Contraception - Advice Please......

[mum2monkeys]

Had my DS 14 weeks ago, at the time hospital gave me cerazette (POP), I have not taken it as suffered badly from depression when on the pill in the past, was given prozac (for 5years!)before anyone even contemplated changing my pill, and it wasn't until I stopped of my own accord(decided 10years was long enough as far as artificial hormones were concerned)that the fog lifted!
Anyway now I obviously need to find some form of reliable form of contraception, DP has been using condoms, but to be honest I don't really like them anymore than he does and having read in the Times today that semen makes you happy(!) would like to find an alternative.
I haven't ruled anything out completely, except a diaphragm as apparently unavailable in france. Have been contemplating a coil, but have heard some bad stories - my gynie seems quite keen on one with hormones but figure that would be just like taking the pill, or at least have similar effects?

i've got a non-hormone coil & it's great.

I wish i had known about the mirena coil years ago. It is like a normal coil, but a bit smaller, and delivers a fraction of the amount of hormones as the combined pill or minipill. It lasts for 5 years and is as effective as a sterilization but of course can be taken out if you want to reverse the effect. It takes a couple of months to settle in, but i think it is marvellous. also, periods become far lighter.

The progesterone is delivered just to the inside of the womb - no systemic effects. Much safer than the pill.

i have a normal coil(no progesterone) and it's fab.
Nothing to remember to take (like the pill)and no side effects from progesterone.slightly uncomfortable to put in, but nothing in cmparison to childbirth
i also had used the cap in the past and that was a pain to remeber to put in before sex, and not good for spontaneity
my periods have stayed more or less the same so would def recommend

Thanks everyone, sounds like the coil is worth a go, one question though, I know it stops the egg implanting does that mean the 'egg' can still be fertilised?

yes, i think so

I had a mirena coil fitted on Friday, after some pretty awful cramps on Friday afternoon all is now well! Your question about egg fertilisation is one that we asked as we would have some reservations about it and although the primary effect of the coil is to stop implantation egg fertilisation is highly unlikely due to mucous changes.

In other words sperm can't get to the egg very easily! HTH

thanks that helps, as the idea of having, what I would consider to be, mini miscarriages did put me off.

I'm going to give you a word of warning here about the Mirena/progesten coil - NOT the copper one b/c that one has no hormones.

I have PND, and progesten made my depression astronomically worse. VERY bad - you know when you get to where you have NO emotions anymore, you're just numb and you don't care if you live or die?

Yeah, that bad.

Also KILLED my libido and made me break out in boil cyst acne on my chest and back.

If you have a history of depression, please think long and hard about progesten-based contraception.

The GYN completely ruled out Depo and the implant for me b/c of my history of PND.

thanks ex pat, that was my initial concern about anything hormone based, especially after experience with the pill, and as after dd had PND, so far seem to have been let off as far as the hormonal roller coaster is concerned this time round.

Hi everyone, was just reading this thread with interest because I had a Mirena coil fitted after birth of my ds2.
My doctor recommended this coil due to my PND and history of depression and anxiety attacks.
I have had no ill effects from the coil and have enjoyed the peace of mind it has offered me in the "not getting pregnant" stakes!!

I also had the mirena and had bad PND, but it hd no effect as far as the depression was concerned. It was FAB as a contraceptive (I had to have it removed because of a different rare condition I suffer from and my husband got snipped anyway) but I loved it - no PMT, no periods, no bloating, no migrainesno worries.
We also had reservations about how it works but as well as the implantation effect it also inhibits ovulation (which is why many people have no periods on it) and there are the mucus changes as well.
But a word of warning. All the above refers to the second time I had a mirena. The first time I had one it lasted a year, then the nurse doing my smear accidentally pulled the strings and it slipped too low in my womb and the hormones werent working properly and I got pg. I have a fab 2yo dd to show for it, but I would make sure I had a coil check AFTER my smear, not before, if I had it. But to reassure you, I was the only reported mirena failure in teh the UK in 2003 (my GP checked!!) so it doesnt happen very often. Our dd2 is really one in a million.

Now, of course, all of MN in 2003/4 will know my new nickname!!

i had the coil for three years and bled every single day. i had it changed to mirena coil last july and although my periods are now monthly and light, they last about 7-10 days every month. also and more worrying, ive started having regular migraines and dizzy spells. but worse than this is severe vaginal dryness. ive also been told ive got fibroids. i'm 38 and not sure if full hysterectomy is the right way to go.... any help or advice???