Pill, Diaphragm, Sponge, or Trojan? (Inspired By T&A Day Thread)

[stasha]

Nothing personal, X... [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

Muahahahaha!

[J. Turner]

Anne, I had to switch to a mono-phasic BC pill, too. I would have horrible days riding or teaching and wham -- it would be the day before my period. The kids would slam me at school and I'd yell and throw four kids out. Or have the worst ride of my life. Throw in some other pills, too, and I'm much better.



"And Max said, 'NO!'"
-- Maurice Sendak

*** Member of the Rust Clique ***
*** Member of the Ebay Anonymous Clique ***
*** Member of the MKF (Michelle Kwan Forum)***

[ponygrl]

hehe true. I think the Celexa may have helped with the moodiness too......

Laura

[Lori]

Tubes tied at 25 (yes, no kids)
Spayed at 32

Founder and sole member of the "Nobody Clique"

[DMK]

I think I briefly tried the tricyclen version (that's the 7/7/7 one, right?). Didn't much care for it. Can't ride much when one doesn't actually know when one's period is going to start, and besides, I thought 3 times a month was excessive. [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

But recently my doc took me off my dear old friend, ortho novum 30. After 24 years, I really saw no need to break up such a succesful relationship, but it turns out ob/gyns don't have a sense of humor. And this was after he asked me if I just wanted to go off the pill and get my tubes tied. [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] I reminded him that the primary reason (OK, lately it has been the ONLY reason) I am no the pill is not related to birth control.

So with great fear I entered the "low estrogen" variety of pill - I have heard all the nightmare stories from many people. Extra scary when you consider I take it 24/7. By some miracle I am the ONLY person I know that seems to do just fine with it. Even the doc said it would take a few months for my body to adjust (going on 24 for my friend [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img] ). Hah! Not for me. More like a few hours!

But every time I read the papers, that old feeling comes on;
We're -- waist deep in the Big Muddy, and the big fool says to push on.
Pete Seeger

[Heidi]

Hans' vasectomy was performed by a urologist named Dr. Short. Kid you not. [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

He was in for a half hour, under a local, few stitches, back in the saddle in two days. His voice is slightly higher now and he's developed a penchant for coral lipstick but other than that, there's been no residual damage. [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

[pinkhorse]

OK, am I the ONLY person who uses a diaphragm???? There is no way in h&ll I would put hormonal methods of birth control in my body any more. Did a few years of Lo Ovral in college (mid 70's when "Lo" Ovral sounded benign) and it was awful. I gained weight, went into a sort of PCOS type thing for years afterward (didn't have regular periods for about a decade until I was finally able to lose some weight and even for a while after that). As a nurse practitioner I've also seen such horrible things with SOME people with any hormonal BC (even including the progestin containing IUDs - and that's not much). I had a friend I used to joke with (and many patients) that the pill was such a good form of birth control because you feel so fat and crabby that you don't want your partner anywhere near you!

So, I tried an IUD. I actually tried 2 of them but my body didn't want them. Shot 'em right out. Bummer.

So, it's back to the diaphragm. Mr. Pinkhorse hates condoms. At 46 I'm a little less careful about using the goop with it (now that I [finally] have regular periods and know when I ovulate I judge it pretty well but always use the diaphragm anyway. It's always worked well for me except for the period of a few years when I couldn't get it out - Mr. Pinkhorse got to get clinical!

Anyway, for those that do OK with OC's (pills) I highly recommend doing extended cycling. If your health care provider doesn't know how to do it let me know and I'll send you a description you can share with that person. It's a wonderful thing....

[Karma]

Yuck! Ortho Tri Cyclen put me through hell, happy/sad/happy/sad YES! Crying YES! and I felt competely out of control and psychotic! So now on Lo- Ovoral and its my friend for almost 3 years now after about 4-5 yrs of various pill inculding the 777 which I liked and the the pill from hell. I would much rather use a non hormonal BC but for being young and still wanting to have kids IN THE FUTURE I dont know what else there is that is EFFECTIVE. Anyway I like having regular periods so that I can prepare when I am going riding or so that those days at work I can do more lunging or long lining and less actual riding and I end up doing a lot of snuggling with my own horses, just being nice to myself.

