The least disruptive contraception?

[Livingwiththefairies]

Good evening,

DH & I are married with 3 DCs and 90% sure we're done but not 100%, therefore ruling out the snip for now.

Our youngest is 18 months and until now we've used natural / withdrawal method but this comes with its negatives and just feels too risky right now. I have a GP appt this week to discuss and arrange a contraceptive.

My dilemma is that I want one with as little hormonal interference as possible. I'm very fortunate in that my cycles are regular and I'm very in tune with my body (don't mean to sound braggy here - it's taken years to feel so in tune!). I love being able to plan around my periods and even more, I love my fertile time of the month.

For the most part of the month I really lack libido which I know upsets my DH and I feel really guilty. He is patient and doesn't pressure me, but I know he'd prefer more regular sex. However, around ovulation I am super horny which is really good for our relationship and I too really enjoy having the drive for those few days. I also gain so much confidence for those few days and generally feel on top of the world, albeit temporarily.

Is there anything out there that won't wipe out my oestrogen surge or cause any other horrible side effects? (weight loss / gain, mood swings, irregular bleeding etc).

As a teenager and young adult, I tried various contraceptive pills which all caused random bleeding, something I just can't get used to!

Any suggestions appreciated, thank you.

Copper coil?

That's what my friend tells me to go for as she was on it pre children and loved it (her DH has now had the snip).
Do you have experience of it then and would say it ticks my boxes? I will obviously discuss it all with the GP but it's only a 10 min appt and I also might feel a plonker telling her I still want to be horny every now and then

Honestly the copper coil is amazing, one screening appointment and one fitting appointment every ten years and no babies. I didn’t get heavier period or extra cramps or anything like that and it’s the most effective contraception I believe

@Felicitybeedle thank you. And you don't feel particularly different on it around mid cycle? I really don't want to end up with an even worse libido as it depresses me as well as DH! But also don't want to carry on as we are and risk overpopulating the planet even more so than we already have!

Nope no libido affects at all, I’m on antidepressants so I was very cautious in choosing something that couldn’t depress my sex drive further. My understanding is that it chemically should not have an effect, nor have I heard anyone say it soes

It's notorious for heavy protracted bleeds.

What about DH being proactive and using condoms?

Barrier methods - male condoms (or female, but I just wouldn't myself), or diaghphram?

Copper coil. No hormonal interference. They say it can make periods heavier but on MN with women who've given birth it seems to be as likely to do the opposite. I love mine and the insertion was no worse than a smear either time.

Condoms!

I have had the copper coil fitted about 12 weeks after my baby as I was determined not to have any hormones.

I've had the odd spot of blood a handful of times in 4 months but that's all. I figured if it made periods heavier then I can always get it removed, but so far it's staying for a long while because I love it.

I’ve had 2x copper coils. The first one prior to babies. I had it for 5x years and made my periods marginally heavier but not too bad and no affect at all on my body etc!

I had my second one after my daughter. It made my periods so heavy, the flow pushed the coil out! 😱 I had 3 periods before it fell out, 9 days long & changing extra super tampons every 45 minutes for 5 days.. was insane!

No idea why I reacted so differently but I’d try one again. The lack of hormones was fabulous!

Thanks so much everyone! Appreciate all the input.

My appt was today and the GP advised the same; copper coil. So copper coil it is, but annoyingly my surgery doesn't fit them so I need to book in to my nearest sexual health clinic.

To answer re condoms and my DH being proactive - we have been using them and will continue to until coil is fitted, but we both agree they're a bit of a mood killer and spoils things somewhat! He'd persevere with them I think, but long term it'll get expensive and isn't very eco friendly either.

Really hoping I don't suffer from heavier bleeding as mine are already pretty heavy and difficult to manage. Will give it a good chance though and worst case, re-visit the drawing board.

Thanks again for your help x

I use a copper coil with no hormones. It's been great. There's an adjustment period of 6 months I guess. But it's my normal.

Echo everyone else. Copper coil is the only thing I get on with. I totally forget about it, it couldn't be easier and I love the lack of hormones or faff.

I had the copper coil pre baby and it made me bleed really heavily for months on end, stomach cramps and a general feeling of unwell a lot of the time, probably due to blood loss.

Hope you get on better but if you do bleed heavily and have any pain, get it out rather than listening to GPS who'll tell you it'll settle and get better after a few months, the one who eventually removed it for me said its rare for it to settle, it either works for you or it doesn't.

How about diaphragm or cap combined with withdrawal (or combined with some sort of fertility tracking)? They can be put in up to two hours before sex, and although alone they aren't as effective as say the pill, if you also use withdrawal that increases effectiveness to pretty similar to the pill.