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Ok, so I need some advice. I'm tired of the pill. I've been on it for 10 years and I'm sick of taking it. I'm a shiftworker and my schedule is all over, so I either forget, or accidently double up and end up short. I've been looking into the implant (goes in the arm, but not the shot), or an IUD. Anyone have any suggestions, comments, experience?

I was on the pill for years as well. I hate taking pills and having to take one daily sucked. I tried the implant (cant remember the name of it) a decade or so ago and I gained weight like crazy, so I had it removed.
I now have the Mirena IUD. I rarely get periods anymore and when I do, they're very light. I think I've had it for about two years now and I love it.

How about acne? Did it hurt?

There is a birth control hormonal patch. Change it once a week, I believe.

I have the other IUD, the Paraguard Copper T, and I love it.

This is my second go around with the Paraguard. I had the first removed in order to TTC but as I got into my early 40's and no baby I decided it was time to prevent for real again and had a new one implanted.

The procedure is relatively painless (mild cramps) and other than that it has been easy peasy.

I still get a period every month because the Paraguard is non-hormonal. Which also means no acne or any other side effects of the hormones.

I highly recommend for b/c.

Feel free to PM me if you have any other questions.

My daughter has the implant in her arm. It is great. No period for 3 years and she has experienced no side effects. She is on it for a medical condition rather than birth control, but she likes it so much better than the pill.

IUD's are the bomb. Seriously they do a great job of keeping you from getting pregnant. It is important to discuss with your Dr your family history of breast cancer. If you have it, you should opt for a hormone free IUD.

I like the option of not having to worry about the hormones too. Some folks have bad side effects from those. (I was a nutjob on them the 2 days before, and 2 days after my period).

So my voted IUD.

When I found myself unexpectedly single at age 45, I had to start worrying about BC again. My XWH had a V, so I hadn't even thought about it for years.

I got the Mirena IUD. When I was young, I tried pills, but the hormones messed me up. The amount of hormones in the Mirena is VERY LOW and it didn't give me any problems. I had it in for 5 years - no periods past the initial spotting and cramping. It was the BOMB.

When I turned 50, I had it removed, had one period and went through menopause. Easy peasy.

NL

I am so old fashioned. I would use a diaphragm. No hormones and I can get it out of there myself.

How about acne? Did it hurt?

I've never been prone to acne, so that wasn't an issue.
I did have cramping (it felt like menstrual cramps) the day of the insertion, but I've been fine ever since.

Just so you know, there are IUDs that don't have hormones (copper IUDs like JRC's for example) if the hormones in B/C are an issue for you.

ETA: I should mention that I dont use Mirena for birth control (my tubes were tied after my son was born). I requested Mirena because I'm chronically anemic and my periods were just this side of a slaughter house scene. The combination of the two left me weak and tired all the time. With the absence of my Monster Monthlies (thanks to Mirena) and a daily iron supplement, I'm just a little bundle of energy!

[This message edited by GabyBaby at 11:11 AM, October 2nd (Wednesday)]

Barrier method: gets a B- to A-
Condoms
Female Condom (more difficult to use)
Spermicide with both
Sponge if it is on the market
diaphragm
cervical cap

Hormones:
Both estrogen and progesterone (mimics pregnancy); your body thinks you are already pregnant so you don't ovulate
Combined oral contraceptive pills
Orthoevra patch (change weekly)
Nuvaring (change monthly)
Benefits: gets an A; A+ when combined with barrier methods; most people do not have bad side effects

Progesterone only contraceptive: (mimics menopause; side effects are those of menopause); gets an A+++
Minipill (take daily)
Depoprovera shot (lasts three months)
Mirena IUD (lasts five years)
Implanon/Nexplanon implants (lasts three years)

Permenant:
vasectomy
tubes tied
ovaries removed

Misc:
Copper IUD

T/j:

Misc:
Copper IUD

OMG I'm a Miscellaneous

End T/j

I had one of the permanent ones - tubal ligation - about 20 years ago. From what I was told, they cut, stitched closed then cauterized. Not 100% sure on that last one though. Seems like overkill if they did.

The pill didn't work too well with one of my sisters. She has 4 kids, got pregnant with two of them while on it. My niece (the second "pill baby") was born with a cleft lip (NOT a cleft palate) which she had fixed when she was 6.

I don't think I want to do anything permanent (mostly because of how invasive it is). I'm definitely done having kids, but don't want to be cut. My only concern are the effects of coming off of the pill for the IUD. I came off briefly after my ex and I separated since I didn't need it, but my face broke out and my cramps/period got awful. I don't want to go through that again. Will the Mirena be beneficial in that regard?

The combined hormones help with acne. The progesterone only can cause acne but usually don't.