My ex had an IUD. Copper based, supposed to last 10 years or if she wanted it out sooner she could. No abnormalities, regular period. She got checked at her gyno once a year to make sure it was still properly in place and doing it's thing. There is a company I follow for investment purposes that has a gel based birth control product that is making it's way through clinical trials. It's basically like a lotion that you rub on once a day. Supposedly, because it is absorbed through the skin, you don't have all of the nasty side effects as the pill which is processed through the liver. It's an interesting science and it sounds like from their research, women prefer it because most have a daily routine that includes using lotion of some kind and it fits in nicely with that.
An additional note about the IUD - since I've never had kids, they had to dilate my cervix to put it in. That is a rather unpleasant experience if you've never had that part of your body 'widened' before.
I had the Mirena for a couple of years after using the pill for several years. I got off the pill because my body/hormones were a wreck so my doctor talked me into Mirena. I loved it. Of course, I've had children so I know that is a difference although I will say that the insertion SUCKED ASS - I feel like I gave birth an additional time after having it placed. But anyway, aside from that, it was wonderful. I just had to do regular "checks" to make sure I could still feel the string in place - no ill affects with hormones, loss of sex drive or weight issues, etc. Finally I decided that since I was done procreating, I'd just get my tubes tied so I didn't have to worry any longer about pills, shots, IUD's, etc. Anyway, all that said - I think that as with anything, each option is going to affect everyone differently. What works out fantastically for some, others will say sucks for them. I hope the Mirena works great for you. I'm assuming they'll insert it not long after delivery so that your experience in that regard shoudn't be as painful? In the meantime, good luck with your upcoming bundle of joy and congrats! Aside from the horrifying experience of said insertion, did you like the IUD?
I did not. Hormonal IUDs (I have fucked up hormones, so the doc recommended Mirena to try to sort my shit out) are not fun. I had no sex drive. NONE. I would never do it again.
I realize that this probably isn't the best place to be asking, but I've been wondering and have yet to find a new OB/GYN down here (I moved recently) so I've just kind of been in limbo. From what I've been reading, I'm understanding that with some birth control pills, it's normal not to get your period, especially the low hormone pills. I'm on Lo Loestrin FE, and I haven't gotten my period since I started taking it last August. Is this normal? From what I understand it is, along with the fact that I haven't even been sexually active lately so I'm not too concerned about it. Just thought I'd ask while we were having this discussion.
Just another note of caution- The Wife has been on Mirena since our son was born. I told her today that she is to make an appointment with her OB as soon as her work allows to have her take that shit out and replace it with something that will not affect her as much. She has been miserable for the past few months with things like back pain, dizziness, constant headaches, moodiness/depression, shortness of breath (as in, she's lying in bed and feels like she can't breathe), and occasional pain during sex. Her General Practitioner tells her that there is nothing physically wrong with her, which makes her think that she is going crazy for feeling this way. I ask her if she had ever felt this way before the baby, and she assures me that she hasn't. Knowing that the only thing she is currently taking (or has in her, I guess) is her birth control, I ask her to look up the side effects. Yeah... So yeah, I told her to get on whatever is the most natural that also has the fewest side effects, or we'll switch to condoms or even friggin' abstinence if we need to. I just can't take seeing her suffer like this anymore, and I'm mostly blaming this stuff. Oh well, my $0.02 on the lady stuff.
Not to invade the girl thread, but my male perspective on this wonders if The Dude would be willing to just pay it for you? I wouldn't even blink when I paid for it, IF it was for my steady or SO or whatever. I mean, it is his fun, too. However it goes, best of luck.
I detest hormonal birth control. I don't like how I feel on it at all...nuvaring, the shot...whatever. The best birth control is swallowing.
See, this is a common argument in most feminist circles as well. "HE'S the one fucking you...your birth control should be partially/fully paid for by HIM!" And it's one I intellectually agree with. Women literally pay to have child-free sex. Men don't (let's be real, you can get free condoms/ridiculously cheap cost-per-use condoms, whereas BC is always expensive). Besides widening the financial gap between men and women, it's simply a more egalitarian approach to keeping your sexual relationships sans children. But I have hangups about money from previous relationships. And it's $700.00!! And how important, really, is blowing it inside me? Is it $700-important? Is it $350 worth of importance? I just don't know. Does anyone else have this debate with themselves?
