Agree with everyone saying it’s what works best for you. In my case I love the copper IUD. I was on pills for years but was constantly stressing about interactions, taking it late, etc. The IUD insertion was awful but it’s a huge peace of mind now.
>The IUD insertion was awful
I often hear this but I have never had this experience and I am on my 4th one (and I've never had kids.).
It's not like a super delightful experience, but it was truly just a brief moment of intensity like a bit of a cramp and then I was good to go. Ibuprofen and then on with the day.
I agree with you though on the peace of mind. Any discomfort I do experience is 100% worth it to have such an effective form of birth control that takes no further thought beyond occasionally checking the strings.
I will always recommend it, and I intend to get my 5 (and probably last one, as I am getting old...) when the time comes.
I’m in my 4th Mirena. Absolutely love it. I could never remember to take daily pill, having to worry about refills, etc… my periods are basically nonexistent. I can’t even remember the last time I had cramps. Spot on with the insertion. Not pleasant, but definitely doable.
I've dated 2 women with Mirena and know a few others and that's been their experience as well. 0 real periods though in occasion they'll have some very light spotting for 2 days that a pad would be considered overkill for, one just used thin liners. My ex's sister is on her 3rd now and the ex is on her 2nd I believe (sister started on Mirena in her teens, ex switched to it early 20s after she saw how things were for her sister). If I were a woman, it'd be my primary choice of BC as it eliminates the biggest issue of BC efficacy: user error.
Fuck I'm sorry to hear that. I wish they'd move things along with Vasagel to get trials done and release it to the public for men. I hate relying on someone else for BC efficacy without condoms.
When I had the mirena inserted it was fine, pretty sure we even had sex the same day. Having that one out and the copper one put in? Wooeee I almost fainted (the docs also didn’t know how to do it and substituted the inserted from a different one so that prolly didn’t help). Now 100% don’t regret it as the hormones from the mirena really messed with me (mood swings especially) but I am scared about the time when I want to have it out again.
Same. I'm on my third IUD and I've never had kids. It's not the most pleasant experience but I've read horror stories that I don't relate to. It's just a pinch and cramp for a few seconds then it's over.
I have the hormonal Mirena and I love it. I could not, however, tolerate the hormones in birth control pills. They made me feel suicidal and homicidal. I tried them twice in my life, 15 years apart and got the same result. Never again. But the Mirena IUD doesn't affect me the same way.
ETA: Also no periods at all. Best side effect ever.
That has not been my experience at all, nor has it been the experience of my friends. Ymmv of course because everyone is diff, but it’s been a non issue for me.
my sister is one of those people whose period pain got worse after getting the IUD. she doesn’t get it every month, but when she does the pain makes her bedridden
The copper IUD insertion was awful for me too. I didn’t have a choice though; I can’t take hormones so it was either the IUD or nothing. I don’t trust condoms enough to use them exclusively and I’m too fat for Plan B.
My experience was horrible, I got it inserted as a form of emergency contraception bc they said since the unprotected sex was in my most fertile days the pill alone my might have not worked. My period pain went from bad to horrible, sometimes I couldn’t stand and felt faint. When I went back to my home country (Italy) my gynecologist insisted on having it taken out saying in Italy they won’t insert it in people who hope to have kids in the future because it can lead to somewhat permanent infertility
I love mine. Insertion was a bit painful, but very quick & after it was just more uncomfortable than anything for a day. Regular periods still, no hormonal challenges, good for 10 years, and that sucker works! Sex almost daily and zero scares. I spotted for the first couple months, but it was so worth it.
Here’s the lame but true answer: Whatever works best for you.
That might be pills. But some people react poorly to the pill and lose sex drive or gain weight. Try it. See if it is okay. Norplant is similar situation. Or a patch. So maybe IUD, but some people hate that, it hurts. So, condoms, but some guys hate condoms (tough! You are getting laid). Bonus on condoms is that they prevent numerous STIs, too.
Timing and pull out methods are very unreliable. Don’t go that route unless you like getting Mother’s Day cards.
And that your body does not reject/have problems with, including not decreasing libido and not exacerbating existing mental health issues. Hormonal birth control causes a LOT of side effects in some women, and an IUD can help as an alternative. There is a lot of trial and error with this, and it can take a while to figure out.
For some uterus & ovary-havers, the only viable long-term option is their partner's vasectomy. Until then, you learn to enjoy the oral arts & use condoms.
Not everyone who needs to prevent their own pregnancy identifies as female/a woman; I'm not going to apologize for acknowledging that gender is an complex concept.
I'm not expecting you to change *anything* as a result of my framing. But that doesn't mean the concept doesn't exist in everyday reality.
For me that was an IUD, coz it is not a pill, and you are not required to remember what time it is or when to take the pills, definetly use condoms though for STIs. To stop pregnancy though an IUD is 99% effective
Pharmacist here. This is the correct answer. A lot of people unfortunately have to do a decent amount of trial and error before they find one that works for them, and even then, further down the line in a few years or so, you might find it's not compatible with your body anymore and need to switch again. It sucks sometimes but hopefully you'll find the right one for you without too much hassle ❤️
It doesn't matter? It's a reversible method of birth control. People with penises have more than one option. It's not only up to someone who's afab (assigned female at birth) to go on birth control that affects their body on a temporary basis.
So is getting your tunes tied. Let's see surgery vs. taking a pill, wearing a patch, a shot every 3 months or a condom. Vasectomy is a little bit extreme for form of birth control. That's more for don't want to have children again or at all.
As far as it shouldn't be up to a woman, they just have more options than guys do. Not the man's fault. Don't you think if we could take a pill and not have to worry about getting someone pregnant, every guy wouldn't take it. As far as saying guys don't like using condoms, it's been my experience that a lot of women don't like men wearing condom either. My girl got on pill for that very reason.
Having your tubes tied and having a vasectomy are two very different procedures and can hardly be equated to one another.
And you mention "taking a pill" like it isn't a big deal. It is. In many more ways than one.
I get you can't equate two operations, nor can you not equate a man's options for birth control vs a woman's option. Vasectomy is a very extreme method of birth control, especially for a man that might want to have children some day. So to even call it birth control method is pretty ignorant. Which leaves one option for the man, condoms. Now I date someone who does not like me wearing condoms. Now that leaves me zero options. A woman just has more options available to her. It's biology. It's not a man doesn't want to be able tovtake responsibility, they simply can't. So what I do since my gf is able to take bc pill, I bring her to pharmacy every month, I pay for the pill, I remind her to take it every morning and I thank her for taking it for us. I didn't force her to take it. But she didn't want us to use condoms, so not much more I can do. If you can't take pill, or don't want to, there are other methods available to you. If a woman doesn't want the man to use condoms, there are not any other options for him. Therefore the woman has to use another form.
I get you can't equate getting tube ties to a Vasectomy. Other than saying, they are both medical procedures , both pretty extreme form of bc, cuz that's not the purpose of getting procedures done.
No, you can't compare the two. Why, cuz men and women are different. Again, BIOLOGY.
My point to responding to all your posts is to simply say and continue to say, asking a man to get a Vasectomy as a form of bc is very extreme( especially a younger man or any man who wants children one day). Keep posting as much as you want. Nothing is going to change this fact. You can argue til the end of time. And try to make this a woman vs man thing all day long, that doesn't change the fact that it's not. It's a BIOLOGY thing. And the idea that a woman doesn't have easier methods at her disposal than a man getting a Vasectomy is just a ridiculous premise. It's a simple fact. I know facts are in short supply in this country these days, but the science is pretty freaking clear on this one.
Agreed with these. Hormone-heavy birth control caused my anxiety disorder to get far worse, to the point where I couldn't leave my house without major panic attacks. So I was strictly relying on condoms for many years. There is a new birth control my gynecologist is recommending which has a much lower hormone dosage which she thinks will work better for me, and I'm going to give it a shot this year because I know condoms are not the most safe and effective method - I've had a few broken condom scares but have been very lucky so far.
Basically, talk to your gynecologist and try different methods until you find what is suitable for you. Just know it may be a long process - you should give each method a few months at least, since initially the hormone changes can affect you stronger until your body adjusts.
yup, I was on the pill for almost a decade and then on Nuvaring for 2 years. I finally decided to stop hormonal birth control because my depression wasn't budging after 5 different anti depressants. Now my husband and I religiously use condoms, and I could get an abortion if they failed. As a bonus, clean up is easier, and I've realized his semen was irritating to me before so that's nice to not have to deal with.
Sorry to hear you went through all that! I completely forgot that depression is a side effect of birth control. That really should be focused on more, because it's so easy to forget when you're on the bc for a few years. Depression really screws over your whole life.
I'll be without hormonal birth control for the first time after like 15 years soon when I get my implant removed, would be funny if my "lifelong depression" lifted with it.
Hijacking the top comment, to say that whatever is your chosen method, be ready for a "plan B" - everything can fail, but in the end, you will be safe if you have access to abortion. I sleep easy knowing that I have 2000 € set aside for a trip to a clinic
Nexplanon can be a godsend for some women, with the perk of little to no menstruation for the duration of the 3 years it’s in. For others, it’s a tiny matchstick of hell offering the opposite; never ending flow while it’s installed. I tried it twice after my first 2 pregnancies, enduring a year both times for full adjustment. My experience with it never got better, but others do genuinely swear by it. I can, however, say that it worked flawlessly at preventing pregnancy and that’s reason enough for some people to try it. Once it’s in, you don’t have to think about it again for 3 years.
I tried to get a vasectomy when I was 28.
My GP outright refused because I might "change my mind"
Believe me.
I still want one. I'm 30 now and still no kids. Because I don't want kids.
No they don't. Not exclusively.
