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Original poster

Your personal experience with your contraception

48 replies

Hilolilo · 12/08/2019 18:53

Hello I’m currently looking into contraception because of a recent scare I had! I’m completely baffled however after reading about each method on the NHS site. All the methods seem risky/unpleasant Sad
I realise everyone has different experiences of contraception so I’d love to know the pros and cons of the contraception you ladies use from your perspective.

OP posts:
Jurassicmuma · 12/08/2019 20:15

The pill - took aged 17-22, hated it, made me very moody and I hate the whole idea if putting hormones into myself. My periods were super light which was good but tbh I'm quite light naturally anyway.

22-24 copper coil, loved it, insertation was very painful, periods were heavy for 3m but then went light again. Much happier in myself without the extra hormones.

Had a baby at 25, got another coil after that and since having baby the insertation of the second coil was painless.

Had second baby at 28, husband then had a vasectomy, which has been the best contraception yet Wink

Serenajoy1 · 12/08/2019 20:17

Had my tubes tied after last baby. It's fantastic peace of mind! No side affects

SquintEastwood · 12/08/2019 20:25

Micrgynon mini pill for 2 years - worked but prefer a longer lasting method as I'm forgetful and don't want to worry about stomach bugs affecting it.

Depo jab for 6 months - had an allergic reaction after the second jab resulting in a (minor) lifelong skin condition.

Implanon/Nexplanon implant - I'm on number 3, no pregnancies but recently noticing that my sex drive has basically disappeared and I'm very moody all of a sudden!

Trying to convince DH to get the snip as after a doctor's consultation we agreed it was far easier/effective for him to get than me.

Interested in this thread?

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Women's health
Original poster
Hilolilo · 12/08/2019 20:43

Thank you for sharing! Mmm I think I’ve now discounted the pill. I’d love to get the copper coil but I am terrified of the pain!

OP posts:
BobTheFishermansWife · 12/08/2019 20:52

Pill (honestly cannot remember which one it was) - ages 14 - 21, started to control heavy irregular periods, it was the everyday pill (3 weeks and one week placebo) No side effects, only stopped because is been taking it for 7 solid years.

Implant - age 21, felt sick and my iron levels dropped dramatically due to constant bleeding, had it removed after 2 months.

Condoms - ages 17 - 28 (present) only had 3 instances where they have split. Never had any pregnancy scares considering it's the only form of contraception dp and I have used since we got together at 22. Stopped using last year when we started ttc.

Morning after pill - 3 times in the past 6 years due to split condoms.

StarringRole · 12/08/2019 20:54

I have the copper coil, it was not pleasant having put in, and I had cramps for a couple of days, it’s been in for two years now though, periods are regular(though very heavy with the copper coil), but it works okay. No pregnancy scares for me(although obviously like all contraception none is 100% effective) and with vitamins with iron I’m fine. But everyone is different and other people hate it🤷🏻‍♀️

KTD27 · 12/08/2019 20:58

Microgynon - 18-21 fine though I put on a shed tonne of weight. I blame the oil but accept it was likely university life in fact. Liked that I could run packs together if necessary

Mini pill - 21-22 not for me.
Condoms 22-37 never didn’t work.

Mirena coil - 38-present. Best thing EVER. No periods. No pain. No crippling bleeding and crazy hormones. Just love it.

Drogosnextwife · 12/08/2019 21:01

Mini pill. It's shit, I've put on weight, it makes me moody and I have 0 sex drive. Tried the jag, all the same effects with the added bonus of the nurse that dishes it out being a bit stab happy.
Too scared to get the coil after hearing so many horror stories, most on MN.
Too young to get tubes tied and partner is too young for a vasectomy, plus not sure if we are finished having children.
Hate condoms.

Original poster
Hilolilo · 13/08/2019 17:16

God it’s so annoying how rubbish contraceptive methods actually are and how they can have some horrid effects on the body! Thanks everyone for sharing, given me a lot to think about

OP posts:
Bwekfusth · 13/08/2019 17:35

I'm on microgynon at the moment and I'm just so bloody tired all the time. Waiting for an appt to get copper coil

NeverHadANickname · 13/08/2019 17:38

I had the implant and loved it. Only had 4 light bleeds in 3 years and no other side effects.

I know for some people they bleed more rather than less so not for everyone but I will definitely use it again.

