Birth Control

Which type of birth control meets my needs?

To prevent an unplanned or unwanted pregnancy, couples should consider their options for birth control. While there are many choices of birth control, not all options will be appropriate for everyone.

CONTRACEPTIVE PILLS

*The pill is one of the most common types of birth control for women. When the pill is taken correctly, it is more than 99% effective at preventing an unplanned pregnancy. Oral contraceptives have two hormones-estrogen and progestin. These hormones do not allow your body to ovulate. The pill is easy to use and does not interfere at all with your sex drive. The pill is also taken to make menstrual cycles more regular and less painful. If you are breastfeeding, you can not take oral contraceptive pills. Ask your doctor if the pill is suitable for your birth control needs.

VAGINAL RING

*The vaginal ring is a newer form of birth control and is 98-99% effective when used as prescribed. The ring does release hormones into the body once it is inserted into the vagina. The ring is actually a bendable plastic ring that is about 2 inches in diameter. One new ring is inserted into the vagina, where it will stay for three weeks. At the end of three weeks, the ring is removed and your menstrual cycle will begin. Because you do not have to remember to take a pill each day, the ring can be a convenient choice for birth control. To get the ring, a doctor must write you a prescription.

CONDOMS

*There are both male and female condoms available on the market. When condoms are used correctly, they are 97% effective in preventing an unplanned pregnancy. The male condom is placed over the penis and prevents semen from entering the vagina during ejaculation. Condoms are meant to be used one time only and discarded after use.

DIAPHRAGM

*Diaphragms are dome-shaped disks that are inserted into the vagina before sexual intercourse. The diaphragm will have to be fitted by your doctor initially and can only be received with a prescription. In order for the diaphragm to be effective, it must be inserted atleast 6 hours before sexual intercourse occurs and no longer than 24 hours afterwards. If the diaphragm is used correctly, it is 92-96% effective. The diaphragm should be used with a spermicide to kill any sperm.

CERVICAL CAP

*A cervical cap is a rubber cup that has a round rim and is positioned around the cervix. Cervical caps are smaller than diaphragms and they have to be fitted by a doctor before using initially. The cervical cap does not allow sperm to enter the uterus and can be placed into the vagina at any time before sexual intercourse has begun. Spermicide is necessary when using the cervical cap and the failure rate is fairly high. Approximately ten out of every one hundred women will become pregnant while using the cervical cap.

IUD

*An IUD, intrauterine device, is a birth control method that is placed into the uterus by a doctor. There is a copper wire on the IUD that causes the atmosphere in the uterus to change. The changes do not allow the sperm to fertilize eggs. IUD's can remain in palce for 5 years. The IUD is 98% effective in preventing pregnancy. Some women may experience more painful periods and the chances of getting pelvic inflammatory disease is higher with the use of an IUD. For women that are breastfeeding, an IUD is optimal.

Comments: Birth Control

Comments 1 to 24 of about 118.
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Tannersmommy - 3 days ago.
Okay - So I didn't want to wait in line at the pharmacy with two wiggily kids and i was three days late starting my new pill pack, this month. I also had sex one of those days. I thought nothing of it, but then I read an article about BC and it said a lot of women accidentally get pregnant because they are late taking the first pill in the pack. It mentioned a reason that they were late was because they did'nt want to wait at the pharmacy (I know this article totally had huge red arrows pointing at me). So my question is has anyone else done this? Did you end up pregnant or did AF come?

tatochka13 - 30 days ago.
i had my iud removed today. i was in pain for the last 1,5 month. my doctor took a look at it 2 weeks after insertion and confirmed that it looked fine (in place) but couldn't really explained why i was cramping (maybe after pregnancy) and he told me and it should go away. but after a month i told him that i'm still in pain and would like to remove it. he couldn't find the string and neither the iud itself by doing internal ultrasound. however, external one was showing that it was there. he then send me for xray and it clearly showed that it was there. so we decided that i need a surgery to remove it. Today i had this procedure done and now i can't fall asleep since i'm in pain. he prescribed perkaset pills. and now i have 3 holes in my belly, no birthcontrol, haven't had sex after delivery my baby (almost 3 months now and won't be able to have it in another 2 weeks :(). And my doc response to why this is happened to me was that after pregnancy my uterus had changed its shape. So guys good luck to all who is planning to have iud. I had it before i got pregnant the second time and i loved it (had it for 1 year). but this time it was awful and appearently i can't have it in the future at all!.

collegeprincess27 - 32 days ago.
So I got my IUD out and I haven't got my AF took a test and negative could I be pregnant this soon?

julz - 37 days ago.
My son is now 3 months 5 days old, I breastfeed for the first month. I stillhave not had AF, my doc told me to start taking my pills after I got my first AF back...well I still heven't gotten her back. I have taken 2 pregnancy tests, one a month ago and another yesterday, I am not prego...but why isn't AF back. I should I just start taking my pills and maybe that will help jump start things???? I am so confused!!!

jacquelyn - 37 days ago.
TMI warning! I got my implanon out a week and a half ago and started taking the pill the same day. It usually stops the bleeding immediately, but I've been having lots of cramping and spotting ever since I started taking them. It turns bright red whenever I exert myself, have sex or even have a bowel movement. It then tapers off and fades over a few hours to a few days, but turns bright red again whenever provoked. Is this from switching BC methods? I'm worried I might have uterine fibroids, cervix polyps, etc.

christilynn - 38 days ago.
has anyone ever taken seasonique? I stopped taking it two weeks ago and immediately had a period-or withdrawl bleed...then a couple days ago i had HORRIBLE cramps in the lower right of my abdomen and was spotting...what is that?! Please leave comments on my page! I need any help possible!!!

bdoe [kaylees mommy!] - 39 days ago.
I was always told that after 7 days of being on the pill you don't need a back up method of birth control (condoms, etc) and you should be fine.

