Please talk to be about Birth Control

[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.

[Irulan]

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...
.

I've read that too, and while I get the idea, in many ways it is ridiculous if you really think about it. For it to have truth, ALL women would have to have back to back pregnancies, miscarriages and periods of nursing. While certainly SOME women had lives like this, many did not. Whether they were infertile, practicing what birth control they could, had infertile partners, abstinent, I'm sure there were lots of women out there menstruating regularly. Other mammals have regular estrus cycles. Why not humans?

[Xrayted]

Years ago when I tried to be straight , I was on the pill. Right away I gained weight, had tender breasts, and mood swings. I retained water too. I actually got bad PMS from them. The pain of my period was worse. It seemed to irritate my ovarian cysts more than normal. I'm usually pretty decent to be around the whole cycle. So, yes, I think there is validity to your theory of weight retention. It's an interesting thing to contemplate and I'm wondering why there hasn't been a definitive study on it? If guys got PMS symptoms from Viagra or Cialis, there would be an all out war on PMS. So, as has been suggested, vasectomy for hubby. Don't let him off the hook, they aren't that bad. Guys are just wusses. And then when he has been tested after a bit to see if it took, then go off the pill. Or... you can try the shot but I think you'd see the same results as the pill.

Now I want to go to our researchers at work and ask who is going to be the one that tests the pill and the side effects like weight gain... it's about damn time.

[TrekDianna]

I took BCP for about one month. I had horrible hormone migraines. They didn't help. My doctor knew I wasn't planning to have children (lesbian) and certainly didn't need birth control so she took it all out except for one ovary. No more migraines, it's been years, and I haven't missed having a period. Best thing I ever did.

[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.

[jobob]

Just fyi, there's an increased risk of blot clotting associated with low dose bc.

Here's one TE member's experience with nuvaring

[Aromig]

Just fyi, there's an increased risk of blot clotting associated with low dose bc.

Yeah, that is something that we watch out for. I've not had problems, but my ob/gyn asks a lot of questions every year to make sure its not an issue. She said she's never ran into this in her practice, and its supposed to be rare but that's no comfort at all if you're one of the few affected. Luckily I seem not to be, and that small risk is outweighed by the other benefits for me since I don't have the same side effects I had on the various pill options I'd tried. I do wonder if my risk/balance decision will change as I get older (I think the risk goes up with age).

[maillotpois]

Just fyi, there's an increased risk of blot clotting associated with low dose bc.

Here's one TE member's experience with nuvaring

Jo beat me to it...

I think you may have been around here what that happened to me, Blueberry. I can't recall. Anyway, since I had that issue, there's been a lot more revealed about Nuvaring http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/1...n_4461429.html , a class action lawsuit, etc. Yes, I may get a little money out of the whole thing, but it's scary as hell to go through what I did.

Anyway, vasectomy. And I can never take any hormones (and the kid has to have a blood panel before her doctor will put her on anything given my experience).

And I am also hypothyroid, but I wasn't during the time I was on BCP (pre-pregnancy). I can't really speak any the effect on weight, but I wouldn't be surprised at all.

Good luck. I hope you find something that works for you guys and for your health.

[polly4711]

Ive bee on a synthetic hormoneBCP (safryl) for seveal years. I started on others, but switched to this because my gyno said with brest cancer in family (mom and her sister, and now cousins having concerns with lumps) it woukd be good to avoid hormones as much as possible. I dont remember gaining weight I it until this last year where I havengained weight due to stress/grad school. Good luck with your quest.

[GLC1968]

Add me to the 'vasectomy' list!

I was on BCP from 20 - 38 that ended with an attempt at Depo-provera, a fibroid problem, a few months on Lupron and a few surgeries. Then I went on the Mirena for 4 years and HATED it. I loved not having periods or a few of the other hormonal issues from BCP, but I had a host of other problems including lower back pain, weight gain and low libido. My doc said I was imagining the weight gain but I lost 10 lbs in the first two months after removal without changing my habits at all.

Three years ago, my H had a vasectomy and I have been free of all hormones except my own since then. It's AWESOME! I finally have a regular and light cycle (which was not the case when I first went on the pill at all) and I feel like I should. I also don't have the acne problem I thought I was 'solving' with BCP. I still get cycle zits, but they are minor and greatly helped by my diet. My migraines are also gone but I think that's partially the removal of the hormones AND partially my change in diet, too.