Coming off the pill and other matters

[MsCrow]

Hello

I've read some excellent posts regarding family planning on here and so wondered if you might throw your two pennies this way? I'm 30 and having been on the pill since 16. Having felt suicidal on Dianette, unfortunately had crazy migraines on Yasmin, bummer as it agreed with me. During these first three months of Noriday I've become a weight gaining, argumentative and aggressive monster so I've been assessing my options.

I went to visit my doctors but the practice nurse was pretty unhelpful so I went to the FPA. I was considering the coil (copper) but as I haven't had a child yet the FP nurse said they were harder to fit but it was possible. Once I get some writing up out the way and secure my job we'd like to start TTC anyway so she felt a coil was less appropriate. On offering me cerazette I broke down in her office; the prospect of more hormones and going through another three months of hell, and possibly divorce, is just too much. So she suggested trying a diaphragm which we're quite open to so I have a practice one for this week. Have you used one? What has been your experience with using one?

As I've been on the pill for so long, what can I expect? I'm looking forward to working out what is my body's natural rhythm but I'm a little scared too...

Thank you

Do you hate condoms or just worry they are unreliable?

I've just come off pill and gone back to using them (which I was dreading a bit as had visions of them ruining the moment) but actually it's been fine. Easy, quick, less messy.

I don't hate them but they kill his erection so no good. I'm due to stop taking the pill tonight or tomorrow so could do with some advice

mscrow you sound a bit like the situation I was in - I went through all the options of FP. My body hates hormones - have tried various pills and was on cerazette the longest - maybe 3 years, but always felt it was disagreeing with me, and totally killed my sex drive. I came off cerazette about a year and a half ago and tbh for me it was a nightmare - but I know most people have little or no issue with it. FOr me I got dizziness, headaches, felt sick, tired permenantly for about 3 or so months then terrible PMT with killer headaches etc for a further 8 months. I would really recommend relexology if you get any problems coming off the pill - it really helped. I tried accupuncture but for me that didn't work. Reflexology was incredible.

Before going on cerazette they tried to insert a coil in me as I really didn't want to take more pills. Because I haven't had children yet either it was incredibly hard to insert and they couldn't do it - it wouldn't fit. My GP was trying to fit the mirena coil (with hormones) as the copper coil apparently is bigger so harder to get in. I was told that I could have a coil inserted by having anaesthetic and have it put in while I was under. Was refered to a gynae doc for this but he was reluctant to do this (not sure why) so was sent back to doc.

Condoms really don't work for us and my skin is allergic to latex so we're really restricted to which ones to get and non latex don't work as well anyway, but we had about 6 months of that being our only option and tbh for us DH said he'd rather not bother than use condoms.

I mentioned diaphram to my doc but she said it wasn't too effective (or less so than other methods) and you had to be really careful to use it correctly or it wouldn't work well. I think it wasn't an option again as it's made of latex.

So I'm literally out of options!! Luckily we then started ttc then and now I'm pg so not in need of birth control, but I seriously have no idea what to do after - think copper coil is my only option. I vowed NEVER to take hormones again.

Anyway, when I came off the pill I started taking a half dose for a couple of weeks then every other day. Just my logic of not shocking my system with the withdrawl too quickly (obv it won't be effective borth control in lower doses though). Good luck and hope it goes well.