contraception

[ej0820]

hey there...
I am currently on the pill (microgestin), which seems to work. My fiance and I haven't had sex without a condom while being on the pill, but it makes me regular and less worried about whether there's something wrong with the condom or something. I used to be on the NuvaRing, which was WONDERFUL. I never had any panics while I was using it when we didn't have a condom. It was easy to use too, you just insert it, forget about it for three weeks, take it out, and repeat. The only reason I stopped using it was because my new health insurance wouldn't cover it completely since it's not in generic (I would've had a copay anywhere from $70-$150). If you have the option to try it, do it. Your gyno probably has some free samples that you could use to see if you like it.

 

[ej0820]

hey there...
I am currently on the pill (microgestin), which seems to work. My fiance and I haven't had sex without a condom while being on the pill, but it makes me regular and less worried about whether there's something wrong with the condom or something. I used to be on the NuvaRing, which was WONDERFUL. I never had any panics while I was using it when we didn't have a condom. It was easy to use too, you just insert it, forget about it for three weeks, take it out, and repeat. The only reason I stopped using it was because my new health insurance wouldn't cover it completely since it's not in generic (I would've had a copay anywhere from $70-$150). If you have the option to try it, do it. Your gyno probably has some free samples that you could use to see if you like it.

 

[coltsfan715]

Well I have been taking BC in some form since I was 18 - so just about 7 yrs now. I had to take it for cramp and PMS related issues. I would cramp to the point that I could not walk or get out of bed, I would be vommiting and nausous for the entire week and my life would just have to stop bascally. I will add I started my period at the age of 12 sooo it was NOT just my body getting used to my cycle lol.

When I first started taking the pill I took Mircette or Miracette (I can't remember the exact spelling). It was a pill and it worked effectively for quite a while. My periods were regular for the first few years and they shortened from lasting up to 2 weeks without BC to lasting just at 7 days. I had 1 day of cramping that was NOT even half as bad as it had been and then I was fine - smooth sailing.

After about 5 years of Mircette I started to have break through bleeding and spotting when I was NOT supposed to have my period. I was then changed to something with a higher estrogen level called Estrostep (also a pill). I tried Estrostep for about 6 months and found that my periods were highly irregular and my cramps were coming back full force.

I then was switched to Ortho Evra Patch about 1.5 yrs ago. The patch is nice because I don't have to worry with except once a week so it is one less thing to think about daily. As for the cramps I get one really bad day but it is not as bad as my cramps are without BC and it typically only lasts one day. My period has gone from 7 days to lasting about 3-5 which is awesome. As for break through bleeding I have found that if you are off AT ALL with changing the patch, meaning Oh I forgot to change it Saturday night so I change it Sunday morning I do have some breakthrough bleeding. Not much and it is usually just spotting for a day but I do have some. Other than that the heavy day of cramping is my only complaint. Also to add it is easy with the patch to skip your period if you want just keep applying the patches. You have to completely remove it for a week if you want your period. Case in point - with transplant I was supposed to have my period (and all the fun cramping) the week after I got transplanted - I had my mom fill my script and just kept applying the patches and was able to postpone my period several weeks - what a lovely thing. So my surgical pain was NOT compounded with cramps lol.

Well that may have been an overshare but yes do with it what you will.

Take Care,
Lindsey

 

[coltsfan715]

Well I have been taking BC in some form since I was 18 - so just about 7 yrs now. I had to take it for cramp and PMS related issues. I would cramp to the point that I could not walk or get out of bed, I would be vommiting and nausous for the entire week and my life would just have to stop bascally. I will add I started my period at the age of 12 sooo it was NOT just my body getting used to my cycle lol.

When I first started taking the pill I took Mircette or Miracette (I can't remember the exact spelling). It was a pill and it worked effectively for quite a while. My periods were regular for the first few years and they shortened from lasting up to 2 weeks without BC to lasting just at 7 days. I had 1 day of cramping that was NOT even half as bad as it had been and then I was fine - smooth sailing.

