Birth Control - Long Beach,CA

Weird, I'm responding to you twice..... but I got he IUD 8 weeks after Lainee was born and i love it!!!!! She is 5 months and I still haven't started my period which the doctor said it may be a while because of the IUD and the fact that I'm breastfeeding. I have heard it is painful for some women and makes them have really heavy periods. But i recommend it also because i really don't like the idea of any extra hormones and the one I got doesn't have any!!!!!!!!Good Luck..

Hi , I was on YAZ and LOVED it!!! I have been on several different brands in the past but last year i was havig major PMS, problems with endrometreosis and not having reg periods. My new OB put me on it and what a world of difference!!! I even lost weight instead of gained!!! :)
I got off it a few moths ago with hopes of trying to get PG.I def would recommend this to you. I have had several friends that have tried it and they also love it! good luck! :)

PS. YASMIN is completly different from Yaz. Yaz has a high dose of potassium and has also been found to help with mood swings/bad PMS. Dr.s prescribe this mostly to patients who suffer from this or other hormonal probs.

I'm not trying to avoid pregnancy, but I was going through a hormonal imbalance and needed to regulate my menstrual cycle. I didn't really see a huge difference EXCEPT I did notice that I was more emotional! It was bad enough I was emotional before taking YAZ, I am even more emotional. But other than that - no nausea, dizziness or huge weight gain. I really believe everybody is different, so my opinion - just try it out and see.

Best wishes,
C.~
http://www.TotalWellnessInfo.com

I was on the pill for years, but felt the same as you. Had the IUD put in after our last daughter and love it! It's all gold, don't feel it and is good for 10 years (just a check up once a year). Now they also have the Marina IUD which a friend has and is extra $, but no more periods. She says it's great too. Hope this helps.

I switced to YAZ as suggested by my nurse after the birth of my second son a year and a half ago. I am 32 and always suffered the worst cravings, cramps and mood swings during my PMS. Since taking YAZ I have noticed a HUGE difference. The only time that I have seemed to have really bad cramps is when I have accidently skipped a pill. My periods are really short-3-4 days at tops. I don't the mood swings as radical as they were prior to switching to YAZ. I have suggested to several of my friends that they switch. I have noticed though that the week prior to my period starting I am very tired, but I suppose that is pretty normal. As far as weight gain, I still get bloated so I am not sure if it will help with the weight gain that you have experienced in the past. I really do feel that my PMS systems are less severe and I really appreciate the shortened periods it offers. My nurse had also told me that the pills have a lot less hormones/estragen in them which helps later in life. The less hormones we consume now the easier menopause is supposed to be.
Good Luck!

hi EM!

i too am not one for birth control pills. so i'm currently on Mirena. It's the 5-year IUD! and i don't have to worry about remembering to take anything! i just have to check if it's still there by feeling for the string. but it's great! no weird cravings and my moods are so much better! since i've been on it, i've been slowly loosing my weight! which is always awesome!

hope this helps!

val

I recently posted a similar question about the YAZ pill - I started it a few months ago after my second baby...during the first pack of pills, I bled nonstop and was worried. By the time I started the second pack, I seemed to be on a 'normal cycle'. But I'm not thrilled with how the hormones make me feel either (very moody). We are looking into my husband getting a vasectomy since we are not having more kids, but I was also considering the Nuvaring or Mirena? I know all contraceptives have risks but it seems like an IUD would be preferable? Don't know if I was much help, I just wanted to give you some feedback!

Dearest E.M,

I am also a stay at home mom of two beautiful girls, 7 and 3. I just recently, appx 6 mos ago changed birth control. I was also on the pill but began to have extremely menstraul cycles. So my OBGYN changed my birth control to an IUD called Mirena. I love it. You can't feel anything and you don't have to worry about missing a pill. And if you change your mind about having another baby, your OBGYN just takes it out and your good to go. It's like having a PAP, she inserts it and that's it. I have lesser and lighter periods. I can't remember the side effects, or of their are any, but I haven't felt anything or gone through any changes. My husband and I are planning to have another child towards the end of this year, so I'm actually having the IUD removed beg. March.
Good luck,
Also E.M.

