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Mental health

what contraception is least associated with depressesion...but not abstinence!!

19 replies

mum199 · 20/01/2007 23:24

Have been on cerazette (mini pill) for the past year, and do not feel 'myself'. When i told the doctor, he said its unlikely to be related as it is a very low dose of hormones.

I am BF and have not had my periods, and for various other health reasons need to start ovulating and get my peiods back. (may involve stopping to breastfeed).

The dr thinks cerazette often stops periods when bf, so might be time to change anyway.

....so was wondering what to use. I have heard of the myrena(sp?) coil causing heavy periods/depression so worried to go down the coil route. Condoms not really a good idea other.

any ideas? thanx

OP posts:

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Elasticwoman · 21/01/2007 16:17

I heard that the Mirena coil lessens all symptons from periods and in some cases makes periods disappear altogether. I use the conventional coil and it's worked well for me.

gingermonkey · 21/01/2007 16:26

I was on the pill after dd and had terrible depression, loss of libido etc etc. The gp this time round reckoned I should try the old fashioned coil without hormones and I have been feeling as happy as larry! It works really well (I'm not pregnant and dh and me are quite busy with practising!) and I have no nasty symptoms at all.The only side effect is heavy periods, but mine are no worse than before. I whole heartedly recommend it to everyone.

mum199 · 21/01/2007 20:12

i dont really fancy heavier periods than i used to have. There was a thread not so long ago linking the mirena coil to depression.

does the mirena actually stop you ovulating? As my doctor wwants me ovulating again!

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Aimsmum · 21/01/2007 20:16

Message withdrawn

mum199 · 21/01/2007 20:18

oooh, the thought of fiddeling down there to fit it on...!

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Aimsmum · 21/01/2007 20:27

Message withdrawn

DimpledThighs · 21/01/2007 20:32

my periods are only slightly heavier with the non hormone coil.

From what you have said you need a non hormone based contraception so coil, condoms, cap, rhythm method (with wee testing sticks), snip snip.

mum199 · 21/01/2007 20:45

i think one of my siblings was born holding the coil hence my unease. (20 years ago-have they changed?)

how do i find out about the rhythm method? i see alot in the conception section, but dont understand any of it. In any case, not sure if it would work if dont have my periods yet.

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Elasticwoman · 21/01/2007 20:55

Well you know what they call people who use the rhythm method? PARENTS.

I can't understand why your mother didn't have the coil removed when she got pregnant.
No method of contracteption is 100% effective but at least the coil isn't subject to your remembering to take it/use it. It would be checked once a year by the doctor to make sure it hadn't fallen out.

mum199 · 21/01/2007 21:13

probably sounds really dumb but...could they go into the womb once your pregnant to fish it out?

a non-hormonal method is probably whats called for due to my needing to ovulate and not wanting to steer clear from anything that could cause/exceberate(sp!) depression.

I am just so scared of it perforating, causing very heavy bleeding or non-stop spotting.

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DimpledThighs · 21/01/2007 21:27

I think the policy is that if you get pregnant with a coil in situ and the threads are still there and they can see the coil on ultrasound they take it out. Slight risk of m/c but if left in can cause infection.

mum199 · 21/01/2007 22:14

aah.

very curious to know what people think re the doctor assertation that cerazette-mini pill is a low dosage and therfore not likly to be linked to depression.

does anyn mums-netter have experience of using the diaphram and cap?

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Elasticwoman · 22/01/2007 09:36

I found the diaphragm effective but a faff. The coil is inserted into the cervix - it doesn't go in the womb. One of the reasons I decided against the Mirena coil was that it could make periods unpredictable and cause spotting, (although with some people it just gets rid of periods altogether).

Another consideration with the coil is it may be painful to have it inserted. Personally I had no trouble at all and the procedure is certainly quick.

expatinscotland · 22/01/2007 09:53

They love to tell you it's unlikely to be related.

They're talking out their arse.

I have PND, hormonally based depression.

ANY progesten-based contraception has been an unmitigated disaster for me.

We use a diaphragm and it's fine.

DimpledThighs · 22/01/2007 12:32

hormones + me = + migranes

mum199 · 22/01/2007 20:51

thank you all for your input . Is it true the diaphragm has a lower success rate of avoiding pregnancy, something like 92% (even if fitted correctly)? That would make it less appealing...

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Elasticwoman · 23/01/2007 11:58

STOP PRESS! Have just found out more about the coil, and that some of my previous posts are not quite right. I had a cervical smear this morning and discussed it with the nurse (ex mw). The coil is positioned in the cervix and the womb. Also, in the event of pregnancy, removal of the coil is v likely to cause miscarriage so that's why your mother left hers in, Mum199. However, delivery of baby and coil at term does happen these days too. What I also didn't realise is that you can check the threads yourself after every period, to make sure the coil is still there.

Unfortunately the nurse couldn't find my threads so she warned me that I'm at risk of pregnancy and gave me some condoms! I have to go back next week to see if the dr who fitted the coil can find the threads and if she can't I have to go for a scan. Realistically though, pregnancy is pretty unlikely for me as I'm nearly 46 and if the coil had fallen out or gone somewhere it shouldn't, I would probably have had a heavier more painful period last time. And i didn't.

Anyway, if you find me on the antenatal threads next month, you'll know I'm the very worst person to ask for contraceptive advice!

mum199 · 23/01/2007 22:29

That would be too funny!! - though perhaps not for you. Actually, i had heard about checking it yourself, that put me off as i would hate to feel it and then wonder did i yank it...!

it sound like nothing is ideal, pills are hormonal, diaphraghm is a faff and not as effective, coil can cause spotting. Its probably about which consequences can you live with most.

Knowing my nature I will probably continue with the cerazette as it means changing nothing! And hope the doctor is right that any 'hormonal' feelings i have is nothing to do with the pill as the dosage is low.

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Elasticwoman · 24/01/2007 12:06

Conventional coil doesn't cause spotting. It might cause heavier and more painful periods, but you can always have it taken out if it doesn't suit you. It doesn't bother me in that department. Your finger brushes the tips of the threads when you check it; no chance of yanking them.

Don't know the figures on diaphragm reliability, but it did work for me when I used it.

I'm not too panicky about the idea of pregnancy, I'll go with the flow!

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