A contraceptive that won't make me want to throw myself off a cliff?

[Lolli]

Hi all,
I'd just like to hear, especially from people that have suffered depression or anxiety, your opinions, thoughts and whatnot on contracteptives and their effect on your moods.

The pill and mini pill send me totally insane, to the point where I'm suicidal. I've heard of Implanon and DeproVera doing the same. My psych recommended a Mirena, but I've just heard that can have the same effect.

Obviously there is condoms, but I detest the sight, smell and feel of them Oh, and I'm breastfeeding too.

Any thoughts appreciated. TIA

[Arimeh]

Make DH get the snip

lol

Sorry have no advice - cos I'm making mine do it...lol

[Olive]

does the good out fashioned diaphram still exist???

[Yael]

There is a new pill out that isn't supposed to have such an effect.. but from memory it was expensive.

I'll try and search around and see if i can find the name. I remember my Ob mentioning it.

[miamunchkin]

I used a system called Persona, but unfortunately, it's not common over here in Australia. It's basically a little machine that tests your urine and tells you when you are ovulating, when is safe and when is unsafe. I have used it sucessfully for a number of years and order the test sticks over the internet.
May be worth a look?

[Jaycee]

That sounds quite interesting mia, would also be good for those ttc too, I've never heard of such a thing!

[miamunchkin]

Yes, it would be - a friend of mine who was LTTTC used it and sucessfully concieved.

It's really good as it puts you more in tune with your cycles. When you first start, it gives you long "red" times, when you need to use another type of contraception, but after about 4 months, you come down to a time of about 6 days which is your "unsafe" time.

It's as simple as weeing on a stick on the days it tells you to and then stick it into the machine for a few mins to wait to see if a red or a green day!

[Life is Good]

I am in the same boat, LoriRae. My psychiatrist said that there is a pill available that is similar to the low level hormone one called Yasmin (which I have been on and it did me no favours in the mood department) but is even lower in hormonal content. It is called Yas or Yaz (not sure of the spelling). If I had to go back on the pill then that would be the one I would try.

Mia, that system sounds really interesting and is definitely something I plan to look into. After all, taking my chances (as I am at present) is not what I want to be doing - just not ready for another baby anytime soon!

I hope you find something that works for you LoriRae. If you do, please PM me details! x

[thepixie]

Make DH get the snip

lol

Sorry have no advice - cos I'm making mine do it...lol

I'm a fan of the diaphragm, can be hard to come by but contact the Family Planning Association, if there is one near you they do fittings and are awesome to talk to about contraception in general.

[Yael]

Yes, it was Yas that i was talking about - that has a lower hormone and is linked with less symtoms of depression etc.

When i looked into it though it was around $70-$80 for 3 months, which is a lot more than around $30 for the standard. That was around a year ago, so not sure if it is cheaper now?

[Lolli]

Thanks very much everyone. I'm going for my very late post birth check up next week, so I'll ask the doc about Yas and a diaphram. Might do some Googling too

[Bumperstump Cummerbund]

I was gonna suggest abstinence, but it may have the same effect after a while

Personally, because of my mental history, I never found any contraceptive that didn't have the same effect, except condoms. Sorry darl, no help at all!

[thepixie]

Just a warning LR - the dr will most likely try to discourage you from using a diaphragm saying it's not as reliable as hormonal types of contraception, and if you dig deeper may not know how to fit them, as it's apparently a dying art. I don't know why but IME drs seem entirely fixated with hormonal contraception and refuse to believe that anyone finds it difficult/ impossible to tolerate. GL with the doc (sorry for the rant) x

[Lolli]

Thanks for letting me know pixie. If I can't get a good answer from the doctor, there is a a fanatstic womens health centre in my area, maybe they might do them there? Or at least be a bit more sympathetic to the problem, and discuss the options with me. I don't *think* there is a Family Planning near me, but I might check that out too....

[thepixie]

Women's health centre will almost certainly do them, and FPA if you have one nearby. It's just so refreshing to go somewhere to talk about contraception and not be talked down to or treated like a moron. I have to say almost every doctor I have spoken to about contraception (male or female) has treated me like an idiot, and FPA treated me like an expert about my body, and a woman who had made an informed choice about contraception. they get a huge from me.

[my-three-monkeys]

Hi. I had the same trouble with the mini pill. The doctor couldn't understand what the problem was.
I have got the implanon now, my moods are better but my AF is driving me nuts!

[MantaRay]

I have been really bad on the pill lately, but DH thinks I was just as bad with the Mirena (which my gynae thinks is unlikely but you never know!).

My DH is going the snip now - he thinks I'll be easier to live with that way LOL!

[Epacris]

We are really struggling with this at the moment too. This thread has been so useful and informative for me. I don't have any mental health issues but I just point blank refuse to put hormones in my body anymore. I've BTDT and I'm just not going to do it ever again. But sheesh, condoms are just the pits, ergh So I think I'll go and investigate the diaphragm option. Pixie, thanks for your very specific info about the technicalities of getting one.