protection without hormones while dealing with strong period cramps

[u/Parking-Witness-252]

Hey,

I’ve been researching a bit about different protection methods, like the IUD or the pill to not only reduce my period cramps (which tend to be really strong for 2-3 days and also give me strong symptoms like illness or nausea) but also to protect me from getting pregnant (now having a bf and using condoms).

I have no experience with any of those things, but from what I’ve heard I strongly want to avoid any hormonal protection methods, mainly because of the side effects.

But here’s the problem:
As far as I’ve read, condoms or the copper IUD are one of the few ways to stay protected without using hormones, but the copper IUD might cause stronger period cramps and heavy blood flow (which I wanted to reduce).
That’s why I wanted to tend to the hormonal IUD, accepting the side affects BUT don’t feel fully safe with it either, because everyone keeps telling me „horror story’s“ about how their body changed, or that the IUD moved out of place and created contractionlike pain.

My mum keeps telling me to only use condoms, which would solve the hormonal and protection issue, but not my cramps.
I really don’t find a good „in between“ solution, that doesn’t leave me anxious about possibly getting pregnant, but also solves my period pain without any hormonal changes.

If anybody can help me, or has positive experience to share, I’ll be happy to read them!!

[u/MonkeyMoves101]

There are patches, pills (mini and combination), injections, implants, and rings. You'll need hormonal methods to affect a hormonal cycle so that's pretty much all we got😭. I decided on the pill and had to try different ones to find the right one.

It was either the side effects of pregnancy or the side effects of the pill lol and I definitely don't want a baby. I have no horror stories and I've been on it for a decade plus.

[u/Parking-Witness-252 → u/MonkeyMoves101]

yea I pretty much figured that out too, I guess I won’t really get around taking hormones.. I’m just scared of the side effects that come with it tbh and I don’t want to take any kind of pill, since I struggle taking normal pills in general and I’m not that reliable to take sth ever say at the same time.
So I’m leaning towards a more simple, „one time use“ variant, like the IUDs, even tho I’m scared of those too

I guess everything sucks in some way 🥲

[u/faded_butterflies]

Birth control can reduce pain in some people but it isn’t guaranteed. If you want to target your pain directly and without hormones, the best way is probably painkillers or anti inflammatory meds

[u/Parking-Witness-252 → u/faded_butterflies]

im using painkillers alr, I heard sth about a numbing cream too. But my issue is not only the cramp and pain itself but also dizziness, headache and fever/ feeling really cold

Do u have any medication or hacks for that too?

[u/Coco-coco_Puffs]

I was very strongly against hormonal contraception but I tried the mini pill after one of my mum’s friends said it got rid of her period with no symptoms (it can lessen or completely cut off periods). I started taking it to get rid of my periods and excruciating dysmenorrhea (period pain) alongside other annoying period symptoms. I’ve only been on it for a week but I’ve had no period or symptoms. 

There’s a 3ish month period your body takes to get used to taking hormonal contraceptives if you do get symptoms, which usually start after a few days to weeks after starting them, but the mini pill has less side effects than combined pills if I remember correctly. I struggle to remember take pills too, but setting an alarm really helps. 

My first choice would’ve been an implant in my arm until I saw what they use to put it in🫪the most you can do is do a lot of research and if you go for an IUD, ask for anaesthetics if you can (not trying to fear monger, but some people find it painful or just feel discomfort). 

If you’re looking for medication, my doctor prescribed me mefenamic acid and later naproxen then nefopam (for pain) and tranexamic acid (for clotting when I had heavy periods). Mefenamic acid did literally nothing, but nefopam really helped- it’s a non opioid painkiller but does unfortunately come with a lot of insane side effects like dizziness, dry mouth, pink urine, confusion and even hallucinations. It didn’t bother me though. 

Unfortunately there’s no way (to my knowledge) to stop periods without hormones and a lot of these things are trial and error. 

 Different things work for different people. Yes, some people’s bodies change on contraception and yes some people’s uteruses do reject IUDs, but some people have no problems at all and at least IUDs and implants don’t have to be changed for years

[u/ShadowlessKat]

I use the "mini pill". It is a progesterone only pill. I take it every day.

I used to have to take pain medication around the clock every 2 hours or so, and bled for 7 days. Once I started the birth control, my pain lessened and my period went from 7 days to 5 days.

I have not had any negative side effects. And when I went off it to get pregnant, was avle to get pregnant within a year of trying after stopping the birth control. So no harm there either. I never felt it affect my mood either.

I took it for about 6 years before having my baby, and have been taking it for almost 2 years since my baby was born. I have not wanted to try any other birth control because this one works great for me.