After about 5 years of Mircette I started to have break through bleeding and spotting when I was NOT supposed to have my period. I was then changed to something with a higher estrogen level called Estrostep (also a pill). I tried Estrostep for about 6 months and found that my periods were highly irregular and my cramps were coming back full force.

I then was switched to Ortho Evra Patch about 1.5 yrs ago. The patch is nice because I don't have to worry with except once a week so it is one less thing to think about daily. As for the cramps I get one really bad day but it is not as bad as my cramps are without BC and it typically only lasts one day. My period has gone from 7 days to lasting about 3-5 which is awesome. As for break through bleeding I have found that if you are off AT ALL with changing the patch, meaning Oh I forgot to change it Saturday night so I change it Sunday morning I do have some breakthrough bleeding. Not much and it is usually just spotting for a day but I do have some. Other than that the heavy day of cramping is my only complaint. Also to add it is easy with the patch to skip your period if you want just keep applying the patches. You have to completely remove it for a week if you want your period. Case in point - with transplant I was supposed to have my period (and all the fun cramping) the week after I got transplanted - I had my mom fill my script and just kept applying the patches and was able to postpone my period several weeks - what a lovely thing. So my surgical pain was NOT compounded with cramps lol.

Well that may have been an overshare but yes do with it what you will.

Take Care,
Lindsey

 

[coltsfan715]

Well I have been taking BC in some form since I was 18 - so just about 7 yrs now. I had to take it for cramp and PMS related issues. I would cramp to the point that I could not walk or get out of bed, I would be vommiting and nausous for the entire week and my life would just have to stop bascally. I will add I started my period at the age of 12 sooo it was NOT just my body getting used to my cycle lol.

When I first started taking the pill I took Mircette or Miracette (I can't remember the exact spelling). It was a pill and it worked effectively for quite a while. My periods were regular for the first few years and they shortened from lasting up to 2 weeks without BC to lasting just at 7 days. I had 1 day of cramping that was NOT even half as bad as it had been and then I was fine - smooth sailing.

After about 5 years of Mircette I started to have break through bleeding and spotting when I was NOT supposed to have my period. I was then changed to something with a higher estrogen level called Estrostep (also a pill). I tried Estrostep for about 6 months and found that my periods were highly irregular and my cramps were coming back full force.

I then was switched to Ortho Evra Patch about 1.5 yrs ago. The patch is nice because I don't have to worry with except once a week so it is one less thing to think about daily. As for the cramps I get one really bad day but it is not as bad as my cramps are without BC and it typically only lasts one day. My period has gone from 7 days to lasting about 3-5 which is awesome. As for break through bleeding I have found that if you are off AT ALL with changing the patch, meaning Oh I forgot to change it Saturday night so I change it Sunday morning I do have some breakthrough bleeding. Not much and it is usually just spotting for a day but I do have some. Other than that the heavy day of cramping is my only complaint. Also to add it is easy with the patch to skip your period if you want just keep applying the patches. You have to completely remove it for a week if you want your period. Case in point - with transplant I was supposed to have my period (and all the fun cramping) the week after I got transplanted - I had my mom fill my script and just kept applying the patches and was able to postpone my period several weeks - what a lovely thing. So my surgical pain was NOT compounded with cramps lol.

Well that may have been an overshare but yes do with it what you will.

Take Care,
Lindsey

 

[Bumblebee]

hmmm so it would seem a lot of people are actually on the pill? Do you not get worried when you have a dodgy stomach that it was absorbed? I think i'd be more scared using the pill than condoms because of this. Unfortunatley the nuva ring isn't available in the UK yet but it will be soon. I think an iud sounds like a good idea but i would be afraid of ectoptic pregnancy. I guess everything has it's down side. thanks for info so far. Keep em coming if others fancy sharing.
xxxx

 

