Mumsnet Talk

I am at the 3 months mark. Still no periods so I haven't been using anything...but I really do not want another baby so I have to sort something out asap.

I am most likely going to use the mini pill..but I keep reading about bad side effects and I really am sceptical about the hormones not affecting the baby..

Condoms? yuck, what a faff..and I am worried we might forget... Coil? Again I have heard mixed reviews...
Please share your experiences good and bad.

I'm using the implant (think it's called implanon or something like that) Very straightfoward to have inserted (took about 5 minutes) and lasts 3 years. Once it's in, that's it, nothing to remember (apart from having it replaced in 3 years) and no faffing. Can be removed at any time and fertility goes back to normal straight away, unlike the mini pill, so you can start trying straight away of you decide you want another baby later.

I was told that it can affect periods, making them either lighter or heavier than normal, and in some women they stop altogether, but again, if you do have negative effects it can be removed.

I've only had mine a week or so so can't really add any more in relation to any effects good or bad.

Mirena coil here. Had it a few years ago and it didn't work well for me- had irregular heavy periods, so wasn't fussed on it again. But as I'm bf, gp thought it might work this time as my womb lining would be so thin. Got it in about 3 months ago and all is well! Still bf, but about a week after I got it, had a bleed, and nothing really since. Still bf, but ds is weaning, and still nothing (very slight staining every few weeks for a day). So I'm happy so far. I didn't want the pill as I know it affects my mood, but I've been fine with this

I used implanon before it was removed to have DS. My cycles were all over the place and periods much lighter but obviously very low maintenance and I found it great.

One thing I was surprised to learn when it came to TTC was that, although it claims to leave your system in 24 hours-ish, I found on the internet that some women have reported long delays before they start ovulating again. In fact when we conceived within 3 months of it being removed, the midwife was very surprised.

Just thought it was worth mentioning as it's not in any of the information you get when you have it!

Cerazette (mini pill) at the moment until I can get copper coil fitted.

We used condoms after DD. DS is due in 11 days and we will be using a vasectomy for DH.

I used the mini pill at three months while bf and my milk really disappeared within a week...so I stopped the pill, used condoms till I was bf and weaned at 6 months. Then back to pill.
The poor reviews you mention were ignored by me at my own peril...they are right in criticising the pill and it's impact on bf.

Abstinence

Where do you get the energy from to need contraception? And where? DS is always in our bed!

me and my DP are having the same debate... think we're going with condoms despite the faff and general dislike of them but i just dont want to put any more hormones in my body so condoms it has to be! we were never too bothered before - hence arrival of our DD - so we're going to have to try really hard to use them this time... no plans for a DC2 just yet thank you very much!

I'm using the depo injection as I used it pre-ds and it really suits me.

Condoms, don't like the idea of the coil & didn't want the extra hormones while bfing.

Just want to point out it is possible to get pg before periods return so would suggest you use something unless you are happy to get pg again.

I'm about to get the mirena fitted, condoms are a faff and since the depend on DH and I exercising appropriate judgement chances are they we will fail sooner or later.

Between DCs1&2 we used nothing except exclusive breastfeeding. We have a 2 and a quarter year age gap. DCs 2&3 we used condoms once, but other than that just breastfeeding again and landed another 2 and a quarter year gap. Between 3&4 we were a bit more careful and used condoms more before deciding to go for it, but despite that no fertility until DC3 was about 22 months and we will have a 2 and three quarter gap when this one arrives.

After this one we will be using a vasectomy .

I used exclusive BF as contraception after DC1.

That is why there is a 13mth gap between DC1 & 2

I've been on Cerazette since my DS was around 3 months and am still bf at a year with no troubles. I didn't notice any change in milk supply when I started it.

I used the fact that my body had absolutely no desire to have sex during the non-period portion of breastfeeding (11 months). I did use condoms the few times that I could be arsed to actually do the deed, and still am now that I'm more 'interested' and periods have returned (although I'm still feeding).

I use exhaustion. It's a great contraceptive. Absolutely NO chance whatsoever of conceiving.

I used bf, periods hadn't started......only 11 1/2 months between babies!!!

I took Cerazette mini pill and now have a bump so I wouldn't recommend that one!! Once I got pregnant I did a bit of (closing the stable door after the horse type) looking around on the internet and found it was a fairly common side effect!

can you start trying right away after mini pill?

I definitely do not want another baby now... and I reckon it will be another 2 years before trying again..but when I do try, I would like fertility to come back straight away because I will be a bit older then as well...

copper coil, bit of a faff going in but no hormones, don't have to think about it till 5 years are up. can make periods heavier but i haven't noticed much difference. some people don't like the idea of them as they stop the a fertilised egg implanting rather than preventing fertilisation in the first place. also fair to say that on some threads people have said that they know people where the coil has failed but this is the second time that i am using it and really don't want any more dcs and plan to use it till me or dh get the snip!

it took me ages to concieve the first time after coming off the mini pill, put me off all hormones tbh, i was same as you and wanted a pretty speady result after deciding to try for dc2, and after coil removed it took 2 months, so job done!

Billings ovulation method, it teaches u how to recognise ur cycles without putting any synthetic hormones in ur body. We used as our only contraception for 7years until ttc which happened first month now using again whilst bf my 20mo. Its empowering to know my body!!

Well, to be honest, the best contraceptive has to be my lovely little boy. I cannot fathom how anyone has a chance to have sex ever again at the moment! I do hope that changes soon.
On a more serious note, pre-baby I had a copper IUD and it was great. I heard warnings of heavy periods etc which I was worried about as I already had very heavy periods but I never got on well with hormones. I bit the bullet, tried the copper IUD and no problems at all. Got pregnant about a week after it was removed too.

After DS was about 10 weeks I went on the mini-pill, but I was really, really dreadful at remembering to take it. And in Scotland they don't recommend the 'new' minipill that has a longer window except in certain circumstances.

So, I went on the implant which I've been on before. I have had over-supply rather than under-supply issues in the past, but I did not notice any change in my supply following insertion of the implant.

DS is 9.5 months, mostly BF with about 2 FFs a week and I still haven't had a period despite him not having fed through the night since late October.

I was on the implant before and had no periods for the first 2 years (it's inserted for 3 years) and then things went squiffy after that with random spotting fairly regularly so I got it removed at that point. I'm not particularly overweight either, so this was not the reason for that issue. I like it because I don't have to remember to take it!