Should I go off the pill?

[Cassius2]

hi there!

i too had endo and decided to go off the pill as i wanted to know what the hey my cycles were doing. my OB/GYN told me that the pill can help with the symptoms of endo (ie lessening pain etc), but it doesnt actually do anything positive for it. i decided that i needed to give my body a break and good ol' cleanse and came off it in 2004. have never looked back.

the first AF after the pill was a bit of a doozer but i was able to really know what had been going on with my poor body for all those years without realising (and it wasnt good!). i decided never to go back on it as i wanted to know what my body was doing and coping and to be able to accurately assess changes and go from there ITMS.

DH was fine with the fact that we entered condom land. luckily he didnt really like the idea of the pill in the first place. but i can recommend the billings method. there is a fair bit of info on it on the web.

good luck with the lap

[sangie]

We use billings here too - I think that hell would freeze over before I go back on the pill, it seriously messed me up. As soon as I came off it (and I tried lots of different ones) it was like a dark cloud had been lifted off my shoulders.

Like kitt3n said though accidents can happen and in our case we don't mind if it does! You need to consider this though. You could combine billings with condoms/diaphragm to be extra safe just around your fertile time, so around a week every month.

You might be surprised by your DH's reaction. We agreed on a trial period and once he saw the difference in me (better mood and libido) he said he never wants me back on the pill ever again!

ETA: forgot to say that there is an online teaching service for billings

[~Leasha~]

Hi Amy...

Obviously I'm no real use to give advice on contraception BUT contraception isn't just YOUR concern. My sis had this issue (chemicals vs condoms) with her BF and this is what I said to her... my personal opinion is that its really unreasonable for your DH to say "I don't like the FEEL of condoms while we DTD, so please pump your body full of chemicals for your ENTIRE cycle and deal with the side-effects so that I'm not mildly uncomfortable for a few hours a month". No logic, no reason. It's not all about him...

Though I agree, maybe talk to your GYN about how the pill might impact on the endo...?

[thepixie]

I hated the pill too - I used to be on Diane and it made me throw up at 4am every 4th Sunday night like clockwork. My doctor actually said "can't you just tolerate the vomiting?" ah, no, why would I want to do that? To my mind if something makes me vomit it isn't good for me. I tried probably a dozen different kinds of pill before concluding that they all made me miserable and crazy and I wanted a break. Sangie, I totally agree about the dark cloud!
I use a diaphragm and I think its great! it's wonderful to know that your cycle is YOUR cycle KWIM? it's a little fiddly and it WILL go flying across the room in a spray of spermicide at least a few times before you figure it out! But the feeling is much better than condoms, you're in control of your own fertility, and you can combine it with NFP/ Billings so you are occasionally able to do without it (assuming you know you are not fertile and have checked the phase of the moon etc). Personally I don't use the spermicide because it didn't agree with me (and made it nearly impossible to insert) I just leave it in for 12 hours after DTD and that worked for us. We got DD on the first try so we are obviously fertile. Some doctors will try to tell you diaphragms are unreliable and push hormonal contraception on you but if you just say "well if it happened it would be a nice surprise" they usually shut up!
Good luck.

[~amysarah~]

I agree that it's not entirely my responsibility. But up until now it always has been and we've never even really discussed any other method of contraception. It's always just been the norm that I have been on the pill and we don't use any other method of contraception.

I'm not a fan of condoms either - so a diaphram is seeming like the best option.

Do I need to get one from my GYN? Are the comfortable/unnoticeable when DTD?

ETA:

it's a little fiddly and it WILL go flying across the room in a spray of spermicide at least a few times before you figure it out!

PMSL!!

[thepixie]

Yes your Gyn needs to fit it for you. You won't feel it when you DTD, and they say that your partner can't but mine does. It's nothing like the loss of sensation with condoms though.
ETA one more thing I forgot to mention is that they can be quite tricky to get hold of, as few pharmacists seem to stock them these days. I got mine from Pharmacy Online, you will have to ring to order it so they can get your size. I am not sure where you live but they can post it to you.

