the last four years, since the birth of my second daughter. I am 37.

The NuvaRing was, for me, FANTASTIC. I used it for four years and found it easy to use, relatively inexpensive, and without the issue of having to remember to take a pill daily. My periods came like clockwork. There is no need to visit the doctor other than for your yearly exam. I would highly recommend it to anyone who want reliable and easy-to-use birth control but wishes to retain the option of discontinuing use quickly and easily if they should decide to begin trying for another child. The hormones are low dose and localized and are out of your system rather quickly.

As it would not be good for my health to have another child, last fall I made the decision to try a more permanent option, one that would not require a run to the pharmacy every month. I was not completely comfortable with the idea of permanent sterilization, and so opted for the Mirena IUD. It cost about $1000, and one can buy quite a few Nuva rings for that price, but is working wonderfully for me. A short visit to the doctor's office, a day or two of slight spotting and discomfort, and that was it. My periods were a bit long and irregular at first, but have since regulated. One bonus... let's just say that things are a bit more enjoyable in the bedroom due to the difference in hormones. ;-)

My recommendation would be to try the NuvaRing until you are sure your family is complete, then switch to the Mirena, which is less hassle and more cost-effective in the long run. You would have to keep the Mirena in for at least two years, in order for it to be less expensive than the NuvaRing, over time. But that is just my experience and very humble opinion.

Good Luck!

A.

Hello,

I didn't see anyone else mention this but i use implanon. I don't know what the statistics are for wanting to concieve soon after using it. it's good for three years and its the size of a matchstick and they inject it in your arm. I like not having to remember anything. The only thing i'm nervous about is that they have to make a small insicion in your arm to remove it... i've only had mine a year but i have very few periods and don't have to remember anything! I also really liked the nuva ring which i had before i had my boys. I saw that ppl mentioned that.

Hi A.. Well, i use mirena, but I just had my first baby at 26 and mirena lasts for 5 years, and we are not planning on a second until at least then. it can be taken out, but i would reccomend something different if you guys are planning on trying again for a third child in a year. Mirena is not bad, I have been a little moody, and i bled for the first 4 months pretty much straight, after that my periods have been shorter, also it makes you break out really bad, i have zits like a teenager! other than that its nice because there is no pill or anything to remember plus you can breastfeed with it. good luck with your choice!!

I had Mirena and it was awful. I wouldn't recommend it to my worst enemy. That being said, many people love it. I would recommend the regular, old pill. It is the easiest method to reverse and yet is one of the most effective forms of BC.

I have Mirena as well and love it. I have had it for about four weeks now - so I am still spotting almost constantly. BUT - I have had infertility issues too and my Dr. said Mirena was the best option if we wanted to try to have another baby - less issues with hormones. So, even if you think you want to try again in a year, I think Mirena would be worth it.

I have a suggestion that no one has mentioned yet. It's called ecological breastfeeding. Since you are a SAHM this would probably work very well for you. Basically you breastfeeding the baby on demand day and night with limited (or no) use of pacifiers and bottles. You would also want to sleep with your baby at night for easy nursing and sometimes during naps if you cna catch a break from your oldest. Women who breastfeed full time like this get their period back (the average) around 14.5 months post partum.

Breastfeeding is generally very effective in keeping fertility away when used like this, it also promotes a very close relationship between mom and baby.

I still breastfeed my 22 month old this way and didn't ovulate for the first time until she was 20 months old. I am actually trying to get pregnant now and my cycles are still regulating. If you do try this and end up getting your period back a little earlier (the first few are most likely to be annovulatory) you could try natural family planning and just avoid during your fertile week if you still feel like you don't want to get pregnant at that time.

Here is a great link with more information about this:

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/normal/fertility.html

i use the mirena and i highly recommend it.

after placing the mirena, you will havea about 2 months or so when you will be spotting or having a period almost ALL the time! its crazy. but the results after it gets all adjusted to your body is fantastic.

i HATED the pill. i hated it. i was PSYCHO on it. and it gave me acne. either way, im against the pill.

the mirena only puts the hormones involved into the uterus (at least thats my understanding)

anyway, i bascially dont really have a period anymore. when i do its more like spotting and it only lasts a few days or so.

it pays for itself after a year compared to the pill and etc. it is 99.9% effective, and there is no adjustment for user error, as you dont have to do anything! sex is normal, and its good for the guy - my husband hates condoms, yours might be the same :P
for the first couple months, my husband did complain that he could feel the string poking him. it did soften finally, but it also did disappear. i just went to the doctor, and its fine, sometimes the string just gets sucked up in there, and as long as its still in there and isnt causing pain, its fine.

anyway,
so i highly recommend that one. if you have any other questoins, please ask! :D

I am a 44 year old mother of 2 boys. After my post-pardum depression my doctors recommened that I not have another child so birth ccontrol was very important. After using many different types of bc I am using the Mirena and love it!

I have the copper IUD (ParaGard). I love it. No hormones. It is so nice to not worry about having to take a pill. I was nervous about having it put in, but it was not a big deal at all. I still get a normal period every month - it could not be easier. Oh - It was covered by my insurance also.

I like the plain IUD (not Mirena, which has hormones). I had Mirena for a while but like the Pill, I had trouble with the hormones (headaches, mood swings, etc). But I'm really happy with the effectiveness and the low maintenance of the IUD.