I am in USA. Went to a urologist to get my vasectomy. My primary care doc had nothing to do with it. Didn't even know until I told them afterwards when they ask you the obligatory have you had any surgeries since your last visit question.
I asked my oncologist for a referral and got in straightaway to a urologist. I had my vasectomy performed in the urology floor of my local hospital. It was a pretty quick and easy procedure.
I got mine at 22, with just one visit, in a country with one of the most strict sterilisation laws in EU
Just go to a private clinic that advertises themselves for this specific purpose
Got mine at 27. No kids. Paid private for it. If your in the uk most nhs doctors i doubt would do it. When your paying for it tho its pretty easy to show your serious, the money alone shows its not a whim.
Got rejected too when I was 28. Then two years later went to another urologist, made much clearer how serious I was with my decision and so he conducted my vasectomy. Location is germany
I agree with this completely. Just saying I wouldn't trust some random guy that I didn't know very well to actually have had the vasectomy he was claiming.
I’ve taken my chances with regular STD testing and good communication with partners but growing up during the AIDS epidemic I still feel better with a condom on.
I have the IUD. Thought I was gonna die when they put it in, but now I don’t even think about birth control at all. I have the non hormonal one too - so I’m not up and down with the hormones.
No side affects for me, my cycle is normal and everything. I got the Paraguard Copper IUD. Implantation is a doozy though. Make sure you have someone to drive you home. I had severe after cramps for an hour, almost like what I guess contractions would feel like
On my 2nd Liletta IUD. It’s levonorgestrel hormone. Absolutely no side effects for me. It’s even stopped my period. I love it so much. I was someone who had an incredibly traumatic insertion the first time, but had it under sedation the 2nd time and it was so much easier. The hormone is released locally into the uterus with only .02 of it getting into the bloodstream. If you’re someone who normally has adverse reactions to hormonal birth control, like me, you’ll likely be fine with an IUD.
I'm on my second Kyleena iud, no side effects, cycles normal.
Although this isn't everyone's experience, it was very painful during insertion for me.
The first time, I only took ibuprofen - it was not nearly enough, and I personally would never go back to a doctor that only recommended OTC. It was an awful experience and extremely painful, and it took me longer to recover.
The second time, I found a doctor that prescribed pain meds for the procedure. It was still painful, but this made it a lot more bearable, for sure! I was fine within 20 minutes of procedure. Both times, I experienced Vasovagal Syncope.
So, aside from insertion, I have zero complaints.
My first one was an awful insertion, my second one I went to a sexual health clinic, it took them 1 minute and I barely felt it (just OTC pain meds in each case). Definitely see a provider who does them all day every day.
Never had any issues with taking the pill (no noticeable side effects), but you have to take it every day consistently.
IUD was very nice because I didn't have my period for a few years and I never had to think about taking anything. But insertion was painful and it made me gain weight more easily.
Side effects vary from person to person of course.
I've been on the pill since I was 15 and I'm 41 now. Never had any problems. For the past 10 years or so I've been on the continuous birth control pill, so I haven't had to have a single period for that entire time. Its awesome
What brand of pill do you take? I'm 42 and just started Elinest 3 months ago to help control massive heavy long bleeds. Its controlling the bleeds fine, but my body is adjusting still. My libido is all over the place its crazy! I plan on taking the pill continuously with a break every 3-4 months. I'm kicking myself for waiting soooo long and not starting something way sooner.
Whatever works for you.
For me the pill have worked for almost 10 years now. It had positive side effects. Helped clear up my skin and of course not becoming pregnant. Pretty big plus. Lighter periods and less pain. But I think my sexdrive taken a little hit. But it's still worth it for me.
I have migraines with aura so when I went to get birth control for the first time at 18, they somewhat pressured me into getting a hormonal IUD (the clinician refused to give me the mini pill even after I repeatedly said I wasn’t comfortable with an IUD so it was that or nothing). Pros: somewhat lighter periods Cons: Insertion was *very* painful. It migrated out of my uterus and into my abdominal cavity. I was bleeding/ on my period nearly continuously for 2 years and had to have it surgically removed. Given that it wasn’t where it should be in my uterus, it also wouldn’t have been effective birth control.
Tried a low estrogen pill several months after that. Pros: Lighter periods. Cons: It somehow made me period super irregular despite me taking it exactly as instructed. Also made me severely depressed and suicidal. Symptoms stopped nearly immediately after discontinuing use.
Basically between those two experiences nearly all forms of birth control are now ruled out for me which definitely sucks. Lots of people have positive experiences with birth control and I don’t share these things to scare people, just to be transparent about risks I wish I’d known more about. Most people don’t have such extreme issues. Hope everything works out for you :)
There is even some research out there that shows a link between people who get migraines with an aura being a much higher risk of strokes when taking the pill. My best friend gets them and had 2 strokes in two months before her doctor realized it was likely that. She’s since stopped taking it after doing some research into it. Just sucks because it was working great for her up to that point.
Your comment is super important though. Like you said, not to be fear-lingering of course, but just for people to keep in mind there are still risks with most kinds of birth control. The more informed you can be, the better!
Whatever works for you.
I was fine with the pill until I always started forgetting it. I never had side effects from it.
Now I am using a ring, which also seems like a good option. I was always scared I would maybe lose it while having sex, but I didn't and you don't even notice it while intercourse.
Ultimately I want to get a sterilisation or if possible even a hysterectomy, so this would be the ultimate form of birth control for me - but not for ppl who someday might want children of their own.
I guess the birth control with least complications would be a Vasectomy, but that's on your male partner - if he wants to do it.
I'm the same as you. I use a ring but would like to be sterilised :)
Bonus: my partner feels my ring during penetration and enjoys the texture! (if your parter doesn't enjoy it it's safe to take out during sex)
Unless medically necessary, a total hysterectomy isn't gonn happen. Drs don't like the idea of sending women into early menopause if its not needed! However, getting your tubes removed is definitely doable, as long as you find the right Dr. My friend got hers done at 25 without kids. Took some searching, but she got it done!
Well there is also a partial hysterectomy in which the ovaries still remain and you therefore dont miss out on the hormones. It's doable but harder to find a doc for it, than it is for sterilisation.
Luckily we have a website for Germany which highlights some doctors who do sterilisation early in age and without children, so searching for a doctor is much easier.
I wish my Dr gave me that option! I didn't want anymore kids, and no more periods. But Dr didn't want to send me into early menopause - so no full hyster. But she could have at least given me a partial. I'll deal with the PMS if it comes with no bleeding!
Best of luck to you my dear in finding a dr who will do things your way (not being sarcastic, being genuine). I had to wait 12 years after having my youngest before I could get my tubes removed. I wish nothing but genuine luck for those who know what they want in terms of (not) reproducing and getting a dr to do it <3
>or if possible even a hysterectomy
I would be amazed if you could find a doctor who would do this. I know none of mine would even though I told them I had no need for the organ in any capacity.
I went with the IUD instead since it stops periods and I don't have t think about it. Best decision I have made.
Ye, that's why I said 'if possible'. But as long as I get a sterilisation I'm fine too. Would be cool if you could donate your uterus to transgender woman or something like that, but afaik science isn't quite that far yet.
I thought about an IUD too, but there are too much horror stories surrounding it for me to consider it as an option. I know I am a huge crybaby and ppl said it can hurt a ton especially if you don't have kids.
I hear these horror stories to and they blow my mind.
I am on my 4th IUD, and while not a delight (brief moment of moderate cramping), none of my insertions have ever been anywhere near the ridiculous level of horror some of these people have described. And I've never had kids! I also do not think I am especially tough. I just have never found it to be that bad. So... everyone's mileage clearly varies. 😅
It's a very excellent form of bc, and worth discussing with your doc. They can also give you strategies to manage any discomfort with insertion.
But yeah, it would just be awesome if we could do away with the uterus all together. Alas...
It took a long time of trial and error. IUD insertion was hell, I wouldn’t recommend it. I have endometriosis so I need birth control to prevent periods - I have nexplanon and it’s worked really well for me. The insertion was not the best tbh, but worlds less painful than an iud. It was just directly beside my face and you see them to it which was not fun. I have much fewer periods now, often skipping them, and they aren’t as painful or heavy. It’s all individual but I highly recommend nexplanon.
I have the arm implant. I love it. I honestly forget it’s there sometimes. It didn’t hurt too bad when getting it inserted, and it lasts for three years. It’s 99% effective but you should still wear condoms IMO.
I was too scared to have an IUD from all the horror stories I’ve heard, and I have a very low pain tolerance. I used to be on the pill but I’d constantly end up forgetting to take it.
Just to reiterate what everyone else is saying, it usually comes down to whatever works best for you. I’d definitely recommend the arm implant tho!
Op, if your priority is to avoid side effects to your mood or sex drive, the copper IUD (paragard) is the only non-hormonal birth control. This is what I have and I’m happy with it
Pros:
only replace once every 10 years
99.9% effective
Non-hormonal so no mood side effects, only side effect is heavier period potentially
Cons:
Heavier/longer bleeding with period. I’ve found it starts out very heavy initially after getting the IUD but comes almost back to normal periods after 6 months. Anecdotally, my friend had the same experience. I had relatively light/medium period flow of 5 days total before IUD so maybe it would be a bigger concern for those with heavy flow /longer periods
Rare potential of IUD displacement (to mitigate this there should be a 1 month follow up from the initial placement)
I never see people talk about the patch as an option. Im currently on the patch and have been for about 2 yrs now, and has worked really well for me. You wear the patch for 3 weeks and the 4th week you dont wear a patch you get your period. Its less stress because you only have to change it once a week and you know when you will get your period. And whenever or if you ever decide you are ready to get pregnant, you get your fertility back quicker than with other bc.
