Post by lexgirl on Jul 15, 2009 21:56:55 GMT -5
I was very sure by the time I was about 10 that I never wanted to bear children. This was very acceptable in my family because my single mom encouraged my sister and me to pursue education, career, travel, financial stability, and independence instead of kids and marriage. 
I have a background in nutrition and natural medicine and spend a lot of time doing medical research.
This is my thinking regarding birth control for myself:
No synthetic hormones.
Reason: There are many risks associated with them (cancers, depression, high homocysteine, low libido) and because I have tried the lowest birth control pill on the market and it gave me severe migraines.
No diaphram/cervical cap.
Reason: Only works with spermicide which is irritating, increases the risk of STIs, and contains a xenoestrogen (nonoxynol-9) which has been shown to penetrate the vaginal tissue and act as an estrogen once in the body (potentially causing reproductive cancers or other problems).
No copper IUD.
Reason: Copper is a somewhat toxic metal and causes the production of free radicals which damage the surrounding tissue and cause a measurable increase in malondialdehyde (a marker of free radical damage). Could also move once inside, tearing the tissues. Has plastic parts which may leach estrogenic plastic chemicals (bisphenol A, phthalates, nonylphenol,) causing cancer or reproductive problems. I don't like the idea of a foreign object in my body.
No Essure.
Reason: Same as above: plastic and foreign object objections. Also contains nickle, a harmful metal. They make you get an x-ray of your abdomen, and there is no safe level of radiation. I don't need massive DNA damage to my reproductive organs, thank you.
No female condom.
Reason: It's like having sex with a plastic bag.
Yes and no to male condoms...
Reason: Condoms are great protection from almost anything, but they are a pain. I'm in a long-term relationship and my boyfriend and I would really rather not use them. And sometimes we risk it and don't. But I don't want to have to worry about getting pregnant! I want something permanent!
Yes and no to bioidentical progesterone cream...
I have used this before in really high doses (over the counter) to fool my body into thinking it's pregnant (this is how synthetic progestins work). You don't ovulate, so you don't get pregnant. The research indicates that there is protection against many diseases from high natural progesterone levels (as seen in pregnancy). I have felt safer using the natural form over a patented prescription one with a different chemical structure than the human body has ever encountered. It doesn't give me migraines, but has not been side-effect free. It is also very expensive in the dose needed. And of course there may be many risks with this, it is somewhat uncharted territory, it is still hormonal, and it is at my own risk. So I don't want to use this method.
No to vasectomy... for now?
I've encouraged EVERY guy I've ever been with to get a vasectomy. Most of them could even get it done free from Planned Parenthood because they are low income. Many of my boyfriends have expressed interest, but none have actually gone through with it. Somehow birth control always seems to end up being seen as the woman's responsibility and this bothers me so much! But it is their bodies and I cannot force them to do anything with them.
Yes to a tubal ligation...
This is what I want. Just snip it. No hormones. No hormone-like chemicals. No foreign objects. Seems the most natural and permanent to me.
I finally got health insurance through my school. It's the first time I can ever remember having health insurance. I immediately went to a school clinic, said I wanted to be sterilized, and they were very supportive. Got a referral, saw an ob-gyn, they approved it, got an appointment for the surgery. I told all my friends and family, and scheduled time off work. I was so excited! I was even going to get a copy of the video from the mini camera inside me! ;D
Everything I saw online said the surgery would cost about $1,500-$4000 or so. And since I was having local anesthesia, I knew it would be cheaper. But I couldn't get my doctor's office to get back with me about the costs...
The day before the procedure, they dropped the bombshell. The surgery would average about $13,000 (and could not be much less than that because of the $10,000 required hospital fee), and could be as high as $28,000.
I sobbed.
My insurance would cover a substantial part of it, but would still leave me paying thousands of dollars. Since I was only working once a week, already had loans out to pay for school, and no savings, this was impossible. I canceled the procedure.
So I am back to square one. I have no money to pay for the procedure, but I want it so badly! I just don't want to worry about pregnancy or birth control ever again. I don't qualify for Medi-Cal (CA Medicaid) because I am smart enough not to have kids or be pregnant! And I have this private insurance which is not doing me any good since I still can't afford medical care.
If anyone has any tips or experiences to share, please do. Are all tubal ligations that expensive or was the hospital trying to rip me off? Any way I could get the government to sterilize this poor person? I am so frustrated by what's out there! I really wish this was easier. It would benefit society so much to make it easier to prevent unwanted children and let women take care of their bodies in a healthy way. I figured the people on this list might understand my story.
