BellaOnline Forums Relationships Married No Kids Sterilization as Contraception

Strangely enough, as I was reading this my husband called. I was telling him how I made dessert for a party we're going to but ate some of it (they are just cookies.) I mentioned how at this time of the month I usually crave sweets, but that didn't happen before I went on the pill. He said "I keep telling you that there are other methods" meaning just condoms.

Sorry, but I prefer using two methods.

But I know that my BC is the cause of my mood swings and my inability to lose weight, because hormones like that affect my mom in the exact same way. (Or, used to.)

I would LOOOOOVE to not use the pill, but I don't trust just condoms alone, and he doesn't want me to get my tubes tied.

So I guess he'll just have to put up with me screaming at him and crying a few days out of the month.

Ingilbert, have you looked into something like Mirena? From what I understand, it is about as effective as sterilisation but the hormones work on a much more localised basis than the Pill - reducing the number of side-effects. I'm very tempted to give it a go, although the Pill has given me no trouble and a part of me is scared of the possible side-effects of coming off it...

When I decided not to have children I spent a lot of time researching various methods of contraception. I didn't want to opt for sterilization. I also didn't want to take the pill for 30 years and the thought of an IUD made me shudder.
I opted to use the Billings Method plus condoms (on the fertile days)and have been very happy with the method. You can only get pregnant 2-3 days per month so if you watch your cycle you can predict the days. The method is actually highly effective - it can also be used to time sex at the point of ovulation to achieve a pregnancy. I think the Billings Method has always received a bad rap. I did a workshop and initially used condoms as extra protection then gradually reduced the use of condoms when I was able to identify where I was in my cycle and felt more confident. You must use condoms if you want to have sex during your fertile days. It has given me enormous freedom from the hassle of other methods, I have a deep understanding of my cycle and have no side effects to worry about. I'm pleased I took the time to pursue the method. Its not for everyone but it has worked for me and many of my CF friends - also helped some of my friends to conceive. There are many books available on the method - it is very easy once you understand your cycle. Your cycle doesn't have to be regular to use the method. Its promoted by the Catholic Church which puts some people off - I'm not religious - it was actually recommended by a wonderful friend and GP who had used the method for many years (with no pregnancies)

An excellent example would be the love of chocolate. People crave it, adore it and must have more of it. Sweet, bitter, dark--it doesn't matter. It is an inate desire. You can deny it all you want, but at some point when you're about to rip off your friend's arm for eating your last tootsie roll, you realize that you can just go get more from the store. For those who don't like chocolate, you go out of your way to avoid it, but you can't escape it completely. Pregnancy is like that.

Why doesn't your husband want you to have your tubes tied? I would drag him down and get him snipped before I would continue taking birth control pills.

I'm with you, I would NEVER trust just a condom.

I remember reading an interesting article some years ago about condoms - when they were used to prevent conception - they were okay quality however since the aids scare in the 80s the quality of condoms has really improved.
Preventing pregnancy was one thing but preventing death - let's get serious!

Condoms are scary...and terribly unreliable..they only get into those high 90's if they are used "perfectly". Which doesn't account for user error, tears, rips, slips, "burps", too much fluid, too little, etc. etc. etc. My Doc in the Er says that do to all these reasons condoms are only actually about 80% effective... 1 out of 5.. I have a better chance with russian roulette.


Skeeter

Ingilbert: I'm with you, I always use two kinds. The birth control is supposed to be like 99% or something, and then the condom covers that 1%. But I would never count on the condom 100%.

Since my guy has had his vasectomy, I am looking forward to going off of the pill. But he has to get tested again to make sure it's okay. So I'm still on it for a little while longer. I'm also wondering what it will be like to not be on bc anymore. I'm thinking I will lose weight, too. I think I've always been moody around that time, though, and I'm concerned I might actually be worse once I get off of birth control.

I had to go off of the pill and I also agree about not trusting just condoms - it has diminished our sex life since it is very risky now with just the condoms....

I think you'll like being off the pill, Happy. I came off in April after 21 years (yikes, I know!). I had to come off the combined pill at 35 after my blood pressure started to play up... going on to the mini pill fixed that, but in the last year it had really started doing some dumb stuff. Randomly bleeding for three weeks out of four is NO fun, so the day the ex left, I threw the pill in the bin.

I dropped five lb in weight overnight, the bleeding stopped (I'm back to clockwork regular and they only last 3 days, yay!), I have no bloating, cramping or PMS at all, and I feel great. I'm not going back on it if I can help it.

I'm with you guys. Condoms alone is just really dodgy. I know that the ex was trying to encourage me to stop the pill because it was causing all these problems, and use condoms only - yeah, and wouldn't you have LOVED it if they'd "failed". Oops! Not on my watch!!