A bunch of years back I went to the emergency room one night because I was feeling crappy, and they insisted on doing bloodwork because they thought I was so pale (I'm Irish, English and German, I've always been and will always be pale) but since they insisted I went along with it. As it turned out, I was severely Anemic, and they weren't really sure how I was still functioning or whether I'd need a blood transfusion.

So they sent me to a bigger hospital. It was there that they ran a bazillion tests for internal bleeding and everything else you can think of, and decided that the unusual length a heaviness of my periods was why my blood was so iron-poor.

Then they put me on iron pills, and almost overdosed me on iron, so we called that a loss, and decided to use birth control to regulate me periods so I wouldn't be dramatically anemic anymore. Since then I've been on the pill (Ortho Try-cyclen/Ortho Try-cyclen Lo generic) the patch and the shot. The first five months of Depo was an almost constant period, but I haven't had one since. And I haven't been on it for...eight months. Typically people get the shot and gain weight, I lost weight. I hate shots, but it's only once every three months so it's pretty managable (esp if you have a great nurse). The only thing I can really say I experienced that was -bad- about Depo, was that you can sometimes experience pregnancy-like symptoms...and that was very strange.

I've been on quite a few, Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo, Ortho Tri-Cyclen, the pill, the patch, the ring, depo-provera multiple other pills, etc. I apparently am really sensitive to the chemicals in BC so, when I was on pills in college my doctors thought I had a brain tumor because of the symptoms I was getting from being allergic to the pill. I gained a ton of weight on the shot. I loved the patch to no end, but then it became linked to blood clots. :-(
I actually got pregnant and miscarried on the ring. Unfortunately I didn't take any pregnancy tests because I was on the ring. I used it correctly, its pretty hard not to, but I guess for whatever reason it didn't work out so well for me. Since that time I went off of it because of the heartache. In any case, it would be hard for me to put it in at this time because I've had a spinal fusion recently and am not allowed to bend at the waist at all. I can still reach everything, just not far enough that I could be sure I put it in deep enough.
I have been on Apri for the last year, it has worked really well. I guess its just the combination of hormones that works for me.

I begged my doc for an IUD and he wouldn't do it because I've never been pregnant. I know why, but it seems stupid to me that they allow it some places and not other places. Makes me wonder why there's not a unified front on it.

I use Nuvaring and I love it. The only issue is I have to stay off for more than a week because it delays my period a lot and if I put a new ring in when it says I usually will not have a period or it will be very light. One would think this is a good thing but I always feel... 'stuffy' until I know my body has cleaned itself out properly. I dont have sex every day so its usually fine for me. The only other bad thing is sometimes it gets shoved pretty far back during certain activities, and when my vagina stops being aroused and contracts and such, it will be nudging my cervix uncomfortably, but its super easy to just tug it forward a little bit and the it stops the feeling immediately.

Compared to the pill I was on, which would start a full blown period if I missed one pill or took it too late, and which made me bleed a month straight when I started it, it's heaven. I never have to worry about it.

Currently Ime using none

I actually just stopped using Depo Provera witch is a shot that lasts for 3 months and doesnt need to be taken daily. I started taking it when I joined military. It does cause wait gain in most but I think I worked it all off every day lol. I was able to get it every 3 months as needed when I was with the military. I got back to the states and the VA provided it for me. I am now planning to have kids when my husband gets back so I did not get the injection witch I would of normall got last month.

It can take UP TO a 18 months after quiting depo provera to become fertile again. I new that when I started, and overall its whats been best for me.


After my husband gets back and we have kids I am not sure about birth control then. I might go on noova ring from what ive heard or it will depend. Heck, two years from now there will probably be new birth controls to take out there.

Ortho-tri-cyclen pill. I don't mind taking the pill and I've gotten to the point of automatically taking it as soon as I wake up. I don't get the CRAMPS FROM HELL. My libido has not been affected (just the loss of my lover), and I've stayed the same weight. I don't know if it would be the same for everyone, just what I experience.

I was chewed out by one of the old biddies at public health a few months ago for starting my pack in the middle of the week instead of on Sunday 'like it's SUPPOSED to be done'. I told her to take it up with so-and-so who told me to start the moment I got it. She wouldn't drop it for like five minutes because I violated some sacred birth control law or something, something about not bleeding on the weekends. I'm one of those who doesn't care if what little I bleed happens on the weekend - I'm NOT HAVING CRAMPS. (Not having babies is more of a side effect for me - the not having cramps part is the bigger miracle.)

My mother had terrible problems (infections) with IUDs between giving birth to me and getting pregnant with my brother (late 70s and early 80's), so I was scared out of ever asking about it. I'm sure it's safer now, but you know ...

I'm actually interested in pursuing constant levels of BC hormone because the body really has no need to have a period. So far none of the public health folks want to talk about it.

