Birth Control

I enjoy smoking and don't feel guilty about it ... but smoking when you're looking after a young child is downright irresponsible.

Agreed!

I couldn't go without my cigarette break at work. Sorry for using LPSG to publicly air my dilemma about giving up smoking

They don't make them addictive for nothing. Good luck with giving it up.

I know there's a joke about using a big penis instead of a cigarette whenever you're craving a smoke somewhere in there, but it's too late for me to come up with it. Ah well.

I wish.

Is it true there is a higher rate of cervical cancer among women using the IUD?

Not sure where you heard that but cervical cancer, which is rare, is usually caused by hpv, which is a virus than can be transmitted through sex. I've never heard an IUD causes higher rates of cervical cancer. That doesn't make sense. However, when an IUD is first inserted, it is very important for a woman's doctor to make sure she doesn't have any bacterial infections such as chlamydia or gonorrhea, and she is more susceptible to these infections mostly in the first few weeks she receives her IUD. The IUD does not cause these infections.

I think the doc starts with something that they've had good results with other women but a lot of women have to try a few to get one that they like.

I have the Mirena IUD also and oh my gosh that sucker hurt... that was not in the pamphlet LOL Yasmine gave me high blood pressure so an IUD was my only choice but I CANT say I miss my periods HA I only get a little cramping from time to time. Took me a few months of agonizing cramps to get here but it was so worth it

My mom had an IUD back in the 70's and said it hurt like a bitch. For this reason i've never considered it. After the pain i went through having a cervical biopsy and post D&C from the dilation....there was no way in hell i could handle the pain of insertion of one of those things!

You ladies are braver than i am!

I have not been on birth control for awhile now. I can't take birth control that has hormones in them. My blood pressue sky rockets from all the pills I have tried. I've also been on the patch. I gained a lot of weight on that and as you can imagine WAS not happy about that shit.

I'm going to get an IUD inserted as soon as I have the money. Can't wait, sick of worry about periods and not being able to be on birth control.

Notthe7 ---

1. Have you exhausted all BC pills? Progesterone only?
2. Have you tried any of the shots?
3. What about the ring?
4. IUD -- be sure it is someone who places them a lot ... seen tooo many pregnant women with IUDs.

LongNights

I'm on POPs, too. I successfully avoided THE PILL (estro/progestro) my whole life, thankful for that. I like POPs overall. I had side effects I did not like, for the first couple of months, but they went away. Overall, my body is taking very well to the added hormone. Periods are somewhat heavier, longer and crampier than before, but if I can workout on the first day that my period is coming, I can shorten the length, flow and cramps.

My only big complaint is the tendency of my body to now stubbornly hold onto fat in "problem areas."

POPs work differently from the other PILL, which fools the body into thinking it's prego, hence the side effects. That's why it must be taken at the same time, because it creates a mucuous barrier at the cervix. I'm currently playing around with timing, cos honestly, it's a pain in the ass to remember to take something at the same time, everyday. I suppose it's no problem for someone who wakes at the same time everyday, or who goes to bed at the same time, but who lives like that???!!! I'd like to take it during the workday, but my lunch hour is not always the same, and when the boss calls, you better be there, and he won't have me leaving meetings with clients so I can take my pill!

Other difference: my orgasms changed. Less sharp, more full and satisfying, less clitty. (Still clitty, just...less sharp-clitty, more vaginal.)

Stick with it. If you switch times in the first couple of months, you'll experience breakthrough bleeding, but it went away for me.

Another thought.

I wanted to use Mirena, which is basically an IUD with POPs impregnated into it. I ENCOUNTERED MANY WOMEN WHO BECAME PREG WITH THE MIRENA. Just a warning....

Long Nights,

I have not. As a full-time student and full time worker it's SO hard to remember to pop a pill too. My father has a list of alements that all stem from diabetes and high blood pressure. I'm scared about having high blood pressue on BC.

I've never heard of anything bad about IUDS. I was thinking about trying the pills again.. MAybe yaz? Who knows, fucking A we will see.