https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 05 Apr 2026 22:33:22 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-use-hormonal-birth-control/page/2#post-1938994 Tue, 11 Nov 2014 10:29:28 +0000 jape14 1938994@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just wanted to chime in that I had a similar experience re: estrogen-containing vs. progestin-only methods to @lilyofthewest:. I was on the mini-pill for about a year or so before getting pregnant (conceived 4 months/3 cycles after I stopped the mini-pill) and now I'm on Mirena postpartum. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-use-hormonal-birth-control/page/2#post-1938765 Tue, 11 Nov 2014 08:58:38 +0000 lilyofthewest 1938765@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ChiCalGoBee: walling you; I already threadjacked too much! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-use-hormonal-birth-control#post-1938651 Tue, 11 Nov 2014 01:57:24 +0000 StbHisMrs 1938651@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Well, abstinence for now since he's gone. When he gets back he's getting a vasectomy. Until then it'll be condoms + pull and pray, or I go on the pill and thank abstinence because my sex drive is zero, zilch, nada when on it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-use-hormonal-birth-control#post-1938642 Tue, 11 Nov 2014 01:13:46 +0000 MrsLilybugg 1938642@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We use the pull out method during my O week which is usually around the same time . I can tell with ovulation pains too when to be super careful </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-use-hormonal-birth-control#post-1938637 Tue, 11 Nov 2014 00:55:14 +0000 turquoisemama 1938637@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We used pull out method and that worked until we actively started TTC and got pregnant with in two months, that turned out to be a chemical, but we got pregnant again in another two months. I had a Mirena IUD for a while with the guy I dated before DH, but that gave me HORRIBLE cramps even when I wasn't on my period. I think pull out method is much more effective than people think. You just have to do it correctly. The man has to urinate before each time and has to know his body and when to pull out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-use-hormonal-birth-control#post-1938626 Tue, 11 Nov 2014 00:15:47 +0000 birdofafeather 1938626@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Conservative charting and condoms during that conservative fertile window. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-use-hormonal-birth-control#post-1938620 Mon, 10 Nov 2014 23:52:27 +0000 ChiCalGoBee 1938620@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lilyofthewest: Thanks for sharing all of that. If you don't mind me asking, do you like the Mirena or Paragard better for IUDs? My due date is tomorrow, so I know I have to think about BC again sooner rather than later! My mom had scarred fallopian tubes that caused fertility issues from an IUD in the 80s which makes me a little nervous, but I know they are different now and come highly recommended. Thanks in advance for anything you want to share! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-use-hormonal-birth-control#post-1938191 Mon, 10 Nov 2014 18:43:59 +0000 MCD919 1938191@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Another copper iud user here, and I would definitely recommend it. I had some spotting for a couple weeks after insertion, and my period is heavier for about a day, but no other side effects. My OB told me also she uses it :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-use-hormonal-birth-control#post-1938155 Mon, 10 Nov 2014 18:18:58 +0000 erinpye 1938155@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lilyofthewest: I didn't know that my experience was a common thing for women who get migraines-- thank you for sharing! :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-use-hormonal-birth-control#post-1938144 Mon, 10 Nov 2014 18:07:37 +0000 maddyz 1938144@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had the Mirena and it did effect my interest in sex but took a while. I wasn't ovulating regularly with it and missed my cycle and being interested in sex.</p> <p>Post IUD I charted to prevent for about 7 months and then we got slack about it, not exactly trying, but not working so hard to prevent either and I got pregnant (MCed at 8w). Charted post MC before trying again and it was SO nice to know what my normal was and see myself get back there.</p> <p>In the future I plan on charting to prevent. I now feel like I have a really good idea of what that means for me and I have 0 interest in hormones or an IUD again. With the right kind of info and a committed partner charting can be a great way to avoid pregnancy. </p> <p>I really liked the Kindara app for charting and also found the community really helpful. There are lots of people using it to avoid pregnancy. It's a great resource. