BellaOnline Forums Relationships Married No Kids Birth Control pills/Sex drive

Hmmm...not sure. That is why I posted here to see if any other women had suggestions.
The IUD freaks me out! So, I'm not sure what to do at this point. My poor DH.
Do you ever remember having a strong sex drive before BC pills?
I don't. :-( Sometimes, I feel like I could go years without it. :-(

(TMI-I enjoy it when we do it...but I could take it or leave it).

I did have a higher sex drive before the pill. But forgot about it until I went off them.

If you're really nervous try the sponge and a condom combined. Talk to your Dr about your sex drive. Maybe you should try another kind of pill. Mention that you may want to go off them for a bit to see if it is the pill lowering your drive, but you have to give it about 3 months.

Things that lower my drive are stress, work, allergies (they make me really tired and "dried out" from the antihistamines) and not eating well. If you're eating fine, getting enough sleep at night, are not very stressed out, then you may want to talk to your Dr sooner then later. Maybe it's just your individual drive, maybe you're in a rut in your life, maybe it's just a phase, it could be anything. But if you're unsure try not talking the pill and see if you feel better.

The IUD is safer then it was, and my Dr told me to try it. But I too was worried about it. I just don't react well to some metals after a while (I can wear a ring and be fine for a few weeks, then get an allergic reaction to it.) I worried more about it falling out and giving me heavy periods. I don't have very nice periods to begin with and also have bad cramping along with it. I was worried the IUD would make it worse.

I do know a few women who swear by it. They love it and don't have any problems with it. If you don't like it, you can always have it removed.

I really don't remember my life before the pill. I went on it at 19 so it's been a while. I'm on my last week of pills now and I'm going to have my period and not get back on the pill after it just use condoms. I think! I'm scared I sure in the [censored] don't want to get knocked up! But I've been skipping my period for about a yr now and I have just recently had some break through bleeding so I figure I need to have a my period to maybe get my body back on track and possible get off the pill just to take a break from it for a while and to see if it does make a difference but on the other hand what if I stay on the pill and just force myself to have sex more offten at least on the pill less chance of having a slip up. I don't know I so confused!

YES!

My sex drive disappeared when I first went on the pill!

It was so bad, I didn't even want my husband to hug me. It was around this time that we got engaged, so I guess it is a miracle we actually got married!

I went off the pill because of its effect on my sex drive, but 4 years later I started having random bleeding and ovarian cysts, so I went back on a different pill.

I still notice a change in my sex drive now and then, but it is nothing compared to what happened the first time.

My doctor said that different pills affect people different ways, and you should try a variety of kinds if you start having sex drive issues. Just because one pill does it, doesn't mean another one will.

But of course, you are limited by what your stupid insurance will cover, which is a whole other topic entirely.

(One that I wrote an article about:)

Does Your Insurance Cover Birth Control?
Boy was I shocked to find out that mine DOESN�T!!
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art18478.asp

If it is bothering you, try another pill, or another form of birth control. Anything to make sure you stay child free! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Kim
MNK Editor

I don't know if it's related to my birth control, but my sex drive has completely died. I have heard quite a bit though that lots of women encounter this when going on birth control of any kind.

I've been married for 2 years now. When my husband and I met, we would go at it like rabbits. Eventually we decided to go on BC. Our sex life suffered! I didn't make the connection to this low drive until I stopped taking them and all of the sudden I'm horny 24/7! I wish I'd known earlier, I had no idea that BC could squash your libido. For the last 5 years I've wondered what was wrong with me. I haven't really wanted sex, which was extremely odd for me, I was a borderline nympho before the pill. I'm just glad I quit taking it...it feels so great to be alive again!

Wow. That's why I hope when I eventually get my vasectomy, she won't have to worry about a diminished sex drive. We'll still have it.

Celestial,

If you don't mind me asking...what type of BC method do you use now?
I am terrified to go off of the pill because I can't really think of a good alternative.

Thanks!
Lynn

Lynnk-

I understand your wariness about the IUD completely. I had the same reaction when I was told I would have to go off of BC (which I had taken for 10 years) because of my high blood pressure and a new anti-seizure med I was taking. An IUD was basically my only option and believe me I hated the idea and my husband said he wasn't going to get a vasectomy (some kind of male protecting his [censored] thing)! However- once I got some basic information I settled down a lot. Some good facts for you if there really aren't any other options for you:
1. The IUD is just as effective as sterilization
2. There are two kinds of IUDs the copper which lasts 10 years and the hormonal version which lasts for 5 (I opted for the latter- called the Mirena because it has less side effects)
3. The old IUDs got a bad reputation for causing PID (pelvic inflammatory disease) turns out there was a problem with the string attached to the device that caused bacteria to spread which then caused PID and ultimately infertility in some women- my dr. said this is no longer an issue with the new medical materials we have available today.
4. The iinsertion process- I won't lie it hurts like a #*@!$# but it was over quickly and now I don't have to think about birth control for 5 whole years! Also- in 20% of women who get the Mirena one your period goes away completely- mine did- yippee!!! I did have some bad cramping and spotting for a couple of days and then mild spotting for a month after that- but it all went away and now I am happy I did it.

Anyway- in case you wanted (or anyone else wanted) more information on IUDs there is some. It really is much better than it used to be. I hope you find the solution that is right for you because dealing with the issue all of the time kind of puts a damper on one of the very fun parts of being CF!!!

Eww still scared of the IUD! Any other options beside the pill? I'm due to start a new pack on Sunday and I'm weighing the idea to take the pill or stop for a while to just see if it helps but I'm scared to death...are condoms safe enough...what if it breaks....I just wish there's a method that was safe and as effective as the pill without the low sex drive!