What contraception do you use?

[afullchocolatesofbox]

I've never had a sexual relationship before so feeling a bit out of my depth. I'm 32 and I had always thought that I didn't want to take the pill. I took Norethisterone on holiday once and it was a miserable experience, so not keen on repeating anything similar.

I was looking at the Boots online pharmacy but I'm a bit overwhelmed with options. My two closest friends both say they'd never take the pill again and rely on condoms, which I was happy to do until I had a horrible panic that I might be pregnant.

Any advice would be great.

Mirena, you will hear horror stories but I love mine so much I'm on my second.

I’ve used condoms for over twenty years with my husband. It’s fine.I have a strong family link of cancer so anything with hormones wasn’t on the cards. I could have had a plain copper coil fitted but never fancied it.

www.brook.org.uk/topics/contraception/

its a really personal choice so hard to advise
eg if you are happy to consider MAP/early termination in case of failure, condoms are a good, non invasive option- somewhat of a nuisance during sex I used to find, OTOH less gloopy mess after.

I used the contraceptive implant for 9 years and then the copper coil for 3 years until I had it taken out to TTC.

I've had the implant and been on a few versions off the pill.
My favourite thing has been Evra patches, they look like a nicotine patch, nicer than the implant because you can take it off if it doesnt agree with you, and easier than the pill because you change it weekly, so its much less to remember if you are not used to daily pills, or are bad at doing it at the same time every day.
I used to stick mine on my stomach but they can go on your bum, arms, and back as well

I really don't know where to start with it all, tbh! It wouldn't be a disaster to have a baby, but neither would it be ideal.

I have the mirena coil. I'm on my second. It's great, minor discomfort going in and sorted tor 5 years.

Before that I had the mini pill, cerazette I think it was. Just as good, got fed up though taking it every day but only seeing my partner every 1-2 months.

It's a personal decision though. I hate needles so the injection and implant in your arm sounded awful (yet happy to have someone rooting to fit the coil)

Are you in a relationship where sex is on the cards? Is this a long term thing with one partner, or a more casual thing, with potentially others. No judgement either way, but I think it's really only condoms that will protect again stds too.

From my own selfish perspective I chose a contraception that was the least amount of effort for the frequency of the sex. No point having to remember a pill every day, for a once a month occasion. But also depends how you get on with hormones - personally the pill is easier to start on in that you can just stop taking it. While I've had a great experience with mirena (with it being a lighter dose of the hormone in the pill), some haven't and at least on here, seem to have arguments to get it removed again - so I wouldn't dive straight into having one if it's your first contraception.

Hopefully that's not too much of an essay!

I had awful experience with pill, made me so depressed I wasn’t remotely interested in anything let alone sex. I didn’t fancy copper coil so using condoms, 24 years with my husband and they’ve not failed.

Condoms. Never had a problem or a scare with them and there's less mess afterwards

I was on the pill for 6 years. Had to come off it after a 3 week period and hormonal migraine.

Switched to the depo injection now and it's much better.

No, it's really helpful to read it all, thank you!

We see each other 2 or 3 times a week and usually end up staying over and having sex.

I also hate the idea of someone fitting the coil but I know I'll need to start having smears now so maybe that will be less of a problem.

We have used condoms every time but I had the insane worry last week that I could be pregnant anyway.

