Birth Control?

SamiJoeB · October 2011

I'm thinking about going back on some form of birth control. I know they say you only have to take it for like a month for it to be effective.. but I'm thinking that I should give it like 3-4 months just to be safe! I refer to it as the "AGP" or Anti GrandChildren Pill (mostly just to spite my IL's who want grandkids so bad they can taste it. My parents have 2 already and they are happy with their grandcat) I talked to C about it and she suggested Yasmine(?) or a lower estrogen BCP since I already have over active tear ducts Thats how I choose to say that I'm a crier, and I can be pretty moody, and I've had really bad reactions to BC before. My doctor just basically gave me a pamphlet and said "Let me know and I'll call it in"

I've heard sketchy things about the Implanon, does anyone have it? What about Ortho-TriCyclen-Lo?

ggirl2001 · October 2011

I tried ortho tri lo for a few months because I had free samples, but I had break through bleeding pretty bad.

I'm on regular ortho tri right now, but I'm no help because I've been on it since I was 16, so I really don't know how its affected me

SamiJoeB · October 2011

GG-I think you're pretty helpful!

amh04 · October 2011

I had horrible reactions to Ortho-TriCyclen-Lo and yasmin and yaz, and avril. I'm guessing me and birth control don't go together. Which is why I've been off of it since Dec/Jan and we are planning on TTC once we are married. Basically I developed really bad anxiety, semi-depression and would have issues where I wouldn't get my period or I would and I never knew when it would come or if it would come. I refuse to go back on any form of BC. I'll just say it was bad. I would definitely rec. low estrogen for sure if your going to go on anything. Good Luck! I hope it works out much better for you than I did. Some people use it and it works great, others have to 'shop' around until they find whats best with you. I would definitely see what your gyno recommends for over reactive tear ducts

SamiJoeB · October 2011

Tehehe.. I don't really remember when I started being this emotional, but I mean, I don't full on cry, but I definitley get teary eyed just watching tv commercials. (Obviously the ASPCA ones, but even like movie previews and a Tide commercial) It's just a little bit ridiculous.

Beachy730 · October 2011

I have been on Kariva/Mircette (different brands, but same pill - just depends which my insurance covers) since I started on the pill about 12 or so years ago. I love it, and have absolutely no problems on it whatsoever.

I like to try things that I think will be easier or a lighter period, so I was on the patch for a while when that came out, which they deemed to be oh so safe and is off the market now.

I also tried Yaz for a while thinking it would give me a shorter period, and it gave me horrible headaches. For months I was freaking out thinking I had a brain tumor or something because I was constantly getting piercing headaches on the side of my head. Then I finally started thinking about when they started, and it was right around the time I switched to Yaz. So I switched back to my old standy and was good to go again.

Only a few more months on it for me though because after this next deployment we are going to start TTC!

BinxRose · October 2011

I was on Ortho-Tri Cyclen Lo for a few years and it was pretty good. I went on it strictly for my AF symptoms. Then I got into college full time and worked three jobs, and never had a reliable consistent time to take it. Went on NuvaRing for a year, went off for a year, now I've been back on for a year. But I won't recommend it to you because it makes so GODDAMN weepy 24/7 (among other side effects). I'm trying to figure out if I want to talk to the doc about either getting on a mild anti-depressant, or switching BCs. I need to be on one that I can skip my AF for a few months at a time because I get cramps so bad I'm crippled over and vomiting (sorry if thats TMI). You don't even wanna know how much school I missed from 5th through 11th grade before BC. But that's why I like NuvaRing so much at first. It is so easy and I schedule to have AF every 12 weeks, but I can't stand the crying.

melbelle24 · October 2011

Most gyn docs will start you out on a low estrogen pill these days. I was on orthotricyclin low for a while, but I ended up having to switch to a higher estrogen pill because of breakthrough bleeding. There's a lot of good options out there, it really just depends on what works for you. A couple of other suggestions to throw out there... I'm on seasonique, and I love it! Having "that time of the month" once every 3 months is great. I have some friends who are on the low-estrogen version, and they haven't had any problems. I've also heard good things about Mirena if you'd be interested in the implantable kind of birth control. HTH!

CAB1217 · October 2011

I have been on Ortho Tri-Lo for about 5 years now, it's pretty much my favorite one. I am so scared to get off of BC when we TTC. I have a massively horrible aunt flo. I've tried a lot of other ones before, (Depo, reg. Ortho, etc...) and this one works the best for me.

