The patch always freaked me out, although not as badly as the depo shot. Because i'm taking mine more for emotional/hormonal/cyclical reasons than for actual birth control, I decided to go on the pill. It seems like it's probably a lot better for one's body, and I was upset over needing to take synthetic hormones at all, so it was the only thing I could be convinced to take.

However, it's very easy to forget to take the pill each morning. But since you'll be using a back-up form of birth control, I don't think that'll be an outrageous concern. Another thing about the patch: one of my mom's friends tried it, but after she pulled off the first one she swore she would never, ever use them again. apparently it's pretty painful to yank the adhesive patch off.

-rachel

Nuvaring! Less than 1/2 the hormones of the pill, and like, 1/3 of the patch. it's so easy!

The most effective form of birth control, next to have a tubal ligation, is an iud.


An iud is non hormonal, reversible, and is good for up to 10 years.

I have had the pill, patch, and shot.

Pill - I took ortho novum for 5 months. I took it at night and wake up in the middle of the night and the room would be spinning, sometimes I would throw up because I was so dizzy. Other times in the morning I would be nauseous and throw up. Many times I tried to go to work hoping it would get better and I would get sent home. Not a good experience. Other than the nausea I had no other side effects. It was hard for me to remember it every day though.

Patch - I switched to this from the pill. Much easier to remember only once a week. I was on it for about seven months before my health insurance ran out. Twice though it became stuck to my skirt/underwear mid week (i wore it on my butt) and once that happens you have to take it off. Sometimes it would shift also and it would have a sticky edge around the patch, I always wondered if it was still 100% effective that way. I had a bit of nausea like sometimes car sickness, nothing as bad as the pill though.

Depo shot - I love the shot! I have been on it for over a year now. Every three months I get a shot in my arm and no period! As long you go for your appointment every three months it is easy. I have had no side effects. When you first start it you may have some spotting between shots. I think it is the most user effective I read because it is a lot harder for the person using it to screw it up (like forgeting to take a pill at the right time.)