I agree with the Mirena IUD. I have had it for 2 yrs now. I like it since you don't even know its there and I was never good at remembering to take the pills. I have a 5 yr one. I would really recommend using this for birth control.

My experience with the NuvaRing was that it was great until I started having side effects of headaches, similar to what I had experienced years ago on the pill. I was trying the Nuva to see if I could tolerate the low levels of hormones, to maybe get a Mirena. Now I don't feel comfortable trying the Mirena because I think it is likely that I would have the same side effects, and it is more difficult to have the IUD removed than take the ring out myself. However, I know a lot of friends who really like the ring. I also have a number of friends with children who like the Paraguard, the copper IUD. Just to clarify some info stated here, Nuva is a hormonal method, the amounts are low like Yazmin, since it is directly absorbed by the body rather than eaten to go through the metabolism. The Mirena is even lower amounts of hormones because it is not a hormonal birth control method. The birth control comes from the IUD part, the hormones are to reduce some of the side effects some women get with the copper IUD, (Paraguard), of heavier bleeding and cramping. Currently, I track my fertility, and we use condoms or non-penetrating methods during my fertile times.

I went back on the Pill after my two- that way I figured I still had the option to stop anytime and try again if we wanted to. Other methods would be more involved if you change your mind.

I have the Mirena IUD and really love it! I have 2 kids and we don't plan on having any more, but we're not ready for any more permanent birth control right now. My only hesitation in recommending it to you is if you only plan to have it in for a year; it took my body almost 9 months to "adjust"...I spotted and/or had irregular periods during this time. Now (a year later) I don't even get a period at all!!

Hi A.,
I use 3 methods... just to be safe! I am still nursing my son on demand, he's 9 months now so not feeding as frequently as he used to. I also take the mini pill, but since my son's sleep schedule is erratic, I can't always take it at the same time every day. I just started taking my basal body temp before I get out of bed so I can switch to natural family planning method and get rid of the pill.

One note of caution, if you plan on using natural family planning, please be sure you completely understand it before using it for birth control. It can be a little tricky because the time of the month in which you are most fertile, happens to be the time of the month you feel like sleeping with your husband! I use fertilityfinder.com as a great way to track your temps, and it even tells you when to use caution! Good luck and congrats on the two children!

HI

We have 2 girls and I used different pills before and between them. I had Mirena put in just after #2. I have had it for 4 months and feeling better than the when on the pill. I was off and on the pill for 12 years. If you do not find the right dosage it can be very frustrating. I think that I went though 10 different pills and after our first was born, all of the ones that I had used before made me sick. I was even given that new one called YAZ and ended up feeling pregnant. Mirena can be pulled out at any time. With the pill you have to take one every day and if you miss one you take 2 the next day. Taking 2 in one day can make you feel sick.

Mirena lasts for 5 years. After you pull it out you can become pregnant with in 2 or 3 months. With our first I stopped taking the pill and it took a year and 2 months to get pregnant. With our second it took 8 months.

I guess that what I am trying to say is that you have less to deal with if you get Mirena vs the pill.

I'm another Mirena user in my 40s. Seems like there's a lot of us. I am happy with it (I can't use the pill or other systemic hormonal methods), but I don't know if it would be worth it for just a year. My insurance didn't cover all of it so I was out of pocket about $500. It hurt a lot to have it inserted and I spotted for the first couple of months. Almost a year later I have no side effects and no period. Congrats on the new baby.

I am on the Mirena and love it. I have no periods and have had no weight gain etc. However, it took me a full six months to stop spotting and another two months to quit having a browny discharge at times. It sounds like a long time, but for me, it is a five-year plan, so it is not a long time in terms of that. However, if you were going to re-visit your plans in a year and possibly remove it then, I don't know that it would be worth it to me.

A.,

If you are only going to be on birth control for a year, the pill is probably the best way to go. The mini pill has a really low hormone dose, so it is safe to take while breastfeeding. The downside is that you have to take it diligently at the same time every day. Even taking a dose 12 hours late or skipping a day could lower the pills effectiveness enough to get pregnant.

I have never taken the shot because I heard so many complaints about how it makes you gain weight. I currently have the Mirena IUD and I LOVE it. I had it put in at my 6 week postpartum check up, I don't even have a period and it is good for 5 years. If you want to get pregnant, just have the doctor take it out and you are immediately good to go. The downside is that it hurts like the dickens to have it put in, especially if you haven't just had a baby, and you spot for a few days to a few weeks. But I see it as getting the pain of 5 years of menstral cramps over in one doctor's visit. I did have my first Mirena slip out of place after about a year, but the doctor was able to put in a new one without any trouble. There are other potential complications, just like with any form of birth control, but they are rare.

Good luck,
S.

I really liked the Mirena IUD as well. I didn't have any problems with it. My periods were very light which was so nice! When my husband and I wanted another baby, I had it taken out and was pregnant within a month!

Hi A.,

I just started the Mirena IUD. Our true intentions are not to have anymore children, but the thought of having something permanently done is out of the question. Why? I don't know.

I just had the Mirena put in back in January. It has been great. I forget its there and that is the part I love the most. I would definitely recommend it!!!

Good luck!
E.