QuestionI've been on the shot for about 4 and a half years now. I was aware of the possible side effects that would arise when I chose to get it. I knew that you could either loose or gain weight, on the first two years I dramatically lost 20 lbs. Now, I have actually gained 20 extra pounds. I also knew that your sex drive could either decrease or increase. I've been ok for the first two years, but now I just feel too tired and fatigued and I am rarely in the mood. I know that it's the side effect of the shot. My boyfriend, on the other half is constantly wanting intercourse and is always complaining because I'm never in the mood. He thinks I'm having intercourse somewhere else. I love this guy so much, we've been together for almost 5 years, I would never cheat on him, especially with so many std's out there.I really wish I were in the mood more often. I want to know what other method of birth control there is that might not make me feel so tired and that wont decrease my sex drive as much!!!
thank you for your time
hope to hear from you
soon!!!
grace
AnswerHi Grace,
Unfortunately your problem is very common in women using hormonal birth control.
You may try to switch to another hormonal method, for instance the pill, patch or ring. You will probably experience the same problem with those, but if you prefer hormonal birth control it may be worth a try.
Choosing a non-hormonal alternative will almost surely restore your sex drive.
The copper IUD (intra-uterine device) is a very reliable contraceptive. It is mostly recommended for women that have been pregnant prior to insertion, as a nullparous woman has a smaller uterus which may not tolerate the IUD as well. The IUD can stay in the uterus for several years and is therefore a good option for women not planning to get pregnant for some time.
You probably also know the condom and diaphragm, bot less effective in preventing pregnancy than the IUD. However, unlike the IUD which stays in the body for several years, the condom and diaphragm are only used when having intercourse. They are generally well tolerated, but some women (and men) are allergic to spermicide and should not use the diaphragm as it is always to be used with spermicide.
Some women use the "Fertility Awareness Method"/"Natural Family Planning"/"Sympto-Thermal Method" to learn when they are fertile and when they are not (and can have unprotected sex without worrying about getting pregnant). If you want more information about this method i recommend the book "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" by Toni Weschler. Many women don't have the time or interest to learn this method and invest in a fertility monitor instead, which is a good idea anyways, as most of the monitors are very reliable if used correctly. I myself have tried the Persona monitor (http://www.birthcontrol.com/product_info.php?cPath=23&products_id=51 and http://www.persona.info/) and am currently using the Ladycomp (http://www.babycomp-ladycomp.com/en/ and http://cat-box.net/helen/ladycomp) and
highly recommend both of them. You can read about the devices on the Internet sites, if you have any further questions about anything don't be afraid to contact me again :-)
Celine