Hi EM,
I too had been on several types of birth control pills, but I had side effects that I could not tolerate, not to mention all of the risks that you take such as blood clots, risk of strokes, and cancers. So I took the non-hormonal approach and had the IUD placed. Since I have been so sensitive to hormonal therapies, I chose the copper hormone free Paragaurd that is good for 10 years. The only side effect that women complain of is increased bleeding during their periods. You also have the option of the 5 year plastic Mirena. This has a very low dose of progestin(a synthetic form of Progesterone) which minimizes your bleeding, but it is still a hormone that carries the same risks as the birth control pills. I love my IUD, it is so out of sight, out of mind. I have had two, I had it removed so that I could get pregnant with our 3rd child. Two weeks after I had it removed, I found out that our third child was on his way into our family. Do your own research on your options carefully. I hope that this has been a little informative for you.

A. Nichols
Work At Home United
Personal Mentor, Mommy of 3
###-###-####
____@____.com
www.enriched1.com

Yes I took it and it was horrible. I choose that one because it claims to decrease water retention. I became depressed on it from the start, and I am never depressed. Then I started to puff up like a water balloon. I actually retained so much fluid that my legs felt like bricks and it became hard to walk. All of that went away the moment I stopped taking that pill. I was only on it for 4 months. EEKS...Since then I have read that it is very hard on your kidneys. If you are finished having children, I suggest looking into an IUD.....Good luck, M.

Hi, I saw your Q? and have an IUD. It's wonderful. Its good for 5 years and once it is in you don't have to worry about that pill every night, heavy periods or for me fibroid cysts.
Some things that aren't so great is the cost. Most insurance companies will pay at least half. Mine did but it still cost me $500.00. I also felt some major discomfort for about an hour after it was inserted. It would be better if they gave you something for the cramps. I'm 5 ft. and small framed so it could be just be my size. I'm a sahm and mother of 6 so I know I don't want anymore kids. My husband would have 1 more if I would but I'm really done. I tell him that 1% chance could happen...ha ha
I'm very happy with my iud and even recommended it to my oldest daughter who is in college and in a relationship. She agreed with me. It is such a relief knowing she won't accidentally make me a grandma for the next 5 years and by that time she will be out of college.

Good luck!
P.

I was on the pill for many years and got off to have children. After having my third baby, we decided we didn't want anymore kids. I HATE the pill, and opted for an IUD. I have the one that is in for 10 years and has NO hormones. I am LOVING my decision. If you want to have more kids, I wouldn't do the IUD. I would wait until you are all done having babies! Good luck!

I was taking Yasmin and loved it. When I was planning on going off the pill to get pregnant my docotor gave me samples of YAZ for 2 months so she didn't have to prescribe Yasmin for a couple months. I hated it. It gave me really bad side effects. Dizziness, moody, emotional and headaches. I recommend Yasmin but stear clear from YAZ!

I am on my 2nd Mirena IUD (they are good for 5 years). After my son (who is now 7) my hubby & I decided that we didn't wnat anymore kids (we have 2), but he was not ready for either of us to make it a permanent solution. My dr recommended the IUD & I LOVE IT!!! Originally it was supposed to be that after the 1st one "expired" & we still wanted no kids, he would get fixed. But as soon as I was without if for a month, I was ready for it back. I have little to no period (1 in 3 women will stop bleedin or have extremely light spotting). I do still PMS around my time of the month, but I do not do anything more than spot every once in awhile. Although they say that you should check it once a month to see if the strings are still there, I don't check mine. I tried in the begining, but couldn't find them & my dr said that was ok. The one downside is that if you do happen to end up pregnant on it (very rare), you have to have it removed & there is a high chance that you will miscarry.
Hope this helps!! Also, the Mirena is not a copper IUD. When having it put in, there was some mild cramping & some spotting that day (maybe the next) & that was it. Having it removed was slightly more painful that having it inserted, but still not too bad. Good luck!!

I have the IUD-Paraguard. ILOVE IT. It has no hormones! Yippie so Im not Crazy...the pill makes me crazy. THe side efffets are heavy periods...for me my first period with the paragaurd was heavy w litle cramps, and ever since then it is longer than it was before, but not crazy heavy and no crmps. there is anothe IUD called th Mirena and that has a low dose of hormones but lower than the average pill.everyone is different. My girlfriend was on Yaz and hated it...says it made her feel bloated....Good luck I hope this helps

Hi E M,

I'm a mother of 7, and used a IUD as a birth control method and got pregant with my 4th child. I was starting to go on my 3rd year with the IUD and notice it was missing. Had a check up and found out I was pregant, the doctor showed me videos of babies with puncture from the IUD and advised to abort the baby while I still can. I didn't take their advice and keep the baby. She came out holding the IUD in her hands, with no puncture wounds anywhere on her. She is now 25 years old, with a baby of her own on the way.

