Birth Control?

KateH2013 · August 2012

To make a long story short, I've been on the NuvaRing for about 18 months. I haven't felt like myself (just assumed it was because of a number of other factors in my life: lame job, family drama/stress, lack of physical activity, etc.). My FI has finally gotten it through my stubborn head that the main change in my life was the NuvaRing so I looked up the side effects and realized that I actually have been in denial about the possibility this was effecting me in such a negative way. I'm miserable and tired all the time. I can't stand myself and not surprisingly, people are not really jumping at the opportunity to be around me :-(

Is anyone here familiar with this BC? Do you have any suggestions of other types to try that work well? (I have an appt with my Dr. in a couple weeks to discuss) I was on the pill for a number of years but got terrible headaches. My FI and I plan to try having kids shortly after we get married in May.

rajahmd · August 2012

If you're planning on trying for kids within the next year, your best bet is a birth control pill. Most of the other non-pill options are long acting, as in years. Thankfully, there are different combinations of hormones that you can try. Your doctor will know that you've tried before, and hopefully will be able to find a combination that doesn't give you headaches. Just make sure you give your doctor as much information as you can. The more information he/she has, the better a chance they have of picking the best combination of hormones. Good luck and hope you feel better soon!

dmiller9274 · August 2012

If you disregard my current ticker, I would suggest charting

cheeseandrice · August 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_birth-control-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:f01dd927-6c69-4a0e-bd3b-2b5769e19e55Post:bb5921e7-6c44-4a05-87b8-f1f971e6e278">Re: Birth Control?</a>:
[QUOTE]If you disregard my current ticker, I would suggest charting ;)
Posted by dmiller9274[/QUOTE]

<div>ditto. ;)</div><div>
</div><div>OP, fwiw, I tried NuvaRing and it really screwed with me too. (Although I didn't suffer nearly as long as you.) I know that's not super helpful to your actual question- just wanted you to know you're not alone. If you've had bad reactions to the pill and Nuva, you might want to stay away from hormonal BC for now. Suck it up and just use condoms. </div><div>
</div><div>But, of course, talk to your doctor, don't trust medical advice from strangers, yada yada yada.</div>

playtntsbpg30 · August 2012

I been on the ring for almost 4 yrs and I love it. There are low hormone pills you can ask your doctor about. If you are planning for a baby shortly after marriage next year, I'd probably switch to a pill and try charting for a little, using condoms. I hope the doctor is able to help you out. Sorry the ring has you feeling the way you are.

achiduck · August 2012

I've been on the pill (marvelon) since I was 18 (I'm 27 now) and love it. I briefly switched to Yasmin but hated it. A good friend of mine was on depo for 18 months and gained 50 lbs.

In general, talk to you doctor about your BC needs. S/he knows your medial history.

acaponi87 · August 2012

I'd try a pill but even then you may have to experiment. My BC made me feel the way you are describing and it took a few tries to get something that didn't make me feel crazy. Something low hormone will probably work for you and work with your baby-making schedule.

awolkenhauer · August 2012

I've been on the pill, the patch and depo. Depo destroyed me. When I came off of it, I didn't have periods for about a year and a half and then had 3 week periods and 1 week without until I got on the pill to regulate. I prefer the pill, I was on Levora, above all else but had to switch to the patch due to my inconsistent work schedule. Both the patch and pill acted about the same for me and kept me in good moods and not too much weight gain.

azdancer8 · August 2012

I've been on birth control pills for about 2 years now, and I'm feeling the same way, OP. By the end of September, I'm hoping to get off the birth control and do charting instead (if I'm medically cleared). That way I'll know my body's cycle by the time DH and I want to conceive.

mehgank · August 2012

I've been on the Pill since I was 18, and have hated every kind I've tried (Ortho Tri Cyclen, Ortho-Lo, Yasmin, Yaz, Lessina). I have a gyno appt on the 13th to figure out my next plan of action, but to be honest, I think the only way I won't be a crazy nutcase/migraine sufferer is to just go off BC entirely and trust condoms/charting. In fact, I recently had to have my heart monitored because Yaz created some crazy heart palpitations (20-30 per day) that may need surgery. Not saying that's gonna happen to you, but that's what I'm going through right now.

LetsHikeToday · August 2012

Yaz worked really well for me but it's obviously different for everyone. After this pregnancy I will use charting.

Ali092011 · August 2012

Yaz worked well for me, too. It also helped clear up my skin. Tri-nessa (generic Ortho Tri-Cyclen) made me feel sick pretty much all. the. time.

Definitely can't wait until I can get off of hormonal b/c.