SamiJoeB · October 2011

Ahh!! Sesonique!! That's the one I always forget to say "Thats the one I want to try"

KendallR10 · October 2011

I use Yaz. I love it. I helped my PMDD a ton.

I tried seasonique for 2 years. Worst idea ever. The few periods I had we're horrible. I have short periods usually. With seasonique my periods we're 2 weeks long

melbelle24 · October 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_birth-control?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:13Discussion:d13ca71d-7494-4512-a35d-7792c2687930Post:eebe6cb1-9659-4e55-ab53-da4351127d38">Re: Birth Control?</a>:
[QUOTE]I use Yaz. I love it. I helped my PMDD a ton. I tried seasonique for 2 years. Worst idea ever. The few periods I had we're horrible. I have short periods usually. With seasonique my periods we're 2 weeks long
Posted by KendallR10[/QUOTE]

Yeah, that's not normal. Mine on Seasonique are about 5 days. You might not have been on the right dose of estrogen. And Sami, glad I could help you remember the name! I would definitely give it a try.

melbelle24 · October 2011

Ok, well my phone is being dumb and won't let me edit my last post, but I wanted to add that if cost is going to matter, Seasonique might not be such a great choice. I don't know how Tricare works with prescriptions, but I know with my insurance, it's like $100 per pack. Since it's only every 3 months you have to fill it, it's not absolutely terrible but still more than the $5 per month I had been paying for my generic OrthoTriCyclin. Thank goodness for awesome doctors and free samples!

SamiJoeB · October 2011

My periods now are like 3 days, and haven't been bad recently, though when I was heavier, they were TERRIBLE!! Growing up, the first day was bad with lots of cramping and headaches, but as I've gotten older they've kind of leveled out. I would hate to go back to a terrible period again. I know that The Ortho-Lo would be like $12 every month for where I am now (I have a pharmacist friend), but I'm not sure if it would be different when I'm closer to a base.

melbelle24 · October 2011

My periods were never that bad, and like I said, mine on the Seasonique (and any other BC I've tried) last about 5 days and are almost always pretty light. If you're not on the right amount of estrogen, they'll be longer or have breakthrough bleeding but if that ends up happening just call your doctor and ask to switch to a different dose. I had 2 week periods on low-estrogen, and it was the most miserable 2 months of my life! But they stopped and haven't come back since I switched to a higher dose.

calindi · October 2011

Yasmin is super expensive on some plans. Or rather, without insurance. Mine costs $79 for Yasmin as my insurance won't cover it. And Ocella, the generic which I hate, is $57. Ugh! However, here in Costa Rica, it is only $12!!!! yes, same company (Bayer), totally legit, and don't need insurance or a prescription. Buying 10 of them will save me over $500 between now and when we get married (and I get TriCare, and will likely switch to natural BC anyway - the "we don't want a baby, and follow Taking Charge of Your Fertility concepts, but if we get pregnant, oh well" style). The TriCyclin Low is what I was referring to, Sami, FYI. Whatever type you try, do it at least 3 months unless you have crazy side effects. For the record, I've never heard about good results with Seasonique. You can do the saw thing - just skip the placebo pills - with any other birth control with fewer effects.

SamiJoeB · October 2011

C- This is totally selfish of me, so don't judge me, but I've wanted to email you like 4743274213908 times this week (yes I know it's only Tuesday), and I'm like "Ugh she's with her family <insert stream of expletives here>". And nothing earth shattering has even happened!!! I'm feel like I'm dealing with this random anxiety, that something extreme will happen, and I won't have anyone to talk to about it!! I think I have CDD or CalindiDependencyDisorder. I am sorry that your vacation isn't turning out as great at you were hoping.

calindi · October 2011

It was much better today! And to or row and Thursday are shaping up better. So that's good! Seriously, email me. If I dont respond right away, I'll get to it! :-)

firsttimersluck · October 2011

idk about either of those..
I told my doc that I want the lowest they can give me because i DO NOT want to gain weight or anything..
So she put me on loestrin 24.. it's a 4 day placebo pill.. And your period kinda fades out.. So Now I don't even have one, no cramps, no spotting, no moodyness, no skin breaks outs... I can't complain :P

prettyirishgirl · October 2011

I'm a little late on this one I feel - so many posts!!!
I was originally on the pill, but I don't even remember which one. It was a regular dosage about the same as Yaz and some of the others. They put me on a low dosage after maybe a year because i was having a very bad reaction to the hormones. I was miserable. After 7 months on that and it getting even worse i stopped taking it cold and went back to my normal self in less then 2 months. I was off of anything for about 6 months at docs recommendation to see what the issue was, but after that I got an IUD because it was really the only non hormone choice which i have a family history of having issues with. I love it.

