Should I go off the pill?

[Aimz]

I actually wouldn't mind a diaphram. Does anyone use one? I've never really looked into it before but that might be a good option.

Information please ladies!!

[Cassius2]

hi there!

i too had endo and decided to go off the pill as i wanted to know what the hey my cycles were doing. my OB/GYN told me that the pill can help with the symptoms of endo (ie lessening pain etc), but it doesnt actually do anything positive for it. i decided that i needed to give my body a break and good ol' cleanse and came off it in 2004. have never looked back.

the first AF after the pill was a bit of a doozer but i was able to really know what had been going on with my poor body for all those years without realising (and it wasnt good!). i decided never to go back on it as i wanted to know what my body was doing and coping and to be able to accurately assess changes and go from there ITMS.

DH was fine with the fact that we entered condom land. luckily he didnt really like the idea of the pill in the first place. but i can recommend the billings method. there is a fair bit of info on it on the web.

good luck with the lap

[sangie]

We use billings here too - I think that hell would freeze over before I go back on the pill, it seriously messed me up. As soon as I came off it (and I tried lots of different ones) it was like a dark cloud had been lifted off my shoulders.

Like kitt3n said though accidents can happen and in our case we don't mind if it does! You need to consider this though. You could combine billings with condoms/diaphragm to be extra safe just around your fertile time, so around a week every month.

You might be surprised by your DH's reaction. We agreed on a trial period and once he saw the difference in me (better mood and libido) he said he never wants me back on the pill ever again!

ETA: forgot to say that there is an online teaching service for billings

[Indadhanu]

Hi Amy...

Obviously I'm no real use to give advice on contraception BUT contraception isn't just YOUR concern. My sis had this issue (chemicals vs condoms) with her BF and this is what I said to her... my personal opinion is that its really unreasonable for your DH to say "I don't like the FEEL of condoms while we DTD, so please pump your body full of chemicals for your ENTIRE cycle and deal with the side-effects so that I'm not mildly uncomfortable for a few hours a month". No logic, no reason. It's not all about him...

Though I agree, maybe talk to your GYN about how the pill might impact on the endo...?

[Aimz]

I agree that it's not entirely my responsibility. But up until now it always has been and we've never even really discussed any other method of contraception. It's always just been the norm that I have been on the pill and we don't use any other method of contraception.

I'm not a fan of condoms either - so a diaphram is seeming like the best option.

Do I need to get one from my GYN? Are the comfortable/unnoticeable when DTD?

ETA:

it's a little fiddly and it WILL go flying across the room in a spray of spermicide at least a few times before you figure it out!

PMSL!!

[thepixie]

Yes your Gyn needs to fit it for you. You won't feel it when you DTD, and they say that your partner can't but mine does. It's nothing like the loss of sensation with condoms though.
ETA one more thing I forgot to mention is that they can be quite tricky to get hold of, as few pharmacists seem to stock them these days. I got mine from Pharmacy Online, you will have to ring to order it so they can get your size. I am not sure where you live but they can post it to you.

[Aimz]

That's great pixie - we order most of our pharmecuticals online anyway (much cheaper) but I will see what the GYN recommends. There are about 10 chemists where I live so I'm sure he'd be able to tell me which ones stock them.

How often do they need replacing? What is the (approximate) cost?

I'm feeling really excited about this. I CANNOT WAIT to get off the pill now after hearing so many stories in this thread of never looking back. How I would KILL for a normal sex drive again!

[thepixie]

How often do they need replacing? What is the (approximate) cost?

They last 2 years and the one I got (Orthocoil) cost $65 .... Much cheaper than the pill or condoms!

[thepixie]

I hated the pill too - I used to be on Diane and it made me throw up at 4am every 4th Sunday night like clockwork. My doctor actually said "can't you just tolerate the vomiting?" ah, no, why would I want to do that? To my mind if something makes me vomit it isn't good for me. I tried probably a dozen different kinds of pill before concluding that they all made me miserable and crazy and I wanted a break. Sangie, I totally agree about the dark cloud!
I use a diaphragm and I think its great! it's wonderful to know that your cycle is YOUR cycle KWIM? it's a little fiddly and it WILL go flying across the room in a spray of spermicide at least a few times before you figure it out! But the feeling is much better than condoms, you're in control of your own fertility, and you can combine it with NFP/ Billings so you are occasionally able to do without it (assuming you know you are not fertile and have checked the phase of the moon etc). Personally I don't use the spermicide because it didn't agree with me (and made it nearly impossible to insert) I just leave it in for 12 hours after DTD and that worked for us. We got DD on the first try so we are obviously fertile. Some doctors will try to tell you diaphragms are unreliable and push hormonal contraception on you but if you just say "well if it happened it would be a nice surprise" they usually shut up!
Good luck.

[Willow]

Haven't read all the replies but just wanted to say this is how our DD arrived - I went off the pill just before our wedding because we were planning to ttc some time in the 12 months following and I wanted to get an idea of my cycle. I was very careful and used the billings method in the leadup to the wedding but got a bit distracted on our honeymoon...yep, honeymoon baby 9 months later!

[Kitt3n]

you may not need to go to the expense of having the ob fit the diaphragm - family planning centres etc offer this service, might be worth a look if there is one in your area?

If you combine that with billings and the occasional condom - on those extra fertile days - i reckon you have all bases covered. I think i will be getting a diaphragm after the unit's arrival too! (but then again I heard you may need to update your diaphragm after BF too - not sure??)

anyway, sorry for mini hi jack - with the skin care - honestly, try something natural - dont go for the nasty chemical filled anti acne strip-your-skin-of-its-natural-goodness-and-layer-it-with-sulphates-and-parabens-crap.

I have always had an acne problem. Guess what got rid of it? Organic, natural skin care.

[Aimz]

I'll be seeing my GYN at a follow up appointment two weeks after the lap so that is when I would discuss it with him. He wants to change my pill anyway so it would be a perfect time to talk about alternative contraceptive methods.

I agree about using natural skin care - I used proactive once and swore I would never touch it again - got a full refund! Talk about OUCH.

[Aimz]

I told DH and he was an absolute CHAMP about the whole thing. At first he asked about the effectiveness of a diaphram and said that was his main concern and I told him if we used it properly, combined with the Billings Method (which we looked up when we got home) I said it would be just as effective as the pill.

He then agreed with my concerns relating to the chemicals I've been putting into my body for 8 years and he understood my wish to have natural cycle. I then mentioned the likelyhood of an increase sex drive and I think at that point he was sold LOL .

I was worried for nothing! So the countdown is ON... 3 1/2 weeks until I can go off the pill!!

[Snacks]

Great news, Amy.

[HotI]

Is there any written info someone can direct me to on effectiveness of different methods, in particular the diaphragm?

Ta