I have been using birth controll pills and I also used the patch off and on the past few years. I always have terrible side effects so I decided to completely take myself off of BC about 6 months ago.
DH is supposed to get back from Iraq in August so I wanted to figure a more natural way to do BC. I would love to have more kids but right now just isnt the time for us to try, my two boys are both in speech therapy and Oscar starts speech and occupational therapy at Childrens in 2 weeks and its just too much of a drain on my body for me to carry another child.
I do know there are condoms, spermicides ( sp ) etc... but wondering if there is something a little more natural, like tracking when I ovulate with tests or something ( and just not dtd during that time )
If there is and someone can help me out and explain it to me in depth, I would really appreciate it.
TIA!
clarinetb
06-02-2007, 06:09 AM
I'm no expert :) But I know there are methods, one referred to as 'Natural Family Planning' where you avoid the days that are at high risk for getting pregnant. Also referred to as Fertility Awareness. There is quite a bit of information online.
I've read through a lot of birth control for myself because I can't take any of the hormones, I've tired :( Pills, patch, injectables, just doesn't work with my body! I've seen two different approaches to deciding on 'safe' or not days. There are some crude 'methods' where you calculate the length of your cycle, and then they estimate when you ovulate and then you avoid something like 5 days on either side (not remember details!). However, this doesn't account for the fact that everyone woman ovulates at a different point in their cycle. Usually they assume it is day 14, but women can easily ovulate a week earlier or later in their cycle than that.
You can track basal temperature and see when you ovulate. Also changes in vaginal discharge as the mucus changes texture. There are different stats out there. I have a book with all the contraceptive methods put out by the Society of OBstetriicans and Gynecologist of canada and it says 20% of couples using this method get pregnant in the first year... Now like most things, the more diligent you are and the better you know your body, the more likely it is to work for you. Maybe you could try to track a few cycles to see if you're body is consistent before your husband gets back?
The one hitch is that if soemthing throws off your cycle, like stress, illness, etc. you can run into problems. At least if you know that you want to have another baby at some point, it is less of an issue most likely....
Good luck! Hormones are so rough on your body, hope you find something that works for you!
dlangeweg
06-02-2007, 07:52 AM
Hormonal bc - :yuck:
I feel your pain. I have been on everything; three types of pills, the patch, depo, nuva-ring, and I just had an IUD put in, only to be taken out 4 months later. Even low dose hormones throw me all out of whack, mood swings, weight gain, all around b****iness! lol.
So, um, I don't have many suggestions other than natural family planning. However, that doesn't work for us either, as I don't menstruate or ovulate normally (just got first period in 4 months this week, try planning around that!) If we were done having kids, dh said he would get a vasectomy, but we're not to that point yet.
Hope you find a good method soon!
:hugs:
Denise
EmnJJsMom
06-02-2007, 08:19 AM
There is also a copper iud instead of a hormonal one.
lydclove
06-02-2007, 08:45 AM
I have the copper IUD (without hormones) and I like it very much. IUDs have a bad rap in the US but are the most common birth control in use worldwide and least expensive over time (insertion runs about $600 and they can stay in for up to 10 years = $5 per month). Of course, there are potential side effects with any type of birth control; statistically, it is much more risky to be pregnant than use any type of birth control however. I dont suppose statistics matter much though if you are the one in 1000 or whatever who has some devastating complication.
Please feel free to PM me if you want me to go on about my experience. Good luck, Lydia
my2babyboys
06-02-2007, 10:16 AM
I actually was going to get an IUD after having Matthew but a bunch of stuff arose. I was only approved by my health insurance for care through my provider up to 6 weeks after I delivered.
When I got there, no IUD ( I wanted Merena I believe, the 5 yr one )
Then I went through my insurance on base and they do not do them, I would of had to go to a special doctor, why I dont know but they wouldnt cover it.
After that, I figured I wasnt going to get an IUD after I heard that it can tear a hole into your stomach and that particular one still had hormones so I decided it wouldnt work n e ways. So I glad I was never able to get one because it would of ended up getting taken right back out.
I would prefer to not do any IUDs because Im not open very much to having something permanent in there, the only reason I was open to it in the past was because DH was worn out when #2 arrived and wanted a visectomy because he was afraid #3 would end up here in no time- I didnt want that because I definitely want more kids.
I think I am going to start looking into charting for a few months. My periods are pretty consistant, about ever 28 days and they last 3 days and I always get major stomach pains mid month for about 2 days ( which a doc told me was probably me ovulating )
Thanks for all your responses, Im ganna google and see if I can find something to help me chart.
clarinetb
06-02-2007, 10:27 AM
..( I wanted Merena I believe, the 5 yr one )
Then I went through my insurance on base and they do not do them, I would...
I think I am going to start looking into charting for a few months. My periods are pretty consistant, about ever 28 days and they last 3 days and I always get major stomach pains mid month for about 2 days ( which a doc told me was probably me ovulating )
I have endometriosis, and they've had a lot of luck helping women with endometriosis using the Merena one. It does have a very small amount of hormone, but from talking with women, it is absolutely nothing compared to the pills and haven't heard for reactions due to the hormones.
Most of the horror stories about IUDs are from the older designs, they basically disappeared from the market for quite awhile and new ones have come out and are working much better. THat being said, not sure I want something in my body :)
I get pretty bad pains in the middle of my cycle when I ovulate. I've heard the trick is working out if the pain is when you ovulate or the lead up :) Makes a big difference if you're avoiding getting pregnant :giggle:
