Birth control post-op

[a.walker 2]

So, I haven't used birth control of any kind for 7 years, and a lot has changed in that amount of time with what's available. My husband and I have been using condoms since surgery, because while I definitely want another child, I obviously want to wait the 12-18 months or as long as I'm in my losing phase. I went to my gyn doctor today, told her the whole story (she didn't know I was having the surgery, but told me she wouldn't consider doing anything to help my fertility until I lost weight).

She gave me the choices of pills, Nuva Ring, or the Depo Provera shot. I really have no idea which would be best for me. Anyone have experience with these? I am kind of leaning toward the shot, because it doesn't have estrogen in it, so there's a lower risk of clots. I don't know why I'm so nervous about that, but I am. Have any of you heard that you should continue to use a barrier method with the chemical birth control. I'm really hoping that's not the case, because condoms are really cramping our spontaneity in bed! :thumbup1:

Thanks in advance for any advice you have!

[clk 3,519]

I've used several different kinds of pills and Nuva Ring but neither post op. I love the Nuva Ring but some people hate it, so it's really a personal thing. I gain a ton of weight on pills and they affect my moods horribly. I never had any side effects with Nuva Ring. An added bonus was that it made my periods far less painful and made them four days instead of six.

Some women find it uncomfortable (I never knew it was there), some women report slippage (never happened to me) and some women say it interferes with sex (never happened to me).

It IS slightly less effective than pills are, but I liked that I only had to think about using it once a month. I will admit that I was using birth control primarily to treat endometriosis, so this didn't bother me. I think the stats show it has a 92-99% effectiveness rate, which is a pretty big window, but still better than using condoms.

Good luck, whatever you choose.

~Cheri

[clk 3,519]

I just wanted to add this, and I hope you don't think it's rude or anything.

My husband and I had infertility and wound up doing IVF with ICSI. For four years my doctors wouldn't help me, telling me that if I'd just lose weight we'd conceive. Well, I lost a big chunk of weight and we still couldn't get pregnant. Finally, they tested my husband. They assumed that because he's healthy and had other children with his first wife that the issue must be my weight. They were WRONG. He's infertile - he's actually clinically sterile. Once they finally did the analysis on him they said we had a better chance of winning the lottery than we had of getting pregnant on our own.

So, all of this to tell you that just because you have to wait a year to have them help you (and that's after you lose the weight) that doesn't mean he can't get checked out now. If the issue is there, then you'll have an easier time getting approved for fertility treatments once you hit your goal weight.

Good luck to you!

~Cheri