Currently these are the available Birth Controls offered:
• Condom
• Pill
• Diaphragm and cervical cap
• Emergency contraception
• IUD
• Norplant and Depo
• Pregnancy termination
• Tubal ligation
• Vasectomy
• Abstention
• Withdrawal Method
• Anal sex


Not mentioned was the method of charting your ovulation in order to see when you are able to concieve. There is a small window every month in which you actually can do this. A while ago I had to take the pill because I was on another medication and so I took both at once. When I stopped taking the other medication I immediately stopped taking the birth control pill because it made me feel strange. However, almost all of my friends have been taking it for years.

Which (if any) do you use or prefer? Do you notice any side effects?

I hated the pill.It made me all spotty and fat,but i have an IUD.It saves a lot of f*****g about and i dont know its there.They reckon there is a male pill but how many of us would trust our man not to forget to take it regularly?

also available:
abstention
withdrawal
anal

how about MAN if you don't get that condom on, we ain't havin sex. Ever.

What does the male pill do?

Would I be naive/uneducated to ask what an IUD is?

inter-uterine device

nasty, christ the thought of it makes me cross my legs and feel pain!

What does the male pill do?

It sits in the pill cupboard for months on end until its rediscovered,then its thrown away.

uno: IUD = coil
(actually inTRA uterine device - within uterus, not connecting several together :) )

I was about to ask if the coil is an IUD. Thanken..

I had no problems being on the pill, in fact, my body was very receptive to it - trouble is when you stop, your hormones level crash and it was like doing cold turkey....I had to come off it a while ago because other medical problems were giving me high blood pressure and it's taken me a while to adjust. My now ex boyf refused to wear a condom. He's toast now. Was quite happy for me to possibly die as long as he didn't have to rubber his cock.

I have one of those dooby chips in my arm. 3 months worth of pill in there.

+ condoms, i dont want STD's, thanks.

I use the mini pill at the moment because I am still breastfeeding the baby. Its ok, but you have to remember to take it at the same time every day,or within 3 hours of that time, which I am hopeless at doing. Fortunately, breastfeeding also provides some level of protection, so in combination I am fairly safe.

I used to use the depo injection for 3 months of period free fun, but I suspect it may have had something to do with my fertility issues and I wont be using it again in future. It certainly masked any problem for far longer than was necessary.

the Cerazette mini pill now gives you a 12 hour window in which to take it.....

Seeing has i had a hysterectomy 12 years ago i don't have to worry about Birth Control.
However when i was younger and in-between my children being born i used the pill never had no side effects from it:)

In answer to Aerins quote about IUDs,i thought it would be horrendous when they put it in but i have to say it was ok and pain free....i chose it as a last resort but im glad i had it now.

I wonder if IUD'S are made and fitted better nowadays i seem to remember a pal of mine whos hubby got kinda stuck on hers .....................ouch! :)

:X Imagine if it did get stuck! How on earth would you fix that at the emergency room?

I used the Pill when I was about 18 and had extremely bad side effects from it (psychological) but I didn't realise it was the pill making me that way.

Several years later I tried the contraceptive injection 'Depo Provera' and I had even worse effects from it. I will never consider a hormonal contraceptive ever again. Both of them were a major cause of my relationship breaking up, and both of them made me not even want to have sex.

I don't like them either marie- Either abstinence or a condom.
But I chart my moon time and I know the precise window, so assuming my partner is disease free (which he is if I'm sleeping with him) then there are certain days to not have sex. Actually it's a 5-9 hour period in the month.

I used the Pill from 19 to 29. I didn't have any side effects and it regulated my periods which used to come on every 21 days before.
When my last son was nearly a year old I had a tubal ligation - I still maintain that if I'd had him first he would have been an only child.
At 39 I had a hysterectomy as I was getting really heavy periods so bad that I couldn't leave the house. I'd previously ried hormones to correct the problem and they got me so emotional that I couldn't live with myself.