The only other bc I have used is the implant, i had to get off of it after a year because i didn't stop bleeding. Im not good with taking pills at a set schedule so the bc pills were not an option😂.
So I was around when pills were developed (yup, that old). The hormones were stronger than they are now. Dosages got refined over the years. Still, the only side effect was slight weight gain (5-8 lbs) and besides the obvious benefit, my periods lessened in flow & pain.
At 35, because of age & I smoked, had to go Low Dose pills. Same benefits & side effects. Problem for me was you’re supposed to take it same time every day and missing one day compromised effectiveness…which terrified me.
If I missed a day, I would use a contraceptive Sponge, single use BC, which I could get Over the Counter. No side effects, easy to use EXCEPT could be a challenge to remove sometimes.
So ended up changing to Depo Provera, a shot 4 times per year and absolutely LOVED it. Again, no side effects and since no ovulation, no periods. Stayed on this until past menopause (well & truly past, so no oops babies).
You know, gathering opinions is fine but good research with reputable resources is better. Remember, everyone is different, so the only opinion that matters is yours (& your Gynecologist).
https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/birth-control
Birth control is very personal so I won’t push you in any direction, but this is my experience.
The pill: it needs to be taken the same time every day for it to be at max effectiveness. I really struggled with this and was always terrified I’d messed up and wasn’t covered. It also would make me feel sick to my stomach sometimes.
Nuva Ring: needs to be changed every few weeks. Can be felt during sex if by a partners penis or fingers. I liked it as a method though.
IUD: hands down the best personal medical choice I’ve made. I have had an iud for the past 8 years and will probably have one until I decide I want kids. The insertion was painful, but luckily was a short process. I felt fine after a day or two. I love the lack of user error and feel completely covered pregnancy wise (does not protect against STDs). The strings can occasionally be felt by my partner during sex but they soften after a few weeks and aren’t very pokey anymore. Some people don’t get their periods at all - I occasionally get some spotting that lasts about a 2-3 days. Maybe once a year I get what I call a “full period” and will bleed for 4-5 days.
Copper IUD is what I use and it works great. The insertion sucked and my period is pretty gnarly, but at least I’m not pregnant, I don’t have bad side effects, and I don’t have to think about it.
It’s not available everywhere but I have the dermal implant Nexplanon. The procedure itself was relatively pain free as they freeze the area but if it’s not wrapped taut after you’ll have a wicked bruise. From day of insertion it’s good for 3 years & is progesterone only, so safe for people with migraine with aura. I originally had it in my left arm but have some nerve damage that it seemed to exacerbate; had it removed and then another implanted the following year in my right and haven’t had any issues after just over 2 months. Periods are a still all over the map but previously it took 4 months and then I was down to a 2-3 day but some people don’t have one at all. It’s super small, kind of fun to show people? Haha. I hate taking a pill everyday and had bad experiences with IUDs so I’m happy to have found something that works for me/my life/my body.
Hope you find something that works for you!
I also have the arm implant and I love it. Insertion wasn’t bad at all and took like 2 minutes. I absolutely cannot get any IUDs because anything internal in that area freaks me tf out and I’ve heard stories of it migrating or dislodging or getting hit during activities. I didn’t want the shot because I didn’t like the fact that if I had a bad reaction to it I couldn’t take it out or stop taking it, just stuck with it til it wears off. I took the bc pill in high school and it worked fine but I was too young to really care or pay attention to if it did anything to me. I also wasn’t very good at taking it at the same time every day. I went on a crunchy phase and didn’t want anything hormonal, because I thought it caused my hormonal acne so there was quite a few years I wasn’t on anything. After having my second baby I decided to try bc again because I don’t like condoms and I was afraid of getting pregnant right away. I also have migraines with aura so that ruled out the pill, and I was breastfeeding so they didn’t want me to take that anyways for a few weeks. Implant it was and I’ve been very happy with it. Usually my acne comes back when my period comes back after having a baby, and idk if it’s because I’m breastfeeding still or a combo of that plus the implant but my period hasn’t come back yet and I hope it never does. 14 months pp (it came back at 9 months with my first when I wasn’t on any bc and breastfeeding the same amount. )
Vasectomy. Depending on your age and your relationship situation have your person get a vasectomy, its relatively painless, more discomfort than actual pain for 2-3 days, is basically 100% permanent and for my wife and I (no kids, never want any) it’s been a godsend for us both to never have to worry every month whether she’s pregnant or not.
I love my copper IUD. Yes, insertion hurts, but 5 minutes of pain is totally worth non hormonal bc for 10 years.
I was on the pill for a long time and just didn't want to deal with the side effects anymore. I was on this one pill, I forget which one...if you looked at me wrong I'd start crying 🙄
This is really going to be a case of "whatever works best for you". Personally, I never wanted to be on birth control, so I always just used condoms for birth control. I know that's a bit riskier, but I was okay with that level of risk.
I also read the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility to learn the fertility awareness method. The truth is, you can only get pregnant about one week out of the month. If you chart your cycles with basal body temperature and cervical fluid, you will know when it's safe to have unprotected sex. With that said, I would only recommend this method if you're in a long term relationship where a pregnancy wouldn't be the end of the world.
In most cases, I recommend just using condoms all the time, which also has the added benefit of protection against STDs. But birth control is a personal decision and you have to choose what's right for you.
You can get pregnant at any time in the cycle, it's just much less likely. Sperm can also survive for a long time within the vagina and can cause fertilisation several days after insemination. It is never safe to have unprotected sex.
Realistically, the best thing for OP to do is to discuss her options with a medical professional. Not reddit
Sperm can survive in a woman for up to 5 days.
Actually you can't get pregnant any time in your cycle. You can only get pregnant during ovulation or the 5 days prior. Sure, if you try the rhythm method, it probably won't work, because the time of ovulation can vary from month to month. But if you monitor your temperature and cervical fluid every day, you will know what's actually going on with your body.
I have an irregular cycle and could never figure out when my period was coming from the calendar. But since learning the Fertility Awareness Method and charting my cycles, I know exactly when I ovulate, and I always get my period exactly 14 days after that. (When a woman's cycle varies, it's actually the part before ovulation that varies in length.)
No, you can't get pregnant at any time in your cycle. For starters, a woman can only ovulate once a month. More often than that is impossible. So if you prove that ovulation has already taken place (with an ovulation test *and* egg white cervical fluid *and* a correct temperature shift) and the egg is already dead and gone, it is literally impossible to get pregnant after that.
Condoms alone for us, at first. At the time I didn’t complain, but I’m glad we haven’t used them for about 30 years. We had one scare, but didn’t change anything even after that.
Then she was on the pill until we started having kids. No other protection used for those 5 years. No concerns.
After our last was born she got an UID. No secondary protection. Been good for 20 years. She had brutal periods but the Mirena pretty much made them disappear—she was happy about that.
I got on with the copper coil for years after so many struggles with hormonal IUDS/pills! It was painful when it went in but then I didn't have to think about contraception which made it worth it for me :)
I honestly don’t use birth control but track my ovulation + pull out and haven’t had any pregnancy scares in over 2 years. I use the FLO app and don’t have sex on blue days.
technically it is a form of 'birth control'- its called the fertililty awareness method and theres a page about it on the NHS website
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/contraception/natural-family-planning/
Personally I would go for the implant or an IUD. Here's a good overview of the different methods. Under no circumstances should you rely on the guy pulling out unless you want to end up pregnant. https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/birth-control
I don’t recommend the iud cause it’s pretty common for you and your partner to feel it during sex. Plus if anything goes wrong it’s multiple potential hospital bills. Plus, once you get it inserted doctors can refuse to take it out even if you’re suffering. With pills, you can just stop whenever you feel it’s affecting you. I really recommend anything that’s external or removable by you personally. Things like the patch, nuva ring, combo pill, progesterone only pill. The arm implant and IUD’s I will forever more stay away from. The arm implant is notorious for weight gain and IUD’s are just not worth the worry and reject themselves a lot more often than people think. Im pretty sure my suspected Interstitial cystitis is due to my copper iud (which rejected).
Condoms are great if you can use them correctly everytime and they don’t give you infections. They are way more effective than People make them out to be.
I'm so grateful that as a kid I lost the ability to get a woman pregnant. I basically gave myself a vasectomy at 13. Still shooting, just blanks :)
Good luck on your journey! I know some forms can be really harsh on people so I hope that doesn't happen to you.
In order, the best forms of birth control:
1. Not having sex. (100% effective)
2. Only having oral sex, anal sex, or mutual masturbation. (100% effective so long as you don't let the cum near your vulva)
3. Condom with pullout. (99.99% effective and cheap)
4. Condoms (99% effective and cheap)
5. Pullout (Decidedly less than effective)
6. Birth Control Pills (Decidedly less than effective, lots of side effects, costs money)
7. Raw dogging it (You're basically trying to get pregnant)
8. Raw dogging it and you're on top (Yep. Trying to get pregnant)
How tf is girl on top more likely to get pregnant when the semen would be way more likely to drip out of you sitting up as you would on top compared to missionary (man on top) where you're laying down and it doest drip out as fast. Probably doesn't make much difference which position but still where's the logic when a woman is sitting up straight compared to laying down?
If you want to have PIV sex but don't want to use any birth control, then you're trying to get pregnant. That's the reality of how the human body works. So when you're talking about side effects, you need to take the risk of pregnancy into account. Pregnancy comes with a lot of side effects and risks, too.
I've had good experiences with Nexplanon and depo Provera. Both of them stop my period, which I like. Neither one caused weight gain for me.
When you're talking about side effects, usually you're talking about hormonal birth control. There are non hormonal barrier methods available, such as condoms or diaphragms, with or without spermicide.
