Question:
What is the best birth control for us?
I had a depo shot 1 month out, now that I am 4 months out I need to either get another shot or try something else. My insurance doesn't want to pay for the shot, but had in the past as well as pills when "medically necessary". Isn't there a pill out there that helps us lose weight as well? Any suggestions? — Heather M. (posted on September 25, 2003)
September 25, 2003
Are you planning to ever have kids? If not, get a tubal. Never have to
worry for the rest of your life! Or, better yet, get hubby fixed - its
easier, quicker, and much cheaper! ~~~ As for birth control pills being
medically necessary, that is only when they are using the pill for a non
birth-control reason - like if a postmenopausal woman has weird spotting
they sometimes put her on the pill to get her estrogen regulated.
— bethybb
September 25, 2003
My OB suggested getting an IUD. Hope this gives you somemore ideas.
— Kim R.
September 25, 2003
I am using Yasmine and doing well with it. It claims to have the effect to
help you lose weight if you are trying. So far I'm still losing well my
second month on the pill, however I've had a lot of breaktrough bleeding
but the package said that's normal the first three months. Hope this
helps.
— Happy I.
September 25, 2003
*original Poster here* I would like to have children someday as I am only
28 now and don't have any....never could. Thus part of the problem why I
NEED the BC all the time. Without the form of additional horomones, I
bleed 24/7/365. I have been this way since 16 and all the doctors ever
said was "tests show nothing abnormal...must be your weight."
— Heather M.
September 25, 2003
I use the patch. It works pretty good. I had a little breakthrough
bleeding at first, but not too bad. I've been on it for 7 months now - I'm
10 months post op and down to 145 lbs, so it didn't inhibit my wt. loss at
all. Good Luck.
— kandi S.
September 25, 2003
I use the Ortho Evra patch and it is without a doubt the best birth control
I've ever been on. Just like the pill, when used correctly and regularly
it is 99% effective. There's no remembering a pill every day, just replace
the patch every Sunday morning. I never had any break-through bleeding or
anything. The only difference I've seen is that when I was on the pill,
I'd have my last one for the month on Saturday and my period would start on
Monday. With the patch, I take the patch off on Sunday morning and my
period doesn't start until Wednesday and is done on Sunday. My BCBS (auto
workers) insurance pays for the patch! Good luck to you!
— Lynette B.
September 26, 2003
I second the IUD-- I had the Mirena IUD for a year (just had a tubal 2
weeks ago) and the Mirena IUD worked great for me-- periods were regular
and very light, no cramping. IUDs are great for women who are in a
monogamous relationship (no STD protection) and the Mirena IUD is good for
5 years. There are some docs who don't think IUDs should be used by women
who have never had a child but I think that's a lot of hooey. Do some
research on it.
— lizinPA
September 26, 2003
Just wanted to say you can only use the patch if you are under 180lbs. My
gyn offered me the patch but I told her I think there is a weight limit and
sure enough, I was right.
— poohniki
September 26, 2003
I've been on Depo for almost two year and have not had any problems with
it. I am only 26 and also hope to have kids someday. I am not on it for
birth control, I control that myself:) Like you I would have long periods
that sometimes lasted for months. Whenever I get my shot, the nurse always
ask if it's for BC or bleeding, then marks a box on the paper I give the
receptionist. I would think that insurance should pay for since you have a
medical condition that requires hormones. As for losing weight, I had
always heard there could be a weight change caused by different BC methods
but nothing significant.
— Sarahlicious
September 26, 2003
I have been on depo for 6 years and love it! It doesn't give me any side
affects and is better than remembering a pill daily.
— Christina C.
September 26, 2003
One thing that no one mentioned is that after having WLS Surgery, we are
instructed to use a barrier method of birth control for the first 12-18mos
to avoid pregnancy as this is considered the only dependable method as our
bodies go through changes.
