Hi all, long time no see. Ladies, have any of you tried the most recent b.c. methods (such as Merena or Implanon)? I'm terrible at taking pills, have had bad luck with Depo, and want to try something new. Any info?

Piano

Hi,
I don't have any info for you, but I was just wondering what and how these new methods work??
Thanks,
tink

What about the birth control patch (Ortho evra)? Works the same as the pill but you only have to remember to change it once a week. I've been using it and I really like it.

If the patch is anything like Nicoderm, I probably wont be able to use it (eats my skin). I'm allergic to medical tape, too.

Merena is a new plastic 5- or 10-year IUD, and Implanon is something like what Norplant used to be. I think you have to have had a child to use Merena (so your uterus will be enlarged). If so, then I can't. Sucky.

Piano

Have you heard about the Ring?

Not the movie, the contraceptive

it's a flexible ring impregnated (pun!) with the same stuff as your pill and it just seeps in through the membranes in your vagina. It gets inserted around your cervix and is worn for three weeks and taken out for one week and a new one is put in after.

I have merena and I have had it since June and I LOVE IT .. It is awesome. My period has stopped completely and I am so happy that i do not have to take a pill which I am horrible at taking them anyway. The Merena is also nice because there are little side effects. There is no weight gain with merena. I would recommend any one use it. But they do normally want the women using it to have had a pregnancy first. Good luck

With merena why do you have to have been pregnant at least once? Does it hurt your chances after that or make it imposssible?
Tink

To be honest, I am not really sure why they say that it is preferred that a woman have a pregnancy. I does not hurt your chances of having another child because you can start trying on your next full cycle and almost 100 percent of women get pregnant after using it. That is one reason why we decided this was the best one. You can look it up on theinternet or call your doctor It does cost about 500 dollars but it can stay in place for 5 years. Also once it is in it is as effective as having your tubes tied only reversible

take care
joann

I am getting the Mirena put in on Thursday (1/16/03). I wanted to let you know that my doctor highly recommends it and I have read enough on the internet to wonder....I have been using OrthoEvra for about 6 months now and I love it, but if you are not skinny, which I am not, it limits you on where it goes. They do stay on but you have to be choosy where you put them. I can only do them on my arms, which means that it is not a good choice for summer. SO therefore I am going to go with Mirena. I will let you know how it goes if you want me to..

I am also thinking I want to try Mirena. The only problem I can think of is that I've never had a child. I know I actually posted this question elsewhere, but since no one answered I'll try it here: Can you feel and IUD during sex? Or was this just a draw back of earlier models?

Are you thinking of a daiphram, cause you shouldn't be able to feel an IUD during sex (unless you mean the little string...which shouldn't be felt either).

No, not a diaphram. A woman I spoke to said she could feel it inside her during sex. I was thinking maybe the man was big and was pushing against her cervix or something. That's the only way I figure she could feel something like that. But still.....

If you're having an IUD inserted, it goes easier if you've been pregnant before because your cervix is a little more hospitable to being really reefed around. It doesn't mean you can't GET an IUD if you've never had a kid, it just means it'll be a little more uncomfortable.

From what I read on the Planned Parenthood site, Mirena has to be replaced once a year, and it's the copper-metal IUD that can stay in for 5 years.

Wrin,
What's the name of that one? Does it cost more or less?
Thanks!


[This message has been edited by Ravenna (edited 01-16-2003).]