What kind of birth control do you use? Does it cause any side effects?

Carla - posted on 09/12/2009

I have done the pill and depo. I love the depo just because there are no periods to worry about I did gain a little weight on both. But not too badly. The depo did make me have a 3 month long period after the first shot but then after that nothing. It was heavenly. The pill made me gain more weight then the shot but again not too bad. Like Leah says though they affect everyone differently. I knew one lady on depo who even after the second depo shot didn't stop bleeding until the shots wore off. but the every 3 months bc worked for me

Evelyn - posted on 09/12/2009

wow. lots of people seem to have the IUD. for those who have it, how was your experience of having it inserted? that's the part that freaks me out. what do they do? and how do they get it out when it expires?

Jennifer - posted on 09/12/2009

I started on the pill and had my son, then the shot and had my daughter. So, my doctor won't let me take the shot or pill so I got the IUD. I loved it kept it for 3 years then decided i didn't want anymore kids so I got my tubes tied. Hated that! It was So painful for me.

Tray - posted on 09/12/2009

hi ive got the implanon implant it lasts 3 years ive had mine for ive had mine for 11 months now the only side effect ive had is very light to no periods at all.

Katrina - posted on 09/12/2009

i'm using a pill called Gracial. i've been using it for a couple of months now and haven't experienced any side effect like the other pills so like headache and nausea. so far it's the best method i've tried.

Yhounic - posted on 09/11/2009

IUD, its the best, had it in for 2 years now, the only side effect i've experienced is spoting in the middle of the month. With this u don't have anyhing to worry about, trust me.

Liz - posted on 09/11/2009

I had an IUT for 5 years and loved it

Latoya - posted on 09/11/2009

to be honest with you all medicine have side effects. bc is going to have those side effectto because of the progesterone but i was told nuva ring and mirena were good.

Keelie - posted on 09/11/2009

I use the Mirena IUD and it works great, ive had it 1yr 7 monthes and i had my period for about 6 or 7 monthes but it lessened every time, now i have no period, i still get slight cramps for about half a day a month. But i can live with that. haha. It may not work for everyone but it probably worth the try, it can always be removed whenever you want so..

Leah - posted on 09/11/2009

I have been using a pill Alesse 28 for several years. I usually have tried others (depo-provera shot, orthotrycylin pill) and they caused lots of side affects like bleeding. This one seems to work best for me. Good luck on your search!

Lindsey - posted on 09/11/2009

I don't want to have any more of my own children, but am considering becoming a surrogate in the future so I opted for Mirena, the IUD. It is long lasting and has very few side effects. I suffer from migraine headaches but have had no increase. I also have no bloating or nausea.

Nicole - posted on 09/11/2009

After I had my son we were only using condoms and guess what I was pregnant before my son was 3 months. So I'd use and IUD. I heard they work great. Don't trust just using a condom. I'm a good example that they don't always work. Ooh and theres also some lawsuit against Yaz so I probably wouldn't try that. Has caused some major problems in women that used it. Not all women.

Meghan - posted on 09/11/2009

I have Mirena and could not be happier! I used to be on the pill and using condoms and still got pregnant with twins. They run in the family and apparently we are incredibly fertile so the fact that we don't have any more babies is proof that it works! No side affects, no periods. Does it get any better than that?!

Mschelseamac - posted on 09/11/2009

Good Ol' Yasmin! It hasn't caused me to gain a ton of weight or sent me into a moody mess. My PMS actually got much better once I started it.

Kelly - posted on 09/11/2009

i have mirena, i have experienced a little weight gain, but not much and also some light spotting however my actual period has practically stopped and i have only had it for three months....i like it because i dont have to worry abouttaking a pill or getting a shot...once its in, its in!

Iysha - posted on 09/11/2009

Mirena BC. It's an IUD. Only side effects that I have experienced in the 3 weeks I've been on it is Mild crampin for the first 2 days, and irregular bleeding. The whole bleeding thing kinda freaked me out... think I'm traumatized cause I had a whole lot of issues with bleeding in my 3rd trimester.lol. But, Called the doc and irregular bleeding is actually normal with this birth control for the first 6 months.



I have tried the shot, many pills, the patch, and the ring... so far, besides the bleeding... I like the IUD. The fact that I don't have to think about it or really do anything is great. plus, I have major issues with hormones...I get crazy (I cry, get irritable, and am just a mess). So the other birth contol methods I used sucked for me. lol. This one has less hormones, and I'm doing fine so far.



I like the Idea that I may not get a period after a while which is fine because there is no reason to when you're on a birth control -per doctor. The reason women get their period on the pill, patch, etc. is because of that grace period where they aren't getting hormones. for example, with the pill, the different colored pills are the grace period.

Helen - posted on 09/10/2009

Andrea do you mean Mirena, because as a pharmacy technician I can tell you that it does contain hormones, and enough to stop your periods which is,for me, already way too much hormone

Andrea - posted on 09/10/2009

I always hated birth controle i could never fond one that didn't cause side affects for me n e thing with hormones wouldn't work for me. So when my dr told me about the IUD - meraina he told me it had almost 0 hormones in fact the hormones are so lil you can't even detect the hormone in a blood test. i love it! I've been on it for a yr now and 1 yr free of menstral cycles! i would deffinitly recomend the IUD

Kristain - posted on 09/10/2009

I have Mirena... This is my second time having it. The first time I had it it lasted almost two years before it came out on its own with no explination and the doctors still have no clue as to why. Both this time and last time I have had no complaints with it at all. After a month after having it put in I have NO periods at all. I have no mood swings, bloating, weight gain. I love it.... and the fact that it lasts up to 5 years is a huge bonus. Not to mention all the money you save on hygeine products.



