WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS?

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-21-2004
WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS?
4
Fri, 06-25-2004 - 1:23pm
I'm 33, no kids, don't smoke, rarely drink, trying to get excercise into my routine again after 3 years sedentary (and fat), relatively healthy diet (meat, veggies, whole grains, no white flour/sugar), recently sexually active again.

We're using condoms right now but I'm contemplating the pill.

My problem is- I'm hypoglycemic, suffer from bouts of depression (but am not on meds-yeah!), and have to follow a pretty strict diet (due to hypoglycemia). WHAT is my option on birthcontrol pills?

In the past I took Ortho and tried Ovcon. I'm really concerned about taking hormones. I try to keep my body as "pure" as can be...but maybe there are low hormone does birth control? I don't care about period/no period...would be nice to clear up the zits on my face. : )

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Fri, 06-25-2004 - 3:32pm
Hi Buggybluejeans, welcome!

A lot of members love NuvaRing http://www.nuvaring.com/Consumer/index.asp It is a vaginal ring that is worn for three weeks and removed for one for your period. It has the lowest dose of hormones of any combined method in the U.S.

There are some very effective non-hormonal forms of contraception. IUDs are extremely effective and are very low maintenance, just check the strings once a month and your fertility returns immediately when the IUD is removed. There are 2 types currently available in the U.S.: ParaGard (the copper-T) http://www.paragardiud.com/ a non-hormonal device good for about10 years, and Mirena http://www.mirena-us.com/ that is good for 5 years and which continually releases a tiny bit of progestin which usually makes periods lighter and shorter. With ParaGard you cycle naturally and some women experience more cramping and heavier periods, at least at first. Libido is unaffected on ParaGard. . There is however, a slightly greater risk of expulsion of an IUD by women who have not given birth.

Diaphragms and cervical caps are as effective as condoms but they do take discipline to use correctly and consistently. They require being fitted by a medical practitioner and require a refit for every +/-7 lbs change in weight. I wear an Oves cervical cap as my primary method and a Milex diaphragm for menses (both are made of silicone rubber) and I love them! I have been using them, trouble free, for two years this month and I recommend them highly. If you would like to know more about diaphragms and caps see the info about them in the FAQs on the Board webpage at: http://pages.ivillage.com/cl-judie_rae/id1.html I hope you find an effective method that works well for you. Let us know what you decide, ok?

Good luck

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Fri, 06-25-2004 - 5:42pm
I'm 33 with 1 baby...I'm currently using the mirena IUD and absolutely love it.
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-29-2003
Fri, 06-25-2004 - 7:13pm
Jill gave a pretty good response and I dont have anything to add. I just wondered what kind of diet you are on for hypoglycemia? Do you eat frequent small meals? What are the best foods for this condition? I swear I am hypoglycemic-if I dont eat frequently I get light-headed, dizzy, rapid heart beat, headache. Thanks!

Josie

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-20-2004
Fri, 06-25-2004 - 11:14pm
I was on ortho for several years. The doctor just switched me to yasmin, it's supposed to be very mild.