diaphragm? sponge? IUD?

[Anonymous]

I have decided I don't want to be on the pill anymore. Not interested in condoms. Any one out there used a diaphragm, sponge, cervical cap? Or an IUD? Would love to hear pros and cons!!

[Anonymous]

Don't use the sponge. SIL did and got pregnant -- well, we all suspected that that's what she wanted to happen anyway so BIL would marry her. Somehow it did happen, and they did tie the knot, and she gave all the credit or blame to the sponge.

[Anonymous]

I love my Mirena IUD. For more info, check the ongoing conversation on the General Discussion board: http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/48793.page

[Anonymous]

I'm hijacking - but am in the same boat - don't want the pill or condoms if I can help it.

The sponge or a diaphragm - how do you get if out??? There is no cord like a tampon. I don't get it!!! Please someone explain....

[Anonymous]

Go for the diaphragm! Once you get used to putting it in and taking it out, it's great. Easy.

I once tried the sponge, no twice and both times, it got stuck and my husband had to dig it out, literally. He had to stick 2 to 3 fingers all the way up, break it up into pieces with his fingers, and then get the pieces out. No joke! He's sitting right next to me as I'm typing this. Never ever again!!! The diaphragm is the way to go. We've been using condoms and I'm tired of them, and am being fitted.

[Anonymous]

PP here-when you're taking out the diaghragm, you get a finger underneath the ring and pull down. Quick and easy.

[Anonymous]

I like my Mirena. Definitely look into it.

[Anonymous]

I am thinking the Mirena or the diaphragm. Just gained 5 lbs of water weight and cried for 4 days straight during my first week back on the pill (super low dose one, too!). Screw that.

[Anonymous]

Diaphragm worked for me but I never used IUD or sponges so I can't really compare. It takes a little bit of work to figure out how to get it in. A couple of times I put it in but it wasn't covering my cervix (lodged between the cervix and vaginal wall) so you have to check that it is covering it. This was very rare but "very rare" can lead to a child so....

And once or twice (over a 25 year period) I had trouble getting it out (when all the air was pushed out and suction and my slippery fingers combined to make it difficult to remove) but again that was quite rare.

Does require preparation obviously so if you don't like to interrupt the flow of things you might want to use another approach or put it in before things get flowing! But I prefer using this than taking a pill every day.

[Anonymous]

Got a Mirena two weeks ago. How much bleeding and for how long should I expect?

[Anonymous]

If you're looking for the most fool-proof reversible contraceptive method, go with Mirena. If a non-hormonal, user-controlled method is more appealing to you, go with the diaphragm (but realize it has a higher failure rate than Mirena). The sponge is the least reliable of the three. Yes, individual users will each have their success stories, but this is what the stats show: http://www.contraceptivetechnology.org/table.html

[Anonymous]

There's also a no-hormone IUD called Paraguard. Probably good if you don't want the side effects of hormones.

[Anonymous]

I have a paraguard IUD. The mirena has estrogen in it and I can't have anything with estrogen due to a clotting disorder. The paraguard is good for 10 years. The insertion wasn't bad and I love not having to think much about it. If we choose to have a 3rd then it can easily come out and if not, it will stay in until I'm 40 and more permanent measures can be taken.

[Anonymous]

SO - question for you IUD users - how did your doc tell you the IUD prevents pregnancy? I think the IUD is a great option, but I'm not sure I'm comfortable with how it works. On a personal level I'm not keen on the idea that an egg may have been fertilized but then is prevented from implanting - kind of like potentially having a tiny little abortion on a regular basis. (Pro-choice here, so this is not intended to be an anti-choice attack.) My doc gave me a bit of a fuzzy explanation on the mechanism, but more or less said "prevents implantation, and might interfere with fertilization, but we don't really know" and that's what I see on other literature as well. Anyone have better info?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:SO - question for you IUD users - how did your doc tell you the IUD prevents pregnancy? I think the IUD is a great option, but I'm not sure I'm comfortable with how it works. On a personal level I'm not keen on the idea that an egg may have been fertilized but then is prevented from implanting - kind of like potentially having a tiny little abortion on a regular basis. (Pro-choice here, so this is not intended to be an anti-choice attack.) My doc gave me a bit of a fuzzy explanation on the mechanism, but more or less said "prevents implantation, and might interfere with fertilization, but we don't really know" and that's what I see on other literature as well. Anyone have better info?

That is the state-of-the-art info.