i want to quit the pill

hi all!

i'm finding it really difficult to choose a new method of contraception- i?m 27 and i?ve been on the combined pill for about 10 years with a couple of breaks quite a few years ago. i smoked heavily until 18 months ago, and am a happy quitter now!!

i quit because a) it was killing me!! and b) because i want to prepare my body for making babies :d which is also why i want to get off the pill.

i was starting to think that an iud was the way to go, but i just read the mirena iud post, and have now struck that method off the list (i've had stage 2 changes and colposcopy about 4 years ago, and have also never been pregnant).

plus, i have a tendency to thrush, which i suspect will diminish when i get off the pill. diaphragms and condoms are way too mood-killing :doh: and i think i'd be a bit freaked out by relying 100% on nfp, though i want to learn about that for conception before i get to that point :D

any recommendations????? :wall:

Hi and welcome to BB :)

Basically there are three types of contraceptives (well four counting just saying no - but lets say three).

Synthetic hormones - be they the pill or injections or implants but pretty much all the same theory.

Barrier method - stops the boys getting to the girls - so condoms or diaphragms

Unwelcoming environment - things like IUD which make sure an embryo doesn't stick by making the uterus unwelcoming to it.

So, given that you aren't keen on the last two you are back to synthetic hormones which are pretty much what you are one now.

If you are hoping to cleanse your system before trying to have a baby then generally the pill is the one that gets out of your system the fastest, implants can be removed but that is a surgical procedure rather than just stopping taking the pill. Shots like Depoprovera have to work their way out of your system over time.

Maybe go and have a chat with your GP about it and discuss the options but in my opinion either stick with what you have or go for condoms and turn them into part of foreplay rather than seeing them as a hassle.

When I went off the pill, I used Billings, and we used barriers (condoms) for the fertile times. Personally, I found the Billings was brilliant for me in terms of getting to know my cycles before we started TTC. We used these methods for about 10 months, then started TTC. I haven't gone back on the pill and I'm not likely to.
Is it too intrusive to ask what you find mood-killing about barriers? Condoms can be put on a bit earlier so you don't have to think about it at that cruicial moment, and while I haven't used a diaphragm before, I know they can be put in well in advance. If you have an understanding of your cycle, you could just use these methods onyl during your fertile times to prevent pregnancy...?

I use depo, but it can interrupt your cycle & take a while to concieve if your on it for a while. So probably not what you are looking for.
Alot of people have used Billings & from what I've read it works well.