To think all methods of hormonal contraceptives are awful?

[theresabluebirdinmyheart]

I cannot be prescribed the combined pill due to migraines with aura but didn’t get on with them anyway. Have tried:

Noriday (zero sex drive, vaginal dryness)
Cerazette (Made my depression a million times worse)
Cerelle (Made me emotionally unstable and gained weight immediately)

I have now been prescribed Slynd which lists common side effects as acne, weight gain, severe bleeding and even cervical cancer so thanks but no thanks.

I can’t bear the idea of a coil.

seriously, why are women expected to put up with this shit?

Does anyone on here use natural planning methods and manage to avoid pregnancy? Do you have to avoid sex on fertile days as I find those days to be the days I want it the most!

Why can’t the pharmaceutical companies do better?

Any suggestions of less horrific ways to avoid pregnancy that don’t include celibacy would be very welcome.

Condoms did us fine for years before the vasectomy. I think we opted for 'have the kids early then vasectomy' approach.

Totally agree, spent my twenties with low libido, rashes, spots, weight gain, temper etc etc. what a waste of the best decade. Had DD in my 30s and never used hormonal contraception after that. Total game changer and then when I was late 30s, DH had a vasectomy, hallelujah. Although note of caution he has, 10 years later developed intermittent groin pain which his GP has said is a side effect and to just get on with it.

If I had my time again I would insist on condoms all the way.

We used condoms for many, many years, successfully. I think I had to take the morning after pill maybe twice in twenty years. (I do have a Mirena coil now, but it wasn’t primarily for contraceptive reasons, and it was inserted under GA.)

Condoms.
Wouldn't recommend "natural ways" as they have the highest rate of failure and that's how I got pregnant despite having sex on a day which was, allegedly, far out of my fertile window.

Yes they are horrendous. Partner got the snip a few years ago, liberating.

I think natural ways are more for people who prefer to avoid pregnancy (they can be very good) but wouldn't mind if one did happen.

Love my mirena coil. Had my first one put in after my son was born 10 years ago.

No fuss, no bother, no periods. Now I’m peri-menopausal it means I can just have have estrogen patches as I get progesterone from the coil. I know other women have had different experiences but I had no pain worse than a smear or bad period getting mine put in.

So I know you said you didn’t want a coil, but it’s really been a game changer for me.

(I also read in the media recently that’s there’s been an increase in unplanned pregnancies linked to increased reliance on fertility tracking, so I wouldn’t try that unless you wouldn’t really mind getting pregnant!)

I'd go to the family planning clinic! Sometimes attached to a sexual health clinic, but often run clinics on certain days/times. I found they had far more knowledge about various contraceptive options than my GP and you'd often be seen my a gynaecologist or nurse specialist.

I used the nuva ring with success. Its still hormonal, so may not be recommended, but as it sits near the cervix is a lower hormone dose (from memory). Unfortunately, it is trial and error finding something that works for you. We did also just use condoms for years. The family planning clinic had bags of them at the front desk for free!

Agree.

I had blood clots on my lung when pregnant with my son 13 years ago so they won't give me hormone contraception now. I have non-hormonal coil which I do find works well for me but periods are heavier but manageable.

For years on the pill or mirena coil I was snappy, gained weight and felt unhappy.

I wouldn't go back now!

Thank heavens I never did any research before taking contraceptives. Ignorance for me has been bliss.

But now I'm more aware of the side effects and impacts it makes me concerned for my daughter. (Only 13 at the moment).

I was on depo injection for a million years. Have there been any step changes in contraception medication/types/forms etc in the last 30 years?!

I was on different brands of pill for around 14 years, I was so glad when I came off it. Post children I knew I didn’t want to go back on it. The mirena was awful for me, I’ve never experienced depression so bad. After 4 months I had it removed. Luckily my GP didn’t follow the “oh it’s only localised hormones, they won’t affect you” thinking. I tried the copper coil after that, and it was brilliant for almost 3 years but then my periods started rolling into each other while also being very heavy. Since then it’s a mix of ‘natural’, condoms and the morning after pill if I’m worried. Not ideal.

