[lizzardb63]

I think I've come to the conclusion that I'll never find a birth control option that works best for me. I cannot take anything hormonal as I already suffer from depression (being treated with medication) and if I take the pill I go completely wacko. I am getting married in 3 months and it will suck to use condoms. I miss the intimacy of not having a barrier and it really makes me not want to have sex. It's not that condoms are the worst thing, its just I miss that closeness. The sense of nothing being between my fiance and I and it's something I'd never do with anyone else.

I've tried male condoms and female condoms, both okay, but I just feel depressed about it. It wouldn't make sense to get the Paragard IUD right now, because we plan on trying for kids in a little over a year (I think...) and I don't want to fork out $600+ for something I'll have removed in a year. I've looked into the sponge (no one really got back to me on that) and it seems the failure rate is higher than condoms and I don't want to deal with an unplanned pregnancy. The diaphram seems difficult and I hear you have to get fitted for it and has the same failure rate as the sponge.

The pull out method we have practiced in the past, but again, less reliable form of birth control and you get that skin on skin intimacy, but obviously there's no "follow-through".

Please, does anyone have anything that could help? Advice or ideas???

[ItsASecret]

For some who have trouble with the regular birth control they are often given the choice of progesterone only pills. These are specifically made for the women who have had troubles with the estrogen+progesterone ones that are typically prescribed. I am assuming that you have tried all three types of hormonal or just one? The three types are monophasic, biphasic, and triphasic. Which brands have you been on in the past and for how long? Taking a brand for a month is not really a good indicator of reaction because the body can have a "spaz attack" (lol) at first and then calm down once it is used to seeing the pill there. With the three different types of birth control it just means three different ways the pills are taken dosage wise and because of that one type may work better for a woman than another. Progesterone only is often the best bet for those who have trouble with the conventional prescription types, because it only has one of the two hormone-like substances in it. Keep in mind nothing you take is real estrogen or real progesterone, they are all hormone-like substances that mimic the real thing and simply put into pill form. Have you had a talk with your doctor about trying progesterone only pill? They are often referred to as the mini-pill.

[lizzardb63]

I've been on the triphasic (Ortho Tri Cyclen Lo) and also the kind where it's all mixed but the same dosage all 21 days (Yaz). I've never tried the Mini-pill but was doing some research and it shows that depression can be another side effect and I've read many reviews that it causes depression. I'm convinced any hormonal (fake or not) will cause me to have anxiety, depression, moodniess, and to be completely crazy. Frankly, my last experience and everything that I went through from being on each of those pills for 6 months and then going off, it was LITERALLY the worst time of my life. I had never felt so terrible and I had dropped to 116 lbs (I'm 5'6") because I could not eat. I almost lost the love of my life and during that time, I actually was let go from my job (because of budget cuts, not my attitude, but it was hard to be nice to people). I am terrified to put any hormones in my body again. I just can't bring myself to do it. I don't want to go through that again and end up taking more antidepressants that I'm finally weaned off of.


So... ANYWAY... lol. I just wish there was an easier way. This sucks...

[ItsASecret]

I've never tried the Mini-pill but was doing some research and it shows that depression can be another side effect and I've read many reviews that it causes depression.

It is listed because it has happened in other patients it does not mean it will happen in you. Nothing side effects wise is predictable nor is there anything in existence that does not have possible side effects. Just have to remember that what happens in one person does not mean it will happen in the next person.

If you do not want pill methods your only options are IUD or condoms. Or the lower effectiveness diaphragms, sponges, and spermicides. Nothing is absolute and nothing comes without side effects. You can also create your own depression by thinking anything will cause it, being worried all the time can also increase the possibility of symptoms such as depression to come forth all by itself. That just turns into a vicious circle unfortunately.