Copper IUD? - Santa Clara,CA

I used one for years before I had kids because hormone B/C made me fat and crazy depressed. It hurt when it was "installed" and I had some residual cramping for less than a week. It made my periods a little bit heavier and the cramps a little worse. It rarely got in the way during sex and if I was 100% "ready" it was not an issue - hubby had to do his due dilligence ;)
I felt SOOOO much better day to day without the hormone birth control!
However, IUD makes you more vulnerable to STD's so you need to be 100% sure that your mate will keep himself clean and monogamous before switching.

I have had the Paragard copper IUD for a year and a half, following the birth of my baby. I chose this method because I, too, have a very hard time with hormonal BC. I won't lie: having the IUD inserted was uncomfortable (but not nearly so much as unmedicated child birth). I was advised to take some Advil or Tylenol before going in to my appointment, and I did not, so there is that. At first it totally creeped me out to think that this object was stuck in me all the time, but I stopped thinking about it after awhile. The first few periods I had after the IUD was in were, honestly, awful. I had horrible back pain and really heavy bleeding. However, that subsided after about 3 months. Nowadays I don't notice or really think about my IUD at all. The thing I really like about this method is that it is good for 10 years, but removable at any time if I decide I don't want it anymore. Good luck making your decision.

A diaphram has virtually no side effects. However, you need to use it correctly and consistantly. It takes some time to get used to the process, but once you've got it, it's really easy. I've been using one for 20 years and I really like it.

If I remember correctly, you can't use an IUD unless you've had children. You might want to read into that.

I hated it, but I also had bleeding problems with depo and I tend to have heavy periods. I bled non stop and heavy for a year, then my cycles were very heavy and crampy. Finally I had it removed.

A friend with no kids had one but quickly got it removed as it was painful. I think the doctor told her (prior to insertion) it was a possibility since things hadn't been stretched out because she'd never been pregnant.

If you haven't had children, I don't even know if an OB would put one in. The odds of you aborting it are much much much higher if you've never been pregnant. I had a childless friend who had one and it was great, but her body did try to spontaneously expel it, which was incredibly painful and bloody (sorry).

Your non-hormonal options are thin. I did use a diaphragm before I got pregnant with my daughter. I didn't love it. But I can't stand condoms, so it was better than that.

Good luck.