Dancing to the hottest baby-free jam.
I just finished my first period since restarting birth control pills after a couple years’ break. The shift in my ability to remain positive and uninterested in self-harm was amazing. There was a bit of depression, sure, but it was nothing like last month. It’s like my period unleashes swarms of dementors, and my patronus is shaped like a little round pill that changes color every Sunday.
Which is weird. I always thought my patronus would be a dolphin.1 Okay, but also Pinkie Pie. And Sharon Needles.
I realize that correlation is not causation, but I’ve decided to assume for the time being I actually do need to remain on hormonal contraception in order to not be a very crazy wreck half the time or more. So I’ve been spectacularly stressed out about what happens when I run out of pills, which happens in just under a month at this point. But! I found out today that I do indeed qualify for a state program that will help pay for birth control (which is not shocking because seriously, I know people who spend the equivalent of my income on just restaurant visits, but the gears of bureaucracy turn slowly).
It looks like I may be able to choose between several different varieties of fake girl hormone delivery devices, and I’d love to get some input on how they’ve worked out for others. I think many different permutations of pill are on the table, as are the NuvaRing and Mirena IUD. Advice? Warnings of doom?
Ideally I want something that delivers the lowest dose of hormones possible (because health issues) but that can still give me the benefits of not wanting to kill myself. Extra bonus points if it doesn’t bloat me like an engorgement charm or make me ravenously hungry (because remember how I’m poor?), and if it gives me bigger boobs. What? I can’t be vain?
- If spirit animals were a thing, mine would be a dolphin: they’re clever and social and have lots of sex for fun. [↩]
I basically swear by NuvaRing. After a cornucopia of side effects with pill-like things, it was perfect. And you only had to worry about it once a month (because I am terrible at remembering a daily pill). It’s completely comfortable/unnoticeable and easy to insert too. I stayed on it the entire time I was dating cis guys. Then again, the lack of side effects was because it has a lower hormone dosage than pills, but have no way of knowing if that will be too low for the not-wanting-to-kill-yourself requirement.
After years of dreadful period experiences, controlled for 13 years with oral contraceptives, I decided I wanted to try being fake-hormone-free. I did it for a year, and it was the absolute worst year of my life. I’ve since had a Mirena fitted, and it’s been mostly amazing. The worst part was actually getting it in there – but I put that down to the arrogant doctor who fitted it (and about whom I would have complained at the time, had I not been quite so traumatised). I have had some issues with low mood/PMS type things since then, but there are other factors so I can’t be sure it’s related to the Mirena – although my mum did find some medical literature which suggests that Mirena can aggravate that sort of thing – but to be honest I’d take my current situation over my hormone-free horrific year any time! Highly recommended :)
Leanne (Scotland)
I loved the NuvaRing, but suspect that it contributed to some vaginal pain issues that cropped up after a year of use. Maybe I had a low level YI or BV infection? It went away when I switched to Mirena, in any case. My Mirena is almost three years old, well-settled in, and I love it. In fact, I love the idea of IUDs so much, I mod a community devoted to supporting and educating people about them!
And it’s on Livejournal, because it’s apparently 2004: IUD-Divas.livejournal.com
I’m another happy Mirena user. I have no periods at all any more, which means in my case no debilitating cramps–I never really pinned down mood issues related to periods, but it seems like it might help with that too. Getting it put in was mildly unpleasant, but 5 minutes of discomfort every five years sure seems like a worthwhile price to me.
I tried NuvaRing, and my body was fine at first. But after a few months, my vagina swelled up horribly and I got this itching burning of awfulness and I couldn’t have sex for months. I went to my doc, and she said, basically, that my body “rejected it.”
I should say, though, that my skin/body tissue is pretty sensitive in general. So this might not hap pane to you. Just thought I should tell you about my icky experience, though!
I’m really excited because I’m about to get myself a diaphragm–tomorrow! I, luckily, don’t get suicidal on my period. But I gotta keep those babies away…and condoms are just too expensive. So, here goes my new adventure in semen-stoppage! I’ll keep you posted:)
Sorry: I meant “this might not happen”
I had good luck with the generic version of ortho try cyclin. It made me naseaus if I took in it in the morning. Once I took it at night, it helped quite a bit. I’m glad you are feeling a bit better. Good luck.
I absolutely loved the NuvaRing, for the first 4 months or so. Then even that low dosage got to me and I started getting horribly depressed. (I do very poorly on all forms of hormonal birth control, but I keep trying) Be prepared to have a love-hate relationship with it if you turn out to be like me. It was so easy… and then so, so bad. I’m honestly waiting until I am officially ‘done’ with children and can be permanently fixed.
I am sorry to be the bearer of crappy news, but Sharon Needles is a giant asshole. http://soletstalkabout.com/post/36080379264/hipster-racist-sharon-needles-is-on-the-cover-of-outs
@Katie OH FOR FUCK’S SAKE. And I just remembered that dolphins rape people. So I guess that leaves me with Pinkie Pie.
Another vote for Mirena over here. The cramps and bleeding do go away eventually- I’ve had mine in for about nine months now, and I get nary a twinge and barely any period at all, but the first month or so I was very worried that it would be Like This Forever.
In addition, it is a low level of hormone, but since it’s right up in the area where all the action is hormonally, it works as well/better than a higher level of hormone applied in a more indirect fashion.
The Planned Parenthood I went to in the Seattle area was A++, extra credit for having a, get this, *heating pad* in a disposable cover turned on and ready to go when I walked in the exam room. That heating pad is probably the reason why I didn’t have much trouble walking home afterwards. I definitely recommend judicious heating pad use and general babying of yourself for at least the first three days or week after insertion.
