Am I the only paranoid one?

[Just Me]

Hmmm ... interesting thread. I am on the mini pill and I am useless at remembering it. I am in a similar boat to you Glamourcide.

I am a bit scared about the mirena though - I thought it was still a hormonal contraceptive??? I could be wrong though. I have heard some of the side effects of it and I am still a bit scared of it ... I don't like the idea of something implanted in my body, even if it can be removed. I am interested to hear more about it though if anyone wants to share (sorry Glamourcide, hope you don't mind).

[alioops]

It has the same dose as the mini pill, but it is in the area it needs to be in so less side effects than the pill. And you don't have to think about it, just check the strings every now and then and if it doesn't agree within 3 months get it out. It is very much like a Pap Smear to get put in. They need to do a pap before they do it, but it wasn't too bad. JM, If you need to know where has someone trained to insert it let me know

[kelebek]

I am looking into natural family planning, basically it involves following you cycle and avoiding DTD on the days you are fertile or using the pill. It is almost the same process that is used to fall pregnant but instead of DTD you avoid it

[Turkish Delight]

*puts hands up and yells me, me, me**

i am terrified of becoming preg again. I have had a mirena for just over 18 months and its side effects are becoming increasingly annoying and more predominant.
I'll be getting me tubes tied in August and need to have it in there til then. I want it out so badly atm due to the hot flushes i am getting because of it, but can't coz i'm so scared of becoming pregs.

I get you!

[Glamourcide]

Thanks for the advice, ladies LOL Pumpkin, I know right? DH reckons he *seriously* doesn't want any more babies, but I think his ability to procreate is his 'manhood' more than anything else, he just wants to know that he *can*, unfortunately I see him as one of the people who would suffer greatly if he were to lose the ability to father more children, much like a woman who's had a mastectomy feels like less of a woman due to losing her breasts, kwim? I wish he would just suck it up and do it because it's HIM who's so adamant about not having any more kids, but nope, he's leaving it up to me to mess with my body because he won't hear of getting the snip and becoming less of a man

I'm very, very reluctant to experiment with natural methods (ie withdrawal, cycle charting) purely because I fell pg twice within two weeks of stopping the Pill, and once when DD1 was a newborn and my lochia hadn't even stopped yet... and we were using a condom THAT time, too! It's just too risky, the ol' boy's little fellas are determined b******s!

And as for some of the other hormonal methods... Mirena especially is a tricky one. I've heard some people say great things about it and recommend it to everyone, but more people have had horrible experiences and I'm not sure I want to take the risk of having a bad experience. I suppose the only way to find out is to give it a go, is it true that you have to wait for 3 months to see if things 'settle' before you can have it removed? I'm just not sure I want to go 3 whole months with pain, weight gain, bloating, bleeding, mood swings etc until I can get it removed

Blah to DH - condoms for the time being lol... I would seriously consider getting my tubes tied but again, I've heard that it can really mess with your body and cause menopausal-type symptoms, not sure if that's true or just isolated cases but would be interested in learning more... and of course if anybody can think of any other contraceptive methods that I could have a go at, I'd love to hear about it!

Thanks again for all your advice and experiences Lol TD, nice to know I'm not alone hehehe

[~me~]

You don't have to wait 3mths for things to 'settle'. It is recommended though.
I am only having the spotting with mine and no other symptoms yet, not that I know of anyway . If it hasn't settled by 3mths I will have it removed and look at other options. My SIL has it, and hers is fine. She hasn't had any problems with it.

[alioops]

AF has just shown up for me the first time in quite some time, But She is a lot lighter than she ever was before Mirena. I was a bit concerned when I first got it put in (it was the same time that Charmlea's fell out) but I decided that the only way I would find out if it worked for me was to try it.

As for weight gain try to keep up a healthy eating and regular exercise regime, I haven't gained anything, I am almost back to my pre-preg weight. I think many of us are quick to blame our methods of contraception and slower to look at what other things could be contributing. I did gain 4 kilos while on the regular pill, but I also moved to a more sedentiary job and still ate crap, so I doubt that it was the pill that made me gain weight.