clueless about what type to use

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-01-2006
clueless about what type to use
6
Thu, 08-03-2006 - 12:13am
Hi everyone. My boyfriend and i have been sexually active and using condoms only for birth control. I really would like to ditch the condoms and use some other form but I have very little knowledge about what to use. I've only been on any other form, "the pill" once for maybe 6 months at the most and this was at least 4 years ago. Since then i was abstinent for a long time &/0r just used condoms. My boyfriend and I do plan on having children in the future(not for about a year) so I'm wondering what input you could give me as to what type of birth control I should go for. I guess there really is nothing with absolutely no side effects, but I definately would like something with very little...I was always afraid of gaining weight mostly and would hate to know seeing how I just lost 30 pounds and would hate to put any back on.
Thank you.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-03-2006
Thu, 08-03-2006 - 8:06am
Hiya
If you want to be pregnant relatively soon, you're best avoiding things like the depo shot, implants etc. A combined or pop pill would probably be best, as you say there's barely anything without side effects and often it's a case of trying various pills til you find something to suit, or the patch or nuva ring may also be suitable for you too. Out of all of those my fave was the patch, but what suits one person may not suit another :) There's also the non-hormonal option of an IUD, if you want to avoid hormones, but that doesn't come without side effects either (usually heavier and/or more painful periods).
Alice x
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-18-2006
Thu, 08-03-2006 - 12:01pm
I agree with alice-in-wonderland. I wouldn't go for depo or implants if you're looking to have a baby soon (I wouldn't go for those anyway, because I have read scary things about the side effects), and a pill/patch/ring is probably your best option. As far as weight gain goes, different pills do different things. I think the general "rule" (if there are any rules) is that lower estrogen content means for less weight gain. Also, Yasmin is supposed to be the "no-weight-gain pill" (at least according to their marketing strategy) because they use a totally different "non-androgenous" progestin, so that might be one to ask your doctor about. I just started Yaz, which is the same as Yasmin, only less estrogen. I've been on it for less than a week, but so far I like it tons better than the other pills I was on (Ortho-Lo and Alesse, which are also low dose pills). I've also read on some forums that people have actually lost weight on this pill. Honestly, weight gain is less of a concern for me, than depression, anxiety, or mood swings (the reasons I went off the other pills), but so far all I have noticed is a little bit of nausea, which I'm hoping will go away. There's a website: http://www.wdxcyber.com/ncontr13.htm, that suggests pills for different symptons, and the pills they suggest if you are worried about weight gain are: Yasmin®*, Ortho Evra®, Alesse®, Levlite®, Loestrin® 1/20 Fe. Good luck, I'm sure there's a pill for you!
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Thu, 08-03-2006 - 1:42pm

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-01-2006
Thu, 08-03-2006 - 6:01pm
Thanks. I had thought about the nuva ring but it seems kinda strange to me, like how do you get it it and keep it there and I'd worry about it coming out of place, etc. I also forgot about thepatch...maybe i will look into that more.
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-01-2006
Thu, 08-03-2006 - 6:02pm
Thanks so much for the info. I'm going to look into that website.
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-01-2006
Thu, 08-03-2006 - 6:03pm
Thanks for your input. I'll be sure to check out the website!