Birth Control

It is so hard having so many options of "Birth Control" (bc) to choose from. Do I want a hormonal bc, non-hormonal, pills, shots, plastic devices (ring & IUD), patch, sponge, latex...and the list goes on. The side effects range from hair loss, NO sex drive, increased sex drive, blood clots, mood swings (those can be as severe as wanting to murder anyone that comes in your sight), weight gain, dry/moist, discharge, bloating, cramping, fatigue and that list goes on as well. There are also temporary and permanent options. Just having to decide which bc is best for you is enough to make one choose abstinence for goodness sake.

I have definitely tried my fair share of bc options and had my like and dislikes with each one. I have been blessed with 4 beautiful children (3 boys & 1 girl) and I am indecisive about having any more. So with that being said...I've had to make the decision to find that "perfect" bc option for the mean time.

After having my 4th child (my daughter Madalynn) on 12/31/09, I ended up picking the Mirena IUD. I liked that it lasted 5 yrs, it wasn't something you had to remember daily, weekly or monthly, and NO PERIOD! Now I also knew that I had tried it one other time after my 2nd child (Marcus) in 2004 and had a very negative experience with it. I bled for the entire 11 months I had it in, and I had to have it surgically removed due to the string getting lost! I wanted to give it another chance though because of all the positive things I mentioned above. So February 2010 I had the Mirena IUD placed inside of me. The insertion is fairly easy, minimal discomfort (for me) and it takes effect IMMEDIATELY (reproduction free)! I of course spotted for 6 weeks after insertion. It wasn't bad, very light in fact. I have been what I thought...completely satisfied. I haven't bled, or even spotted in 2
months!

I am one of the unfortunate mothers that experiences the "Baby Blues." It typically starts about day 3 after having the baby and lasts about 3 weeks. I very thankful for the creator of prozac. I have always noticed that my prozac works very well for me and I do not have any significant side effects. This time around I feel as though it hasn't worked "completely." I no longer have the "Baby Blues," but the symptoms that I am still feeling are: extreme fatigue, I feel like I'm always tired regardless of the amount of sleep I have gotten. Besides Madalynn has been sleeping through the night for the last 2 months. I have absolutely no energy or desire to do ANYTHING except sleep of course. I have had an unusual amount of hair loss (thank goodness I have very thick hair or I may have had to by a wig by now), moodiness which ranges from agitated feelings (any little thing my husband does sets
me off), feelings of inadequacy, just BLAH. I have had absolutely NO sex drive (I don't want to be kissed, hugged, fondled or even think about love making) and this is very odd for me. I was always in the mood. I was willing and able to perform several times a day! Now my husband is lucky to get any sort of action once a week (yes I'm very serious). I feel like I'm just "not there." I'm very forgetful and spacey. I don't feel like MYSELF!

Due to all of these symptoms I have talked with my family doctor and she thought that maybe my prozac needed to be increased. Well that didn't work...so we thought maybe a Thyroid problem, that came back normal...my blood pressure was low so I increased my salt intake and my blood pressure came back up...that wasn't it either. Finally I decided to google "Mirena low sex drive" just like that and this is what came up http://www.medications.com/se/mirena/sex-drive

Whalaa...I found my PROBLEM! I it wasn't Saturday, I would already have been on the phone scheduling myself an appt. with my OB! Since it is Saturday...I have been pondering ideas of how to yank this thing out of me on my own!! I reasoned with myself and decided to just be patient and allow the doctor to take it out. I just want instant relief. I want to feel normal again. I want my relationship with my husband back!