To wonder why the pill is still the most popular contraceptive?

[westernnurse]

With all the other methods out there now like the injection/implant/coils which are all far more reliable than the pill and don't require the user to remember to take a pill every day.

I'm a CASH nurse and it always amazes me how so many women flat out refuse to even try any of the alternative methods. One woman who had been on the pill for a few years but had to stop taking it due to health issues outright refused to try out any of the alternatives because they sounded "horrible" and decided to just stick to condoms.

I think there's a lot of myths and misconceptions surrounding these methods and people believe them and this puts people off.

I'm quoting minipill because it's the same hormones as the implant and the riskiest in terms of useage so the one where the difference is most marked. Yes the combined pill is a much safer bet.

Just wanted to put a link to this pod cast on the NuvaRing.

www.stuffmomnevertoldyou.com/podcasts/birth-control-kill-you/

It has some interesting information to weigh up on why there is controversy on the NuvaRingz

I had the implant. I hated it. I had mood swings and it also made my depression and anxiety worse. I also had horrible headaches on it. I wanted it removed after four or five months but every HCP I asked would just fob me off. They told me to stop being silly, that of course the implant wasn't causing these things.

Even when a doctor at a family planning clinic agreed to remove it she told me she doubted my symptoms had anything to do with the implant and removing it wouldn't change things. The fact that my mood swings and headaches only started after having the bloody thing put in didn't seem to matter to them. Once it was removed however, my moods got better, my depression and anxiety calmed down and the headaches disappeared. Coincidence?....somehow I doubt it.

I now stick with the pill for the reasons everyone else has mentioned. I like being in control and being able to stop taking it whenever I want. I like knowing exactly when my period will come and being able to run packs together to skip a period. Other methods don't really give you the same control.

I have looked into things like the injection but they honestly don't appeal to me at all. Quite frankly, it sounds horrible. I actually know someone who was left infertile after having the injection. Obviously they can't be sure that's what the cause was but she is positive that's what it was that did it as she had no problems before having it.

No thanks. I'll stick to the pill.

Practically every form of contraception can kill you. Anaphylactic reaction to latex condoms, increased risk of DVTs and the like with various hormonal medication.. Google any method, or indeed any medication with 'death' and you'll find a case or a study to support it. Nuvaring is licenced in parts of UK indeed...just throwing it out there!:)

The thing i loved about the pill is the predictability. I could book a holiday for 2 years time and know that I wouldn't have my period. That was important to me, as I have a few hobbies where it would be a big inconvenience.

Forgetting was never an issue. I can't take it now, and it has been nearly two years since I stopped. But still, at least one morning a week I think "fuck, I've not taken my pill" as I'm leaving the house.

The other thing is the length of time it takes to become protected from pregnancy with a LARC compared to the pill.

To get the implant I had to make an appt with GP just to discuss it, then wait a minimum of two weeks to have a pg test and the thing put in, and then a further wait for it to kick it. About six weeks all in all.

With the pill I've been able to make an appt with a nurse to get a scrip same day and been protected either immediately if timed with period or within a week.

I have the nuva ring on the NHS! You might have to tell your GP what it is though... My GP said she hadn't known about it until she had a few eastern european women really wanting it because it's more commonly used there.

The potential side effects have risk factors for them which obviously you should check!

It makes me slightly travel sick but otherwise I think it's great.

Getting a coil or implant involves taking the time out your busy day to make an appointment whereas the pill you just get at your gps in a routine appointment when you go for something else ( mine normally gives me 12 months worth). I can control exactly when I have a period. I can stop taking anytime I like. Things go wrong with coils etc and it's far more invasive getting them put in/ taken out. Threads always getting lost is another issue which means more hassle/ scans to sort again which no one has time for.

I opted for the coil after my first miscarriage. Having been on microgynon previously.

I had it in 3years, never had a period and over a year later still suffer, no regular periods! And still haven't caught pregnant.

