Girly thread (men beware!)

[BermyCat 1]

I've been on BC since I was 13.. now 33.. hmmmm maybe I need to make a gyno appt.

Definitely do so if you have breast cancer in your family. That's one reason that I've got to get off the pill. The other reason is that I'm now of a medication that makes it less effective.

I've talked with my GP and done a lot of other research recently. The risk of perforating the uterus was much, much higher with older versions of IUDs. with Mirena and Paragard, it's supposed to be very low. It's definitely something I'll be asking the gyno about on the 31st since we want to have kids in about two years.

~ Catherine

Edited March 20, 2009 by BermyCat

[Emancipation 2]

I've been on BC since I was 13.. now 33.. hmmmm maybe I need to make a gyno appt.

Definitely do so if you have breast cancer in your family. That's one reason that I've got to get off the pill. The other reason is that I'm now of a medication that makes it less effective.

I've talked with my GP and done a lot of other research recently. The risk of perforating the uterus was much, much higher with older versions of IUDs. with Mirena and Paragard, it's supposed to be very low. It's definitely something I'll be asking the gyno about on the 31st since we want to have kids in about two years.

~ Catherine

Me no kids in the future...

No breast cancer in our family.. but i do have PCOS so I NEED the pill to make me have a period.

[TheATeam 0]

Hmmm this is an interesting thing to think about. I've been on bc for almost 10 years now. We're not entirely sure if we want to have kids, ever, so it's a little risky for us right now. I don't want to be on the pill anymore, due to the cancer risk and the adverse effects that bc can have. I'll have to look into IUD's. They might be a good option. I'm very sensitive to hormones though so I wonder if they have the same kind of side effects as bc. It took forever to find the only bc pill that seems to work for me without making me really sick.

[Arabella 4]

Hmmm this is an interesting thing to think about. I've been on bc for almost 10 years now. We're not entirely sure if we want to have kids, ever, so it's a little risky for us right now. I don't want to be on the pill anymore, due to the cancer risk and the adverse effects that bc can have. I'll have to look into IUD's. They might be a good option. I'm very sensitive to hormones though so I wonder if they have the same kind of side effects as bc. It took forever to find the only bc pill that seems to work for me without making me really sick.

ParaGard doesn't use any hormones. But like I noted earlier it can cause heavy periods.

[SapphireDreams 71]

I'm not sold on IUD's at all. I know a few people who had them put in and they spotted consistently the whole time it was in OR it fell out randomly and they'd have to go get it put back in.

My Mom actually used to use the copper IUD back in the late 70's and 80's in between having children because the pill did not work for her and she said that the first few days of getting it put in were really painful too... but overall she said it worked for her.

I think I'm going to just stay on the pill until I have children and then have R get a vasectomy after our second child.

[TheATeam 0]

Yeah, I've heard lots of negative things about IUD's too. I don't think I could handle extra heavy periods. That's part of the reason I'm on the pill along with PCOS. Hmmmm there's got to be another alternative. Condoms suck!

[Arabella 4]

I'm not sold on IUD's at all. I know a few people who had them put in and they spotted consistently the whole time it was in OR it fell out randomly and they'd have to go get it put back in.

My Mom actually used to use the copper IUD back in the late 70's and 80's in between having children because the pill did not work for her and she said that the first few days of getting it put in were really painful too... but overall she said it worked for her.

I think I'm going to just stay on the pill until I have children and then have R get a vasectomy after our second child.

IUDs do have their pros and cons, but the IUDs of the 70s and 80s are not at all like they are today. I've not had any spotting and mine has been secure since 2005. My sister also did not have any issues with hers. She had the copper IUD as well. I think it hurt going in, but nothing is as painful as an emergency c-section, so I didn't mind it too much. =p

[SapphireDreams 71]

I'm not sold on IUD's at all. I know a few people who had them put in and they spotted consistently the whole time it was in OR it fell out randomly and they'd have to go get it put back in.

My Mom actually used to use the copper IUD back in the late 70's and 80's in between having children because the pill did not work for her and she said that the first few days of getting it put in were really painful too... but overall she said it worked for her.

