Firsthand experience with the Mirena IUD, especially after being on the pill? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Nov 16, 2009 - 29 answers

Please tell me what you know about endometrial ablation as a means of lessening or hopefully stopping my bleeding. (This is a female-parts question.) [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Aug 10, 2009 - 5 answers

So, every responsible sexually active adult has "the birth control" conversation. Awhile back, my long-term girlfriend and I had the "what happens if birth control fails" conversation - to my mind, equally important. We have not had sex since. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Aug 6, 2009 - 101 answers

How long is too long to be "spotting" on Seasonale? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jul 14, 2009 - 7 answers

Where is my period? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Apr 21, 2009 - 14 answers

How do I get my libido back? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Mar 16, 2009 - 24 answers

It's time for the wife's new IUD. She's terrified of the pain, so what to do? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Feb 18, 2009 - 54 answers

After almost 13 years, I'm thinking about getting off the pill. Should I and what can I expect to happen to my body? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Oct 14, 2008 - 23 answers

I want to start taking birth control, but I'm afraid of potential side effects. I really do not want mood swings, weight gain and I especially do not want bigger boobs. What if I start on the Nuvaring and my boobs go up a cup size, if I stop taking it, will they go back to their normal size? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Sep 8, 2008 - 21 answers

Dumb birth control pill question: why don't I need to use a backup method while taking the sugar pills? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Aug 21, 2008 - 25 answers

My doctor put me on a new brand of birth control (Lybrel, which claims to "remove your period"). After one month, my period started and has not stopped--and I am almost completely done with month two. It is aggravating. How can I stop my period? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Aug 13, 2008 - 28 answers

Is there anything I can do to counteract the negative effect Yasmin is having on my libido? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Aug 10, 2008 - 7 answers

If Mirena IUD strings are "tucked back", what keeps them from poking ME? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Aug 8, 2008 - 9 answers

Two-parter question about birth control. We need to either figure out how to make my hormonal BC more comfortable OR improve our condom experience. More details within. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Aug 3, 2008 - 19 answers

My girlfriend wants me to stop using a condom. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Aug 1, 2008 - 61 answers

Is there a way to shorten my period that does NOT involve birth control? I have a period that lasts seven to nine days, seven if I'm lucky. At least three to four of those days are quite heavy. It's a huge pain, for reasons detailed under the cut. Would weight loss work? Diet? Increased exercise? Ancient herbal secrets? Is there anything, anything at all? Has anything caused a permanent shortening of your cycle? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jun 11, 2008 - 37 answers

Has anyone else had weight and/or emotional problems that they attribute to hormonal birth control, specifically the Mirena IUD? I know there have been several IUD threads – one of them helped convince me to get one. But most of them dealt with questions about getting one, and now, I'm wondering if removing mine would be a good idea. (more inside) [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Apr 22, 2008 - 20 answers

Skipping periods on birth control - how does it work, and why didn't it when I tried? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Feb 22, 2008 - 13 answers

Are all of my "active" Seasonale tablets identical? Can I take them out of order? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Dec 21, 2007 - 8 answers

BirthControlFilter: My girlfriend believes that in order to be properly safe during sex (in this case baby free) 2 types of preventative measures should be used (condom + pulling out). Any hard facts to back that up? I believe just a condom used properly will be fine. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Dec 17, 2007 - 33 answers

I had sex for the first time, and less than a week later I had period-like cramps and some blood spotting in my underwear. Was I, or am I now, pregnant? We took every possible precaution... [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Nov 29, 2007 - 55 answers

Near-manic episodes caused by the pill... or is it too soon? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jul 19, 2007 - 16 answers

What New York City health clinics, or women's centers, or whatever -- ideally with a sliding scale -- offer Implanon (contraceptive arm implant)? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jun 29, 2007 - 4 answers

Is being paranoid of dying a normal thing? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jun 12, 2007 - 20 answers

Problems with the NuvaRing. What can I do? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Nov 11, 2006 - 7 answers

How long should I try OrthoTricyclin Lo before switching? Experiences with other Pill brands and switching and anectdotal evidence encouraged. Explanation is part of the [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Sep 9, 2006 - 16 answers

Is there any way for me to get birth control pills for my girlfriend? I am 20, she is 17. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jul 4, 2006 - 35 answers

Last night: condom slippage. Today: want emergency backup contraception. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Feb 24, 2006 - 42 answers

How can I convince my girlfriend to stop relying on condoms for birth control? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Nov 14, 2005 - 123 answers

Should I go to the U.K. to get a Gynefix IUD since I can't get it in the US? If so, where should I go? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Nov 2, 2005 - 5 answers

How have your experiences been with Natural Family Planning? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Oct 21, 2005 - 36 answers

Are there any birth control pills/shots/drugs that do not incite cold sores? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Sep 23, 2005 - 9 answers

Help me bonk my wife. We're at our wits' end with birth control. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Sep 13, 2005 - 51 answers

I have had irregular, painful menstrual cycles from the age of 14, but in my 20s they basically became inverse periods: a few days of not bleeding, with most at a low, constant flow, and a few like a normal cycle. When it’s bad, I feel like I have a constant low-grade flu, with fatigue, muscle ache, mental fogginess, and wild moods of sadness and anger. Several pelvic exams and sonograms have shown no fibroids nor anything anatomical that should be causing this. I’ve tried birth control pills (that caused weight gain and nausea, even at low doses), and the ring and the patch, which didn't help at all. I spent a few years on Norplant with no cycle at all, but terrible problems with weight gain that I am still struggling with. The only product I have had luck with was Lunelle, which is no longer available in the US. Has anyone else ever dealt with this and found something that worked? I’ve seen many gynecologists over the years and none have an answer. I'm in my early 30s now and seriously considering a hysterectomy because I can't live like this anymore.
posted by anonymous on Dec 25, 2004 - 8 answers

BirthControl filter: Does anyone else experience fairly extreme side effects from hormonal birth control? I'm on Ortho-TriCyclen Lo (the low estrogen version) and have been for a year. Cons include complete loss of libido, about thirty pounds of weight gain, monthly morning-sickness type symptoms (during the first week of the cycle) and mood swings. Pros seem to be that the anxiety that hit me at thirteen and never lifted seems to be negated while on the pill. In fact, there is about a three-foot thick wall between me and any emotion whatsoever (unless I'm on the placebo). So...am I just a freak? Or has anyone else experienced anything like this? I'm especially concerned with the mental side effects - the extreme distance from emotion & enjoyment.
posted by anonymous on Dec 14, 2004 - 39 answers