Birth Control - Chesapeake,VA

I give everyone this advice: Get a Paragard Copper IUD. No hormones (therefore, no side effects), very few risks, removable at any time, and you barely even know it's there. The only unpleasantness I've experienced is slightly heavier, crampier periods. Very easy to deal with in the big picture of better health since discontinuing hormonal bc.

Of course, you need to talk to your OBGYN about all of your options, you may find something you'll like even better, like a cervical cap or something else. And don't let other people run your life. If you're not ready for another child, then by all means, don't have one. My boys are actually 5 years apart and are still the best of buddies. Don't worry about the age gap. It's really not as important as some people make it out to be. It's all about how you raise them. I understand how you feel, my husband and I have dealt with deployment before and you need time to just be together and reestablish your norm before you even think about changing things up again.

Hope this helped.

Educate yourself on the available options before making a decision. I know the big thing drs and people are pushing right now are the Paraguard and Mirena IUC. I refuse to get either of these. For starters, I know of two people who have gotten pregnant in the past 2 months with the Paraguard in place and both were ectopic pregnancies and ended with having to get a d&c. Also, the possibility, while low, of L.-term damage to the uterus makes me uneasy about the IUCs.

The Nuva Ring is the lowest dose of horomones (aside from the IUC) because the hormones are going right where they need to be. Pills have higher doses of hormones because they have to "account" for the loss as it goes through your digestive track. Many women who have problems with the pills or with depo use the ring without any problems. You only need to change the ring once a month, and it can be used for continuous cycling (skipping periods).

If pregnany wouldn't be the end of the world for you, I'd recommend natural family planning. Many Catholics rely on it for religious reasons, but I use it becuase I simply won't go back to hormones and don't want the risks and side effects of the IUD. After having kids, my cycle is VERY regular and I can easily tell when I am ovulating. That means abstinence or condoms for about one week of the month. It's not 100%, but it's cheaper and better for you.