I think I'm going to just stay on the pill until I have children and then have R get a vasectomy after our second child.

IUDs do have their pros and cons, but the IUDs of the 70s and 80s are not at all like they are today. I've not had any spotting and mine has been secure since 2005. My sister also did not have any issues with hers. She had the copper IUD as well. I think it hurt going in, but nothing is as painful as an emergency c-section, so I didn't mind it too much. =p

That's good to know. I totally agree with the pros and cons too. I think the IUDs that my friend had spotting trouble with was the hormonal kind, but I could be wrong.

Oh and yes, I'm sure the kind my Mom had were much different than the ones available today!!

[childress_london 3]

I got Paragard after I had my last baby. It caused unusually heavy periods for the five years I had it in. I mean so bad I had to use the heavy duty overnight pads (all the time). I couldn't even wear tampons! I finally got tired of it and had it taken out and went on the pill. But I've tried several kinds and I've had problems with all of them. I'm thinking about the IUD again because as someone else stated, condoms suck! I don't know what else to do. Now I'm hoping for menopause soon. LOL I have a friend who has the Mirena, and she has had no problems. She said her periods have all but stopped (because of the hormone), but she's not sure she likes that.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I was on the pill from 17 to 35 and stopped it at 35 because my doctor recommended it - not a good idea after 35. I decided to use an IUD and I did that for the next 12 years then when I was no longer in a permanent relationship didn't 'renew' it. I had no problems with the IUD and it was a great form of birth control. My periods were actually lighter than pre-pill 'norms' and the only real difference I noticed is that I had mittelschmerz - which was actually kind of cool because then I knew exactly when I ovulated.

I will say, though, menopause is the best birth control!

[Arabella 4]

I was on the pill from 17 to 35 and stopped it at 35 because my doctor recommended it - not a good idea after 35. I decided to use an IUD and I did that for the next 12 years then when I was no longer in a permanent relationship didn't 'renew' it. I had no problems with the IUD and it was a great form of birth control. My periods were actually lighter than pre-pill 'norms' and the only real difference I noticed is that I had mittelschmerz - which was actually kind of cool because then I knew exactly when I ovulated.

I will say, though, menopause is the best birth control!

So maybe my IUD is the reson I can feel myself ovulate. "Mittelschmerz"- Hmm that is interesting I didn't know that, nor did I know there was a name for it! lol

[Autumnchik 6]

I'm back on the pill again for now. We are hoping to try for another baby in about 6-8 months, depending on Ron's job situation. Would love to start trying now, but that would be sheer madness as we are struggling financially. After we have baby # 2, Ron is so going for a little snip snip

Edited March 21, 2009 by autumnchik

[Emancipation 2]

I'm back on the pill again for now. We are hoping to try for another baby in about 6-8 months, depending on Ron's job situation. Would love to start trying now, but that would be sheer madness as we are struggling financially. After we have baby # 2, Ron is so going for a little snip snip

[Texanadian 10]

I will say, though, menopause is the best birth control!

I completely agree. Women get the weight gain, hot flashes, hormone imbalance, poor sleeping patterns, and body changes.

Meanwhile us guys don't have to worry about being Daddies or having to deal with cranky wives on their period. I believe it's completely fair equally down the middle for both sexes.

[DeadPoolX 9]

I was on the pill from 17 to 35 and stopped it at 35 because my doctor recommended it - not a good idea after 35. I decided to use an IUD and I did that for the next 12 years then when I was no longer in a permanent relationship didn't 'renew' it. I had no problems with the IUD and it was a great form of birth control. My periods were actually lighter than pre-pill 'norms' and the only real difference I noticed is that I had mittelschmerz - which was actually kind of cool because then I knew exactly when I ovulated.

I will say, though, menopause is the best birth control!

So maybe my IUD is the reson I can feel myself ovulate. "Mittelschmerz"- Hmm that is interesting I didn't know that, nor did I know there was a name for it! lol

Mittelschmerz means "central pain" (more or less) in German. Translations are always a little fuzzy since it's difficult to get the exact meaning when going from one language to another.