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

[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.

[mrsmac]

I have depression issues and I found the implanon terible for that. Since Riley was born we have been using tiredness, lack of time or interest and amazing risk taking as a contraceptive LOL

[Lolli]

mrsmac. I think having kids might be the best contraception against having more!

[Footsteps]

i suffer from severe depression and when i had the mirena in it didnt affect my moods. iv tried lots of pills and the depo and they didnt help.
the mirena was a god send xxx

[Queen]

Make DH get the snip

lol

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

I was going to say the same thing. Except my DH is snipped

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.

It is Yasmin, I tried it, and I loved it. Bit exxy though in comparison to other pills. You can buy a month for $30 I think, or 3 months for like $70 . I stopped taking it as I started bleeding through.

I was going to say LR have you tried Nuva Ring? Apparently it is awesome, as the hormones just affect your vag-jay-jay and not you. Maybe look into that? If DH had not got snipped I was going in to try this! They last a month, and you take em out to get your period. You insert them like a diaphragm.

[fourthontheway]

This may or may not have been mentioned, apologies if it has ....

There is a book called The Billings method, it's a guide to natural fertility. I have found the techniques invaluable for both conception and contraception.

[paradise lost]

Things i have used:
Billings - as mentioned above, you monitor your cervical mucus (you don't have to go reaching about for it, you just pay attention on the loo/in the shower!) to detect when you're fertile - i did have DD using this method, bu after 16 successful cycles and when i conceived her i should've known better because my cycles had suddenly gone insane and i should've been more careful!
Persona - the monitor mentioned. It's very effective (i think 96% when used correctly) but it relies on abstinence during the fertile period (even sex with a condom vastly increases the risk of pregnancy) and i find it hard not to have sex whenmother nature is telling me to!
Mirena - with mirena you have the same hormone circulating as the minipill and implants use, but at a lower concentration. If you are on the mini-pill you have a certain amount of artificial hormones circulating in the blood, with th implant it's 50% the minipill amount, and with the Mirena it's 10% the minipill amount. I didn't have terrible moods with mirena but my breasts KILLED for 2 weeks out of every 4 unless i was religious about taking EPO, and even then they hurt for about a week.

Overall i liked the IUD in that it takes care of itself, but i won't be using the Mirena again, and plan to try the copper kind after this baby. I can't see either of us ever getting the snip - it's too final.

[widdly]

I am medicated for anxiety and depression adn have tried countless different pills over the years, all of which have had yucky side effects. As a last resort my Dr has put me on Yaz. So far so good, this is only my first month but it seems way better. And on Yaz you only get a couple of days bleeding, not a whole week.

I hope you find something that works for you