Weddingbee Blog

Since we’re on the topic, has anyone ever tried Seasonale? Was wondering if it works like it says it should.

Well, I chose “other”. Andrew got a vasectomy in July, as we don’t want to have children. So that’s taken care of!

I used to use the patch but it left these nasty rings on my body so I stopped using it. Those rings wouldn’t go away for months after I stopped using it!!

I’ve tried Seasonale and have had the worst experience from it. As opposed to having a period once every 3 months, I had spotting throughout the entire cycle of the pill. The only time I did not have any spotting was when I was at the end of the pill pack. I went back to my doctor and she said that it turns out the level of hormones in Seasonale has this effect on many women. They end up bleeding throughout the cycle. In addition to that I got pretty bad mood swings, etc. from the hormones. I googled the side effects of Seasonale and found websites where women complained about the bleading and yeast infections it caused. My doctor put me on loestrin instead. So far I’ve had light periods that last for about 3 days.

hi! i LOVE the patch… i’ve used it with no problems for the past three years. but who knows, watch my luck, there’s probably some weird and crazy clot forming somewhere in my body as we speak…

anyway, after the wedding, we’re going to go off the patch and use the “pull-out method” instead. i know this isnt the most reliable method ever. but while our ideal time frame to have kids is about 2.5 years from now, we both wouldnt mind at aaaaaall having kids soon!!! so a “surprise” is more than welcome :).

Long time reader, first time commenter…
I must third the IUD vote! I love love love mine and can’t imagine going back to other forms of birth control. I actually stopped having full fledged periods and only “spot” a little every other month. Ladies, I highly recommend it, and my insurance covered the entire thing aside from the usual co-pay.

i’m an almost doctor (second year med student!). I use seasonale, I really like it (other than some weight gain, but that was from shoving food in my mouth not just the pill). It works great, but there was some spotting in the first 3 months. It’s going generic too, yay for saving money.

As for IUD, don’t use this if you are still planning on having kids!! it works by irritating and causing inflammation of the cervix, and it increases your rate for miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy later on. It’s for women who are done having children and don’t want anymore. but, of course ask your doctor.

I have the copper IUD b/c I was too sensitive to the hormones (it made me hysterical and depressed). I don’t believe that an IUD is only for women who are done having children!! The IUD is supposed to increase your risk of ectopic pregnancy when it’s in place and you become pregnant. There is a correlation but it does not cause ectopic pregnancy. My doctor herself had an IUD, she removed it when she wanted to have a baby and inserted it again afterwards, with no problems.

The worst thing about IUDs for me is the incredible amount of bleeding during the first 6 months, and the unbelievably painful cramps everytime my period came along. Not to be TOO gross but I had to buy a whole new underwear set. It’s much better now and I love being hormone-free.

My insurance covered most of it and I believe I paid $75. $75 for the next ten years of birth control is a small price to pay, IMO.

I got the copper-T IUD because we know we want to postpone having kid a couple of years, it’s hormone free, and it’s the most effective, human-error-proof contraception out there (and 100%, immediately, reversible, when the time to concieve approached). Took me a while to get used to the idea of having anything “up there” but my dr. urged me to do the research when the FDA approved it for women who don’t already have kids- and I did, and I was sold. I’ve only had it a month, however, and… oh, my god, they weren’t kidding about the bleeding! I have light periods, but I had the IUD inserted just after my period, and had my period all over again (but slightly heavier than normal) all that week, and then it slowed to spotting for a few days, and then it started all over again. Now I am back to spotting… argh! All this bleeding would be putting a crimp on my sex life, but my SO is out of town all month anyway… hopefully I am back to normal by the time he gets back. Someone also told me if the bleeding continues until my followup appointment, going back on the pill for a few months might take care of it long enough for my body to finish adjusting to the IUD.

But anyway: I had some mild menstrual-like cramping and felt a bit swollen the first week or so after i got it, but since then, no discomfort. There was no real pain, and now I can’t even feel it’s there. Once I stop bleeding (which supposedly means it’s working), I think I’ll have no complaints at all.

Of course, my only complaint about the pill was that I had to remember to take it… Depo was great and I only had 1 period every 3 months, but, it also killed my sex drive.

Just wanted to add that I am an NP-to-be vera SOON and am currently on my women’s health rotation..The IUD is AWESOME, highly recommend it. I have had it for 4 years and love it. I also do not have children, but plan to TTC within 1-2 years. The post above about it not being for women w/out kids is incorrect…it does not raise the risk of ectopics and miscarriages-old school of thought.It also does not work by irritating the cervix- part of it’s action is to thicken cervical mucus(hormonally), not the same thing. (this is only the mirena, not the copper). So dont be discouraged by that, just do your research first and speak to your health care provider about it. Same rate of pregnancy as having your tubes tied, non-permanent, and no periods?! LOVE it.