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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask you all what contraception you use?

236 replies

Slightlypanicked · 12/08/2016 19:07

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?

OP posts:
ReadyPlayerOne · 17/08/2016 00:09

Hated the mirena. Gave it a fair chance, but had it removed after almost a year. Doctor took it out then and there when I asked for it to be removed, which was great.

Before that was the pill, which was fine, but I struggled to remember to take it after having two DC, hence the coil. After the coil was removed i just went with condoms; DH has never had a problem with them and was chasing a vasectomy (took ages for an appointment to come through). In the meantime I became pregnant with dc3. Which was very much unplanned, but he's had his vasectomy now with no problems there.

HelenaDove · 17/08/2016 00:22

Crookers do you feel any different afterwards, Sorry for daft question.

Crookers77 · 17/08/2016 09:09

Helena- nope. Nothing different. Periods the same etc. I was bloody sore for 2 days after the op, but that's it!

PityParty · 17/08/2016 09:16

Copper coil here, just a normal period each month

BeyondLovesSweetDee · 17/08/2016 09:17

I had a mirena fitted after ds2. DH has since been snipped, but I get on so well with my mirena that I have kept it :)

expatinscotland · 17/08/2016 09:33

'What's not to love, it's popped in and you can forget about it for 10 years! No chemicals, no hormones, no chance of getting pregnant but if you do have it whipped out and you're good to go straight away no hangover from your pill.'

It's not just 'popped in' for a lot of people or 'just like a smear'. Coil fitting can be quite painful for some women. In more than a few users it causes much heavier periods. For still others, it's considered an abortifacient and contraindicts their moral or religious beliefs.

Quite a bit not to love for some.

Doodlemum2 · 17/08/2016 09:39

Guess you don't know till you try though huh? And it's personal choice and experience- figured that goes without saying! Hmm

Doodlemum2 · 17/08/2016 09:41

"For still others, it's considered an abortifacient and contraindicts their moral or religious beliefs."

True for contraception in general in a lot of cases.

trixymalixy · 17/08/2016 09:44

Copper coil here. My periods are fine on it. They were a lot heavier initially but settled down back to normal. Only thing I don't like is the heavier discharge, but it's a fairly minor gripe. I didn't want any kind of hormonal contraception.

Mumble29 · 17/08/2016 09:49

Me and Dh use condoms, Im not allowed to go back on the pill because of migraines and blood clotting issue,and I don't want a coil fitted either. My hormones are fucked up enough without making it worse Confused.
I'm trying to convince Dh to get the snip though Grin

Onionringo · 17/08/2016 09:56

Those of you using a coil, can I ask a question? I was under the impression that it was suited to those who have had babies, but only if you had a natural birth. I've had two sections, would that make it difficult do you know?

Condoms here. I'd like something long lasting which reduces or stops periods, but undecided yet. Due to my age the pill isn't ideal, but GP said she'd be ok with me having the mini pill. I'm unsure though. I don't like the idea of the injection as once it's done if there are any side effects, it can't be removed. I'd be quite happy getting myself permanently sterilised, but having surgery probably isn't a great option riot now. Plus I have no health issues so doubt they'd do it easily.

expatinscotland · 17/08/2016 09:58

'Due to my age the pill isn't ideal, but GP said she'd be ok with me having the mini pill. '

This is old and erroneous information! The combined pill is fine to use up to the menopause as long as you have no health issues that run contrary to its usage. The Royal College of Gynaecologists made this clear several years ago. I'm shocked so many doctors are still telling women they are 'too old' for the combined pill when that form of contraception is something that works well for them.

Doodlemum2 · 17/08/2016 10:33

@onionringo I had my first copper coil pre baby and my second post c section.

Ifiwasabadger · 17/08/2016 10:42

I've had two copper coils...one pre baby and one post baby. I had a section.

Both times it was super easy to put in. My consultant actually advised to go on the third day of my period as the cervix is slightly open then. It was honestly completely fine.

