Welcome

Hello Blog Followers,

My name is Rachael, and I am a 23 year old woman in long-term relationship with a male partner. We currently live together in downtown Toronto, and have been busy setting up our new apartment and getting connected to our community.

For many years, hormonal contraceptives were my method of birth control. From the ages of 16 to 19, I used two varieties of birth control pills, including Alesse 21 and Yasmin. I began using the Nuva Ring for a period of two and a half years, from the age of 20 to 22.

I took a break from relationships, and decided that it was time for me to revisit my decision to continue my hormonal contraceptive use. For nearly a year, I have been off of hormonal contraceptives, and relying entirely on the proper and diligent use of condoms. My partner and I have been discussing alternatives and additions to our current birth control practice, and decidedly we are both happier with me not having to take hormones. Our search for a non-hormonal based efficient method of birth control as lead us to the Copper 'T' intrauterine device (IUD).

The Copper 'T' is a non-hormonal IUD that is inserted through the vaginal canal, and into the uterus through a simple procedure that takes only a few minutes, and can be performed at a sexual health clinical or an OB/GYNO office. Here is a link that can provide you with further details and research about the Copper 'T'.
http://www.arhp.org/Publications-and-Resources/Patient-Resources/Fact-Sheets/Copper-T-IUD

Tonight I am preparing myself mentally and emotionally for the procedure, which will take place tomorrow afternoon. My partner and I are visiting the Jane and Bloor Street Sexual Health Clinic together for the insertion appointment. I have been researching this process, the side effects, and the popularity of the Copper 'T' for months, and with my partners support I have decided to give the Copper 'T' a try.

I will be updating this blog frequently with hopes that my blogged experiences can educate and mentor other women and their partners who are seeking alternatives to hormonal contraceptive choices. I will be blogging daily for the first 2 weeks, and during my first menstrual cycle with the Copper 'T' in place. I will continue the blog for 3 months, just to give the most comprehensive view I can of my personal experience. Please check back regularly to see my updates as my experience continues.

Thank you for following,
Rachael