Birth Control vs. Condoms

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-17-2006
Birth Control vs. Condoms
8
Thu, 08-17-2006 - 9:52pm
Hey everyone. I have been reading on here a lot lately because certain questions about BC have been brought up in my head. After reading about different peoples side effects to BC I've realized that a lot of the things I've been going through are a result of being on BC. I am currently on Mircette and have been for almost a year now and am thinking of possibly getting off it, but I feel I might be too nervous to have sex without taking it. I think I would be much happier without BC but maybe too nervous to have sex. What are your opinions about getting off the pill and using condoms? It's a hard decision because I'm not really that happy on the pill, but I'm not sure I would be happy off it. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-17-2006
Thu, 08-17-2006 - 9:54pm
One other question...What are your opinions of Yaz? Would it change any of the side effects from Mircette?
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-03-2006
Fri, 08-18-2006 - 12:51am
You could try the mini-pill see if it was just estrongon causing your problems. The worst I have had while on the mini-pill was break through bleeding on and off for about a month but that was after 4 months of no period so it wasn't so bad.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-17-2006
Fri, 08-18-2006 - 9:57am
Did the minipill still have a depression side effect?
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-18-2006
Fri, 08-18-2006 - 12:03pm

If you are really unhappy on hormonal birth control, know that condoms are very effective at preventing pregnancy. I wasn't on birth control for three years and used condoms and never got pregnant. I also (in conjunction with condoms) used a spermicide in "film" form -- it's called VCF (Vaginal Contraceptive Film) and I never had any problems with infections or anything from it... and it is easy and no mess. You just put it in at least 15 minutes before you have sex and you're good for up to three hours (but you have to put more in if you have sex more than once). My doctor recommended that to me when I went off the pill for the second time three years ago. I wouldn't use it alone because clinical trials show that it has about an 86% effectiveness if used perfectly every time you have sex. But with condoms (which are somewhere between 91-97% effective), I felt much safer. It just put my mind at ease.

I'm not sure what your side effects are that are making you consider stopping the pill. Mine were uncontrollable mood swings which ended up settling into depression. I cried all the time at the smallest things. For example, I remember one morning I went to take a shower and the hot water wasn't working and I just sat down in my bathroom and cried hysterically for about an hour...I also had terrible trouble sleeping on one of the pills I was on (Alesse) and incredible lethargy on the other one (Ortho-Tricyclen Lo). So, going off the pill was very appealing to me (and I felt like normal almost immediately after stopping it).

A few weeks ago I started Birth Control again, and I'm on Yaz. I like it so far, and even though it's only been about three weeks, I am doing better on it than the other two... they made me feel side effects from day one and it was very hard to stick it out. So far, all Yaz has done is made me feel nauseous (but that's gone), and my boobs got kind of sore, and in the beginning I had to pee more frequently (the progestin is derived from a diuretic, so I think that's where that comes from). Ultimately, though, I like it.

Also, is Mircette the only pill you've been on? If so, you may want to try a few more before giving up -- especially if you are insecure about the effectiveness of condoms. I do not subscribe to the idea that all pills are the same -- since my personal experience shows that I've had different side effects from each one! And yes, I would reccommend Yaz from my personal experience, but also keep in mind that everyone reacts differently to different pills (and I've never been on Mircette, so I can't comment about that... I'm sorry). If Yaz doesn't work out, another one might.

Good luck with your decision!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-18-2006
Fri, 08-18-2006 - 12:17pm

I'm sorry, I didn't see your post about the depression side effect before I wrote my last response... I think I addressed that anyway, though.

I just wanted to add (about the mini pill) that from my research (since I also had depression with the pill, I looked it up), depression is often related to the progestin in the pill, not the estrogen. It could just be the type of synthetic progestin in your pill that is making you sad. Also, isn't Mircette a biphasic pill? It could be the fluctuations in hormones that is changing your moods.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Fri, 08-18-2006 - 12:32pm

The Minipill is, indeed, a POP (Progestin-Only-Pill) but it's usually only prescribed to nursing mothers, since estrogen is secreted in breastmilk, and nursing usually prevents ovulation anyway. The Minipill has a *much* smaller time-window in which to take it, and is generally regarded as less effective if you are not a nursing mother. It might actually be hard (or impossible) to get if you are not one.

Mircette, as I recall, is biphasic, but barely. It simply has reduced estrogen mid-placebo pills, which is designed to lower period pain and other issues that can surround it.

My advice here would be to try something other than Mircette. There are dozens of things out there with different amounts of estrogen, different amounts of progestin, and different TYPES of progestin. Perhaps different types of progestin would help with the mood issues.

Sorry I dont have time to write more!!

Caitlin

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-03-2006
Sat, 08-19-2006 - 4:59pm
I have have a history of being depressed on and off both before the pill and while on it. But actually since being on the mini-pill I have had absolutly no problems with being depressed.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-20-2006
Sun, 08-20-2006 - 2:00pm
There are so many different types of birth control pills out there. Why don't you talk to whomever (doctor, clinic) prescribed the pill to you. Explain your side effects to them and they could recommend a different one. No reason to give up on the pill for birth control when there are other ones available.