Ifiwasabadger · 17/08/2016 10:43

So many people here saying they don't want the coil as they don't want Hormones....

Are people not aware that the copper coil is hormone Free?

BishopBrennansArse · 17/08/2016 10:45

Sterilisation plus mirena for troublesome bleeding.

DH's sperm ain't gettin' nowhere!

paddypants13 · 17/08/2016 10:51

I've had the implant for just over a year. The doctor did say I needed to give it at least six months to settle down. I had some spotting at first and I had a solid month of light bleeding at one point. The doctor prescribed me the progesterone only pill for a couple of months. She said if the bleeding came back after that I may need to have the implant taken out. It didn't so I will be leaving the implant in.

My main issue with the pill is taking it at the same time each day. Other than that I was fine when I was on it previously.

I suffer from migraines and neither the implant nor the POP has affected them. (In fact their better because they were usually around my period.)

I was also put off the mirena or coil by the thought of having it fitted and also a few friends have had it and not agreed with it.

furryminkymoo · 17/08/2016 11:02

I had a copper coil, didn't even know that it was there, I did get periods though.

Writerwannabe83 · 17/08/2016 11:15

First time I had a Mirena: easy to go in but a total nightmare when it came to getting it out (long story). However, whilst it was in it was brilliant. I bled for about 3 days each month but it was more like really light pink spotting than anything else.

Second time I had a Mirena: Unbelievably painful going in, I was actually in tears but when I had it removed it was out in about 3 seconds. This Mirena was a nightmare though as I pretty much bled for 8 months straight and proper period type bleeding.

I'm currently on no contraception and DH is trying to decide whether to have a vasectomy.

Writerwannabe83 · 17/08/2016 11:17

onionringo

Those of you using a coil, can I ask a question? I was under the impression that it was suited to those who have had babies, but only if you had a natural birth. I've had two sections, would that make it difficult do you know?

When I had my first Mirena I hadn't had any children. When I had DS I had to have a CS and there were no issues with me having another Mirena put back in.

LobsterQuadrille · 17/08/2016 11:20

Huge Mirena fan here. I had one initially for really long and heavy (and painful) periods - worked brilliantly and they immediately settled down to barely anything. I used to pass out some months from blood loss. I've had no adverse side effects and I've had it changed every few years as advised.

jadzy73 · 17/08/2016 11:37

I too had the mirena. Lack of periods was fab but not worth the horrendous site effects... permanent mad mood, zero libido, leg cramps, awful, awful acne, always bloated. I could go on, and on, and on.... I gave it a year as requested by my gp who was adamant that it was the best thing ever then when I asked for it to be removed, they asked me to keep it for longer so I pulled the damn thing out myself...

LBOCS2 · 17/08/2016 11:59

At the moment condoms, but as soon as I'm 6mo postpartum it'll be my 4th Mirena. I get some hormonal spotting around my jaw but it's the only side effect I have and I love not having any periods or having to think about taking anything. I can't take the combined pill (I get aura migraines) and it's just easy.

I had my first two coils inserted before I had DC. It's more painful (I had an afternoon off work each time) but it shouldn't be a reason for them not to do it. I find a Family Planning Clinic more on the ball with this sort of thing than my GP, often. Most of my friends (pre and post DC) use a Mirena now too.

BeyondLovesSweetDee · 17/08/2016 12:06

Lboc, ten years I took the combined pill and got migraines - only figured out the correlation when I stopped to ttc!

carefreeeee · 17/08/2016 12:09

Was on the mini pill for 2 years, didn't notice any side effects and had no periods so it was good.

Came off it because didn't like the idea of hormones and it is nice for things to function naturally. Especially now I have a mooncup that makes things much easier in that respect.

Contraception wise use a combination of occasional condoms (non latex as hate the smell), pulling out and timings.

From this thread feel inspired to try diaphragm - do you need to get the GP to fit it?