Yea we figured it to be damn near pennies a month with the state health plan coverage we have. Thats fucking exactly what I wanted to hear. If this don't work and she gets pregnant again, I'm getting the big V.

3/4/2008 2:14:34 PM

I have heard of IUD failures, although like tubal ligation failures they tend to be really bad and result in a tubal pregnancy.

If you are really done having kids man the fuck up and get snipped, possibly while she is getting the IUD just to make sure. Oh, and wait as long as they tell you after getting snipped. There's a good reason for that, most guys think it works instantly despite what the docs say and end up with an extra kid because they were stupid.

3/4/2008 2:18:56 PM

Slightly OT - I went in a few weeks ago for Mirena, chickened out (I've had major problems with hormonal BC and didn't want to risk it, especially since my current insurance doesn't cover it at all), and left with Nuvaring. I've had my period since I put it in, but none of the other problems that I usually get with hormonal BC, knock on wood.

Those of you who've had Nuvaring - how long did it take for the spotting to stop/slow down for you? I'm having too much for a pantiliner which is a real PITA.

3/4/2008 5:10:34 PM

^i used the ring, and it took just a few weeks for spotting to stop... but then i started having all the crazy mood swings i had from the pill, so i had to quit :-/ hope it works better for you

3/4/2008 5:13:40 PM

^^ I loved the Ring, except that I got pregnant on it. But I love my daughter more so I'm really not upset. ha.

I hated BC pills, tried 4 different types. Mood swings, nausea, etc..
I had no problems with the Ring. No weight gain, no moodiness, I felt great.
Only thought of it twice a month.

3/4/2008 7:41:06 PM

So was dropping a load in some broad that had just started on the nuva-ring a bad idea?

3/4/2008 7:50:59 PM

^^Well, that kind of defeats the purpose of it. Guess it will just be a test about how well I tolerate a lower continuous dose of hormones, rather than a real BC method.

^^^I've been pretty down & moody, but attribute it to being slightly ill, and on day fourteen of my frickin' period. Can't really gauge how much is due to the hormones.

[Edited on March 4, 2008 at 7:54 PM. Reason : ^]

3/4/2008 7:53:48 PM

I'd been on the Ring for around 2 years when I got pregnant.

3/4/2008 7:55:39 PM

Good to know, but I'm not anxious to play the odds right now.

3/4/2008 8:05:08 PM

For those of yall that had problems how long did it last and did any of yall have it taken out because of it?

4/30/2008 6:27:37 PM

Quote :

"and on day fourteen of my frickin' period"

Isn't that bad for you?

4/30/2008 6:31:39 PM

I had my first period since having the baby and the Mirena inserted. It only lasted a few days and was extremely light. Hooray!

4/30/2008 8:31:20 PM

i'm starting to wonder if my pill BC is the culprit for some of my nausea/headache problems.

guess we'll see when i go off it sometimes next year. didn't like the patch or ring. don't want an IUD because we'd want it out in a year. and i've been told i shouldn't get the shots anymore.

and i hate condoms.

the IUD may be an investment a few years down the road.

4/30/2008 10:12:39 PM

i feel nauseous

4/30/2008 10:13:49 PM

Quote :

"hate condoms"

They really suck. Husband is allergic to latex and the poly ones broke all the damned time. Married people just shouldn't have to use them. Earlier in our marriage when we weren't planning on a baby, but didn't think that getting preggers would be tragic, we just did the withdrawal method or used the vaginal contraceptive film.

4/30/2008 10:23:18 PM

we're in the same "if it happens, it happens" boat. the pill seems to have done it's job so far, even when i've gotten extremely stressed and missed it 2 days in a row.

condoms are just goddamn depressing. we tried them once while i was between BC methods, and we gave up after a couple minutes and took the damn thing off.

4/30/2008 10:28:07 PM

I'm going in next month to get the ParaGard copper T. My insurance pays for it, and up to 10 years of contraception. Hooray! it will be nice to get off hormones...I'm a good candidate because of a monagamous partner, no STI history, and light to moderate periods. And not having to worry about a pill every single day.