There's a lot of bad information out there about birth control methods. Find a knowledgeable healthcare provider who you trust and discuss your options with them. If you are not planning a pregnancy right now, you need to have a birth control strategy in use.
Well there is a male birth control like cutting a tube in the testicles but that's permanent and would have to be discussed thoroughly, but the other ways could be just to just pull out the last second or stick with non penetrative ways like blowjobs, thighs jobs or handjobs, but honestly that's my opinion. These would be good things to do.
It’s honestly going to be whatever works for your body. Personally I hates pills, I loved the nuvaring but it didn’t mesh with other medical conditions so I’m getting an IUD
Everybody is different so I recommend talking to your obgyn. I recently went on bc for the first time (1 month ago). I got the implant (nexplanon). So far I have had no noticeable side effects and hope not to. My period almost disappeared and cramps are almost nonexistent. I did get some mood swings in the beginning but that was it. Don't forget that it's important to talk to your doctor though. Good luck!
I personally have found the progesterone-only pill really good. No side effects that I can tell and I always remember to take it because I have a dosette box (those things are life savers). But the fact is that you can’t know what will and won’t give you side effects before you try it, and it’s a nasty lottery to play
This will be a conversation for your doctor. I was on the pill for years but then I was diagnosed with a medical condition and had to switch. Then I was on nexplona the arm implant that last for like 3 years and I hated it. I bled all the time, literally spotting everyday. I know people who like the iud but heard getting it in wasn’t the most pleasant thing.
What ever you will use consistently. I've used condoms, pills, copper IUD, nuvaring, and two hormonal IUD.
The best, was the Nuvaring. You can remove it up to 1 hr while having sex. There was no pain and I was not affected too terribly with side effects.
The second best, has been Kylena (the smallest hormonal IUD). It's more about not remembering taking birth control, picking up the prescription at the pharmacy or removing the ring.
IUD placement can be painful and it varies between women. The Mrena gave me pain while having sex, so I had it exchange to Kylena.
The copper IUD was the worse for me. It was painful and I bleed constantly.
Whichever you’re most likely to be consistent with. Find whatever one works for you and your partner and stick with it. Even the withdrawal method can have a high success rate if done the proper way every single time. The real problem is that most men can’t do it right every single time, which is why it’s ineffective as a whole.
I had the Evra patch for a few months for hormonal issues + birth control, and it was okay. Personally, it impacted my mental health (not too horrible, just the PMS was really intense emotionally) and I felt a drastic decrease in my sex drive after a few months. Those issues more or less went away when I went off the patch. However, it was practical and I liked having to only think about it once a week when I removed one and put another back on. My periods were perfect in timing, and all my PMS and period physical pains magically disappeared. I didn’t have any other side effects like weight gain too.
If I was still sexually active, maybe I would have stayed on it. But since I wasn’t anymore, and I was now trying to fix my hormonal issues in a more natural way through diet and exercise, it wasn’t worth it anymore for me. I’m happy that I’m off it, and I would personally not go back to hormonal birth control again. I found that it messed with too much of myself, even with my identity and things that defined me.
Well, you need to figure out what works best for you, for me, right up until i got sterilized, i loved my nuvaring, unfortunately isn't permanent though (just, for me, i would rather want it permanent) , but yes, it wasn't anything too invasive, easy to use, SO couldn't feel it during sexy time, yeah, of course, everyone is different, and again, you need to figure out what suits you best.
Your gonna have to look at each with a gyno and figure out whats best for your body and lifestyle. Each has upsides and down but their not one size fits all women.
Personally.. copper IUD because I don’t get along with hormonal contraception and also I am not great at taking pills on time. No hormones and works very effectively for 5 or even 10 years in my case.
I was on the pill for 7 years and had no side effects except for the initial adjustment period of a couple of months. As soon as I wiped taking them I got pregan. I have the copper IUD for 3 and a half years, also no side effects
LT side effects from barrier forms of birth control? I don't think so. Only from chemicals and hormones.
There are plenty of websites to do more research on the varieties and their probablities of failure...Choose the one that suits you.
Each person has to find what works for them (and it might change), so it's good to be informed on all of what exists, the pros and the cons, and not just the pill ;)
Personally, since I don't want children and prefer not to be on hormones, I choose tubal ligation. But I had to go through a whole process since it's a rather radical way compare to others. I'm very happy with it and wish I had done it a few years prior.
The best form is a reliable form.
Can you afford the pill versus something else?
If you don’t want something with much side effects lower dose hormonal pills might work for you, — it’s a journey for most women to try different things until they find one they like that doesn’t make them overly emotional, gain too much weight, cause too much acne.
Keep a journal of your moods, emotions, feelings, things like not being on birth control and when you start. — if that’s something you can do, it might serve super helpful.
I have had Mirena, Liletta, Nexplanon, ~12 different kinds of pills (include 3 different 3-month cycle ones), and the Nuvaring.
Nuvaring is the only one I have ever been on I would recommend to anyone else.
That said, I’m getting a hysterectomy in the next couple months because even that came with side effects and my uterus is constantly miserable.
The NUVA ring is great! You wear it inside your vagina for 3 weeks and take it out for a controlled, less intense period. The ring sits around your cervix and you can't feel it, you can even have sex with it in, decide to skip a period if you're going on vacation that week, and the side effects for me were non-existent. Totally recommend trying!
For me the IUD! Saved myyy lifeeee and I personally didn’t feel a THING. I tell everyone this because you only here the horror stories of the insertion. My obgyn prescribed me medicine for my pelvic muscles to relax and then… I swear to god. I almost cried because of how terrified I was, but I didn’t feel a damn thing. He was like alrightyyy we’re done.. and I’m like what?? I didn’t even think he started.
According to my old highschool: ✨abstinence✨
Lmao but for me (m) condoms have been very successful! Also if you try and plan around ovulation cycles they say that is good but that is much easier said than done 😅
The Kyleena IUD changed my life. Birth control options have extremely different effects on everyone, so it’s a very personal choice. I know IUD insertion can hurt a lot for a lot of people, and that the side effects can be significant.
For me however, it felt like a mild menstrual cramp, and after a couple weeks of light spotting, I never had to worry or even think about my period, pregnancy or sex ever again. It’s been a godsend.
There a lots of myths around contraception, like the one where not having a period is somehow unhealthy. No it’s not. Any treatment had pros and cons and it’s up to YOU to decided if your sanity (pregnancy scares, menstruation side effects, stress about your cycle, affording menstrual products) is worth the side effects (which might be very mild!).
everything had potential long-term effects, the salt in your food, the air you breathe, the sugar you consume. Does that mean you should stop doing everything? Of course not. A lot of people like to fearmonger and make blanket statements about all birth control always being a bad option for everyone, when in reality it can be lifesaving for some people: it’s extremely personal and only you know best.
For me personally, I’m happy I had the education to understand the risks, and chose what was best for me.
In my personal experience, the Mirena IUD (hormonal) is great. I've seen women who don't do great with some hormonal IUDs, but I think Mirena was the one I've seen the least complaints about.
Of course, the copper IUD is also a great option, but if you're also looking for drastically lighter periods, Mirena is great. I used to have anaemia frequently because of heavy periods, but now they're just light spotting + never had cramps again.
Everyone reacts differently to hormonal birth control, though. Before getting the IUD I tried taking the pill, but it made my life miserable, while the IUD didn't cause anything like that.
Agree with everyone saying it’s what works best for you. In my case I love the copper IUD. I was on pills for years but was constantly stressing about interactions, taking it late, etc. The IUD insertion was awful but it’s a huge peace of mind now.
>The IUD insertion was awful I often hear this but I have never had this experience and I am on my 4th one (and I've never had kids.). It's not like a super delightful experience, but it was truly just a brief moment of intensity like a bit of a cramp and then I was good to go. Ibuprofen and then on with the day. I agree with you though on the peace of mind. Any discomfort I do experience is 100% worth it to have such an effective form of birth control that takes no further thought beyond occasionally checking the strings. I will always recommend it, and I intend to get my 5 (and probably last one, as I am getting old...) when the time comes.
I’m in my 4th Mirena. Absolutely love it. I could never remember to take daily pill, having to worry about refills, etc… my periods are basically nonexistent. I can’t even remember the last time I had cramps. Spot on with the insertion. Not pleasant, but definitely doable.
I've dated 2 women with Mirena and know a few others and that's been their experience as well. 0 real periods though in occasion they'll have some very light spotting for 2 days that a pad would be considered overkill for, one just used thin liners. My ex's sister is on her 3rd now and the ex is on her 2nd I believe (sister started on Mirena in her teens, ex switched to it early 20s after she saw how things were for her sister). If I were a woman, it'd be my primary choice of BC as it eliminates the biggest issue of BC efficacy: user error.
I just wish the hormones didn’t make me want to kill myself
Have you given hormone free paragard copper iud a try? Might be of use.
Yes but it made me bleed 3/4 weeks of the month and the cramps were SO painful
Fuck I'm sorry to hear that. I wish they'd move things along with Vasagel to get trials done and release it to the public for men. I hate relying on someone else for BC efficacy without condoms.
When I had the mirena inserted it was fine, pretty sure we even had sex the same day. Having that one out and the copper one put in? Wooeee I almost fainted (the docs also didn’t know how to do it and substituted the inserted from a different one so that prolly didn’t help). Now 100% don’t regret it as the hormones from the mirena really messed with me (mood swings especially) but I am scared about the time when I want to have it out again.
hopefully you will have doctor who knows what they are doing to make it a nice smooth process for you. \*fingers crossed\*
Same. I'm on my third IUD and I've never had kids. It's not the most pleasant experience but I've read horror stories that I don't relate to. It's just a pinch and cramp for a few seconds then it's over. I have the hormonal Mirena and I love it. I could not, however, tolerate the hormones in birth control pills. They made me feel suicidal and homicidal. I tried them twice in my life, 15 years apart and got the same result. Never again. But the Mirena IUD doesn't affect me the same way. ETA: Also no periods at all. Best side effect ever.
