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question for those who don't use BC
I know Only had mentioned a book she was reading about learning your body in order to prevent pregnancy without taking bc. Since she hasn't been around here lately I was wondering if anyone else had any suggestions as to which books to read?
I had my follow up with the Gastro doctor from my last appt where he thought I had colitis. Well I'm still on the supplements but he said I could wean off them soon. He never answered my question last time as to what caused this as it came out of nowhere and I had been dealing with abd for almost a year. Upon further discussion we realized it was from where I was placed on 2 different hormone pills to alternate for 2 weeks in order to get my period back as well as fix the damage from my thyroid. All of this from the dept shot I was on. No more bc for me, I rather be knocked up than to deal with this crap again.
Re: question for those who don't use BC
It's called taking charge of your fertility. I charted for both TTA and TTC when I was off the pill with this book and fertilityfriend.com. Obviously TTA (trying to abstain from pregnancy) now. I found charting helped until my body got on track. Now I can tell when I'm ovulating without taking my temperature everyday. Honestly I love being off the pill. I will never go back on.
Do they administer it if you haven't had children? I'd love Paragard.
Not all doctors will. There are certain risks associated with IUDs, and there is a higher chance of incidence if you haven't had children. I was also in a lot of pain for a day or so, but I still think it was worth it.
Depo is the DEVIL. Was on it years ago, and it f7cked up my hormones so bad that I couldn't get pregnant for 2 years with my ex-DH AFTER I went off of it, and then finally did, only to have a mc. I also had a totally different personality while on it, too. I was miserable.
After that I got a Paragard (yes, no births, my Dr was fine with it), which lasted 4 years and then started to expel and got lodged in my cervix. Nearly had to have surgery to get it out.
I tried to go back on the pill after that, which is what I was on way back before Depo, but I hate myself on it. I just don't feel like me, physically or mentally. So now I'm not on anything. I know my body/signs fairly well, we abstain when it's the non-safe time, and he pulls out the rest of the time. Given that I've not been the most responsible person over the last 20 years and have only been pregnant once (well, I suspected I was again at one point and it was a chemical pregnancy), plus the abstaining, plus the pulling out...I think chances are good that I won't get knocked up. But I'm also turning 34 next week, so it wouldn't be the complete end of the world if I did, I suppose.
Read TCOYF and sign up for fertilityfriend.com, and that'll be a good start to learning about your BC free body.
Another vote for Taking Charge of Your Fertility. I had major problems with my birth control (dangerously high levels of potassium that could lead to kidney failure) so I had to get off. I never loved the BCP and had been on and off it for throughout my teen and adult years, and I will not go back on it again. XH H and I avoided for a year with just TCOYF (then left him). I can now tell pretty easily when I ovulate without temping. And I knew this month was going to suck by about day 7, and sure enough, started my period after 18 days
You may be able to find the book at the library, and then use the website (or fertility friend) for more info and charting help.
Taking Chare of YOur Fertility is a great book. I requires devotion to the charting.
I know you are nervous about hormones, but the MIrena IUD has a very low level of hormones and is easier to live with. With Mirena, you may have a few months of spotting, but then your period may stop. With Paragard, you get heavy periods the whole time and usually a lot of cramping. I have Mirena and love it.
Many doctors are cautious about IUD's in people who haven't had a baby, but you just have to find one who is willing to do the procedure. It is more difficult to insert in a woman who hasn't had children, but not impossible. Sometime they will give you something to insert vaginally before the IUD that softens your cervix.
Get the paraguard. If your doc won't put it in, another one will. It is an old school way of thinking to say that you need to have had kids to get one. There is such a minor chance of a puncture to your uterus, but since OP has already had a kid, that chance is even smaller.
I personally would not feel comfortable charting as a single person. I'd rather get the Paraguard and make damn sure I'm not getting knocked up.
Mirena is another option because the hormones are limited to your uterus, not your whole body like the pill is.
Thanks for the suggestions but I'll try the book and the website. If I remember correctly I am not a candidate for an IUD because I've had cervical cancer and missing part of my cervix leaving me with a short cervix.