I'll let everyone know how it goes. I just hope I don't expel it.

4/30/2008 11:57:22 PM

I'm getting married and my girl is considering getting an IUD because the hormonal BC has always given her high blood pressure, enough so the doctors or her mom (who's a nurse) or something think that it's better to not be on it. I'm pretty sure she's gone through the pills, the patch, and the Nuvaring thing and they've all done the same thing. It seems to me like a majority of the IUD problems arise in women who haven't previously given birth, so I guess I'm a little worried that she may have complications as well.

I think I'll let her read through this and see some of the experiences you guys have had. She and I both agree that we want to be able to enjoy "married sex" without having to worry about having kids (cause now just isnt the time), and this honestly seems like one of the only options left.

Which also leads me to wonder why diaphragms and contraceptive sponges and things like that have gone out of style. Does all the fiddling and messing with that kind of stuff take the intimacy and enjoyment out of sex? Does it make it too procedural? I dont know...

5/1/2008 2:05:47 AM

as far as i know alot of other methods lost popularity because they arn't as effective

Quote :

"Method: Typical Use Rate of Pregnancy & Lowest Expected Rate of Pregnancy Sterilization: Male Sterilization 0.15% 0.1% Female Sterilization 0.5% 0.5% Hormonal Methods: Implant (Norplant) 0.09% 0.09% Hormone Shot (Depo-Provera) 0.3% 0.3% Combined Pill (Estrogen/Progestin) 5% 0.1% Minipill (Progestin only) 5% 0.5% Intrauterine Devices (IUDs): Copper T 0.8% 0.6% Progesterone T 2% 1.5% Barrier Methods: Male Latex Condom1 14% 3% Diaphragm2 20% 6% Vaginal Sponge (no previous births)3 20% 9% Vaginal Sponge (previous births)3 40% 20% Cervical Cap (no previous births)2 20% 9% Cervical Cap (previous births)2 40% 26% Female Condom 21% 5% Spermicide: (gel, foam, suppository, film) 26% 6% Natural Methods: Withdrawal 19% 4% Natural Family Planning (calendar, temperature, cervical mucus) 25% 1-9% No Method: 85% 85% "

got it off the FDA website. http://www.fda.gov/Fdac/features/1997/conceptbl.html but if you notice the effectiveness for the pull out method and sponge are similar


Anyway, im still having complications with my merana (i dont have kids) three months later and more then anything its just freaking annoying. Im thining bout havin it taken out but it hurt soooooooo gd freakin bad im tying to get my time and money's worth out of it. Plus ppl keep telling me it will get better so......?

5/1/2008 11:01:44 AM

got the Mirena iud over a month ago.
hurt while they put it in.
moderate cramps for 48 hrs.
felt fine ever since.

I'm married and have a 4.5 month old and we want to wait at least 3-4 years before we have a 2nd child.

5/1/2008 11:14:59 AM

Muzition00, if she has severe problems with hormonal BC, she *may* also have problems with Mirena (the hormonal IUD). Most doctors will deny the possibility of related problems, but there's enough anecdotal evidence floating around to scare me away from it. OTOH, the traditional copper IUD (Paragard) won't have those issues, but has its own side effects such as heavier periods and cramping.

If only there were an easily reversible tubal ligation....

5/1/2008 8:41:19 PM

Quote :

"I went in a few weeks ago for Mirena, chickened out (I've had major problems with hormonal BC and didn't want to risk it,"

This combined with super heavy periods is WHY I went with Mirena... I cannot take estrogen, and Mirena is progestine (sp) only. Aside from a little cramping here and there, no big deal. I used to be borderline bat-s*** crazy when I was on BCP's and the Patch. After learning I shouldn't be taking BCP's w/ estrogen (seperate blood condition) Mirena has been great, and little to no craziness.
YAY.

I've had mine since March '06.... One of the longer people on here. Still doing just fine.

5/2/2008 12:36:52 AM

little to no craziness

little to no surprise pregnancy

what's not to like?