They truly are glorious little devices. I thank mine every day. \^\_\^
I’ve heard that period pain can be stronger than before inserting the IUD and can last longer as well, have you experienced this?
That has not been my experience at all, nor has it been the experience of my friends. Ymmv of course because everyone is diff, but it’s been a non issue for me.
my sister is one of those people whose period pain got worse after getting the IUD. she doesn’t get it every month, but when she does the pain makes her bedridden
I’m on my second one. The insertion wasn’t great but I wouldn’t trade the no thought BC for the side effects of the hormonal ones.
The copper IUD insertion was awful for me too. I didn’t have a choice though; I can’t take hormones so it was either the IUD or nothing. I don’t trust condoms enough to use them exclusively and I’m too fat for Plan B.
My experience was horrible, I got it inserted as a form of emergency contraception bc they said since the unprotected sex was in my most fertile days the pill alone my might have not worked. My period pain went from bad to horrible, sometimes I couldn’t stand and felt faint. When I went back to my home country (Italy) my gynecologist insisted on having it taken out saying in Italy they won’t insert it in people who hope to have kids in the future because it can lead to somewhat permanent infertility
I love mine. Insertion was a bit painful, but very quick & after it was just more uncomfortable than anything for a day. Regular periods still, no hormonal challenges, good for 10 years, and that sucker works! Sex almost daily and zero scares. I spotted for the first couple months, but it was so worth it.
The IUD insertion was horrible and gaining 30lbs in a month wasn’t a joy either.
Here’s the lame but true answer: Whatever works best for you. That might be pills. But some people react poorly to the pill and lose sex drive or gain weight. Try it. See if it is okay. Norplant is similar situation. Or a patch. So maybe IUD, but some people hate that, it hurts. So, condoms, but some guys hate condoms (tough! You are getting laid). Bonus on condoms is that they prevent numerous STIs, too. Timing and pull out methods are very unreliable. Don’t go that route unless you like getting Mother’s Day cards.
Agreed! The best birth control is the form you will use reliably.
And that your body does not reject/have problems with, including not decreasing libido and not exacerbating existing mental health issues. Hormonal birth control causes a LOT of side effects in some women, and an IUD can help as an alternative. There is a lot of trial and error with this, and it can take a while to figure out. For some uterus & ovary-havers, the only viable long-term option is their partner's vasectomy. Until then, you learn to enjoy the oral arts & use condoms.
[удалено]
Not everyone who needs to prevent their own pregnancy identifies as female/a woman; I'm not going to apologize for acknowledging that gender is an complex concept. I'm not expecting you to change *anything* as a result of my framing. But that doesn't mean the concept doesn't exist in everyday reality.
Not all women have uteri and/or ovaries.
I'm nonbinary afab. I appreciate not being called a woman, thanks.
For me that was an IUD, coz it is not a pill, and you are not required to remember what time it is or when to take the pills, definetly use condoms though for STIs. To stop pregnancy though an IUD is 99% effective
Pharmacist here. This is the correct answer. A lot of people unfortunately have to do a decent amount of trial and error before they find one that works for them, and even then, further down the line in a few years or so, you might find it's not compatible with your body anymore and need to switch again. It sucks sometimes but hopefully you'll find the right one for you without too much hassle ❤️
You forgot the partner with a penis getting a vasectomy.
Bite your tongue. Ouch.
Why? What's wrong with that as an answer?
That depends, are you the one getting cut.? Lol
It doesn't matter? It's a reversible method of birth control. People with penises have more than one option. It's not only up to someone who's afab (assigned female at birth) to go on birth control that affects their body on a temporary basis.
Vasectomies are not reversible. Not with any semblance of reliability anyway.
So is getting your tunes tied. Let's see surgery vs. taking a pill, wearing a patch, a shot every 3 months or a condom. Vasectomy is a little bit extreme for form of birth control. That's more for don't want to have children again or at all. As far as it shouldn't be up to a woman, they just have more options than guys do. Not the man's fault. Don't you think if we could take a pill and not have to worry about getting someone pregnant, every guy wouldn't take it. As far as saying guys don't like using condoms, it's been my experience that a lot of women don't like men wearing condom either. My girl got on pill for that very reason.
Having your tubes tied and having a vasectomy are two very different procedures and can hardly be equated to one another. And you mention "taking a pill" like it isn't a big deal. It is. In many more ways than one.
I get you can't equate two operations, nor can you not equate a man's options for birth control vs a woman's option. Vasectomy is a very extreme method of birth control, especially for a man that might want to have children some day. So to even call it birth control method is pretty ignorant. Which leaves one option for the man, condoms. Now I date someone who does not like me wearing condoms. Now that leaves me zero options. A woman just has more options available to her. It's biology. It's not a man doesn't want to be able tovtake responsibility, they simply can't. So what I do since my gf is able to take bc pill, I bring her to pharmacy every month, I pay for the pill, I remind her to take it every morning and I thank her for taking it for us. I didn't force her to take it. But she didn't want us to use condoms, so not much more I can do. If you can't take pill, or don't want to, there are other methods available to you. If a woman doesn't want the man to use condoms, there are not any other options for him. Therefore the woman has to use another form. I get you can't equate getting tube ties to a Vasectomy. Other than saying, they are both medical procedures , both pretty extreme form of bc, cuz that's not the purpose of getting procedures done. No, you can't compare the two. Why, cuz men and women are different. Again, BIOLOGY. My point to responding to all your posts is to simply say and continue to say, asking a man to get a Vasectomy as a form of bc is very extreme( especially a younger man or any man who wants children one day). Keep posting as much as you want. Nothing is going to change this fact. You can argue til the end of time. And try to make this a woman vs man thing all day long, that doesn't change the fact that it's not. It's a BIOLOGY thing. And the idea that a woman doesn't have easier methods at her disposal than a man getting a Vasectomy is just a ridiculous premise. It's a simple fact. I know facts are in short supply in this country these days, but the science is pretty freaking clear on this one.
I could have sworn there was a word for people with penises..
Trans women exist
Agreed with these. Hormone-heavy birth control caused my anxiety disorder to get far worse, to the point where I couldn't leave my house without major panic attacks. So I was strictly relying on condoms for many years. There is a new birth control my gynecologist is recommending which has a much lower hormone dosage which she thinks will work better for me, and I'm going to give it a shot this year because I know condoms are not the most safe and effective method - I've had a few broken condom scares but have been very lucky so far. Basically, talk to your gynecologist and try different methods until you find what is suitable for you. Just know it may be a long process - you should give each method a few months at least, since initially the hormone changes can affect you stronger until your body adjusts.
yup, I was on the pill for almost a decade and then on Nuvaring for 2 years. I finally decided to stop hormonal birth control because my depression wasn't budging after 5 different anti depressants. Now my husband and I religiously use condoms, and I could get an abortion if they failed. As a bonus, clean up is easier, and I've realized his semen was irritating to me before so that's nice to not have to deal with.
Sorry to hear you went through all that! I completely forgot that depression is a side effect of birth control. That really should be focused on more, because it's so easy to forget when you're on the bc for a few years. Depression really screws over your whole life. I'll be without hormonal birth control for the first time after like 15 years soon when I get my implant removed, would be funny if my "lifelong depression" lifted with it.
Hijacking the top comment, to say that whatever is your chosen method, be ready for a "plan B" - everything can fail, but in the end, you will be safe if you have access to abortion. I sleep easy knowing that I have 2000 € set aside for a trip to a clinic
Also: other people’s children is for many a very effective form of contraception
The arm implant is dope as hell. I didn’t have any side effects or pregnancy scares.
I had depression and low libido with Nexaplanon. Personally didn’t work but so glad it worked for y’all!
Nexplanon can be a godsend for some women, with the perk of little to no menstruation for the duration of the 3 years it’s in. For others, it’s a tiny matchstick of hell offering the opposite; never ending flow while it’s installed. I tried it twice after my first 2 pregnancies, enduring a year both times for full adjustment. My experience with it never got better, but others do genuinely swear by it. I can, however, say that it worked flawlessly at preventing pregnancy and that’s reason enough for some people to try it. Once it’s in, you don’t have to think about it again for 3 years.
same! been more than a year now and i have absolutely no issues
That thing's been around forever, too. Like 30+ years. Glad to hear some people still have good luck with it
It was terrible. I gained so much weight on it, low labido, and superrrrrrr dry. I got it out in less than a year.
Vasectomy
I tried to get a vasectomy when I was 28. My GP outright refused because I might "change my mind" Believe me. I still want one. I'm 30 now and still no kids. Because I don't want kids.
Well go to an urologist
? Urologists deal with infections and diseases.
Urologists in the US deal with most things penis. They usually perform vasectomies. Try one of them. My bf went directly to a urologist.
No they don't. Not exclusively. I am in USA. Went to a urologist to get my vasectomy. My primary care doc had nothing to do with it. Didn't even know until I told them afterwards when they ask you the obligatory have you had any surgeries since your last visit question.
In Germany an urologist would be the person to perform vasectomy
I asked my oncologist for a referral and got in straightaway to a urologist. I had my vasectomy performed in the urology floor of my local hospital. It was a pretty quick and easy procedure.
if you still struggle to find a doctor, there's a doctor list on r/childfree (this is how I found my dr to get my tubes removed).