I have a background in nutrition and natural medicine and spend a lot of time doing medical research.
This is my thinking regarding birth control for myself:
No synthetic hormones.
Reason: There are many risks associated with them (cancers, depression, high homocysteine, low libido) and because I have tried the lowest birth control pill on the market and it gave me severe migraines.
No diaphram/cervical cap.
Reason: Only works with spermicide which is irritating, increases the risk of STIs, and contains a xenoestrogen (nonoxynol-9) which has been shown to penetrate the vaginal tissue and act as an estrogen once in the body (potentially causing reproductive cancers or other problems).
No copper IUD.
Reason: Copper is a somewhat toxic metal and causes the production of free radicals which damage the surrounding tissue and cause a measurable increase in malondialdehyde (a marker of free radical damage). Could also move once inside, tearing the tissues. Has plastic parts which may leach estrogenic plastic chemicals (bisphenol A, phthalates, nonylphenol,) causing cancer or reproductive problems. I don't like the idea of a foreign object in my body.
No Essure.
Reason: Same as above: plastic and foreign object objections. Also contains nickle, a harmful metal. They make you get an x-ray of your abdomen, and there is no safe level of radiation. I don't need massive DNA damage to my reproductive organs, thank you.
No female condom.
Reason: It's like having sex with a plastic bag.
Yes and no to male condoms...
Reason: Condoms are great protection from almost anything, but they are a pain. I'm in a long-term relationship and my boyfriend and I would really rather not use them. And sometimes we risk it and don't. But I don't want to have to worry about getting pregnant! I want something permanent!
Yes and no to bioidentical progesterone cream...
I have used this before in really high doses (over the counter) to fool my body into thinking it's pregnant (this is how synthetic progestins work). You don't ovulate, so you don't get pregnant. The research indicates that there is protection against many diseases from high natural progesterone levels (as seen in pregnancy). I have felt safer using the natural form over a patented prescription one with a different chemical structure than the human body has ever encountered. It doesn't give me migraines, but has not been side-effect free. It is also very expensive in the dose needed. And of course there may be many risks with this, it is somewhat uncharted territory, it is still hormonal, and it is at my own risk. So I don't want to use this method.
No to vasectomy... for now?
I've encouraged EVERY guy I've ever been with to get a vasectomy. Most of them could even get it done free from Planned Parenthood because they are low income. Many of my boyfriends have expressed interest, but none have actually gone through with it. Somehow birth control always seems to end up being seen as the woman's responsibility and this bothers me so much! But it is their bodies and I cannot force them to do anything with them.
Yes to a tubal ligation...
This is what I want. Just snip it. No hormones. No hormone-like chemicals. No foreign objects. Seems the most natural and permanent to me.
I finally got health insurance through my school. It's the first time I can ever remember having health insurance. I immediately went to a school clinic, said I wanted to be sterilized, and they were very supportive. Got a referral, saw an ob-gyn, they approved it, got an appointment for the surgery. I told all my friends and family, and scheduled time off work. I was so excited! I was even going to get a copy of the video from the mini camera inside me! ;D
Everything I saw online said the surgery would cost about $1,500-$4000 or so. And since I was having local anesthesia, I knew it would be cheaper. But I couldn't get my doctor's office to get back with me about the costs...
The day before the procedure, they dropped the bombshell. The surgery would average about $13,000 (and could not be much less than that because of the $10,000 required hospital fee), and could be as high as $28,000.
I sobbed.
My insurance would cover a substantial part of it, but would still leave me paying thousands of dollars. Since I was only working once a week, already had loans out to pay for school, and no savings, this was impossible. I canceled the procedure.
So I am back to square one. I have no money to pay for the procedure, but I want it so badly! I just don't want to worry about pregnancy or birth control ever again. I don't qualify for Medi-Cal (CA Medicaid) because I am smart enough not to have kids or be pregnant! And I have this private insurance which is not doing me any good since I still can't afford medical care.
If anyone has any tips or experiences to share, please do. Are all tubal ligations that expensive or was the hospital trying to rip me off? Any way I could get the government to sterilize this poor person? I am so frustrated by what's out there! I really wish this was easier. It would benefit society so much to make it easier to prevent unwanted children and let women take care of their bodies in a healthy way. I figured the people on this list might understand my story.
