What other things are similar to the depo shot?!
Question: I can't do anything daily, absolutely no way I'd ever remember. What other forms of birth control are long term and easy like the depo shot? I can't do the nuva ring, impossible to even use a slender tampon I'd never be able to shove my fingers up there to put the ring in or take it out. I heard patches are really bad and I don't know anyone who uses them and have never heard of a doctor recommending them. What else is there?!!
Answers: I can't do anything daily, absolutely no way I'd ever remember. What other forms of birth control are long term and easy like the depo shot? I can't do the nuva ring, impossible to even use a slender tampon I'd never be able to shove my fingers up there to put the ring in or take it out. I heard patches are really bad and I don't know anyone who uses them and have never heard of a doctor recommending them. What else is there?!!
i am the same way. i hate daily pills, i was recently on accutane for my acne and my goodness that was such a pain to remember pills twice a day. i have been on depo provera for quite some time (years) and have been quite happy with it. No major weight gain, or mood swings. the only thing about the depo that you need to really look out for is your bone density. my sister in law's dad is an ob/gyn, and he said that is really the main thing to worry about more so than anything else. take calcium, and be wary of your diet. Be sure it is rich enough in calcium, so you don't have bone problems.
patches actually have the same side affects as the depo shot apparently according to my doctor. I was thinking about switching to those until I found out they had same problems. so I stayed with depo.
There are two options that I know of, if you need long term birth control. I have used oral contraceptives for close to 6 years now and am myself looking to go to something that is not once a day, but I need something long term. Depo Provera (the shot) is safe to use for about 2 years, but it is not recommended for use longer than that.
An IUD is a good option for some women and can last up to five years; also, some IUDs are hormone free. With an IUD, however, you do have to check for the string of the IUD (which can be felt around the cervix) after your period each month to ensure that the device is still in place and is not embedded.
Implanon is an implantable progesterone-only contraceptive. It gets inserted under the skin in the upper arm and is effective for up to 3 years.
With many insurance companies, IUDs and Implanon are not covered. I know in my area the cost of Implanon with the surgery to get it implanted will cost $850. The insurance company refuses to pay for anything.
I would suggest if you are new to contraceptives and can't handle the routine of a pill, to start out with the patch or the shot. The patch is fine if you are not allergic to anything in it and don't have sensitive skin; the best thing about the patch is that if you get some real nasty side effects from the hormones, you are able to stop it at any time. (Example: hormonal contraceptives tend to make migraines worse and can cause migraines. Sometimes this is an intolerable side effect.) The shot would be another good one to start off with, as it is usually covered by insurance companies and - even if it's not - is much more affordable than an IUD or Implanon. However, if you get bad side effects from the shot, you have to wait the three months out for them to go away. If you like the hormone contraceptives, then talk to your doctor about moving on to Implanon or Mirena. If you can't handle hormones, try a copper IUD or talk with your doctor about other options.
I would definitely advise talking to your gynecologist about your options. She would probably know the most about what would work the best for you.
If you aren't having sex you could try the birth control pill for a while and you might surprise yourself and remember to take it! If you absolutely don't remember, then the worst thing that will happen is you have one bad period then you go back onto Depo. I never thought I'd remember and so I set my watch alarm to beep at 10 pm every night (about when I start getting ready for bed) and so I know to get up and go take my pill. With "combination" pills, like Ortho tri-cyclen and Yaz and most of the ones advertised on TV, you don't have to take it at the exact same minute every day, just the same time of day, according to my doctor. So if you take it before bed at night, don't take it at night one day, then the next morning for the next day, then back to the night again the day after.