[Angela1103]

I had sex for the first time a few weeks ago with someone that I've been in a long-distance relationship for a while, and we used condoms, since I didn't want to go on the pill just for a few weeks. However, he will be moving out here in a few months, and I will be making an appointment in a month or two to get on birth control.
I'm not sure which kind I should go on.

I would go on Depo-Provera, but it seems like it'd have the most side effects. It'd also suck to wait three whole months to wait for the side effects to subside. I'm still considering it, though.

My biggest problem is I'm afraid of forgetting a pill and then becoming pregnant or not being able to have sex until a week after. Right now, I am taking calcium supplements, and I have a hard time remembering to take them. Maybe it'll be a lot different with something as important as birth control, but I'm still worried. Getting a pill container with the days of the week helped a lot, but I don't have a set time of day to take it. I know when I was taking other supplements I had issues with forgetting them, too.

I'm really thinking about the birth control patch, but someone told me that it's more likely to cause cancer. I don't know if that's true or not, because it was just some random person on the Internet that I didn't talk to much. I want to research more into it, though. So far, I'm siding a little with the patch.

I want to research more into NuvaRing, but I'm not sure how comfortable it'd be inside of me. Tampons can be uncomfortable sometimes, even when I know they are in right. I guess I would probably get used to it. I also don't know how comfortable it'd be during sex, even though I've read that you can take it out for an hour. I'd be pretty nervous about taking it out too long if I were to try that, though.

I would get an IUD, but I'm not brave enough to have them stick something like that inside of me. I'm worried it'll go somewhere it shouldn't or something, and I've read a lot about some women getting severe cramps with it that wouldn't stop.

So far I'm thinking either the patch or NuvaRing, but I'm still considering the shot and the pill. I haven't really talked about it with any of my friends, yet, but I might soon to see what their experiences have been. I know at least two of my friends are on birth control.

[SpicyV]

I have been on the patch, oral bc and now have an IUD. I am 35 and have a mirena IUD. I didn't have any major problems with the pill I didn't take it at the exact same time every day and was in college that's why I decided on the patch. I gained about 40 pounds after getting on the patch. So far I really like the IUD. It did hurt at first I didn't want to have sex for a few days after getting it. I had some bad cramping too but nothing advil couldn't take care of. My periods where weird for the first six months but I got one of the beneficial side effects of the Mirena. I don't have a period anymore. I have some minor cramping when I should be menstruating but that's it. Best thing to do it go see a gyno and talk to them about any questions you have. Oh and I don't recommend depo. Everyone I know that has gotten it has had issues or gotten pregnant. Hope this helps.

[Angela1103]

I have been on the patch, oral bc and now have an IUD. I am 35 and have a mirena IUD. I didn't have any major problems with the pill I didn't take it at the exact same time every day and was in college that's why I decided on the patch. I gained about 40 pounds after getting on the patch. So far I really like the IUD. It did hurt at first I didn't want to have sex for a few days after getting it. I had some bad cramping too but nothing advil couldn't take care of. My periods where weird for the first six months but I got one of the beneficial side effects of the Mirena. I don't have a period anymore. I have some minor cramping when I should be menstruating but that's it. Best thing to do it go see a gyno and talk to them about any questions you have. Oh and I don't recommend depo. Everyone I know that has gotten it has had issues or gotten pregnant. Hope this helps.

Thanks so much. I'll ask the gyno about what she thinks, but I thought since I probably won't go for a couple months that I'd ask some people, first, and find out about other people's experiences.

[shoshannah]

Coming in late here . . . most of my experience has been with the pill. I like it compared to, say, the shot, because with the shot if you have side effects you just have to ride them out for a few months. with the pill you can call your doctor and try a different brand. Regarding missing pills: just put an alarm on your cell phone, and have your boyfriend put an alarm on his. You could even set up a text reminder--I think you can do this with gmail.

If you want to get away from condoms (which I strongly recommend once you know you and your boyfriend are clean--sex without them is much hotter), you should probably start the pill (or whatever) as soon as possible so if there is a side effect problem you can deal with it now. Plus, it will help you get in the habit of taking them on schedule if you go with the pill so that when your boyfriend arrives you'll be in practice.

I haven't personally tried nuvaring, but most I hear that it's comfortable and you can even leave it in during intercourse if you like--your boyfriend probably won't feel it.

[Motorguy]

I had sex for the first time a few weeks ago with someone that I've been in a long-distance relationship for a while, and we used condoms, since I didn't want to go on the pill just for a few weeks. However, he will be moving out here in a few months, and I will be making an appointment in a month or two to get on birth control.
I'm not sure which kind I should go on.

I would go on Depo-Provera, but it seems like it'd have the most side effects. It'd also suck to wait three whole months to wait for the side effects to subside. I'm still considering it, though.

