Switching Birth Control - Advice, Opinions?

Hey If I was straight (or bi) I would use a copper IUD and male condoms. I don't want anything messing with my hormones, I completely understand you on that. I think you're doing the right thing. My opinion is that if you're not ready to have kids, you should use at LEAST two good birth control methods. Like a copper IUD and male condoms by example. A copper IUD, just like the pill, is 99% efficient. Plus, it's very convenient. The main risks associated with it are : expulsion and infection. But those are rare and of course you'll notice them if they happen. If they have to happen, they usually happen soon after the insertion. Nothing messing up with your hormones or your health, so it's good.

And I don't believe how most straight couples only use one birth control method when they're clearly not ready to have children. In my opinion, there's no such things as "accidents" when you use only one thing. That's simply irresponsible behavior. 99% is in theory. In practice, many other factors will make that number go down. Plus, 99% is still not 100%. So I really recommend two methods to get as close as possible to 100%.

I hope this helps!

 

Paragard (copper IUD) is >99% effective.
Mirena is another IUD with low doses of progesterone. It's 99.9% effective.

However, if you DO get pregnant with an IUD, there's a greater risk of miscarriage. I don't know your feelings on that, but I think it's important for you to know. It doesn't bother me, but I know some people have strong feelings about it.

 

You're welcome! And yeah you're right, there are so many methods available. People can't complain.

 

I use the depo shot, which is supposed to have a very very high chance of preventing pregnancy (especially since It's easier to time), but I'd honestly only use it as a last resort because it has so many nasty side effects, as well as it will prevent you from becoming pregnant when you decide to leave it. Personally, I'm not interested in sex with men so I only use it for menstrual problems. I haven't had a period in a year and six months now, so it was worth it for me. But yeah I believe It's pretty hormone based so.....not sure on that one.

Otherwise....the pill (though you may need to find one that works better for you if you gave them up). But the pill is only effective if you take it the same time every day, so I would still be careful; double up and use both pills and condoms at the same time to minimize the risk.

 

Skyla, Mirena, and Paragard are intrauterine devices that last for 3, 5, and 10 years respectively. If you choose to use one, then you would be protected for that long, so you may want to keep that in mind as you plan a pregnancy.

If you change your mind, say 1 month into using the IUD, and want to be pregnant, then you can get it removed and have immediate return to fertility. But why go through all that trouble, especially since it can protect for years, and the procedure to have it placed/removed at the doc's office is probably uncomfortable? That is why I think IUD is only good if you don't want kids for awhile...

Other options include Ortho Evra (transdermal patch), NuvaRing (intravaginal ring), and Nexplanon (skin implant). Check with your PCP about those if you're interested.

 

If you're not allergic to spermicides (I am), then there's the cervical cap and diaphragm to look at. Because they require a bit of practice to use, their efficacy may not be as up to par, though, while you first learn to use it. Also, they're like condoms; you use them when you're about to have sex.

If very effective (99%+) AND totally non-hormonal are a must, then honestly the only real option is the Paragard copper IUD (or, if you're in Europe, I believe there are other IUDs that are also non-hormonal).

The shots, the pills, the other IUD, and even the rings all have hormones in them - albeit low-doses in many cases.

That said, a couple of things that I would like to pass on to you and anyone else who is considering an IUD:

- Though a copper IUD may sound 'perfect' - non-hormonal, one-time insertion, really high efficacy rate, you don't have to remember anything, etc - it is NOT a perfect method and though risks can be minimized, when and if a risk does happen, it can be a really big deal.

- A copper IUD has copper wiring and if you have a nickel allergy or copper allergy, it is quite possible you will have an allergic reaction to the copper IUD.

- A copper IUD is inserted into the uterus where it will stay for 10 years. For other IUDs it is for different lengths of time.

- This is meant to be for long-term birth control and as such, is usually recommended for women who are already in established longer term relationships and...

- Because it is inserted into the uterus through the cervix, it is best done on someone who probably already have had children but who might want more later on as the cervical canal and uterus is larger (as opposed to smaller for the women who haven't had kids).

- Because this is an implanted device and because of the nature of the device (though invisible once implanted, there will be strings left to hang out of the cervix), there is an increased risk for PID (pelvic inflammatory disease) issues if STIs/STDs are a concern and this in turn can really mess with fertility and pregnancy issues if not outright put a woman's life at risk.

- As such, young women who are not in monogamous relationships and/or who haven't had any children but want children in the future are strongly discouraged from getting the IUD.

- As IUDs are sometimes also used instead of morning-after pills, IUDs work by making the uterine environment hostile towards the whole business of conception. For some people, this may touch on issues of abortion.

- IF pregnancy does somehow happen (because, accidents can and do happen and 99% efficacy is NOT 100%), the risk of ectopic pregnancy is VERY high. Why? Because though the fallopian tube environment is less ideal it is also less hostile than the uterine environment with the IUD in it. If it isn't an ectopic pregnancy, then the pregnancy is immediately high risk with a high chance of miscarriage with and without IUD removal.

Because of these risks, please make sure you have a good doctor that you can trust who you will be able to talk to about these potential issues if, heaven forbid, they ever happen. This isn't a time to be shy about your sex life or when was the last time you slept with someone or when was the last time you menstruated, etc, because if a problem happens, it could very well be a BIG problem.

Gender identity issues aside, having children of my own has always been out of the question because of pre-existing medical issues. Thus, effective and long term AND non-hormonal contraception has always been at the forefront of my mind and being younger than 30 at the time I got my IUD, tubal ligation wasn't even an option as I was 'too young'.

I was 25 when I first got mine and the women's health clinic originally refused to insert it for me until I had gone to another senior OB-GYN specialist in the area and got myself a letter of referral/recommendation for the IUD.

To them, they felt the potential risks I outlined above were enough for them to say no to inserting the device for me and even then, they tried to convince me to go another route despite knowing my medical and genetic history.

The cynic in me said and still says that there are risks to everything and that it was literally my only option if I insisted on non-hormonal and so I advocated for myself, got the okay, and got it anyways and for the most part, everything went fine.

BUT about 5 years into using mine (same long term partner that I had when I first started using it), I was getting late for a period (not necessarily worrisome) and then started getting aches in my sides for no discernible reason (VERY worrisome).

I ran to my doctor's office ASAP while having these sharp aches and thank god because though my OTC pregnancy tests and initial ultrasound showed nothing, more in-depth blood tests were a bit suspicious and my doctor was almost certain I was going to have/having an ectopic pregnancy and so the matter was dealt with accordingly just in case.

For me, the issue of being pregnant is a non-issue because of the medical problems and genetic issues; it can't happen and it can't be let to happen if possible.

The reality of what I potentially had to do (re: if I was indeed pregnant, then it was an abortion - medical emergency or not) was one that I had had to face as part of my coming into adulthood in regards to the realm of relationships and sexual matters.

Nothing is ever perfect and everything has risks, but in this case, I would definitely be prepared to handle a possible, "Oooops."

The IUD gave me the ability to enjoy a long term sexually intimate relationship with my partner and despite a moment of YIKES, I would (and do) still use it... but with the firsthand knowledge that 99% is NOT the same as 100%.