QUESTION FOR WOMEN ABOUT BIRTH CONTROL OPTIONS

[RageOfAngels]

Hi,

I may be getting married soon and was wondering what types of birth control are better for a woman as far as a woman's overall health is concerned? For instance, I have heard that the pill has alot of potential bad side effects....if that is the case, I would not want my wife to be on it if it will harm her. On the other hand, condoms and diaphrams are probably not effective on their own, so outside of any vasectomy or tube-tying, what are the best options or combinations thereof? What have been some of your more successful (or unsuccessful) experiences with particular forms of birth control? Thanks, I will look forward to your responses.

[Lady^]

OK, here is what I can tell you (just my opinions, of course, and I don't have any statistics to give you as far as how effective each one is).

Hormonal B/C (pill, patch, shot, etc.)- Yes, these can have bad side effects...alot of it has to do with the individual who is using it (does she smoke, have high blood pressure, a blood clotting disorder, etc). This are probably the most reliable form of b/c if used properly. A doctor should be consulted regarding the health risks.

Condom-fairly reliable, more so if used with spermicide. Not usually the 1st choice for married couples as condoms can decrease feeling and sensivity.

Diaphram-these are used in conjunction with spermacide. They can be messy and difficult to insert and remove and sometimes they can be uncomfortable for both people. Not very spontaneous. Worked well for me for preventing pregnancy.

Cervical Cap-similiar to the diaphram but smaller. Also used with spermicide. Not as cumbersome as the diaphram. Not very spontaneous. Probably works as well as the diaphram, although I have never used one.

Spermicide-used alone it is not as effective as when used with the condom, diaphram or cervical cap. It's also messy. Worked well for me for preventing pregnancy.

IUD-These are quite effective and do not interfere with spontaniaty since it is always inside the woman. Do some research as these have changed alot since I had one. Worked well for me for preventing pregnancy.

Rhythm Method-This involves charting the woman cycle and determining when she ovulates and when it's "safe" to have sex without using any b/c. During the unsafe times you can abstain or use birth control. Worked well for me for preventing pregnancy, but it can be risky and should not be used if you absolutely don't want kids.

I can't think of anymore....hope I've helped.

[dustbunnys_baby]

Well there are a couple things to say here. I have been on BC for about two years on and off and if you take care of yourself and don't have any allergy it is a really great method. As with any medication there are side affects but not as bad as having a child. I have found ortho-tri-cyclen to be very effective. Also I thought you would find this funny. My grandfather who recently passed away gave me a sure fire method. He said "Just stick it in a tomato." But don't eat it after ward. lOl. He was a funny man! Much love Sunnie

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You alone can decide your destiny!

[wrin]

No matter what method you choose, there's going to be some kind of inconvenience, short of surgical sterilization. Most people on this board will warn you off the Shot (depo-provera) because of suspected ties to infertility, and just general bad-experience with side-effects. I honestly don't know a single person who got on depo and hasn't had a problem with it.

Norplant is somethign that's been around for years and is a rather permanent type of solution. They last 5 years, I believe, and are slow-release capsules that release the same hormones found in most birth control pills without having to remember to take them.

There's two kinds of IUDs, each with different risks and benefits. There's the copper one and the hormone-impregnated plastic one. The copper one doesn't have to be replaced more often than once every three years, but can cause heavier periods, cramping, and a higher risk of ectopic pregnancies. (My mother had a tubal pregnancy while she was using one.) The hormone-impregnated version is slightly more modern, as it works the same way taking the pill every day would, and it's made of plastic so the irritation isn't as likely to be so pronounced, though you'll probably still get a heavier period and some cramping. The IUD is generally recommended for people who've already had kids since it makes insertion easier, but this by no means means that you can't get one unless you've had kids.

There's Nuvaring, which is a ring you replace once a month that just sits on the cervix and slow-releases hormones a la birth control pill. You wear it for three weeks and take it out for the fourth week to have a period, then put in a fresh one.

There's also a patch you replace once a week.

No barrier method is fool-proof, and hormonal methods are generally regarded as the most reliable, but because of an increased incidence of user error, they can actually average out similarly. (Since it's harder to forget to put on a condom than it is to forget to take a pill.)

I've been on the birth control pill for, oh, like two and a half years now. I haven't had a single one of the side-effects, well, aside from a shorter, lighter period and decreased menstrual cramps. I'm taking Alesse, which is a low-dose monophasic pill, and because of the low levels of hormones may not be effective for everyone, especially people who don't own as slim a frame as mine.

The Planned Parenthood site has a lot of awesome information about methods I haven't even mentioned, and her doctor will be able to help her decide on a method that's safest and easiest for her.

[RageOfAngels]

Wow, many thanks for all of this valuable info! This is very educational for me, I really appreciate all the effort that went into these replies. I will re-read them again tomorrow.....Thanks, Al