So I've finally decided that I need a serious change in my birth control. I've been on the ring for about a year now and up until the last few months I've really enjoyed it. It has one serious drawback. I thought that the increase in breast size would even out after a while but it hasn't. This really only came to a head when I found out I'm the same bra size as my mother. This shit has got to stop.
Now I'm trying to find out more information about non-hormonal birth control options. I've read up on IUD's a bit and it seems a fairly reliable method of birth control. Are there any ladies on totse who have experience with this method? Good, bad, etc. I just really need someone's firsthand experiences with it.

Condom.

I'm male so I don't know if I can be much help except to say from my experience it seems to be one of those things women either love and refuse to use anything else or they hate and have great problems with.

For a long time it was considered a form of abortion although I believe modern studies have disproved this.

There does seem to be a risk of infection (anecdotal at least).

For a long time it was considered a form of abortion although I believe modern studies have disproved this.Depends on who you ask.

Science says that it causes the uterus to release a bunch of white blood cells and hormones that, for lack of a better word, rape any incoming eggs and sperm, preventing fertilization.

But a lot of pro-lifers basically say "Nuh-uh! It scrapes teh babies from the walls!!!1!"

So, if you believe in science and empirical data, it is a contraceptive. If you believe the guy with the dead fetus printed on his t-shirt and a pipe bomb in his hand, it's an abortificant (sp?), and you should probably be wearing a helmet and drool cloth.

Depends on who you ask.

Science says that it causes the uterus to release a bunch of white blood cells and hormones that, for lack of a better word, rape any incoming eggs and sperm, preventing fertilization.

But a lot of pro-lifers basically say "Nuh-uh! It scrapes teh babies from the walls!!!1!"

So, if you believe in science and empirical data, it is a contraceptive. If you believe the guy with the dead fetus printed on his t-shirt and a pipe bomb in his hand, it's an abortificant (sp?), and you should probably be wearing a helmet and drool cloth.

Well I am the guy with the dead baby t-shirt and the pipe bomb (although these days I 'd rather just fund the guy with the t-shirt cos I'm too old for Direct Action). And as far as I can see the evidence is that it isn't a form of abortion.
[/hijack]

Well I am the guy with the dead baby t-shirt and the pipe bombThat's why I threw that in the description :D And as far as I can see the evidence is that it isn't a form of abortion.
[/hijack]But you're a (somewhat ;)) rational person. Unfortunately, there are a lot of complete idiots who still think an IUD scrapes babies out of the uterine lining.

That's why I threw that in the description :D But you're a (somewhat ;)) rational person. Unfortunately, there are a lot of complete idiots who still think an IUD scrapes babies out of the uterine lining.

I used to think that too until someone here pointed out that my knowledge was about 10 years behind the times.

We were even taught that it was a form of abortion in Sex Ed at school (circa 1883)!

There are as many 'blind' fanatics on the Pro-Choice side of the divide too, mind.

i don't use hormonal birth control either. i just use condoms or the sponge. you could also get a diaphgram (sp?). those are the only options i can think of besides getting your tubes tied.

from what i've heard, it hurts like a bitch to have the iud put in, and you're sore for a few days-a week afterwards, and there's the risk of it puncturing something. i wouldn't risk it.

Whats wrong with enlarged breasts?

As long as they aint saggy I see no problem.

The last female of my acquaintance who had an IUD implanted found the procedure to be so painful that she threw up during the process. Removing it was just as bad. Since the only real reason to use an IUD is so you can have unprotected sex without getting pregnant, I have to question why a young female would consider it unless they are in a truly monogynous relationship. There's a lot of bad stuff floating around out there now. But, to revisit your question: it's going to hurt like a bitch.

I'm 21 and I've been in a monogamous relationship for over a year, which by all means isn't that long, but I believe I'm of age enough to not be considered one of the younger teens for which an IUD, I've heard, can have detrimental heath effects.
I suppose it can't hurt worse than a pap smear or a colposcopy though. They recommend you take a few painkillers before you go in and prepare someone to drive you home afterwards.
The only aspect I'm actually worried about is the risk of puncture which they say can damage internal organs. Does anyone know how common this is?
Someone also mentioned a diaphram, however any method of birthcontrol with a 14-16% failure rate isn't a method I'm particularly interested in.