Sex & Romance
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Moving to no BC...but don't want babies...
I'm stopping using BC because of some personal convictions, plus I get a funky smell down there from it (I used NuvaRing). I'm horrible at taking pills every day, so that's out, and I don't want to pay for anything really expensive or that causes weight gain (like I've heard injections can do). So I'm going to try natural family planning.
Is anyone else doing that right now? Do you have any recommendations for someone switching from BC to that? I'm wondering if I should hold off on sex till I figure out my body's normal temp range...(I am going to be using spermicide and diaphragms though)
Re: Moving to no BC...but don't want babies...
What about a non-hormonal IUD?
And if you don't want to ever have kids, why not consider Essure? It is non-surgical sterilization.
This book will be very helpful. My friend just got pregnant using NFP- it was a planned pregnancy. They took a class through their church and successfully avoided for 2 years.
If you can not remember to take one simple pill per day. There isn't a hope that you can track temp and mucous.
Sounds like an excuse to accidentally have a baby.
You could check out contraceptive sponges. We've been using them for a year now, and they are much better than condoms IMHO.
http://www.amazon.com/Today-Sponge-Vaginal-Contraceptive-Sponges/dp/B000SJJFF4/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1278464818&sr=1-5
I was never on BC... didn't want to go there for health reasons of mine, etc. We use condoms, have you thought of/tried that? Several people I know that have done Natural Family Planning have gotten pregnant even though they were careful, but maybe they were just really fertile
I hear good things about it from some others.
Not necessarily. I was terrible at remembering to take my pill but have been charting successfully for a year now.
OP: I agree that you should pick up a copy of Taking Charge of Your Fertility and read what charting is all about to see if you are up for it. Also, take a look at Planned Parenthood's extensive information about birth control options to see if there's something else you think will work for you: http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/birth-control-4211.htm.
I will have to look into those sponges. And that book.
We both hate condoms and will use them only if absolutely necessary.
I know some people who have been successful at NFP, others who weren't. I'm better at tracking things than taking pills, so this will be better than the pill for me. But I'm still a little worried about the transition where I learn what my body does when it's fertile/not fertile.
For the transition, it would probably be safest to use some form of backup BC like condoms or sponges. It took us a while and lots of trying different kinds to get used to condoms, but it's the preferable option since I don't want to be on any sort of pill/injection/whatever and NFP seems a little too "risky" right now for us... but I haven't looked into it extensively. If you want we could talk about it sometime - I'd be interested in sharing what I know and learning what you find out!
I don't like the idea of NFP. From what I have learned and mind you I didn't go in depth but you use no contraception and only have sex and certain times of the month. To me it seems like it would take the fun out. Whar if you were both really in the mood??
I would much rather use condoms and have sex when ever I feel like it.
I second the IUD. I have the hormonal one and love it--I have heard just as much love for the non-hormonal version (you can research ParaGuard). IUDs are also less expensive in the long run than most other forms of birth control, and a lot of times are covered by insurance. I had to pay out of pocket for mine, but it was still cheaper over 5 years than the pill or the patch.
I also have a close girlfriend who had Essure done several years ago and had a really great experience with it. It's kind of pricey, but if you have insurance that would cover it, maybe it won't be too bad?
I really don't know anything about NFP. I never trusted it because I'm horribly phobic of getting pregnant and need something more foolproof. Post again and let us know how it goes!
I have heard good things about that book as well. Try looking into NFP or FAM. There are several different methods out there that work on the same basic premise about paying attention and knowing the woman's body. As soon as a few more things settle down in our lives, H and I are going to try NFP bc we are both Catholic and it is approved by the Church. We just don't want any kids yet either.
DH and I have used FAM successfully to avoid for 1.5 years. I too had trouble taking pills, but charting has been no problem. Taking Charge of Your Fertility was eye-opening and a great resource. I picked it up at the library. There's a website as well where you can chart and they have forums where you can ask questions (because you'll have some I promise!). There's a board there specifically for avoiding - www.tcoyf.com
Initially you'll want to stick with the most conservative rules until you get a hang of your cycles. People who have gotten pg using NFP/FAM were not following the rules, they were skirting them, or they weren't tracking properly.
As far as the comment about only getting to have sex sometimes - we've never felt more free. We have sex any time we want, but we know exactly the risk and use protection when needed and can be truly free outside the fertile time. I never felt this safe with hbc.
BFP 11.8.12 * EDD 7.17.13 * MC 12.20.12
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over!
My aunt used NFP and got prego, she ended up getting an abortion because she really did not want kids. She couldnt take anything hormonal because of a tumor she has in her breast, and they also hated comdoms, I dont blame you, they are a total downer for me too. GL, but be very careful, if you cant remember to take a pill everyday are you sure you will remember to accurately track your cycle and temp?
I've used FAM for over 3 years with no problems whatsoever. You always hear stories of someone who knew someone who got pregnant using it, but honestly you hear that about every form of BC. The major difference here is that YOU are in control - you're not trusting a chemical or a foreign object to prevent pregnancy. We use a combo of condoms and FAM and abstain during the fertile time. (5 - 7 days a month - no big deal). I've never been on hormonal BC and would never trust it as I trust FAM. It takes a little getting used to, but you can be as strict or as relaxed with the rules as you want (we're VERY strict because we NEVER want kids!) I've seen the charts of many people who have been "using" FAM but got pregnant - every single one took a risk of some sort (cut it too close to ovulation, relied on past charts, forgot to temp for a week, or just plain didn't follow the rules). It's not something that spontaneously fails if you do it right.
Check out the book and Ovusoft.com. The forums on there are very helpful with questions like yours. Best of luck!
I understand the risk involved in moving to NFP, but we will be using things like spermicide and the sponge/diaphragms when it comes close to the fertile time. I know of people who've gotten pregnant off of BC, and right now on BC, I don't know when I'm fertile or not. I'll have a better understanding of my body, I think, through this method.
I am definitely going to get that book. My biggest worry is the transition to NFP, because I don't want to get pregnant in the first month of doing it (or at all, till we're ready to have kids).
The non-hormonal IUD sounds interesting, though, too. I will have to look into that as well. Are there many side effects to it?
I can relate. I just got on the Minerva IUD which is good for five years. The "funky smell" could have just been a simple bacteria infection which usually has no other symptoms but smell and a clear discharge. I have heard many woman get this from using a contraceptive that requires insertion such as the Nuva Ring and IUD so you might want to give it a try again. Before the IUD, I used Vaginal Contraceptive Film. They are thin see through strips u insert about 1/2 an hour before having sex. I used this with no pregnancy issued for years. I have found them at Target, Walgreen, Walmart, ect..Hope this helps