That's how the pill/injection made me feel Mariska. It's like PMT x 100

So far I've used various versions of the Pill (came off those when I was 30), the cap (which, combined with spermicidal jelly, proved almost impossible to use - although it was fun watching it bounce around the bathroom), the Mirena coil (was OK for about 2 years, then for some reason started giving me bad cramps), then Depo injections for about a year, as a result of which my periods now last an average of 21 days and come complete with heavy clotting and dramatic mood swings. Currently I'm undergoing various gynae tests to see what can be done to reduce them! Can't use any contraceptive which is oestrogen based as I had a pulmonary embolism at age 37. Not surprisingly, given my current cycle, my preferred form of contraception right now is total abstinence! If my periods ever get sorted out back to a normal duration, I think I'll stick with the good old condom.

Oh yeah and I'll point out that when I used Depo, I bled every day for the 3 months the injection lasted, and for a further 2 months or so after I was supposed to get my next one. Needless to say, I didn't have another jab.

my older brother had a vasectomy at an early age he kept having girls and finally had a "Dan Jr." so he got his bollucks tube knotted,
Older brothers do stupid chit men.

Currently these are the available Birth Controls offered:
• Condom
• Pill
• Diaphragm and cervical cap
• Emergency contraception
• IUD
• Norplant and Depo
• Pregnancy termination
• Tubal ligation
• Vasectomy



You forgot "leaving the bedroom light on"

ps: fucking terrible that was :rip:

I would LOVE to have my tubes tied.

/sigh.

I'd heard with the IUD that it can make you bleed for a day or 2 midway between periods. Since my cycle (without the Pill) was 21 days and it lasted the whole week, I was afraid I'd be bleeding more days than not.
Marie, that's pretty awful. Don't blame you for steering clear of chemicals then.

I say no as birth control these days. Other than that I rely on condoms, purely due to the STD factor. I had similar problems to Minx with having the depo, so I wouldnt really suggest that.

Remember that sponge thingy that used to be sold as a contraceptive? They took it off the market a few years ago but don't remember why. I read somewhere a few months ago they were gonna start selling it again but haven't heard anything else about it.

my sister had a coil fitted and it implanted itself to her insides and went rusty (my sister is a bullshitter of the highest order you understand) and i dont believe that for a minute.

my sister is aparently allergic to condoms and funny enough so have all her partners been so. even though there are allergy free ones. also the pill dont work for her. probably because she forgets to take it, this is why shes about to drop another sprog and has had 11 abortions that shes told me about.

i sound rather bitter there dont i?

11 abortions? I thought there was a legal limit on the amount you could have, like a tetanus jab?

11 abortions!!!! Fucking hell! IMO morally wrong, and if it isn't legally wrong, the whole system is in serious need of revising... :\

I'm sure that can't be right, and Ant says her sis is a bullshitter anyway. I'm no expert on "women's things" but I can't imagine any GP saying "Ok, well your record shows you've had ten terminations, one more won't hurt will it? Besides which, you must be an expert on them by now anyway, you could probably do it yerself."

I deifnately call shenanigans on Ant's sis. Coils are solid plastic hence no rusting. Unless she's changed doctors several times along with records getting lost. The maximum limit allowed is 5. If she has had 11 I seriously doubt she'd be able to conceive.

True - her womb would be in a worse state than The Old Woman Who Lived In A Shoe's.

like i said shes a bullshiietr. i feel bad saying so as she lost a baby last year (had to have a stillbirth) but she gets right on my tits with her bullshit.

thankfully we aint related blood wise (both adopted) and she does crave attention constanly and her birth mum and sister are both loons as well.

Hi. Well I've been on the pill, no problems except there was that scare in the 90's and my doc took me off it and put me on antoher, but as I wasn't in a relationship I decided not to bother. Once I was back in a relationship I went on the depo provera again - loved it, brillant! Didn't have a period the whole year I used it. Then they ran out of the jab (some distributing problem) and I never got around to having it again, when i finally did, they told me I had to have a period first! duh! No periods for years!
Anyway risked it for a year without protection, but when I started to have periods I went back for the implant. But was convinced to have the IUD coil instead.