I have the copper one (Paraguard) it has no hormones and lasts 12 years or until you remove it. They commonly say you cant have it without having already had a child. It is because your uterus may not be stretched out enough to take it on insertion. They have to measure you and every doc I talked to refused to do that until the appointment when they were going to put it in which is why it is discouraged, because you still owe for the visit.

I have had mine for a year and a half and it is amazing!! I sound like a commercial. The most common concern is that it will become imbedded from what I talked to the docs about and friends that have had them that most commonly happens when they put it in and it is very uncommon compared to how many people get them, but still a valid concern. it is also common that people's bodies reject them for whatever reason. If it becomes imbedded it can cause issues that will lead to infertility, but Fi and I don't really know if we want a kid and we also are both really ok with adopting and may do that even if we can have our own kid so that wasn't a deal breaker for us, but it is for some. They used to cause really bad infections, but that is uncommon now because they have changed the design. They are popular and the main form of BC in most other countries and it just never took off in the US the same as in Europe for example.

The crappy part: It can hurt like hell when you get it. My friend got one a billion years ago (like 13? maybe more) and she said she was in bed for a week, miserable with horrible cramps. I worked with her when i got mine and she offered me a week and a half off work, I went in the day after - less then 24 hrs. The doc said they were surprised how well I did, but it did hurt like hell and I walked around with a heating pad for 2 days (funny as hell) and aspirin became my new bff (but I am a huge baby because I never really had cramps before I was on the pill or once I was off of it) yet for as much as it hurt I went to target immediately after getting it, went camping that first weekend (got it on a wed). It can make your cycle heavier, but it has lessened back to normal and even a little less now that I've had it for a while (took maybe 7 -9 months); my cramps lasted maybe to the year point, but in the past few months I haven't had any at all. I do think those two things specifically depend on what you have normally though. It normally stays heavier with the copper then meraina because there are no hormones, but honestly I could have lived with that for all the bonuses of never really having to think about taking anything, swapping anything, keeping anything in a specific temp range, changing time zones, etc.

They say it starts immediately especially with the copper because the copper kills the sperm and causes some mucus thing or w/e (technical bable - i didn't care as long as the suckers were dead) It usually triggers your cycle though because your body will attempt to reject it so between that and cramps you wouldn't want to do anything for a week so once that is done it works right away. I don't know about meraina though I don't remember their start time. I think it is also immediate, but it probably does the same thing as the copper so you will get a week or so in that case to and then its all good to go.

prettyirishgirl · October 2011

adding not to the sketchy - the infections were common and a few deaths when it was introduced in the US especially because -- TMI warning!! -- the string (for removal) didn't used to coil up and it would hang, so it was possible for stuff to travel up the string into your uterus ewwww! Now it coils up which is weird i grant you. You have to actually pull it down and it is made of a wicking material a lot like a fishing line that wont let moisture and "stuff" travel backwards on it. If you don't have it curl up because of length (you need to go back and get it cut if it isn't right) it can still cause infections if you dont do that. It can also hurt your partner if you don't get it cut, but you just have to go back it take about 5 seconds and you can do it at your one month appointment that they require you to go to if you get one.

what is with the edit button?

LetsHikeToday · October 2011

Sami- I was on Yaz and LOVED it. It's low estrogen. My periods became lighter and lighter until they stopped. My doctor said it was completely normal and healthy. I loved never having it!

