Contraception options

[PollyA]

Just to put it into perspective if 2000 women used a mirena for one year less than one would fall pregnant whereas if 100 women used a diaphragm somewhere between 4-15 would fall pregnant, which is similar to condoms. Mirena has a better success rate than getting a vasectomy or getting your tubes tied.

In the seventies they had a big problem with copper iuds, they got a bad name, many babies were born holding them but it is very different now

A copper IUD only prevents implantation but as Jennifer13 points out a mirena prevents pregnancy in different ways including changing the cervical mucous to make it hostile to sperm which prevents fertilisation.

Side effects are really the main reason people discontinue different contraceptives and as they go the Mirena is streets ahead of the depot injection or the pill as the levels of hormone reaching your system are less...BUT some women still get side effects... I couldn't tolerate a mirena for the local side effects and I was allergic to the plastic it was made of. Highly unusual but a bummer. I still recommend then because when they work they are wonderful.

[MusicLover83]

I was looking in to the copper IUD because it is non-hormonal. It is not on the PBS so it is about $140 from the pharmacist I go to. Seeing as they can stay in for up to ten years I would want to get my money's worth so would rather wait until after I've finished having a family.

[Snacks]

Just to put it into perspective if 2000 women used a mirena for one year less than one would fall pregnant whereas if 100 women used a diaphragm somewhere between 4-15 would fall pregnant, which is similar to condoms. Mirena has a better success rate than getting a vasectomy or getting your tubes tied.

Wow! Those are interesting stats. I'm not really surprised about the barrier methods - I imagine there's a fair amount of 'user error' in falling preggers with those but am very surprised at the surgical stats vs the Mirena.
I've never been a fan of the concept of an IUD... it's personal I suppose just like there are loads of people who hate condoms and DH and I have happily & successfully used them for years... even found them vaguely 'fun' at various points. But DH had a vasectomy last year and wow, it has been fabulous. But as the OP said, yes, you need to be comfortable with the permanency of it.

[nothing2lose]

Or you could just swap bits with me! Then you'll pretty much be guaranteed not to get pregnant!!!!

Seriously though, good luck finding something that works for you!