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Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

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Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

General health

OK, So what's the best/least hassle/least side effect form of contraception you have ever used?

71 replies

RnB · 15/04/2005 15:31

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RnB · 15/04/2005 15:34

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ggglimpopo · 15/04/2005 15:34

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huggybear · 15/04/2005 15:37

we tried a female comdom once but dh said it was like trying to sh*g a crisp packet - and he should know he works at walkers!

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expatinscotland · 15/04/2005 15:39

the pill

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Dominoes · 15/04/2005 15:40

Combined pill was by far the best for me- but can't take that anymore for medical reasons! Definitiely wouldn't have the depo again - think it worked as a contraceptive by lowering my libido

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PsychoFlame · 15/04/2005 15:40

For me... the Pill... Marvelon has been the best so far (Marvellous Marvelon )... much less PMT, less pain, and less need to throw up (any extra hormones make me very queasy, and this has been the most gentle).

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mummylonglegs · 15/04/2005 15:42

IUD (coil). It was very painless to have put in and has been totally safe for 2 years now with no hassle whatsoever except for slightly heavier periods.

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lou33 · 15/04/2005 15:46

sterilisation

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Cha · 15/04/2005 15:47

Have you ever thought about the cap (AKA diaphragm)? I hated the pill (never felt like having sex, so what was the point?) and have only ever taken it for 3 or 4 months. I used a cap and sometimes condoms from about the age of 18 until dp had a vasectomy last year, nearly 20 years in total (OMG ). You have to get one fitted and it takes a little while to get used to putting it in and taking it out but once you get the hang, it's fine. Basically it had to be fine, because I didn't have another option!
The only drawback was the spermicide (tastes disgusting IYKWIM) so I stopped using it. I am incredibly fertile (got pg immediately both times) and I never conceived with the cap minus spermicide. A doctor actually told me once that he thought it was a case of 'belt and braces' and that there wasn't an awful lot of evidence that the spermicide really worked anyway.
IMO, although the cap is not ideal, it is non chemical, doesn't muck around with your body and you only have to put it in when you want to use it. So why not give it a go?

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PsychoFlame · 15/04/2005 15:47

Psycho now....for me, I got DH to have the snip. If I want more, a trip to the local sperm bank will be in order

On a serious note, only the combined pill worked for me. At least, it did till I forgot to take it.....got a georgous girlie out of it tho

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Wallace · 15/04/2005 21:33

PMSL "trying to sh*g a crisp packet - and he should know he works at walkers"

I use the contraceptive patch. One lasts a whole week. You do three weeks, then a patch free week in which you have a period. You don't have to remember to change them tat the same time of day (I think htey are effective for a couple of days over a week in case you forget)

Apart from queasyness at first I have had no side effects.

The only drawback is they can be a wee bit itchy, and visible if you want to wear a bikini.

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Blossomhill · 15/04/2005 21:36

I would say give the coil a try. I had one for 5 years and it was fine so I'd day that was your best option. I have also tried the cap and that was effective but a bit of a pain as you couldn't have spontaneous sex IYKWIM

Says the girl who had her coil out 2 months ago and doesn't know what to do herself

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crystaltips · 15/04/2005 21:40

NOw that DH has had the snip ( going for test on Wednesday ) - I haven't had to worry about that sort of thing .... but a PATCH - that sounds great - how reliable is it ??? Never even heard of it ?? Shows how out of touch I am

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Mowjo · 15/04/2005 21:41

My dp had testicular cancer, which has very few things to recommend it, but one is that contraception isn't now a problem.

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Potty1 · 15/04/2005 21:42

The snip - absolutely bloody marvellous and surprisingly pain-free (for me anyway )

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blueteddy · 15/04/2005 21:43

Ditto the snip!

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Caligula · 15/04/2005 21:46

Diaphragm. Easy, quick, effective and no side effects. And you can get taste-free spermicide, Cha! Unless you tell your partner, he doesn't even know you're wearing it.

The only downside is that if you are prone to urinary tract infections, apparantly it can be bad for them (though I never had that problem). In which case, the dutch cap might be better. Slightly trickier to insert and you have to be much more careful that you've got it in the right place (right over the cervix).

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Wallace · 15/04/2005 21:47

I think the patch is quite new. I made the GP give it to me, she had never prescibed it before. She said she didn't have any real info on how reliable it is, but it is thought to be as reliable as the pill (same hormones I htink)

I could never remember to take the pill everyday (hence ds and dd!) but even I can remember to change a patch once a week.

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blueteddy · 15/04/2005 21:59

My ds1 was a late mini pill & ds2 was conceived while on the combination pill.
I now find the snip & no sex method 100%!!!!!!

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Davros · 15/04/2005 23:30

the pill

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bossykate · 15/04/2005 23:33

condoms

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MarsLady · 15/04/2005 23:35

vasectomy!

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Lowri · 16/04/2005 07:25

Mirena coil - no periods after a few months and, although I wouldn't ever take the pill because I didn't want to be taking "drugs", I don't mind about the tiny local action of the mirena coil.

Husband loves it, as we used condoms before!

Good luck.

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alux · 16/04/2005 07:48

Rhythm method plus condoms at that fertile time of the month. (watching everyone's eyebrows go up.) Worked for 8 yrs and I only got pg by choice.

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Kidstrack2 · 16/04/2005 08:48

I have tried the implannon in my arm for over six months, was supposed to be in for three years but had it taken out as I was bleeding constantly and the mood swings were terrible, my skin was also really bad with spots. This has just the one hormone the same as the depo injection. I conceived my ds on combined pill, taking it at same time every day but doctor thinks as I had a sickness bug it may have cancelled it out. Ds is now nearly six, so glad we conceived him even if I was on the pill! We now use condoms and have been given another combined pill so hopefully this one works, have also got a dd 23months but this was a planned baby and after her birth I had irregular bleeding and eventually had the implant put in my arm ,but it is not to be. I actually went to FPC to have the mirena coil fitted after my dd birth and chickend out, the thought of it being inside you know where freaked me out, I just wish I had the courage to get it fittted, my sister and many friends have it fitted and have heard no complaints from them and it would be a great form of contraception as no hormones are involved.