Non-hormonal Contraception

[WannabeWilloughby]

After an awful18 months of nexplanon contraceptive implant and cerazette, I have realised that I may be better with non-hormonal contraception.

Im thinking copper coil. Condoms aren't really a long-term solution....any other non-hormonal options?
thanks

[ProlificWillyBreeder]

Having had similar problems my consultant has recommended the copper coil, I'm not sure what other options are open to us to be honest.

[WannabeWilloughby]

Thanks for the reply. Sorry to hear you've had a rough time too!

It's a pain being restricted in contraception but I cannot explain how much better I've felt since ditching cerazette and having my implant removed. I finally feel like me again, im happy and not paranoid, sex drive has returned and im losing weight again. I refuse point blank to ever put these hormones into my body again. I felt less hormonal actually being pregnant than when I was taking cerazette and had the implant.

Copper coil it is :-)

[MumVsKids]

I've got a copper coil in and it's great, i also take cerazette as I'm exceptionally fertile and having had a baby while on a Mirena coil, one on the pill and one on the depo injection, we're taking no chances!!!! :)

[UnderwaterBasketWeaving]

I've got a copper coil and it's great! Think I've got 'standard' fertility (conceived DS rather unexpectedly on the first go!) and had no surprises in the 15 months I've had it.

One day each period is a bit heavier than I'd like (empty mooncup hourly for a few hours) but even that's starting to calm down a bit.

I feel like me too, which is great! I recommend it!

[WannabeWilloughby]

Thank you for your replies. I've pretty much made my mind up I think.

Mumvs.....I'd be frightened to have sex!! Super fertile or what!!? ha

[SuckingDiesel]

Having just had to ditch cerazette to save my relationship (it was making me impossible to live with), I was going to ask for the Mirena coil but really I prefer the idea of no more synthetic hormones in my body. How reliable is the copper coil?

[MumVsKids]

Lol!! DH and I were a bit surprised to say the least when we found out I was pg+ on the Mirena, as was my GP.

I guess we are just that 0.001% every time

I'm totally blessed with my 3 DCs, and I haven't ruled out a 4th which is why I haven't been sterilised, but I don't want another yet. DS is only 10mths!!!!

[Sidge]

You could also consider a diaphragm or cap, but may need to go to a FPC to get fitted as not many HCPs fit them now.

Otherwise a copper coil is generally well tolerated. You may find your periods are a little heavier and more crampy.

[WannabeWilloughby]

SuckingDiesel....me too!! I have been awful! It has really messed me up. Im not sure how reliable the copper coil is, im sure somebody clever will be able to tell us.

I've been researching natural family planning (apparently it's 98percent successful if done properly) but I dunno! I don't always ov on day 14 so it might get confusing.

Gonna investigate copper coil some more and pop to family planning next week.

if anyone has any negative experiences of copper coil, I would appreciate hearing them. Just to help make my decision.

[TheYamiOfYawn]

I love my copper coil. I had a few problems to start with, as my first one was quite painful when first inserted (like very very bad period pains), caused heavy painful periods and fell out after 6 months (I found it in my mooncup). After that I had a smaller, 5 year model fitted with no problems at all.

[SoHHKB]

I loved my copper coil too but am thinking I'll get a mirena next time...

[TuesdayNightDateNight]

I have spoken to my doctor about the copper coil and he said there is an increased chance that it can break through the top of the uterus into the stomach cavity

I'm going to look into it though as I can't continue on cerazette

[Saranza]

Hello, bit late here. The doctor's advice on the copper coil sounds a bit off the wall - lots of women are fine with them. Another option is natural family planning/fertility awareness - learning when you're fertile and then avoiding baby-making sex at the crucial time. Or using a condom, or abstaining, whatever suits you.

It's best to learn NFP with a teacher - you can find one on the Fertility UK website www.fertilityuk.org/ukpractitionersearch.htm

Let us know how you get on. Good luck!

[Saranza]

And it would help if I wasn't posting in a hurry! Sorry I missed that you'd already looked into natural family planning. You don't have to ovulate on day 14 for it to work. We're all different and often change when we ovulate from month to month. NFP is about being confident in recognising the signs for yourself. Takes a little while to learn but then it's easy - like trying shoelaces or riding a bike.

Here's some info from the family planning association
www.fpa.org.uk/helpandadvice/contraception/naturalfamilyplanning

[jungletoes]

I'd highly recommend the diaphragm, no hormones and dead easy to use.

[MewlingQuim]

Is a copper coil the old non hormonal one? If so, I got pregnant while using one (ectopic) I also got pregnant on the pill (tfmr) and depo seriously disagreed with me. I gave up hormonal contraception at that point.

With DH we used condoms for 3 years or so before we started ttc. Ironically, when using no contraception I couldn't get pregnant at all, and after 8 years ttc we had ICSI

[imonkey]

I second Saranza's point. I read Taking Charge of your Fertility by Toni Weschler last June when I came off the pill.

I started charting my temps and checking my cervical fluid but decided that to be safe we would always use condoms.

After a couple of months it became glaringly obvious to me that by following the rules, there were times when I absolutely could not conceive, so I now use the fertility awareness method for birth control as well as keeping an eye on what's going on with my gynecological health.

No hormones involved and I know exactly when I'm most fertile so when I do start trying for a baby there'll be much less guess work involved.

I highly recommend the book, even if you don't end up using it for birth control.

[imonkey]

"checking my cervical fluid"

Too much information haha! Sorry