Contraception

[Jayc]

Its been a long time since anyone posted anything here - I wonder if anyone is still looking in....Anyway, I'll give it a go. I've just started taking the pill (progesterone only) and I'm feeling very low. I'm not sure if its the pill, or exhaustion or, or, or, but I wondered if anyone else had found that the pill brought them down. Any experiences?

[Lisa]

Jayc - I had really bad problems on the combined pill, I was like Jekyll and Hyde! I would start feeling low, then the slightest thing would set me off and I could become violent! I tried self- harm, cutting my arms and legs, hitting my husband, all things I am terribly ashamed of now. My husband linked it to the pill, my doctor never even mentioned it! As soon as I stopped taking it I felt 100% better, like my old self again. Scary to think that hormones could have such an effect on your personality.

I am now on the Mini-Pill, which is what you're taking. It's great for me as I need the added progesterone to balance out all the oestrogen I have. But it sounds as though you are the other way around, you may have too much progesterone and not enough oestrogen, might be worth a visit to your doctor? I don't think there is enough said about depression and the pill.

Is there some reason you can't take the combined pill? If the worst comes to it, you might have to use condoms, although I did read about a new cap they have now. Apparently it's much easier to use and you can leave it in for 48 hours. £10 for 3 I think.

Hope this helps, good luck.

[Rhiannon]

How about the Depo Provera injection you have in the top of your bottom every 12 weeks? I have been using this method for over 2 years and can't recommend it more highly. You do not bleed at all except when you first start to take it and your body is adjusting.

It's great not to have to worry about taking pills or splitting condoms etc.

[Tigger]

Rhiannon, you are one of the lucky ones using Depoprovera, I bled for 6 weeks at a time and it made me feel really horrible.

[Jayc]

Its almost a cliche to say this, but isn't it amazing that contraception choice is still so limited. Lisa, the doctor put me off the combined pill a bit with tales of clots and cancer scares. That's why I opted for the mini-pill. Interesting that you responded so differently to it....I'm still feeing very up and down but still taking it. We can't use condoms - I won't go into the gory details, suffice to say it isn't an option!
Rhiannon, I'd heard enough stories like Tigger's to be off the Depovera, but I guess we all respond differently, so maybe it is worth a go.

[Rhiannon]

Tigger, how long did you persevere? I must admit I bled for 17 days solid a few weeks after the injection but have had nothing since. So it's been worth it for me.

[Tigger]

I carried on for nearly 2 years, and then had 2 years with nothing and I've just had the Mirena Coil fitted, so far so good and I'm keeping my fingers crossed. It did take my periods nearly 6 months to settle down after coming off the Depoprovera, and I've got friends who tried it as well and they had the same problems as me.

[Lisa]

Jayc - it might be worth asking about Cilest, that's a combined pill but it doesn't pose as much of a risk of dvt than the other types. Was your doctor male or female? It seems strange that you were put off taking the combined without even trying it. Do blood clots or cancer run in your family? You know taking the pill can reduce the risks of some types of cancers, and as far as I'm aware, the only real threat of the combined pill is dvt, and if you're not overweight, have no family history and don't smoke, then you're probably ok.

I'd go back to your docs and have another word. The mini-pill obviously isn't working and you shouldn't have to suffer mood-swings. Good luck.

[Hmonty]

If your GP doesn't seem to be coming up with a good suggestion I'd go to a family planning clinic...after all they're the experts and worse comes to the worse, you can pick up some free condom whilst you're there!

[Jayc]

Lisa
I do have a some blood clot history in my family - it could have been post operativen but I guess it was enough to raise the doctor's eyebrows (female). But thanks for the suggestion and I will ask. Hmonty, thanks also for your suggestion.

[Lisav]

Good luck Jayc - let us know how you get on!

[Daffy]

Can you please help me by giving me advice on life with a Mirena coil. I went to see my doctor this morning about having one fitted and she wasn't very supportive at all. I was quite sure that it was what I wanted, but now after seeing her I'm not so sure. She didn't say anything about the good points only mentioned the bad. How I could end up with an infection and how it can sometimes perforate the womb when it's inserted. I feel very confused now and upset about her opinion of it. Should I go and see someone else? My periods before I started back on the combined pill were not particularly heavy, so will it make it worse? I need to know your views, good or bad. Thanks.