The best place to look is the family planning association website from where you can view or download some good leaflets.
Having armed yourself with information then see your GP or the PN if they are family planning trained.
Your past , current and family history are relevant to your choices and if it would be a disaster to be pregnant you should go for a very reliable method or you will be worrying.
Obvs use condoms as well in any newish relationship.
Brief rundown from most effective:
Implant: has to be put in your arm, likely to make your periods light and they may disappear but you may get a lot of spotting. You may get hormonal type side effects as is progesterone . Lasts 3 years, .physically very safe but doesn't suit everyone and you might face a wait to get it removed.
Mirena type intrauterine device, thins the lining of your womb so your periods lighten or disappear. It takes a few months to settle in and it's biggest nuisance is the fitting which needs planning ,to be done by an experienced practitioner and can be very painful.It lasts 5 years and most women like them but of course they don't suit everyone and would need an appointment for removal.There is some progesterone or n it but the dose is a lot less than with other progesterone methods so less side effects.
Copper coil, no hormones so you feel yourself, lasts 10 years usually .Drawbacks are the insertion process and the fact that they are likely to make your periods heavier and longer which can sometimes mean anaemia and severe bleeding.
Injection ; every 12 weeks usually by pn or if you are happy by yourself. Higher dose of hormone than implant and so more associated with side effects, it's effects can also be quite long lasting and you just have to wait for them to wear off unlike Mirena/, implant /pill where your body returns to normal almost as soon as you stop using them.
Combined pill or 'the pill' , very common method in the uk,Not suitable if you have migraine, history of blood clot, are on certain medications smoke or have a BMI over 30.it blots out your cycle and mimics it, this is very convenient for most women and as long as you have a few periods a year is safe. Periods are likely to be lighter and less painful than normal. You may get some hormonal side effects but huge numbers of women are happy with this as a method. Yearly check up.This also comes as a patch or vaginal ring.
Progesterone only pill or 'mini pill 'is a daily pill that works quite well but needs to be taken at the same time every day so you need to be sure that this is possible.no cycle control and like the implant in many ways you may get a lot of spotting.pretty safe medically.
All of the above have different versions and more pros and cons than I have mentioned so you will need a medical appointment.
Just to add that used properly and avoiding most fertile time of the month condoms alone can work well but they do not give the security of the above.
Caps have become very difficult in the uk, there really is only one available and it requires quite a lot of dedication to use it properly.

My experience was pill when young and pregnancy a no no .
Condoms once settled with partner, 3 DC followed by copper coils.No problem with any method.

We use condoms. They are very unpopular on here but I’ve been using them as sole contraception for 7 years and never had any issues. We then stopped using them for TTC and fell pregnant twice in two months so they had clearly been working well for that time! There is no need to avoid your most fertile time of the month if you’re using them properly.

I know multiple people who have fallen pregnant on the pill. I imagine some of those are not taking it properly, but nobody admits to that so it’s hard to tell!

Heterosexuality

I use the patch, it has the same hormones as the pill but it's just like a plaster you change once a week. It's the only thing I have found that doesn't give me constant light bleeding or insane hormones. I haven't tried a coil but have tried everything else and the patch is the only thing that works for me.

Combined pill (rigevidon?) for years now. Annoying having to remember to take it - and I've been very hit-and-miss with that! - but it's never let me down. Yet I've always got pregnant easily after coming off.

It does dampen my sex drive a bit but no other side effects. I'd say the plus of starting here is it wears off quickly if you decide to stop taking it.

Sterilised, probably unhelpful unless you're 100% on no kids.

Thanks everyone, this has been really helpful. I think the patch or the pill would give me some peace of mind just now.

Low dose Gedaril. I take it continuously which means no ‘periods’ and also no need to worry if I miss one tablet. I have used it for the last four years and found it really suits me. I’m 38 and have two children already in case that makes a difference - I’m also in good health with no risk factors

Depo injection, it's amazing. I hardly ever bleed and if I do, it's hardly anything.

I've been on microgynon(loved!), implant(hated), injection(was okay) and currently have a copper coil(great!) but everyone's different and what one person loves you might hate and vice versa.

Mirena. Wish I had had it years earlier. All but cured my endometriosis. I'm a total convert

Copper coil, on my third now. I have enough hormones of my own and don't do well on the pill

Started with the pill but switched to the implant because I was my relationship was long term and I eventually got fed up taking it every day. Implant was making me bleed more often than not so for that reason alone it was a brilliant contraceptive! Not to mention my arm never stopped itching. Decided copper coil to get rid of the hormones and let me feel myself again and it was great. Annoying still having periods but fantastic trade off for feeling hormone free. Would definitely recommend. I didn't find it too bad going in so think I was quite lucky and not a problem getting it out recently.