alternatives to the Pill?

[fallen_nemesis]

rightyoh. The Moodswings and PMS thread got me thinking there, but I didn't want to take over someone else's thread because it's kinda off topic -

Dilemma is basically this -

been on the Pill for a good few years now, origionally because it was one of the few things ( short of taking the DF118s I was prescribed which left me like a zombie) to help the really bad perios pain that used to have me passing out with the pain, unable to straighten up and throwing up everywhere for a few days at a time.

I've recently had laser treatment for pre-cancerous cervical cells too which was only relatively minor damaged cells but the level was apparently a bit abnormal for someone so young who doesn't smoke, hadn't had a miscarriage or genital warts or any of the other factors they ask you about. No big deal or anything though

It's got me a tad paranoid though because although the pill only puts you at a very very uber minute extra risk of getting cervical and I think breast cancer I'm not really in a hurry to have to get laser treatment done again. So yes, paranoid I know, but I've been on Microgynon 30 for the last 7 years constant and I'd like a change or at least a break from it.

So...that got me to thinking what other methods of contraception were available.

My doctors far less than forthcoming or helpful here, and everytime I'm down getting my Microgynon prescription and you mention it they just go " stick with what works" or when I brought up the implant " it has health risks too" blah blah.

So , the coil just freaks the utter fuck outta me

Condoms - great, but I've been going out with someone for nearly 6 months so I'm not exactly shagging around

the jag - I'm paranoid, we've established this, I don't like the risk of piling on all that weight and having possibly month long periods, or the other extreme of none at all and no weight gain whereby I'd constantly be paranoid I was pregnant even though I obviously wasn't. Urgh

Implant - possibly but I don't know enough about.

So anyone help me out with anything I've missed, that didn't occur to me or more information.

Also, what's your opinion on how helpful your GP is at birth control / contraception advice. It's actually kind of worrying how non - ready to discuss it at all and put me off everything bar the pill and the coil my GP ( GP's plural actual, more than one in my surgery's had this reaction) was.

Also, anyone else who's been on Microgynon for years share similar concerns or am I just being a silly moo?

Discuss

[Shannow]

A lot of people seem to rate the implant highly round these parts, if memory serves.

[Oskar]

Head to Sandyford, they'll discuss all your options with a little less bias that your GP

[Zenith]

go to the sandyford health initiative on sauchiehall street.
they're amazing, their services are free, and they are really good at giving advice.
i mean i like my implant in that i dont need to remeber to take a pill every day that and micrgynon made me feel really low a lot.

theres downsides to most contraception, but they'd be able to help you choose whats best for u

[Witch]

You're not being silly, have a look to see if you can speak to another GP or find a family planning centre who is willing to discuss other options with you. My gp was fantastic when it came to options as i tried the pill but its something my memory doesnt really like, which is the same for all tablets generally i forgot all about them.

Condoms are yucky and not so good spur of the moment

Implant scared the living shit out of me, i dont fancy being cut open

coil- dont know much about it and i dont like the feeling of something i cant control

Jag - had this, made me fat and grumpy with no periods, nurse turned around with the needle and i freaked (terrified here)

I now have Evra transdermal patch and i love it, once a week for 3 weeks and one week off, i dont really get PMT and i get nice wee stickers for my calender for change dates. I really like this and if theres anything you want to ask about it feel free

I hope your cancerous cells work out okay and good luck with getting contraception thats good for you.

[Crystal Mighty]

I have the implant and you're on my msn so feel free to ask me anything, I know Zenith has had her problems with it (cos of the other thread) but I've been fine.

My doctors is a health centre place so I seemed to get stuck with a different person every time I went for a refill on the patch (ortho evra) and they always asked me patronising questions about why I didn't just take the pill. My last appt when I asked for the implant, my GP du jour asked me why not the pill and after I gave her all the usual reasons and stuff, she said "oh someone HAS done their research" Erm well yes, I'm going to be putting these hormones into my body for a long while, I watch what I eat so of course I'm going to keep an eye on this too...

Oh the Ortho Evra patch was fine for me, I only switched cos I didn't like wearing a patch on my arm and looking like I was forever trying to give up smoking.

[fallen_nemesis]

Originally Posted by Oskar

Head to Sandyford, they'll discuss all your options with a little less bias that your GP

Think I'm gonna have to with the reactions from my GPs surgery. I'm taking it you just phone up and make an appointment or can I drop in? Sorry for being a pest, it's just a huge hour long trek there, so a bit far to pop in if I need to make an appointment first is all.

[mischief]

I was on the pill for years & as I said in the other thread, I changed due to spending about a week every moth greeting!

My GP was excellent when I wanted to discuss different options, explained all the benefits & possible side-effects for most of the various contraceptives I'd considered. I decided on 'the jag' (Depo-provera, I think) and I haven't looked back. I was worried about the weight gain & the other side-effects you mentioned, but luckily I didn't gain any weight on it at all. It did effect my periods in the way that they went from lasting 4 days, to just 2. I know I have been extremely lucky in how it has effected me, but other friends are pretty much the same on it.

[fallen_nemesis]

what exactly does the Evra transdermal patch involve?

[stripey_kitten]

Sandyford - They have a non appointment thing from 8.30 til 10.30 a few mornings a week from what I remember. The wait is pretty bad for that tho. They also offer an appointment system although when I called they said it would be 3 or 4 weeks before an appointment became available.

[Zenith]

sandyford does a drop in service, google them... all teh info u need is on their site

[Crystal Mighty]

The Evra patch is just wearing a patch for a week, for 3 weeks, then you go patch free for a week for your bleed week then it starts again. Lower dosage of hormones (can't remember which) than the pill as it goes straight into your bloodstream.

You can wear it on your arm or abdomen or bum, altho that way, it creases :/ Sometimes with a bad batch, my skin would blister but you notice that pretty quickly and I'd just take it off and put another one on.

Erm I'm rubbish at explaining

[Elfaba]

yeah u have to watch the hormone balance in ur pill cos it can knock u to fuck in terms of depression and stuff

ive had probs with that too

there are different kinds of pill too but as far as im aware ur supposed to have a 6 month break every three years is it?? I didnt think they liked keeping you on the pill for that length of time continuously (in saying that I've been on the pill for about four years and not yet had a break)

seek alternative advice from family planning I'd say and I'm sure you'll get a clearer more informed picture - I'm biased tho cos my doctors are SO non informative and shite in general but thats another kettle of fish

good luck tho and hope u find somat better that suits

[fallen_nemesis]

I know this sounds really silly, but would it not come off really easy I mean if you went swimming and drying yourself after a shower and putting on suncream and stuff? And if it did what would you do? ( ie would you have to use condoms for a week etc? like if you're over 12 hours late taking your pill?)

hm...... also does it suffer from the same thing pill contraceptivesdo - whereby if you're on antibiotics you have to use condoms for the time you're on them and a week afterwards?

[Zenith]

the implant doesnt get affected by other medications
not sure about the patch though