My biggest problem is I'm afraid of forgetting a pill and then becoming pregnant or not being able to have sex until a week after. Right now, I am taking calcium supplements, and I have a hard time remembering to take them. Maybe it'll be a lot different with something as important as birth control, but I'm still worried. Getting a pill container with the days of the week helped a lot, but I don't have a set time of day to take it. I know when I was taking other supplements I had issues with forgetting them, too.

I'm really thinking about the birth control patch, but someone told me that it's more likely to cause cancer. I don't know if that's true or not, because it was just some random person on the Internet that I didn't talk to much. I want to research more into it, though. So far, I'm siding a little with the patch.

I want to research more into NuvaRing, but I'm not sure how comfortable it'd be inside of me. Tampons can be uncomfortable sometimes, even when I know they are in right. I guess I would probably get used to it. I also don't know how comfortable it'd be during sex, even though I've read that you can take it out for an hour. I'd be pretty nervous about taking it out too long if I were to try that, though.

I would get an IUD, but I'm not brave enough to have them stick something like that inside of me. I'm worried it'll go somewhere it shouldn't or something, and I've read a lot about some women getting severe cramps with it that wouldn't stop.

So far I'm thinking either the patch or NuvaRing, but I'm still considering the shot and the pill. I haven't really talked about it with any of my friends, yet, but I might soon to see what their experiences have been. I know at least two of my friends are on birth control.

Well Angela the shot would be the best option for you. You get one every 3 months. Then you have the plan B morning after pill as well. My 4 daughters are on the shot it's so much better you don't have to remind your self to take a pill. They make a appointment and get another shot in the butt or upper arm you are good to go for another 3 months. Good luck for what ever you plain on doing.

[lalaluchi]

Hi there,

I am on the NuvaRing and it is great because you don't have to worry about taking a pill everyday. It seriously is so nice not having to think about it. It is really flexible and pretty thin so I haven't had any problems with it being uncomfortable. My boyfriend says he can feel it sometimes during sex, but he doesn't mind at all as it is very minimal. I have been on it for about a year and 2 months and would definitely recommend it. The only bad side effect I have had is some acne and it didn't start until a few months ago, so it might not even be the NuvaRing. Hopefully this is still helpful as I know this was posted a little while ago

[am94]

I've been on the Patch for almost a year now, and I love it. It's very easy to use, I don't have to worry about taking it at a specific time every day like the pill, nor do I need to make an appointment for shots ( which I'm terrified of ) and honestly, I never planned on getting any IUD anyways. The patch is really small so it's easy to hide ( if you get Xulane the patch is ever smaller ), I keep it on my butt because it's always covered then and don't have to worry about funny tanlines or questions from kids when I wear a bathing suit anywhere. I hardly notice it and my boyfriend doesn't either. The only side effects I get from it is breast soreness and skin irritation but both are very mild and only last a day or so. Side effects aside, I have an issue where sometimes they will latch onto my pants, and then you have to maneuver your way around it so you can get it off, and then the ring of gunk that lines it because the sticky part is picking up lint and such.

As bad as it sounds too, I love that if I want to skip my period ( say because of my birthday and I don't want to be dying on it from my period or a holiday ) then all I have to do is start a new box at the beginning of the fourth week of my cycle.

Definitely make sure to start the Patch about a week before if you plan on getting it though, because they say it takes about a week to start kicking in. I didn't read that far ahead in the manual and started having sex unprotected before then, but I didn't have any surprise pregnancies. But I'm not saying just because I didn't doesn't mean that you may not. So definitely make sure to start a week before, or to make sure you have a backup contraceptive nearby.

[Alkene]

This is really late, but I figure why not post? I jumped from birth control, to birth control when I first started. I personally don't have any experience with the patch, the thought of it kinda freaked me out, haha. I have tried Nuva Ring, pills, and the Mirena IUD.

I am 23 now and I am using the IUD and I love it. The worst part was the insertion. It destroyed me, I was referred to a doctor to have it inserted and she didn't suggest Advil prior, only the pill that "is supposed to relax the cervix, but it often doesn't do anything. It will give you diarrhea, but I think it is worth a try." I stupidly thought "doctor knows best" and went with it. It was awful I had severe cramping for 3 hours and remained dizzy during this time. Just got a 1 year check up and the doctor said that the pill she gave me is ridiculous and no one uses it anymore because it often extends cramping (apparently the duration is supposed to be only 10mins).
The only concern is I had a ton of spotting at random occasions, especially initially. It was almost constant; which was apparently normal. But now I am pretty much period free, maybe some spotting once every couple months. Plus I don't need to remember to do anything, it just does it's own thing!

My experience with the ring was alright, it was a little uncomfortable during sex; and the boyfriend could also feel it. It wasn't until approx. 1 year that it became overwhelmingly uncomfortable during sex, often painful. So I tried the pills. I do not have the memory for them, it was a quick switch.