No good options here it seems...
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| Mon, 02-16-2004 - 3:02pm |
I've recently been through a rather disastrous pregnancy and the end result (among other things) was that the severe pre-eclampsia that I had caused my blood pressure to stay high for 4 weeks after delivery. I went off of my BP pill just two days ago, so I'll be monitoring that to see if it stays down (Even on that pill, it took 3 weeks to normalize)
I am also absolutely NOT to be pregnant again for at least 6 months, but one full year would be healthier. So, a year is what we're shooting for.
Birth Control options? Hate 'em all so far. Here's what I have.
Nothing with estrogen was acceptable last time I talked to my gyn because of the blood pressure. Does anyone know (because I forgot to ask her this question) how long your BP would have to be normal to be allowed estrogen? AND before I got pregnant (which actually I got preg while on the pill. My doc seems to think it's POSSIBLE that the estrogen in Ortho was maybe not effective enough for me. I only missed one pill at the beginning of second week and she seemed to think it was unusual to get preg from that) I was on OTC, which made my mood swings nearly unbearable. i am SO very happy right now to be my usual self without any hormone drugs coursing through me.
Ok, so for now she's suggesting Micronor which I have to be VERY careful about being oh-so-strict on my times taking it. Appearntly it's best and most effective if taken the same HOUR every single day. That's a real challenge for me. And she's admant about my using condoms as back up. I HATE HATE HATE them, and I am married now and hate the idea of having to do that. Plus, another pill to make my mood swings bad again maybe?
I was considering Mirena, but now I've changed my mind. Aside from the fact that it's pretty expensive (no insurance coverage for it) and I will only want it for about a year which makes it very cost UN-effective for me, I prefer something that supresses ovulation for my birth control, rather than making my uterus lining ineffective. (personal choice here)
My sister loves the nuvaring but again, that has estrogen in it.
So, for now, even though I've got the script for the mini-pill I am enjoying being drug free for a while. I am 4 weeks post delivery and it's going to matter from here on out. I asked DH to pick up some condoms for now. And that's rather depressing to me.
Why does BC have to be SUCH A NIGHTMARE! I almost miss my pre-sex days. LOL Oh, and DH will most surely have a V at some point, but we'd like to have a child together first. After that, this frustration will be a thing of the past.
So, does anyone have any recomendations or been there/done that advice for me?


Personally, I cant handle any estrogen either and I've got the Copper-T IUD. I realize that you aren't looking at this as an option so I'll just move along...
You didn't mension Depo-Provera. I'm not sure as to weather or not it has estrogen in it, but if it doesn't it may be worth giving a second look. As well, its not overly expensive so you might give it a try.
There's a woman on this board (a co-cl actually) who uses a diaphragm and cervical cap and she's really happy with it. Hopefully, she will post on this thread and give you some more information.
Have you ever considered Natural Family Planning / Fertility Awareness Method ? When followed correctly (RELIGIOUSLY) its actually very effective and the best part -- no hormones! There are a few women who post here and are really happy with this method, so I'm sure they could tell you more.
Hmmm, what else is there.....? Oh! When I was between the pill and the IUD, we also HATED condoms. I used the Today Sponge a few times and it wasnt too bad at all. That might be a useful alternative for you.
Well, hon. I think that is all I can come up with for now. Hopefully some of the other girls will be on and give you some advice. In the mean time, hang tough! It will get better!
*MG08*
Good luck!
I’m glad your BP is under control. I think the estrogen in OCs can contribute to higher BP in some women so it may be that your doc might not want you back on combined pills at all. That is a good question to ask him or her. Like you said, there is no effective means of contraception is without its drawbacks. If you absolutely don’t want to become pg in the next year then you need the most effective method(s) possible.