I am 34 with 3 kids and I just came off of Yaz- I was on it since having my last baby who is now 2- Let me say being off of the pill has saved my life! I was soooo cranky and everything bothered me- I just thought it was the kids, life, etc....- finally a friend said to me "you used to be so cool and now everything stresses you out"- that friend has no kids so I just attributed it to her 'calm' life- I went off the pill to get an IUD and in one week I was back to my old self! I still haven't gotten the IUD but if I can save anybody from the terrible side effects of the pill- I will try! I will be getting an IUD soon but for now I am enjoying being 'free' from birth control- not getting pregnant is another story- my husband is probably not the happiest guy right now! :)

Get the IUD, nothing could be simpler or more effective. I have my third one, and have had zero trouble conceiving after removing each.

They install easily and the removal is nothing more than a sneeze. :)

Yes, I have used Yaz for more than 2 years now and I have had no side effects. Of course, every body is different, but I would not take any other birth control. Prior to Yaz, I used Loestrin. I gained weight from that. But, Yaz is good. I highly recommend it.

I took YAZ for 3 months (just now am stopping). It may have been a coincidence, but after the first month on it I felt really icky during menstruation - headache... The following months have been fine - no weight gain. I never had really heavy periods, but one advantage of YAZ is that your period is really short - because you are only off the pills with hormones for 4 days. I am not going to continue with YAZ because the copay I have to pay is $35/month. Maybe if I had bad periods I would consider this, but instead I am going to try a different low hormone dose pill that my insurance covers better. I have a friend with an IUD - sounds great, especially because it was fully covered by her insurance, will last 5 years and also will decrease her menstruation. Good luck!

I took Yazmine for years. Yaz is the sister pill to Yasmine. I loved that pill. However, after the birth of my second baby, I went on YAZ and it made me feel terrible! You never know how something is going to work for your body so I would give it a try and if you feel "off" after a few weeks, go off of it.
I dont know if I was much help!
K.

I have taken YAZ and I love it! I have never been able to take ANY birth control... i even had a hard time with the mini pill, thats the one that has like half the hormones. I was reluctant to try ANYTHING but my doctor said YAZ was my last chance before a hysterectomy... so i tried it and i love it!!

Just my 2 cents

Aloha EM-

Personally, I think the best thing ever invented was the IUD. I had a Copper-7 and at a time when they were having trouble with some brands, the Copper-7 was never taken off the market. It was an "easy installation", I didn't have to think about birth control for something like three years and now I think they are good for four or five. I had no cravings, normal periods, and when I was ready for my second child, I had it removed and was pregnant the following month. Making love had a freedom that was never achieve with the pill or a condom. I didn't have to think whether I had remembered to take the pill, and if I hadn't, whether or not I would still be protected. The IUD added such freedom. Good luck with whatever method you choose.

C.

I used an iud for many years & loved it. The best method if it's right for you.
I was on the pill for the last 5 years but had to stop as I am just recovering from breast cancer. I don't know whether they are related-I think they definitely are- so I do not recommend taking any birth control pills!

If you decide to get an IUD, there are payment plans available through the companies that make them. (Check the websites of the drug comanies.) IUDs are expensive (in the short run, not the long run) and lots of insurance companies won't cover them. My doctor's office suggested charging the whole thing on a credit card, but when I looked into it, each company had a plan to pay for them over a period of a few months at the same price and without interest. My doctor's office wasn't aware of that option but were happy to find out about it because lots of people don't choose IUDs because of the large up-front cost. (BTW, I got the Mirena brand IUD and for me it has been my favorite birthcontrol method that I have used so far.)

Have you ever looked into the ring? I went from the shot to the ring & love the ring. I have always found it hard to take estrogen based pills, but have had nothing but a positive experience with the ring. My periods were very normal & as soon as I was ready to get pregnant, I just didn't put the ring in & and that month I got pregnant...

The Copper T IUD. See if it is right for your situation. It is the best!

i've heard good things about yaz... my dr also suggested an iud as well.. s[pecially since you are 35 you have a higher risk for blood clots and stroke so i would go with the iud...

I took the Yaz pill for approximately 3 years (until I recently had a tubal ligation) and it is very much like LoEstrin if you have had that. As I understand it, it is a low dose pill and I took it because I was never able to tolerate any high dose pills - they made me feel ill. Never in the time I took the pill did I feel that it attributed to any weight gain, but I did have migraines up until the time I went off the pill. This, and a decreased libido were the only side effects I had while taking the pill. Both dissappeared after I discontinued the prescription.

