h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Well..it's been about three years or so (actually since the birth of my last child ) since I've been in for my 'Annual.' *ominous music* But, I need to get on birth control for an undisclosed reason , and might as well get checked for cancer while I'm at it .

Question 1: Girls, how well do you groom for an exam of this nature? I personally never know what to do with my..*ahem* I mean..do I shave it all nice and groomed-like and risk my doctor giving me a wierd look, or do I not and look odd..and risk the doctor giving me a wierd look..(or do I realize that my doctor has seen a berjillion sets of girly bits, and couldn't care less whether I look like a porn star or granola)..

Question 2: more serious..what birth control method do y'all prefer? Depo-provera or the 'patch' seem kind of cool. The pill does not* . IUDs just scare me. I've never been on birth control before..*glances guiltily at small children* ..is combination-hormone BC better or worse than the single-hormone kind? Thoughts?

I really don't think the quack is going to give a toss what your bits look like, as long as they're clean.

Thanks hon'. Say, to give him some variety, should I make it smell like strawberry and sprinkle on some glitter?

Did you worry what your bits looked like when you were giving birth?

just a thought - they don't still shave you for a non-section birth in the good ol' US of A, do they?

And do you mind if it's a boy doctor or a girl doctor? My last one was the practice nurse, a mother of three, which does help... particularly as she had to do some post-natal rummaging....

personlly, I think as long as you're nice and clean, yu're probably on to a winner...

I've said this before, but 'll say it agai. I'm deely suspicious of any treatment involving hormones. they thoroughly screwed me up, and have have major changes on your mental well-being, your physical well being, your libido, the lot. I would ***not*** recommend trying hormones for the first time at the same time as undergoing any major life/lifestyle changes - eg marriage, setting up new home, job, whatever. With me they messed with my braind so subtly, but so much, that it could have cost me my marriage - it can tke a long time before you realise what is going on, because it stops you from thinking ationally
know many people are delighted with them, but i don't know if *now* is a good time to try them, hon

Other thing is what they do to your fertility long term. I know a couple of epople who have found they couldn't conceive for 2+ years after coming off them, despite no problems producing kiddies before....

Eep! What do you suggest then as an alternative? I don't like the idea either, especially since I'm sensitive to..I'll call it chemical tampering..but I don't know what else to do

Oh, no they don't still routinely shave, at least not in the PAcific Northwest.

My only problem with my doctor is that I have a slight crush on him . But he's been my family doctor for years, and delivered my firstborn (secondborn had to be born near an NICU)

get Njan to have the two bricks treatment- job's a good 'un

But I want to have his baby someday..

Get him to take the precautions!

turvy

My sister in law has got the coil fitted and she's very impressed with it, no problems fitting it, no mood swings or weight loss or any of the other hormonal side effects you get with pills/injections and her periods are lighter and shorter. All the pluses of the pill without the minuses.

There was a bit of a debate going on in the new scientist a few months back between family planning advisers and doctors. Basically the FPAs who deal with people who've had IUDs fitted daily and advise people think that the doctors are scaring people away from them unecessarily. The problems with IUDs is that when it goes wrong it goes wrong pretty majorly, whereas problems with the pill are usually minor...or more likely subtle so it's hard to pin down the culprit. There are horror stories around about IUDs but the FPAs say that the most recent developments have made them safer and more reliable than any other form of contraception...but most doctors don't realise that things have moved on considerably in the last 10 years.

Have you talked to your nice doctor about it?

There's a lot of things to take into consideration.

Condoms are instant, but I *hate* them - loss of spontaneity ;-P
The Pill sorts out heavy and irregular periods - which I though was great - but realised eventually I was paying too high a price.
IUDs are a common recommendation for a woman with kids, but can make periods heavier. They like to fit/remove them on the heaviest day of your period which is enough to put some people right off. They can cause heavier periods. But - if you don't like them, ad they don't settle down after a few months, they can come straight out, and your body recoves p-r-e-t-t-y quickly....

The main problem I had with the pill is a sort of pregnancy sickness for the first few months. The last ones I had were a tripharsic (?) which had three different dosages and were supposed to mimic the natural cycle. It would have been better if my natural cycle hadn't been 22 days, but on the whole I didn't have too many problems with it. I did suffer from water retention though and when I finally came off the pill (after several years) I spent about 3 days in the loo and lost about 7 lbs in weight.

