What are plusses and minuses of Pill?
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What are plusses and minuses of Pill?
| Thu, 07-22-2004 - 8:15am |
I am 32 years old and seriously thinking about going on the pill. I've never been on it, but am with someone now who I believe will be around for a very long time and want to be safe. We have only had sex 2 times so far and both times we used condoms. The thing is, I still don't feel safe with condoms and am constantly worried that they will break. Even if I was on the pill though I would probably still insist that he wear a condom because I would be too afraid to let him cum inside of me. Is it worth going on the pill? Are there a lot of side effects? Will it screw up my system? How much do they cost a month? They seem difficult to use because there's placebos and if you skip one and take a placebo or something then your period won't come? If I make an appointment with my doctor, will there be a physical or will she just go over things with me? I've been in to see her 4 times in the past year for cervical dysplasia so I've been well checked out down there.

Edited 7/22/2004 10:14 am ET ET by mrs_frazier
Read “Deciding which method is right for you” and “Taking your pills correctly” in the FAQ folder at the top of the board. They will give you an overview of the methods available and some of their pros & cons. While hormonal contraceptives are very effective (98-99% if taken correctly) many members here use a second method as well, just for peace of mind. It doesn’t have to be a condom. The sponge, diaphragm or cervical cap are effective and like other methods they have their pros and cons too. Personally, I was on OTC for 3 years and never had a scare. I did loose my libido, one of the possible cons, but as a contraceptive it was very effective. Now I use a cervical cap (and have my sex drive back) and am very pleased with its effectiveness. If you have more questions, please ask. You’ll let us know what you decide, right?
Good luck,
Jill
A traditional cervical cap (Prentif or Oves) is a small thimble shaped barrier that fits snugly over the tip of the cervix and is held in place by sucking on the sides of the cervix. There are other cap designs, FemCap and the Lea Barrier, which develop suction against the walls of the vagina. The Prentif cap http://www.cervcap.com/ is a good latex cap and FemCap http://www.femcap.com/ is a new style cap made of silicone rubber. I wear an Oves, http://www.veos.com/ a tiny disposable silicone cap which is popular in Europe. However, Oves hasn’t been approved by the FDA for sale in the U.S. so it is only available over the Internet. The good news is that caps can be very effective when used by a woman with sufficient motivation and discipline to use it correctly and for every act of IC. The bad news is that a woman interested in a contraceptive barrier may have trouble finding a sympathetic and experienced fitter as vaginal barriers are out of favor right now. For more read “Diaphragms and cervical caps” in the FAQ folder at the top of the board. Does this help?
Jill