My god! That hurt! I've never had babies so the opening to cervix was narrow, so it was very painful! Had cramps for 3 days after, and had a period pretty much ever since I had the damn thing put in (about 2.5 months now).

Worst, I'm not feeling very sore "down there" - yelped when hubby and I got close and personal. And I'm getting cramps, bad back pain and shooting pains down my leg.
I suspect I'm allergic to the copper in the coil as I am allergic to quite a few metals, just neve occured to me that the coil would be a problem :-(

Anyway I'm planning on going back on depo once I've got this thing out of me!

Oh, and btw, the coil can become implanted in the womb, tho usually its because of a tear at insertion, and it can disappear into the abdomen, if that happens surgery is usually required. I have heard of the old types of IUD's becoming rusty.... but its hearsay, I can't vouch.

I'd love to settle with just condoms, but unforunately I'm allergic to them all! (inc hypoallergic)...... almost enough tomake a girl think she should be celebate for life!

Remember that sponge thingy that used to be sold as a contraceptive? They took it off the market a few years ago but don't remember why. I read somewhere a few months ago they were gonna start selling it again but haven't heard anything else about it.

that sponge is mingin, can you imagine getting a spunk soaked sponge out of your minge.ewwwwww

I never used it...never thought it would be an option for me. As you said pretty disgusting to try and dig out later!

Well let's see:
I was on the poll from 12 years old to 15 years old (to regulate my period)
nothing 15 to 16
at 16 went to get IUD and they told me that I had to wait till I had a baby then went on Depo.
At 17 went on the pill again
got off the pill at 18 1/2
after that tried foam, film, and condoms
at 19 got a diaphram (that was a peice of shiit of the worst kind, with the jelly that they give you, it takes 20 minutes or more and there is nothing worse than having it fall into the toilte while trying to put it in)
at 19 1/2 went back to strictley condoms
at 20 went to nothing because we were trying to concieve.
now, we are on condoms and I am strating Yasmin tommorrow.

I went Friday to get the IUD because I had changed insurance and the nurse told me that this one covered it. I get to the office and as I am in there, nakkid from the waist down bleeding on the table (has to be done when you are on your monthly) they tell me that the insertion is covered not the device! What a crock of shiit! So, Dr. tells me "I can put you on the pill" the last time I was on the pill, I got so fat, I had to go out and buy all new clothes. So I told her that because they keep on telling me that I have to loose weight, because they are afraid I am diabetic, why is she putting me on the pill? She said that this one makes you loose weight. I read the side affects when I left the office and a very common one is loss of/ or no appitite. Another crock of shiit!!!
I have the worst luck when it comes to sommat that should be so simple!

What about the patch, trxie? I was a nightmare emotionally, weightwise and acnewise on the pill, but the patch did'nt produce these effects at all.
I have no idea why, maybe it was just me, but life went on the same as always without any annoying side effects.

I have heard that the patch itches when it is on and burns when it is taken off. Might try it though.

Remember that sponge thingy that used to be sold as a contraceptive? They took it off the market a few years ago but don't remember why. I read somewhere a few months ago they were gonna start selling it again but haven't heard anything else about it.

Yes I do, that's how my son was born.

Does anyone remember the 'femidom'? What a gizmo that was, if you didn't use it as a contraceptive you could always carry a week's shopping in it.

I used a femidom once, it turned it from sexy into a complete comedy

I never actually saw the female condom in person but remember seeing pictures of one somewhere...those things were huge! Do they still sell them???

I haven't seen them in years. I think Millets bought them out and they are now sold as tents.
Mind you they were a fantastic contraceptive- one look at that thing and sex was the last thing on your mind.

What does the male pill do?
It works by reducing the production of sperm. They've been trying to develope it since the 80's.
Personally I'm on the pill - it made me thinner and my boobs bigger. If I wasnt in a serious relationship I'd use condoms aswell. I seem to allergic to the lube on them though.

Personally I'm on the pill - it made me thinner and my boobs bigger.

What pill you on that did that for you? When I was on the pill in the past it always made me gain weight? I'm thinking about getting back on the pill just to regulate my period again and I want the one you are on!!!!!!!

