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.

Another shout out for trying Mirena. On it for over 20 years, no issues and none of the problems I’d had with the pill (which I also used for over two decades as there were no real alternatives). Some people don’t get on with it but many do, so to not even try seems odd.

I was having another minor gynaecological procedure to deal with very heavy bleeding,@theresabluebirdinmyheart. They inserted the coil at the same time.

Yes, I had pretty much no negative side effects from the combined pill. In fact, it was positive for me as my periods were no longer heavy or painful and I stopped getting PMS.

Hormonal contraception isn’t good for everyone but it’s brilliant for many and I don’t think people should scaremonger.

Not everyone has trouble with hormonal contraception and what works for one person just may not work for others. I’ve been on it nearly 30 years, with some breaks for having children, with no side effects (except to one particular brand). I would try the coil. I didn’t like the heavy periods, but hell of a lot better than an unwanted pregnancy, with an aim to be sterilised when you know you don’t want any (more) children.

@theresabluebirdinmyheart I haven’t, personally, as I’ve always been OK on the Pill, but I have a couple of friends who swear by their diaphragm. I’m told it takes a little practice to insert at first. I’m sure it can be different for everyone, but worth a try.

Have never and will never use hormonal contraception. We just rely on condoms. Husband will probably get the snip when we're done having kids.

I came off the pill and my sex drive really improved. Using condoms now, my husband doesn't mind at all because of course he prefers me actually wanting to have sex. The pill turned me into a nun which was causing problems.
I could never rely on the natural method of contraception, tracking my cycle because again, that really wouldn't work with my sex drive. I track my cycle on an app now so I know when my period is coming and it tells me when I'm likely and unlikely to get pregnant and when I'm most likely is when I most want to have sex. So I've learnt that my drive is really linked to my fertility unfortunately.

@Coloursofthewind2 yes that’s exactly what Noriday did to me, very effective as contraception due to eradicating any sexual desire whatsoever.

"Why can’t the pharmaceutical companies do better?"

@theresabluebirdinmyheart
Why should they? Shouldn't they be focusing on actual pathology and disease rather than interrupting the normal functioning of the human body? It's wild people expect to do this without any ill effect.

I have used naturally family planning for 8 years and we've never had an accidental pregnancy. I've only been pregnant once with my son and we tried for him. It does work for some but may be difficult for people with a very high sex drive because you do have to avoid certain days.

@TemporaryPosition Same reasons they work on fertility drugs, weight loss injections and HRT. They can do more than one thing at once, they aren’t short of cash.

Yeah, I guess. And I take paracetamol.

Have the kids you plan to have and then snip?

Yeah natural cycles etc are all well and good but they are essentially an abstinence method as you can't have sex on the fertile days, which as you quite rightly point out, are usually the days you're most up for it!

I do recommend the coil but if you really can't bear the thought of the insertion then that's fair enough. The patch? The ring?

Agree. I was on the pill for 24 years and never had any side effects at all. I actually think we are really lucky to have so many contraceptive options.

I’ve been on the pill for about 15 years except for ttc, pregnancy snd PP but I’ve never experience any adverse effects.

Coil has also been amazing for me and in my 20s the pill eased horrible period pain and heavy bleeds and got rid of acne so I think to each their own. Hope you find a solution op

I didn't get on with any hormonal contraception, it made me evil, exacerbated depression and developed cystic acne whilst on them. The Mirena coil was awful for me too, same as the pill with really painful periods. I pulled it out after trying to stick with it for a year. Tried the copper coil, that made periods really heavy and continuous, I pulled that out too after 3 months! We use condoms now whenever he wants it, but I hate them as they make me sore. I'd much rather be left alone 🤣

110%. I've gone back to no hormonal contraception, cycle tracking & condoms. Had a huge impact on my physical and mental health and finally feel like 'me' again after years of side effects from pill & coil.

I hate hormone contraception as well, however since my third child I’m in a rock/hard place situation. Without them, I have heavy periods every two weeks, on them I feel out of sorts. I’m single and quite happy not having a man near me every again, but still have to take the hormones for a comfortable life as the GP won’t investigate further.

I was on the pill pre-kids and went for the implant after

Easily inserted with a local anaesthetic, switch it every 3 years which takes 20 mins

Barely any periods either

I was on the mini pill due to my weight and risk of clotting for all of my best years. ExDH hated jonnies and didn't want the snip, so it fell to me. I was completely numb on it. My local sexual health clinic refused to give me a coil under local or general anaesthetic, but I'm given to understand that men can have a local anaesthetic for the snip. So that's nice. They tried to put one in me but I couldn't tolerate the pain, so I gave up that idea, because I was out of options. I stuck with the POP and my sex drive sank without a trace, though not having periods was nice.

I tried implants, I tried those cap things, and I've tried female condoms (faffy). All the ex had to do was turn up!

I'm happily single now. I'm coming off the mini-pill soon. I hope to feel better once my body gets used to not having it.

I’m 3.5 months pp, and on the implant, and have been for almost two months, I think? It’s been alright, just no period at all, but had spotting for a good week. At least I don’t have to remember to take a pill! 😂

I will get sterilised at some point. If we have another DC, I’ll probably end up with a c section again, and would ask them to do it at the same time!