birth control

I'm on Implanon. LOVE it! It's an implant in my bicep. No need to remember anything and it lasts three years. It'll be a year that I've had it this April. I still have monthly visits from Aunt Flo however they're no where like they use to be. No weight gain or loss and no scaring at the site of the impant.

I've used the Ortho Evra patch for a long time, and I've always liked that. It's a weekly transdermal patch and it even comes with little stickers to put on the calendar as a reminder to change it each week. I'm horrible at remembering to take pills, so this works really well for me.

Honestly I think you need to talk it over with your doctor before making a decision. I know that a lot of people who go on the shot end up hating it because of a lot of weight gain and problems getting their monthly visit, etc.

There are other options besides the pill and the shot like the patch or nuva-ring.

I had the depo shot and although it did what it needed to do. Looking back it was the worst thing for me. There is always the typical weight gain but I gained a lot and had a very hard time getting thei weight off. Also, my mood fluctuated so severely for the first few months depressed, happy, angry. I don't write this to deter you but it wasn't till I stopped the shots did I do a lot of Internet research and digging and found a lot of other woman had the effect I did. I am now on the nueva ring and am having no issues

I was on the shot a when I was in college. I had no problems with it. I loved not having to take a pill everyday since my I didn't have much of a daily routine. However a lot of people have problems. My doctor said long term use was associated with calcium deficiencies, so I went off after 3-4 yrs of being on it.

I know you post is more directed at alternate options but what I've done to ensure I remember is set an alarm on my phone at the time I should take the pill. This way I get a daily reminder.

I was on Nuva Ring for a couple years.. it was nice because I didn't have to think about it except to take it out for one week a month.
I recently switched back to the pill though and I was nervous about it because I am horrible at remembering to take pills.. but I set my phone alarm to go off at the same time everyday and I hardly miss it unless I'm miles away from any water to wash the pill down. It's working great though and I love it much better..
I'm too chicken to do any kind of implants because my body tends to reject foreign objects (even the ring was giving me trouble) so I decided to go back to the pill.. as for the depo shot, my sister took it and gained a TON of weight.. plus it took her a while before she could get pregnant when she decided she wanted to have kids.. other girls I know have had some worse side effects.. it's all a risk though. What works from some does not for others.

We use condoms. In our case it's just not worth the money or potential side effects of hormone based BC, because we don't see each other often enough right now to make it worth the money. Condoms plus spermicide works really well. I'm not knocked up yet, and none of the crazy side effects.

I too have an alarm on my phone to remember taking the pill and it works great! I was on the Depo shot for a few years, few glorious period free years lol..Would have been glorious had I not gained about 20lbs in a year and had crazy psychotic mood swings...Probem with hormonal birth control is that it affects everyone differently so you won't know how it affects you until you try it, good luck.

I have a 5 year IUD, Mirena, and its great! after about 6 months on it my cycle decreased and now I havent had a full cycle in about 3 years and very rarely spot, I do get check ups to make sure im okay bc of that and all is well. Im sticking to it! Pills never remembered them, 3 month shots i gained a lot of weight, patch had problems with it sticking properly, Nuva Ring i felt uncomfortable with my FH with it in, never had the little rod implanted in my arm, but im 100% for IUDs and they make two kind just in case you cant have the hormone one they have one without and its just as effective! Good Luck!!! its really a trial and error type of thing with birth control, so dont worry you'll find whats works best for you!

I used to be on the pill but I forgot to take it sometimes.

I did research and talked to the doc about other methods. I switcmhed to Implanon, and I love it.

It goes on your arm and I dont even feel it. I have had it since June and I havent had my period since August! I have been lucky since I havent had side effects... Other than being moody the first month lol

I am still on the pill as long as I have a phone alarm I take it daily. I have forgotten a few times, but nothing bad. I've been on it for over 2 years. I had almost like bipolar disorder when I was on the shot. Scary part is I am a psychologist, so I recognized the symptons. Mood swing are a big problem with the shot. I think it just depends on the person, but definitely ask your doctor before doing the shot. I have known a lot of problems. I know a lot of people experience weight gain as well.

After my 1st son I had the Depo and I gained weight and couldn't lose it for the life of me. Then I changed and got on Seasonic the pill you get your period every 3 months. I got off it got pregnant again. Just had my 2nd son a year ago and got the Implanon after it and hated it. I had weight gain, spotting, less sex drive so I had it taken out and now have an ugly scar on my arm. So I am back on the Seasonic until after we get married then going to try for number 3. Hoping it will be a girl since I have 2 boys.

My body hates hormonal birth control, so I'm not anything currently. However, for a while I liked NuvaRing, you put it in and then take it out 3 weeks later, leave it out for a week, and replace it (I always set a reminder on my phone so I'd remember).

Also, isn't the shot horribly bad for you? It wasn't even given as an option for me. It takes calcium from your bones.

Okay, well first off I was on DEPO for only 9 months, and since being off (Almost another 9 months.) I have not had a single period. I'm actually worried that I may not be able to have children again... I also gained a lot of weight.

Second, Mirena or any other IUD's are very dangerous. They increase your chances of having an ovarian cyst by about 60%. If you get an ovarian cyst and it ruptures, you very possibly could lose the ability to ever have kids.

I want to go back on the pill. I'm also terrible at remembering pill times, but like other ladies said, an alarm on your phone would work wonders.

This is something you really want to talk to your gyno about. Women have different kinds of effects as far as birth control goes.

I was on the depo shot and gained sooo much weight! I was very active also due to being in colorguard in school. Do what you and your doctor feel is right for you, but beware cuz the potential to gain weight is there. I am not on any BC now, we just us condoms, its worked for us so far!

@Ariel I didn't get my period back until i was off it almost 9months, but it came back with a vengeance! Lol have you told your gyno concerns?

I was on the needle for a span throughout 10 years on and off, would take it for 2, then take the pill for a year then depo for 2, and so on. I LOVED it. Even when I take the pill I needed one hormonally similar to it (most pill based BC is different balance of hormones). No weight gain for me, stabalized my mood, no periods and no cramps or ovulation pain. I HATE being off of it, but want to have a honeymoon baby. The main downside of the needle for me is you need to plan well in advance to have a baby because it can take along time to get your period back. It took me 6 months off of it, but back to fully cycling and ovulating now. Not totally regular but I never really was (sometimes 28 days sometimes 32). I have been off of all BC since November now and totally suffering through cramps and ovulation pain and it sucks!! Better get preggers soon!! lol

@Reghan I haven't yet because I no longer have one. FH and I moved far away, and I lost my medical card for reasons that are absolutely ridiculous and can't afford any kind of Dr. visits currently. We're trying to get me back on the card now, and then I'm going to a Gyno first thing.

I loved depo when I was on it (6 mos before I got pregnant with my son and 4 years after) and I was thinner then than I am now...although I was 15 when I started it which I'm sure is the reason for that. The only side effect I had was the bones in my legs ached...depo DOES cause bone mass loss which is why they only recommend it for a max of 2 years. My doctor had me take calcium pills. For the past few years I've been on a couple different pills. I have an alarm set on my phone to remember to take them and it works great.

I'm on Mirena currently, and I love it! I was on the Nuva Ring before, I loved that, but my insurance suddenly stopped covering it and it was about $275 for a six month supply. I would recommend both.