To ask you all what contraception you use?

[Slightlypanicked]

Haven't used any contraception for years, between being pregnant and breastfeeding both dc's I've just used condoms.
Went to the clinic today and the nurse was very pushy about me having a coil fitted and how with new research its safer and that the pill really increases risks of blood clots and depression etc.
I opted for the pill for now until I make up my mind on the coil. She gave me a none branded version of yasmin as I also suffer with adult acne and was hoping the pill would help that too.
Is the pill really that dangerous?

DH had a vasectomy - perfect solution to the issue.

WeAreEternal - you're not the only diaphragm fan! I've used it for years and found it easy and effective, plus as you say a bonus if you want to have sex during a period.

I swapped it for the copper coil once I knew I'd completed my family, was fine with that for about 8 years, and then found my periods getting too heavy, so sent dh off for the snip.

Post snip you do realise how much of a PITA contraception actually is, and how liberating it is to be free of the whole shebang.

I liked my diaphragm! You can put it in when you are getting ready for bed (or at any other time if the mood takes you!) and neither of us could feel it. We also used Persona, which is a monitor that checks your hormone levels via a urine test (similar to pregnancy test) and advises you to avoid sex on your fertile days (it was on these days that I used the diaphragm). Both of these methods are entirely reversible, non-invasive and worked well for us for ten years. However we now use condoms because we have several children and my DH is worried about accidents.

Rubber johnnies here (sorry I couldn't help myself - feel so juvenile!)

I had the Mirena for four years. Had it removed about three weeks ago, I was getting totally fucked off with the two week periods that were too light for tampons, so I had to use pads which give me thrush. I was on for two weeks out of every four. My sex drive was so low I could barely be arsed to sort myself out let alone have sex!

The most positive thing I can say is that it was quick and relatively painless going in.

DH had the snip about 7 years ago now.

Before that I used:

The pill- Got pregnant on it with perfect usage
The implant- made me crazy
The depo- bled for months and made me fat
Condoms- Liked the female ones the best
IUD- Fell pregnant on it with it perfectly in place

Condoms!

Can you double up condoms and the diaphragm?

Mirena here. By far and away the most popular form of contraception among HCPs, with very good reason. I am a GP, and every single one of my female colleagues has a mirena...! Clearly they are not for everyone, but it is the best contraception I have ever personally used.

Atm breastfeeding plus condoms.
Otherwise rhythm method and/or condoms.

I can't have any of the hormonal ones due to terrible migraines and I don't fancy getting anything stuck up me.

I'd be pretty chilled if I got pregnant though, it'd be 'ooh that's a bit of a small gap between DCs' rather than 'aaaaaaaargh panic'

Can you double up condoms and the diaphragm?

You can, if you're particularly worried about getting pg, esp at the most fertile times. The nice thing about the diaphragm is that you do get tuned into your body's cycle more, so you become quite aware of the signs.

Cerezette (or generic cerelle). Mini pill. I can't have oestrogen based contraceptives due to migraines. I don't want periods and this gives me that. I know it works. Every time I go for my prescription the Dr (whichever I see) tries to persuade me to get the coil but unless they can guarantee it'll work as well as the pill I won't as I KNOW the pill stops my periods.

It's not perfect, my skin is hit and miss and my libido virtually none-existent but they are complaints I read about on the coil.

Currently using abstinence though due to a broken fanny post birth.

I absolutely loved being on the pill because it did everything I wanted. I have PCOS so it sorted my acne out, meant I did have regular bleeds (I would go months without a period otherwise) but I could also skip them when it didn't suit - as long as I had a bleed every three months I was told that was fine. And contraception as a side benefit

GPs always told me it wouldn't affect my long term fertility - and the pill probably doesn't for most people

But my endometrial lining is knackered, and gynaecologist says it's very likely to be related to long term use of the pill

Most women who use the pill long term don't get lining issues when TTC

But it's noticeable that on a thread in 'infertility' for women who struggle with thin lining, most (if not all) of us were on the pill for years

Studies on thin lining say extended use of the pill can cause endometrial atrophy

Which no one ever bloody warned me about

I had one miscarriage due to crap lining, two cancelled frozen embryo cycles due to crap lining, and have had months of HRT, and am having to go on the copper IUD, to try and build up my lining, in order to try and have a frozen embryo cycle where we might actually be able to put a frostie back.

If I had known this was a potential side effect of the pill I might have reconsidered

Thanks everyone for all the advice. With my acne and migraines it sounds like anything hormonal isn't ideal I think I will be braving the copper coil.

I'm on my second Mirena. I love it because I'm lazy and I don't have to do anything

I have (had) (TTC) the T Safe coil as I didn't want any hormone type contraceptive. It lasts 7 years and I've had 2 so far. Would get it put back in if hubby doesn't get snipped. No weight gain, normal to slightly heavier periods no issues for me at all.

I have had adult acne for 20 yrs. Tried everything done everything. About 2 yrs ago someone suggested a colonic irrigation, I thought what the hell nothing else worked. Acne cleared up within two weeks and I've not had any outbreaks since. There's a school of thought that links skin issues with a leaky gut. I am firmly with that school now. I can go to bed without a massive night time facial routine now. Never thought I'd say that!

I've tried pill, mini pill, depo shot, implant, and next week having a copper coil (no hormones!) fitted next week. I've started a thread about it in chat.
I'm crap at remembering the pill and all the hormones give me awful mood swings. Allergic to condoms. Hoping the copper coil is the answer!

Catstick I've been thinking about having a colonic. Was it awful?

Have you looked into the implant? I LOVE it. No periods and only need to think about it every three years. It's been my contraception for 15 years now. That's right-no periods for 25 years which suits me.

Is the implant hormonal?

Yes but doesn't affect me negatively like the pill (mini and combined) did for some reason.

Lol 15 years I've had no periods for - not 25!

Trying to avoid anything hormonal with having acne really, only thing putting me off having the copper coil is the video I decided to traumatize myself with on YouTube

I use the Mirena coil, on my second and no periods now for 7 years. I love it

The implant was disastrous for me. Still had awful mood swings a year after it was taken out. We have moved to condoms now. Since having kids nothing else seems to be side effect free 😟