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I'll make this into a proper topic later with links and quotes and sources etc., but for now it'll be a rant about the reason I'm creating it.

So, I'm eighteen and sexually active. A few months ago I forgot to take a pill (I've been on it for about a year now) and it scared the s**t out of me. If I was paranoid about missing it before, I'm now way paranoid about missing it. Every moment of every day. It preys on my mind. So I had a look into what else I could do. (And thankfully I'm not pregnant).

I was left with the Patch, the Shot, the Implant, an IUS, or an IUD. I had a think, discussed it with my boyfriend, and decided on the Implant (Implanon). For the shot (Depo-Provera) I'd have to go to the doctor every 8-12 weeks, and any side effects would last the entire time. I thought about it, but decided against because I don't want to have to take time off work every few months, because I only get 24 days out of the whole year off anyway - this'd eat up 2 or 3 of them. I also considered the Patch, but decided it's way too obvious and would irritate me (I chew plasters and pick at anything on my body that isn't part of it).

So having ruled out anything non-invasive I dismissed the IUD because a side effect was heavier periods - definitely something I can do without, since before the Pill I used the biggest tampons I could find, and had horrid cramps, and had periods that lasted seven days. So that was a no-brainer. I forget exactly what I didn't like about the IUS, but there was something. This left me with the implant. Long-lasting (woot!) forget-about-it (yay!) contraception (of course) which would involved a minor surgical procedure to put it in and a slightly less minor one to remove it three years later. So I saw the doctor and discussed it, was given a leaflet listing anything that might go wrong and other stuff, even had a feel of how it would supposedly feel once it was in. All good. Appointment is booked for November 6th.

The problem? My mother. She was putting something in my room, saw the open letter on my bed, and read it. This was only yesterday, I've been thinking about the change for well over a month. She doesn't want me to do it. She says I can check if I've taken my Pill. That there are worse things than being paranoid. That stuff could go wrong. That it's invasive. Duh, I know all this. I looked into it. The side effects are hardly different to the Pill. There's actually FEWER listed. It's more effective. It doesn't contain oestrogen. I do have a raised scar on the arm it'd go in and I can see her concern that it might not work, that my skin might not like it. I'm prepared to deal with that if the time comes. I'm happy with my choice.

She's so unhappy with it that she couldn't sleep last night, and so told my dad. I get on well with my dad. But she's told him everything from her point of view. And he's whipped. He said he doesn't think it's a good idea (her interjection: "His words, not mine"). I'm still there saying I've thought about it, I'm happy with it, please stop trying to change my mind because you won't. She pulled up a blog talking about it whilst I was eating breakfast (the blog was about it, not by someone who'd HAD it - they just didn't like the sound of it). She obviously didn't read the comments, because most of the comments from people who HAD had it liked it. But my parents remember when it came out, and keep saying "It's only meant to be used as a last resort, not many people have it, it's for people who are unreliable and you're reliable" etc. My a**. My sex life, my body, my choice. My mum is so against anything that changes her body in any way, she won't even get her ears pierced. She said that. I said well, I got my ears pierced, you and I are different.

I also looked up what people had said about the many types of Pill (although I didn't show her) and most of them had under 50% overall from roughly 100 reviews each. Every hormonal BC has side effects, and I'd rather try something different than miss another Pill and wind up pregnant. I want something that rids me of this horrible responsibility I feel, and the horror I'd feel if I did get pregnant - because I'd think it was all my fault for being not to the right time, or missing, or anything else to do with my Pills.

Yeah, that's the rant. Would appreciate any thoughts - would also like to hear if any of you have Implanon and what you think of it. And I will make this a proper topic with details about the contraception, just not now.

I've already done the research, and as hormones are COMPLETELY retarded in our family and don't often do what they're supposed to, I'd decided on the implant. When I have money and can get around to it. At just almost 18, I'm way too young for a child. I realize this. I'd rather be sterilized, but I realize that in the next ten years, I might want a kid. But it's definitely happening by the time I'm in my mid-thirties. Who needs those half-baked eggs anyway? xD

Weight gain and depression can both easily be avoided by exercising often. So I don't see why those would be huge deterrents.
Furthermore, the pill can cause weight gain and within the first three months, it can also make you very moody. At least it did for me. whee

i got to Planned Parenthood for my paps and contraceptives because i trust that they won't spew a bunch of bullshit to try to misdirect me. i've been thinking of either the implant or an IUD (they make a type of IUD that gives your body a low dose of progestin so you actually have lighter periods). my doctor suggested an IUD, but the implant is actually more effective. i'm all about effective, so i'm leaning towards the implant.

if i get one any time soon, i'll let you know how it goes. xD

A comment on the IUD, if you use Mirena, your periods may actually stop altogether because of the hormone released by the IUD. I've also just recently heard from the doctor that I saw about my thyroid that some women even stop menstruating while using Paragard (the copper IUD).


If you want more information on IUDs, hit me up with a PM. I had mine put in back in March and I love it.

Also, with the norplant, while taking it out is supposed to be not-so-invasive, there's a rather good chance that your body will encapsulate the implant during those three years meaning that it'll create new tissue all around it that your provider will have to "break though" in order to remove it. My mother once told me that the breaking through process can generate horrible crackling and popping sounds. >_<


And after reading through the comments to this thread, I'll extend the above offer to anyone who's interested: I've used the pill, the patch, and now an IUD. If you've got questions or just want someone to bounce your thoughts off of, I'm here.

For the Paragard (copper) IUD, the no periods thing is a rare occurence. For Mirena, however, they actually bill the product as something that can give you ligher periods and, to the best of my knowledge, it's not at all uncommon for it to just stop your periods altogether.


I have a Paragard IUD so I still get a normal period every month, but I loooove having my IUD. Since the Paragard is non-hormonal, it's good for ten years--I won't have to worry about birth control again until I decide I want to try to start having kids. I'm set til bloody 2017. That blew my freaking mind when I first did the math to figure out what year the IUD would have to be replaced in.

I will say that the insertion is a tad rough so you'll definitely want someone there to hold you hand and taking the day off from work or school probably isn't a bad idea either. My boyfriend took the day off from work to be with me during the procedure and I'm still incredibly grateful. I'm not sure how I would have faired had I gone it alone without someone's hand to squeeze.

Best part about everything is that, since I'm a non-working student, I get free birth control at the county health department which means that my IUD was 100% free.