What pill you on that did that for you? When I was on the pill in the past it always made me gain weight? I'm thinking about getting back on the pill just to regulate my period again and I want the one you are on!!!!!!!

I'm on Dianette, and have been for years now. I never got any of the evil side effects that people talk about but my dr is always slightly suprised. My hormones were messed up to start with though which is probably why. Works for me any way :)

I used to be on the pill with no side affects (thankfully!) but after having a c-section and deciding our family is now complete I thought it was time for hubby to have a little op as well, so it was off to the nearest Marie Stopes clinic for him ;)

Wow, the only protection i use is not telling them my name and address.....

Your horror stories haven't convinced me that the male pill will be safe. If the female pill hasn't been perfected what chance is there in succeeding with the male pill.

I heard stories of kids using cling film and crisp packets - hopefully not salt and vinegar! Apparently they couldn't afford the bus money to get and get free condoms.

Currently these are the available Birth Controls offered:
• Condom
• Pill
• Diaphragm and cervical cap
• Emergency contraception
• IUD
• Norplant and Depo
• Pregnancy termination
• Tubal ligation
• Vasectomy
• Abstention
• Withdrawal Method
• Anal sex


My Face

I thank you

I just use whatever comes to hand , a pillow or a donkey etc.

I just use whatever comes to hand , a pillow or a donkey etc.
How often do you have a donkey to hand?

I want to say never but that would spoil it so instead im going to spend some time creating an elaborate story of how I was raised on a farm and how I cant maintain an erection unless im making love amongst bales of hay.

I don't like them either marie- Either abstinence or a condom.
But I chart my moon time and I know the precise window, so assuming my partner is disease free (which he is if I'm sleeping with him) then there are certain days to not have sex. Actually it's a 5-9 hour period in the month.

I know that was posted AGES ago, but I've just been catching up with the discussion. How can there only be a 5-9 hours period within the month that you can't have sex, given that sperm can survive for up to 2 days post-ejaculation?

I remember being shown female condoms in sex education at school - they were huge! You can probably still get them somewhere, apperently they were good for couples if one partner had a serious infection, like HIV, as they were just about impossible to tear, making them safer than normal condoms.

Personally, I have greatly reduced fertility after an infection (not sexually aquired) when I was 14, have been on the combined pill for 3 years (I put on a bit of weight and it made my boobs get a lot bigger) and if I'm with a new partner I use condoms to reduce the risks of STIs.

I know that was posted AGES ago, but I've just been catching up with the discussion. How can there only be a 5-9 hours period within the month that you can't have sex, given that sperm can survive for up to 2 days post-ejaculation?

You can have sex if you want to. You might get pregnant though.

I know that was posted AGES ago, but I've just been catching up with the discussion. How can there only be a 5-9 hours period within the month that you can't have sex, given that sperm can survive for up to 2 days post-ejaculation?
.

Sperm can live up to a week, although an egg only lives for around 6 to 24 hours. Even with natural family planning you need to avoid sex until three days after you have confirmed ovulation. (Using a combination of predicting it using cervical fluid and position, and confirmation by way of a sustained basel temperature).

There is no way that avoiding sex for just five to nine hours per month can be an effective method of contraception.

Thats gross.

Apparently NICE want the long term injection to be more widely available. Of course, certain groups are up in arms, saying that it will make women more promiscuous. No it wont, because they dont protect against diseases. Fucwits.

When I was a teen I was more worried about becoming pregnant than getting an STD and I suppose the same can be said for other teens, so I wouldn't support the injection becoming available more freely. Is that just thru FPC and schools or something? Kids would have that over condoms as they can just forget about contraception that way and that's baaaaaad.

I wouldn't advocate the use of hormonal contraception anyway, especially not in younger women because of the risk it can have on your mental health if they are susceptible to hormonal imbalance depression or PMT.

• Abstention


what's that? is it kind of like, you know, abstinence?
anyway, i'm on the pill, ortho tri-cyclen, to be specific. i'm not really too worried about getting pregnant. kind of, but not really. and it's cleared up my skin beautifully.

