Birth Control and 12 Hour Shifts

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I'm currently on the pill and start my new grad residency in about a month. I've been on the pill for almost 6 years and I love it, but I want to switch to something that I don't have to take every day because I will be doing day/night rotations every 6 weeks and I'm not sure I can continue to stay on the pill and take it at the same time consistently. I am wondering what other birth control methods work for other nurses. I would like to stay on my current cycle of only having a period every 3 months. My doctor recommended nuvaring, IUD, or implanon. I asked her if I could try the patch, but she said I would need to lose about 60 pounds first. I'm working on the weight loss.

What birth control methods do you currently use or what would you recommended for a busy nurse.

Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
8 hours ago, Davey Do said:

I had a vasectomy

5 hours ago, Luchador said:

My vasectomy

Chest bump, dude!

What say we go over to the Men in Nursing forum, have a few beers, and share our stories?

Fact is, (heh heh heh) do you know how a guy with a vasectomy is like a Sunkist orange?

3 hours ago, Davey Do said:

Chest bump, dude!

What say we go over to the Men in Nursing forum, have a few beers, and share our stories?

Fact is, (heh heh heh) do you know how a guy with a vasectomy is like a Sunkist orange?

No, tell me!

I will say one thing. The recovery is a lot worse than they make it out to be. Ouch.

Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
Just now, Luchador said:

No, tell me!

I will say one thing. The recovery is a lot worse than they make it out to be. Ouch.

A bag of frozen peas on my crotch was my friend that day, I'll tell ya for sure, amigo!

A guy with a vasectomy and a Sunkist orange have this in common:

All juice and no seeds!

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

10 hours ago, hherrn said:

From the post title, I though you were referring to 12 hour shifts as a form of birth control.

I thought the same thing

Specializes in Tele, ICU, Staff Development.

Nurse to patient after vasectomy "You can apply a bag of frozen peas to the area when you get home."

Patient "But I don't like peas."

24 minutes ago, Nurse Beth said:

Nurse to patient after vasectomy "You can apply a bag of frozen peas to the area when you get home."

Patient "But I don't like peas."

I'm always mortified by the stupid crap I say once they dope me up. I don't remember (versed), but apparently I asked the nurse about alteration in discharge quantity etc. Ack!

Specializes in Dialysis.

I have had the Nexplanon for 3 years. After the initial adjustment phase, I only have maybe one period a year. Like all other meds it has its side effects but never forgetting a pill, no monthly trips to the pharmacy and few to no periods are totally worth it.

Specializes in Fertility, OBGYN, GYN ONC.

@LostMyPen,RN how long did you have irregular periods before you started only having one. Is the one around the same time every year? Is it predictable when you’ll bleed?

Specializes in Med-Surg, Geriatrics, Wound Care.
13 hours ago, sillymu said:

Also I don’t have kids yet. Does the insertion of the IUD hurt? I’ve heard horror stories.

The first time, I think I had a vagal reaction when it went into the cervix. A little crampy, a some cold sweats, almost fainted. Maybe hurt a little. The pain was temporary. Took a few minutes for the vagal response to calm down. Second time was fine. A little pain, but not long lasting.

I would try the Nuvaring. It's a combination contraceptive and you'll get the bleeding predictability you are enjoying now. It's perfect for suppression. My patients are a huge fan.

I love my nuvarings. Super convenient. I'd never go back to having to remember to pop pills at a certain time.

Specializes in Fertility, OBGYN, GYN ONC.

@Jory what is your opinion of the patch?

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