If you can't take the pill.

wannabeslim

+1 for the injection, no negatives to say about it, however it can take up to year for normal periods to return once you stop having it.

want_to_save

i have never had children and after trying all forms - have crohns and also osteopeania (sp) wanted contreption i can forget about but that does not have hormones in so went for the 10 year option and never looked back

sexyshark

another one for the injection here

poppy_f1

i know it will be different for people but i hated the injection, yeah no periods was great but the 3st weight gain and still got mood swings made me more annoyed so stopped it, then it was the year wait for periods to return

there are loads of different pills out there so might be worth a chat with a GP or family planning clinic

Gloomendoom

Mrs G had the injection for years but there are concerns over it reducing bone density with long term use. She tried the Mirena coil on the advice of her sister but didn't get on with it. Her sister loves it. Apparently, a welcome side effect is it has made her boobs grow a cup size.

Currently using the implant.

From Mrs G's point of view, the biggest plus for all the above is zero menstruation. Weight gain and mood swings must be down to the individual because they haven't been a problem for her at all. In fact, she is a dress size smaller than when she started on the injection and she wasn't big to start with.

The_One_Who

Why can't she take the pill, and what kind of pill was it? The answers to that will change the options available.

I tried the mini-pill at first and ended up with spotting on a daily basis. I then changed to one type of 'the pill' which didn't quite work for me, and have now changed to a slightly different variant which seems to be working well for now.

Ilona

Probably not an option for a 23 year old, but after 17 years on the pill, single, never wanted children, I asked for a sterilisation, and got it at 37. No more worries.
Ilona

sazaccount

morning,

I can't take the pill, mainly because I'm really forgetful so worried I would forget to take it and the other is I suffer badly from migraines and there is an increase risk in strokes with certain types of pills.

I was on the injection for around 18 months but like I say i'm really forgetful and would forget when the 3 months are up, I'm now on the implant and have been for just under 4 years (had it changed earlier this year) and I love it. I don't need contraception but I suffer from ovarian cysts when I was ovulating which would burst causing ALOT of pain!! I like not having any periods!! and being MSE save load on not having to buy sanitary items lol

Merry christmas
xx

Josky

+1 for copper coil. After having to stop taking combined pills due to migraine with aura, I drifted through numerous mini-pills (all of which gave me unpleasant side effects like swollen legs, acne, severe mood swings) I switched to the implant. Massive mistake for me - I piled on weight shortly after (I literally could not stop eating, even when I was full my body was screaming for food), libido was rock bottom...just generally a really poor experience. This is a very popular form of contraception though so chances are a lot of people like it just fine - I'm not one of them

I switched to the copper coil in October, and I think I have finally found a keeper. I wanted to get away from artificial hormones as I found that, after a break from them, I generally felt much better in myself. It was a minor trauma having it fitted, as I have not had kids which does make it a bit more uncomfortable, plus it kept escaping so in total I had to have it fitted 3 times in the space of about 30 minutes - NOT a common scenario though, so don't let that put you off. I certainly wouldn't have it as a barrier to having another one. It is just so convenient, plus I no longer have the desperate food cravings.

Word of warning - the copper coil can take several months to settle down, during which time you can experience aches and pains/muscle spasm etc from time to time (I get particular aches around the time of ovulation). It can also make your periods heavier and last longer. I personally didn't notice that much except for my first period on it which was crazy - thankfully that didn't continue! I think that, a lot of the time, people have just switched from a hormonal contraceptive to the copper coil, so the abrupt change from a suppressed to normal period flow can be shock. In my experience, it does even out.

Just after fitting I had very heavy cramps and had to dose up on ibruprofen and snuggle down with a hot water bottle; this lasted about 3 days. Don't book any strenuous activities in the days immediately following fitting The copper coil alone is also not recommended if you're not in a monogamous relationship since it does not protect against STDs; I can see your niece is currently in a relationship, so hopefully this is not an issue.

gsymoo

I'm 41 and use a diaphragm. It suits me fine but having it fitted is a bit of a nightmare! A Doctor needs to check you have the right size and that
You can fit and remove it yourself. A lot of poking and prodding is involved which as a mum of 2 I'm ok with but the 23 year old me would of been horrified. It needs to be in place for at least 6 hours afterwards and is not as reliable as the other methods listed. You can have a coil fitted if you've not yet had children, it just a bit more uncomfortable.