LADIES please help I need your opinions on BCP

For those of you that don’t know what BCP stands for its birth control pills and YEAH I'm getting that personal on these boards. Alright here is my conundrum I don't know what to do I want to take BCPs because I don't want to have my period for my wedding or HM and FH and I have both agreed that we do not want children right away because we want to spend time enjoying each other as husband and wife and travel and stuff. BUT (of course there’s always a but) at the same time I don't want to and am very skeptical of being on drugs and hormones. I was on BCP years ago (during my very late teens/early college years) and all I remember is the side effects like constant yeast infections and stuff. I also feel like if it is God's will for me to be pregnant than it is His will (I know this may sound silly to some). Anyway, I am stuck between a rock and a hard place because we don't want to have kids for the first 2 years or so, but I don't want to be on hormonal drugs either. I have discussed it with FH and he is like “I don't know” (such a man). Please know that condoms are not an option so please don't suggest. What are your plans for BC ladies?

Re: LADIES please help I need your opinions on BCP

Hey...

You should check with your Gyno for all your options but defitnaly check out the nuva ring... you do not have to take any pills and you only need to change it once a month... My friend uses it and she loves it!!!

There are lots of other options besides BCP like Depo (I personally wouldn't use it) but everyone is different...

Talk to yoru Gyno for all your options!

http://www.nuvaring.com/Consumer/index.asp

Good Luck!

Re: LADIES please help I need your opinions on BCP

I do believe many pills come in LO for less hormones. That may be an option. I took the patch for a few months with no side effects.

Re: LADIES please help I need your opinions on BCP

Unless you go with the ring Nay Nay suggested or something similar......

Unfortunately, besides condoms...the only thing I can suggest to you is the Pull Out Method...and unfortunately thats not so reliable.....

Re: LADIES please help I need your opinions on BCP

Oh and btw...I'm just now going through FM's, I'm gonna write ya back real quick girlfriend

Re: LADIES please help I need your opinions on BCP

The nuvaring is low hormones and the side effects aren't nearly as bad as I had when I was on the BCP (from 18 - 20 y.o.) There are also mini-pills that are low hormone and just as reliable as well. The good thing about the ring is that you put it in for 3 weeks and it's out for one. There is no forgetting to take the pill so the chances of not getting pregnant are a lot better !!

Good luck whatever you decide !!

Re: LADIES please help I need your opinions on BCP

well if you had bad side effects then definately talk to your doctor before taking them again....i tried BCP couple years ago, had very bad rections (chest pains,setc) doctor took me right off of them...my sister and mother cant take them either so ***** for me...but there are many other alternatives out there...that ring thing i gott look into never heard of it

Re: LADIES please help I need your opinions on BCP

I use the ring and LOVE IT.

Re: LADIES please help I need your opinions on BCP

Can someone elaborate a bit on the ring....Its starting to sound interesting....
and apparently shorty mcbride...my mcvalentine loves it too

Re: LADIES please help I need your opinions on BCP

www.nuvaring.com

It's and 'all inclusive' BC You put it in for 3 weeks 'forget about it' and then take it out for one. After that week you put a new one in for 3 more. It has a low dose of hormones and less side effects. It's GREAT ! ! I just started it. My OB/GYN said that even though the manufacture says you have to wait 2 of the 3 weeks to have unprotected sex for the first ring (ONLY) he said to wait to have it till the start of the 2nd one just to make sure. I have such a CRAZY life with school and work and the wedding and my daughter that trying to remember to take the pill was going to be such an annoyance. This seemed like SUCH a better option for me ! !

Re: LADIES please help I need your opinions on BCP

Oh thanks for the help....
2 questions:

can you feel it ?

on the week that you have it out....is it still working..or you must be protected during that time

Re: LADIES please help I need your opinions on BCP

Well I hate all hormonal bc. I've tried them all, the ring (could feel it and it would always slip down), the patch, the shot and several different pills. I got the yeast infections, shortness of breath, headaches etc. I can't do hormonal bc but many women can and do.

Re: LADIES please help I need your opinions on BCP

I can't take hormonal bc. I get physically ill. My SIL uses Seasonale and she loves it. She said you only get 4 periods a year.

Re: LADIES please help I need your opinions on BCP

I use Yasmin. I changed from Ortho Tri Cycline-Lo after I told my gyno that I was getting married and I didnt want to be at risk of having my period on the day of my wedding or during the honeymoon. He said that anything that has the word 'LO' in it means that you can't take it straight through and skip a period because each week you have a lower dosage. So I changed to Yasmin. The good thing about Yasmin is that it is a low dosage of hormone and it helps push water out of your body so you dont bloat up as much each month (I get bloating really bad).