Beautiful Bre - 40 days ago.
they told me when i was getting the pill that it wouldnt be in full effect for like a month so to still be vert careful

lucijas77 - 40 days ago.
when i was on the pill, the dr. told me that i should be safe from the first day that i started using them

naturally♥ttc - 43 days ago.
Hi ladies, I have a question. I haven't been on birth control in almost 6 years. My son is 11 months old, so we decided that since my cycles are still not regular that I'd get put on BC to get them back to normal before we start actively ttc baby #3. Anyhow, I just started my 1st pack of pills September 21st, I am 3 days away from starting the white inactive pills -- last night my husband and I had sex and he did not pull out link -- do you think that this pack of pills would of blocked the chances of me conceiving, even though I haven't even finished the first pack?? I figured since I am only 3 days away from starting that it's a slim to none chance... but I was just curious and wonder what you all thought. Please leave me comments on my page! That'd be great! Thank you!

tatochka13 - 44 days ago.
i had a copper iud inserted on my 6 week postpartum appt. Had crampings ever since. went to doc 2 weeks ago and he told me that my uterus is probably still contracting so be patient and the pain will go away. he also did ultrasound and iud was in place but he couldn't see the string. but told me it's fine. Last Wednesday i went to get it removed since after about a month i still have pain. He tried to remove but couldn't find a string. Then he did external ultrasound and it's there but insternal (i was scriming because i was really in pain) didn't show anything. He schedule a procedure for yesterday and prescribed me lorazepam along with 800mg of motrin. And after taking all those drugs it was still unsucessfull, he couldn't find iud at all. Then he send me for x-ray and it clearly showed my iud. now i'm schedule for the surgery in 2 weeks to be removed. I have no idea why this happened. I had it for a year before then had it removed without a problem when we decided to have a baby and i loved this iud.

sassymom1984 - 52 days ago.
jacquelyn - Thanks for replying. I'm not sure if I can get pregant right away or not. I have a bunch of cysts that are causing great amount of pain. Is it possible to get pregnant w/ cysts??

jacquelyn - 52 days ago.
sassymom- The hormones are out of your system within days, so anytime!

Heather12 - 52 days ago.
My best friend got pregnant within 2 months.

Heather12 - 52 days ago.
My best friend got pregnant within 2 months.

sassymom1984 - 52 days ago.
collegeprincess27- I had to IUD, and sex hurt for me as well. First off it was in the wrong place, second off I have a bunch a cysts. Those two together made sex hurt, and I bleed all the time. Now I have the IUD out and still have pain, which is from the cysts. I will probably have to have surgey to have them removed. So it could be from the IUD but it could be cysts. I would ask your Dr for an ultrasound to see if it's in the right place.

sassymom1984 - 52 days ago.
How soon can you get pregnant after having mirena-IUD removed?

jacquelyn - 63 days ago.
I got implanon 2 months ago and I'm getting it out in less than a month. My husband agreed to a vasectomy because my mood swings are so bad plus I'm always on my period. In addition to that I get headaches, weight gain, bad acne, cramps, basically my body thinks I'm pregnant. The good thing is that it does what it's supposed to do. I'm not pregnant. So if that's all you care about, then this is a good option.

collegeprincess27 - 68 days ago.
YAY!!! Getting this silly IUD out next weekend I can't wait I have no idea what we are going to use for birth control now I would still like to have a year before getting pregnant again becausee I want to not be pregnant when I walk down the isle!

one step at a time - 72 days ago.
everyone has their own fav birth control I used the ring for about 3 years and never had a problem with it. You should just talk to your doc and see what works for you I could never remember a pill everyday

collegeprincess27 - 73 days ago.
Ok I had my mirena put in back in march of this year i was excited a birth control you don't have to worry about ok all went well then came the sex and OUCH ok it really hurt and I bled so i thought well its just not fully stable yet it eventually won't hurt yeah it still hurts but it did stop bleeding and here the last two months headaches have came i put it to stress but NOTHING gets rid of them and they turn into migranes yeah did some reading this seems to be something with the iud yay not! however i am not the only one having problems with my iud my other half has been complaining it is hurting him i really thought he was just whinning so i would get it out so we will get pregnant again until i investigated he actually has a bruise on his tip and it hurts when i touch that spot and another spot looks like a lil hole like something has poked him my guess the copper wire i should have insurance again soon and it will be coming out because he won't give it up anymore till it comes out he is tired of it hurting him any ideas what else I should use as birth control we use to use the pull out wondering if we should just do that seems safer for our bodies! btw sorry if its tmi!

Heather12 - 79 days ago.
I had the copper IUD too. I didn't feel a thing maybe very light cramping. Thats scary though. My best friend got the mirena and she said it hurt like hell.

tatochka13 - 79 days ago.
i had non hormonal iud placed today 5 weeks after delivery. it was very painful, i still have bad cramps. i don't know if it's normal. my doc got scared a little after inserting it because m;y heartbeat started to fall. i'll see how it's going to be if i'll still be in pain my doc wants to see me tomorrow. did anyone had the same problem?

mountainmama - 95 days ago.
i was on yaz for a while....i didn't seem to have all the wild mood swings that i did on other pills. once i'm done breastfeeding i'll probably go back on that one.

tannersmommy - 95 days ago.
I tried seasonique I didn't even get past the 3 month sample pack. It sucked, I missed one pill at the beginning and then bleed for three months until my real period started. Yucky stuff.