It's personal choice.

Ime the implant is the most popular method with younger women today.

I'd personally choose the pill because I'm needle phobic and wouldn't want something invasive like the coil or diaphragm (does anyone use those anymore?)

We used condoms for years and were happy.

carinthekitchen that's another good point. If you get side effects on the pill you can change to something else, stop taking it. If it's the implant or injection you just have to ride it out and it may be months or years.

I have the injection now but we already have a few children so dont mind about not getting pregnant. I feel sorry for a lot of my friends starting out as they cant get pregnant because they have been on the injection as it takes so long to wear off.

Years ago I had the implant. It gave me horrific migraines. One a week. Plus heavy, unpredictable bleeding. The fight to get it removed was ridiculous. I'll never chose something I can't just stop taking when I decide it's not right for me. The doctors and nurses wanted me to 'try it a little longer'. My body, I choose.

The OP is complaining about a woman who stopped taking the pill and has refused to try an alternative method - so is sticking to condoms.

Don't condoms count as an alternative method then?

Also when I was younger I liked the fact I could stop the pill if my relationship ended, rather than having to wait for an appointment. And then you can keep them for when you get into a new relationship.

I have the implant as that works best for me. Its been sooo long since I was on the pill I would really forget to take it. The coil I really dont fancy and the injection is a faff to sort out every 3 months. The implant is great for me as I have not noticed any bad side effects. I get it in then that's it for 3 years. I admit I am lucky with that though in the way that it hasn't really had any adverse effects on me. This is my second in a row and my third altogether (had one in after DD1 and before TTC for DD2)

I will probably stick with this until I dont need to any more. As this is what works for me, but I appreciate that it doesn't for everyone. TBH Im thankful we have got the choice.

I tried the implant and I bleed most of the time, tried patches and they made me really moody. We use condoms

Pill- gave me horrendous spots and mood swings.
Mirena coil - stopped my periods (which I don't like) but gave me all the other symptoms of a period, gave me spots, lowered sex drive.

Wouldn't want implant in my arm or injection as have heard bad things about both and these who have had it seem to take a long time to get their 'normal' fertility back.

I have tried look for research/ evidence on different contraception and time taken to conceive but from what I hear from people, I am sure it must have an impact.

I much prefer having regular periods and using condoms/ tracking my cycle so I know when I am fertile etc x

I think part of my decision to use the pill initially was because I liked the daily control over my own body it gave me, unlike the other options.

Having said that, shortly after taking it I developed a condition where my uterine lining started to grow outside of my cervix, meaning every time my partner and I had sex, I bled everywhere. Not just spots, full on puddles on the bed sheets. Stuck it out for a few months and then couldn't hack the thought of what I was doing to myself so I stopped.

Also had a friend that had a clot in her brain caused by the pill. She nearly died. That made me so glad I stopped taking it.

I have tried several different contraceptive pills and all of them gave me mood swings. Some made me gain weight and some gave me headaches. The mood swings were by far the biggest problem. I was angry all the time, I'd often break down in tears, I was getting suicidal and that's no over reaction.

That has put me off trying any other hormone based contraception methods. When I realised it was the pill affecting my mood that way I was quite annoyed because it was ruinjng my life and I had no idea that could even happen.

I was always put off trying the other methods because I'd heard stories that put me off. For example one friend with implant was constantly on her period. I've always suffered with bad periods so that put me off. Plus I don't like how long term these things are. My experience of mood swings has convinced me I was right to stay away.

Anyway, v long post sorry but it's condoms for me!

Because I had the injection and had a 6 month period?! The other methods aren't better for everyone, have none of your patients never to you this?

I had Nuvaring on the NHS too - my nurse was very excited that I was asking for something new! Worked brilliantly for me.

I said put me off about three times in that last paragraph. I hope you can tell how put off I was.

Because I can take the Pill without anyone fiddling around with invasive examinations or injections Less humiliation and embarrassment.