Birth control. Sometimes there are so many options that it’s hard to know which method to choose. Many of us have had strong reactions, both positive and negative, to the birth control methods that we’ve tried, including Yaz, and IUD’s.
Lesbianism is my preferred method of birth control. You get all the fun of sex without the risk of pregnancy. That’s not to say that STD’s aren’t a concern for lesbians, but we’re talking about birth control in today’s open thread.
Not sure which birth control method is the right choice for you? Take this lifestyle questionnaire from Planned Parenthood to find out what your options are.
What about you? What has your birth control experience, for good or for bad, been like? Do you love your IUD? Or the Nuva Ring your method of choice? We’d love to hear from you!
I understand the question to be about preferred contraceptive use, however, I felt an earnest impulse to provide my (male) perspective. I hope no one minds.
Being a gay male while at the same time being honest about this answer comes with some oxymorons. Obviously, condoms are a giant part of the mix, and my personal choice of prevention; thoroughly necessary, though I cannot say that they are used for every aspect of a sexual experience. This, of course, is partner specific, and in full disclosure, I must say that I’ve been 99% adherent to my code of condom usage during penetrative sex. I haven’t had but three partners in the last five years, and yeah, that’s probably one of the reasons I had an err in judgment in Feb. this year, allowing one of the three of my partners his sexual conquest without protection. Yes, I’m already looking to get tested, regardless of the ‘pull out’ method being insisted upon by me.
What I was trying to get to is the fact that several, many, most gay men refrain from using condoms when it comes to oral or analingus when the threats of Hepatitis A,B,C,D,G, etc. loom equally as large as that of HIV/AIDS. The fact that I’ve only had three sex partners in five years is not because of hyper-paranoiac fears about STDs – though vigilance is nothing about which one should feel obligated to post a disclaimer. I simply need more in my life than the prospects one evening of pleasure might yield.
Stefan, you bring up a lot of really good points, and I think condom preferences could be an open thread topic of its own. Pregnancy prevention is certainly not the only think to consider in terms of barrier methods, but this thread is focused on contraception. You point out that there are many STDs for people to think about, not just HIV/AIDS. And we’ll definitely come back to that. How about in next week’s open thread?
I’ve been on the pill for about 7 years now, and last year decided I wanted an IUD. I brought this up with the nurse at the clinic I go to and she said “oh we don’t do those on young people because if you get an STD you’ll get pelvic inflamitory disease”. and that was the end of the discussion. I accepted this as fact, but after doing my own research I’ve found that this might not be the case, or at least is isn’t as cut and dry as my nurse made it out to be. I read an article in the Post a few weeks ago about how IUDs are underutilized in teenagers because many don’t have information about them or are afraid of having something inserted into their uterus. It didn’t mention anything about the increased risk for PID. I wonder how many teens actually know about and are interested in having an IUD but are being discouraged by their physicians because of their age. Personally I am ready to be off the pill since I am planning on putting off getting pregnant for probably the next decade. I’m changing to a clinic that specializes in repro. health and hopefully have more luck on my mission for an IUD. As a side note, I really enjoy using condoms- I consider it a fun part of foreplay, lol. So my vote is IUDs, even though I don’t actually have one yet!
IUD info via my blogging buddy’s personal website: http://sashaisamonster.com/2010/04/it-is-a-microderm-emergency/
I use the patch simply because I have had to take prescriptions before and I know that I don’t want the responsibility of pill popping everyday.
I do hope to incorporate/ switch to the rhythm method possibly when I’m married.
My ex-roommate said “NuvaRing almost killed me!” My personal trainer has been on six birth controls and has ditched birth control all together, and quite a few friends have told me horror stories about spotting for weeks on end.
The shot also causes women to gain weight, and the patch does too – but only like 2 pounds for me. Any method that constantly pumps estrogen into your body: the patch, the shot, leads to water retention and weight gain, not to mention the emotional impact of the additional estrogen along with a loss of energy.
But I deal with it because I don’t want to take a pill everyday. I also exercise to help with blood flow, a side effect often associated with the patch.
But I know people who’ve been on the patch for years, myself included, no problem…
I think there’s a method out there for everyone, and sometimes a little bit of trial and error is in order.
Thanks Firecracker!
I read your blog post, hopefully my vagina has a more pleasant experience.
I honestly think the pill has made my PMS worse. I’ve been on and off it a few times, and when I’m on, I’m seriously crazy. And I have gained weight no doubt. Plus there’s always the fear of forgetting a pill, which you’d think by now I wouldn’t do anymore. But it’s like forgetting your keys everyday, it’s just me.
my friend was on the depo shot, and she said her period was so out of whack and eventually just stopped coming altogether, and took about a year after she went off it for her period to be regular again. No real point to that story, just a little anecdote.
I was on depo first thing when I was 17 and I loved it. My doc made me get off it for 8 months to get a bone density test and I was on the pill, which was a nightmare. I was an emotional wreck and couldn’t wait to get back on depo. Last year I stopped getting my shots after I broke my ankle and my (male) doctors got panicky about clots. In January I got the Mirena IUD, partly because my health insurance was changing and I wouldn’t have coverage as of March. I was able to get the Mirena paid for 100%, which is perfect.
I loved depo because I didn’t get my period at all for the 8 years (less 8 months) I was on it. With the Mirena, I’ve had shorter and less of a period every month where now I spot for a day or two. I think my body is still adjusting, but it’s a 5 year thing, so I’m not too worried. My biggest complaint with Mirena is I get WICKED bad cramps once a month or so, for a couple days.
Other than that, if you can afford the $300+ for it, I’d recommend it.
I used to use the Depo shot. I was hoping it would stop my periods. After my second and (last shot), I got my period every day for close to six months.
I went on the pill not long after, but it was problematic too. It’s hard to remember to take that pill every day, especially with a schedule as inconsistent as mine. It was difficult too to arrange to see my PA for a refill as doing so would require me to arrange to get out of work as the clinic was only open on weekdays.
I didn’t really want the pill anyway. When I had initially discussed birth control with my PA, I told her that I wanted Essure (non-surgical sterilization) or, if my insurgence would not cover that, then I wanted an IUD. She refused both of these ideas and was adamant that I would get an STD with these and should be on the pill (never-mind that the pill doesn’t protect against STDs either.)
I still want Essure or an IUD. I tried scheduling an appointment at the OB/GYN at the hospital, but I was told I would not be seen without my PA’s referral.
My access to control my reproductive health in a way that I see fit is suffering a single-point of failure.
I plan to talk to my PA again soon, and if she still will not help me then I will just have to go off post and pay out of my own pocket.