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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Has anyone else given up with hormonal contraceptives

64 replies

Caribou1 · 05/07/2022 23:05

I was using the Depo Provera injection for around a year but it's not advised long term, and since around the age of 19 I've been on various contraceptive pills, so 11 years now.
I just want to stop hormonal contraceptives, I don't know if it's doing me any good and I think with the pill I don't know if the side effects are affecting me, or if that's just me if that makes sense.
I don't like the thought of the implant or coil at all.
I've looked into non hormonal contraceptives such as the diaphragm, I'm aware it makes things less spontaneous but just want to stop using hormones. Has anybody else used any non hormonal contraceptives?

OP posts:

whenwillthemadnessend · 06/07/2022 08:17

I came off in late twenty due to severe migraine.
Tried implant. Put on 10lbs in a few weeks. Never again

No hormones for twenty years. All good.

Menopause. Tried hrt. Awful. Didn't suit me at all.

I guess some women are super sensitive to adding hormones

FloorWipes · 06/07/2022 08:29

This is so interesting! I too gave up the pill in my 20s because it gave me serious mood problems and weight gain. I tried the copper coil but I developed constant bleeding on that (which the gynae said wasn’t possible 🙄). So now I just count days with the help to apps and monitors.

Goldencarp · 06/07/2022 08:38

We’ve used condoms for 20 years. I’m 50 and been post menopausal for 4 years but still use them as my husband just won’t listen to how the menopause works 😂

Girliefriendlikespuppies · 06/07/2022 08:43

I wouldn't ever take hormonal contraceptives again, I was an anxious mess on them and they all (various pills and the injection) gave me awful nausea.

It's not for me.

Mennex · 06/07/2022 08:43

Wailywailywaily · 05/07/2022 23:13

I stopped all hormone contraception in my 20’s after less than a year on the pill. I’m 50 now. My life has certainly not missed the hormones.

Same here. Been with DH since twenties and we always used natural family planning. Have the number of kids we intended.

popapoppadum · 06/07/2022 09:42

Copper coil was painful for about a day after insertion, just bad period pains and then settled down quickly for me.

Summerwhereareyou · 06/07/2022 09:58

Never.
It was suggested to me due to pcos but I couldn't understand why it would be a good thing to further mess up my hormones?

Condoms...

romdowa · 06/07/2022 10:05

I had my implant out two years ago and swore never again. My back and face are all scars from the acne the hormones caused, it affected my mental health , I bled for 6 weeks at a time with a 3 week break . I can't take estrogen based contraception due to migraines and progesterone just messes me up. So condoms all the way.

RiverFlowers · 06/07/2022 10:12

This is very interesting reading for me!

I have been on the pill since for nearly 19 years, I had two breaks off it when I was pregnant with my children but since having children, the pill doesn't work for me very well - I now have to take two a day otherwise I get bleeding - I have had various checks done and have been told it's just "hormonal".....

I am on the waiting list to have a IUD fitted but the horror stories are off putting and the copper coil which appeals to me more as it's non hormonal can cause heavy and painful bleeding which also isn't appealing!

The pill however has made my moods extremely low, I have zero sex drive and since having to double my dosage, it's even worse.

I am tempted to just come off it completely but after 19 years it seems scary!

Cameleongirl · 06/07/2022 19:18

The window of being able to fall pregnant is so tiny (and even then so unlikely) that I can't see needing contraception again

Hmm, I’m not sure I’d agree with that, @PoleFairy. I have three friends who had unplanned pregnancies in their 40’s as they assumed that tracking their cycles was sufficient at that age. The youngest was 44, the oldest 47! They’ve all had healthy children, thank goodness, but it was a huge shock!

I’m sure it works in many cases, but certainly not for everyone, even those hurtling towards menopause. 😂

FfeminyddCymraeg · 06/07/2022 19:24

I stopped years ago after 15+ years on it. I realised how mad it made me. My PMDD has improved greatly as a result.

veggiemonster · 06/07/2022 19:28

I will never use hormonal contraception again. I've tried almost every form of it and every single one has been a fail.

Condoms all the way.

Fml1980 · 08/07/2022 09:32

Well I phoned up yesterday to have the implant taken out (local sexual health clinic).
6 week wait, but it was "do you want to come in to have a chat first, there is things we can do to help" which I did get quite cross after the 3rd time of me telling them I just want the thing out.
I did use the pill for 3 months on top of the implant which didn't do much.
After bleeding every other week for over a year, with horrendous period pain and breast pain headaches,headaches, weight gain, moodiness I just want the thing out!
I felt I was nearly begging!

miltonj · 08/07/2022 09:42

Only ever took the pill for a short time in my teens and then decided it wasn't for me. Didn't like the idea of anything else. I don't even like condoms . I just have a general idea of when I'm ovulating and husband withdraws around that time. Have only ever fell pregnant when trying and has happened quickly each time. This has been the case for over a decade. Having said that, when I am older will look into husband having vasectomy or me having tubes tied as it would be a big deal to have an accidental child after I am done.

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