Karma

[RolyPolyPony]

Add me to the I hate Ortho Tri clique! I loffed it for 5 years, then the past two years I had spotting almost every month. Ugh. I was just switched to Mircette (I have yet to find anyone else in the world who's on it, I swear), which I think I'm still adjusting to, as I'm only in my second month of it. My gyn put me on it because it's supposedly really good w/ cramping, which was my main reason for going on the pill back in college (and what Ortho Tri was failing to help w/ the last couple years). One thing I already don't like about Mircette - my period seems like it will now start on Saturday, just in time for my lesson! Grr. W/ ortho, it started Monday, ended Fri so weekends were good!

"Ninety-nine percent of failures come from people who
have the habit of making excuses." -- George Washington Carver

Member of the drafties/drafties X clique!

[Robby Johnson]

and curiosity just killed the cat.

I'm a little queasy, actually, with all of this spotting talk.

But I am surprised to read that physicians would perform a tubal on a woman in her younger years, with no medical basis. Isn't it funny, they'll inflate your chest in a heartbeat, but won't do something else?

Anyway ... it's a real pain in the butt (no pun intended) I'm sure. Thankfully it's something I don't have to worry about!

Robby

You look so careless when they're shooting that bull ...
Don't you know hearthaches are heroes when their pockets are full?

[Iride]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by pinkhorse:
OK, am I the ONLY person who uses a diaphragm???? There is no way in h&ll I would put hormonal methods of birth control in my body any more. Did a few years of Lo Ovral in college (mid 70's when "Lo" Ovral sounded benign) and it was awful. I gained weight, went into a sort of PCOS type thing for years afterward (didn't have regular periods for about a decade until I was finally able to lose some weight and even for a while after that). As a nurse practitioner I've also seen such horrible things with SOME people with any hormonal BC (even including the progestin containing IUDs - and that's not much).

So, I tried an IUD. I actually tried 2 of them but my body didn't want them. Shot 'em right out. Bummer.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Pinkhorse - I use a diaphragm too. In the beginning, my boyfriend actually had to take it out for me - but I finally learned how to do it. How embarassing!

I too used Lo Ovral in college - not only did I gain weight, but tons of my hair fell out never to be seen again... has anyone else had this side effect from going on & off BCPs? I think using hormones playes havoc with our bodies - before I switched to a diaphragm I would only use condoms... would Never go back to pills.

As for the IUD... I have been seriously thinking about trying that lately. I'm approaching 40, don't think I'll be having kids, etc. I heard about a new one that is supposedly more readily accepted by the body, doesn't use hormones, and has a decent track record so far.... know of this?

[peepie]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Nikkibaby27:
Instead of getting your tubes tied you can get a new surgery that won't hurt you or put you in a hormone rage.

They insert two springs (one in each tube) and scar tissue forms to block the tubes. No babies!!! <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I just read about this, too...it's irreversible, isn't it? Gee, the thought of having springs INSERTED creeps me out...more than having tubes "tied"...somehow, that idea didn't bother me...and so far, no complications - it was a piece of cake...except for the @%#$&* incision, which is still tender...thus, to make this thread HORSEY again, I can't wear breeches or jeans bcause they hit right at my navel, and I'm afraid if I tried to mount (Gambit is adamant that I not use a mounting block...I think he wants me to "earn" my right to ride by mounting from the ground) I'd pop a stitch!
And all that just to walk around the farm & trails! HA!
My horse bucked off your honor student!

Founder: LOFL (lawn ornaments for life) clique

[DMK]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by jmsca:
I was just switched to Mircette (I have yet to find anyone else in the world who's on it, I swear), which I think I'm still adjusting to, as I'm only in my second month of it. My gyn put me on it because it's supposedly really good w/ cramping, which was my main reason for going on the pill back in college (and what Ortho Tri was failing to help w/ the last couple years). One thing I already don't like about Mircette - my period seems like it will now start on Saturday, just in time for my lesson! Grr. W/ ortho, it started Monday, ended Fri so weekends were good!!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Count me as the other person on Mircette! That is the low dose variety the doc just put me on. So far it has been great, and even in a moment of Severe Dain Bredness, when I forgot to take it for TWO days, I didn't even have a problem. Didn't even get sick when I swallowed 3 at once that third day. [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

