The debate about birth control pills

[sillygirl]

I don't know what to do. We are going to try for our next baby in July or August, but I really don't want to get pregnant until then. It wouldn't be horrible or anything, but I want a spring/summer baby plus it gives us some time to get some bills paid. Anyway, If we start trying in July, I would have to get off the pill in April to let my body get back to normal. So, that means I would only be on the pill for 4 months. I can't decide if it's worth the risk of side effects for just 4 months. Does anyone have any experience getting back on the pill and did you have any different side effects the second time? I have a couple of packs of pills from the doctor and they are actually the low dose version of the same pill I used to be on. Since they are lower dose there should be even less of a chance of side effects, right? I never had any problems before, but I'm still scared.

[jennyleigh1975]

I, personally, wouldnt start taking them again, if I was wanting to try and get pregnant this summer. By the time your body adjusts to them again, you will be trying to come off them again. Also, I have a dear friend who went back on the pill for a year after her son was born, stopped taking them after that year, and now has been trying to get pregnant for a year, and no luck yet.[img]smileys/smilies_06.gif[/img]

[susie_q]

What are you using now for birth control? How come you need to go back on it?


Anyway, I went off it to try other forms of birth control and then went back on it after about 2 years. I didn't have any side effects the second time, and it was a higher dose. I didn't have any side effects with the lower dose either.


Good luck!

[crimgoddess]

Taking the pill may not necessarily have any effect on your fertility, if this is what you mean by side effects. For some people, the first month you are off your pills you may be the most fertile, as it potentially gives your reproductive system a boost (ie- makes it more likely that you ovulate).


For some women with fertility problems, they actually prescribe a month of the pill to make it more likely that they ovulate the following month.


I was worried about it too, seeing as in a few years Chris and I want to start trying. But, was told that there really shouldn't be an issue. I have noticed as well with myself that if I go off them for a month (was lazy about getting my script filled), the next month I definitely ovulate.


*amber*

[madisonsmom]

I dont know if I would bother starting them now if you plan on ttc this summer. It may take you a couple of months anyway.


I would try other methods...that is just my opinion though!

[sillygirl]

My main concern is n* as a side effect. I know alot of people get n* and/or v* when they go on the pill. I didn't the first time, but I wondered if somehow my body may have changed and now I would be more sensitive.


jennyleigh - that is one fear of mine - that it may be harder for me to get pregnant again. I was on the pill for about 7 years before I got pregnant with Kayla and I did what the doctor said, went off 3 months before we wanted to start trying then the first month we tried I got pregnant. Who knows if that would happen again. That definitely makes me hesitate.


susie_q - my baby was born in July and I never went back on anything afterwards. We kept debating about when to start trying and some part of me was hoping for an "oops" but now I really want to wait until Kayla is at least a year old. That's good that you didn't have any side effects though!


There are, of course, other methods but neith my husband nor I are very fond of them. I could try natural family planning, but I've never done it before so I'm not really sure what to do. By the time I figure it out, it will probably be July! I have about a week to figure it all out. Thanks for your replies!