I have mentioned previously that my IUD is not really working for me lately. I seem to be having a lot of side effects that may or may not be attributed to the hormones in the IUD. My skin has been awful lately as well as my mood. Add in the frequent, irritating periods and I’m just about ready to have this thing out.

I actually had a friend ask at her doctor’s appointment (we go to the same doc) if they could do such a thing at say an annual exam, you know cause they are gonna be poking around down there anyway. The answer was no. :| I’d have to make a separate appointment to have the IUD removed. Ugh. Although my husband did offer to remove it (um, yikes!) I have made an appointment for late next month.

Now my dilemma is this, what sort of birth control am I going to use in the meantime because we are so not ready to have another child right now. Prior to getting pregnant I was on the pill for 12 years and I have been researching different pill options now that I am no longer breastfeeding. The more I read the less I am inclined to want any sort of hormonal birth control. It might be time to let my body do it’s own thing and see what happens.

I’ve been racking my brain trying to determine the most appropriate form of non-hormonal birth control that would work for us. I guess I’m getting old and lazy because everything just seems like such a hassle. Of course there are condoms but I don’t consider that an option for us. Just never has been really.

So far I’ve looked at various spermicides in different forms. We briefly used the gel in between birth control and really trying to conceive and it was ok I suppose. These things can be messy and they do throw spontaneity out the window. Although with a 14 month old in the house that’s pretty much gone anyway.

I also heard that the Today Sponge was back on the market too. I know at one time that thing was all the rage in contraception. After looking at the site I’m not sure, it looks like a big ole hassle as well. What’s a girl to do?

Of course I asked my husband’s opinion and he said I should do what works best for me. Which I suppose was his way of saying he was fine with me going off any sort of hormonal birth control. Part of me wants a little more participation in the decision rather than it being all up to me. However since condoms aren’t really an option for either of us and we do want to have more children one day it is sort of left up to me by default.

Any one have any suggestions? Stories or experiences with hormonal or non-hormonal birth control options—you know logistical stories, not the other kind. :P

On a side note, did you know that Plan B is available without a prescription if you are over 17. I found this to be surprising.