I have the 2 most beautiful children and we are happy and content with the fact that our family is complete. My youngest is 2 and a bit and my husband kindly took one for the team and made bc permanent for us. However now Im at the point where I feel like a slave to my period, which has become heavier and more painful after kids. Its pretty darn consistsnt (every 28~30 days) and if I think about it Im likely to go thru menopause around 50 and thats close to 20 years of periods. Anyway I started thinking that maybe it would be nice to try a form of bc that would either lessen or stop my period for a bit. I certainly dont plan to stay on it until I hit menopause or even for yrs and yrs but I want to try it. Im not overly educated in bc because its been quite awhile but the last time I checked I thought the only form of bc that would/could do what I want was the depo shot. Is this true because I am so scared of needles that I would have to really think about this.
Thanks in advance
Also do all birth controls have a tendancy to lower your sex drive? I know when I was on the pill yrs ago that was an issue and I definitely dont want that type of side effect.
Mirena
It's perfect for what you want. They put it in, and it lasts 5 years. Most women either have very light periods, or no period at all.
You could look into endometrial ablation. Basically, they scar the inside of your uterus, which makes it so that no tissue builds up on a monthly basis - so no period! Your hormones remain unaffected. Since you are done having kids, this might be a good option for you. It is not birth control, but since your husband already took care of that...
Here's more information about it: http://www.webmd.com/women/endometrial-ablation-16200
Any monophasic birth control pill can be taken straight through, skipping the fake period week (you don't need to buy the special brands that are just packaged to do this; any regular pill works). My doctor's had me doing this since 2001 because my periods make me really sick. You don't skip the periods entirely (or you'll end up with unwanted breakthrough bleeding) but every few months or so, at a time you choose. Now, when I do the fake period week, it's very manageable ... nothing like I used to experience. And to have control with the timing is awesome. I don't know why anyone would bother dealing with monthly periods on the pill. I'd ask your doctor about this option.
Sounds like what you need is mirena. It's an IUD that usually stops your periods. You can get one that is effective for up to 10 years, I believe. 3 of my daughters and both daughter in laws have it and love it! None of them get their periods anymore. 3 of them have had their tubes tied so they don't need it for birth control but got it just to stop their periods. Why have periods if you can't have kids anyway? LOL
Nuvaring is great - I have an almost non existent period...
I got the Mirena about 2 months after having dd#1 and it was perfect for me! I knew I'd be waiting at least a few years before having another baby, and it was good for "up to" 5 years! I had a few light periods the first couple of months and then only a very light (1-2 days of very light bleeding) every 3-4 months! I kept it in for 4.5 years. I plan to get another one after this baby. May be worth a try for you! I had never been on bc before, so I don't have anything to compare it to, but it did work very well for me.
The 3 month pill will take away your period. I know you don't need bc but I had the mirena put in and I don't have any periods any longer.
I have found LoSeasonique to be very helpful. The idea is that you take the hormone for 90 days or so, then go on a lower dose of the pill for a week to allow the period you would usually have every 28 days or so. I will say that there can be some heavy breakthrough bleeding (I experienced this in the first year) which made me uncertain if the pill was a good choice.That said, I've been on it for three years and it's more or less evened out, still some breakthrough bleeding but it's not nearly as bad. I also had some debilitating cramps (the reason I started this med) and it's helped in that regard considerably.
I took the birth control shot, or depo, in my early 20's for about 3 years. The first 6 months I still had my period, but did not bleed near as much. After that I didn't have a period at all. But it's taken almost 4 years now for my period to really get back to normal, I'm 27 now. But I also can't get pregnant now for some reason. So, if you're planning on having anymore children at all, you might want to think hard about it. Good Luck to ya!
I know of several people that had terrible/long lasting side effects from Depo shots. One of my friends is still having trouble 7 years later. She says it wrecked her life.
I've heard Mirena can lessen or eliminate periods. I asked a question about it on here this morning.
I was on Depo for several years and it wrecked my body. Stay away from that stuff.
I was on Depo for years. Like anything getting regular shots becomes routine. I never had issues with it but the vast majority of women hate Depo. I would proceed down that route cautiously since I seem to have an atypical Depo experience (zero problems ever). For me I stopped taking it because I couldn't schedule the regular shot visits every three months. I have to save my time off for my kids' doctors visits not mine.
I would talk to your doctor because there are an enormous array of birth control options with many offering a no period/reduced period option. I talked to my doctor after my second stopped breastfeeding. I told my doctor point blank after years of Depo and two kids closely spaced, I was not going to go a birth control route which resulted in periods. He completely understood and helped me select one which is based on a 21 day cycle. I take three packs of three weeks worth of pills (each pack is 21 pills). On my forth pack I have a fourth set of placebo pills for having my cycle. My doctor said there are plenty of pill options these days intentionally designed for women like myself in mind - no periods or reduced periods. Good luck as there are really so many options which your doctor can help you navigate.
