Gee what was I thinking... Off topic.

[bounceswoosh]

It' been nice to not have to deal with the BC thing since the hubby got snipped 14 years ago. And my how things have changed.

I'm just wondering... does anyone use anything like diaphragms or IUD's anymore? I do have one friend who is married to a OBGYN who uses a new generation IUD. I could never,ever get my head around the concept of altering my body's hormonal makeup by taking the pill or anything else. I never even considered it due to the problems that my sister had with the earliest versions of the pill. I sucessfully used a diaphragm for almost 20 years.

Irulan

I'm not comfortable with the idea of a barrier method, like the diaphragm. Also seems like it's a lot of work. That being said, I know people who do use it, specifically people for whom hormones don't work well.

The way IUDs were described in sex ed class lo these many years ago sounded downright scary, so I guess I've never liked that idea.

There is a new BC method now, I think called NuvoRing, that's a hormone ring you insert for three weeks at a time. It's hormonal, but at much lower doses than the pill, and you don't have to remember to take a pill; just to remove it for your week off. Some of my friends have really liked it. I still haven't wrapped my head around the idea of inserting something "way up there," but I'm thinking about it because of the lower hormone dose.

[cindysue]

new BC method now: NuvoRing...... I still haven't wrapped my head around the idea of inserting something "way up there," but I'm thinking about it because of the lower hormone dose.

Hey Monique, I decided to go with the nuvoring. Kinda wierd -- it looks like a clear hair-tie -- and larger but thinner than I expected. No problem inserting it, but I'm wondering if my partner will feel it. I'll let ya know how it goes.......

[bounceswoosh]

Hey Monique, I decided to go with the nuvoring. Kinda wierd -- it looks like a clear hair-tie -- and larger but thinner than I expected. No problem inserting it, but I'm wondering if my partner will feel it. I'll let ya know how it goes.......

See if he says anything if you don't tell him =P A friend told me, "Well, my boyfriend said he could feel it when it was in ... but then, he also said that when I *didn't* have it in!" ... sort of a psychological thing, I guess.

[doc]

I used the diaphragm for years and years when I was younger. No problems but kinda messy.
Now I have an IUD. We are talking HEAVEN. The new generation ones are very safe. Nothing like the reports of perforation and death like in the 60's and 70's. One IUD lasts 10 years. No hormones, no remembering anything ever. The only caveat is that you should only use them in a long term commited relationship, because if you get sexually transmitted diseases, esp gonorrhea, the IUD will make things worse.
The day it was inserted I was crampy and sick feeling and sweaty and uncomfortable. That was it. Not a single symptom since. That was 6 years ago.
Some people experience heavier than normal periods with an IUD. Not great for someone who already has heavy crampy periods. I don't have that side effect.
Next stop - hubby to get snipped!

[jobob]

I just started using the NuvaRing about 4 days ago - my gyn recommended it to help regulate my periods, which had become very irregular. Too early for any side-effects to appear, but like bounceswoosh said, it's a much lower hormonal dose than other methods so in theory side effects should be minimal.

[Irulan]

Next stop - hubby to get snipped!

that really is the best once you know you are done or know that not having any is your choice.

Irulan

[bounceswoosh]

I used the diaphragm for years and years when I was younger. No problems but kinda messy.
Now I have an IUD. We are talking HEAVEN. The new generation ones are very safe. Nothing like the reports of perforation and death like in the 60's and 70's. One IUD lasts 10 years. No hormones, no remembering anything ever. The only caveat is that you should only use them in a long term commited relationship, because if you get sexually transmitted diseases, esp gonorrhea, the IUD will make things worse.
The day it was inserted I was crampy and sick feeling and sweaty and uncomfortable. That was it. Not a single symptom since. That was 6 years ago.
Some people experience heavier than normal periods with an IUD. Not great for someone who already has heavy crampy periods. I don't have that side effect.
Next stop - hubby to get snipped!

I'm going to have to do some research. I recall the IUD acting as basically this floater that bumps into the egg and knocks it off the lining before it can get very far. Is that at all accurate?

What is the insertion and removal process? How long can you leave them in?

[Irulan]

I'm going to have to do some research. I recall the IUD acting as basically this floater that bumps into the egg and knocks it off the lining before it can get very far. Is that at all accurate?

What is the insertion and removal process? How long can you leave them in?

it irritates the uterine lining to prevent implantation. You can leave them in for years with the caveats that Doc stated: single partner, no STD's etc. There are some versions that release progesterone. It is inserted when you are mensrtuating.

http://www.fwhc.org/birth-control/iudinfo.htm has some good general information.

Irulan

[bounceswoosh]

it irritates the uterine lining to prevent implantation. You can leave them in for years with the caveats that Doc stated: single partner, no STD's etc. There are some versions that release progesterone. It is inserted when you are mensrtuating.

http://www.fwhc.org/birth-control/iudinfo.htm has some good general information.

Irulan

Hrm. Just reading that page gives me the willies. I know that hormones aren't a simple matter, but somehow they scare me less than having something floating around inside me. Guess it's a good thing there are several different methods available.