Contraception ideas please

[Gobbledigook]

Maybe this has been done to death and I should look up old threads but anyway...

Need to use some contraception post birth of ds3. I was going to just go back on the pill but I've noticed that when I'm on it I feel very 'flat' emotionally and have no desire for sex at all really (I enjoy when I do but don't ever feel like it). Also hate condoms.

So what would be good to use - don't like the idea of coil or anything so what else is there?

hi again! could try persona? test when you're fertile and only use condoms at those times. can buy full kit from boots, I think.

consider a mirena coil, they're GREAT

bunk beds

LOL Collision!

Anyone know about the injections - or is that Depo Provera?

Anyone got experience of Persona - how reliable is it???? Got 3 babies so not really up for a 4th atm!

What's Billings method? I've a feeling you are talking about withdrawal??? If so, I'm proof that THAT doesn't work - according to my Mother anyway!

Where is she anyway GG?

We never found a good method of contraception. I didn't like being on the pill because it gave me migraines, and that made me leary of using any hormonal thing. I tried a diaphragm and found it more trouble than it was worth! We ended up using condoms, 9 years into our relationship (and withdrawal occasionally ).

Do you have the "patch" in the UK? MY SIL loves it. I guess it's kind of like a nicotine patch except that it puts hormones in you. It looks like a plaster, and I think you only have to change it once a month.

we use the eons-old methods of separate rooms and being too knackered

It's a tough one isn't it

KATG - she's away in the Lake District but back tomorrow!

It's a nightmare - the pill is ideal in that you don't have to fiddle about, no loss of spontaneity etc etc but I just feel 'flat' on it. Persona sounds good for the same reasons but I'm not sure I trust it and with 3 small kids don't really want any more (not right now anyway!)

Maybe just a change of pill would be a good idea - probably best to ask GP but just wondered what everyone else was using.

Mini pill? Depo Provera (Jab every 3 months)? Hormonal Implant? All compatible with br'feeding (or so the doc told me).

gobbledigook - billings is NOT withdrawal - it's basically where you identify your fertile times by inspecting (!) your cervical mucus (not as yucky as it sounds!). I used this in conjuction with taking my temp every morning and it was extremely successful - if you do it properly (and it's really not as complex or time consuming as it might sound) then it's as effective as most other methods. We started doing this as I felt the same as you when on the pill and was also sick of putting hormones into my body after so many years and none of the other options seemed acceptable for various reasons. I am now a huge fan of this method (tell anyone who's interested!) - it's called FAM (fertility awareness method) and there is a great book called Taking Charge of your fertility by Toni Weschler.

Oh, should add that I say "was" successful as we decided we wanted to get pg which incidentally was v. easy as we knew exactly when the right time was!

Oh OK, sorry Bonym!!

Sounds good if I could rely on it being 100% effective!! Might see if I can get hold of the book.

Hi Gobble, Be careful with Diaphrams, as much as i love ds, that was how i got him! The consultant needs to make sure the fit is 100% perfect. (And thanks for your advice, i've posted a thank you on the thread)

i used depo provera (jab every 3 months) had no side affects except tool me nearly a year to get my periods back after stopping! Not so bad if you dont want any more children and a right pain if you do (like me and dh ,still trying since may 2003!)
Found it better than the pill though!

I use the patch (Evra). You wear one a week for 3 weeks, then have a patch free week when you have a period. I think it contains the same hormones as the pill, but not certain.
I felt quite sick for the first few days, but have been great since.

gobbledigook, don't know what to suggest really. I took pill years ago & felt similar to your description , despite trying several. I have also tried mirena, felt ok on it, but once it was removed, felt so much more 'normal' (libido, emotianally etc) & ditto for mini pill, so I really feel that any hormone thing is going to have this affect on you to some degree or other, this is my experience anyway. I'm currently ttc no. 4, so just stopped taking mini pill & feel so much better, tho at time didn't realise the affect it was having on me - subtle.

re persona, I think it's great, but in the long run, expensive. Puls you can't use it for, I think 3 months from either birth, or b/feeding, if you are, so that's potentially a whole year (was for me, so although I enjoyed using it, couldn't use it again once sprogged up).

There's a more modern methed, to the Billings method, that's supposed to be like 99% effective. You can do a course, a bit like ww and you get a tutor & they teach you & monitor your learning progress & give loads of support.it's supposed to be easy enough once you've learnt & I think it has the advantage of still being as reliable even if you're b'feeding/irregualar cycles/premenopausal etc. Obviously not as convienient as popping a pill, but at least if you do a propper course with traing it's gonna be a lot safer than reading a book & hoping for the best.

I'll see if I still have the info if you like, let me know. tough one isn't it? God knows what I'll do after no. 4, because that really is as much as I could take I reckon!

btw, have you actually had no 3 yet? congrats either way 9be it on pg or birth

First thing, no method of contraception is 100% effective, other than not having sex or having a hysterectomy.

If you want to avoid all hormonal methods then all the injetions, patches etc would be out. That said the vast majority of the side effects that people have with the pill are caused by the oestrogen and not the progestogens, so a POP or depo injection would probably avoid them. Progestogen only contraception isn't as effective as the combined pill.

The merena coil; is very effective, more effective than female setirilsation, but you have said that you don't fancy the coil. And you have said that you don't fancy the condom.

That leaves you with 'natural' methods of contraception. These can be helpful if you want to feel 'in control' of your fertility. They can also help you when you do want to get pregnant. The downside is that they can fail more often than other methods. You also can't have sex whenever you want, as you will have to miss the days when you are most fertile. The billings method can be good but you have to take care. If you have a very erratic cycle this might not be the choice for you.

You could also try the diaphragom. Used well it is a little less effective than the condom. THe advantage is that when it is in place you, and your partner shouldn't feel that it is there. They can be fidly to fit, and you will have to have the size rechecked if you loose or gain weight. The diagphragm isn't the most effective thing on the market but it compares well to the natural methods and a would allow you to have sex at any point in the cycle.

The big thing that you have to think about is how much of a problem would it be if you were to become pregnant. progestogen methods would be most effective.

HTH