Why don't you just adjust when you start/stop taking it? There's no law that says you have to stop on day X. But if you are under 40 and still having problems, I never really had a problem with Ortho Novum 1/30, and I always had problems the few times I tried the ON 7/7/7. I started on the pill in high school for severe cramps. The variety where someone - usually my father - had to pick me up from school and arrange to have my car picked up also. That should tell you how bad they were - there can't be much anything more embarrassing than to have your father have to pick you up and take you home from HS when you are 16 because of cramps...

This week's "Big Muddy" Award goes to Trent Lott and his supporters...

"But every time I read the papers, that old feeling comes on;
We're -- waist deep in the Big Muddy, and the big fool says to push on.
Pete Seeger

[RolyPolyPony]

Ah ha! I knew there had to be someone else! [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

I do think I am going to modify my start day - right now I'm a Saturday start, and I think moving it to Sunday will be enough! I hope, at least!

So far, even thoygh it's only been a month and a half, Mircette has done pretty well w/ my cramps. The last coiple years of Ortho, I was taking 4 Advil like hourly on the first few days! But last month, the first Mircette month, I took a normal dose and was fine. Even slept through the night!! Hopefully it will stay as good, or get better once I'm past the couple adjustment months on it.

"Ninety-nine percent of failures come from people who
have the habit of making excuses." -- George Washington Carver

Member of the drafties/drafties X clique!

[DMK]

Oh yea, I forgot to add...

(and I know this because I am just enough of a drug geek to read the fine print that comes with the drugs)

The extra 7 pills that come with mircette - the "inert ingredient" reminder pills that we NEVER take? They aren't inert in mircette! Only the first 2 days are, the next 5 have a very low dose of estrogen, so that might also help with the cramps.

Doesn't mean much to me since I take the pill 24/7 (never go off - it is a beautiful thing and the REAL answer to cramps), but it might be helpful to you. Meanwhile, my sister suggested I feed those 5 pills to my old pony with sticky stifles, instead of giving him estradiol cypoate (ECP or "estrogen"). We both had an evil grin at the thought of stuffing birth control pills down the throat of that old cranky (much loved) pony!

This week's "Big Muddy" Award goes to Trent Lott and his supporters...

"But every time I read the papers, that old feeling comes on;
We're -- waist deep in the Big Muddy, and the big fool says to push on.
Pete Seeger

[Merry]

Unlike Hans, Heidi's hubby, Mr. Merry had a less than gentle surgeon for his "V". I could literally hear my newly-wedded husband yelling and screaming from where I sat in the waiting room!

Must admit I stifled some snickers. I mean, men don't suffer menstrual cramps, let alone labor pains, so they deserve some sort of genital angst. [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif[/img]

[J. Turner]

I'm on Mircette, 2 months on, 1 week off.



"And Max said, 'NO!'"
-- Maurice Sendak

*** Member of the Rust Clique ***
*** Member of the Ebay Anonymous Clique ***
*** Member of the MKF (Michelle Kwan Forum)***

[nutmeg]

Have you all seen those ads where the executive is swinging through his office whistling a happy tune and everyone wants to know what has happened to make him so studly? And only he knows its Viagra? (They don't actually show him with a pistol in his pocket, however). Well how come the drug companies don't make an ad showing a happy equestrienne without a care in the world due to her Mircette. Except for the fact that his Viagra is covered under medical insurance and she has to pay out of pocket, of course. I think we need equal air-time.

[Backstage]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Xctrygirl:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Midge:

Aahh, to be young and foolish again! [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I have to be on the patch/pill etc for irregular periods and a family history of endometriosis.

~Emily

"The brave may not live forever, but the cautious never truly live at all"<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Do you mind me asking what effect it has on endometriosis?

In the future, if your wondering, 'Crime, boy...' is when I decided to kick your ass. - President Bartlett, The West Wing

[carribean]

:looks around:

:runs RAPIDLY away:

**Ain't that America**

*~Proud Founder of the H/J Paints Clique~*