Please talk to be about Birth Control

[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."

[Blueberry]

It's not that I'm averse to surgical risk (I'm applying to med school with an intent to, perhaps, do surgery!). I just want to make sure that the pills are the culprit first. Otherwise, I'm happy with the pills. I enjoy not having periods (mine are very heavy and cramps).

[Irulan]

I have always wondered what that not having periods thing really does to your body. I used a barrier method until DH got fixed. I was never comfortable with the idea of monkeying with my hormones.

[Blueberry]

I think there's a lot we don't know one way or the other. I haven't looked lately, but I am not aware of any long term studies. My inclination is to think having periods - not so necessary. Having constantly elevated levels of estrogen and/or progesterone - maybe problematic. I haven't totally made my decision.

[khg]

I have always wondered what that not having periods thing really does to your body. I used a barrier method until DH got fixed. I was never comfortable with the idea of monkeying with my hormones.

I once read an interesting article that argued that having regular periods from adolescence through menopause is actually a very modern thing. For most of human history, women spent much of their menstruating years either pregnant or nursing, and didn't have frequent periods. In other words, that getting your period every month for most of your fertile life is, historically speaking, unnatural.

I don't know what that really means one way or another, but I found it interesting to think about...

FWIW OP, I take the pill without the withdrawal week--like Blueberry I'm really happy not having periods. But I also don't experience side effects from the pill, so it works well for me. I have gained weight since starting it 15 years ago, but I think that has more to do with not being in a ballet company any more, and actually eating healthily. My weight has been stable for a number of years now.

[Blueberry]

If you are positive about not having children, there are surgical options that eliminate your period and prevent childbirth. Maybe endometrial ablation? I think that is usually done with people who experience heavy bleeding. But there are other surgical methods to consider, too.

Still, a vasectomy sounds like the best option to me!

The issue with ablation is you still have to use some form of birth control OR do that in conjunction with tubal ligation/essure. Apparently you can still have some residual endometrial tissue that can result in a dangerous pregnancy (or so my research says). Vasectomy is certainly a simpler procedure. I need to schedule my annual - so I will definitely report back

[Aromig]

I have been using the nuvaring for about 4 years now. I like it for two reasons: (1) I put it in for three weeks and forget about it - no remembering to take a pill every day; and (2) I understand that it is lower in hormones than oral birth control. I certainly don't have some of the breast soreness/irritability I had on oral birth control while using the nuvaring. If you want to skip periods you can do the same thing you do with pills and skip the "off week." I do have to calendar it (is this week 2 or week 3?) but not an issue in Outlook (and my pharmacy sends me a refill reminder which is helpful). My husband has never noticed it when we're having sex, and I've never had it fall out (I think those are two things people worry about with the ring). It's month to month just like oral birth control, so it doesn't hurt to try it and if you don't like it you're not committed to it.

I've been steadily gaining weight (and finding it increasingly hard to lose it again) as I've been aging so not sure how the nuvaring affects that but since it is hormonal it might have the same weight gain issues.