[Indie]

Daffy,
I have recently had a normal coil fitted (decided against the Mirena as I was not too keen on the hormones) but the bad points would be the same for either coil. I guess they need to make you aware of complications that can occur but I was told that these were extremely rare. It helped in that both the nurse and the Doctor who fitted mine were pro coil and thus I had all the positives pointed out! Anyway I had decided that it was the best option for me for all sorts of reasons and so far it is OK. With a normal coil you definitely bleed more during your period but there has been no discomfort or cramping. The bleeding should also settle down within another period or so. I know that when I first thought about having one fitted the Doctor who saw me then was not a fan and she basically talked me out of it - so if you are pretty certain the coil is for you then it does help to get someone who is positive about this form of contreceptive.

[Gillan]

Daffy, I had a mirena coil fitted over a year ago because I didn't want to go back on the pill and it seemed like the best option plus some friends of mine had been singing it's praises. I have no complaints and virtually no periods either which is great altho' there are people who have been quite surprised that it was my chosen option. As with everything there are pros and cons and you hve to do what you think is best.
I decided against the pill as it effected me quite badly the last time I took it however the hormones in the coil have not affected me at all.

[21stcenturygirl]

Daffy
I've been told that the Mirena coil is quite expensive (about £100) and that is probably the reason for your Doctor's adverse reaction. I know a Family Planning Nurse and she said that a lot of doctors will not prescribe it because of this. However, she said that you are perfectly within your rights to demand a Mirena coil and they cannot refuse. I know a few people that have done this and they sing its praises.

[Twink]

Have a look at this thread for more discussion on the mirena. My experience echoed 21stcenturygirl's comments in that my GP was happy for me to have one but only if I wasn't going to decide 6 months later that I wanted another child

[Daffy]

Thanks for all your messages. It's made me feel a lot better. I have made anappointment to have it fitted and it should be done early in August. Keep your fingers crossed for me that everything goes ok! Thanks again for your support.

[IDismyname]

Anyone had a mirena coil fitted under a local anaesthetic? (sp?) Due into local hosp. this Wednesday to have it done...

[mears]

You do not need an anaesthetic to have a coil fitted. The coil is slipped through the neck of the womb which is slightly open. It can be a bit uncomfortable for some depending the position of the cervix.
Usually it is done at a GP or family planning clinic appointment.

[Rhubarb]

Just wondering how people feel about this 'abortion pill' that is being made available. Apparently you can take the pill up to nine weeks in the pregnancy, you have to see your GP, take this pill and then insert a suppository, and within 48 hours you will have a 'miscarriage'. It is being claimed that it will reduce teenage pregnancies, or is it just making it easier for people to sleep around regardless of the consequences?

[Daffy]

I think that's terrible. How safe is it anyway? Doesn't sound very safe to me. Abortion is a very personal thing, no one can say if it is right or wrong it all depends on circumstances. What is wrong though is when people do use it as a method of contraception. Have we come so far now in our disposable society that life is disposable too?

[susanmt]

My dh is a GP - he says the only method of contracception less reliable than the cap is not bothering at all!!!!
I'm sure its better than that but he does say that almost all the unexpected (!) pregnancies in married couples he sees are cap users.
If you dont want anything 'invasive' though there arent a lot of options.

[oxocube]

ks, My 2nd child was conceived when I was using the cap. She is so much loved and I wouldn't be without her for the world, but I wouldn't rate it very highly as a means of contraception!!

[IDismyname]

Mears
I had ds by emergency caesarian, hence the erm... entry route for the coil is less "elastic" than if I'd had him naturally.
My gp said that she'd be more than willing to fit it, but in her experience, said that women in my postion found it more comfortable under a local.
She said she'd try and if it didn't work, I could go to local hosp. Decided that I wanted one, and only one "attempted" insertion, and that it would probably be less painful if I had a local.

[PamT]

Rhubarb, I don't like the sound of the abortion pill one bit. I have felt very much pregnant within days of conception every time and wouldn't want to wait until 6 weeks never mind 9 weeks before doing something about it. I have taken the morning after pill and wondered then if my early period was a type of miscarriage - that made me feel bad enough.

Regarding safe contraception, I have a friend who is allergic to latex and swells up terribly if she goes near a condom. DD1 was conceived whilst she was taking the pill and DD2 cohabited with a coil for several weeks! She had originally thought that her DH had fertility problems as there was family history to suggest this but she has sent him for the chop pretty quickly after previous problems.