What contraception do you use?

[meladeso]

I've been on the pill for years.
I'd like to (and need to) come off the one I'm on - Rigevidon.
So maybe I could switch to another, but I'd like to consider other options.

I'm waiting on a family planning appointment, but in the meantime, I'd like to hear from anyone about what you use and how you find it?

DH went to talk to the gp about a vasectomy but GP was a bit discouraging and suggested I had more options that were less drastic!

I'm so squeamish at the thought of the coil it makes me feel a bit ill.

My husband had the snip 6m after DD2 was born 3m ago. Before that I'd used the copper coil and loved it. Used the pill in my late teens but that was 15 years ago, I hated the thought of using hormones. So glad my husbands Dr's agreed to the snip straight away otherwise I'd be saving to so it privately

I have a Mirena coil. It wasn’t particularly painful to have fitted, but that’s my experience and I realise others may have different ones. It took a couple of months to calm down, and now I have a couple of days spotting each month and no other discernible effects other than contraception.

Rhythm and withdrawal currently, which I wouldn't necessarily call contraception. Prior to that, condoms. Prior to that, depo injection, which I liked, but that was 7 years ago and I decided using hormones wasn't doing me any favours.

Condoms all the way. I don't do well on hormone interventions and consider it quite an undertaking to mess with your hormones when there's some as simple as a condom!! No brainer for me.

I couldn't bear to have devices inserted into my cervix, or a procedure for inserting long release hormones either. All so invasive and horrible.

I also have Mirena coil and having had 2 children didn't find it at all invasive. Certainly lot less effort/pain than a smear test. I had been on the pill previously but this works really well for me and no bleeding at all!

Rhythm and withdrawal currently

Exactly what gave rise to my second being born :)

Can't use condoms as sex is and always has been painful/uncomfortable, so was on cilest, now microgynon and also husband has had a blessed vasectomy.

i use the ergonomic Caya diaphram as our birth control along side period tracking/mucus tracking. i do not tolerate chemical contraceptives and we like me to do naked cock sex (no condoms).

Copper coil.
Having it inserted was not the most fun thing ever, but it wasn't extremely painful, and I reasoned it was a lot less painful than labour which could have ultimately been the alternative. It is great now not having to worry about contraception.
I had been on the pill for years with breaks to TTC DC, but DH felt it was likely to blame for my low sex drive. Tried condoms but neither of us really liked them, tried withdrawal but obviously that is highly unreliable and it terrified me. DH considered the snip but we weren't 100% sure we would never want another baby, and it did seem a bit extreme and invasive for him.

DH had a vasectomy when DD2 was 5 months old.

We knew we didn't want any more children and I didn't want to take the pill.

Condoms here as I don’t like taking hormonal contraceptives.

Our family is complete so vasectomy. We both agree it was a really good decision.

I have had an implant in my arm replaced every three years for the last nine years - I love it as it's hassle free and I have no periods. It's not for everyone as my friend tried it and had long-term breakthrough bleeding but if you're happy with hormonal contraception it's worth a try.

Vasectomy here too definitely didn’t want anymore children. I went to the gp with dh for his appointment so we presented a united front as for a couple of reasons we weren’t sure if the gp would refer straight away. He did he has dc about the same age as ours and had a vasectomy too so was very positive about the whole thing. Dh has it 3 weeks later. Best decision we ever made.

Condoms. I’m in my 40s and born again single!

Straightforward and they do not mess with your hormones. I buy them in the supermarket as part of my regular shopping. I always carry some in my handbag and I can’t remember when I last had sex without one.

Happy with Mirena coil put in after DC2 was born. Had a month of side effects - mainly acne - but been happy with it since. I had horrible PMT after having DC1 so it helps not only as contraception but managing my moods and the physical symptoms I experienced.

None now as DH had the snip after DC2.

The 3 pills I tried made me emotional over everything. The depo provera made me psychotic. Condoms are such a faff.

Copper coil. DH is having a vasectomy this week though.

Wife was on the depo for years and loved it. She was advised/forced to switch due to the long term use concerns. Then tried the mirena coil on her sister's recommendation. She didn't get on with it at all. Gave her very painful cramps. In addition the nylon withdrawal tails he coil has were very uncomfortable for me. They did cut them shorter but that just made it ten times worse. Like being jabbed with needles in a very sensitive spot. Very effective as a contraceptive though. Like having barbed wire up there.

She has been using the implant for the past few years. Like the depo, on of the main benefits was lack of periods and she doesn't have to remember to take it. However, the periods return after a year or so and are irregular and can last for weeks. Because of this, she gets it changed at 18 month to two year intervals.

After years of hormonal contraception I now will only use condoms and DH is getting the snip.
Can’t stand hormones in my system. They make me feel dead inside, no libido and just generally depressed. Plus then I get anxious about the hormones coming out in my urine and affecting our water systems.

Same as Biscuitsforbrekkie - I'm on my 3rd implant. It works great for me - I won't change to anything else now.

Evra patch, have been using it about four years now love it change weekly, little beige coloured patch I out on my bum - which I don't notice. No pills to forget to take. Nothing internal needed, it's settled my periods down a lot also which is a bonus. I had the implant after dd2 and while I loved how hassle free it was, I bled constantly for the third year. Anyone I see at the gp surgery asks why I chose the patch as it's not the most used but it works very well for me.

I've just had a kyleena coil fitted. The nurse said it's like he Mirena coil but smaller and less hormones. Was a bit uncomfortable having it put in but not as bad as I had expected

Nexplanon implant. Worked well for about 7 years but now I'm having intermittent bleeding and having to take Cerelle (mini pill) with it too. Considering getting it removed and opting for the coil but it's all such a faff so I'm hoping the bleeding will go away (had a fresh one 4 months ago).

Dimsumlosesum* I don't mind if that happened. I'm not ready to officially TTC but it wouldn't be awful to find myself pregnant. Not a method i'd recommended for anyone definitely not wanting the possibility of a baby though, definitely more guesswork than science

Oh my god @nometal !! That sounds horrendous! Are you generously endowed?!