I tried the pill... couldnt remember to take it everyday

The patch made me sick and I got pregnant while using it

My Dr will not do depo since it has been shown to cause bone density problems



Like the other women have said Different things effect different people in different ways. I really hope that you do some extencive research or talking with your doctor before making a decision and not just make your decision based on word of mouth.

Codi - posted on 09/10/2009

I LOVED my Mirena IUD... I will have another one put in after this baby is born!

Melissa - posted on 09/10/2009

I personally use the IUD MIRENA as well....I had issues when it was inserted.... (pain and lightheadedness at the doctors office) however I have now had it for a year and love it...I still have periods but they only last a couple days and are very light...NO cramping... no weight gain or loss..... and I don't have to remember to take a pill!!! Overall I love it!

Jane - posted on 09/09/2009

I use Paragard, the copper IUD. Thus far, it's been great! I'm breastfeeding still so I haven't had the heavy periods like the dr said I might have. But my periods were never too heavy to begin with so I could probably deal with it. And I get to keep it in for 10 years.

Rebecca - posted on 09/09/2009

i have a copper IUD and think its great, it doesnt have any synthetic hormones so those of us who are sensitive to them (eg me) can use it. i have had mine in for 1y4m, the first 6ish months were hell for me it gave me really nasty cramps and really heavy bleeding, now the cramps arnt nast and the bleeding isnt as heavy but i now bleed for 2ish weeks where i only used to bleed for 3 days before i got it.

i havnt had any weight gain/loss due to it, it doesnt make me any more bloated than i normally get when i have my period and i dont get nausea.



where i live the copper IUD is free to women who live in the country

Katarina - posted on 09/09/2009

I use the evra patch. I love it! I used it before I got pregnant with no side effects and am using it again with no side effects. it's 3 weeks on one week off. I've had lighter,regular periods and don't have to worry about a pill everyday. Once a week you change it and the 4th week you're patch free. Great!

Anna - posted on 09/09/2009

If you want something with no symptoms, there's the natural fertility method. If you are disciplined enough to do it right it is at least as effective as the pill. You have to take your temperature every morning as soon as you wake up and record it on a chart along with a couple of other symptoms to determine when you are ovulating. You can work out exactly when you are going to be fertile and either not have sex or use condoms during that time. I used it for 2 years and it worked fine, then when I decided to have a baby, I got pregnant first try.

Amber - posted on 09/09/2009

I haave had both iuds and had them both taken out. The mirena due to weight gain and the copper due to heavy periods and cramping. I feel that I am left with no options because I just can't handle the hormones and have an appt next week to have my tubes tied. I'm not too sure about it but a lot of ppl that I'm close too think I should. If you deal well with hormones, the mirena was good because I hardly had my period on it!

Jessann - posted on 09/09/2009

I had an IUD. I had it removed because i kept having heavy bleeding every few months and horrible cramping, then I had an ectopic pregnancy with my IUD. Now I have the Implanon and it seems to be good so far, but I have only had it about a month.

Helen - posted on 09/09/2009

you were real lucky sylvia, of the three of us in my entourage who had an iud only one had no problems - i personally got heavy periods every 3 or 4 months, huge mood swings and every month around the time i would have had a period i gained 2 or 3 kilos. Guess it doesn't suit everyone and i was unlucky

Sylvia - posted on 09/09/2009

I tell all my friends and family to try an IUD. At first you might have a heavy period for maybe the first 3 months but once you body is use to the IUD your periods become light, and your protected for 5 years!! I ask every1 whats worse 3 months of heavy periods or labor *lol*?? And the best thing about an IUD is theres no weight gain or mood swings to worry about :o) Hopefully this info helped in someway.

Helen - posted on 09/09/2009

right now we're only using condoms but before i had a mirena coil and i hated it. I would have no period for 3 or 4 months then spend a week curled up on the couch bleeding heavily

Christine - posted on 09/09/2009

i have a copper iud so far no side effects only had it for two months and im nursing so i havnt had my peirod yet but i hear it can cause bad cramps and hevy bleeding this one i have last 5 years!

Amber - posted on 09/09/2009

I have Mirena and love it. My periods stopping is about the only side effect I have had but I am not complaining

Evelyn - posted on 09/09/2009

I have the Implanon (progesterone rod inserted under the skin in the inner upper arm.) Lasts for 3 years. Ive had mine in 1.5 years. Very good, high contraceptive protection. Every body is different in how they react/get side effects. I personally don't have many and found it good. I don't get periods anymore! They put it in at the GPs with local anaesthetic. Pressure bandage for 3 days. Had quite a bit of upper arm bruising for 1 week with it. When bruising settled down I couldn't feel it moving in there, except if i purposefully feel for it with my fingers. I must admit I am dreading the time when the Dr has to take it out and put a new one in. In the past, I have tried the Depo Provera (3 monthly muscle injections) and the pill. Took my body ages to return to being fertile again after stopping the Depo Injections (long time for me to conceive my 2nd child), pill gave me painful periods and bloating and it annoyed me to remember to take it everyday.

Alisha - posted on 09/09/2009

Right now I am on the IUD - Mirena. I have been on it for almost 4 years now with no side effects. It's any easy procedure at your OBG and it's good for 5 years. If you don't plan on having another one within 5 years I would highly recomend it. It has very low hormones in it so you don't have all the side effects like you would with the pill or shot. If you want more information on it check out their website www.mirena-us.com. Hope this helps!

Leah - posted on 09/09/2009

Hi at the moment i have a thing called a copper T in, it last for 11 years. Ive found it to be ok. At first thou i got bad period pains and a heavy period. But now its ok and ive had it in for 3 years. Everything affects people different, so something that dont work for one person may be better for you. Maybe look it up on the net and read up about it. Then go and see ur doctor.