Contraception?

[KittenKelly]

Hi everyone,
Just wondering if anyone can give me advice on the different types of contaception available to us all and the pros and cons of each. I tried to talk to my GP about it at my 6 week check up but they were hell busy (must be all the swine flu gobbledegook) and she just didnt take the time to talk to me about it in depth. I dont really want to take the pill again, but what is the mini pill? What is the difference? I want to avoid anything that may lead to weight gain!
Thanks :)

[kobi'smama]

Hi
I was in this boat a few weeks ago.
My Gyno suggested the Mirena (a little thing inserted at the opening of the uterus) It is good for 5 years and the hormone only concentrates on your uterus not your whole body like the pill so when u want it taken out they just pull it out and you can TTC straight away. The actual Mirena is $300 and then whatever your gyno charges to put it in. I was all set to get it until i read all of the people's threads on here about it, apparently has some side effects. Although many good stories. This is also safe while breast feeding which is why i was opting for it. You do not get your periods on it or if you do suppose to only be light spotting for a day or so.
Then I went to my Gp for something unrelated and he asked me about what i was doing for contraception, i told him what i was thinking but he seemed to want me to go on the mini pill. Cons for this is you only have a 3 hour window to take it everyday - so same time everyday within 3 hours exactly otherwise may not be accurate (with a new baby may be hard to remember). Also it may dry your milk up or lessen your supply.

So at this point I have a prescription for the mini pill and a prescription for the Mirina (u need a script for it) sitting here and have no idea what im doing.
Think ill stick to the old Condoms for now - its not like we are going at it hammer and tongs anyway...much to DH disgust! :laughing:
Hope that helped a little.

[The sooper nanny]

Im not sure where you live but have a look at the family planning website for your state. They have everything available and the info to go with it so you can make an informed choice.

I too will be opting for the mirena.. so convenient and due to a neurological condition dont want to take the pill anymore. Ive been on it for 10 yrs! :no: Im getting a referral from my Ob at my 6 week check. Dh says if we get pregnant on it, the baby will be called mirena... :laughing:

[Nanay]

I was considering the Mirena, but after discussing with DH he did not want the thought of having a string there and he thinks he will "hit"...so if he's not comfortable it wont be as good for us. I did not want to take the pill again..so for now we're not using anything ... i was thinking about the implanon but i knew someone who had a massive infection at the site and had to get it removed, i know its only a small percentage. Then there is the injections, its only a matter of making a booking but with two kids and possibly full time work when i get back to it, its gonna be hard to manage for me.
As PP mentioned check the Family planning site..nothing there appealed to me and DH though.
And we are both too young to think about sterilisation although we want the 2 boys to be it.

[Ushas]

Gosh it all sounds so complicated... I'll just slot it into the too hard basket for now...

Contraception for the moment is me going... "Sex?? Hahahahahah...B*gger off!" :)

[Hunter's Mum]

I havn't actually used this site as yet but it has been all over the radio for the last 2 days..

http://www.whatcontraceptiveareyou.com.au/

Supposidly gives you all the options and you can do a survey or something to find out which one most suits your needs..

[muminshock]

Contraception for the moment is me going... "Sex?? Hahahahahah...B*gger off!" :)

I'm with you! I actually awoke last night with a fright from a nightmare, I saw DH's penis - that's contraception enough for me :laughing:

[KittenKelly]

Thanks for the advice so far ladies. I must admit that DTD is the last thing on my mind at the moment, but when it does happen the last thing I want at the moment is to fall pregnant again! Some time in the future... yes. Right now... HELL NO!

So I think I've limited my decision to choosing between two options... the injection or the implant.

That contraception website says with the injection it may delay the return to your normal fertility for up to 18 months after single or multiple hormone injections. Not really liking the sound of that though as I have PCOS so its hard enough for me to conceive normally without adding that to it

And I've heard with the implant that it may lead to weight gain, but I'm not sure if this is correct.

Does anyone know any more about any of that?

[Herchy]

My GP suggested against the implant as he has seen to many bad side effects from it. I was not keen on it at all.... sometimes they can go missing, and I just don't like the idea of someone putting something like that into my body. Freaks me out. I feel the same about the Mirena.
I asked about the injections, my GP didn't think it was a good idea for me either, adn the fact you have to go back every 3 months to get it would be painful for me (considering the distance I live from my Doctors surgery).
I've got the script for the mini pill. Haven't started it yet, I'm another who is just not keen on DTD at the moment, although I have also just gotten my first AF since giving birth (even though I am breastfeeding... grrrrr).

