If you can't take the pill.

NobodysChild

For someone that is not getting on with the pill and cannot take it anymore; can anyone advise me what the other forms of contraception are like please? (Excluding condoms.)

Eg; the contraceptive implant

The contraceptive injection

The IUD (or mirena coil)

The 'cap.'

Any others?

The advice is for my 23 year old niece. Never had children. First boyfriend at 20. Started to be sexually active at 21. Cannot take the pill anymore, so that is not an option.

Thank you.

want_to_save

i went from the pill (have crohns and could not guarantee that the pill would be absorbed) to the injection then implan and now have iud

i would say from personal choice the implant or the iud is the better ones for me as dont have to remember too much.

NobodysChild

Thanks 'wanttosave.'

My niece was considering the coil but was told it may not be an option because she has never had children?

In_Debt_Bet

I've not had children and when I went to review my contraception recently was told the mirena coil was an option but as I hadn't had children the process of fitting it could be more uncomfortable.

clairec79

I have the patch but it depends why the pill isn't an option for you, if it's down to the hormones then a lot of the contraceptive options are ruled out for you

YORKSHIRELASS

I have been having the injection for 14 years and it works brilliantly for me - plus I dont have periods which is a huge bonus. There is always some debate about how long you should stay on this but at the moment there is no reason for me to change.

I suppose the only downside is needing to go to the doctors every 3 months which could be an issue for some people.

GwylimT

My wife cannot use any form of hormonal contraceptive as she is partially paralysed so her risk of DVT is quite high. She has the copper coil, we still use condoms however, despite this we've has double failure twice and ended up with two monsters.

dearlouise

I have the coil & haven't had kids. Best thing I ever did. I'll be getting it replaced next year after having it fitted for the 4 year recommended. It's fab! Did hurt to put in tho

Fluff15

I am 23, never had children, and have a copper IUD. It was painful to put in, my periods are more painful and heavy but in my opinion, not having to think about it for 10 years is great. Periods are like clockwork, I do not have to take any hormones but I did suffer from a bout of acne coming off the pill, as I'd been on it for so many years I think my body took a while to adjust. Luckily, unlike GwylimT, mine hasn't failed and neither has my friends.

Something like the injection is great, but if your body doesn't like it you will have to wait three months for it to wear off and because I couldn't take the pill anymore because of the hormones it wasn't an option either. My stepmum has been successfully on the injection for 10 years, whereas my mum reacted bad to it.

My colleague has the marina coil and she loves it as it stopped her period completely. For me, I like the regular occurance of my period.

I suppose it depends on why she can't take the pill anymore. I like the permenance of an implant/coil, as I don't have plans to have children for a number of years.

heartbreak_star

I absolutely loved Mirena - uncomfortable to insert and remove as I don't have children but worth it. Sadly can't have it now due to LLETZ scarring

Getting on quite well with the Nexplanon implant though.

HBS x

southoftheriver

NobodysChild wrote: »

Thanks 'wanttosave.'

My niece was considering the coil but was told it may not be an option because she has never had children?

Nope not true, it can be used in women who have never been pregnant. There are two types. A hormonal one called the Mirena which lasts up to 5 years and a copper coil which has no hormones and can be kept in for up to 10 years. The implant is also an option and is about the size of a matchstick, sits in the upper arm.

At least you don't have to remember them and they often improve things like heavy painful periods.