Hey Sleevers,

I am 20 yo and have been using bc since I was about 17.

I was first put on the Nuva ring because it was easy and you didn't have to remember anything daily. I LOVED NUVA RING!!!!!! But, when I turned 18 I was diagnosed with hypertension (High Blood Pressure) and finally had to be put on BP medications. The Nuva ring interacted negatively with my medication because it contained Estrogen.

I was then prescribed a mini pill (Micronor) which i have been on ever since. I HATE IT because I have to remember to take it every day and also there is so much room for error. If you miss a pill or don't take your pill within the 3 hour window you are unprotected.

I have recently thought about getting the Mirena. I have heard good things and bad things about it. However, I have not heard much about any accidental pregnancy so it obviously works.

I also considered doing Paragard because it has no hormones at all. But, it has the possible side effect of heavy bleeding and cramping or so I've heard. Also, it is for 10 years and I doubt I want to wait until I am 30 to have a child.

I also have seen some people that have been told to do the Nuva ring instead of the Mirena and to those people I ask, Do you have High BP and if so what medication are you on ??

I used to have a mirena. I've never been preggers or given vaginal birth so it was a horrible 10/10 pain putting it in. My dr did not warn me or numb me. My cervix went from 0 to 2-3cm.

After that trauma i was sobbing & they gave me regular tylnol.

1yr later i had to have it forcebly removed as the arm had grown into the side of my uterus. They pretty much gave me an abortion w/ o the baby part to get it out. It was aweful.

Overall, I know 2 other people in real life whom have had similar horror stories. One had given birth & had no pain but the dr. Inserting the mirena perforated her uterus & it had to be remived. The other lost her strings & the thing had dislodged.

But, do whats right for u.

I also have high bp & take bp pills because getting off bcp is not an option.

I too loved nuvaring!

Have u tried the sponge? They have it at target & walmart. I liked it & "doubled" up by using sponge & condoms. I'm a little paranoid about not getting preggers.

allons-y

Ask your doctor about Skyla IUD , it is for women who haven't had children yet or who need only 3 yr birth control.

Thank you for your experience. And I have never tried the sponge. And I too double up with condoms no matter what BC I am on.

And I've never heard of Skyla and my Dr only has the Mirena and Paragard

I am on Mirena... I love love LOVE it! With both Mirena and Paragaurd you can have them removed early... No matter what you are never forced to keep it in the full 5 or 10 years...

Love my Paraguard -- no children so it hurt to insert (would have been the same with the Mirena) and I do find that my flow is slightly heavier and longer than it was before the IUD, but I'm not keen on using hormones unless absolutely necessary. And yes, you don't have keep it in the entire time -- that was also a selling point for me that if I wanted to get pregnant, I could just get it removed and not worry about having to wait for the hormones to clear from my system.

Planned Parenthood's website has good, clear information on the various birth control options.