I wouldn't advocate the use of hormonal contraception anyway, especially not in younger women because of the risk it can have on your mental health if they are susceptible to hormonal imbalance depression or PMT.

Do you have medical evidence to substantiate this claim? Is the risk of this happening greater than the risk of an unwanted child being born?

Whats more, the pill often helps to alleviate PMT because it stops you having periods properly and gives you a synthetic bleed that isnt accompanied by the same levels of raging hormones.

The pill and the injection have similar levels of failure, and used in combination with condoms are a fairly failsafe way of providing complete and as adequate as can be reasonably achieved protection from unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease. Used alone, condoms are not quite as reliable as the pill etc at stopping pregnancy happening, but they are FAR more effective than the pill at stopping sexually transmitted infections, as the pill provides next to no protection against them.


The reason we dont really encourage medical advice giving on this site is because of the real life seriousness of the consequences of taking medical advice from an unqualified person. Whatever your personal preference, and its fine to have made your own informed choice, its not appropriate to be suggesting that the very slight risk of a mental illness occuring outweighs the protection from pregnancy and relief from PMS that the pill can offer to women with very difficult or painful periods without providing VERY FIRM EVIDENCE as to how that has been proven to be the case.

Nope, I don't have medical evidence. I searched 'Depo Provera' and found nothing positive in any of the results, in fact I found a lot of stories which matched my own.

Through personal experience I know that hormonal fluctuations can seriously alter your mood (like PMT) and excessive amounts of the hormone that is to blame for this is found in the Pill and the Injection. I'd rather people evaluated their own history when considering this type of contraception to avoid the very real risk of suffering a depression serious enough to involve suicidal thoughts.

Call it doom mongering or exaggeration if you like, but I know what it can do to the wrong people and I always advise against it when people ask me.

Nope, I don't have medical evidence. I searched 'Depo Provera' and found nothing positive in any of the results, in fact I found a lot of stories which matched my own.

Through personal experience I know that hormonal fluctuations can seriously alter your mood (like PMT) and excessive amounts of the hormone that is to blame for this is found in the Pill and the Injection. I'd rather people evaluated their own history when considering this type of contraception to avoid the very real risk of suffering a depression serious enough to involve suicidal thoughts.

Call it doom mongering or exaggeration if you like, but I know what it can do to the wrong people and I always advise against it when people ask me.

You are talking about young women in your previous post. For the most part they wont have "a history" to refer to. At 16 your hormones are still adjusting from puberty, and thats when many girls head for the pill if they havent already.

Scaremongering is exactly what it is. The implications and side effects of taking any form of hormonal contraception do exist, and are clearly documented in the leaflets that accompany the medication. By advocating not using this as an option outright, you are potentially putting young women at much more risk than the likelihood of any mental health issues arising.

Have you considered the risks to mental health of those women who do end up with an unwanted pregnancy? Consider the difference between a protected well informed young woman who didnt end up having a child they dont want yet or a scarring traumatic abortion, and who has the confidence to take care of her own health needs, compared to a stuck at home increasingly depressed single parent who seeks out quick fix sexual relief to validate themselves without proper protection.

Just a thought.

But please stop offering medical advice in this thread. Share your own experience by all means, but dont encourage others to do the same without firm evidence to suggest WHY.

Just got back on 'The Jab' after this weeks pregnancy scare...

Have been given a new pill. Lets hope this one doesnt want to make my head explode.

Whats a" Tubal ligation"?
Obviously is something to do with the fallopian tubes, I'm not that niave :(

Just got back on 'The Jab' after this weeks pregnancy scare...
Depends where you get jabbed, and with what

:haha::haha:

It was a needle, in the arse, full of things to stop me having babies.

I had a hysterical rectomy in 1988. since then I have had no babies.

Or periods.

It comes highly recommended

Whats a" Tubal ligation"?
Obviously is something to do with the fallopian tubes, I'm not that niave :(


Its female sterilisation, the cutting of the fallopian tubes (i think in combination with a "tying off") so that the eggs dont make it down to the sperm.

Im having one of those next July ;) Prolly.