I agree im so glad far less young women are pumping their bodies full of hormones. I always felt so much physically and mentally better when not on the pill but I didn’t connect it for ages

I now have the mirena coil but this is to help with very heavy periods that only started during peri menopause but it certainly has side effects (tiredness/headaches) but for me that more manageable than the heavy periods

I stopped the pill in my late 20s as I didn't get on with it. Then used condoms for years until TTC - worked fine.
Now have the mirena and I've got on great with it. None of the side effects of the pill. I had it fitted for heavy bleeding but it's totally been worth it. We're still using condoms though for now as I'm at the age where a late pregnancy is both possible and would be a total disaster.

Another with the mirena- I always hated the idea of a coil too as I'm squeamish but it's incredible, will definitely get it replaced in a few years and the progesterone will be a good base for HRT if I need it then too.

I went on the pill in 1985 when I was 19 and lasted a week as I got flicking like sensational in my legs which I had been told previously to look out for as it could be blood clots.

Stopped taking it and never used any contraception again using the withdrawal method.

When I wanted to start my family in 1995, I had no problems and conceived straight away.

My younger sister decided to follow suit as she was scared she would have an adverse reaction and she never git pregnant until she wanted to.

Our older sister did take the pill for a number of years, not sure how long, perhaps 8/10 years until she started her family and never took it since.

I've been on the combined pill for 20 years apart from when trying to conceive,l. I don't FEEL like I've had any side effects tbh. I do have bad anxiety and depression though which started in my late teens, so wonder if there could actually be a connection 🤔

same approach has worked well for us

It’s not awful for every woman. The combined pill had no negative impacts on me whatsoever. Except my skin cleared and my boobs went up a cup.

That’s it.

I came off it eventually as I no longer had any need for it and am unlikely to need it again. I am very happy to have access to more secure methods of contraception because unplanned pregnancy is my worst nightmare.

I think that natural method can be good but you need a really good awareness of your body.

I know at least four couples who used fertility tracking and ended up pregnant. I definitely wouldn't rely on that unless pregnancy wouldn't be the end of the world.

I tried the same app for a year. My cycle isn't perfectly regular and the app was useless - it once told me a week was safe, then at the end of the week changed it to unsafe!

I agree with you on hormonal methods.

DH and I still use the natural method because we don't mind accidental pregnancy, our ages make pregnancy relatively unlikely and we like other solutions less.

The spike in unplanned pregnancies isn't good, though.

Assuming you don’t like condoms, a diaphragm or a cap might be an option?

Mid 30s here - spent a horrendous time in my 20s on and off the pill (weight gain, acne, mood swings). I’ve used Natural Cycles for 4 years now and not fell pregnant but 1) I measure religiously (everyday at the same time) and 2) if I miss it I am then very cautious the rest of my cycle! We use condoms on fertile days (or just find other things to do!) I will say I’m in the camp another poster mentioned above, if I did fall pregnant I’d be fine with it (as would DP). It would not be my contraceptive choice if having a child was a no go for me. I have friends who have used this method, not been so rigorous with it and now have little ones!

@FurryTeacup can I ask how you managed to get them to insert the coil under GA?

I also suffer from fibroids and I was on the combined pill for years until bad migraines started when I was 32, and I have no scientific evidence but think that contributed to the fibroids growing with all that synthetic estrogen.

@ItGhoul have you used a diaphragm? Are they easy to insert? Can they come loose or fall out midway through sex?

Another problem with natural methods is you have to avoid sex on the days when sex drive is probably at its highest. It does seem to work for some though, I guess you just have to be very disciplined and have a completely consistent and predictable cycle.

I wish they would hurry up and make male contraception!