I used an IUD for two years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intrauterine_device

There are two basic types of IUD.

I had the Copper T which is a soft plastic T shape with copper wrapped around it. It is effective immediately on insertion. It does two things to prevent pregnancy. First, it causes a foreign-body reaction, making your body release white blood cells that kill sperm and egg cells, and also changes the PH of your uterus so that sperm is killed. Second, it acts as an obstruction inside the uterus so that if an egg is fertilized it can not implant. This type of IUD has a failure rate of %.6 over one year of use.

The other type of IUD is hormone releasing, usually the Mirena. The failure rate is %0.7 over five years. Read about it here:

http://www.medic8.com/healthguide/ar...mirenaiud.html

The downfall of the Copper T for me was that it can cause more bleeding, so irregular periods and spotting at odd times. The great thing about an IUD is that once it is in, you almost never have to think about it again. It's good to check once a month that you can still feel the string at the tip of your cervix.

The Mirena I haven't tried. But because the release of hormones is not systemic, as it would be with the pill, it is unlikely that you would have any unwanted side effects. The one side effect that some women enjoy is lighter periods, fewer periods, or no periods at all.

Putting the IUD in hurt a lot for me, but it doesn't for everyone. It's really dependent on how relaxed you are, whether the doctor offers you a pain killer beforehand, and whether you have ever given birth. They have to stretch your cervix open to put it in and that is the part that hurt for me. But it was over quickly.

The failure rate of condoms over one year is %3 if used perfectly, (ie. properly placed and not slipping off, with room in the tip, withdrawn and removed directly after ejaculation, does not break), and %14 when use is "statistically typical". So please, don't let this be your only method of birth control if you are going to be having sex regularly.

Diaphragms are less effective than condoms, so I wouldn't bother.

The combination hormone pill is still the most effective form of birth control, statistically, if used perfectly (ie. never miss a pill, use caution with antibiotics), with a failure rate of %0.1 over one year of use. Personally I am happy with it, as long as I am properly medicated I remain with a balanced mood, and have light and regular periods. It is nice to know exactly when your period is coming. If you have issues with side effects or forgetting, an IUD would be your best option.

Another option is the Depo-Provera injection, which you would get every three months.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depo-Provera

It can have the same side effects, or worse, than the pill, and once you've got it you can't change your mind - whatever happens will happen for three months.

Talk to your gynecologist about these options.

Good luck