I would NOT suggest the Depo shot. If you do research on the internet or you ask your doctor he can tell you about the horrible side effects. The most common, from what I understand, is ostioperosis (sp?). Not good!

You can try the ring, but I am not familiar with it. Maybe you can consider going on the pill just for 6 months or so. Maybe about 3 months before and after the wedding. The only thing you need to remember is that you are most fertile when you first come off of the pill, so be careful with pregnancy.

Re: LADIES please help I need your opinions on BCP

A friend of mine has the ring and she swears by it! Im sure there are different options for you-talk to your gyno.
I honestly think its a personal choice-rock and a hard place-so what is right for you.

Re: LADIES please help I need your opinions on BCP

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Posted by Nina

Oh thanks for the help....
2 questions:

can you feel it ?

on the week that you have it out....is it still working..or you must be protected during that time

---

In answer to your questions . . .

You're not supposed to feel it. If you do then that means that it is not far enough up into your (you know where) (don't know if the word is allowed on here)

and . . .

the week you have it out is the week you get your period.

Re: LADIES please help I need your opinions on BCP

Thanks for all of your responses ladies. I am definetly not going to use Depo although I did consider it for a quick moment I have heard too many negative side effect stories. I will definetly discuss with my Gyno what options are available. Ladies who swear by 'the other ring' I know Nina already asked if you can feel it but I wanted to know if FH can feel it too when , , , well you know also if you leave it in for the fourth week do you not get your period? or is it not safe to leave it in for a fourth week? what side effects if any did you have with 'the ring'? Thanks for the link I am definetly going to do some research on it. Do you still get your period on the patch? Does it really not come off in the bath or shower? Nina believe me FH and I have discussed the 'withdrawl' method too

Okay one (or two) more nuva questions I guess you have to stick it all the way 'up there' so you don't feel it or have it slip out like another poster said, but is it heard to get out? I mean is it a far reach (no pun intended) or difficult to find it and pull it out?

Re: LADIES please help I need your opinions on BCP

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Posted by Nina

Oh thanks for the help....
2 questions:

can you feel it ?

on the week that you have it out....is it still working..or you must be protected during that time

---

The week that you have it out you should have your period. Another great aspect of the ring is that you dont experience that weight gain as the pill.

Re: LADIES please help I need your opinions on BCP

I know where you are coming from - I actually just went off of hormonal birth control after being on it for three years.

Just out of curiousity... if you're not on bcp, and you don't use condoms... what are you using now? Or are you just not having sex? Otherwise, what's wrong with what you're using?

Anyway. If you do want to go on hormones, talk to your doctor. There are some very low dose pills that might work for you. The nuvaring is low dose, but it can also have more side effects because it is a more constant and direct flow into your bloodstream. I was on the nuvaring for two months and probably had my worst side effects with it.
The point is that all birth control will affect each person differently.

If you want a totally non-hormonal 'natural' method of birth control, I'd recommend looking into Fertility Awareness Method (NOT to be confused with the rhythm method or some scary thing the Catholic church tells you to do). If done properly it's about as effective as the pill (around 95%, I believe). I know of people who have used FAM for years and years and never gotten pregnant. It involves charting your cycle by using basal body temperature, cervical position, and cervical fluid so that you know exactly when you are fertile/ovulating, and when you are safe to have sex. It sounds more complicated than it is. The only thing is that if you are currently having sex then you need to use a back up until you get the hang of it. Also, you need to either use a barrier method or abstain from intercourse during your fertile times (but there are always other fun things to do!) I'm currently using a combination of condoms and FAM, until I get the hang of FAM. If you're interested, I'd highly recommend you read 'Taking Control of Your Fertitily' by Toni Weschler.

good luck!

Re: LADIES please help I need your opinions on BCP

There are many new BCP that have very low hormones, you should try one of those. I think Alesse has the lowest Estrogen and Progestin levels. You could also try Yasmin which has a slightly higer Estrogen level but has a different type of Progestin. It also speeds up metabolism in some people which is a good thing. I would not try Ortho-tri-cyclen because it has a much higher estrogen level and some people have very bad reaction to it, such as depression, mood swings, acne (although for some it reduces acne).
Here is link to a website that explains the benefits of certain brands of birth control pills. http://www.wdxcyber.com/ncontr13.htm