Irishcurls · October 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_birth-control?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:13Discussion:d13ca71d-7494-4512-a35d-7792c2687930Post:b7eb86b6-ec02-4d9e-ad3c-dc53c606e970">Re: Birth Control?</a>:
[QUOTE]<strong>I have been on Kariva/Mircette (different brands, but same pill - just depends which my insurance covers) since I started on the pill about 12 or so years ago.</strong> I love it, and have absolutely no problems on it whatsoever. I like to try things that I think will be easier or a lighter period, so I was on the patch for a while when that came out, which they deemed to be oh so safe and is off the market now. I also tried Yaz for a while thinking it would give me a shorter period, and it gave me horrible headaches. For months I was freaking out thinking I had a brain tumor or something because I was constantly getting piercing headaches on the side of my head. Then I finally started thinking about when they started, and it was right around the time I switched to Yaz. So I switched back to my old standy and was good to go again. Only a few more months on it for me though because after this next deployment we are going to start TTC!
Posted by dnbeach12[/QUOTE]
Amazingly, ditto. Is that weird? Never had issues with it, except zero sex drive but I think that's just me.....

LuluP82 · October 2011

I was on ortho tri cyclen lo for awhile in college and it was fine, never had any problems. I then switched to Yaz a few years later and that was just the same, honestly. Before we TTC, I was on the Nuva-Ring, mostly because I'd been off the Pill for awhile since I was unemployed and had really high copays with my crappy insurance at the time, and H was one anyway. My gyn said that the Nuva Ring would be effective immediately, which is why I tried that. I liked it too. Basically had no issues for about 8 months.

I'm no help

shan87 · October 2011

Seasonque does have a generic. I was on that, but I'm also one of those people that can't skip the placebo ones, and was having my period for weeks on end with seasonque generic.

WaterPig83 · October 2011

I've also been on Yaz, and it was fine, no issues there. But because I suck at taking pills every day, and I don't want the risk of any accidents, I'm now on Nuvaring. I had pretty bad cramping the first month, but been good to go ever since.

YoungDuo · October 2011

So random question and I hope this isn't TMI, but when you guys refer to "breakthrough" bleeding..is that like when you bleed during the month? And did having sex cause the bleeding to occur?

firemedicrr · October 2011

I also have an IUD and I love it!! Granted, mine is the Mirena which does have hormones, but I need the hormones for control of some of the female issues I was having (excess bleeding, etc). I haven't had any children and they say they won't do it unless you have children, but my doc and I discussed it and my doc thought it was the best option for me because I was still having trouble w the shots/pills

It was very uncomfortable to have it placed, but compared to the menstrual cramps I was having before getting the IUD it really wasn't that bad. I had cramps and felt crappy for the first few hours, but I was back to normal later that day. No issues since then. I don't have a period anymore (common after having it for a while). I've had mine for a year and a half, and I would do it all over again. It's expensive in that it is a one time, up front cost but if you work it out cost per month over the life of the IUD, it is cheaper than even generic BC pills. The mirena lasts 5 years.

Irishcurls · October 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_birth-control?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:13Discussion:d13ca71d-7494-4512-a35d-7792c2687930Post:2a4cb655-fbdf-4bd0-98aa-168d64e03675">Re: Birth Control?</a>:
[QUOTE]So random question and I hope this isn't TMI, but when you guys refer to "breakthrough" bleeding..is that like when you bleed during the month? And did having sex cause the bleeding to occur?
Posted by YoungDuo[/QUOTE]
Can't speak for everyone, obviously. But I'm referring to random spotting during the month. Never noticed sex being a direct cause.

Beachy730 · October 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_birth-control?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:13Discussion:d13ca71d-7494-4512-a35d-7792c2687930Post:9e5492ed-7406-4b1b-bfde-f3e242d8eabc">Re: Birth Control?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Birth Control? : Amazingly, ditto. Is that weird? Never had issues with it, except zero sex drive but I think that's just me.....
Posted by Irishcurls[/QUOTE]

<div>That's too funny. But yeah, that could be me sometimes too. Hmmm, i'll let you know when I go off it in a few months and see if anything changes!</div>

divinemsbee · October 2011

I've been on Desogen for almost 10 years now (gosh, that seems like forever). It's been great until about the last 6 months. Right now I'm reading Taking Charge of Your Fertility, and hopeing to switch off to that at some point in the near-ish future. I'm interested to go off the hormones and see if that helps me in general, I'm pretty sure that until I have my cylces down we'll just switch back to condoms for a while. My 2 friends that have Mirena loooooove it. So if you weren't looking to have kids for a while or ever, that seems like a great option. It was hard for one of them to find a doc that would do it, and she said it hurt to get put in, but now it's great.

Birth Control?

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