My Man and I use withdrawal. Yep, you read that right. Used properly, in a monogamous relationship which is fluid bonded, it can really be a good form of preventing conception. I have tried so many types of the Pill, and they all made me sick and fat and gave me yeast infections and eventually started to kill my sex drive. I was put on Depo Provera (to treat endometriosis, after surgery, but it still worked as BC) and I gained 40 or 45 lbs, and on a 5 ft frame, with a set weight of about 110-120 lbs, 45 lbs extra is TOO much for me. I also completely utterly lost my sex drive. UG. Diaphragm gave me unspeakably bad UTIs, and since I have developed a latex allergy, and since they simply don't make condoms in the USA in large sizes with polyisproine, we are pretty much stuck. We tried "Natural Family Planning" because a woman I was in La Leche League with was going on and on about it, except the fact that you can't have sex from the first day of your period until AFTER you ovulate. With my cycle, that could be 3 or more WEEKS (the woman who told me about this method said My Man and I "needed to learn some self control" WTF? I don't wnat to learn self control, I want to fuck!) So, we started using what condoms or the Sponge we could during my "unsafe days" and, had basically unprotected sex during our "Safe Days" and I got pregnant at least twice, without meaning to. Either we were "doing it wrong" (doubtful) or this sucks as a bc method.

Due to the endometriosis and severe menstrual cramps, the UID was out of the question, and with our frequency, the female condom is just to damn expensive, plus WHERE does that outer ring go when you are receiving oral sex? Are your Goodies covered with plastic? Honestly, I just don't like this method, either.

SO, to make a long story short, what has worked best for us is withdrawal. My Man and I are monogamous, (the have been talks about joining The Lifestyle, but I am not sure about that. Some type of condom would be necessary.) and he is trustworthy, and it WORKS for us. Planned Parenthood actually recommends it for some couples and if you go to the PP widget (I'll have to get the URL) you may find it recommended, if you are in some situations.

It's certainly NOT for everyone, not for people who are not willing to both participate, and the man has to be experienced enough to be able to pull out, know exactly WHEN to pull out, and not be bothered by it, but it works.

And recent studies have shown that if the man has urinated since his last ejaculation, the "pre-cum" or pre-ejaculatory fluid should NOT contain any sperm. I'm pretty sure it doesn't, because we'd have as many kids as the Duggars if it did. (Not really, we both have more brains than that.....)

I'm on the pill. I hated them for so long but am over the weight limit for the nuva ring (155 lb or lower or my Doc won't do it) and doctors here won't do an IUD for women that haven't had children. I've been on about a dozen different pills over the last decade and was at my wits end with them until a friend recommended the generic tri-sprintec (I believe its the ortho tri-cyclen generic) from Target. It's on their $9/month list and has worked wonders for me. Strangely, I had tried ortho tri-cyclen when it first came out and I did NOT like the side-effects, so who knows on that one.

I have used almost all forms of BC. The various hormonal methods so messed up my hormones, my weight and my moods. The diaphragm worked but by b/f's head hit vs it; felt uncomfortable and he is allergic to the anti- spermicidal cream anyway.
He has used withdrawal but I never felt "safe".
Condoms have been an issue until we discovered Okeido, a Swedish brand, widely available in Europe. EF did carry them but they were so damn expensive and only available in packs of three. They are great for guys with larger heads and almost no latex odor. I did find them on line in larger quantities and more reasonable.
I so much want an IUD but my gyno would not do it for women who have not had a pregnancy.
Anyway after much discussion she finally agreed and I will have an IUD next week!! I had to sign documents holing her, the practice and everyone else harmless, if something goes wrong.
I guess I am so tired of the condom routine and there is really nothing else available.

I cannot be on hormonal birth control due to a medical condition, so my husband got a vasectomy. Neither of us have ever wanted children, and I can honestly say (and he whole heartedly and constantly agrees) that it was the best decision we have ever made.

I started on the Depo, then found out it deteriorated bones (eep!)

Then I went to Yasmin, and after a few years on that the Thursday before every period I would be so nauseous I couldn't move. Then I switched to the generic version of Seasonique. So far so good, but I'll probably have to switch again in a year or two.

I was on Ortho TriCyclen for more than 10 yrs but didn't always manage to take the pill every day without fail. I did have some pain in my calves, which made me paranoid about blood clots and strokes, so I stopped, and would never go back to any hormonal form of BC again. I never considered IUDs -- they frighten me.

For the last few years I've been using a cervical cap. I like it, find it easy to use. Anyone else using one?

I couldn't remember to take the pill the same time every night, which causes risk for pregnancy. Nuvaring is the only thing that has worked for me.

I am and have been, on birth control pills (can't remember the exact name), for a little over three years now. That is the only form of birth control my husband and I use. Every now and then we try out different condoms for one reason or another, but 90% of the time, it ends up being taken off so I can feel him better. So it never serves it's intended purpose.

I already answered, sorry, thought this was a new topic.

I deleted my repeated answer.

I'm on a monophasic pill right now, but I'm worried it might be causing the COMPLETE LACK OF SEX DRIVE that I've been experiencing lately. Has anyone had that experience?

I have been on the pill Triqular 28 since I was 17, and then I was off of it for a while, i didn't like it, was missing days, making me nervous lol then I recently tried the ORTHO EVRA patch for the last year.

I am now, done that prescription from the end of Dec/Jan 1st, but I still have not gotten my period since... :/ ..waiting for it, and I have taken a home preg test 2 weeks ago- neg.

I was thinking of the IUD, but i'm still exploring my options- just using carefulyness, and male condoms currently...

I've tried several different birth controls but all of them messed me up.. they made me nausas and hormonal and I had a consistant period the whole time I was on them.. so we ended up just using condoms until after we had our second baby.. then my husband had a vasectomy.

My fiancee has had tons of libido issues on the pill. Tried different brands, etc, etc. We've discussed doing some sort of IUD method, and I've tried to convince her to try Nuvaring, but she won't have ANYTHING to do with it because of all the potential side-effects.