My period strength and mood were pretty normal until I went on oral contraceptive, at which point the period stayed the same and the mood went haywire on a monthly schedule. Then a while later I had a NuvaRing, which, unfortunately, made me bleed without stopping for the entire time I was on it. The situation was such that I can’t tell if it was the hormones or the surrounds that caused me to feel like crap.
I also tried Depo Provera. Do not try Depo Provera. I can’t prove it, but I think it might have caused mood swings, depression, and a suppression of my libido, *and* you can’t just stop taking it if it isn’t working out well for you.
If you’re looking for bigger tits, we’re pretty sure that my sister grew larger than intended due to an early patch prototype that isn’t available anymore (they turned down the hormones). It might have also had something to do with when she was taking it (around 14-16).
Apparently a discussion of birth control is what it takes for me to delurk. I’m going to go back to enjoying ConTuesday and your other posts in a quiet fashion now. :)
I love my NuvaRing. I tried pills when I first started and I could never remember to take them on time. Eventually I switched to an IUD. I’ve had Mirena and Paragard and I was happy with both of them but they fell out on me after about a month and a half. My gyn said that happens to about 15% of people who haven’t had a baby – birth changes your cervix to hold them in better, apparently. I also tried Implanon but it made my arm itch and I was massively bloated all the time so I took it out after a year. I settled on NuvaRing because you only have to deal with it once a month and at least you can rinse that off and pop it back in if it falls out (which it doesn’t really do on its own, but it can get hooked onto sex toys). You also have the option to time your periods with NuvaRing – you can leave it in for part or all of the off-ring period week to delay or prevent an inconvenient period.
i’ve had a mirena IUD since august, and oh my god, it has changed my life. i used to have completely horrendous periods — we’re talking soaking through a super-plus tampon, an overnight pad, and my jeans on a 45-minute drive, plus palm-sized clots, here — and suicidal-flavor PMS, but hormonal birth control made my blood pressure go kerfloinga and my crazy meds not work so well. not gonna lie, insertion hurt so bad i thought the doctor was killing me for 30 seconds there, but since then, i haven’t had a period at all (or, well, i’ve had a couple of days when a pantyliner wouldn’t go amiss, but after what i’ve been used to, that doesn’t count as a period), and my PMS has been more along the lines of “i’m having a crappy day >:(” than “probably i should kill everyone in the city and then myself.” i LOVE it.
Implant implant implant. On my second one, haven’t had a period in three years, nor PMT, seriously calmed my mood, didn’t have to think about it until it started running out (and you know when it’s running out trust me). Of course I don’t know what that will cost you because the NHS pays for contraception in the UK, so that might not be suitable, but I love it and would never use anything else.
I have a Mirena IUD, and am very fond of it.
* My periods have completely stopped. I had approximately a month of spotting after insertion – a few days a week, with little breaks interspersed.
* Insertion did suck. Remember to breathe. But I was able to take public transportation home.
* My boobs have not changed size. (They were slightly fuller back when I was taking the Pill, but I also had awful awful periods when I was taking the Pill.)
* I gained some weight about six months after insertion, but I can’t tell if it was related or if my body just decided to be a slightly different size and shape as a 24th birthday present. (I was really just annoyed that most of my pants didn’t fit any more.)
I’ve known 2 women who had the Mirena, and both had troubles with it. One had it migrate, and the other had it fall out. However, both had it implanted to stop massive hemmoraging, which it did nothing to help.
My favorite pill is Yasmin/Ocella (generic version of Yasmin). I’ve been on Orthocyclen and OrthoTriCyclen in the past, too, with good results. But, I have PCOS, and if I’m not on hormonal bc, my periods stop.
I love, love, loved my IUD. I had, like, no side effects and was immune to babies and it was fun to talk about. And then I got a menstrual cup, which I also love love love, and the pressure form the cup caused my IUD to come out. And then I took my IUD on a date and left it at a boy’s house. =[
So that’s something to consider.
I want to come in with a different version of the Mirena and NuvaRing experiences. I currently have a Mirena IUD and have had it in for a year now. Prior to the Mirena I took the generic for Yaz. On Yaz, I never had my usual cramps, bleeding, migraines, depression, mood swings….anything at all. I was on it for five years or so and I only switched because my insurance made it a pain to get it overseas and I didn’t want to have to panic every month about how I was going to get it. So, I went BC free for a bit (miserable) and then I got a Mirena. I have long periods now (about a week), horrible cramping, and get migraines about once a month. The mood swings aren’t unbearable, but combined with the cramps and headaches I’m likely to be out of commission/miserable/hiding out in my room for a week a month or so. It isn’t worth it, and I would consider the fact that you’re doing well on a pill as a sign that perhaps the Mirena’s lower dose isn’t really enough. PLUS it really hurts intensely when you get it in, it is traumatic, and it doesn’t depend on the doctor. The simple fact is that your uterus doesn’t want something poking it, and it shocks your body. I was trembling the rest of the day, and I can take a good amount of pain.
Now, about NuvaRing…I had it before Yaz, and I was mad depressed and bloated on it. Also it
slipped out during penetrative activity.
I like the fact that I don’t have to think about BC for five years with the Mirena, but I end up sick for a week a month, and so I think for someone who values their healthy moments highly it really isn’t the best choice. I’m getting it out the next time I go home. (Beware btw, the Mirena is in fashion with doctors so they might try to pressure you into it. One gyno literally told me it was impossible for the Mirena to cause side effects because it is localized…to which I can only say, “my uterus has blood vessels too.” Though perhaps the ‘side effects’ may be more because the dose is too low to prevent the nasty shit that some of us go through. I’m not sure, but I felt I should warn you).
I hope that you find the right thing for your body.