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-use-hormonal-birth-control#post-1938143 Mon, 10 Nov 2014 18:07:03 +0000 JerricaBenton 1938143@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We use NFP. It's been effective for us in getting pregnant and now preventing pregnancy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-use-hormonal-birth-control#post-1938139 Mon, 10 Nov 2014 18:04:41 +0000 .twist. 1938139@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We use condoms. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-use-hormonal-birth-control#post-1938136 Mon, 10 Nov 2014 18:01:02 +0000 coopsmama 1938136@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have never been on hormonal birth control and am not comfortable with the idea. We currently just rely on pull and pray (wouldn't be too upset by another pregnancy) and, very occasionally, condoms. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-use-hormonal-birth-control#post-1938123 Mon, 10 Nov 2014 17:51:34 +0000 Anya 1938123@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A combo of charting and condoms worked for me. In the past I've been on the pill, ring and iud and I don't plan on ever going back. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-use-hormonal-birth-control#post-1938119 Mon, 10 Nov 2014 17:44:41 +0000 lilyofthewest 1938119@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>PSA @erinpye: &amp; anyone else who has migraines:</p> <p>::women's health RN hat on::</p> <p>If you experience migraines with aura symptoms (visual changes such zigzag lines, flashing lights, tunnel vision, halos, loss of vision in one eye, and/or numbness, tingling, or paresthesias) it is a really good idea to stay away from any birth control methods with estrogen in them (patch, ring, almost all birth control pills). </p> <p>Women with migraine+aura have a much higher risk of stroke when on estrogen containing medications (see <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15596418/)" rel="nofollow">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15596418/)</a>.</p> <p>On the flip side, for women who have migraines that track with menstrual cycles (more likely or more severe when they occur at a certain time in the cycle), progestin-only methods (Mirena or Skyla IUD, Nexplanon implant, Depo Provera injection, or minipills) can sometimes decrease headache frequency or severity.</p> <p>Anecdotally, I personally lucked out with migraines and progestin-only methods. I used to have a migraine almost every cycle starting 1-2 days before my period and lasting into the second day of my period. During the 2 years that I used Depo and the 9 years that I used Mirena I had only a small handful of migraines. </p> <p>For totally non-hormonal, I :heart: copper IUDs.</p> <p>Edited to add: Depo is a bad choice for anyone hoping for a pregnancy within the next year or two. While some women do get pregnant by being a few days late for their shot, it is also not unusual for it to take a year and half to return to normal fertility. Mirena, Skyla, Nexplanon and minipills, and completely non-hormonal methods all offer an immediate return to fertility.</p> <p>@erinpye: So glad you feel better now! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-use-hormonal-birth-control#post-1938118 Mon, 10 Nov 2014 17:44:02 +0000 bhbee 1938118@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'll always believe hormonal birth control messed me up (even more than I naturally have IF issues). We used condoms in between #1 and #2 TTCs and as I'm pretty sure we're finished, I may go to a copper IUD after this one. Or we may just stick to condoms! It doesn't really bother either of us . . . in fact I think it gives DH an illusion of safety because it is visible/tangible. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-use-hormonal-birth-control#post-1938104 Mon, 10 Nov 2014 17:30:25 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 1938104@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We don't need any birth control. If we ever got pregnant by accident it would be a welcome miracle. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-use-hormonal-birth-control#post-1938096 Mon, 10 Nov 2014 17:22:17 +0000 avivoca 1938096@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Prior to LO, I chrted my cycles and we used the pull and pray method. Now we pull and pray. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-use-hormonal-birth-control#post-1938089 Mon, 10 Nov 2014 17:15:47 +0000 MamaChin 1938089@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I also didn't want to go back on the pill. I got a copper IUD and love it. We are done having kids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-use-hormonal-birth-control#post-1938054 Mon, 10 Nov 2014 16:42:16 +0000 ILoveLettie 1938054@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I use the copper IUD and am a big fan of it. I've been on 4 different kinds of hormonal birth control that have all really started acting up in one way or another, and our LO was conceived on condoms, so we weren't going that route! The only thing about the copper IUD is they say it can make your blood flow heavier, but I had light periods to begin with so it doesn't bother me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-use-hormonal-birth-control#post-1938039 Mon, 10 Nov 2014 16:35:42 +0000 catomd00 1938039@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm pretty much in the same boat as you. We use POM probably nt the smartest since the one time DH didn't pull out last time we got DD! But we want another sooner rather then later and would figure it out if it happened. