Should I go off the pill?

[~amysarah~]

I love the way my skin looks now because it is always so clear and smooth. As a teenager I would constantly cover up because I was so self consious. But it makes you wonder what kinds of chemicals go into your body to have such a major impact like that. I guess I've never really thought too much about it until last week at my appointment.

I think I would rather have a normal sex drive, normal AF and a normal skin problem than to continue pumping my body full of these hormones. I'm happy to deal with whatever happens and I know that if it gets so out of hand that I feel horrible I can always go back on the pill. Hopefully that won't happen.

I know when I went on the pill I quickly put on 5kg that I was never able to shift. Did anyone lose weight after going off the pill?

[Willow]

Haven't read all the replies but just wanted to say this is how our DD arrived - I went off the pill just before our wedding because we were planning to ttc some time in the 12 months following and I wanted to get an idea of my cycle. I was very careful and used the billings method in the leadup to the wedding but got a bit distracted on our honeymoon...yep, honeymoon baby 9 months later!

[Kitt3n]

you may not need to go to the expense of having the ob fit the diaphragm - family planning centres etc offer this service, might be worth a look if there is one in your area?

If you combine that with billings and the occasional condom - on those extra fertile days - i reckon you have all bases covered. I think i will be getting a diaphragm after the unit's arrival too! (but then again I heard you may need to update your diaphragm after BF too - not sure??)

anyway, sorry for mini hi jack - with the skin care - honestly, try something natural - dont go for the nasty chemical filled anti acne strip-your-skin-of-its-natural-goodness-and-layer-it-with-sulphates-and-parabens-crap.

I have always had an acne problem. Guess what got rid of it? Organic, natural skin care.

[~amysarah~]

I'll be seeing my GYN at a follow up appointment two weeks after the lap so that is when I would discuss it with him. He wants to change my pill anyway so it would be a perfect time to talk about alternative contraceptive methods.

I agree about using natural skin care - I used proactive once and swore I would never touch it again - got a full refund! Talk about OUCH.

[~amysarah~]

I told DH and he was an absolute CHAMP about the whole thing. At first he asked about the effectiveness of a diaphram and said that was his main concern and I told him if we used it properly, combined with the Billings Method (which we looked up when we got home) I said it would be just as effective as the pill.

He then agreed with my concerns relating to the chemicals I've been putting into my body for 8 years and he understood my wish to have natural cycle. I then mentioned the likelyhood of an increase sex drive and I think at that point he was sold LOL .

I was worried for nothing! So the countdown is ON... 3 1/2 weeks until I can go off the pill!!

[Snacks]

Great news, Amy.

[Kate07]

Is there any written info someone can direct me to on effectiveness of different methods, in particular the diaphragm?

Ta

[~amysarah~]

I'd be interested to see that too Kate.

[~amysarah~]

Kate I just found this link.. it's a US site but it might be helpful..

Pregnancy Rates for Birth Control Methods

[Kate07]

Ta

I googled "diaphragm", and the first link gave this statistic "Diaphragms are 86-94% effective as birth control."

it didn't explain how they got that statistic.

if they could just train boys to keep their goo to themselves (until needed), it would be ok.

[~amysarah~]

I think they are probably risker during ovulation. We will combine the diaphram with the billings method and just avoid DTD in that fertile period and that should take us into the 95% category which is the same as the pill.