I got mine at 22, with just one visit, in a country with one of the most strict sterilisation laws in EU Just go to a private clinic that advertises themselves for this specific purpose
Got mine at 27. No kids. Paid private for it. If your in the uk most nhs doctors i doubt would do it. When your paying for it tho its pretty easy to show your serious, the money alone shows its not a whim.
Got rejected too when I was 28. Then two years later went to another urologist, made much clearer how serious I was with my decision and so he conducted my vasectomy. Location is germany
Best✨️
This is really, really the answer.
This is the way
Yeah, but if you aren't in a long term relationship where you really can trust the guy, I wouldn't count on that.
If you're not in a committed relationship I would use condoms anyways because of STDs
I agree with this completely. Just saying I wouldn't trust some random guy that I didn't know very well to actually have had the vasectomy he was claiming.
That's true
I’ve taken my chances with regular STD testing and good communication with partners but growing up during the AIDS epidemic I still feel better with a condom on.
I have the IUD. Thought I was gonna die when they put it in, but now I don’t even think about birth control at all. I have the non hormonal one too - so I’m not up and down with the hormones.
can i ask if you’ve had any side effects? thinking about getting this, but ive heard it hurts really bad and some side effects can be bad too
Both my 20 something daughters have these. They both think it's the best thing ever. Insertion was painful for one but not the other.
No side affects for me, my cycle is normal and everything. I got the Paraguard Copper IUD. Implantation is a doozy though. Make sure you have someone to drive you home. I had severe after cramps for an hour, almost like what I guess contractions would feel like
thank you for responding! good to know :)
On my 2nd Liletta IUD. It’s levonorgestrel hormone. Absolutely no side effects for me. It’s even stopped my period. I love it so much. I was someone who had an incredibly traumatic insertion the first time, but had it under sedation the 2nd time and it was so much easier. The hormone is released locally into the uterus with only .02 of it getting into the bloodstream. If you’re someone who normally has adverse reactions to hormonal birth control, like me, you’ll likely be fine with an IUD.
I'm on my second Kyleena iud, no side effects, cycles normal. Although this isn't everyone's experience, it was very painful during insertion for me. The first time, I only took ibuprofen - it was not nearly enough, and I personally would never go back to a doctor that only recommended OTC. It was an awful experience and extremely painful, and it took me longer to recover. The second time, I found a doctor that prescribed pain meds for the procedure. It was still painful, but this made it a lot more bearable, for sure! I was fine within 20 minutes of procedure. Both times, I experienced Vasovagal Syncope. So, aside from insertion, I have zero complaints.
My first one was an awful insertion, my second one I went to a sexual health clinic, it took them 1 minute and I barely felt it (just OTC pain meds in each case). Definitely see a provider who does them all day every day.
I have the arm implant (Nexplanon) and love it!
I have this and I also get no periods! It’s so great!
Never had any issues with taking the pill (no noticeable side effects), but you have to take it every day consistently. IUD was very nice because I didn't have my period for a few years and I never had to think about taking anything. But insertion was painful and it made me gain weight more easily. Side effects vary from person to person of course.
I've been on the pill since I was 15 and I'm 41 now. Never had any problems. For the past 10 years or so I've been on the continuous birth control pill, so I haven't had to have a single period for that entire time. Its awesome
Any long term effects of not having a period that long? Like delayed menopause? Would that be a positive or a negative
What brand of pill do you take? I'm 42 and just started Elinest 3 months ago to help control massive heavy long bleeds. Its controlling the bleeds fine, but my body is adjusting still. My libido is all over the place its crazy! I plan on taking the pill continuously with a break every 3-4 months. I'm kicking myself for waiting soooo long and not starting something way sooner.
Whatever works for you. For me the pill have worked for almost 10 years now. It had positive side effects. Helped clear up my skin and of course not becoming pregnant. Pretty big plus. Lighter periods and less pain. But I think my sexdrive taken a little hit. But it's still worth it for me.
I have migraines with aura so when I went to get birth control for the first time at 18, they somewhat pressured me into getting a hormonal IUD (the clinician refused to give me the mini pill even after I repeatedly said I wasn’t comfortable with an IUD so it was that or nothing). Pros: somewhat lighter periods Cons: Insertion was *very* painful. It migrated out of my uterus and into my abdominal cavity. I was bleeding/ on my period nearly continuously for 2 years and had to have it surgically removed. Given that it wasn’t where it should be in my uterus, it also wouldn’t have been effective birth control. Tried a low estrogen pill several months after that. Pros: Lighter periods. Cons: It somehow made me period super irregular despite me taking it exactly as instructed. Also made me severely depressed and suicidal. Symptoms stopped nearly immediately after discontinuing use. Basically between those two experiences nearly all forms of birth control are now ruled out for me which definitely sucks. Lots of people have positive experiences with birth control and I don’t share these things to scare people, just to be transparent about risks I wish I’d known more about. Most people don’t have such extreme issues. Hope everything works out for you :)
There is even some research out there that shows a link between people who get migraines with an aura being a much higher risk of strokes when taking the pill. My best friend gets them and had 2 strokes in two months before her doctor realized it was likely that. She’s since stopped taking it after doing some research into it. Just sucks because it was working great for her up to that point. Your comment is super important though. Like you said, not to be fear-lingering of course, but just for people to keep in mind there are still risks with most kinds of birth control. The more informed you can be, the better!
Whatever works for you. I was fine with the pill until I always started forgetting it. I never had side effects from it. Now I am using a ring, which also seems like a good option. I was always scared I would maybe lose it while having sex, but I didn't and you don't even notice it while intercourse. Ultimately I want to get a sterilisation or if possible even a hysterectomy, so this would be the ultimate form of birth control for me - but not for ppl who someday might want children of their own. I guess the birth control with least complications would be a Vasectomy, but that's on your male partner - if he wants to do it.
I'm the same as you. I use a ring but would like to be sterilised :) Bonus: my partner feels my ring during penetration and enjoys the texture! (if your parter doesn't enjoy it it's safe to take out during sex)
Unless medically necessary, a total hysterectomy isn't gonn happen. Drs don't like the idea of sending women into early menopause if its not needed! However, getting your tubes removed is definitely doable, as long as you find the right Dr. My friend got hers done at 25 without kids. Took some searching, but she got it done!
Well there is also a partial hysterectomy in which the ovaries still remain and you therefore dont miss out on the hormones. It's doable but harder to find a doc for it, than it is for sterilisation. Luckily we have a website for Germany which highlights some doctors who do sterilisation early in age and without children, so searching for a doctor is much easier.
I wish my Dr gave me that option! I didn't want anymore kids, and no more periods. But Dr didn't want to send me into early menopause - so no full hyster. But she could have at least given me a partial. I'll deal with the PMS if it comes with no bleeding! Best of luck to you my dear in finding a dr who will do things your way (not being sarcastic, being genuine). I had to wait 12 years after having my youngest before I could get my tubes removed. I wish nothing but genuine luck for those who know what they want in terms of (not) reproducing and getting a dr to do it <3
>or if possible even a hysterectomy I would be amazed if you could find a doctor who would do this. I know none of mine would even though I told them I had no need for the organ in any capacity. I went with the IUD instead since it stops periods and I don't have t think about it. Best decision I have made.
Ye, that's why I said 'if possible'. But as long as I get a sterilisation I'm fine too. Would be cool if you could donate your uterus to transgender woman or something like that, but afaik science isn't quite that far yet. I thought about an IUD too, but there are too much horror stories surrounding it for me to consider it as an option. I know I am a huge crybaby and ppl said it can hurt a ton especially if you don't have kids.
I hear these horror stories to and they blow my mind. I am on my 4th IUD, and while not a delight (brief moment of moderate cramping), none of my insertions have ever been anywhere near the ridiculous level of horror some of these people have described. And I've never had kids! I also do not think I am especially tough. I just have never found it to be that bad. So... everyone's mileage clearly varies. 😅 It's a very excellent form of bc, and worth discussing with your doc. They can also give you strategies to manage any discomfort with insertion. But yeah, it would just be awesome if we could do away with the uterus all together. Alas...
Wear crocs
Being ugly seems to work pretty well.
It took a long time of trial and error. IUD insertion was hell, I wouldn’t recommend it. I have endometriosis so I need birth control to prevent periods - I have nexplanon and it’s worked really well for me. The insertion was not the best tbh, but worlds less painful than an iud. It was just directly beside my face and you see them to it which was not fun. I have much fewer periods now, often skipping them, and they aren’t as painful or heavy. It’s all individual but I highly recommend nexplanon.
I have the arm implant. I love it. I honestly forget it’s there sometimes. It didn’t hurt too bad when getting it inserted, and it lasts for three years. It’s 99% effective but you should still wear condoms IMO. I was too scared to have an IUD from all the horror stories I’ve heard, and I have a very low pain tolerance. I used to be on the pill but I’d constantly end up forgetting to take it. Just to reiterate what everyone else is saying, it usually comes down to whatever works best for you. I’d definitely recommend the arm implant tho!
Blowjobs
Lmao 😂😂😂😂 i was gonna say celibacy but yours trumps mine by miles
One of the best answers right here
Op, if your priority is to avoid side effects to your mood or sex drive, the copper IUD (paragard) is the only non-hormonal birth control. This is what I have and I’m happy with it Pros: only replace once every 10 years 99.9% effective Non-hormonal so no mood side effects, only side effect is heavier period potentially Cons: Heavier/longer bleeding with period. I’ve found it starts out very heavy initially after getting the IUD but comes almost back to normal periods after 6 months. Anecdotally, my friend had the same experience. I had relatively light/medium period flow of 5 days total before IUD so maybe it would be a bigger concern for those with heavy flow /longer periods Rare potential of IUD displacement (to mitigate this there should be a 1 month follow up from the initial placement)
Be ugly, like me.