[Bumblebee]

hmmm so it would seem a lot of people are actually on the pill? Do you not get worried when you have a dodgy stomach that it was absorbed? I think i'd be more scared using the pill than condoms because of this. Unfortunatley the nuva ring isn't available in the UK yet but it will be soon. I think an iud sounds like a good idea but i would be afraid of ectoptic pregnancy. I guess everything has it's down side. thanks for info so far. Keep em coming if others fancy sharing.
xxxx

 

[Bumblebee]

hmmm so it would seem a lot of people are actually on the pill? Do you not get worried when you have a dodgy stomach that it was absorbed? I think i'd be more scared using the pill than condoms because of this. Unfortunatley the nuva ring isn't available in the UK yet but it will be soon. I think an iud sounds like a good idea but i would be afraid of ectoptic pregnancy. I guess everything has it's down side. thanks for info so far. Keep em coming if others fancy sharing.
xxxx

 

[Momtana]

great way to use the benefit of continuous cycling, Lindsey. However, you might want to ask your doctors about using the patch vs the pill or the ring. Studies came out nearly two years ago that showed that there is 60% more circulating estrogen with the patch.

 

[Momtana]

great way to use the benefit of continuous cycling, Lindsey. However, you might want to ask your doctors about using the patch vs the pill or the ring. Studies came out nearly two years ago that showed that there is 60% more circulating estrogen with the patch.

 

[Momtana]

great way to use the benefit of continuous cycling, Lindsey. However, you might want to ask your doctors about using the patch vs the pill or the ring. Studies came out nearly two years ago that showed that there is 60% more circulating estrogen with the patch.

 

[Momtana]

Bumblebee, please let me know why the NuvaRing worries you concerning ectopic pregnancy.
Of all the hormonal methods the NuvaRing may be the best choice for women with CF.

 

[Momtana]

Bumblebee, please let me know why the NuvaRing worries you concerning ectopic pregnancy.
Of all the hormonal methods the NuvaRing may be the best choice for women with CF.

 

[Momtana]

Bumblebee, please let me know why the NuvaRing worries you concerning ectopic pregnancy.
Of all the hormonal methods the NuvaRing may be the best choice for women with CF.

 

[AnD]

Um, I think she was refering to the IUD and ectopic pregnancy, not the ring... <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">

I think the ectopic pregancy risk would depend on the kind of IUD you get? You might want to google IUD and ectopic pregnancy to check it out...It's been a while since I've read about it.

 

[AnD]

Um, I think she was refering to the IUD and ectopic pregnancy, not the ring... <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">

I think the ectopic pregancy risk would depend on the kind of IUD you get? You might want to google IUD and ectopic pregnancy to check it out...It's been a while since I've read about it.

 

[AnD]

Um, I think she was refering to the IUD and ectopic pregnancy, not the ring... <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">

I think the ectopic pregancy risk would depend on the kind of IUD you get? You might want to google IUD and ectopic pregnancy to check it out...It's been a while since I've read about it.

 

[coltsfan715]

Laura,

I have talked to my doc and about the patch and they actually put me on the patch because of the higher estrogen levels. They felt that it would be beneficial for me. Thank you for the info though <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">.

As for absorption issues with the pill. I usually tried taking mine with meals. I would therefore be taking it with my enzymes. Something that you may want to try if you are overly concerned with the absorption issue.

Take Care,
Lindsey

 

[coltsfan715]

Laura,

I have talked to my doc and about the patch and they actually put me on the patch because of the higher estrogen levels. They felt that it would be beneficial for me. Thank you for the info though <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">.

As for absorption issues with the pill. I usually tried taking mine with meals. I would therefore be taking it with my enzymes. Something that you may want to try if you are overly concerned with the absorption issue.

Take Care,
Lindsey

 

[coltsfan715]

Laura,

I have talked to my doc and about the patch and they actually put me on the patch because of the higher estrogen levels. They felt that it would be beneficial for me. Thank you for the info though <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">.

As for absorption issues with the pill. I usually tried taking mine with meals. I would therefore be taking it with my enzymes. Something that you may want to try if you are overly concerned with the absorption issue.

Take Care,
Lindsey