YesQueen · 13/08/2019 17:39

Copper coil for me. No real side effects, and I'm having my third next month

usernameee · 13/08/2019 17:43

Had the pill which you take everyday apart from 7 days I think a month. Made me go absolutely crazy and emotional, also gained a lot of weight. Forget what it's called as it was years ago!

Now on mirena and it's great! No periods apart from a tiny tiny bit of coloured discharge for 7 days straight (you don't even need a sanitary towel) and some cramps. I also get nausea on the first day of my 'bleed' but apart from that I absolutely love it! I was unconscious when it was put it because I had it put in same time as an abortion so unsure of insertion pain

Starlight2004 · 13/08/2019 17:45

I was happiest on Yasmin combined pill. It a lower hormone pill. Was on it for many years with no side effects and no problems at all. I had to stop taking it because I get migraine with aura and combined pill is not recommended if you get these.

After that I tried mini pill which was HELL and made me realise fast that I can't tolerate progesterone only contraception therefore ruling out most other things apart from the copper coil which I never wanted and so my husband had a vasectomy.

BobbinThreadbare123 · 13/08/2019 17:46

POP 19-24 - was OK but a bit variable in terms of periods. Skin OK and didn't get too chubby either.
Condoms 24-29 but coincided with a period of terrible illness so probably could not have dealt with any hormone or chemical.
Nexplanon 30-35 number 1 was good. Periods long but light and weight and skin OK. Number 2 was hell! Put on over a stone, skin went to pot and periods were heavy and 3 weeks long.
35 onwards - back to condoms. Hormonal contraception can feck off. Never given birth so doc unwilling to try coils, and they don't appeal to me anyway.

SureTry · 13/08/2019 17:52

Combined pill from 18-25 was deeply miserable, but didn't connect the two.
Combined pill after DC1
Mini pill after DC2
Mireana coil at 33 had ectopic pregnancy after removal.
Condoms until decided try for DC3
Started taking Noriday not long ago, seem to be ok with it so far.

SureTry · 13/08/2019 17:57

Forgot I tried cerazette at 39 which was awful so GP has suggested Noriday, only been a few weeks so far. I've been told to allow time for it to settle.

StarlightLady · 13/08/2019 18:02

I was on the pill from about 14 (no lectures please, I’m in my 40s now and never had an unwanted pregnancy) until around 20.

It has been condoms since then (no nasty side effects, yay!) and in spite of being quite “active” over the years, never had any slip ups.

It has also helped weed out some selfish potential partners who did not darken my bedroom door as a tesult of their attitude.

Herat1986 · 13/08/2019 18:13

Interesting thread. We are having no more kids so husband waiting for vasectomy but it's going to be months before it's done and he's got the all clear. Can't do hormonal BC so copper coil seems most sensible in the mean time but just can't be doing with heavy periods. Wondering if female sterilisation is a shorter wait?

Herat1986 · 13/08/2019 18:16

Microgynon made me completely depressed and basically crazy. Yasmin much better but reduced my sex drive massively. Using condoms now but I just feel like it's too easy to have an accident.

Whatevaminga · 13/08/2019 18:21

Injection - fab, stopped my hellish periods (ended up needing a blood transfusion at one stage). Now don't have to worry about it. Actually managed to lose weight because I now have the energy to exercise.

KnifeAngel · 13/08/2019 18:31

Started on Cileste that made me feel awful.

Changed to Microgynon that made me cry all the time.

Then had Depo Provera. It made me so angry I almost killed my husband.

Luckily my DH had a vasectomy. We used condoms in between.

Skittlenommer · 13/08/2019 18:33

Hormonal contraception made me feel terrible so DH got a vasectomy at 25.

Works like a dream!

ShirleyPhallus · 13/08/2019 18:33

Tried various pills which sent me utterly loopy, emotional, angry, headaches etc

Did condoms instead for years

Met DP and we knew we’d be fine if I got pregnant so we relied on the withdrawal method

Two years later decided we’d see about having a baby. Had sex once, fully unprotected and boom. Pregnant.

Ellabella989 · 13/08/2019 18:35

Levest pill (same as microgynon but just a different brand name).
Exhausted, bloated all the time and bad mood swings. Going to come off it next month as my body needs a rest. Might persuade DP to get vasectomy or insist on condoms as sick of taking hormones. Did the withdrawal method for a while and fell pregnant so would never do it again

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