Birth Control Options

Poppy_Spruce

Birth Control Options

Poppy_Spruce

ER/PR+ so birth control pills are no longer an option for me. I really hate the thought of condoms. What are other people doing?

Isn't this disease a lovely contradiciton - you want your fertility in tact, yet you don't want to get pregnant. It's be nice to get back a little of that control, wouldn't it?

Thanks for sharing,

Nan

shannonann2

I know exactly how you feel!!!  I ended up getting a diaphragm for right now.  My doctor said that once my chemo is complete there is an IUD that can be used.  Some how the IUD uses your immune system to prevent pregnancy.  Anyway since it uses your immune system, they don't suggest you get it until chemo is over.  Good Luck:)

LorenaB

Thank you for that bit of info, Shannon!  I was going to say that I'm currently using condoms but considering the non-hormonal IUD.  However, since I'm scheduled to start chemo at the end of this month, it may be better to wait.  I'll add this to the list of questions for my appointment with the oncologist tomorrow!

Liezel

I started using an IUD after chemo.  Chemo will probably put you into chemo pause, and afterwards your hormone tx will keep you in it, so you probably won't need anything until after all your tx is done. 

BethNY

I live this scenario every day.  My ONC is against IUD's, so we use condoms.  It's a catch 22.  I'm fertile mertyl, and that's great and all, but not taking the pill really sucks.

I've found that I had to try a million different brands before finding the ones I'm most comfortable with cause I have latex sensitive skin. 

Also, I've found that stashing a few in different rooms of the house, can also lead to more spontaneous intimacy with your partner.  Just be careful that they aren't in plain sight, when you have company over.  I envision this happening to me all the time...

rels77a

I just wanted to add that you can get pregnant while in chemo and on hormonal treatment... even if you don't have a period.  so I disagree with the poster who said you don't have to worry about birth control until after everything.  The last thing you want is to get pregnant while in chemo or on tamoxifen.

Condoms.  sucks but there you go.

LorenaB

Beth, why is your onc against IUDs?  I asked mine about this last week and she said that a non-hormonal IUD would be completely fine.  Hmmmmm....

Lauren

lisa39

My husband had a vasectomy (after we had two kids).  It's so great not having to bother with condoms or anything else.

Lisa  

BethNY

Lauren, sometimes IUD's, even non hormonal ones can cause increased uterine bleeding.  The bodies normal reaction to a foreign object...

but my onc said then it's hard to tell if it's just normal, or a sign of endometrial? cancer or uterine cancer.  Gosh, the conversation was so long ago, I forget.

My mom had an IUD, and got preggers with my sister, and when she was ready to deliver the IUD came out, and the nurse looked up at my mom, and said, Do you want to keep this??

My body doesn't do well with foreign objects so I guess I'll have to stick with condoms.

ElkeMom09

My births control is a hysterectomy ( 2009 )

Britta123

We used condoms during the chemo.

I have a diapragm now.

Britta123

We used condoms during the chemo and I have a Diaphragm now.

crlacey

Just giving this a bump since this is what I came searching for an answe for today.

Chicago1018

Hi Ladies,

I met with a "complex contraception" gyn last week.  She deals with women who can't use typical methods of birth control for a variety of reasons.  She highly recommended the Copper IUD.  It has been around for ages and literally has the highest success rate of any method.  She said lots of gyn's think you can't use an IUD if you've never had children but it just isn't true. 

Putting in the IUD was not comfortable really but over in less than 2 mins.  Her young resident told me that among all the gyn's and students in the gyn program it is the contraceptive of choice becasue it can remain for 10 years, is 100% reversible, and totally hormone free.

Hope this helps!