Not sure that any of that helps. haha But good luck!

[Hooves]

The mini pill, is fairly reliable, if taken correctly, and you are breast feeding. But it does have a higher rate of failure then the normal pill.

If you are breast feeding you can not take the full strength pill, hence the mini pill.

The Mirena, while it says is good for 5 years, get it changed at 4 years at least, or you may find you have a bundle before your last bub turns 6.

And the strings are not a problem for partners, because unless they are hung like a donkey they are not even going to know it is there.


The depo, shot is safe for breast feeding mums, and very reliable, but one of the side effects of this is, you may have bleeding on and off, more often then a normal period, or you may not have a period at all.


The implanon, is also safe for breast feeding mums, but I always had an issue with the scarring they leave, when removed. My sis has a horrible scar on her arm. I wondered how bad It would look, after a few cycles of removal and replacing that?


I reckon, there should be a reliable male contraceptive, and I think it isn't fair that no one has done one yet.

I mean we get pregnant, have the babies, are usually the primary carers for the babies, and then we are expected to remember to take a pill?!! What is up with that? :laughing:




If I had to choose a contraceptive again, I would go the mirena at least I know that one is not up to me, and doesn't affect my fertility, etc.

But I opted for a permanent contraception this time, around. Contraceptives and ME, don't really work, so well. :laughing:

Good luck choosing what is best for you. I know it seems confusing and intimacy is not even on your mind right now, but when you are ready to be intimate, make sure you are convered.

[greeneyes81]

Thanks for the advice so far ladies. I must admit that DTD is the last thing on my mind at the moment, but when it does happen the last thing I want at the moment is to fall pregnant again! Some time in the future... yes. Right now... HELL NO!

So I think I've limited my decision to choosing between two options... the injection or the implant.

That contraception website says with the injection it may delay the return to your normal fertility for up to 18 months after single or multiple hormone injections. Not really liking the sound of that though as I have PCOS so its hard enough for me to conceive normally without adding that to it

And I've heard with the implant that it may lead to weight gain, but I'm not sure if this is correct.

Does anyone know any more about any of that?


Heya I have cystic ovaries and took the depo when I was alot younger and found it very hard to conceive, I spoke to my doctor last week and said it can really affect your fertility and take anywhere from 1-2yrs for your ovaries to go back to normal. On the plus side most times you dont get a period on depo.. We are just going to use condoms even tho we hate them because I dont want to be slightly infertile again as we would like to start conceiving next year for another bub :)

[KittenKelly]

Thanks greeneyes. I was leaning towards the depo injection but based on yours and others feedback re: return to fertility will now be ruling it out. Its hard enough to conceive naturally, don't need to add another variable!

Looks like we're leaning towards condoms. Seems weird to me... It's something I associate with my younger pre marriage days! I broached it with hubby and expected him to run a mile but i think cos hes so keen to DTD again he'll try anything. Hahahaha.

[greeneyes81]

Hehehe sounds like my poor dh :laughing:

[2pink 1on way]

i am seeing a gyno in 2 weeks to disucuss my options but i think i want a copper IUD as i find anything hormonal distroys my sex drive and i have heard that the copper IUD doesnt affect it cause there are no hormones in it and it lasts 10 years, yay. Has anyone heard any good or bad comments about this form of contraception i really dont want to use condoms cause i know in the heat of the moment we wont use it and i will be pregnant again and i think 3 kids are enough for us.

DH will be getting the snip later we just want to be 100% sure we dont want anymore.

[Seekrit]

I had the Mirena put in on Wednesday (6 weeks post partum) I didn't even feel anything going on, it was great, the doctor said it was a really easy insertion.

Re: Strings and Sex, Dr explained that if they clip the strings too short, men have complained about being "spiked" during sex :laughing: and if that's the case they can take it out and reinsert another one but clip the strings a bit longer.

You can also have a pap smear done while they're down there - may as well, right? :)

I bled for the afternoon after I had it done, then I was all good, they say to expect period-like-pain but as yet I haven't felt a thing!!

Also $300 :eek: get a PBS prescription, they're only $36 on those :p $300 is for a private prescription so it's not covered by PBS.

[intrusion]

Just thought I would add some feedback... I had mine mirena inserted today and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I paid $36 for mine as well and it cost $310 for the Gyno to put it in. But I went there for other problems as well. I felt a bit of pain from the contraption that opens the virgina like when you get a pap smear (TMI? Sorry) and period like pain while it was being inserted. It was quick and I was out of there in no time. No bleeding or pain since... good luck with your decisions.