I believe Implanon is much like Norplant: a sub-dermal rod-shaped hormone delivery system.

Shaw, I was told that the hormones in the IUD are local only, they don't go into your bloodstream. But I've also heard you're not supposed to get one with a history of endometriosis, so I don't know.

And yes, my cramps are gone--but more importantly the rampant sobbing for no reason is gone--and I haven't had a real period since getting it, but I have had pretty regular spotting. They say that should taper off in awhile.

Thanks for the info! I've been looking into getting one. The spotting thing worried me too. And the pain. I don't want pain in my hoo-hoo. Seems like a fair trade-off from what you're saying, though.

Maybe the solution is birth control for teenage boys. As in, copious amounts of free and accessible condoms, and education and enforcement to go with it.

No glove no love.

Why have there not been advances made in medicine FOR boy birth control, now that you brought it up? It might mess with their spermies, probably, and spermies are worth EVERYTHING to manhood: don't wanna mess with the ability to get someone pregnant until it is their choice, their decision.

Hmmm...choice.

[/yetanothersnidecommentabouttheworldofmenz]

It stopped my periods completely. I've had two episodes of ultra-light spotting since I got it in Feb. 2007. That's it. No cramps to speak of.

Endometriosis: it appears that Mirena is prescribed for exactly that condition, Shaw.
I believe the systemic risks for smokers are slightly reduced since Mirena is levonorgestrel-only (a synthetic progesterone), but IANAMD. It's still listed as a contra-indication on some web sites; check with your ob/gyn.

If I were you, I'd definitely follow up on this. Good luck!

Thanks so much! I really appreciate your input, ladies, and pie's research! :)

To jump to the defense of the boy-population, messing with sperm is far more dangerous in case of failure. You wouldn't want a misshapen sperm to fertilize an ova -- birth defects galore. On the female side, the eggs are already produced so there isn't an issue with fabrication of gametes, just delivery of same to the fallopian tubes.

Oh, OK. (shuffles feet and looks at floor)

I'll let the guys slide on this one. I didn't know any of that. :blush: Sorry.

:) it's all good. But I've seen something about installing on/off valves in the vas deferens -- that might do the trick! Any of you men want to sign up for my clinical trial? <evil cackle>

Huh. There is stuff in the pipeline (if you'll excuse the pun). Problem's still in the funding and testing.

FTR - free condoms are readily available in the UK. As are all forms of (female) contraception.
We have one of the highest teen pregnancy rates in Europe.

Education, education, education.
And a rubbishing of the idea that pregnancy is God's will.
But that's my prejudice coming out.

yet...
Hmm - is there some correlation there?

No.

Doubt it. Just because contraception is freely available doesn't mean youngsters take up that offer. As Sundae said: education, education, education.

I found it very frustrating when I was a committee member on the Children and Young People's scrutiny panel in council, that whilst the government had put money into creating a curriculum for sex health education, it was optional for the school's as to whether they took it up and optional for the parents whether their children attended. Consequently none of the church schools opted to take that option. One of the areas (my ward) of our borough had one of the worst teenage conception rates in the country. Two of the main secondary(high) schools in that area were church schools, one CofE and one Catholic. They pointblank refused to take on board the sex education curriculum for their kids.

Another problem in our schools is that even where they do have sex education, it's rarely a specialist teacher. usually it's a teacher of a different subject (often the gym teacher) who gets drafted in (or volunteers) to do a few sessions. So, even where schools have considered it important enough to teach, it doesn't carry the same expertise as any other subject. In reality it requires expertise and a greater level of sensitivity than most other subjects in order to be in any way effective.

Even with all those factors taken care of, and a school with a trained teacher delivering a well-designed curriculum: that doesn't solve the many different cultural problems which may be at play. Unsurprisingly, whilst teenaged conception is not exclusively a problem for the poor, there are much higher levels in areas of high deprivation. Then of course you get into the vicious cycle: the children of teenagers are far more likely to grow up and become teenaged parents themselves, than the children of older parents.

It's a very complex issue. Education is one element. Economics, and culture also play a role. As indeed do parenting skills, but there we're back into the cycle again.

It's entirely erroneous to point to the fact we have free contraception and suggest that as a reason for teenagers getting pregnant. We have free contraception everywhere in the country: but high teenaged conception rates occur in hotspots, not across the whole country, and not across whole towns.