Birth control while on Tamoxafin

Renrel

I had my bi lat last November and did T/C from January through May. While DH and tried to keep some semblance of a sex life through treatment we just had incourse for the first time since January about a week ago (It is now August 2).  We used condoms but they really don't work well for us.  DH tells me the cut sensation like 50% for him and lets just say I have good reason to believe him as they have put a serious kink in our sex life in the past.  We need to figure out the best birth control going forward and I am curious what others are using or would recommend.

We had used a diaphram for most of our relationship and it was a pain.  Before canser we were trying to get pg but were considered to be infertile.  We almost when for IVF but chicken out.  Too much stress in our lives at the time, and giving where we found ourselves a year later that was probable a good thing.  But we are not so infertile that we feel we can safely gave sex while on a drug that could cause birth defects to a child that might by some miracle be concieved.  

My current situation-

I have not had my period since February, 2nd round of chemo.  

I will be 45 in a month. 

We would love another child (we have one, a almost 6 year old) but since I am to be on Tamoxafin for 2-5 years, and have the infertile issues which gave us about a 15% chance of having a baby with IVF if we tried 2 yrs ago, we are letting go of that dream. It is one of the hardest parts of all his canser stuff for us.

I am hormone recespector positive, so birth control pills, patches ect are not an option.

DH is researching a vasectomy, but is concerned about the rare but serious side effects.  And if I may be considered to be offically in menapause next February it may be over kill. (DH will be 52 in two months, for what that is worth)

I am meeting with my GYN on Friday.  I am considering an IUD. It seems like a good non-hormonal option, but I am concerned that if it causes bleeding or cramps it may hide symtoms of uterine canser, a very slight risk on tamoxafin.

I am otherwise health but have had symtoms of Perimenapause before cancer (though infertility was more on DH side than mine, my ovaries were acting about 3 years younger than they were.).

 I don't get, shall we say reved up, so easily anymore.  A hot love scene in a romance novel will not do it for me anymore,  touch is needed.  I have recenltly realized that this is the female equivelent of erectile disfunction and that it takes its own emotional toll. The tamoxafin will likely make matters worse as will menapause, if that is what I am going through at the moment.  

So anyone want to share what is working for them, issues with IUD's, ect?  

TIA

Renrel 

Renrel

I got an IUD yesterday.  The copper kind.  We will see how that works.

AlohaGirl

I hope all goes well with your IUD.  It sounds like you have been through a very difficult time but hopefully things will get better from here on! 

I just got home from the gynecologist.  I am planning to get an IUD in September since I shouldn't be on the pill anymore and will be starting Tamoxafin soon.  I also considered a new procedure called Essure, which sounds really good but is permanent.  I don't plan to have children but I hate the thought of doing something to permanently change my body unless it is necessary (like my lumpectomy).  Now I'm having second thoughts though and wondering if I should forget about the IUD and just go with the Essure... 

So, I don't have any helpful thoughts for you but I am very interested in this conversation and I am thinking good thoughts for you!