In November 2004, my husband I and decided to try to have a third child. But instead of getting pregnant, I got breast cancer. And with the aggressive treatment I would receive -- surgery, dose-dense chemotherapy, radiation, and Herceptin therapy -- becoming pregnant was not an option. Birth control became my only option -- an option that has many limits for premenopausal women surviving breast cancer.

Many forms of birth control contain hormones -- the pill, the patch, the vaginal ring, injectables, implants, and one type of IUD that releases progesterone. That leaves condoms, spermicides, diaphragms, cervical caps, one type of IUD that does not release progesterone, and sterilization as the methods that do not release hormones. For me, condoms and spermicides are not dependable enough, the cervical cap and diaphragm are made from latex -- an allergy of mine -- and I do not wish to sterilize my husband or me at this time. So that leaves one option for me for preventing pregnancy -- the IUD that releases copper instead of a hormone. The ParaGard Copper T 380 A can stay in place for 10 years, has a less than 1 percent failure rate, is ready for use immediately after inserted by a doctor, and is considered the only long-lasting, reversible, hormone-free birth control method on the market.

Some breast cancer tumors are fueled by the hormones estrogen and progesterone -- the same hormones that are released by some forms of birth control. While studies have not proved a definite strong link between breast cancer and the use of hormone-releasing birth control, my doctors recommend avoiding any hormonal treatment. And it brings me peace of mind to take their advice.

So my only option -- the copper IUD -- is what I now use for birth control. And it has proved to be a good only option. I have had no side effects -- although some people may experience side effects -- and I've had no problems and no pregnancies. My only option works well for me. Thankfully.