"Birth Control: As If A Monthly Curse Wasn't Enough"
"Birth Control: The Little Pill With A Will"
"Birth Control: There's Already One Octomom"
Maaan. Well... Woe-maaaan. I went to the health department for the first time to get birth control for the first time in years. I have had a healthy fear of birth control for, like, ever. It's a short uncomplicated story.
I prefer to not use it. I am personally very sensitive to any medication and the added hormones have an immediate effect on me. The problem is that I also seem to be very fertile. After my divorce I knew I had to go back to traditional methods just to keep myself safe... for sure. I started taking the pill again. Well guess how that turned out?
At the very least he's adorable!
So anyway, apparently just taking a pill is not going to be enough. We immediately started using old fashioned methods after he was born but now that I've stopped breastfeeding the thought of getting pregnant again keeps me up at night! I pulled out the pills I had and started taking them again but noticed immediately how bat shit crazy I became. No bueno. I took a trip to my local health department to find out what my options were. I have heard of the countless blessings an IUD offers so I inquired about that only to find out that I had to have several tests done and that I had to wait several months to get them. In the meantime, I was offered the DEPO shot or a Nuvaring. Knowing that I was sensitive to hormones I went with the Nuvaring. That way, at the very least, I could take it out. Once you're injected with the shot, you're at it's mercy for 3 months. Although I am pleased with the overall hormonal 'ride' that the Nuvaring has taken me on, I am quite unhappy with the side effects that seem to appear in the bedroom. I also have been having a hard time concentrating, forget words, and I feel like a Zombie.
I have decided to stick with it for the next month, it's only been 2 weeks after all, and then shoot for the IUD if possible. However, I can't help considering just dropping it and taking our chances. I hate being effected by it. If I can't even handle the Nuvaring, will I be able to handle the IUD?
Has anyone had previous experiences and could offer opinions for me to consider? The internet offers so many conflicting opinions I have gotten NO WHERE in my decision making. I am specifically curious about those of you who are also sensitive to birth control and what you have found to be sufficient protection.
Birth control was a crap shoot for me too. I was on the pill for years, switched to Nuvaring and got pregnant within 8 months. After Otto came, I went on the mini pill at 5 months (I breast fed til he was 13 months) and got pregnant at 11 months. Mike went and got fixed this last time (he volunteered if you can believe that). We're 0-2 when it comes to birth control. We are happy with our kids, but 2 was enough and we knew if something ever changed to procedure could be reversed. I know it's a drastic measure, but with our track record it was worth the trouble for the peace of mind.
ReplyDeleteHoly Wow! Yeah, it seems you may be just as fertile as I am! Well all I needed to hear was a personal account of this thing failing. Thank you so much for sharing it with me! I think Brett actually may be on his way to Snip Town. ;)
DeleteI've been on the pill since I was like 15 or so. Honestly I got tired of taking the pill, not to mention when pregnant I found out I have some blood clotting disorder. So that means I am limited on what I can take. I was taking this one pill call the "mini pill". My doctor tried to get me to take the Mirena but I was just against it. Finally when I moved I had to go in for my yearly I spoke to my doctor about it. We decided I would try it. The office had to order it so it took about a month before I could get it. My doctor preferred me to be on my cycle when putting it in...gross yes but easier to insert. I am not gonna lie it hurt like hell..I cried. I am glad that I did get it tho. I am not having to worry about anything and it is in for five years. It takes about two weeks to get into your system so you have to use a backup method for two weeks. Here is a link to the Mirena site. If you have any questions about it for me and what not shoot me an email! :)
ReplyDeletehttp://www.mirena-us.com/index.jsp?WT.mc_id=MIS122527&WT.srch=1
http://countryrootscityliving.blogspot.com
That's what I'm considering! I had never heard that it hurt though! How crazy... but at least it passes. I'll read more into it fo' sho'. Thanks!
Deletei can't wait to go off birth control - i blame anything that goes wrong in my life on it :P
ReplyDeletei bet the nuvaring will get better - the first month of these kind of things is always the worst.
Hahahahahaha! As a matter of fact, it's become exactly that for me: an excuse! LMAO, it's nice to share the same complaint with someone!
DeleteI've seen two bloggers asking for help in this area this week lol. I'm scared of jinxing myself BUT I don't take anything, my husband just pulls out, and we don't have sex when I'm ovulating, I use a period tracker app on my iphone :x I'm pretty fertile too, both my kids were concieved the first month we didn't do anything to not get pregnant.
ReplyDeletenow say a quick prayer for me to not have children in the next 4 years.
This is a little preachy, but it does discuss the dangers of contraception:
http://www.lifesitenews.com/blog/great-new-teaching-video-on-the-harms-of-contraception
I'm glad your recognize this at preachy, but it's also factually-misleading and fear-mongering.