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-use-hormonal-birth-control#post-1938035 Mon, 10 Nov 2014 16:34:32 +0000 travellingbee 1938035@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: Same. We will even continue to use withdrawl and timing when we are done having kids, probably because I have such a little chance of getting pregnant even when we are trying. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-use-hormonal-birth-control#post-1938031 Mon, 10 Nov 2014 16:32:03 +0000 lamariniere 1938031@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I too hated hormonal BC. I have a copper iud. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-use-hormonal-birth-control#post-1938029 Mon, 10 Nov 2014 16:30:33 +0000 PawPrints 1938029@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Have you read Taking Charge of Your Fertility? LOTS of people on these boards use the charting techniques from that book while TTC but I hear a lot less about people using them to prevent pregnancy. It sounds scary (people think it's the same as the rhythm method, which it really isn't) but I know people who have used it as an effective prevention method for years and years. It just involves being really on top of charting, and using condoms if you want to have sex during the fertile window. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-use-hormonal-birth-control#post-1937987 Mon, 10 Nov 2014 16:02:14 +0000 dc yoga bee 1937987@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We used condoms until we got married, then pull out method. It took us a year to actively conceive. After this baby, we will go back to pull out method. I never liked the idea of birth control. I tried the ring for 3 months in college, but other than that no hormonal birth control. When we are done having kids (we *think* we want two, but let's see how one is) I'll try a non-hormonal iud </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-use-hormonal-birth-control#post-1937980 Mon, 10 Nov 2014 15:53:29 +0000 ChiCalGoBee 1937980@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Danizaur: Thanks for starting this thread. I was on the BC pill for 11 years, and once I got off it to try and conceive, I realized just how much better I felt without the hormones. I am planning on an IUD after birth....likely the non-hormonal one, although my OB did say that even the one with hormones isn't nearly as bad as regular BC since they're all concentrated in your uterus vs going through your whole system. Good luck with whatever your choose! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-use-hormonal-birth-control#post-1937968 Mon, 10 Nov 2014 15:47:24 +0000 MrsMccarthy 1937968@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We used a diaphragm with spermicide for a while but I plan to go back on the pill after I'm done nursing our second. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-use-hormonal-birth-control#post-1937963 Mon, 10 Nov 2014 15:45:15 +0000 marionberry 1937963@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was happy to go off BC to try to get pregnant with LO1 and don't want to ever go back on it. I got really good at tracking my cycles while I was ttc so I knew that they get pretty regular. When we were NTNP I looked at my chart on fertility friend (not charting temp, just looking at likely fertile days based upon my recent periods) and told my DH we should have sex that night because if we wanted a chance of being pregnant that month it was our last shot - and we got pregnant. I think you can easily do the opposite. Chart your temp a couple months (maybe 3 or less if they're really regular) so that you know your typical high and low days - then avoid sex on any day FF predicts is fertile. My friend did that for years to prevent pregnancy and then used it to get pregnant later. It's not a 100% fail safe, but it is pretty easy and hormone free. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-use-hormonal-birth-control#post-1937954 Mon, 10 Nov 2014 15:42:09 +0000 Synchronicity 1937954@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Condoms. I was on the pill for 10 years - never again! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-not-use-hormonal-birth-control#post-1937928 Mon, 10 Nov 2014 15:31:55 +0000 mrsjazz 1937928@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>BC makes me crazy. I haven't been on it for more than 10 years. DH and I use a combo of condoms and natural family planning. It worked to keep me from getting pregnant and worked to get me pregnant. </p>