— [Deactivated Member]
September 26, 2003
One thing to remember about the patch is <b>it's not effective for
people who weigh <u>200 lbs. or over</u></b>. I
personally decided to try the <b>Nuvaring</b>, and so far am
very happy with it. You insert it into your vagina, and it stays in for 3
weeks. It comes out on the fourth week, during which time you will get your
period. It's fairly simple to insert, no pill to remember, and you can even
take it out for a two hours at a time without comprising your birth control
protection. Like the bc pill, it's 99% effective protection, with less
hormonal side effects. Good luck with whatever you choose!
— sweetmana
September 26, 2003
Been on depo shots since 1995. I have gotten mine at 6-8 week intervals
for years. Now that I'm down a bunch of weight we are going to slowly try
to lengthen the distance between shots till hopefully I get to the normal
12 week. My shots are submitted under a medical diagnosis and not BC,
otherwise insurance might question the frequency.
<p>You might be like I was and had way too much estrogen, even though
levels were normal, and the progesterone in the depo finally balanced
things out in my system. Had tried BCP's prior to the depo and had 9
months of continuous moderate to heavy bleeding. The depo solved that and
after about 15 months I was period free. The only draw back to depo is
that it does take a long time to get out of your system for getting
pregnant. Just know that BCP's alone is playing russian roulette with
your's and a possible babies health. Not worth it in my opinion. Patch is
only good under 200 lbs and there is some that feel an IUD should only be
used if you have had at least one pregnancy. Need to get together with
your OB/GYN and figure out which is best for you. There is also the 5-yr
implant.
— zoedogcbr
September 26, 2003
One more option to keep in mind - very soon, a new birth control pill will
be available called <b>Seasonale</b>. Seasonale is a pill you
take every day, but the difference between this BCP and others is you only
get your period <b>four times a year</b>. It's perfectly safe,
and there are some reports that it may actually <u>reduce</u>
the risk of ovarian cancer. My understanding is this pill will be available
by the end of this year.
— sweetmana
September 26, 2003
The Nuvaring is great! The patch is NOT effective for those over 150 lbs
(someone posted 200, my gyn says 150 just to be on the safe side). It's
cheap and you can't feel it!
— jenn2002
September 26, 2003
YASMIN!!!!!!!! Yasmin is the best birth control pill!!!! It helps you to
not gain weight. Yasmin has a diuretic (sp*) in it witch helps stop weight
gain. I have been on it for 2 years now and have done great. When I was on
the depo shot the first time i gained about 25 lbs then stopped getting it
after 6 mos. I swore i'd never get it again, but after getting pregnant on
the pill (ortho, i think it was) i was so scared to get pregnant again so i
got the depo and gained 40 lbs in the 10 month i was on it. I then switched
to YASMIN pills and was able to lose that 40 lbs and not gain anything
back! I give yasmin a 100 !!!!!!!
— ItsThenewKelley
September 26, 2003
Hi...I'm with Lynette on the patch...I've been on it for alittle over a
year now and think it's great. I weighed 167 when I started using it, now
weigh 155...The paperwork that comes with the patch pack states that it's
not effective in patients that weigh over 198lbs, though. The only thing I
don't like about it is, it's like a bandaid that you wear for a week, and
we all know what a bandaid looks like after it's been on for a few
days...the glue catches lint from your clothes, so it can look pretty bad
by the end of 7 days...Works great for me though...good luck! Denise
316/155
— lily1968
September 26, 2003
Someone mentioned the Seasonale pill coming out soon. I heard about that
on CNN. SOUNDS AMAZING...Where can I get more info?
— Renee B.
September 28, 2003
After my RNY, I continued using Ortho Tricyclene, which I had used for
years before. My surgeon said this would work just fine (perhaps because I
had a proximal RNY). He doesn't advise patients that they must use barrier
methods. This summer, when I was 6 months out, my Gynocologist put me on
the Nuva Ring. I had never tried it before, but I join the bandwagon. I
have had no side effects, it hasn't hurt my weight loss, and I generally
forget it is there.
— Beth S.
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