The Pill, the ring, the patch...?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
The Pill, the ring, the patch...?
2
Wed, 03-24-2004 - 2:50pm
How do I make up my mind? I have had a copper IUD for a couple of years now. I like the convenience of it, but I hate my periods and I hate that I get PMS (and I never did on the pill). I have an appointment in April to get the IUD taken out and am now researching my birth control options.

I am intrigued by Seasonale because you only get 4 periods a year. After the terrible periods I've had for the past two years, that sounds heavenly. The ring sounds nice because you only think about it once a month, the patch also sounds nice because it is a once a week thing.

I like my IUD because I have a sex drive again after it almost disappeared on Ortho Tri Cyclen. I realize everyone is different, but what kind of hormonal birth control is generally best for keeping my sex drive? Biphasic? Monophasic? Progestrin only? Are all triphasics going to reduce my sex drive like Ortho Tri Cyclen?

Thanks for any help, advice or experiences you all can offer.

Lisa

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Thu, 03-25-2004 - 7:34am

It's possible that any hormonal method is going to reduce your sex drive--when you're not ovulating, your ovaries are also not producing as much testosterone as they would in a normal ovulatory cycle.

Judie Cl for Birth Control 
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Thu, 03-25-2004 - 10:27am
Thanks so much for your reply. You are right...I AM going to have to just choose something. If I hate it, I can always pick something different.

Lisa