I cant decide in a BC~! :( Please help

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-11-2004
I cant decide in a BC~! :( Please help
4
Tue, 03-28-2006 - 9:12am

Im really trying to research every method and just can not decide ;(
Please help with any and all opinions~!!

1st let me say that I just had my 3rd & last baby. (im 35) I dont want to tie my tubes because of a million horror stories, especially with bleeding. I dont want any BC that contributes to heavier cycles, if anything I want one that ends my period altogether.

The only BC options Im coming up with is either Mirena IUD or Essure blockage.

ANY help appreciated~!!!! I wish DH would get a V but he wont. I dont mind doing the BC, I just cant seem to find the right one. (Im aweful at remembering to take a pill everyday. I cant even remember to take a pre natal vitamin)
Im breastfeeding if that helps.

Thank you~
Stacey in NJ

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Tue, 03-28-2006 - 1:16pm

Hi sahcandlemom, welcome!

Congratulations on the new addition to your family!

>>I dont want to tie my tubes because of a million horror stories, especially with bleeding. I dont want any BC that contributes to heavier cycles, if anything I want one that ends my period altogether. The only BC options Im coming up with is either Mirena IUD or Essure blockage. <<

A Tubal Ligation should not cause you to bleed any differently than on your natural periods. What sometimes happens is a woman will go directly from hormones to a TL and not remember how her periods were when she was cycling naturally. The same thing can be said for Essure so it would be a good idea (if long painful periods are a concern) to go off hormones for several cycles to see what your periods are like before having the procedure. That way you will be able to separate what your body is doing naturally from any possible side effects from the procedure.

Mirena www.mirena-us.com is even more effective than a TL, see: http://www.contraceptivetechnology.org/table.html and it has the advantage of usually shortening and lightening a user's periods and sometimes stopping them entirely. I'm thinking that might be your best choice if you are looking for very low maintenance, very effective and long lasting (5 years) method. However, there have been reports of a higher risk of perforations for very new moms, see: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/medeff/bulletin/carn-bcei_v16n1_e.html So you would want to discuss that possibility with your Gyn and see what s/he recommends. It the meantime, if you need an effective hormonal method a progestin-only-pill might be your best bet. POPs are very effective when used in combination with lactational amenorrhea, but they can cause irregular bleeding and they do need to be taken every day (no week off for your period) and they should be taken in a very narrow window (+/-30 minutes of your regular pill time) to be considered on-time.

There is also NuvaRing www.nuvaring.com which is a low maintenance (twice monthly - insert & remove) very effective combined (estrogen/progestin) method but the estrogen could reduce your milk supply. So, since you are not close to weaning NuvaRing may not be a good option.

Thanks for stopping by. If you have more questions, please ask. Let us know what you and your doctor decide and how you’re doing, ok?

Good luck,

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-11-2004
Tue, 03-28-2006 - 3:09pm

Thank you~!

TL definately causes heavier bleeding among others problems. My midwife eventually had to have a hysterectomy because of the bleeding, & my friends cycles are WAY worse than before. On the January mom board they list SO many problems ( from a nurse) and horror stories Im not going near a TL to save my life, lol.
Im thinking the mirena will be what I go with. Safe for nurseing, and long term contraception.

S~

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-16-2005
Sat, 04-01-2006 - 10:10pm
I was on Mirena a few years ago for maybe a month, when I started having horrible neck and back pain. I went to the doctor and he said it was not the IUD but I asked him to take it out anyway. A day later I was fine. So I would definately be cautious about that too. All these nasty chemicals have something to worry about. Also before I had it taken out, my son bounced on my stomache and I felt a sharp pain. Kinda makes me wonder if the IUD poked my uterus.
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-20-2000
Sun, 04-02-2006 - 10:28am

Hi Stacey,


I have the Mirena IUD and love it. The insertion was very painful (but that may have been because I've never had a baby)... but my periods have gotten lighter and fewer and far between. I cannot feel the IUD and it's great not taking the pill every day. I'm glad I made this choice.


megan

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