Birdgirl - birth control option for me?

[TheSmokingMonkey]

I have decided (with my husband) that I should stop taking the pill because it kills my libido.

But we do NOT want kids. We are still young, though, so when he offered to get a vasectomy, I told him NO, because we may change our minds and I don't want to try to reverse a surgery.

We don't mind using condoms but we are afraid they won't be effective enough.

I don't want to do an IUD; I don't prefer a diaphragm but would be willing to try it and see how it goes.

How effective is the temperature-taking method? I was thinking that along with condoms might be okay but I don't know how effective it is.

Help?

TheSmokingMonkey Reviewed by TheSmokingMonkey on 02-21-2007. Birdgirl - birth control option for me? I have decided (with my husband) that I should stop taking the pill because it kills my libido. But we do NOT want kids. We are still young, though, so when he offered to get a vasectomy, I told him NO, because we may change our minds and I don't want to try to reverse a surgery. We don't mind using condoms but we are afraid they won't be effective enough. I don't want to do an IUD; I don't prefer a diaphragm but would be willing to try it and see how it goes. How effective is the Rating: 5

[L3G10N's wife]

Natural family planning takes alot of learning and watching your body. It takes alot of work and when done correctly its between 90-98% effective.

How effective are these methods in helping a couple avoid pregnancy?
These methods can help a couple avoid pregnancy if the couple receives training from a specialized instructor and if they carefully follow all of the instructions provided. (Ask your doctor how to find an instructor who is specially trained in teaching natural family planning.) Both methods can be 90% to 98% effective (2 to 10 pregnancies per 100 couples) when they are practiced correctly. However, if a couple doesn't follow the instructions completely, these methods will be much less effective. In practice, these methods may not be as reliable as other forms of birth control.

Personally, it was too much for me. If you both do NOT want kids I wouldnt pick a mothod with a wide window of effectiveness. Some women dont ovulate at the same time each month so you do have to take your temperature every morning.

I hear alot of good things about NuvaRing. You only change the ring once a month. Before I decided to go with my IUD I was planning to use Nuvaring. It does have a low dose of hormones. NuvaRing says its 99% effective. I believe with something inserted you dont feel the effects of the hormones as much because its localised and can use a low dose of hormones.


If you are pairing another method with condoms you will be pretty safe. With methods like Natural family planning you're taking a chance that your body isnt doing what its supposed to and if you skip a condom once you may become parents.

[birdgirl73]

Here's what I found on effectiveness of various methods.
Pregnancy Rates for Birth Control Methods

Frankly, that top number in the natural family planning box would be a bit too close to comfort for me. I've always heard my doctor make jokes and ask things like "What do you call people who use the natural method? Parents." Now I see why. I surely found myself wanting to know what their N (number) fields were that they took those high and low percentages from, didn't you? Temperature with condoms would probably be quite safe, and if you're willing to go that route, you and your husband are a lot more accommodating than Dave and I would be. We both hate the way they feel.

There are a lot of ladies here who love that Nuvaring. I don't know how it can affect libido, though. Maybe some of them will weigh in here on that. I'd be curious to know.

I haven't been taking the pill for years and have a diaphragm, which I don't use either. It's messy and troublesome when it comes to spontaneity, and frankly about half the time I get it gelled up just right and ready to put in, it springs out of my hand and goes flying across the bathroom like a little Frisbee. Having to wait till the next day to take it out is gross, too. So now I'm simply relying on the assumption that, at 45, I'm not at all likely to get pregnant. I know that's risky, but that's what I'm doing. I figure my poor little body knows it cannot support a pregnancy right now and isn't going to conceive one anyway.

Good luck! I'll be eager to hear what the other girls have to say.

[napolitana869]

I use Nuvaring and I really like it. It doesnt have any impact on my sex drive. The only bad thing I would have to say about it is there is some discharge. Enough that I have to wear a panty liner everyday. I've never been on the pill so I cant compare them.

[Gatekeeper777]

try NORPLANT your her doctor will know what it is.

[napolitana869]

I thought norplant was discontinued in the us, and was in general not very safe. I could be wrong though so dont take my word for it.

[birdgirl73]

Yeah, looks like it's gone here in the U.S.. From what this link says, there's an approved newer version, Jadelle, but it's not being distributed. That often means Big Pharma doesn't want to let it come out if other competing contraceptive products, like Nuvaring or some of the new oral contraceptives, are particularly profitable and the new implantable might cut into those profits. This hold-out of an approved, worthy product ought not to be allowed, of course, but it happens all the time.
Norplant - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Gatekeeper777]

well there is a new thing called the female condom, i can tell you IMHO its like having sex with a ziplock baggie.
Thats basically all it is.
It looks like an open ended baggie that she inserts and leaves the opening sticking out.
there is also foam and other forms of contraception.
but the only true way from getting preggo is abstinance, but since thats out, when your getting ready to cum, shove it in her mouth.
Its high in protein and less filling then an energy bar. lol

[TheSmokingMonkey]

No Norplant, no Depo, no pills.

Nothing hormonal; that is the problem in the first place with the pills.

Okay, continue discussion. Although I will ask about Nuvaring.

[birdgirl73]

well there is a new thing called the female condom, i can tell you IMHO its like having sex with a ziplock baggie.
Thats basically all it is.
It looks like an open ended baggie that she inserts and leaves the opening sticking out.
there is also foam and other forms of contraception.
but the only true way from getting preggo is abstinance, but since thats out, when your getting ready to cum, shove it in her mouth.
Its high in protein and less filling then an energy bar. lol

There are two curious things about your response, Gatekeeper.

• You wrote it in a women's forum where ladies are talking to ladies, at least in theory. In this case, we're talking to each other about female contraception. That wouldn't normally preclude a man from joining in, obviously, if he had some informed guidance to provide. But in your case . . .
  
• You worded your response to a guy, apparently never noticing that you were talking to all women. None of us here on the women's forum have anything that, when we're "getting ready to cum" we can "shove it in her mouth," as you so charmingly suggested.

I find myself looking forward to your participation here when it's a bit more engaged in the reality of the conversation and its participants.