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Original poster

What contraception?

24 replies

PandaBear · 25/06/2003 13:52

After being on the pill for several years - my doctor has told me that I can no longer take it due to blood pressure problems. I tried the mini pill once and didn't get along with it (super-frequent periods!!!), and as we want to try for our second baby some time next year, I don't want to go through having a coil fitted or anything else that is long term.

I hate condoms - has anyone else got any suggestions of what else we could use apart from abstension

OP posts:

codswallop · 25/06/2003 13:58

coil can be removed! The fitting only takes 20 mins!

outofpractice · 25/06/2003 15:30

Have you tried using a diaphragm? Once you get used to it, it is pretty good, and in your situation it would not matter that it is not brilliantly reliable.

aloha · 25/06/2003 15:32

As codswallop suggest, you could always fib a bit and get a coil anyway. OtherwiseIt might be worth trying the minipill again and trying a different formulation. I know what you mean though, I had a similar problem with the brand I was on when b/feeding. The new patch has lower levels of hormones than the pill. Also is there anything else you can do to reduce your blood pressure? Otherwise it's condoms or try for that baby sooner than you planned!

Metrobaby · 25/06/2003 15:55

I use Persona. Although I've read it the past a few mumsnetters have fallen pg with it anyway !! Admitedly I wouldn't mind if I did get pg on it - but haven't had an accident with it - yet

The cons are however is the Persona unit and test sticks are expensive (£65 for the unit, £10 for sticks which you buy monthly). I also think you need have a fairly regularish cycle too for it to be effective.

Pros - easy to use, and my DH prefers it too. No side effects either (apart from the possibility of falling pg)

tinyfeet · 25/06/2003 16:06

How bad is the coil fitting? Does it hurt? Also, how much heavier do your periods get? Are there any other side effects? Sorry to intrude mon your thread, but I will need to decide too, as soon as this next baby is born (accident!). I only know one person who used the coil, and she hated it because her periods were so heavy. I'm hoping others have had a better experience.

Bumblelion · 25/06/2003 16:16

Have had a coil before and am thinking of having another one fitted now. Would definitely recommend it. When it is inserted, it feels like a sort of numbing pinch on your cervix, a bit uncomfortable but not unbearable. They normally like to fit them when you are having your period as it makes it easier to insert. I found that my periods were not adversely affected at all, normal 28 day cycle and didn't experience heavy bleeding, although a friend of mine bled rather heavily for rather a long time. I did experience stomach cramps just after it was fitted but I think this may have had something to do with your body trying to reject the foreign object.

tinyfeet · 25/06/2003 16:19

Thanks, Bumblelion - do you happen to know if you can have it fitted when you are breastfeeding? Also, how soon after birth can you have it fitted?

lilibet · 25/06/2003 16:22

I don't have the mirena coil and have heard some good reports about that on this website so I may not be a representative sample, but I had a coil fitted around 2 years ago and having it fitted was the most pain I have been thru outside of childbirth. Couldn't beleive it, I felt physically sick and was shaking for ages after. Periods are more painful and a lot heavier, not unbearably so but I 'flood' one day a month and then am heavy for the remaining 4/5 days. I do trust it tho', and am too old for the pill. I once asked on here how painful it was to remove adn I was told that its not as bad as havign it put in. Bloody good job!

Bumblelion · 25/06/2003 16:43

When I had my last one fitted after the birth of my first child, they ideally wanted me to wait until I had had my first period but, after not having my first period after giving birth for 10 weeks, they were then happy to fit it for me after having a negative pregnancy test. You can have it fitted if you are breast feeding, but they may want a negative pregnancy test from you as your periods may be suppressed by the breast feeding.

As you can see from lilibet's posting above, she has had more pain with hers, heavier bleeding - I suppose everyone is slightly different.

I had the old traditional copper 7 (or copper T), can't remember it's exact name - it is not one of the hormonal ones.

zebra · 25/06/2003 16:48

I just had my (non-hormonal) coil out after just 1.5 years; I hated it. Gave me 10-day long periods and constant discharge the rest of the time. The wires irritated DH during lovemaking (although not after the GP cut the wires shorter). Getting it inserted was quite painful; a big shock to the system. Getting it out was virtually painless, at least.

