[WildChild]

Condoms dry me out too, it's because I'm latex sensitive. You may be too.
How about a diaphram? They are easy to use. Used properly they are pretty reliable. They are actually a double method since you have both a barrier and a spermicide.
Your best bet may be to go into Planned Parenthood and talk to them. Conception Control is what they do best, they should be able to help you weigh the options and chose what will best meet your needs.

[Mes T]

Okay an update. I made the appointment with planned parenthood but since I have no insurance the fees were just beyond my budget. (Isn't a place like that supposed to be affordable, jeez.) That plus the woman on the phone couldn't answer any of my questions.

I did some research on the diaphram versus the femcap and chose the femcap for now because of its smaller size and it's supposed to be "less messy," maybe because you need less spermicide with it than with a diaphram.

I ordered through a UK website because a US site needs a prescription (grrr America for crying out loud...). Also I obviously ordered withOUT getting a fitting, which you're supposed to do, but... They only come in three sizes. One for women who've never been pregnant, one for women who have but had a C-section, and one for women who have delivered naturally. I chose the first.

Hoping will arrive within a couple of weeks and then I'll update again!

[lizzardb63]

There is a non-hormonal IUD that is just as effective as the hormonal one. Its made of copper. It's called Paragard if ya wanna check it out.

[Mes T]

That's the one I had. It caused me a ton of pain, even while I wasn't on my period. It also caused me to have TWO periods a month. No thanks!

[sourpuss]

I know condoms are terrible, but that may be your only option. I've found that condoms and VCF are the only thing that work for me.

[Mes T]

I swear they're not even an option, not latex ones anyway. Not at all. Anyone have experience with the other kind (what is it, goats skin or something like that)?

[WildChild]

I'm latex sensitive and so am very limited in grocery store condom choices. But there quite a few letex free availible on line or in adult shops.

[Ashlee T.]

I'm eager to find out how the cap works for you. Def do some research on insertion and removal. The cap forms a suction, and you have to know where to push on it to get it to release.

Figuring out fertile days are a plus. Based on what I've figured, I am my most fertile between the 15th and the 20th of each month (which is also when I want it the most!). However, I'd love to find an easy fertility calendar to track daily temp and cycle so I can pin point it down to almost exactly. I've been doing some searching but haven't found anything personalized yet.

[ManINeedACoffee]

Mes T - I've started using polyurethane condoms and they don't irritate the nay-nay NEARLY as much. It seems that anytime I used latex condoms I'd itch like crazy and wind up with a horrible yeast infection. They seemed to work fine for him, too - they're the same thinness as latex condoms, as far as I can tell - but you may want to include lube and some spermicide too. It was really hard for us to find lubricated polyurethane condoms...everyone in CVS kept staring at us because we easily spent about 15 minutes discussing our options in the condom aisle.

I'd love to use something else, but I have no tolerance for the side effects of hormonal methods, so we just make do.

Seriously, why can't birth control be easy for EVERYBODY?

[Chloesmama]

Okay so what about the Mirena, I know u said u dont want a IUD, BUT its a good choice, its safe, effective and painless. It didnt hurt going in, and it safely stops your periods, and causes NO hair loss, NO weight gain, NO nothing. The hormones are so LOW, and they stay confined to the Uterus only. Depo Provera shot causes a lot of weight gain, and i "heard" its hard to get your cycles back after that shot, so if u are young and want kids then maybe that is something to think about.