IUD questions

NoaHicks6610

I am thinking about getting an IUD put in but I have some questions. I have a history of weight gain on some birth controls (depo mostly). I am also hung up on the hormones vs. non-hormone option. It is a little concerning putting a piece of copper in your uterus. Especially if you plan on using it later! Of course, there are the "did it hurt," and "how long to heal" type questions.

 Any of you have suggestions for me? Share your experiences.  

PixieChinchilla

If you're looking into the IUD, but are worried about the placement, I would suggest looking into Implanon, which is the implant that goes in your arm. That's what I have, and I know quite a few other people who have it as well. It lasts for three years rather than five, but it goes in your arm, which is nice.

monkeygirl18

I have the Paragard (copper) and love it. I've had it 2yrs next month. Only side effects: heavier periods and more cramps. Although, I was always pron to cramps and some months I have them and some I don't (this month I did not).My period is very light on day 1 (sometimes I don't even need a tampon), days 2 and 3 are really heavy (super plus tampon every 4hrs) day 4 is normal flow and day 5 is either normal flow or very light and I don't even need a tampon.

As far as healing time: none. We would have been able to have sex that night. We didn't but only 'cause I was to tired from working all day. The day after I had it inserted I did my normal hr. workout and ran errands all day long. I had not spotting and very minimal cramps after insertion and the next day. 

As far as pain: ehhh...little prick,little cramp,medium cramp, big owwww...cramp and done. Literally took 5min to insert. That's coming from someone who has never had children. 

I would strongly like pps have said recommend speaking with you Dr. first and having he/she answer your questions. 

klottes

I have the copper IUD which is good for 10 years and has no hormones.  Have you talked to your Dr. about getting and IUD.  Some won't do it for women who have not had children.  My old gyno suggested it because after almost 6 years on the pill I experienced extreme decline in my libido and was limited on what pill I could take because of hypothyroidism.  My new gyno does not like that I have an IUD because I have not had any children and is trying everything possible to get me to have him remove it (he has even used the "you WILL puncture your uterus" tactic).  With that said, my experience with an IUD....having it inserted was painful. I have an extremely high tolerance for pain and I was crying (but I would do it again).  The first 2-4 weeks I had pretty bad cramping and heavy bleeding. After that, it has been a breeze and is 1000 times better than being on the pill.  My only complaint is that my periods are longer, heavier, and I cramp more, but that is comparing to when I was on the pill... I don't really remember how I was before I got on the pill.

zelda25

I have Paragard (copper IUD); I got it almost a year ago.  It's not like they're just shoving a copper wire up into your uterus; it's a teeny tiny copper wire securely wrapped around the IUD piece (which is plastic).  Copper is not bad for you--you actually need copper much like you need iron and vitamins, so this is not a bad thing, unless you have Wilson's Disease--which you would know by now.  I chose Paragard because after nearly 20 years of hormonal birth control, I was completely done with hormonal options.

Insertion was no problem, although my dr. gave me a local anesthetic beforehand, which I understand from the boards is uncommon.  Whether you get Paragard or Mirena, doctors typically prefer to do insertion while you're on your period because the cervix is softer and insertion easier during that time.  I'd taken 4 Aleve before insertion, per dr.'s instructions, so I had zero pain after insertion; I went to work afterward and carried on with my day as normal.

My periods are heavier since I got it, although not as bad as the first few months, and it's shorter now.  Cramps are a little worse and go on longer, but Aleve takes care of that very nicely. 

jengii

I have a Mirena and had a similar experience to MonkeyGirl. I've had mine for almost 4 years now and I lo-o-ove it.

I'd had issues with hormones, too, of the batshit-crazy-mood-swing variety (it was the worst on depo). I was on the patch, too, which constantly made me itchy and did not mix well with my asthma (landed me in the ER once, although they never told me *exactly* what happened, just that it was related to the patch). The Mirena is the hormonal option among the two IUDs, but the doses it puts out are so low, that you don't get the same effect you do when you're on the pill or the patch. I was concerned about the copper version, too, but when my doctor informed me of this, I was all about the Mirena.

I love not having to think about it. My periods have always been light/irregular; with the Mirena, I get them maybe twice a year, and they last two days tops. I don't think I've gained weight due to the Mirena, although I've gained weight the last few years just by eating like an *** and not working out. ;p

 The insertion was pretty uncomfortable, maybe a notch or two above intense menstrual cramps. But they only last a few seconds... once it's in and your doctor pulls all of the tools out of you, you're back to normal. It is different for all women... some cramp for a few hours after, some a few days, some months... but the beautiful thing is, if it's really a bother, you can have it removed as easily as you had it put in. And it doesn't impact your fertility. Have it yanked out (by a doctor...) and you're all set to get knocked up.

As far as sex goes, your partner may feel the strings poke him at first, but they soften and curl up over time. Then he won't even notice them.

 Take Ibuprofen before your procedure... most doctors recommend 800mg. However, I didn't because my doctor didn't tell me that specifically--I took the maximum recommended dose on the bottle (200mg) and when I got there, they went, "Did you take 800mg of Ibuprofen?" *facepalm* But I was still fine.

I researched IUDs A LOT before I got mine, so I know a ton about them! If you have any more questions, throw 'em out! Usually how it works is, you'll have a consultation with your doctor, ask all of your questions, she'll stick a tube up in you to sound (measure) your uterus (some women, if their uterus' are too small or too large, are more likely to expel an IUD), and schedule a second appointment for the insertion.

For the record, I have also not had children. Some doctors are biased against this when agreeing to insert IUDs. If it's an issue for you, just keep doctor shopping, and show your doctor that you've done your research and that your decision is well informed. This worked for me.

 Good luck! Keep us posted!

NoaHicks6610

Thank you all for your input. I have actually talked to many doctors and many more nurses, being that I work at the local hospital. I have gotten mixed reviews from them-personal and professional experiences. I have already had a child so that is not really an issue for me. Our current birth control method has worked so far, but it's not "fool proof". With all that we are facing in the very near future, bring a baby into the world is NOT one of them. I just want to make sure we are "taken care of" until we are ready. Thanks again!

catbogart

I had a copper IUD for a long time and loved having it.  Insertion was uncomfortable, but I was able to go back to work that day and be on my feet for the rest of the day, so it wasn't the end of the world.  The heavier periods while I used the IUD were inconvenient, but I considered it a decent price to pay for the peace of mind of such an effective BC method.

felkels

I have Merana.  I have had it since May.  I was a virgin when I got it and Insertion was very painful!  I could not exercise without taking ibuprofen for more than two weeks.  I cannot tell you about what it has done for my period, because I have been on a continuous period for five months now.  I have had problems with hormonal BC before, feeling like I wanted to commit suicide just to quit the pain so I am very cautious about this.  I do still get cramps,  but have not noticed the side effects that have occured in me with other BC products.  I will never remember to take a pill every day and was afraid to.  I talked to my Doc about weight issues and she said that less than 5% of people will gain weight, and also that even though it is hormonal based, it is centralized in the uterus, and hardly any goes anywhere in the blood stream.  That is the main reason I chose it.  So for me, there are some downsides...but there is also an up side. I am now married and don't have to worry about having sex with my DH.  I am still trying to decide if it really is the correct option for me, and it may take a few more months to figure it out...but that has been my experience so far.  I get random really bad cramps once in a while...but like I said to begin with, I don't know what it is really doing for my period.