Please talk to be about Birth Control

[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.