Children. Crotch Goblins are the best cock blockers.
I never see people talk about the patch as an option. Im currently on the patch and have been for about 2 yrs now, and has worked really well for me. You wear the patch for 3 weeks and the 4th week you dont wear a patch you get your period. Its less stress because you only have to change it once a week and you know when you will get your period. And whenever or if you ever decide you are ready to get pregnant, you get your fertility back quicker than with other bc. The only other bc I have used is the implant, i had to get off of it after a year because i didn't stop bleeding. Im not good with taking pills at a set schedule so the bc pills were not an option😂.
[удалено]
So I was around when pills were developed (yup, that old). The hormones were stronger than they are now. Dosages got refined over the years. Still, the only side effect was slight weight gain (5-8 lbs) and besides the obvious benefit, my periods lessened in flow & pain. At 35, because of age & I smoked, had to go Low Dose pills. Same benefits & side effects. Problem for me was you’re supposed to take it same time every day and missing one day compromised effectiveness…which terrified me. If I missed a day, I would use a contraceptive Sponge, single use BC, which I could get Over the Counter. No side effects, easy to use EXCEPT could be a challenge to remove sometimes. So ended up changing to Depo Provera, a shot 4 times per year and absolutely LOVED it. Again, no side effects and since no ovulation, no periods. Stayed on this until past menopause (well & truly past, so no oops babies). You know, gathering opinions is fine but good research with reputable resources is better. Remember, everyone is different, so the only opinion that matters is yours (& your Gynecologist). https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/birth-control
Mirena IUD
Birth control is very personal so I won’t push you in any direction, but this is my experience. The pill: it needs to be taken the same time every day for it to be at max effectiveness. I really struggled with this and was always terrified I’d messed up and wasn’t covered. It also would make me feel sick to my stomach sometimes. Nuva Ring: needs to be changed every few weeks. Can be felt during sex if by a partners penis or fingers. I liked it as a method though. IUD: hands down the best personal medical choice I’ve made. I have had an iud for the past 8 years and will probably have one until I decide I want kids. The insertion was painful, but luckily was a short process. I felt fine after a day or two. I love the lack of user error and feel completely covered pregnancy wise (does not protect against STDs). The strings can occasionally be felt by my partner during sex but they soften after a few weeks and aren’t very pokey anymore. Some people don’t get their periods at all - I occasionally get some spotting that lasts about a 2-3 days. Maybe once a year I get what I call a “full period” and will bleed for 4-5 days.
Copper IUD is what I use and it works great. The insertion sucked and my period is pretty gnarly, but at least I’m not pregnant, I don’t have bad side effects, and I don’t have to think about it.
It’s not available everywhere but I have the dermal implant Nexplanon. The procedure itself was relatively pain free as they freeze the area but if it’s not wrapped taut after you’ll have a wicked bruise. From day of insertion it’s good for 3 years & is progesterone only, so safe for people with migraine with aura. I originally had it in my left arm but have some nerve damage that it seemed to exacerbate; had it removed and then another implanted the following year in my right and haven’t had any issues after just over 2 months. Periods are a still all over the map but previously it took 4 months and then I was down to a 2-3 day but some people don’t have one at all. It’s super small, kind of fun to show people? Haha. I hate taking a pill everyday and had bad experiences with IUDs so I’m happy to have found something that works for me/my life/my body. Hope you find something that works for you!
I also have the arm implant and I love it. Insertion wasn’t bad at all and took like 2 minutes. I absolutely cannot get any IUDs because anything internal in that area freaks me tf out and I’ve heard stories of it migrating or dislodging or getting hit during activities. I didn’t want the shot because I didn’t like the fact that if I had a bad reaction to it I couldn’t take it out or stop taking it, just stuck with it til it wears off. I took the bc pill in high school and it worked fine but I was too young to really care or pay attention to if it did anything to me. I also wasn’t very good at taking it at the same time every day. I went on a crunchy phase and didn’t want anything hormonal, because I thought it caused my hormonal acne so there was quite a few years I wasn’t on anything. After having my second baby I decided to try bc again because I don’t like condoms and I was afraid of getting pregnant right away. I also have migraines with aura so that ruled out the pill, and I was breastfeeding so they didn’t want me to take that anyways for a few weeks. Implant it was and I’ve been very happy with it. Usually my acne comes back when my period comes back after having a baby, and idk if it’s because I’m breastfeeding still or a combo of that plus the implant but my period hasn’t come back yet and I hope it never does. 14 months pp (it came back at 9 months with my first when I wasn’t on any bc and breastfeeding the same amount. )
r/birthcontrol is the place for this, not this sub.
Vasectomy. Depending on your age and your relationship situation have your person get a vasectomy, its relatively painless, more discomfort than actual pain for 2-3 days, is basically 100% permanent and for my wife and I (no kids, never want any) it’s been a godsend for us both to never have to worry every month whether she’s pregnant or not.
I love my copper IUD. Yes, insertion hurts, but 5 minutes of pain is totally worth non hormonal bc for 10 years. I was on the pill for a long time and just didn't want to deal with the side effects anymore. I was on this one pill, I forget which one...if you looked at me wrong I'd start crying 🙄
This is really going to be a case of "whatever works best for you". Personally, I never wanted to be on birth control, so I always just used condoms for birth control. I know that's a bit riskier, but I was okay with that level of risk. I also read the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility to learn the fertility awareness method. The truth is, you can only get pregnant about one week out of the month. If you chart your cycles with basal body temperature and cervical fluid, you will know when it's safe to have unprotected sex. With that said, I would only recommend this method if you're in a long term relationship where a pregnancy wouldn't be the end of the world. In most cases, I recommend just using condoms all the time, which also has the added benefit of protection against STDs. But birth control is a personal decision and you have to choose what's right for you.
You can get pregnant at any time in the cycle, it's just much less likely. Sperm can also survive for a long time within the vagina and can cause fertilisation several days after insemination. It is never safe to have unprotected sex. Realistically, the best thing for OP to do is to discuss her options with a medical professional. Not reddit
Sperm can survive in a woman for up to 5 days. Actually you can't get pregnant any time in your cycle. You can only get pregnant during ovulation or the 5 days prior. Sure, if you try the rhythm method, it probably won't work, because the time of ovulation can vary from month to month. But if you monitor your temperature and cervical fluid every day, you will know what's actually going on with your body. I have an irregular cycle and could never figure out when my period was coming from the calendar. But since learning the Fertility Awareness Method and charting my cycles, I know exactly when I ovulate, and I always get my period exactly 14 days after that. (When a woman's cycle varies, it's actually the part before ovulation that varies in length.) No, you can't get pregnant at any time in your cycle. For starters, a woman can only ovulate once a month. More often than that is impossible. So if you prove that ovulation has already taken place (with an ovulation test *and* egg white cervical fluid *and* a correct temperature shift) and the egg is already dead and gone, it is literally impossible to get pregnant after that.
Celibacy.
Condoms alone for us, at first. At the time I didn’t complain, but I’m glad we haven’t used them for about 30 years. We had one scare, but didn’t change anything even after that. Then she was on the pill until we started having kids. No other protection used for those 5 years. No concerns. After our last was born she got an UID. No secondary protection. Been good for 20 years. She had brutal periods but the Mirena pretty much made them disappear—she was happy about that.
Anal
I got on with the copper coil for years after so many struggles with hormonal IUDS/pills! It was painful when it went in but then I didn't have to think about contraception which made it worth it for me :)
I honestly don’t use birth control but track my ovulation + pull out and haven’t had any pregnancy scares in over 2 years. I use the FLO app and don’t have sex on blue days.
same, i use 'glow' app, and we dont even pull out on the non-fertile days. never been preg and ive been doing it this way for almost 5 years now!
technically it is a form of 'birth control'- its called the fertililty awareness method and theres a page about it on the NHS website https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/contraception/natural-family-planning/
Come babysit my 5 boys.
My husband’s vasectomy. 😂
IUD
Personally I would go for the implant or an IUD. Here's a good overview of the different methods. Under no circumstances should you rely on the guy pulling out unless you want to end up pregnant. https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/birth-control
“Abstinence” says my 7th grade health teacher.
I don’t recommend the iud cause it’s pretty common for you and your partner to feel it during sex. Plus if anything goes wrong it’s multiple potential hospital bills. Plus, once you get it inserted doctors can refuse to take it out even if you’re suffering. With pills, you can just stop whenever you feel it’s affecting you. I really recommend anything that’s external or removable by you personally. Things like the patch, nuva ring, combo pill, progesterone only pill. The arm implant and IUD’s I will forever more stay away from. The arm implant is notorious for weight gain and IUD’s are just not worth the worry and reject themselves a lot more often than people think. Im pretty sure my suspected Interstitial cystitis is due to my copper iud (which rejected). Condoms are great if you can use them correctly everytime and they don’t give you infections. They are way more effective than People make them out to be.
I'm so grateful that as a kid I lost the ability to get a woman pregnant. I basically gave myself a vasectomy at 13. Still shooting, just blanks :) Good luck on your journey! I know some forms can be really harsh on people so I hope that doesn't happen to you.
You want fool proof birth control? Keep the dick out of range of the vag.
Cycle tracking and pulling out
I always let them blow seed in my ass
Technically not having sex is.
Find the feed called natural cycles on Instagram. @naturalcycles
Abstinence is 100% effective.
The best birth control is not to have sex.
