The pill made me whacko and I tried to get an IUD. Nobody's letting me (although my insurance says I can, so I guess this is illegal?)... anyway I don't want to mess with that.

I've got sensitive skin so I don't want to mess with the patch.

Has the Nuva Ring worked out well for any of you on a handful of meds? I just don't want to mess with hormones, and I heard it's low-hormone, but it's STILL got hormones in it. *Shakes head* and I don't know if my insurance will cover it or not, either.

I use condoms but I really want to double up with something else. No babies for me!

yeah, the condom+spermicide stuff is messy. I think I.m on the wrong dock. Who is not letting you get the iud? I just got one last week to end all the med/pregnancy paranoia/hormone shit. So far was a good move for me. The mess to get it may be worth not having to deal with all the above mentioned crap.

if you live in the US, then the IUD is totally legal. i don't know why someone would refuse to give it to you. you'd want the copper one that doesn't release hormones if you're looking to avoid hormones. they may not want to give it to you if you have multiple sex partners, an STD, or some other risk factor. the IUD makes it easier for diseases to get into your uterus and cause major issues.

Well, my insurance policy says I can get it. I called everyone around here and my gp was helpful - they'll give me a referral to anywhere that I can get one done, but nobody will do one for me. I called my insurance company and they named places that I've already called and I told them that and they said that they didn't know what to tell me.

I really wanted the copper T IUD so I can use that + a condom and seriously not have to worry... blah.

Oh by illegal, I think denying something that you're allowed to have is illegal, but I'm not sure, because of the law that we have for like pharmacists and birth control.

Your insurance may cover the cost, but the doctor may not thing it's a good option for you. All my ob/gyns have informed me that the IUD is generally for a woman who's already had a baby. Something about the uterus being in a more favorable shape for the IUD. Also some doctors won't do it because of religious reasons (seriously). And it's all perfectly legal.

The patch has been the subject of numerous class action lawsuits recently.

I tried the NuvaRing once and hated it. It just sits in your vagina like a sponge would. You gotta check it everyday to make sure it's still in the correct spot. Too much trouble for me.

There are a lot of new pill options out there. Low estrogen, progesterin only, Seasonale, it wouldn't hurt to do some research and ask your doc about the new ones and if they would be a better fit.

I'm ass backwards when it comes to the pill. The low dose ones make me sick as a dog. The strongest one they make works well and I have no side effects. But I am weird.


Croix

I'm thinking about getting a tubal ligation, but i WORRy about going off the pill and having it affect my moods. I stopped taking the pill for almost 2 weeks and i got into a serious depression. Do you have any problems w/ hormones/moods? I take Yasmin and it supposedly is supposed to be good for mood problems. Have you thought about a diagphram(sp!)? It sounds like you need a good gyno. Good luck.

I think an IUD would be a good solution if you could tolerate it. When I tried one, my uterus kept trying to get rid of it---which resulted in massive, painful cramps.

Until you can get the IUD, you could go really old-fashioned and get a diaphragm. With the condom, it protects you from pregnancy when you use it correctly. It's a mechanical barrier, too, and it doesn't add hormones to your system.

Just a suggestion! I'm glad you're trying to be responsible (and sensible) about not getting preggers.

olga

The doctors and gynaecologists I've seen don't follow the thing about the copper T being better for women who've had children - I think that view's becoming outdated. But that's just my experience. I really would go for that if you can, and in the meantime Olga's suggestion of a diaphragm is a good one. Puts a dampner on spontaneity, but better safe than sorry, right? I also can't touch hormonal BC.

Good luck
M

while the copper IUD has been on the market for ages, it is still a very reliable, and now SAFE method of birth control. i tried to have one inserted 2 years ago but couldn't due to major cervical discomfort and the feeling that i was going to vomit or pass out. i just couldn't do it.

for you, especially if you've had kids and been with the same partner who is not cheating on you, it is a great option. but you have to be careful, especially about STDs. that is the major disadvantage of the IUD.

best of luck.

personally, i liked the ring. it stayed in place and i used it for about a year. i stopped using it because of a "ring around the penis" incident where my partner ended up wearing the ring, and a time when the ring came out during sex and we found it in the sheets the next day, and i had to take EC.

i hope whatever you decide works out.

right now i use micronor and i hope it works out. i've just started my first pack.

Well, I found a Planned Parenthood that'll do it, I'll just have to drive 2 hours to my appointments. But the cost-benefit ratio is still in favor of the IUD + condoms. Babies are too expensive, and so are abortions. I don't want either.
But I've got my appointment! Mid November, which couldn't come sooner.

I was on the patch for a while. I stopped when I started having blood pressure issues. Once I got that under control, I tried to start again and the worst crash of my life. My GP (angelic, really, I love her so much) suggested and prescribed the NuvaRing. I've just finished my first month with it and other than some pretty incredible PMS munchies, it's not negatively effected me at all. There's a chance that it helped, but I'm not really the best judge of that. I just know it's not caused any crashes or panics and I didn't have to worry about it for three weeks.

There are also female condoms, but they're hard to find.

Hey super-

If it were me, I'd really want to know from the doc's who refused, why they did so.
Perhaps there are medical risks they thought were too great to take?
Especially if more than one doc were to refuse me- I'd sure want to know why and as much information as possible about IUDs so I would know what I was getting myself into.

I've also heard that the best candidates are those who've had children, who are in a stable monogommous relationship, and don't want anymore kids ( except in that commercial where they say you can change your mind and there she is holding another cute smiling baby).

I hope you find something you are comfortable using- I so share the pregnancy paranoia- I can't even imagine. good luck with this.

(if you are comfortable using condoms- the best easiest thing i'd think would be to combine them with some kind of spermicide- I thought I heard that the sponge came back on the market.
(remember elaine on seinfeld deciding if a guy was "spongeworthy" ?)

Here in Canada I was also advised against getting an IUD, having never had a child but not denied. So I guess Canada holds that same view. I think it's illegal to deny it though here.

Micronar (progestin) pills are a bit safer than regular BC pills but have side effects of depression and weight gain.

Deproprovera is the devil incarnate. It put me into severe depression for about a year after 3 shots. Just don't do it.

As far as I'm concerned there is no great method of BC out there for a monogamous that would prefer not to use condoms. I've never tried a diaphragm. Maybe they aren't as bad as they look.

What about adding an ovulation checker (like a woman would use to get pregnant, but to be used in reverse)? The pricey ones are supposed to be about 99% accurate. I've been thinking about picking one up myself. It could be used with a condom for double protection.

I used a diaphragm for 20 years and it worked fine. No chemicals in your body, you can leave it in for hours, and if you use it as directed (with a spermicide), it's very effective.

Oh, and you don't feel it once it's in there. I like low-tech stuff. Keep it simple, stoopid! (Me, not you!)

olga

What do you guys think about the ovulation checker as a back up? I'm really curious about opinions now as I'm thinking about purchasing one but they are super expensive. Do you think they are reliable? I am also not in my most fertile years (40).