Birdgirl - birth control option for me?

[napolitana869]

Yes, thank you, that helps a lot. I think I'm going to look into it.

[TheSmokingMonkey]

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.

LOL Thank you for your level-headed and coherent prose birdgirl. Very charming, indeed.

[TheSmokingMonkey]

Okay, update. Talked to my doctor about it, she said she is comfortable with us using condoms as long as we used spermacide with them (like, the separate kind, not the kind that is pre-layered on the condom itself) and I am also doing the basal body temperature thing although it will take a few months to really see if any pattern is going on with my cycle.

[dutch.lover]

Napolitana, I use Nuvaring too and I think your doctor might be wrong when she said that your medication makes it less effective. My understanding is that since Nuvaring is not an oral contraceptive, and is absorbed through flesh, other medications don't interfere with it's effectiveness. I was just put on some antibiotics a few weeks ago, and my doc asked me what kind of birth control I was on, and when I told her Nuvaring she was all like "oh, well in that case you don't have to worry about this medication interfering with it cause it's not an oral contraceptive." So I would do some research on your own, or talk to another doctor to see if yours actually knows what she's talking about.

My experience with Nuvaring (for SmokingMonkey): best part about it is it's convenience, and effectiveness. My sex drive is quite low, but I have been with my bf for almost 3 years (we have been having sex for most of that time) so I don't know if the low desire is due to familiarity, or Nuvaring. But Napolitana said hers wasn't effected, so there you go. It has the least effect on my mood(swings) than any pill I have been on (i have also tried Alesse, and Triquilar). The only thing I am not completely satisfied with, is the fact that it doesn't lighten my period, or stop cramping. No pill has ever done that for me before anyways, so maybe none ever will. Hope all that helps!

[dutch.lover]

AHHHH Monkey! Doctor gave bad advice!! DO NOT USE SPERMICIDE!

Here's why: The world health organization has condemned it because they have found that nonoxynol-9 (main ingredient in spermicide) irritates the lining of the vagina, leading to subsequent infections, and a higher rate or STIs. All ethical condom companies (I say all, but there is only one I know of that has done this- Mayer Labs) have destroyed their stock of spermicidal condoms. Here's the link to the WHO press release...WHO Spermicide Press Release

Spermicide only has an effectiveness rate of around 15%, so IT IS NOT WORTH IT. Your sexual health is much more important.

[dutch.lover]

Here's a statement from a guy talking about his adverse reaction to spermicide:

"My girlfriend and I first started having sex about 3 months ago, using Trojan condoms with this spermicide in it. After the very first time, she experienced some irritation in the vagina and I had a small irritation on my penis. We continued having sex using this same condom with this spermicide in it and we continued to experience really bad irritation. It would go away in a day or two, but immediately return after having sex. I freaked and thought some how we had given each other an STD, which didn't make much sense because we had used condoms, and we were also having very similar irritations, like a rash with little sores. We were unaware that this spermicide was the culprit. Instead we changed lubrications and condoms, BUT we even bought another brand that had this spermicide in it, figuring that we should just be extra careful, not knowing this was the cause. Well, that was the last time we did that, because after we had sex with those condoms, I contracted a big red, irritated rash right on the tip of my penis (near the opening) and it freaked me out. I went on-line and did research and wouldn't you know it, this is what came up! We have since changed condoms (after letting my penis heal for close to a week!!) and got back to doing the humpty and having fun. It's only been once but so far so good."

[birdgirl73]

When I used to use my diaphragm more a long time ago, there were certain types of Ortho spermicide (the cream version was the troubling one, as opposed to the clearer gel, which was tolerable) that were irritating to me and him both, particularly if I used too much of it around the edges of the diaphragm.

My husband has an appointment Friday the 16th in the afternoon to get a vasectomy. This thread is what motivated him to do it, too. (That and fear of a late-in-life pregnancy and the fact that that would be downright dangerous for me.)

[pandorasbox]

I haven't read through the whole thread yet, so you may have already covered this.

Have you considered using a gel or foam spermicide? Personally, they irritate me.... but they are a good option nonetheless if you don't have that problem.

Also, if you're considering using a natural method, you should ALWAYS back that up with a condom or spermicide (or diaphragm, or anything really). And if you are planning on using a natural method, you should use more than one... such as temperature and vaginal secretion. It takes a while to get to know your body, but it can be done with a lot of precautions and time. Your body temperature can fluctuate for many reasons, and infections can cause your secretions to be "off" just for example.

Good luck... I'm in a similar situation with my husband. We're pretty sure we don't want kids, so he wants a vasectomy. That would be a huge relief for me. Plus, you can store frozen sperm for years, right? In all honesty, we actually feel it would be more responsible to adopt a child in need instead of have our own. But, his mother would disown us if we did any of that. She's already upset that we don't have kids, and that I had a miscarriage.