5/2/2008 3:20:58 AM

my problem is with the progestin (sp?)...arthritis at 35 is no fun.

i'm waiting until my new insurance kicks in and getting the copper one.

5/2/2008 7:57:52 AM

i thought the risk of progesterone was osteoporosis, not arthritis.

either way, no fun

5/2/2008 12:41:24 PM

Quote :

"This combined with super heavy periods is WHY I went with Mirena... I cannot take estrogen, and Mirena is progestine (sp) only. Aside from a little cramping here and there, no big deal. I used to be borderline bat-s*** crazy when I was on BCP's and the Patch. After learning I shouldn't be taking BCP's w/ estrogen (seperate blood condition) Mirena has been great, and little to no craziness. YAY. I've had mine since March '06.... One of the longer people on here. Still doing just fine."

It's possible she's tried a progestin only pill and still had bad results. Happened to me and that's why I didn't want the mirena.

5/2/2008 8:26:01 PM

well i used to think it was god's gift to man, but my friend had complications with hers cutting her vaginal lining and she started gushing blood.

kills the sexual mood and is rather frightening, but after a shot of depo she was alright (lasted a week or two and would have continued to do so though).

5/2/2008 8:37:25 PM

^^yep, in fact i had a much worse time on the mini-pill than on the combo pills. never had a problem before having a kid, though; never knew those hormonal changes were permanent.

5/2/2008 8:46:56 PM

Quote :

"^^yep, in fact i had a much worse time on the mini-pill than on the combo pills."

Yup, mini-pill caused cramping. Not fun and why I didn't get mirena either. My doc tried to push it really hard until I started asking about what % of patients have it taken out and stuff like that. Then the ugly truth came out.

5/2/2008 9:00:37 PM

^?

5/2/2008 10:23:32 PM

I'm going to throw my 2 cents worth in on 'other' methods of contraception. Since my husband is allergic to latex and we had really bad luck with poly condoms breaking, we tried a number of different things. We definitely tried our share of contraceptive gels, films, and foams. For the most part, they can rob you of spontaneity and just alter the experience (Especially if you are a couple who likes to mix up oral sex and penetration -- spermicide is not yummy.) We found that the film is the least intrusive because it can be inserted 2 hours prior to sex and isn't quite as messy as a gel or foam. We ended up just pulling out most of the time because it was the easiest and least problematic. I have really become a fan of the IUD because it's a no brainer after insertion and we actually get to have sex without any precautions or thought.

I would not have gotten the IUD as a single woman because it would have made unprotected sex too tempting and disease should be just as scary as an unplanned pregnancy.

5/2/2008 11:23:08 PM

Quote :

"^?"

They make a pill with the same hormone as mirena. It produces unpleasant side effects for some people.

5/3/2008 12:16:18 AM

If feels pretty damn good to not ever have to seriously be concerned about being pregnant


especially when you're feeling especially estrogen-laden and are nauseous all morning

6/10/2008 11:20:52 AM

Quote :

"If feels pretty damn good to not ever have to seriously be concerned about being pregnant especially when you're feeling especially estrogen-laden and are nauseous all morning "

It's the best. Even better when you have irregular periods and don't have to worry any more.

6/10/2008 11:54:34 AM

I just got the ParaGard copper T in on Thursday- a few pinches and some discomfort, not as bad as I was expecting. Some ibuprofen for the uterus crunching...period after wasn't bad either. I'm waiting to see how my body adjusts.

No babies for 10 years! Woot!

6/10/2008 8:02:54 PM

bttt

6/12/2009 3:35:25 PM

My wife just got this after us having a baby 7 weeks ago. Definitely worth it as it's minimal impact to her, it wasn't bad except for one day of cramping, none of the bullshit hormonal side effects from BC and so on.

6/12/2009 3:50:04 PM

The IUD I talked about earlier in the thread- I still have it a year later- the cramping went away after 3 days - I actually did a 10 mile bike ride the day of and a 30 miler the next day.

