Females- Contraception Opinions Please

I'm looking for some other women's experiences with birth control. I was diagnosed with UC in June of this year, I have taken the pill for over 10 years and am terrified I am not absorbing it properly.
Could you please share your thoughts about the best form of contraception to use with this illness?

I have an IUD and I like it. I don't like getting a monthly "visitor" so I got Mirena, I would have loved to be hormone free 100% and used the copper IUD but I heard a lot of horror stories with cramping and heavier periods. That's the last thing I want or need. I used to take BCP but the majority contain estrogen and people with UC are predisposed to DVT. I have a fear of stroke so I took pills without estrogen, and those are less effective, not just that but they aren't as good for skipping periods. I was taking cerazette for a while, which was a dream (estrogen free and no period), but it's difficult to get in the US. If you're outside this country, i'd consider that. The IUD has been a dream for me. No pills, very light spotting infrequently.

I was on the Nuvaring for a couple of years and I was happy with it. I wanted to get sterilized but my doctor was not happy with the idea of me having abdominal surgery. She suggested the copper iud which I got a couple weeks after. I only had one period on it and it hasn't been heavier although I've been cramping the first few days I had it. Some pain relief and a heating pad took care of that. Can't say too much yet but I'm very happy with my decision getting one.

Some people seem to do well with the mirena coil - various research studies have linked progesterone to helping some conditions in the "autoimmune" family but they don't seem to have gone anywhere.

I'm always surprised by the low level of research into hormones and IBD when so many seem to flare at times of high hormone changes in life, including men.

I've been looking into estrogen a lot as have been wondering about HRT. Some studies suggest it is risky in IBD, others that it is anti-inflammatory and helpful so there seems no agreement.

I went for barrier methods for most of my life. Another thing that is not often told to women is that there is a very small but all the same a higher risk of cervical changes when on immunomodulators or immunosuppresant so barrier methods that protect the cervix may be a good move too for anyone on those meds.

Thanks Andrina. Still waiting for my GPs office to call me back anyway. Health service in NZ is rather slow unless you have an urgent need to see a doctor :(

I've had UC for over 20 years, and have been on birth control pills (various ones) that entire time. I've taken Azulfadine (back in the day), Asacol, Colazal (now), prednisone, Imuran and enemas (both mesalamine and cortisone). None of this has affected my birth control one bit. I've never had one issue, and my ob/gyn has told me it won't affect it. Unless you are throwing up, the pill will absorb. Just don't take the pill within a few hours of any sort of antacid (TUMS, etc). I actually take my pills continuously - no break - and that helps my UC as having my period seems to make it act up.

I've always been extremely paranoid about getting pregnant (do not want kids) so have asked this question so many times over the past 20 years - my doctors always tell me it is fine. I've had a few bad flares (2 to be exact) and some minor ones and have never had an issue with my birth control pill during those times either. So from my past experience, and from what my doctors have told me, there should be no issues at all.

I haven't had any changes but it doesn't mean anything.

When I was in remission and got married I used the pill. Then I was going to move to the States and feared I could flare so I prepared myself on using the nuvaring which I indeed used for a couple of years. I just took out my last ring in the end of July so I'm not off of hormones for a long time. So far I don't feel different. I'm also on anti depressants.

The only thing I would do different with the iud placement is take percocet before the procedure. They told me to use ibuprofen, I used acetaminophen. Didn't do anything.

Are you looking to go hormone free?

I honestly don't understand your gp. Does he/she rather have you get pregnant? How will impact that your anxiety, constantly worrying about getting pregnant? Maybe I'm missing something from the big picture here. I just think anxiety and contraceptives have little to do with each other.

Has anxiety always been an issue like it is now? Yes pred can cause a lot of mental issues including anxiety. You could take valerian (I like the tea) or your gp could prescribe something stronger.

I agree with having it removed if it causes trouble. That's exactly what I said. So far everything is good and I'm enjoying not having to think about protection every day. It's fool proof.

Feel free to email me. It's in my profile.