Birth Control

Q: I got a hormonal IUD placed two months ago and was super excited about it. I mean, super effective hormonal birth control I only have to think about every ten years? Thank you, modern medicine! And it wasn’t even that intense going in. I got some cramps for a couple days after and that was it! But now I’m feeling kinda off — I’m getting cramping between my periods and it hurts when I have sex, which has never happened to me before. Could something be wrong? Like, could my IUD have moved or could it be infected? Should I go and see my doctor? And until then, should I stop having sex — maybe I’m not safe?

Q: I’ve gotta stop taking the pill because I’m not all that good at remembering to take it, specifically on the weekends when my schedule is different and I’m not always at home. I’m freaked out by all the super long-term options, like the IUD and arm implant, but I still want a method of hormonal birth control because it makes my skin nice and I just trust it more. I’ve heard the patch mentioned sometimes, but I don’t know that much about it. Is the patch as effective as the Pill? How often do you have to put it on, and how long does each patch last? How does the hormone get into your skin?

Q: I started taking the Pill last month and I’m completely falling apart. One minute I’m totally fine … and the next I’m sobbing. What in the actual f%#k is going on? Is this normal? How can I make it stop? I can’t go to work and everything is terrible. I thought the Pill was supposed to make your mood swings better — but could they actually make them worse?

Q: I suck at taking my pill every day. I’ve actually forgotten all about it a few times and had to take Plan B. Now I’m thinking the pill probably isn’t the best choice for me. I wanna get something I don’t have to think about for a while. A friend told me about birth control you implant into your arm and it protects you for years, is that for real? It seems like some sci fi experiment to me. Can people, like, SEE it wherever they put it? And is it actually safe?

Q: I’m coming off a really bad experience with hormonal birth control (serious mood swings, weight gain, the works) and am looking into non-hormonal birth control options. I don’t love condoms, particularly right now because my boyfriend and I are all set with STD tests and really like the feeling of skin against skin. It looks like my alternatives are pretty limited to copper IUDs, but then my mom mentioned the diaphragm … apparently she used one in the ’80s? She said it’s a good option, but it sounds kinda weird and I can’t wrap my head around how it works, or how you even put it on. How safe is it, and how effective?

Q: I’ll just come right out and say it — I’m not great at taking my birth control pill. I love the way the hormones make my skin nice and my boobs bigger, but I forget enough doses that I’ve had to take Plan B a couple of times and just get generally stressed over messing up and ending up pregnant. I’ve looked into some of the options that are longer-lasting than 24 hours, and I gotta say I don’t really want anything up me (other than someone else!), so the ring and IUD are out for now. I’m interested in the shot, but I don’t know much about it. Do I do the birth control shot myself? I’ve never given myself a shot before, that seems hard. Is it safe? Basically, is this an option I should consider?

Q: I don’t like birth control, so my partner and I use the pull out method right now. My cycles are fairly regular (28-30 day range). What I’m wondering is — if I know I’m in the week before my period or I’m on my period, how big of a risk am I taking if he doesn’t pull out during those weeks? Is that what people mean when they say the rhythm method?

Q: I’m trying to decide what birth control to get, and one of my friends told me about the NuvaRing. I’m super intrigued, because it seems less intense than a shot (I hate needles) and I don’t have to think about it every day like the pill. But what’s the deal with it — how does it work, is it safe, and does it work as well as other options? Also, does it disrupt things when you’re having sex? Because it’s, like, up there?

Q: I was having sex the other day, and after we were done I realized my NuvaRing had fallen out. My boyfriend drove me right to the pharmacy and I took the morning after pill (and felt like death for the next two days), but it got me thinking — did I need it? How long does it take after my ring falls out for me to start being fertile again? And what about other methods of contraception? Is it all immediate that you’re at risk, or do the hormones/other birth control stuff stay in your body protecting you for longer?

Q: I got a Mirena IUD placed three months ago, because everyone said it would make my periods less intense. But I’m experiencing a combined ten days of bleeding and spotting each month, which seems like the opposite of that! How long is this going to go on? Will it settle into the light periods and less cramps I’ve read so much about, or is there something wrong with my IUD or body? Help!