To ask what contraception you use?

[facelessworrier]

I'm nearing 40 and have been on the combined pill almost constantly since being 16 apart from coming off to have my 2 children.
Recently went to the docs as I'd noticed some changes in my breasts who took me off the pill temporarily while it got investigated (something to do with the combined pill increasing risk of breast cancer and therefore she couldn't refer me to the breast clinic while on a medication that increased my chances of getting it)
Everything came back clear but now I'm thinking it's probably time to reevaluate contraceptive choices as I'm not sure it's good to be on the pill for this long.

So, what does everyone else do? At the moment we're using condoms (I'm in a LTR) but I really don't like them.

Help please!

We use the withdrawal method.

I don’t see the point in my using contraception - my DTs are ivf babies, and I’ve never fallen pregnant naturally so not too worried about accidents or fertile windows.

If I did fall pregnant it would be a miracle and a lovely surprise. unless it was another set of twins

I'm 44 and have been on the combined pill since I was 18 - no issues and no intention of changing.

@OneForTheRoadThen via my GP. It did take quite a while for the random bleeding / spotting to settle but I'm really happy with it now.

Condoms. After 20+years of hormonal contraception and 2 children I have simply decided no more. I gave DH 3 options: condoms, vasectomy or no sex. So far he's chosen the condoms, is still considering the vasectomy, he doesn't want to consider option 3

I have a copper coil - I can’t tolerate any hormones and it’s not made my periods any heavier. Insertion wasn’t fun but it wasn’t painful - more a big pinch and then it’s over with.

I like the implant when I had it.

But DH has had a vasectomy now. Best thing ever.

I should add, I did have the mirena coil for 3 years, but it made me cry literally every day. I didn't even realise that it was the coil causing my miserableness until someone else said they reacted the same way and within a few days of it being out my blues went away.
I wish I had put the two together sooner, as it was a miserable few years.

Skyn condoms are good, we've been using them for about 10 years. We definitely don't want any more children otherwise we might have combined it with charting my cycle but just condoms used correctly are as good as the pill in effectiveness IIRC.

I was sterilised after my fourth child when I was 29.

We’ve used condoms for 19 years. I didn’t want to take hormones any more and DH went for his vasectomy appointment and was told that he was actually too young by the surgeon (he was 37!) and we were really pissed off - unfortunately we got angry which resulted in a letter to the GP saying he wasn’t to be referred back again.

However saying you couldn’t be referred to the breast clinic whilst on the pill is wrong info. I know people successfully seen by the breast clinic whilst in the pill and the one told to stop the pill was AFTER the biopsy which showed malignancy.

Lesbianism. Back in my experimental stage, I had a diaphragm. It’s a fuss to put in, but very effective without hormones.

Another one for coil. No hormones. Putting it in was totally fine - having given birth a few weeks before it was a doddle. A bit like a smear test really. There was a bit of bleeding and then my periods took a while to settle. But I’ve had it in forever 4 months now and really happy with it.

Copper coil. Oh my third now

I use a contraceptive diaphragm.

Once you get the hang of it it’s very easy to use.
I’ve used one for most of my adult life, we have a lot of sex but I’ve never had an issue with it.

I don’t agree with hormonal contraceptives.

Always used condoms when I was sexually active (not with anyone right now) and never had a problem - only ever fell pregnant when I was trying to be.

Coitus interrptus.

We married and had children very early, so we were also done early. I'm super fertile, and we didn't trust pills/condoms, so DH had a vasectomy at 22.
It was right for us, but clearly isn't for most.

Divorce! 100% effective 🤣. But seriously I had an implant until I was 42 with no issues.

Being sterilised and not having sex works a treat

Mirena, bonus periods stopped

I've used the copper coil for the last 15 years around my planned pregnancies. Always very happy with it - I quit the pill in my midtwenties because it squished my sex drive. Now that we're done DH has had the snippety snip and all is good.

Condoms, waiting on a copper coil. Hormonal contraception is shit.

Condoms and charting my cycle.
Had a copper coil until last year & loved it but decided not to get another one if I'd only end up having it out early if we ttc.

Ovulation tracker. I have a really regular cycle and get ovulation pain so its straight forward for me. I used the combined pill but had to come off because of migraines and then the minipill gave me epically terrible acne so I decided to try ovulation tracking and it's working so well for me. I dont get as many mood swings and my skin is better. Although my actual periods are worse and the ovulation pain is evil!

Condoms when we were young (with a brief flirtation with the diaphragm) then copper coil post children which I love.