To ask what contraception you’re on...?

[Bubblemonkey]

I’ve currently got the implant but it’s driving me potty. I have a stoma & apparently can’t take the pill with it because of the potential of not absorbing it properly 🤨 despite being here, I’m childless & wanting to avoid coils for that reason.

Halp me

I had coils in before children and it was fine. I'm also a wuss!

Nothing hormonal any more.

‘Been using condoms for years and always carry some in my handbag.

For those on the mirena coil, do you still get any PMS?
Currently not in anything but do have endo so have been advised it would be worth getting. However my PMS are horrible. I am not nice to hang around with plus I can feel my depression coming back around those days. I would love to eliminate this too!

Lesbianism. Pretty effective.

Also have the mirena coil for period management. No period for 4 years, bliss. Best thing I ever did.

Mirena - no periods, no side effects. Game changer for me! Insertion wasn't fun (I have no kids either) but it was over quickly.

I’ve got the implant and now that I’ve had it for a year my periods have settled. They were immediately a lot less painful. I used to vomit for hours and the cramping would render my unable to walk (this would happen about 35% of the time, not every month so I couldn’t predict when the ‘bad period’ would hit me). I once went on a day trip to London and ended up lying on the bathroom floor in Costa throwing up and having diarrhoea for hours, I couldn’t leave- very embarrassing.

The downside of the implant is that it’s killed my sex drive and my mood. I’m far more emotionally unstable since having it. I have to fight depressive periods and I only feel like my old self a few days a month.

I’m probably going to stick it out for another 6-12 months as I’m starting a new job in May and I can’t face the idea of getting trapped in the toilet for hours- it’s very hard to explain that it’s “just” my period. I think maybe I’ll try some of the hormonal pills to see which one works best for me. I’ve never been very good at remembering to take it but I’m happy to use condoms too.

Are there any contraceptives out there known for helping with periods with few side affects?

I found the implant absolutely horrible. My mood was terrible, bleeding more often than not for 8 months and no libido.

Just condoms for years but my periods are quite heavy so I’m on the waiting list to have the hormonal coil fitted.

None , use condoms when needed , did try the pill but had some bad side effects stuck with it for 18 months until I developed a lump in my breast and decided I didn't want the hormones anymore , it robbed me of my sex drive and made me so ragey I had To warn my husband when I was stopping for my off week . In hindsight I wish I never took it at all but felt pushed to go on something despite the fact I never Needed it before

Condoms

Condoms. I can't take the pill as it makes my depression and mania really bad. Daren't try the implant or jab for that reason. I'm TERRIFIED of coils.

@MeadowHay I was advised to stop taking the combined pill and go onto the mini pill as you shouldn't take it if you get migraines.

You can be prescribed the COCP with migraines as long as they're not with visual disturbances. I don't get any visual disturbances and have previously been on COCP (Loestrin 20) for years with no increased severity/incidence of migraines. Microgynon did increase the frequency and severity of migraines for me but still did not cause any visual disturbances. As Microgynon is 30mg oestrogen and Loestrin 20 was only 20, we hypothesized that migraine-wise I may only be able to tolerate 20mg oestrogen. I've been on Millinette 20 for a few weeks and not had a signal migraine so far, so it looks like our hypothesis was correct there.

Nothing at the minute as was TTC #2 and currently pregnant. Before, though, just condoms.

Hated taking the pill every day so tried the injection. I bled for 6 months straight and have never been more glad for something to be out of my system.

After this baby we probably won't have any more, so I've been looking into getting the coil fitted/something that's long lasting, fairly permanent and doesn't involve me having to remember to take it daily. Reading this thread for ideas.

Vasectomy. Our family is complete. I'm 41.

None. But my husband recently lost both testicles to testicular cancer so the only chance of me getting pregnant is if I'm the next virgin Mary.

Copper coil. I did have the mirena but it made my fibromyalgia worse and I put on loads of weight. Changed to a copper coil and it's bliss. Yes my periods are a little heavier, but I feel so different now I am not flooded with hormones. I didn't realise how much hormonal contraception affects me until I stopped it. The 1 1/2 stone weight loss in a month or so was also helpful for my health. Will never have hormonal contraception again.

Combined pill, I don’t bloody need it though, haven’t been near a man in 2 years

DH had a vasectomy a few years ago (mid-twenties) as we don’t want children. It’s been wonderful not having to put any hormones in my body. I had the implant (Nexplanon) for 6+ years and it was a living nightmare but I just didn’t trust anything else.

I was on the depo injection for 22 years without a break. My choice, it stopped my periods completely and suited me perfectly.

I had my last jab last November. Single so don't need any contraceptive atm and thought my body really could do with a break from the hormones.

I'm waiting to see how it takes for my period to come back (if at all) after 22 years of not having one.

Angharad, I first went on Loestrin 20 as I had very heavy periods that were having a huge negative impact on my life. It was amazing being on that, my periods were loads lighter and a bit shorter too, its what I imagine 'normal' periods to be like. That pill has been discontinued now but I think all combined oral contraceptives can be used to make periods easier. You don't have any real periods on them anyway just withdrawal bleeds which you don't really even need to have. I used to take them back to back and only have a few bleeds a year, it was great.

@meadowHay thank you! I’ll give the combined pill another go if I decide to quit the implant.

I bled almost continuously on the mirena, and I wouldn’t fancy it if I hadn’t had kids either tbh.

Condoms?

I'm on the combined pill. Have been since I became sexually active (except when we were ttc). Never had any problems at all. I take it back to back for months so I only have 3 or 4 withdrawal bleeds a year. I honestly love it.