I forget that sucker's in there most of the time- I am careful when I take out the menstrual cup, to prevent any chance of sucking it out since the cervix is more open during the period. My doctor said it's highly unlikely I'm going to cause an accidental expulsion, especially the further I get away from the insertion.

One word on the string- my partner complains sometimes he can feel it because I'm on 'beginner length'- longer than normal- but I'd rather know it's there than not. You might consider getting yours shortened after awhile once you are comfortable in checking it.

6/12/2009 10:10:26 PM

I once panicked and called my doctor on the weekend because I couldn't find the string and my husband couldn't find the string. I went in on Monday and had her take a look. She got real quiet and fiddled around for a really long time before breathing a sigh of relief. Afterward she said, "I really had a knot in my stomach because I couldn't find it, but the strings were tucked back up into the cervix. We'll do a pregnancy test though, just to ease your mind."

It was probably only a few minutes, but the doc and I really suffered some worry while she searched for those damned strings.

Otherwise, it's been over a year and I'm thrilled with the Mirena. I have only menstruated twice on it and it's fantastic.

6/12/2009 10:45:41 PM

my experience with it is that yes, you can feel it, but it isn't uncomfortable or anything. it's just something that is slightly noticeable most of the time. also, it's reassuring for both partners (ha, probably MORE reassuring for the guy, since if you were on the Pill, he'd never know if you were taking it like you should.)

6/13/2009 4:40:39 PM

Menstrual cup? If you have an IUD and you get the occasional period can you use tampons. Is this menstrual cup a personal choice or is it mandatory of the IUD??

6/13/2009 11:47:40 PM

Menstrual cups are an increasingly popular personal choice with a number of advantages over other personal products (comfort, cost, health risks), but they are not necessary in the case of an IUD/C.

6/14/2009 8:14:30 AM

Thanks for the clarification!

6/14/2009 12:31:24 PM

The Paragard Copper-T (my IUD brand) is non-hormonal, and has a tendency to increase the density of my periods (longer and heavier). However, IUD + cup works out just fine- I can tell when it's overflowing and dump it out. Also ideal to monitor your flow if you suspect you have out-of-normal range menstruation (too heavy, too light, etc.) to discuss with your doctor. They even have cm or cc marks stamped on the cup itself

Pros: Overall easier to deal with than tampons or pads, even though I wear pads at night to give my muscles a break from it, I don't have to run to the store to buy products, less environmental waste, more time between changing, little chance of TSS.

Minuses: Takes some practice to put in and clean. Gotta be comfortable with getting all up in your parts to get it out.

(Ok, I sound like I'm promoting this, but seriously I love the Diva Cup.)

6/14/2009 3:25:34 PM

Do you pour it out in the toilet and then rinse it clean in the sink or just dump and shove back in there?

I don't know if I have that sort of comfort level. I mean I'm cool with ripping a tampon out but as soon as I grab it I'm letting it go and only have to see it when I flush or wrap it with tp to trash it.

6/14/2009 4:25:31 PM

6/16/2009 3:41:25 PM

when i asked my gynecologist about the diva cup he said he only had one patient who used it and it was a stripper

i kind of forgot about it after that

6/16/2009 3:59:03 PM

Nerdchick uses one, and I think there are a few other TWW chicks who do, too.

6/16/2009 7:22:09 PM

^^ Not to hate, but it sounds like your gynecologist doesn't have any personal experience with menstrual cups, being a guy, and not seeing it in practice. Sounds like the same ones that tell you not to use tampons to remain a virgin

I firmly switched to the cup after getting constant yeast infections and rashes while using disposable pads, even after pursuing conventional methods like better hygiene from partner, prescription and OTC antifungal medications, etc. After I switched to cup/cloth pads, problem went away.

6/16/2009 9:47:36 PM

Love the DivaCup, love the ParaGard. I have a bunch of o.b. tampons sitting around if anyone wants those nasty buggers.

[Edited on June 16, 2009 at 10:54 PM. Reason : asdf]

6/16/2009 10:53:55 PM