Welcome to Gaia! ::

i want to know what your preferred method(s) of contraception is(are). i read recently in an issue of womens health that lots of young women gynos are using IUDs... one model apparently can be left inside the body for 10 years. i wanted to weigh my options before going to get a contraceptive.

I'm on the Pill and we use withdrawl as well.

IUDs, like all contraceptives, have pros and cons. I know I have friends who love it because there's no hormones. Personally, I decided against it after having my baby recently because I didn't want to chance infections or have heavier periods than I all ready did.

There is actually an IUD thread in the Birth Control subforum right now. You could check it out.

I was on the pill prior to deciding to TTC my son, and afterwards I went on the hormone implant contraceptive called Implanon.

This contraceptive acts in the same way as the pill does, suing hormones to trick your body into believing it is pregnant, and not relasing an egg, and also thickening the mucus around the cervix to stop any semen from getting in.

Everybody who gets this experiences different reactions (for lack of a better word) regarding their periods. Personally, my periods stopped altogether, bar maybe two incidences of spotting.

The wonderful thing about this form of contraceptive is that once implanted, it lasts for three years. No forgetting to take the tablet, no worries that being physically ill is going to cause you to 'lose' your tablet etc etc.

A small incision is made under the top of your arm, under a local anaesthetic. and the small implant maybe an inch and a half to two inches is placed there. The incision is so small stitches aren't needed.

You can feel it under the skin, but only if you touch it, you don't notice it day to day or feel it In your arm, if that makes sense.

My Gp was very surprised when I said I wanted this form of contraceptive, as it's not terribly well known, but she comended me on my choice.

I believe it should be made much more readily available, especially to teenagers who decided they're ready for sex. As it lasts three years it saves alot of hassle of the womens part. Of course, condoms are reccomended to prevent the spread of STD/I's.

However, i've since been told (not by an official source) that this form pof contraceptive is usually only given to thos who have already had children.

And I'm sorry, I know nothing of the cost, as I live in the UK and we hav the NHS biggrin

Sorry, that was a bit long 'eh?

I had created an IUD thread in the birth control area, but I considered it a lot myself (and haven't totally ruled it out for the future.) I don't have any kids though, and it's primarily used in women with kids, but my doctor will insert it despite this. There's a lot of info. about it out there. There are two types, one containing hormones, the other copper, and you can request info. about them from their manufacturers.

It can be a little expensive (even with insurance mine would've cost about $650), but in the end it works itself out. I'd try birth control pills first though, unless you're for sure about it. I wanted an IUD because every pill I had tried gave me terrible side effects. I thought I couldn't use the pill, but I went to a ob/gyn instead of my general practitioner, and she helped me out a lot. She showed me all my options, and knew a lot more than the regular dr.

Honestly, if I could recommend a really easy and almost fool-proof birth control, it would be the Nuvaring. I can't use it, but for most women it works great. Either that or the shot or implant (which I also can't use.)

Sit down and talk with you doctor about all your options and then decide what's best for you. Good luck! domokun domokun

before we stopped using anything (wait and see*crosses fingers*) we used latex condoms. They worked pretty well, but they where kinda a pain. We'd be so into it, then we have to stop and put the condom on, then start alll over again stressed