I'm getting banded soon and i'm starting to think of birth control. My periods have always been irregular, the doctor said it's probably due to the fact i've always been over weight. When me and my husband first got together I was on depo for 3 years, and i've been off for about 1 year and 9 months (only 3 or 4 light periods). Anyways, we want to have a baby but the doctor recommends that I wait a year first. So my question is, what birth control are you using? Does the pill work ok?

The pill worked for me while I could take it. I haven't been able to take it in 8 - 10 years probably. Most surgeons do recommend a minimum of one year, and several are now starting to go upwards of 2 - 3 years. The BCP works with a failure rate, just like any other BC.

I will move this to a better forum for you since it's a question about BC rather than surgery.

I think the pill would be your best option. I agree with the doctor, you should wait at least a year. You want your body to have time to heal. I don't know how much you have to lose, but I think it would be better to get pregnant at a healther weight. That's what I plan to do anyway. I have also heard that as you lose weight you become more fertile, so you definitely want to use something. I am sticking with the pill because most of them are very small and won't have any trouble passing through the small opening, and you won't have to crush them. I don't know about you, but I HATED depo!! What a nightmare! I would like to use the patches, but the doctor said that if you are overweight, they have a higher failure rate. So I think the pill is the best thing. I have been using it for years, and it has not caused any problems. Just be sure and take it at the same time every day. Good luck!

I have been using a NuvaRing for a year and a half at least. I really like it. It's great not having to think about it every day, particularly because i'm bad with pills. I considered depo or an IUD, but I don't want t have a period. I continuous cycle my ring, so I only have a period when I feel like it, which is normally every 4 or 5 months because I forgot to reorder. The other good thing about it is that the ring works for 4 weeks so you don't have to spend extra money replacing it every 3.

I LOVED the depo, after the 3rd month I stopped having periods all together. I'm thinking maybe i'll check out the ring because I'm afraid of forgetting to take the pill. Although, I guess i'm going to have to get used to taking meds after the surgery anyways... hmm i'll have to put some thought into it.

the only bad thing about the ring is that you can sometimes feel it during sex. it doesn't bother me at all, and i usually don't feel it. my husband feels it, but it doesn't bother him at all either. It definitely bothers us quite a bit less than a kid screaming in the middle of sex would. anyway, just thought i should mention the down side, if you can call it that. I'd still take it over the pill any day of the week.

I have a Mirena IUD and it's the best thing I ever bought. I don't really have periods (light light spotting - like a pantyliner is all I need), and it lasts for 5 years. I love it!!!

If you are serious about the 'ring' or a diaphragm you need to have them rechecked if you loose weight!!!! Your insides will change and shift with you as you loose/gain weight and they will become less affective. You might want to look into the IUD (the new one has rave reviews I hear) or the BC patch.

Talk things over with your gyno, inform him/her that you are getting banded and will be loosing quite a bit of weight and you want birth control that will go with you through it all not one you have to worry about.

The other thing with BC pills is they do cause some (it is minimal) weight gain, so again you might want to look into a internal device.

Again, I reiterate, TALK to your doctor explain what is going on with you, see what he/she recommends for you as you loose weight and your body starts changing.

I didn't like Depo, it didn't control my irregular periods and I put on 30lbs in 2 months.

I was on ortho tri-cyclen & ortho tri-cyclen lo since I hit puberty due to my periods being out of whack. At some point my doc said I don't have to take the 'sugar pills' and never have a period. I normally do that.. I swapped to Yaz last year for a change of pace. When I have to go off of them (like for surgery), my periods are still all out of whack. So, I'm greatful for my pills!! I do always wonder though, if I'd lose weight even quicker if I wasn't on them. I know Depot affected my weight, and supposedly the pills can too.

If you are serious about the 'ring' or a diaphragm you need to have them rechecked if you loose weight!!!!

NuvaRing (I've used this for around 5 years) does not change as your lose weight. Diaphragms must be refitted as you lose or at least checked.

You might want to look into the IUD (the new one has rave reviews I hear) or the BC patch.

IUDs are only recommended for women who have already had children and the BC Patch is LESS EFFECTIVE for women weighing in excess of 200lbs.

Bottom line is talk w/ your Gyno to discuss your needs and what's best for your body. In fact, it may be necessary for you to get your Gyno and your Surgeon to talk to each other as LapBand is still an uncommon proceedure and many Gynos know little about it.

yeah ... im looking for short term BC (cant even try to get preggers for 5.5 months from now 6 after plastics) ... i couldnt find anything and my gyno suggested (ick) rubbers ... ((ick ick))

oh yes ... depo... packed on 87 lbs in less than a year... yes, i ate, but not that much.

I also hated Depo, I gained about 50 pounds in 3 months. My doctor recently switched me to another pill and it is causing A LOT of nausea. I don't know if I can continue it. I have been switched about 3 times, so I am all messed up. Nikki, you are very right, the patch is not recommended for those of us weighing over 200. I tried the ring, but I had a lot of cramps with it. Rubbers are VERY ick! I have tried most everything so I don't know what I can switch to now!

I was on Yasmin for several years and it was great. Never had weight gain or any major side effects, other than mood swings at first.

I was on Yasmin and i liked it, but it caused a lot of break through bleeding. I am now on Zovia and it is making me sick. I may go back to the Yasmin and give it another try, I wasn't on it long.

I am on Yasmin as well. I am a continuous use gal.. I take the sugar pills at the end of the pack one time a year, (or so my gyno suggests..) which makes for a short spotty 3-4 day cycle, then I'm back to skipping the sugar pills. Yasmin has been the best for me so far, helping immensely with PMDD, and my skin... Plus no weight gain:)