Please talk to be about Birth Control

[Wahine]

Well here's my story.

Went on BC Pills age 17ish and put on weight, at 20ish was in a committed relationship with a man who had a vasectomy so when my BCP prescription ran out I just didn't bother to renew it and lost the weight I'd put on almost immediately. Fast forward to 18 yrs later, newly separated and exploring a new relationship, I went back on BCP and no matter what brand or type I had problems, weight gain, breast soreness, spotting or some combination of all three. Eventually I went to a copper IUD. On that, I didn't have weight issues but I had some other issues. Eventually I changed to a hormone IUD, other issues gone but some of the weight has come back and I have the breast swelling and soreness again.

Summary, I think some people are very sensitive to the hormones in BCP or an IUD. I certainly am. My side effects with the hormone based IUD are not strong enough for me to do anything about it yet. But I may in the future. I feel like I need to be responsible for my own birth control, so my next step would be an essure procedure. The only reason I didn't go for this instead of the hormonal IUD at my most recent change up was because I was hoping the hormonal IUD would stop my periods completely. Still hoping.

And yes, a vasectomy is always an option too. Worked great for me for my 18 yr relationship. The only bummer is that you don't get to dictate when you have your period.

[Crankin]

I went on BC pills at age 17 and stayed on it until I was 27. I experienced nausea, weight gain, and breast tenderness the first few days of taking them each month. When I started having leg pains, my DH (we were newlyweds) told me to stop taking them. I used a diaghram on and off for a year and then I had my kids. We relied on good old fashioned condoms in between my pregnancies and then DH had a vasectomy.
BC pills were great to not have to worry about pregnancy, but they affected me terribly. I lost 5 pounds immediately when I quit taking them, although the weight loss was the least of the problems.

[Helene2013]

I was on the pill from 18 to just over 40. Weight gain at the beginning and never lost it when I stopped it. Was removed from it due to migraines and I was tired of being sole responsible for protection. Hubby went through vasectomy. Simplified a lot of things for all of us but migraines did not stopped.

[shootingstar]

Blueberry, hope there's an amicable solution that's healthy.

I've never been on BC --yup. I'm amazed myself --though I did have some moments of slight panic. Condoms. And my partner already has 2 children from his ex..

I never thought of this....ask if he would ever considered vasectomy. It never occurred to me to ask him ...

By now, I'm probably considered by everyone here, as slightly insane.. and incredibly lucky. Long before dearie, I chose not have children.

[Blueberry]

Thanks for all of your thoughts! It's interesting to hear that so many women have had issues on hormonal birth control. I definitely have a lot to talk about with my ob-gyn (and I don't think "they can't be the reason" is going to fly this time). I have been totally spoiled by the absence of a period (taking the pills continuously, as my doc prescribes them).

Neither of us are averse to a surgical option - but would prefer non-surgical if possible since there are risks, however small. At the very least, I would like to make sure this *is* the issue before going that route. Sounds like the diaphragm/condom route might be the best, short term.

[Irulan]

I do NOT plan to have children (have been of that opinion for a long time and seriously doubt it would change).

So why not ditch the hormones and either you or he get fixed? As for risks (rolling eyes) there are plenty of risks associated with pill and or IUDs. At least get the additional hormones out of your body to start with. The freedom of never having to worry about BC again outweighs any potential risk. DH got fixed 25 years ago and it's been great.

[Crankin]

I agree. When DH had a vasectomy when DS #2 was 6 weeks old, people raised their eyebrows. "What if something happens?"
Well, you can't live assuming the worst. Since we had already experienced the worst when our DD was born with a syndrome not compatible with life, we made our decision. I was not having any more pregnancies! I was pregnant for 26 out out of 42 months and I was done.
Best decision in the world. I could not believe that people still asked me why I wasn't going to "try for a girl."