DeleteAttraction levels. http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/10/07/are-birth-control-pills-changing-the-mating-game/
Cancer risk. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/oral-contraceptives
Risk of heart attacks/strokes. http://www.boston.com/dailydose/2012/06/13/birth-control-pills-raise-risk-heart-attacks-and-strokes-but-only-slightly/G3wQiKMFSVbc9W7HKJeWqO/story.html
Estrogen in water supply. http://portal.acs.org/portal/acs/corg/content?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=PP_ARTICLEMAIN&node_id=223&content_id=CNBP_026780&use_sec=true&sec_url_var=region1&__uuid=221f8709-0a3c-4e16-a153-4ea1c8cad182
Overpopulation may or may not be a real issue. IDK much about it. http://www.buzzle.com/articles/overpopulation-problems.html
1.) I don't consider it "fear-mongering" because we're both Catholic, it's what we believe in. If I put it on someone elses page whom I didn't know where their spiritual standing was I wouldn't have written anything. I feel I'm in the same boat as Ashley because there is what our theology teaches on contraception and really not wanting to be pregnant for the time being. My way is not the right way according to Human Vitae buuut it's what I'm comfortable doing considering their isn't artificial contraception or barrier.
DeleteWhatever Ashley chooses is her thing.
2.) I can pull up studies that show your studies are flawed and you can probably pull up links that show mine are flawed since the internet is wonderful in its broad spectrum of opinion but I much rather not care.
I worked as a pharmacy tech and I've asked different pharmacists and doctors their opinion and most of them back up that the pill is bad on the fronts that the video mentioned but they hope the kinks get sorted out good. And they recommend balancing it out with a super healthy cancer beating diet as an option to being on the pill.
Done.
Whew! As a matter of fact, my doctor said to me quote "You can do what Catholics do and just pull out and take your temps." after I complained and complained about just going back on it. I giggled bc I thought of you, Grace, for some reason :) .
DeleteI totally appreciate the back and forth. I love a good debate and really love it when both sides are able to stick to the facts and not get so emotionally caught up in it so I love you girls even more right now!
As far as a side, I'm one of those left/right brain both people. I literally can see both sides and often agree with both so, eh. I usually would fly by the seat of my pants on issues I see both sides on so hence my worry and concern with this particular topic. I really REALLY don't want to get pregnant.
My whole bitch is that I don't want to get pregnant and it doesn't seem like modern birth control is anything more than trading the worry with the risk... which I am not okay with. Hell though, now that we have a farm would 4 be so bad? *rolls eyes*
I can't take the Pill because of hormonal issues. We're talking Raging Bitch at DefCon 87. While I'm not any fertile Myrtle (no kids or pregnancies at this point), I don't know what I'd do. I tried the NuvaRing out and it gave me weird feelings. I could seriously feel it inside me at random points during the day and you're definitely NOT supposed to. Not sure exactly how to handle BC at this point because I don't think it's necessarily good for you... but neither is having a zillion kids. I hate not knowing the solution but you're not alone in having the problem. :(
ReplyDeletewww.theopinionatedgirl.com
Ugh for reals! I totally relate the emotion to the years I was on an anti depressant. I felt like a zombie who couldn't get emotional. Also at the same time I can break down in weird fits of tears.
DeleteI had the WORST issues with NuvaRing... I lasted a month, and couldn't keep doing it. I got a diaphragm instead. My body is too sensitive to hormones, and from what I read, anything that's absorbed through the vaginal or uterine walls (like Mirena or NuvaRing) is actually WORSE for sensitive people. I'm super-fertile as well, so we just pay extra careful attention to my ovulation cycles and use the diaphragm with spermicide. It's not the best, but we've managed to not get pregnant, and I'm not psychotic.
ReplyDelete"we've managed to not get pregnant, and I'm not psychotic." Plus and Plus!
DeleteMy biggest concern is that I'm going to fail at taking my own temperature. Perhaps I should trust myself more!
I used the Nuva Ring for a short while when I was singlin' and minglin'...but once my (now) husband and I were committed we just used the pull out method. I thought we just got super lucky....until we started to actually try to have babies. Or a single baby I should say. Still not coming together for us. Birth control. Babies. It's all some confusing shit. Sorry you've been going through the ups and downs. Hope you figure stuff out. Haven't been by the blog for a while. Missed reading your stuff.
ReplyDeleteI'm so here and there with this thing I'm surprised anyone pays any attention anymore! (That's a lot of 'any'...) I have to catch up on you too!
DeleteBefore the POM worked great for me in my previous marriage. 5 years and no 'oops'. However, considering how quickly Declan came to be I was thinking maybe this hubby and I were meant to breed bebe's.
I hate hearing when couples have trouble! I want to help in some way. I wish you the best though, you'd have the coolest kid. I'd want our kids to be friends!
I also, can not take the pill. I went crazy too. :) Personally, I LOVE THE IUD! I don't need any extra hormones screwing up this brain.
ReplyDelete