What kind of birth control do you use?

Contributor: Alegria Alegria
I originally started the pill to control my chronic headaches. It's stopped working for my headaches but I still take it as a second form of birth control.
08/16/2010
Contributor: Lady Venus Lady Venus
I'm tied.
08/16/2010
Contributor: TheCleansing TheCleansing
Condoms seem to be sufficient, but never tried the pill before.
08/25/2010
Contributor: Gunsmoke Gunsmoke
My wife had her tubes tied after our second child. It got her off the pill and saved me from the snip.
08/25/2010
Contributor: leatherlover leatherlover
My wife started on the pill because her periods where sometimes really bad for cramping and pains, and they were very erratic for starting. We use condoms I would say 90% of the time because it just makes clean-up so much easier. And about two years ago I got a vasectomy just to make sure nothing unplanned happens.
10/21/2010
Contributor: Gunsmoke Gunsmoke
Quote:
Originally posted by leatherlover
My wife started on the pill because her periods where sometimes really bad for cramping and pains, and they were very erratic for starting. We use condoms I would say 90% of the time because it just makes clean-up so much easier. And about two years ... more
Wow condoms for cleanliness - never heard of that one!

Sorry but I prefer the messier side of sex - going bareback for me!
10/21/2010
Contributor: Matheri89 Matheri89
Quote:
Originally posted by Gunsmoke
Wow condoms for cleanliness - never heard of that one!

Sorry but I prefer the messier side of sex - going bareback for me!
We go with condoms+the pill (Ortho Tri-Cyclen Low) for now because of paranoia while we take care of grad school and finances.
10/31/2010
Contributor: Bunnycups Bunnycups
I used to use the patch, but I didn't like that if it came off I didn't have a spare patch to use. What I did like about the patch was that you never have to worry about it. Now I'm on the pill and taking it at the same time every day can be a pain. I never remember. I have to set an alarm on my phone.
10/31/2010
Contributor: mllebeauty mllebeauty
I've been on the pill for most of my adult life. When I began to have issues with it I switched to the Nuva Ring. Every now and then it's weird with toys but other than that, it works well for me.
10/31/2010
Contributor: leatherlover leatherlover
Quote:
Originally posted by Gunsmoke
Wow condoms for cleanliness - never heard of that one!

Sorry but I prefer the messier side of sex - going bareback for me!
I know it's kinda weird, but we don't have to worry about messing up the sheets or the throe all of the time, which is kinda nice.
10/31/2010
Contributor: Danielle1220 Danielle1220
I'm fixed
10/31/2010
Contributor: GeekWife GeekWife
Another Mirena user here. I was on the pill for about 10 years prior to my son with no scares or anything. The only reason I didn't go back to that was it took SOOOO long to get out of my system when we wanted to get pregnant, and we're still not sure if we want another kid or not. Plus the IUD only cost me an office visit copay (ten bucks!) versus $30-$60 every month for pills, which was a huge bonus for my bank account!
10/31/2010
Contributor: Illusional Illusional
Quote:
Originally posted by FAM4LIFE
I've been using the Fertility Awareness Method (charting) for five years with 100% success (and satisfaction!)
Never heard of this, care to explain?
11/04/2010
Contributor: lamira lamira
Right now, I use the pill.
11/05/2010
Contributor: Unconventional Unconventional
I loves me my Nuva Ring...
11/06/2010
Contributor: Hot'n'Bothered Hot'n'Bothered
The pill...
11/06/2010
Contributor: Kim! Kim!
Quote:
Originally posted by joja
Condoms and only condoms for me at this point, and probably on until I'm with a monogamous partner with a vasectomy (unlikely in the next ~15 years), or the male birth control pill is approved for use.

I can't stand hormones, even ... more
I have a ParaGard and it didn't really make mine any heavier, maybe very slightly but nothing too noticeable. Everyone is different though.

The pill and I don't always get along. I went on one of the lower hormone ones and bled non-stop for almost three months before I told my gyno absolutely not. The NuvaRing made me go absolutely crazy. I like my ten years of no babies unless I change my mind.
11/06/2010
Contributor: Phoenix713 Phoenix713
Quote:
Originally posted by fatesrelease
Hope this is in the right section!
I have been on birth control for over eight years now. I was initially on it because of my painful periods. I was not sexually active at that time but have not stopped taking it because I wanted to have two ... more
We're using condoms right now.
11/08/2010
Contributor: Kiskis2 Kiskis2
i dont use any of them.. even i wanna be pregnant..
11/12/2010
Contributor: MeliPixie MeliPixie
My boyfriend and I both have trouble remembering condoms, though on the really important days (like ovulation days) we definitely remember most of the time. The rest of the time I have to rely on him to pull out. Can't say I love that idea but it's not a huge deal, we've been lucky so far. *knocks on wood* I can't take the Pill because heart, reproductive AND brain problems all run in my family, and it would be a horrible risk. It's a good thing we've already decided we're in it for the long haul, we're both STD and STI -free, so all we have to worry about is pregnancy before we're ready!
12/07/2010
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Quote:
Originally posted by Illusional
Never heard of this, care to explain?
It's a system of charting ovulation by using body temperature, cervical mucous and other methods. It is supposed to work to let you know when you ovulate so you can either avoid pregnancy or become pregnant using the method.

