contraception advice

I'm fairly new here but R-A seems to be the person to ask about these things, perhaps add her name to you post title? Or other medics? Best of luck

If the doc won;t prescribe the pill, I guess the same goes for the implanon implant (like a progesterone only pill but in your arm) - it's extremely effective.

Non-hormonal-wise, have you considered a diaphragm (cap)? I think it's about 92% safe, so not quite as high performing as the implant, so you;d need to be careful around fertile times, but they're comfortable, ok to use, I liked mine. I only changed to the implant so I could forget about the whole issue for 3 years ?

I'd second the diaphragm. I am unable to use hormonal methods at the moment, and hate condoms. Have 2 friends who've suffered miscarriages due to copper coil, so the cap was my only option really!

I also use spermicidal gel, and chart using fertilityfriend to work out my most fertile times are and avoid sex at those times. *caveat* Its not the most reliable method, I think ginni's 92% sounds about right, but an unplanned pregnancy wouldn't be medically disasterous for us, so you do need to take the advice of an expert

Thanks, I hadn't thought of the diaphragm. Ginny they might agree to the implant, but we have been ttc with no luck ad I woul want it out assoon as I had the all clear to ttc. Problem is FP say speak with GP because of the health issues but my GP isn't very up todate wth FP stuff.

The implanon doesn't affect your fertility at all so if you have it taken out you should be back to normal in a couple of weeks. I had one put in for just 8 months between baby no. 1 and ttc baby no. 2. Both times ttc after implant removal my cycles were bang on normal straight away.

Thanks Bingy, did you have any side effects from the implant?

Not Bingy, but I found the implant doubly effective as it did hit my sex drive for a while. I hadn;t used hormonal contraceptives for a couple of years before that, so it took a bit of getting used to. I've stuck with it because I need the 100% (or near enough) protection it offers, but if an 'accident' wasn't such a big no-no (genetics) I wouldn't have it to be honest. It hurt going in too, and I know it's going to hurt when it comes out ?

I too have the implant as can't do normal pills and hated my time with the coil. I cry more at crap tv but that is the only side effect. For me it is definitely the best form and the most secure I was told.

Ummm side effects.. well I think a bit of weight gain possibly although it's hard to tell as having it put in coincided with the calming down of BFing so I wasn't losing so many calories to milk but hadn't resumed any exercise.

Possibly also a lack of libido but again, post birth, I'm not totally sure.

The first implant I had over 10 years ago which was a 5-year one, I didn't notice any side effects. That one was massive and bloody sore to put in and take out but the new 3 year ones are fantastic - slight bruising and minimal pain, takes about 10 mins to put in / take out

To be honest a lot of the side effects are more positive for me, i.e. no periods, just a bit of spotting every now and again and also no PMT. Emotionally I felt quite stable on the implant.

Thank you everyone. Its food for thought, off to google about the implant.

What about the nuvaring? It's a ring that you fit like a cap or diaphragm, but it lasts for 30 days and is more effective (I think) than the other options. You could discuss it with the doc and see if it would be suitable for you

I've tried everything else (coil, pills (many!), injection, implant, condoms) and this is what I'm thinking of using this once the baby is born if my cycles stay wonky and I can't trust charting.

Downsides to other methods:

Injection - Mood swings and also the bone thinning problem

Coil - Mine moved and caused immense pain

Implant - Constant bleeding for a year and gave up in the end

Pills - Most make me ill, Yasmin even made me feel pregnant had constant nausea, cravings, the works

Condoms - Pain to use and we weren't always careful.

Thanks Dr.D never heard of nuvaring. Sounds very interesting as I hope to only be needing contraception for 2-3 months. Will ask about it.

Another option might be the contraceptive patch, although I think it's got the same hormones as the pill so you might not be able to have it. I've been using one since Z was born and like it - I'm rubbish at remembering to take pills so just sticking a patch on once a week works well.

Morning Rhea.

Happy to try and help.

Can you let me know why your Dr has said you can't have the Pill and also the Depo? Sorry if it's something personal, but it would help me give you advice. It's actually really rare to not be able to have the Depo, so it's just possible your GP is mistaken...

(Having said that, Depo is associated with a delay in return of fertility so may not be the best for you anyway)

Nuvaring and the patch both have the same hormones as the combined pill, so you may also not be able to have these if it's a 'hormonal' reason that you can't have the combined pill.

Likewise, the implant has the same hormones as the mini pill and the Depo so same applies.

Copper coil - despite 2 having fallen out, it would be worth pusuing imho. Sounds like you have been unlucky, but actually how you do with one coil doesn't necessarily predict how you will do with the next.

Diaphragms: not the best in terms of success rates so if you need something 100% then not ideal.

I am surprised the FP Clinic aren't interested tbh, this is exactly the kind of thing we deal with in our FP clinic on a regular basis.

Happy to help further.

Loads of handy advice for any contraception matters at fpa.org.uk

http://www.fpa.org.uk/Information/Readourinformationbooklets