The way I have always looked at it was that if it's a committed relationship, a partnership if you will, then I'm game to help pay for BC. Like just about anything else. We're in it together, it's an actual cost to get, I'm happy to split it. Or more, if she's not making as much as me and needs the help. Whatever works for us, as a couple together. Some women have accepted and some have not. For something like a $700 IUD I might be like "maybe we can try something less expensive first?" and weigh the pros and cons together as a team. And if we decide that maximum happiness value derives from paying $700 for an IUD for her vs. buying a new computer (or whatever opportunity cost thing) then that's what we'd do. I imagine most guys worth being in a relationship would agree. Outside of the relationship context I think we can generally agree that expensive ongoing birth control is the burden of whoever gets it. Leaving condoms aside, the expense there is pretty trivial for this discussion, I wouldn't expect to give a woman money towards her IUD if we had a one night stand nor would I expect her to give me money if I had a vasectomy at some point prior to our hookup.
Hahahaha, of course not. Although I might splurge on the REALLY GOOD bacon for breakfast if the man I was fucking had voluntarily had a vasectomy. Those guys are like unicorns. No, everyone agrees that this argument exists solely in the context of an ongoing sexual relationship.
Hopefully you ladies don't mind male opinions in here from time to time, just wanted to mention that I pay for my girlfriend's birth control, which is $20/month + $100 deductible per year - $340 per year. $700 for 5 years seems like a pretty good deal. She gets some positive effects from the BC so she's not switching, but still. As far as sex goes it's definitely a lot more than just "blowing it inside [you]." It feels a LOT better all around, it removes a "checklist" item/interruption from every time you want to have sex, and it's more reliable to boot. That's not going to help your hangups about money, but $700 over 5 years is a really paltry amount if your concern is just the price - as a guy, I would happily pay and have no issue with it whatsoever. Smart financial choices suggests that you should spend money on things that have a high frequency of impact to your life. So, if you make toast twice a month, but coffee once a day, you buy the $10 toaster but the $100 coffee maker. Think about the things you spend $140 on in a year, and I guarantee there are a dozen of them that impact your life less frequently than sex. Unless you're, uh, only having coffee twice a month.
My brother went in for a vasectomy screening at 11 a.m. and by 4 p.m. they were performing the vasectomy.
Ok, so, girl perspective from someone who HATES condoms with a passion. I have had a chafing problem with basically every type of condom that exists out there (and yes, I have tried pretty literally everything), so I think the dude not having to wear a condom is probably at least as important to me as it is to him. Obviously, I'm in a monogamous relationship, we're both STI free, and I'm neurotically and religiously on birth control, but for me the value of my dude being able to blow his load inside me is HUGE. Aside from just the practical bit of it for me, sex is about a thousand times better without a condom. SO, in conclusion, if an IUD really seems like it's the way to go for you, I would talk with him about splitting the $$$ somehow! If it's not some kind of power play over you--and it sounds like it wouldn't be--hopefully all it's going to do is make things better!
I've had a Mirena since November and love it. Getting it put in sucked, but only for a few seconds, and I have never had a child/been pregnant so my cervix was pretty pissed about being dilated. I haven't had any effects from the hormones, and my sex drive is probably better than it was before. Plus I seldom have shark week now, so that's pretty sweet too. Everyone's body is different and everyone will have different experiences.
I'm watching Friends With Kids, and I think Jon Hamm can do better. Like, with me. Also, when we were talking about our boyfriends, not enough attention was paid to Jon Hamm: That man is perfection. And you know what's cool about him? His body isn't even that great, but no one gives a fuck, because he's that awesome and otherwise handsome.
Thank you for reminding me Audrey. I don't think we talked about Michael Fassbender quite enough last time.
Does anyone have a screenshot from that one movie where Michael Fassbender shows his cock? I am...curious...about all the hype.