I am thinking about "the patch", but does it cause lots of breakthru ("midcycle" bleeding, too? I had that on the mini-pill, and it was very disconcerting. The Big Girl's Pill made me sick, Diaphragm is how we got DS... I hate all forms of birthcontrol!!!

Bumblelion · 25/06/2003 16:52

Zebra, I totally agree. I have been on the normal pill but they won't give it to me because of my age and I smoke. Have had the coil twice (after second and third child born) - had it removed in between to have third child. Been on the mini pill - had breakthrough bleeding now since August - 3 weeks out of four - totally wrong way round - instead of being blood free for 3 weeks, I am only blood free for 1 week, although it might have something to do with having an abormal smear which I am also having sorted out.

Am thinking of being sterilised but it seems a bit drastic.

I might start a new thread to see people's ideas on sterilisation that have had it done.

zebra · 25/06/2003 17:00

There's at least one previous thread on sterilisation . I don't like the fact that it's supposed to give heavier periods; at least you can stop taking the pill or get a coil out.

lou33 · 25/06/2003 17:01

Zebra I was the same when I had a coil. Bimblelion there are a few threads from before about sterilisation. I have been done and think it's fantastic, but it is a big step to take.

lou33 · 25/06/2003 17:01

Sorry to rename you, meant of course bumblelion!

zebra · 25/06/2003 17:02

Oh, and this thread , too.

aloha · 25/06/2003 17:05

The Mirena coil might be a good choice if you don't want to have another baby immediately. It stops periods altogether in 1/3 of women, reduces the pain and blood loss in nearly everyone and puts far fewer hormones into your system than the mini-pill. I have just been researching it for a feature and am impressed. And no, the patch shouldn't cause the same mid-cyle bleeding as the mini-pill as it is really just the pill in patch form (only with slightly fewer hormones as it doesn't need to survive your digestive system and won't be affected by stomach upsets like the Pill)

tinyfeet · 25/06/2003 17:51

This is all great advice - thanks for sharing your experiences. Does seem that the coil is good for some, but not others. Is the coil good for someone who is actually contemplating not getting pregnant again ever (after 2 babies) and is too scared about the permanence of sterilisation? Or is there a better method that someone would suggest for this?

Original poster

PandaBear · 25/06/2003 17:55

Tiny feet - yes, a better method would be "the snip" for your DH/DP!!! That's what we'll do once we've finished making babies!!!

OP posts:

tinyfeet · 25/06/2003 17:57

Fabulous idea, but it's been raised with DH who said "I'm not getting my balls cut off!" :0

Philippat · 25/06/2003 19:31

Has anyone tried the patch? I know it's only been licenced in the UK for a couple of months but I'm quite keen - any non-UK-ers got any experience of it?

wickedstepmother · 25/06/2003 19:40

Very interested to read this thread as I've recently made an appointment with my GP to have the non-hormone coil fitted. I can't take the pill as I get focal migraines and so I'm considered in too high a risk of stroke. DP and I are using condoms which he hates with a passion, we've been using them since our DD was born 10 months ago and the joke is wearing thin ! Does anyone have a positive experience of the non-hormonal coil ?

codswallop · 25/06/2003 20:33

Tiny feet I am Bf with the Mirena coil - it was a real non event - not comfy but just like a longer smear. A tiny bit of period pain and a small amount of spotting.

tinyfeet · 25/06/2003 20:34

Phillipat - I'm in the U.S., and although I'm not on the patch, I have many friends who are. They claim that as long as you are okay with the pill, you should be okay with the patch. The patch is essentially auto-doses of the pill. The convenience of course is not having to remember to take it each and every day.

Furball · 25/06/2003 21:17

I've a Mirena and highly recommend them. No periods thats surely worth it, what a bonus? Sorry girls, you'll have to leave your mooncups behind!

Do a search, this topic must have been mentioned before, just to give you some more ideas.

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