Comments on: The No-Pill Birth Control

By: Chels

Chels — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 21:20:07 +0000

I have one of these, the Mirena, which secretes a low level of hormones, and when i got mine put in, I almost passed out at one point! It’s totally worth it now, though. It’s weird, because I spot almost every day, but my np told me that it’s pretty normal, and goes away after a few months. Also, if you live in Iowa, you can get one of these for free from a planned parenthood. They have a grant that’s paying for it until the 30th of this month.

By: Chauncey

Chauncey — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 21:37:00 +0000

I’m jealous, when I talked to my Gynecologist about getting the IUD, he said it wasn’t an option. Because I am only 22 and haven’t had any kids yet, he said it wasn’t a good idea. So sadly I am stuck with the NuvaRing, which I suppose is better than the pill.

By: Molly

Molly — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 22:59:09 +0000

I had also heard and read that it’s not a good idea if you haven’t already had children. Something about the cervix not being open/wide enough. Who knows. I was pretty bummed though, because it’s basically the most ideal form of b.c. ever since I hated the pill when I was on it (made my desire for sex drop to ZERO, my weight skyrocket and my skin go crazy).

By: Lauren, University of Michigan

Lauren, University of Michigan — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 23:33:37 +0000

My doc told me it wasnt a problem at all! As soon as I want to get preggers (which is FARRRR off), she will just remove it and I’ll be fine!

By: Jackie

Jackie — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 01:04:33 +0000

I heard the risk with the IUD for women who haven’t had kids yet is that it can cause infertility.

By: michael

michael — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 11:14:39 +0000

does it ever bother you women that there are SO many options for female BC, and pretty much only the condom for men?
i think that would be a good topic to debate. If Men had a form of BC, would they take it? Because personally, I don’t think I would take anything that stopped me from having an ejaculate.
what do you guys think?

By: Audrey

Audrey — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 12:25:33 +0000

I love my iud. I have the mirena. The first 6 months are the worst (spotting and cramping) but after that it’s golden. Watch out the 1st few times you have sex though since the strings can poke and hurt the guy until they soften up.

I think its ridiculous that there isn’t more forms of birth control for men. I know that there’s more avaliable for women since obviously we’re the ones that are more affected if a pregnancy occurs. Still, you’d think they’d at least offer more options for men on the off chance they want to be more pro-active in preventing pregnancy. Doesn’t Europe have a bc pill for men?

By: zoe

zoe — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:43:28 +0000

Im happy on my pill although I did have to switch around through a few that gave me bad side-effects to find the right one… but what you say conflicts with what my doctor told me about the IUD (or coil as i know it), she told me it makes cramps and periods incredibly much heavier and worse… I wasnt keen on that, especially since with this pill my periods are finally a joke!! Also, that thing Audrey said about the guy getting hurt by things that are stuck up your cervix??? WOW. No thanks. (Although I hope it works out well for you, best of luck Lauren!)

By: Jackie

Jackie — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 16:21:44 +0000

Of course you wouldn’t take something that stops your ejaculate, Michael-the actual act of ejaculating feels amazing for a guy. But would you take something that rendered your sperm infertile for the amount of time you took it?

By: Chels

Chels — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 22:11:25 +0000

the company that makes the mirena advises that only women who have given birth get it, because the cervix is more open and pliable, like chauncey said. my gyno said that it’s just a comfort thing, that it makes the insertion go easier. which was probably why mine was a little rough.

By: Lauren, University of Michigan

Lauren, University of Michigan — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 23:29:09 +0000

Mine was uncomfortable, but that is why the doc says you need to be on your cycle when you get it. That way your cervix is dialated a bit and it makes the procedure easier.

By: Dina

Dina — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 23:58:02 +0000

Its not a good option for everyone, unless you’ve had children before, its usually difficult to get your cervix to dilate, ergo the weird cramping. When my friend had it done, it was like 30 minutes of labor, and her’s was much messier. Get a good doctor!

By: Jo-Marie

Jo-Marie — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 15:17:12 +0000

I seem to remember sombody telling me you cant use tampons with this is it true?

And to whoever mentioned the male contraceptive. We have created something, its an injection i believe, but its currently in tested and wont be approved for at least another 4 years.

Do you really want to leave contraception to men anyway? There are guys who will say theyre taking it when the’re not and your the one who ends up pregnant.

We have contraceptive implants here in the uk which go in your arm and can protect you for 3 years. Do you have those int he US?

By: ela

ela — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 07:49:30 +0000

no in europe we don’t have a bc for men…nor do i think they would take it… there’s still lingering primitiveness in males here as far as that goes. i take seasonale (euro version is just taking jasmin 3 months i a row) bc my P is literally debilitating but after having a solid year i started f-ing up and skipping pills. now i’m stuck with having a P again until i can get back on track. my doc told me that the IUD is too serious since i haven’t had any children and could give me complications. as soon as my fiancee heard this he told me to stop taking everything all together and be natural…but i’m going to stick to my pills.

By: Meghan

Meghan — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 17:58:11 +0000

Soo.. I’m getting an IUD tomorrow… my female doctor said that American doctors are afraid of lawsuits and that’s why they don’t use them… there is a little risk of infection which could lead to sterilization, which is why you can’t have sex for 2 weeks after insertion. Plus, she gave me a pill that will cause my cervix to dilate before the procedure, not sure why some doctors don’t do this. I don’t even have to be on my period… It’s supposed to hurt pretty badly. I had more than one doctor tell me I couldn’t do it until I had kids, but that’s just bullshit. They are covering their asses because of one lawsuit against the Morena IUD in the 1970s…. do your research. It is the most common b.c. used world wide…

By: Sarah

Sarah — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 02:24:36 +0000

After having 2 kids while I was on birth control pills I decided to go with an IUD. Yes, I was on bc pills, but I would forget to take a pill here and there and so ended up pregnant twice. Now I have had the IUD for about two years. When I went to get it put in, I only felt uncomfortable for 5 secs and then it was over. Nothing else happened. No cramping or any other effects. Now after 2 years I still have a period every month, but it is very light. I would recommend getting an IUD to anyone. Sorry to those who had to go through so much pain, I guess its not as painful if you had kids.