Do you have any suggestions?

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-16-2003
Do you have any suggestions?
3
Sun, 08-22-2004 - 12:06pm
Hi-I'm a September expecting mama, and I have a big dilemma! Birth control for after the baby! Here's my problem: I (will) have three children by then, and DH & I are pretty sure we are done having kids. Thing is, we are still pretty young. I'm only 24, he's 27. Anyway, I have HUGE problems with pretty much all BC methods. We need something very accurate, as we have absolutely no problem getting PG. Also, I won't be breastfeeding.

I have been on various pills. These caused horrible migraines and I also got PG while on the pill (and it was used accurately, I didn't miss a dose). I have tried Depro Provera, and it cause me to bleed ALL the time, even after three doses (so 9 months of bleeding, yuck!). I can't use spermicides or condoms, as I am allergic to both.

So, I really feel like my only choice is an IUD or one of us gets permanently "fixed". Questions about the IUD: Will it make me bleed alot? Any other side effects I should know about? What about tubal ligation? Will that affect my periods any? I already have pretty heavy and long periods. And if DH gets a vasectomy, what should we use as BC until he is finally sterile?

THANKS SO MUCH FOR ANY ANSWERS TO MY QUESTIONS!

ET #3 edd 9/26

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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-11-2004
Sun, 08-22-2004 - 2:02pm
There can be bleeding and spotting for a while in the adjustment period after you get an IUD. Copper IUDs can be associated with heavier periods, but this often settles down in time. It lasts for 10 years and is about 99.4% effective. The Mirena IUD, after the initial adjustment time, can result in dramatically less bleeding than normal, and possibly no periods. It lasts for 5 years and is 99.9% effective. I got a Mirena IUD about a month ago and I've been very pleased with it so far.

If you're not absolutely positive that you both never want any more children ever under any circumstance, then you might not want to be considering sterilization. Sterilization can possibly be reversed, but it's expensive and the results are not guaranteed.

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Sun, 08-22-2004 - 2:17pm
Hi ertyler, welcome!

I hope your pregnancy is going well. An IUD might be just what you are looking for. The copper IUD, ParaGard http://www.paragard.com/ is very effective, low maintenance and long term, 8-10 years. Or, there is the Mirena IUD http://www.mirena-us.com/ that continually releases a tiny bit of progestin. Mirena is effective for 5 years and it will often lighten and shorten your periods. Some women do have bleeding issues with IUDs but you won't know if that will be a problem unless you try. We have a very good post about IUDs in the FAQs at the top of the board.

If you want to use barriers there are ones made of silicone and polyurethane that avoid the latex allergy problem. And there are natural ingredients spermicides (aloe vera & lemon juice and Femprotect with 3.5% lactic acid is available on the Internet) that avoid problems with the active ingredient, Nonoxynol-9 in chemical spermicides.

Unless both of you are absolutely certain that you don't want more children I wouldn't consider sterilization. Remorse occurs in more than a third of couples in which one or the other is sterilized. A tubal should not affect your periods but it is a very invasive procedure. There is a new sterilization method called Essure http://www.essure.com/consumer/c_homepage.aspx in which your tubes are blocked by inserting tiny coils into them through your cervix. Scar tissue grows over the coils blocking the tubes. The procedure is very new and not yet available in many areas. A vasectomy is a far simpler operation than a tubal or Essure. You definitely need to use an effective back-up for the months after his proceedure until at least two analyses show his semen is free of sperm. Any effective method can be used, it's often condoms. You should have a good long talk with your doctor about your choices. Let us know what you decide, ok?

Good luck,

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-29-2003
Sun, 08-22-2004 - 4:32pm
Hi!

If my husband hadnt had the vasectomy, I would have gone with an IUD. Like you, the pill gave me horrible migranes among other problems. Now, back to the vasectomy. My husband had the procedure(which went extremely well; not one problem) in February and we were able to forgo all birth control after 2 consecutive sperms tests which were completed in June. We have been having the best time! Sex has never been better! Anyway, during the 4 months we were "clearing the tubes", we used condoms. We were extra careful though to refrain from intercourse during my fertile time. Best of luck on your choice!

Josie