I have two children. A 5 year old daughter and a 2 year old son. After I had my daughter, I was put on a birth control pill, but no matter what pill i was on or what shot I took, I always had bad side effects. But after I had my son, I chose to give the IUD a try and love it!!! After it was inserted I only had minor craming for a day or two. Now, I never even think about it. I also did'nt like the pill because of the thought of extra hormones. The IUD has a very little amount. I say if your insur. will cover the IUD, then go with it!

I have an IUD & it's been great. It's uncomfortable when they put it in & I spotted for a couple of months but now I have no period & I'm loving it! I haven't noticed any side effects (with the exception of spotting the first couple of months).

I was on yaz, I got a blood clot in my left leg from taking this. Everyone's body is different but I personally would not reccomend this pill. I would stick with using the IUD. Goodluck.

Try reading "A Cooperative Method of Natural BIrth Control" by margaret nofziger. This way you won't have to manipulate your body's hormones.

Sun 2/10

Dear E.M.

I know nothing about the YAZ birthcontrol, however I can tell you that after taking regular low-dose birth control pills I developed a blood-clot in my braiun & had a stroke at age 38 so since you are over 30 I know the risk on any type of BC is moderately high & if you smoke it's even higher ... Just FYI! Best of luck to you! I know I took it for convemience of life style, however I would not if I knew then what I know now ~ I did try a 5 year IUD also as I had heavy periods & know I am nearing menopause at age 48 it was slightly less hormone in my body & helped with some but not all PMS symptoms ~ Just please do be careful & report any & all head aches to your doctor! Take care! I hope you will get the insight & advise you seek! Hope my words were a little helpful? Take care

Blessings, (Married mom of 1 48)
L. in Riverside CA

I am currently on Yaz and have experienced few side effects. A day or two prior to my cycle I do experience a slight shift in mood that last for about 2 days, and in that same time frame I tend to be slightly gassy. I feel the gas is linked to the anti- blowting effect they say the pill offers. Other than those two things I have been happy overall. I have not experienced any weight gain or cravings, however I have only been on Yaz for 4 months.

Just a bit about me: I am a 33 yr old mom of 3 and also never liked the pill.

I just tried the copper IUD because I feel awful on the pill (any kind) and Depo was horrible. The placement was very painful as I have not had a child (my boys are adopted). For the past 2.5 weeks I have had spotting bleeding alternating with heavy bleeding and have had low back pain every morning. I guess it's effective as birth control because I don't feel like having sex. I am actually thinking of having it removed after this week if things don't improve. Good luck with your choice of birth control. I know others have had good success with IUDs - it's just not been my experience so far.

I am on YAZ; I like it. My face doesn't break out, and the "mask" from birth control and pregnancy doesn't seem to be getting any darker. However, I do find myself a bit irritable about a week before my period and do occasionally notice a chocolate craving during that same time. I have more than 5 lbs to get rid of, so can't comment on that. You might check your health insurance plan also. YAZ was originally sold at the Generic price, but on my plan has just gone up another $15/mo. Still cheaper than another child (but not as delightful). I am a 39-year old single mom.

hi,
i just started it, no problems yet. my friend has been on it for 4 months. the first month she felt sick, but it curved her appitite to not eat as much and she lost about 10 pounds....im hoping to lose 20...wishful thinking huh! www.heavenlyhooked.com

I was on it for over 1 year prior to having my daughter. It is the only pill I ever took which didn't give me any side effects. If you're choosing the pill, then I recommend it.

I have been taking Yaz for about 4 months now. I had leg cramps for the first month that I took it, but no problems since then. I take it for two months at a time to skip my period. When I do get my period, it is VERY light and does not last long at all.

Just a quick note. My first ever ob who also delivered my daughter called me 2 days before my last appointment with him. He told me sorry but he would no longer be implanting IUD's, too risky he said. I was really med because I hate the pill. Anyway I switched doctors, asked the next doctor who by the way was in a different city, different nationality, different practice, older very reliable highly recommended, etc. He told me good luck finding a doctor who would do it, too risky, too many side effects, same as the other doctor. Both dr.s had 20 years experience each. Do some research is all I'm saying. I still take the mini pill, 95% effective and I dont get any period at all. Good Luck