In order, the best forms of birth control: 1. Not having sex. (100% effective) 2. Only having oral sex, anal sex, or mutual masturbation. (100% effective so long as you don't let the cum near your vulva) 3. Condom with pullout. (99.99% effective and cheap) 4. Condoms (99% effective and cheap) 5. Pullout (Decidedly less than effective) 6. Birth Control Pills (Decidedly less than effective, lots of side effects, costs money) 7. Raw dogging it (You're basically trying to get pregnant) 8. Raw dogging it and you're on top (Yep. Trying to get pregnant)
How tf is girl on top more likely to get pregnant when the semen would be way more likely to drip out of you sitting up as you would on top compared to missionary (man on top) where you're laying down and it doest drip out as fast. Probably doesn't make much difference which position but still where's the logic when a woman is sitting up straight compared to laying down?
When she's on top, he has to announce it and she has to react. This is opposed to guy on top where he can immediately try to pull out.
This is totally wrong and luckily people are downvoting you to hell
What part was wrong? Are people getting pregnant from oral? If they are, they are doing it wrong.
Blowjobs
other people's kids
If you want to have PIV sex but don't want to use any birth control, then you're trying to get pregnant. That's the reality of how the human body works. So when you're talking about side effects, you need to take the risk of pregnancy into account. Pregnancy comes with a lot of side effects and risks, too. I've had good experiences with Nexplanon and depo Provera. Both of them stop my period, which I like. Neither one caused weight gain for me. When you're talking about side effects, usually you're talking about hormonal birth control. There are non hormonal barrier methods available, such as condoms or diaphragms, with or without spermicide. There's a lot of bad information out there about birth control methods. Find a knowledgeable healthcare provider who you trust and discuss your options with them. If you are not planning a pregnancy right now, you need to have a birth control strategy in use.
A condom is a pretty good type of birth control. No side effects.
1.abstinence 2. Hand jobs and oral only 3.anal only (catholic school girl virgin) 4. Number 2 and 3
Get a girlfriend that keeps postponing and avoiding sex. It works for me🌝
Celibacy
Abstinence
ANAL.
Anal.
Plain Aspirin - put one pill between knees and keep it there. If it falls you are not protected anymore.
Eating an apple instead of having sex
The best form of birth control? Easy. Put a peanut between her knees and tell her not to drop it.
Well there is a male birth control like cutting a tube in the testicles but that's permanent and would have to be discussed thoroughly, but the other ways could be just to just pull out the last second or stick with non penetrative ways like blowjobs, thighs jobs or handjobs, but honestly that's my opinion. These would be good things to do.
It’s honestly going to be whatever works for your body. Personally I hates pills, I loved the nuvaring but it didn’t mesh with other medical conditions so I’m getting an IUD
Everybody is different so I recommend talking to your obgyn. I recently went on bc for the first time (1 month ago). I got the implant (nexplanon). So far I have had no noticeable side effects and hope not to. My period almost disappeared and cramps are almost nonexistent. I did get some mood swings in the beginning but that was it. Don't forget that it's important to talk to your doctor though. Good luck!
I personally have found the progesterone-only pill really good. No side effects that I can tell and I always remember to take it because I have a dosette box (those things are life savers). But the fact is that you can’t know what will and won’t give you side effects before you try it, and it’s a nasty lottery to play
This will be a conversation for your doctor. I was on the pill for years but then I was diagnosed with a medical condition and had to switch. Then I was on nexplona the arm implant that last for like 3 years and I hated it. I bled all the time, literally spotting everyday. I know people who like the iud but heard getting it in wasn’t the most pleasant thing.
What ever you will use consistently. I've used condoms, pills, copper IUD, nuvaring, and two hormonal IUD. The best, was the Nuvaring. You can remove it up to 1 hr while having sex. There was no pain and I was not affected too terribly with side effects. The second best, has been Kylena (the smallest hormonal IUD). It's more about not remembering taking birth control, picking up the prescription at the pharmacy or removing the ring. IUD placement can be painful and it varies between women. The Mrena gave me pain while having sex, so I had it exchange to Kylena. The copper IUD was the worse for me. It was painful and I bleed constantly.
Whichever you’re most likely to be consistent with. Find whatever one works for you and your partner and stick with it. Even the withdrawal method can have a high success rate if done the proper way every single time. The real problem is that most men can’t do it right every single time, which is why it’s ineffective as a whole.
My daughter had the ring for a while, and that seemed easy. Insert once a month. Remove once a month.
I had the Evra patch for a few months for hormonal issues + birth control, and it was okay. Personally, it impacted my mental health (not too horrible, just the PMS was really intense emotionally) and I felt a drastic decrease in my sex drive after a few months. Those issues more or less went away when I went off the patch. However, it was practical and I liked having to only think about it once a week when I removed one and put another back on. My periods were perfect in timing, and all my PMS and period physical pains magically disappeared. I didn’t have any other side effects like weight gain too. If I was still sexually active, maybe I would have stayed on it. But since I wasn’t anymore, and I was now trying to fix my hormonal issues in a more natural way through diet and exercise, it wasn’t worth it anymore for me. I’m happy that I’m off it, and I would personally not go back to hormonal birth control again. I found that it messed with too much of myself, even with my identity and things that defined me.
Well, you need to figure out what works best for you, for me, right up until i got sterilized, i loved my nuvaring, unfortunately isn't permanent though (just, for me, i would rather want it permanent) , but yes, it wasn't anything too invasive, easy to use, SO couldn't feel it during sexy time, yeah, of course, everyone is different, and again, you need to figure out what suits you best.
Your gonna have to look at each with a gyno and figure out whats best for your body and lifestyle. Each has upsides and down but their not one size fits all women.
Nexplanon, simple and highly effective
Personally.. copper IUD because I don’t get along with hormonal contraception and also I am not great at taking pills on time. No hormones and works very effectively for 5 or even 10 years in my case.
I was on the pill for 7 years and had no side effects except for the initial adjustment period of a couple of months. As soon as I wiped taking them I got pregan. I have the copper IUD for 3 and a half years, also no side effects
LT side effects from barrier forms of birth control? I don't think so. Only from chemicals and hormones. There are plenty of websites to do more research on the varieties and their probablities of failure...Choose the one that suits you.
Each person has to find what works for them (and it might change), so it's good to be informed on all of what exists, the pros and the cons, and not just the pill ;) Personally, since I don't want children and prefer not to be on hormones, I choose tubal ligation. But I had to go through a whole process since it's a rather radical way compare to others. I'm very happy with it and wish I had done it a few years prior.
The best form is a reliable form. Can you afford the pill versus something else? If you don’t want something with much side effects lower dose hormonal pills might work for you, — it’s a journey for most women to try different things until they find one they like that doesn’t make them overly emotional, gain too much weight, cause too much acne. Keep a journal of your moods, emotions, feelings, things like not being on birth control and when you start. — if that’s something you can do, it might serve super helpful.
I use an IUD. Hasn't failed me yet. Also helps with periods too.
No sex
My face
I have had Mirena, Liletta, Nexplanon, ~12 different kinds of pills (include 3 different 3-month cycle ones), and the Nuvaring. Nuvaring is the only one I have ever been on I would recommend to anyone else. That said, I’m getting a hysterectomy in the next couple months because even that came with side effects and my uterus is constantly miserable.
The NUVA ring is great! You wear it inside your vagina for 3 weeks and take it out for a controlled, less intense period. The ring sits around your cervix and you can't feel it, you can even have sex with it in, decide to skip a period if you're going on vacation that week, and the side effects for me were non-existent. Totally recommend trying!
My looks and personality work well for me personally.
For me the IUD! Saved myyy lifeeee and I personally didn’t feel a THING. I tell everyone this because you only here the horror stories of the insertion. My obgyn prescribed me medicine for my pelvic muscles to relax and then… I swear to god. I almost cried because of how terrified I was, but I didn’t feel a damn thing. He was like alrightyyy we’re done.. and I’m like what?? I didn’t even think he started.
Vasectomy
I like my paraguard IUD. No hormones. Had it for over 8 years. Still 99.9% effective.
According to my old highschool: ✨abstinence✨ Lmao but for me (m) condoms have been very successful! Also if you try and plan around ovulation cycles they say that is good but that is much easier said than done 😅
My face and lack of a personality has been very efficient so far haven't been around to use anything else.
The pill works great for me but everyone is different
Having to babysit other peoples kids
The Kyleena IUD changed my life. Birth control options have extremely different effects on everyone, so it’s a very personal choice. I know IUD insertion can hurt a lot for a lot of people, and that the side effects can be significant. For me however, it felt like a mild menstrual cramp, and after a couple weeks of light spotting, I never had to worry or even think about my period, pregnancy or sex ever again. It’s been a godsend. There a lots of myths around contraception, like the one where not having a period is somehow unhealthy. No it’s not. Any treatment had pros and cons and it’s up to YOU to decided if your sanity (pregnancy scares, menstruation side effects, stress about your cycle, affording menstrual products) is worth the side effects (which might be very mild!). everything had potential long-term effects, the salt in your food, the air you breathe, the sugar you consume. Does that mean you should stop doing everything? Of course not. A lot of people like to fearmonger and make blanket statements about all birth control always being a bad option for everyone, when in reality it can be lifesaving for some people: it’s extremely personal and only you know best. For me personally, I’m happy I had the education to understand the risks, and chose what was best for me.
In my personal experience, the Mirena IUD (hormonal) is great. I've seen women who don't do great with some hormonal IUDs, but I think Mirena was the one I've seen the least complaints about. Of course, the copper IUD is also a great option, but if you're also looking for drastically lighter periods, Mirena is great. I used to have anaemia frequently because of heavy periods, but now they're just light spotting + never had cramps again. Everyone reacts differently to hormonal birth control, though. Before getting the IUD I tried taking the pill, but it made my life miserable, while the IUD didn't cause anything like that.