PrincessJas · August 2012

Oh man, birth control. I love it and I hate it. I actually went off it for 2 months this summer to try and tell if it was making me depressed and contributing to my weight gain (probably not in either case), but the results were inconclusive and the risk of being off it is too high (even though we've been using condoms, it still freaks my BF and myself out too much - no bebes before grad school ends). I'm on Microgestin, and it seems to be pretty low key. Had some nausea problems with Loestrine last year, though (Microgestin is the generic version).

kaceymarie · August 2012

condoms like ilovemilkduds said. they actually do work! i know.. shocking.

pirategal03 · August 2012

I don't have much to suggest that you haven't already heard, but I wanted to add that I had the same experience with NuvaRing. I used it about two years, loved it at first, after about a year I was a miserable person to be around, I didn't even like myself. H had it up to here with me, he basically put his foot down, something had to change. I quit taking bc all together and we've been charting/using condoms for a while now. (It's taken almost two years for my cycle to become predictable enough to chart). Life is much better.

fpaemp2011 · August 2012

I've never been on HBC, but we used Natural Family Planning to avoid from our wedding last June until last October, switched to TTC, and were pregnant 3 months later. It worked exactly the way we wanted it to. www.tcoyf.com

UberBiz · August 2012

I didn't read any of the responses, but yes. I was on Nuvaring only about 6 months, and when I stopped it, I immediately felt better. I didn't realize how bitchy I had become until I was off it and felt "normal" again. I don't really like taking birth control to begin with, so it was a welcome relief.

klmxklm · August 2012

About a year ago I switched off the pill to a non-hormone IUD called ParaGard. I needed something hormone free due to my migraines. I have loved this. I did a lot of research first to look for adverse side effects but because it is hormone free they are few. The only "side effect" I have noticed, which I was warned about, is heavier periods at first. This decreases as times goes on.

KateH2013 · August 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_birth-control-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:f01dd927-6c69-4a0e-bd3b-2b5769e19e55Post:a809457f-a5ca-4523-8aa1-e449456abf23">Re: Birth Control?</a>:
[QUOTE]I don't have much to suggest that you haven't already heard, but I wanted to add that I had the same experience with NuvaRing. I used it about two years, loved it at first, after about a year <strong> I was a miserable person to be around, I didn't even like myself. H had it up to here with me, he basically put his foot down, something had to change.</strong> I quit taking bc all together and we've been charting/using condoms for a while now. (It's taken almost two years for my cycle to become predictable enough to chart). Life is much better.
Posted by pirategal03[/QUOTE]

This is exactly where my FI and I are at. He's had enough. All of the advice on here has been really helpful - and comforting. It's good to know that these side effects are not all in my head. I was starting to think I needed to be commited! Thanks, ladies!!

vbjoanna · August 2012

I've been on NuvaRing for about 6 years and have been fine on it -- I go from one ring to another though, and skip the period. Occassionally I'll get a little spotting, but nothing major. I find that if I actually have a ring-free week I get pretty nutso. I chose the ring originally because I COULD NOT remember to take the pill. When you talk with your doctor you can ask about the new IUDs -- I think when they come out, you're good to go, but it might not be worth it for just a year or two. hormones affect us, and they affect different people differently -- it's definitely not in your head!

While you're figuring out a better BC, make sure that you also pay attention to drinking enough water and getting enough sleep. Being dehydrated or not getting the amount of sleep I need definite turn me into another person, too. And that person is someone *I* don't like being around, either!

brittanycurtisjohnson · August 2012

BC made me fat, I was on Yazmin(?) I didn't want depo cause medicines mess with it and I have a ton of friends on depo who now have kids.

Condoms. Never failed me.

MedStudent13 · August 2012

Good grief. And society talks about hormonal birth control like it's god's gift to women. I'll echo some of the PPs: try charting.

MedStudent13 · August 2012

And read Taking Charge of Your Fertility. It is truly mind boggling what they don't bother teaching women in their sex ed classes

mbuckley85 · August 2012

I was on a pill from last March to June that really screwed me up (lo loestrin). I was a crazy freak, constantly crying and having mood swings. I also had irrational thoughts. I was afraid that when I decided to get pregnant someday I wouldn't be able and actually lived in fear of that thought. The day I called my gyno to go off of it they told me I wad the third person of the day that had called with issues because of that pill! I started the patch and love it! It is perfect for my lifestyle. I put it on my upper butt. FI helps so it doesn't wrinkle and I've only had two fall off in over a year they slowly came off, (I knew it was happening). I cannot wait to be free of birth control though...hoping to come off in March!

AceTT · August 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_birth-control-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:f01dd927-6c69-4a0e-bd3b-2b5769e19e55Post:8d0d4902-1346-4293-94f9-07a2dc7f2ee0">Re: Birth Control?</a>:
[QUOTE]Condoms We have done FAM and avoided pregnancy for 1.5 years. (Didn't start that until after the wedding, though).
Posted by ILoveMilkDuds[/QUOTE]

This. We got married last July, I went off the pill in October, and started charting in late December. We use condoms during the fertile period.

ETA: charting now will be very helpful once we start TTC. It will also help me to notice any problems before we start TTC. I can't say enough good things about fertilityfriend.com and TCOYF!

Birth Control?

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