Birth Control for Daughter

txmomof2

Hi,

My daughter wants to get on birth control. I was on the pill for 20 years before getting diagnosed. Our gynecologist is suggesting Nexplanon because it does not have estrogen, or a very low dose estrogen pill. My daughter is leaning towards Nexplanon. I am meeting with my oncologist tomorrow but wanted your feedback and personal history. I obviously want to do what I can to prevent her from getting breast cancer as much as I can. But I don't know if just using condoms is ideal. What has been your experience with Nexplanon and have you found that it's had any link with breast cancer? Any risks with infertility after removing it?

TIA!

Salamandra

I wonder why the gynecologist is suggesting nexplanon over a hormonal IUD (IUS). IUS has lower levels of hormones, lasts longer, is more foolproof.

I'll say I kept my IUS in after diagnosis (I had it inserted the day the doc found the lump, after a few years of being off it). Doctors wouldn't recommend leaving it in, but I did a lot of research and was satisfied for myself about the risk.

I think it's a great idea to have a back up form of birth control to condoms. For all kind of reasons, up to and including that pregnancy carries its own whole slew of risk including temporary slight increase in breast cancer risk.

What is the doctor's reasoning for rejecting a hormonal IUD?

txmomof2

She is young, about to leave for college, and is not (yet) sexually active, but wants to be proactive about birth control. The dr said that IUDs are painful and just not comfortable at this age which is why she doesn't recommend them. When she's a little older, and she may have said when she's had a baby, then she would definitely recommend it.

MinusTwo

I didn't find an IUD painful at a young age. It was wonderful since BC pills caused no end of issues.

Beesie

I too had an IUD when I was young and had no pain or problems with it at all.

Salamandra

My high school best friend is an obgyn who strongly recommends IUDs for young women (including 14+) and inserts them all the time.

Insertion is definitely less painful after a woman has had a child, but on a scale of pain - for most women the cost benefit analysis is there. (Once it's properly inserted, it shouldn't be any more painful for a younger or nulliparous person than an older person or someone who has given birth).

That said, I have been told that the most important thing when getting an IUD is that the provider is experienced with inserting them and good at it. And it doesn't sound like your daughter's doctor would be.

txmomof2

Thank you for your input on IUDs. Does anyone have experience with Nexplanon?

flashlight

Both my daughters took Ortho-Tri-Cyclen Lo without any problems starting in High School. My youngest daughter was having issues with heavy bleeding after college and had the IUD Mirena inserted. It stopped her flow, but gave her acne, 30+ pounds of weight gain, and severe depression with a personality change. After having it removed it took her almost a year to get back to her old self. As long as she knows Nexplanon will not reduce the risk of STIs and is aware of the side effects. It sounds like it would be easy to have it taken out if she had to have it removed. My question for the doctor would be how long would it take for the side effects to subside after removal.

Rrobin0200

what about the Paraguard, a non hormonal iud?