I never tried IUDs because I had heavy and very painful periods (another benefit of the pill for me).

I did use the cap for a time which had it's advantages. You can put it in and leave it for several hours if you want.

The only reason I stuck with the pill is because I can skip periods and have 3 or 4 a year. I hate the person I turn into on my period so a nice little pill which keeps her locked up is fine by me.

I did gain weight when I first took them, and I've found it harder to lose weight while I've been on them (but then thats the difference between being 18 and 23 I spose). I also lost my sex drive for about 12 months...it didn't show at first because it was at the start of the relationship - but we went from masses to zero in the shortest time imaginable...luckily that has just levelled itself out over time and I'm back to where I was pre-pill now. I didn't realise it was the pill that caused these changes - but looking back it's very clear...it's very hard to pin down the problems when they're due to the pill because things happen gradually and subtley.

I don't know if I would recommend it...it's fine as a quick fix but the side effects aren't easy to live with...but then I don't want to go back to having a period every month so the benefits are worth it.

I'm on depo, and the biggest advantage to me is not having periods. Ever. I can't imagine having to go back to that again, although I suppose it'll happen one day when I decide to come off of them and have kids. I can't forget to take it (was terrible with the pill), and there are no spontaneity issues.

I put on weight with it, although there were a lot of other factors in the mix that also caused me to expand so I don't know how much of it was down to the depo.

The only problem with it as far as I am concerned, is having to go to the doctors for the jab every 12 weeks. Nobody in the area where I live runs saturday surgeries, and I don't work near where I live so I end up having to take a day off work to get jabbed, or lying about my address and going to a gp as a temp patient near to where I work. Hopefully that will all get sorted out when I move though

I also need to go for a smear I pulled myself together a few months ago (ok, 6 months ago) and went, but they mucked it up so I have to go and get it done again. It is taking a while to get the gumption to go back again...

I'm worried about depo because of getting 3 months worth of hormones put into my system in one go! Does it affect you at all?

I was on the pill, but my libido went down, plus I didn't seem to be as happy as I normally am. I came off as an experiment, and I felt so much more light-hearted! Plus I've got varicose veins so I'm more 'at risk' from thrombosis sort of things.
Have had more trouble with weight since though, chocolate cravings and the pre-'monthly' munchies are much much worse since coming off the pill!

Queegle

What a lot of swings and roundabouts!

I liked the lightening of my periods when on the Pill, but when i came off they were neer as bad as they had been before - not until i had a baby that is!

One day they'll invent a no side effects 100% effective birth control...

I don't seem to be affected by the 3 month dose, for me it levelled out the usual monthly weirdness. It was the same on the pill, my mood improved rather than dropped.

For the first year I tended to get pmt-like symptoms for about two weeks before my next jab was due, but that doesn't happen anymore so I am really happy with it.

Am really dreading having to start having periods again

There is one 100% effective contraception, but I could cope with the frustration

I don't wanna gain weight! Not when seomday I want to wear a pretty wedding dress and whatnot.

Don't they have some kind of IUD that's all copper and so doesn't affect you hormonally at all? Has anyone tried that, or heard of someone trying it?

Yup - most of them don't have hormones in them - they're what I'm looking at right now, but I doubt I'll get 'done' in sufficient time to be of use to you.

I thought the Big Day was going to be real soon? The weight gain thing is slower, and preventable - but only with a lot of discipline!

I would like to add my positive experience with Depo provera.

I have not had a period since I started, some three years ago. I didn't gain much weight, maybe half a stone if that. The only hormonal problems I get is one evening usually 4 days after the injection when I get moody. Which has got to be better than 4 days every month.

However. I will add although I have had no problems with Depo, I do know people who have. I most severe case being a friend who had a period lasting 5 weeks. She unsuprisingly decided it wasn't for her.

Also currently in the UK, clinics and doctors are having problems getting supplies. So remember to check when booking your appointment with the nurse.

Also, when you decide to stop, with the intention of becoming pergnant it could take up to two years for your fertility to return, but this is the same with the pill (I believe).

If you have any more question please feel free to ask.

F.L.O.S.P

Tried the injection, it worked really well, put me off sex for months

Been on & off the pill for 12 years or more now. I do gain weight when I first go on. Getting headaches now, so will probably stop soon. Shame the whole period free thing was good.

Not many other options for lasses who haven't had kids