Female Contraceptives - Birth Control

[bellbird]

Have you used any female contraceptives?
Care to share your experience? (I'm looking into them for myself currently).

Thank you!

 

[Strangelongtrip]

Like birth control? I've been on hormone pill birth control since I was 15 because my periods were so bad I would black out because of pain and wake up in my own vomit. Turns out it's endometriosis, only took until now (at 22) to get diagnosed lol. I've been on this same dose since around 16 but my pain is too bad and mood swings debilitating so I have to change my pill.

I was having sex with men and it kept me from getting pregnant, but have finally been honest with myself and date women/nonbinary folx now. So I'm not even on it for contraceptive reasons but it helps tremendously with pain. It also helps with a really deep seated fear I have about being raped again and getting pregnant. It helped my mood swings too!

 

[VioletButterfly]

I tried a few back in the day and also for tried one for PCOS just to regulate me. My body didn't like them and I had allergic reactions to a couple as well. My PCP was so funny, he didn't know what the hard knots were on my shins and sent me to a dermatologist. The derm asked what meds I was on and told me right away that I was having an allergic reaction to the bcps. Go figure. :)

IMHE, I'd try for the lowest dose of hormone pill you can use and see how that works in case you are sensitive. I certainly would not go with something that has to be implanted just in case you are sensitive as well.

Good luck.

 

[Lucycat]

I’m infertile and 55 but am still taking the pill to regulate periods and control mood swings.

 

[bellbird]

Like birth control?

Yep, birth control! I forgot it's more commonly referred to that overseas :)

Thanks for your responses all.
I've heard that the pill can take up to a couple of years after stopping for related things; periods, hormonal acne, mood, etc., to return to normal so that made me a little wary of it always.

 

[Sideways]

I've heard that the pill can take up to a couple of years after stopping for related things; periods, hormonal acne, mood, etc., to return to normal

Ain't just a rumour! This is particularly likely in people who have been on the pill a long time, but even then, it's incredibly individualised.

Being on, and coming off the pill, each have the potential to have impacts on things like mood and fertility.

If, say, getting pregnant in the next couple of years is a potential priority for you? Seek a general practitioner who specialises in womens health. Talk to them about the different options with the pill (a high progesterone one like what I'm on is probably something you want to avoid), and alternatives like Implanon, and the impact that may have on your mental health, the most likely side effects, and the likely long term impact of coming off if you want to.

 

[Friday]

I use a copper IUD for birth control (same failure rate as a tubal ligation, good for 10 years), and condoms for STIs.

I get hormone driven cervical cancer, so zip zero nada zilch in hormonal birth control allowed (and it also doesn’t work a damn on me, as I’m in 2 minority groupings, there ;) ). No pills, implants, shots, iuds, rings, et al. What’s left after that -on the female side of things- are the copper IUD, diaphragm, cervical cap, & surgical interventions. I was/am completely uninterested in getting my tubes tied, and have a mobile cervix, so that nixes caps & diaphragms. Left me with a singular choice, so I got SUPER lucky in loving the hell out of it! :tup: