Pulmonary Embolism Support Group

Personally, I don't feel like there are a lot of options, especially, if you're ruling out an IUD.

I use the copper IUD. There's also a progestrone based IUD called "Mirena." Then their are condoms. Ugh.

I'd suggest talking to an obgyn about your options,not your regular doc. An obgyn is better suited to helping finding the right birth control for your situation.

I wondered about that too. I'm also 21 and I was taking a different pill (that apparently it's only in Europe) called Minigeste.

The pill was a great help in regulating my period, reducing cramps and weight changes... I'm gonna miss it!

Before, I used the pill + condom. Now it'll be harder to find another combination of effective methods. For now I just stick to condoms.

I am not sure my doctor told me no more birth control. So I need help too.

I'm brand new here, but this is also my problem. I was on high dosages of estrogen for a bleeding condition which helped me not bleed every day of the month. My OBGYN says now i can never take estrogen again with my recent multiple PE. I've tried the copper T IUD years ago..hated it. Tried the Mirena IUD twice prior to to my embolisms and had it removed for severe cramping, bleeding, and pain. I'm now trying a 10 day course of progesterone only to try and restart a regular cycle. but that doesn't offer BC protection and i don't want the hysterectomy they said i should consider. (especially not with high doses of blood thinners!)

I'm married, and 34...anyone found anything else besides condoms? i've heard nightmare stories about depo provera...

Eventhough I'm only 3 weeks out from my multiple PE and had been on orthotricyclin for 10 years (unfortunately can never again take any hormone contraceptives either), I've talked with my hematologist about options and done some on-line research. As already suggested by others, I STRONGLY suggest you speak with your OB/GYN about options to reduce possiblility of pregnancy.

My research showed that anything free of hormones should be ok--copper IUD, diaphragm, condoms. From research I've read, copper IUDs can increase menstral issues of cramping, etc and can increase bleeding by 20-50%. It's 99% effective in keeping one from getting pregnant. My concern is the "20-50% more bleeding" so I intend on getting more info from my OB/GYN soon.

Diaphragms seem complicated as you have to insert them before arousal, have to use some kind of spermicide on it before insertion(which sounds messy), and get it positioned just right in order for it to be an effective birth control. I think the rate of effectiveness was around 75%.

There's always condoms, and as long as they don't break, they're super effective. Surely there are other options available, and I once again STRONGLY suggest you speak with your OB/GYN about options!!

I am working with my obgyn of 14 years. I can tell you from experience i bled heavily on the copper T IUD which i had for several years. That seems to be the norm for everyone i know who's had one. Periods lasted 8-10 days long on the copper T (prior to the IUD mine were only five days) I also had the Mirena IUD, twice but the cramping and bleeding were horrendous so i removed it quickly. and what they don't often tell you is that they leave a sharp thin "string" you have to check for placement once a month outside your cervix. this "string" stabbed my husband during sex multiple times no matter how short they cut it!

I tried a diaphragm for about a year. It was messy, hard to use, i got it stuck often and leaving it in after sex for the set amount of time was hard to plan for.

for me it's less about bc and more about preventing bleeding every day. condoms will prevent pregnancy but i won't be intimate if i'm cramping and bleeding 3 weeks out of 4 anyhow, and it's not safe on high doses of blood thinners. i'm beginning to think there's not a lot of options out there either....

My PE is from ortho evra patch. Hate depo, don't like iud's, don't trust condoms, so I guess for now my fiance and I are gonna have to practice abstinence until i am well enough to have my tubes tied or he can afford a vasectomy. I'm 31 and have a 12 year old, so I guess I can settle for not having any more children.

The organization I co-founded did a newsletter last year that discussed birth control and pregnancy issues relating to blood clotting disorder. You may find some useful information in it:

http://www.stoptheclot.org/Newslet...

The organization is a Patient Advocacy Organization created by DVT/PE Survivors back in 2004. The organization is now the only patient organization working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to raise awareness about blood clots and clotting disorders.

I have had Mirena since March 2008 with no problems at all!!! I too had a PE caused by BC in Aug 2007.

thanks for the info retired.

I'm glad MSM. I had the mirena twice and hated it both times. I guess it works for some people and not for others. I had heavy bleeding, cramps and the string was a serious issue for my husband.