My husband and I do not want to have kids for at least a year, but are having trouble finding the best birth control. The first issue is that I have a medical condition that does not allow me to use hormonal contraceptives. I tried the mini birth control pill and it caused me soo much physical pain and swelling that I had to stop using it in under a months time span. If I had continued I would have needed to have surgery again.
Right now my husband and I use condoms and also practice NFP. I track my cycle carefully and try to know when I am ovulating to avoid those times. My husband hates condoms(he does wear them but I know he would rather not), but I don't feel comfortable going without them if we are not using some other form of birth control. I looked into maybe trying the copper IUD, but I also have horrible, painful periods and was told I most likely have endometriosis. I can't imagine having worse periods from the IUD, so I am unsure if I want to just take that chance and try it or just do something else.
Does anyone have any suggestions? I'm open to trying something else.
As you don't mention what the medical condition is, is the issue the medication itself, or the side-effects that it causes? Does it interact with a different medication you are on? Have you tried only one brand?
As far as completely non-hormonal methods, one would be a diaphragm or cervical cap, but of course, this requires a bit more planning and forethought than your husband using condoms, so it can reduce spontaneity. Also, it needs to be left in after intercourse, so - can be something to consider as far as work schedules, etc.
The other would be a spermicide - foam/gel/dissolving strips.
However, to note - they are noted for having considerably less efficiency than either hormonal birth control or condoms.
So - ultimately, the question might be how much your husband minds using the condoms, compared to how much stress it would cause having a pregnancy before your year time frame. As any method besides the condoms is likely to have more of a risk.
Condoms and spermicide work well together. Safer than condoms alone.
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I looked into maybe trying the copper IUD, but I also have horrible, painful periods and was told I most likely have endometriosis. I can't imagine having worse periods from the IUD, so I am unsure if I want to just take that chance and try it or just do something else.
There are cases when those devices have caused damage to the womb. I would not advise this to a woman that has other options.
Normally doctors wouldn't even put an IUD in a woman unless she's had at least one child. Due to the possibility of it causing infertility. At least that's how the doctors are in my area.
My husband and I do not want to have kids for at least a year, but are having trouble finding the best birth control. The first issue is that I have a medical condition that does not allow me to use hormonal contraceptives. I tried the mini birth control pill and it caused me soo much physical pain and swelling that I had to stop using it in under a months time span. If I had continued I would have needed to have surgery again.
Right now my husband and I use condoms and also practice NFP. I track my cycle carefully and try to know when I am ovulating to avoid those times. My husband hates condoms(he does wear them but I know he would rather not), but I don't feel comfortable going without them if we are not using some other form of birth control. I looked into maybe trying the copper IUD, but I also have horrible, painful periods and was told I most likely have endometriosis. I can't imagine having worse periods from the IUD, so I am unsure if I want to just take that chance and try it or just do something else.
Does anyone have any suggestions? I'm open to trying something else.
I"m a type 1 diabetic, cannot take hormones either. But I have the mirena IUD. It cured the bad periods, possible endometriosis, and where I live, if you have never had children, they still rx it, it might hurt more having it put in though. Google it, but because it's progesterone based and only in the uterus, it works very well for me. But it's not for everyone
NFP and withdrawal have very high failure rates compared to hormonal methods and condoms. Married men generally do not like to use condoms with their wives.
Hormonal methods have worked well for me, except for the weight gain. Whenever I have come off The Pill or Depo Provera, the extra pounds seem to fall away like magic.
Diaphram.. or.. do they still make the "Today" sponge?? We used to use that before i did the pills.... & then we had Jr.
(Yes, Jr was planned...) Well, we weren't gonna "try" , but also decided to give up "trying not to get pregnant"... then concieved within 2 months.
After jr, I was on pill again, until they said I couldn't be on hormonal bc, due to my diabetes & over 35. So.. that's when hubby got snipped & clipped.
I have the mirena coil IUD too (originally not even for b/c, but to cure bad period pains), and I was one of the unfortunate few who suffers terribly for the first 6 months, but then I was fine after that. My periods went from heavy and crippling to light/non-existent/pain-free after 6 months. Only problem was that I met my 'bigger' husband and he got poked by the strings lol but I went in and they clipped them shorter for me.
I got the 5 year one, and it's just coming to an end now, so I'm in the situation of either replacing it even though we may want a baby soon, or switching methods altogether. I'm thinking if there's a 1 year or 2 year one out there that'd be perfect for me.
I used insert spermicide before intercourse. And tracked my cycle religiously. Used condoms too, but with my long term bf of 3 years, just used spermicide. and pull out.
You can get a sponge. That could work too. But WITH spermicide.
As you don't mention what the medical condition is, is the issue the medication itself, or the side-effects that it causes? Does it interact with a different medication you are on? Have you tried only one brand?
As far as completely non-hormonal methods, one would be a diaphragm or cervical cap, but of course, this requires a bit more planning and forethought than your husband using condoms, so it can reduce spontaneity. Also, it needs to be left in after intercourse, so - can be something to consider as far as work schedules, etc.
The other would be a spermicide - foam/gel/dissolving strips.
However, to note - they are noted for having considerably less efficiency than either hormonal birth control or condoms.
So - ultimately, the question might be how much your husband minds using the condoms, compared to how much stress it would cause having a pregnancy before your year time frame. As any method besides the condoms is likely to have more of a risk.
I've tried 2 different birth control pills. The first was the regular birth control pill with both estrogen and progestin. The second was the mini pill with only progestin. When I tried these they caused pain and swelling from a lymphatic condition, as the lymphatic system is affected by hormones. It caused severe pain and swelling, which luckily went down after coming off of the pill. During each cycle I can basically feel where I am with just paying attention to the pain/swelling I experience, although that is not the way I track my cycles. I wish I could just use the pill, but it doesn't work with my body.
I don't know what to tell you. I didn't have a good reaction to hormonal bc's.
We use the pull and pray method. So far, it's worked really well.
Haha, yea, that's kind of how I feel like we are doing our birth control. We are just praying it will all work out and we won't get pregnant yet, or so it feels that way.
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