[~amysarah~]

That's great pixie - we order most of our pharmecuticals online anyway (much cheaper) but I will see what the GYN recommends. There are about 10 chemists where I live so I'm sure he'd be able to tell me which ones stock them.

How often do they need replacing? What is the (approximate) cost?

I'm feeling really excited about this. I CANNOT WAIT to get off the pill now after hearing so many stories in this thread of never looking back. How I would KILL for a normal sex drive again!

[thepixie]

How often do they need replacing? What is the (approximate) cost?

They last 2 years and the one I got (Orthocoil) cost $65 .... Much cheaper than the pill or condoms!

[~amysarah~]

I pay $55 every three months to be on Dianne! That will be so much cheaper - another reason for DH to go for it LOL.

Thanks for your help pixie.

I think I have made a decision then and it's one that will work for both me and DH.

[Lulu2]

OMG please tell me how you work out what size you are!!!

[thepixie]

Lulu babe it has to be professionally fitted by your Gyn. Some GPs may be able to do this also, but definitely ask first, because many aren't.

[oscaroscar]

Amy, I HATED the pill and was so glad when I came off it. But I hate condoms just as much as the pill LOL. Diaphram sounds like a great alternative! Will you mix it with spermacide? Is DH happy if there is an accident? Maybe it's worth finding out the effectiveness and chatting with DH just incase a miracle conception happens LOL.

Best of luck for the lap and I hope they don't find anything too nasty! Gearing up to TTC is such an exciting time and I hope it goes smoothly for you.

[tali]

Just thought I would remind you that the main reason a doctor would have given you Diane in the 1st place would be to help with your skin( acne ) ( hence why Diane is so much more expencive than other pills) so just be prepared for bad skin once you get of Diane....

[~amysarah~]

I've thought of that Tali. I went on Dianne when I was 15 due to severe acne on my back. I'm *hoping* I have grown out of the worst of it! But to be honest, I am more concerned these days about my health and wellbeing than having bad skin.

[tali]

cool just thought I would remind you as it works so dam well you forget what your skin used to be like....

I hate to tell you I too had bad back acne but it has been gone while I lived in Cairns and Darwin but now that I am back in Melb so is it grrrrr and I have a few year on you... LOL

But if your thinking of TTC in the next yr or two its best to get off it now anyhow, just to get it all out of your system... GL

[~amysarah~]

I guess I'll have to look into some good acne treatments - I'm not looking forward to having it again! The things women have to go through huh?

[Snacks]

You may have grown out of it a bit. I was on Diane as a teenager for my skin and came off it after about 5 years. I get breakouts around my period and when pregnant (I have a doozy splotch of multiple pimples on my chin atm) but apart from that I'm certainly a lot clearer than 10 years ago. I wouldn't say my skin was great, but it's not like before IYKWIM.
Lulu, PMSL! I'd like to know how you find out your size too! And does it change after you have kids?!? Does the OB/GYN operate like a bra-fitter: "Hmm, yes, you look like a B-cup... maybe a C if you're lucky" (though I suppose it'd be the other way round for downstairs, eh?). It's not like you can try a few sizes to see what fits...
Sorry about taking the pi$$. I do think a diaphragm is a brilliant compromise and have heard and read good things about them. Definitely worth talking to your gynae about and asking lots of questions

[thepixie]

And does it change after you have kids?!? Does the OB/GYN operate like a bra-fitter: "Hmm, yes, you look like a B-cup... maybe a C if you're lucky"

Yeah actually it is a bit like that.... the OB/GYN will have a selection and probably try two to figure out which one fits you better (mine did, anyway). You need to be refitted after a birth or a termination, or if you gain or lose more than 5-10kg.
And I agree, my skin is heaps better after getting off the pill, but I think it actually takes quite a long time for it to come completely out of your system. Hopefully you will have grown out of the acne, but if you haven't completely, at least you will know what you're dealing with IYKWIM?