Curious and need some input please!

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-08-2004
Curious and need some input please!
9
Wed, 09-06-2006 - 12:58pm

Hi what's up all. I've posted on the board before but it's been a long time. I'm 24 and my gf is 19 and we are engaged. She is the best thing that has ever happened to me!

Anyway the reason i'm here is to get info on birth control. My gf has an appoimtment with planned parenthood and we are gonna go from there. I just wanna hear some stories on what all of you have been taken and how it works.

Just looking for what all of you like so i can steer her down the right path on what to take.I know it's her decision and everyone is diff and i understand that. Just looking for some good stories on how well bc works from hearing stories from normal people like all of you. Bc i'll be the paranoid one when she tell me to not use protection anymore.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-18-2006
Thu, 09-07-2006 - 12:09am

Ultimately, it will (and should) be your girlfriend's decision which method she chooses, as it is her body, and her responsiblity to take it every day/week/month (with the pill/patch/ring). You're right that every person is different -- and just as important to remember is that every pill (or other hormonal method) is different as well. First, there will probably be a period where she needs to adjust to being on the pill. She might get nauseous, light headed, gain temporary weight, etc. She might have *really bad* side effects too. When I went on the pill for the first time (it was one called Alesse), I had horrible, horrible crying spells. It wasn't really mood swings because I was just crying ALL the time (for no reason). I also became anxious and couldn't sleep at all. My biggest worry was that if I went off it my boyfriend would be disappointed. But that's not a way to live! Ultimately when I told my boyfriend that my doctor advised me to stop taking it, instead of being upset like I thought he would be, he said, "THANK GOD!" (really, I was a mess... he was very supportive).

Anyway, I tried some other pills and right now I'm on one that is pretty good (it's called yaz). But it may take some trial and error (or the first pill she tries may be perfect... you just can't tell).

I think it is good that you are interested and involved in your girlfriend's choice of birth control. Most importantly, though, you should let her know you're there for her, and be understanding if she goes through any changes. If she becomes a basket case for 90% of the day, it's likely not her, but her pill.

Good luck, I hope you find one that works well for you!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Thu, 09-07-2006 - 7:41am

Hello there!

Judie Cl for Birth Control 
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-08-2004
Thu, 09-07-2006 - 9:04am
Thanks to both of you for expaining things to me. Me and her were thinking about the shot of depo. What are the pros and cons of this. She is a very forgetful woman so pills are out of the question. We did think of the patch but we both feel that it doesnt seems safe enough. We were thinking about the shot bc it's good for 3 months at a time and your protected from the start. Do you have any friends or know or anyone on this and if anyone you know has gotten pregnant while on depo?
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-16-2005
Thu, 09-07-2006 - 9:15am

Welcome! It's so sweet you're interested in this for your girlfriend.

I haven't presonally had the Depo shot, but have heard horrible things about it. I know it's great for some people, but has recently been found to cause bone loss. Many people also gain weight on it. One of the bad things though is that if it messes with your hormones and you have side effects, you just can't stop taking it such as a pill--it stays in your system for up to 18 months in very small amounts.

What about setting a watch alarm for a pill at a time when she is guaranteed to be home and trying that for awhile? The pill case has the days of the week labeled, so she would know if she forgot them, and like Judie said, it's always a good idea to use condoms as well. I thought when starting the pill (I took it for a year) I would be sure to forget it. But, my alarm went off on my watch every morning at 7:30 when I was already up getting ready for school or work or whatever I was doing that day. On the weekends, I took it and went back to sleep.

I hope the appointment goes well. Maybe they will have other ideas/insight. There are a lot of options out there--the pill is the most common in the U.S. though. The Ring is another idea to look into (more expensive most likely, I don't believe they have generic yet).

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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-08-2004
Thu, 09-07-2006 - 3:50pm
How long were you on bc before you let your hubby or bf or whatever go all the way. Did you make sure you were on it awhile even before you thoughht about that?
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-15-2005
Thu, 09-07-2006 - 4:32pm

Yay for you on being so interested. In all ways. :) That's wonderful.


As the other women have stated, be sure you're supportive and understanding of her mood swings. And also, if she wasn't/isn't told at the appt (as I know I have never been told), if her moods are WAY outta whack, or her body isn't adjusting correctly (we usually suggest 3 months of the pill before trying another), definitely let her know that switching pills is okay, adn that it should not interfere in being "protected". ie. I can take 3 different types of pills, but as long as I'm taking them the same way, I should be protected.


I did read that she's very forgetful. So is my cousin. You may suggest she ask about the ring, and DEFINITELY talk to the doc about being forgetful. It's better to talk to them, than hope for the best. :) On the nuvaring, you have it in for 3 weeks, then take it out for one week, which is when she would have her period. and put it back in. my cousin would mark it on a calendar to remind her to put it in, and when to take it out. She did the alarm with the pill, but forget to carry the pill with her at all times, so that didn't work for her.


As for depo. I haven't heard anything good. Sorry. Heavy periods, major cramps, no woman's dream. lol. AND to top it off, three women I know that were on it, when they went off, ALL their docs failed to mention something VERY important....that it stays in your system for a LONG time (I think a prev poster mentioned 18 months). Two friends freaked out cuz they thought they were pregnant (no periods for 3+ months), the last was bummed, cuz she wnated to start trying to conceive immediately. oops.


TAlk to the doc. Well, have her do it. lol. Make sure she feels comfy talking about it, because the more the doc knows about you and your situation, the better choices they can make and offer.


Lastly, for the sake of "guarantee" most ppl will recommend you be on the birth control (if its a pill) for one month before discontinuing the use of condoms. For you and your gf, it'll depend on what she ends up with (depo, pill, ring, etc) and well, when you feel comfy. :) I know some ppl that NEVER stop using condoms even though the woman is on bcp's.....cuz he didn't feel comfy.


Good luck. It's nice to see a man take interest in what his gf is doing about birth control. :)


BTW, one pill killed my libido. I'm on pill #3 to find a solution and one that works for me. I think this one isn't goig to work either, so onto #4. Sometimes, it takes awhile to find what will work for you.

~IDM
It was
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Fri, 09-08-2006 - 7:30am

Personally, I would never use Depo.

Judie Cl for Birth Control 
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-18-2003
Fri, 09-08-2006 - 10:07am
Hi,
I use the depo shot. I'm on my second shot now, but I am using because I breastfeed. My hormonal birth control options are limited because of this. I will only use depo until I wean my baby. I'm one of the lucky ones who have no trouble with the shot. I don't bleed (maybe because of breastfeeding), am losing weight with a sensible diet and exercise program (weight from my pregnancy, not the shot), and haven't had mood or skin problems either.
I would agree that it is not a good long term solution. I have also used several pills and norplant and the patch. There is an implant coming out soon that is effective for three years and goes under the skin of the upper arm. I'm planning to get it as soon as it's available in my area.
Good luck in her choice,
Holly
Holly
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-08-2006
Fri, 09-08-2006 - 6:08pm
There are lots of types of birth control. You mean the hormonal birth control pills. Personally, I loved the Nuva Ring. It is a soft ring, smaller than a bracelet, put into the vagina and worn for three weeks, then taken out for a week for your period, then a new one put in for the next 3 weeks. It releases hormones so it's kind of like taking the pill, but soooo much easier. I would never remember a pill every day.