Im over 35 so been advised to come off birth pill which I have been on since 15 for mainly my monthly problems howver tried the coil, turned me

[cupacake]

pyscho , so I tried the implant which I have now turned into a lardy, can I have no pleasures ,no wine no calories,wrinkles lardy no being sharon stone but with pants ahhhhh looks like its me and the rabbit then.

[TreeHuggerMum1]

The injection was good - depo provero, I was on it for 5 years and I did have a bit of weight gain but the no periods for 5 years made it worth it...

[Poppity]

have you tried themirena coil or he ld fashioned one?

the mirena is much better ime

[bellissima]

I sympathise - I'm older than you (but still regular periods etc, but didn't get on with last pill) and the GP is pushing the mirena coil at me every time I go and I just DON'T WANT IT - see other thread on here and some of the comments. I totally appreciate that for some people it's wonderful but I can't stand the thought of having some of the side effects mentioned from something i can't just take out instantly myself. So gearing myself up for a New Year apptmt to discuss other options - mini pill or whatever. Or indeed orange juice instead..

(Am in that age bracket where if I told doc I wanted another baby he would die laughing and suggest counselling - on the other hand if I say no i just don't want your coil it's - but you must take precautions!)

[foxinsocks]

apart from being 35, were there any other reasons you can't take the pill?

I am over 35 and have been informed by my (extremely well respected) gynae that I can carry on taking the pill until menopause if I so wish as long as I have none of the other risk factors (like obesity, high bp etc.).

I can only tolerate one pill and need it to stop my hormonal migraines so I would be desperate without it!

[Pannacotta]

Is vasectomy an option for your DP/DH or sterilisation for you?

I didn't want to take the pill or have a coil and cap no good (got pregnant with DS1 while using it), so agreed with DH that he woudl have the snip.

[bidibidi]

How long have you had implant for? It needs a few months to settle down.

[expatinscotland]

fox is right! as long as you have no medical conditions which contraindict combined hormone pill usage (hypertension, history of clots/stroke, heart disease, diabetes, to name a few), you can use combined hormone contraception until menopause.

the nuva ring is just out in the UK, it's combined but bypasses the digestive system, it might be for you.

they do hardsell the Mirena to women over 35 who've completed childbearing, but it isn't good for everyone. it definitely wasn't for me!

[bellissima]

fox - would you mind if I asked which pill stopped your hormonal migraines? - the reason I didn't get on with my last one (Femodette) was that I got a rotten migraine (but no 'aura' or whatever) in the seven day break - cue doc pushing mirena - which I just don't want. I still get a bit of a headache just as my period starts even when I'm not on the pill, so it's obviously hormonal. (I have no other containdications for pill)

[foxinsocks]

god whatever you do, don't go for the mirena if you have migraine problems. I had never had ONE migraine till I had the mirena and now I can't get rid of them. Like expat, it really didn't suit me at all - it caused me numerous problems which have stayed with me, despite having it taken out quite quickly grr.

The one pill that seems to have stopped them is Yasmin. Apparently, it's quite well known for helping them (I take it without a break - every 6 months I have to let myself have a period otherwise I get bad cramps).

[glastocat]

What about a copper coil? There are no hormones, so it coudn't tun you psycho.

[bellissima]

I just really don't want a coil. I know they are great for some people but I really can't stand the thought of something being shoved up me and not being able to take it out immediately if problems. Plus, the other things doc pushing mirena or indeed any coil for - ie 'stops heavy periods', 'eases pre-menopausal symptoms' etc - well I don't have them in the first place (yet!) (plus, reading about experiences with coil on MN sometimes it has completely the opposite effect!). I have a short natural cycle - always have had - and therefore prefer a slightly longer 'pill' cycle, plus fewer pre-period spots etc, plus even at my age reliable contraception. I just get hormone headaches, whether or not on pill (though slightly worse on pill, in the 'break' time). So maybe Yasmin - many thanks Fox! (In fact I might just print this thread and show it to doc if that's ok!)

[Picante]

Do you want any more children?

If you do, do not get the depo.

[FloraPost]

Picante, why do you say that? The hormones are all gone 18 months after stopping depo, no?

[Picante]

Because it can cause infertility and osteoporosis. I only had two shots and it took me 2 years to conceive. Completely screwed up my system. Evil stuff. I can't believe gps are handing it out to teenagers.

[foxinsocks]

there are quite a few threads about it I think Flora

both depo and mirena totally fucked with my body

I have become very anti anything like that that gets injected or inserted into you because there's very little you can do quickly when it all goes wrong

sorry to hear that Picante

[glastocat]

Ok, you don't want something shoved up you. It was a bloody uncomfortable five minutes I'll give you that. But I think it was a small price to pay for five years plus worry free contraception.

Also the copper coil can't cause side effects like you've mentioned as there are no hormones involved. Any hormonal contraception makes me fat ill or depressed, so I love my copper coil.

[FloraPost]

Picante - thanks v. much, that could explain a lot. I went on it aged 17 and have now been off it for 3 years without conceiving. Although my hormones are apparently fine. I will ask the consultant about this next time I see him.

Apologies for the hijack, OP.

[expatinscotland]

Glasto, it's a high price to pay if you find you experience terrible side effects from it.

And yes, copper coil, as evidenced by some of the women on this thread alone, can cause side effects as well.

Also, many of us who have had negative side effects from coils were fobbed off for months before finally getting someone to agree to remove it.

[expatinscotland]

Additionally, the copper coil does not work by supressing ovulation.

For people who believe life begins at conception, it's not a suitable method.

foxinsocks and Picante, I know several consultants who won't adminster Depo except to women who have completed their families because it can negatively impact fertility for a long while in some females.

[glastocat]

Faie enough, although unless you are allergic to copper I don't see how there can be side effects. Obviously no contraception is perfect, I'm just pointing out that switching to a non hormonal contraception can work fantastically well for some.

And for god's sake don't get Depo! I put on two stone, and got depressed. It took over a year to get my periods back too.

[teachpeach]

Have you tried an appointment with a different doctor at your surgery?- at my Docs, you get whoever is free at your appt time, and I will never forget being advised by an old male doctor that ' ladies at your time of life should come off the pill'.Then advised a coil and the thought of it made my legs turn to jelly. Anyway, next appt was with a young female doctor who said that was rubbish and as long as I was in good health there was no reason to stop the pill.I'm on microgynon and have never had any problems.

[expatinscotland]

'I don't see how there can be side effects.'

More than a few women have had it removed due to heavy periods and/or severe PMT.

It works for some, and some have pointed that out.

Obviously not for others.

[bobthebuddha]

'I don't see how there can be side effects.' I wish this were true.

Just Google side effects of the copper coil or 'paragard' and you'll see how there can! I've just had the copper coil taken out after considerable misery over many months. I didn't do too well on the Mirena and thought the non-hormonal version would be fine. Wrong. Not just the PMT and cramping but co-incidental and crippling back trouble (2 instances in 10 years, both not long after having a coil fitted), fatigue and latterly repeated infections.

According to Wikipedia 'The mechanism of IUDs is not well understood. It's known however that the presence of a device in the uterus prompts the release of leukocytes and prostaglandins by the endometrium.'

Also according to Wikipedia prostaglandins 'are mediators and have a variety of strong physiological effects, such as regulating the contraction and relaxation of smooth muscle tissue. Although they are technically hormones, they are rarely classified as such.'

If you acccept that, you simply can't say that with the copper coil 'there are no hormones'.

If you haven't had any problems with something, this sadly does not mean that no-one else will.