pill alternatives
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pill alternatives
| Tue, 10-19-2004 - 6:20pm |
I am looking to take a break from BCP’s because I just don’t think my body can handle it anymore. I am sick of the extra weight, my mood swings are out of control, I have no libido, etc. I am married and looking for something with no side effects. My husband would really like to avoid condoms for him. I am thinking of trying spermicide with the combination of withdrawal. Has anyone used this as an effective method to prevent pregnancy? I have also considered the female condom, again if anyone has any personal experience with this that would be great. I have tried every brand of BCP out there, as well as the NuvaRing and I don’t seem to be compatible with any. Any knowledge, personal experience would be great. Thanks!
Jo
Jo

Also, if you are wanting some king of hormonal contraception, they all have some side effects. They may not all affect you or the next person, but they all have side effects. perhaps it was just the type of pill you were on. i tried one type of pill before switching to another one that suited me much better. maybe you should just try another type of pill or even the patch, shot, or an interuterine device. any of thesemay work for you!!
if you don't want hormonal controception, you may try a diaphram, cervical cap, and of course there is always condoms, which i understand you don't want. anyway...i would talk t my gyno and tell them what is going on so they can get you started on something else. i am sure that not all homonal contraceptions will effect you like the pill you were taking...you just have to be patient and persistent to find the one right for you...and i know ther is one! Good luck!!
staci
The other options without hormones aren't as effective, but effectiveness is determined by how diligent you are with the method. Spermicide has a 15% perfect use failure rate and 29% for typical use. Withdrawal has 4% perfect use failure and 27% for typical. Using both together might improve the odds, but neither method is all that great. You could probably improve those odds some by using fertility awareness and abstaining completely at times, or use a condom in addition during the most dangerous times.
Here's a list of birth control methods and failure rates:
http://www.plannedparenthood.org/bc/bcfacts2.html
Just to add a bit to what the other posters have said. If I were you I wouldn't count on withdrawal to help a whole lot. While withdrawal is theoretically effective, having it be effective in actual practice depends a great deal on the skill of your partner to know when to pill out at the very time that nature is telling him to release inside you.
As far as female condoms are concerned, he may find them more satisfactory than male condoms as there is relative motion between him and your sheath. If sensitivity is a big thing for you then I believe you will find you have reduced sensitivity. I think FCs are a bit less reliable than male ones primarily because there is the chance that if he slips out he can reinsert outside your sheath. So, if he slips out you want to guide him to make certain he's back inside the sheath again. Another thing about FCs is that you need a good sense of humor as they can make rude noises at the most inopportune times. Once or twice when that happened to DF and me it broke us up and we had to refocus and begin again. I think FCs are also a bit pricy. Even so, they might be worth a try... better than withdrawal if you ask me. Let us know what you decide, ok?
Good luck,
Jill