However, it is not effective for all people, those with normally thick cervical mucous or frequent yeast infections, or irregular periods, or who are not in monogamous relationships. I have a friend who "teaches" this method and she tried to "train" me to use this method. I was told to "avoid sex the entire month when you have a yeast infection because you can't read your mucous properly.") Also, if you run a fever, it messes up the results. Also, if you have irregular periods, or long cycles, you could end up going weeks without "sex". (according to my learning this method, My Man and I were "supposed" to go as long as 3 weeks a cycle with no sex to avoid pregnancy. Um, I don't think that's ever going to happen.) You are supposed to avoid "sex" ("sex" is termed as simply PIV intercourse, no mention of oral, anal or other ways to reach orgasm was mentioned when I learned this method) from the beginning of your period (because the mucous can't be read) until AFTER you think you have ovulated. That could be weeks for many people.

Anyway, due to problems with other methods we were using it along with withdrawal (which we have NEVER gotten pregnant while using by itself) during our "unsafe" days (when we were supposed to be abstaining. When I told the teacher that My Man and I can't go weeks without sex, she said we needed to "learn some self control." LOL! That isn't happening.)

Also, while using this method, I got pregnant several times WHILE IN MY "SAFE TIME." It's endorsed by many in the Catholic Church, and honestly, I guess it works for some people (if you can go weeks without sex, including NOT having "sex" while you are ovulating, and which is when both of you are the most horny) but it wasn't the right method for people like My Man and I who both have strong sex drives and have no shame about this. I know too many people who claim this "method" works, yet have repeated unplanned pregnancies. *sigh*

We gave up on it when I was absolutely in my "safe time" and he didn't pull out, and I got pregnant for the LAST time. Now we just use withdrawal (My Man has very good control) and make sure he pees before sex (to wash the urethra so no semen is in there from other ejaculations) and it has worked very well for us.
12/08/2010
Contributor: VampKitty VampKitty
NuvaRing. My tummy doesn't agree with pills.
12/08/2010
Contributor: seaofneptune seaofneptune
I have been on the pill for almost 2 years now with breaks here and there. We also use condoms from time to time along with the pill. I was thinking of switching to an IUD but the doctor had told me that because I haven't had any children I can't get an IUD. That makes no sense to me at all.
12/08/2010
Contributor: PussyGalore PussyGalore
I have been on the pill for fifteen years. I would love to get off of it but we're not absolutely 100% sure there will never be a kid in our future even though we always say it's not in the plans, ever. I smoke, so when I turn 35 I have to either quit smoking or stop taking the pill. At that point, if we haven't had a child then he will get a vasectomy. Much to the dismay of my mother who desperately wants biograndkids.

Haha, I tell her she can have grandkids when she wants to raise them.
12/08/2010
Contributor: Armsjlove Armsjlove
I was on the pill for the first seven years of our marriage and my libido was non-existent. When I went off to try to get pregnant, my libido skyrocketed and stayed that way throughout my pregnancy and for a couple of months following until I went back on the pill.

My husband had a vasectomy a few years ago and my libido returned again when I stopped the pill. ~
12/08/2010
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Quote:
Originally posted by seaofneptune
I have been on the pill for almost 2 years now with breaks here and there. We also use condoms from time to time along with the pill. I was thinking of switching to an IUD but the doctor had told me that because I haven't had any children I ... more
If the uterus hasn't been used to house a fetus, the chances of things like expulsion (where the IUD is expelled from the uterus and you may not even know, as it often happens during menstruation) severe bleeding and cramping and even a higher risk of uterine perforation are higher than in women who have never carried a baby to term.

The uterus changes dramatically during a full term pregnancy, and the risks of the IUD are higher in null-paras. (Women who have not carried a pregnancy to term.)

Some doctors will still do it, but the expulsion rates and percentage of women who ask for the device to be removed after only a few months is great.
12/13/2010
Contributor: wolf's lil red temptation wolf's lil red temptation
Quote:
Originally posted by Taylor Violet LXIX
I use the Nuvaring for now. I with Blinker, it hasn't zapped my libido. But the the mood swings should come with a jungle gym and a merry go round.

I do like the convenience of not needing to remember a pill everyday. When my mother told ... more
Yeah I am on Nuvaring also, so far so good, minus the recent stress induced 3 week period...I almost went homicidal. Normally though I take vallium right before my 'period' which helps to chill the mood swings but I havent had it for a while now so it's been crazy.
For the most part though I use condoms also because I don't want to test my luck too much, especially a 10 months away from my wedding.
Has anyone had a pregnancy scare on the nuvaring? I am constantly worried about that. Hence using condoms, but we don't always. What are your thoughts on this?? Condoms or no condoms or just ok with the ring??
12/14/2010
Contributor: C4ss C4ss
The pill.
12/14/2010
Contributor: zeebot zeebot
Nuvaring ftw! Only having a period every few months = best thing ever.
02/11/2011
Contributor: sophie2229 sophie2229
I've thought of going on the pill though
02/12/2011