If you are BF-ing the mini-pill might be ok for the 6-9 months your baby is exclusively at your breast used in conjunction with lactational amenorrhea, but it does require very strict adherence to pill time. Rather than condoms you could use a diaphragm and spermicide. A properly fitted diaphragm used correctly and with spermicide for every act of IC is as effective as condoms. A diaphragm can be worn for 24 hours continuously so it doesn’t affect spontaneity like condoms do. For more about diaphragms see http://www.plannedparenthood.org/bc/cchoices3.html#DIAPHRAGM and http://www.ivillagehealth.com/features/birthcontrolaz/pages/0,,436267_437944,00.html and http://pages.ivillage.com/cl-judie_rae/id1.html
I’m not a fan, but there is Depo Provera. It is a very harsh progestin that can have severe side effects. Mood swings, weight gain and in some women delayed ovulation of 12 – 18 months after stopping the shot. On the other hand, it is very low maintenance, one injection every 13 weeks, and there are some women on Depo who love it and it definitely suppresses ovulation, big time! So it could be an option but one I would give a lot of thought before trying it. If you have unpleasant side effects there is nothing to do but let it wear off in 3 months. For more info see http://www.contraceptiononline.org/contrareport/article01.cfm?art=256
NFP/FAM can be very effective if you follow all the rules all the time. With Natural Family Planning (NFP) abstinence is used during your fertile times and with Fertility Awareness Method (FAM) barriers are used when you are or might be fertile. It takes a few cycles of charting your basal body temperature, cervical fluid and cervical position before you can begin to understand what your fertility signs are telling you. Once you understand your fertility signs and if you have the discipline to follow all the rules all the time both methods can be very effective but they are unforgiving of mistakes and risk taking. FAM/NFP boards are full of stories about getting pg the first time the user took a risk. A really good book on FAM/NFP is Toni Weschler’s Taking Charge of Your Fertility which can be checked out from your local library or purchased from a bookseller for about $30 USD. If you are interested the iVillage NFP Board is http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-ppnfp
If you are interested in an IUD, they are very effective. They are expensive up front particularly if you need it for only a year, but if you don’t have much money you might talk to a Public health clinic or a Planned Parenthood clinic near you and see if you qualify for reduced rates. Planned Parenthood clinics can be found using their locator http://www.plannedparenthood.org/Zip.htm
I hope this might be some help. Post and let us know what you decide and how you are doing, ok?
Good luck
Jill
Thank you Thank you! What great replies.
I know the mini pill is generally for breast feeding women and therefore it works together with that pretty well. We lost the baby and so I am not bf'ing like I would have been (as I said, VERY complicated/traumatic pregnancy and very important that I do not get pregnant)
My doctor recommended Depo, but I let her know that based on my very sensitive reaction to OTC and the fact that my sister was the same way and went on Depo and it WRECKED her completely, I will NOT be trying that. It's just not worth the three months of hell. The mood swings are especially bad for females in my family. We're pretty sensitive to it and my sister was depressed and put on a lot of weight the whole time she was on that.
The more I read in this thread about family planning the more interested I am in at least giving it a shot, and keeping condoms around as backup's. I'd like to learn more about my body and it sounds very liberating to know it so well that you can avoid pregnancy without majorly invasive hormonal contraception. I only have to hang in there for a year (hopefully we'll be financially ready then. This previous pregnancy was a complete surprise and we weren't really ready) and then have a baby and my DH will have the Vasectomy and I'll be done with this. ;)
I will check the links I was given and do some searching around here for other's experiences with family planning methods.
Thank you again!
Thank you for the info on the monitor. That actually sounds like something I'd like to check into. Was it very expensive to go that route initially? I do not mind peeing on the stick's at all either. Compared to everything else, that sounds like a piece of cake!
Are you saying that you used the monitor AND the sponge every time? you know, it's rather embarressing to say, but I've NO idea how you'd use a "sponge" in reference to birth control. I mean, I get what a diaphragm does, but I am not getting the visual quite right on a sponge. Isn't that funny? I totally understand the other methods of BC, but this one escapes me. LOL
Weschler’s Taking Charge of Your Fertility discusses monitors to some extent. I know very little about fertility monitors but some of them detect ovulation which, when you are ttc, is great. However, knowing that you ovulated could be too late from the standpoint of contraception. That is because you are producing fertile cervical mucus several days before ovulation and sperm can live in fertile CM for up to 5 days so the little swimmers could be in your tubes waiting for the ovum at ovulation. Be very careful that you understand what the monitor is monitoring and telling you before you invest in one. I would feel more comfortable using a monitor only as a check against what I am observing from my fertility signs. Practicing NFP/FAM you cannot afford to make mistakes.
About the sponge. It is a hemisphere of foam with an indentation on one side to fit over your cervix. It contains a spermicide and the sponge absorbs some of the semen. You could think of its shape as a very small fat diaphragm, w/o the spring rim. It can be worn continuously for 24 hrs. for an unlimited number of acts of IC during that time. Think of it only as a spermicide delivery device as it is not a precise fit as are diaphragms and caps. I didn’t mention it before because its effectiveness is considerably less than a diaphragm for parous women and I understand you are looking for maximum effectiveness.
Jill
That's completely ok. No apology was necessary as I didn't say anything. I just didn't think about the fact that you'd assume I was bf'ing.
Thank you for that heads up. I had NO idea that you could be fertile BEFORE ovulation. And here I thought I knew so much.
Also, thanks for the additional info on sponges. I MIGHT check into that, but as you said, it really does require back up to be very effective. DH and I used only a condom last night. I think he's comfortable with that (and after all I've gone through, he's way more afraid of me being pregnant than even I am) but I think it's because he doesn't really know as much about bc as a woman would. He was probably taught "just use a condom and everything will be ok" but I wasn't too comfortable when all was said and done. I kept thinking