17 different women, 36 crazy children, 0 babies in utero
Adventures, Advice and Questions from a group of Mormon women who met in Queens, NY and have now scattered all over the place.
 

Tuesday, April 18, 2006

I L.U.V. my I.U.D.

Anyone looking for a great non-hormonal birth control option?

I am in love with my IUD. Like my DH, I never imagined that we would be a good match when we first met, but what a great addition you have been to my life!

Reasons Why I Love You So...IUD:

1. No more crazy hormone issues. A thousand different birth control pills, the patch, the ring....I must have tried every brand on the market. Most all gave me migraines and bipolar disorder (at least that is how my dh diagnosed my wild mood swings). Apparently, threatening divorce for leaving his newspapers out or for eating the last piece of chocolate cake on the kitchen counter is considered by him to be "irrational moody behavior."

2. No pills to swallow, no patches to apply. Who needs one more thing to remember to do each day? My IUD is really low maintenance. I get it checked by my ob/gyn once a year during my annual exam and I check to ensure the string is properly in place after my monthly period. EAZZZY!

3. The procedure was virtually painless. I was a little nervous about getting something semi-permanently inserted in my cervix. I had read that it can be a little painful. I felt a quick pinch...and it was over.

My younger sister, who is a labor and delivery nurse, said that many doctors will do the procedure right after a woman gives birth. I had mine done at my 6-week appointment after the birth of my second child.

4. Virtually no worries about getting pregnant for the next 10 years!!! That's right, ladies, the IUD is effective for ten years and can easily be taken out if you decide you want to get pregnant.

With other non-hormonal birth control methods such as condoms and the diaphram having gaps in effectiveness (DH and I experienced two "gaps in effectiveness" now commonly referred to as Noe and Asher), I feel a lot more control in my life and confident that we can plan the timing and size of our family as we feel so inspired.

5. Less cramping during my period. Some women experience more cramping and bleeding from their IUD. I have had a little more bleeding and much less cramping than pre-IUD. However, there could be other factors involved, especially since I got it right after my second pregnancy.

6. A better, more spontaneous sex life. When Dr. Cho (my awesome ob/gyn who ran 8 NYC blocks...in heels...to deliver Asher) first tried to sell me on the IUD, this was part of her sales pitch. I wanted to tell her I wasn't that kind of girl....but after two kids....I guess the jig is up. Like most married women, I have sex. She was right, though. It is nice to lose the step in the lovemaking process that involves trying to remember where we last left the condoms. And for me, the security of knowing that one fun night isn't going to result in nine months of throwing up and continual weight gain is a big turn-on.

When I casually told my mother about my IUD, I got a long and unexpected you-are-going-to-hell-oh-daughter-of-mine silence. I later learned that many of the older generation believe that the IUD acts as an abortion device, interrupting implantation. That is just not true, at least of the newer models, which act more like a spermacide. Here is a good website that explains exactly how the IUD works, and answers many common questions about this particular birth control.

Last fall, a new friend from our Astoria ward and I got on the subject of birth control. She had similar reactions to hormones as I do, and was eager to find a reliable birth control method. I did my best missionary impression to spread the gospel of the IUD. She brought up the abortion controversy. We worked through this issue and I thought I had convinced her to get it. In the next couple of months she separated from her husband and took her two young kids back home to live with her parents. She also found out she was pregnant. I am sure that this child will be a blessing in her life, but the timing must be extremely stressful for her. I don't know what exactly stopped her from getting the procedure done...fear, lack of time, or if she still had remaining doubts on the abortion issue. I hope it wasn't the last one.....and I hope that this abortion myth isn't preventing other women from seeking this birth control option.

posted by Jen @ 4/18/2006 12:07:00 AM   add to kirtsy


52 Comments:

  • Ah Jen, thanks for writing this. My OB/GYN did the hard IUD sell on me after I had DD mainly because she was afraid I was going to get pregnant again and my body wouldn't have time to recuperate (my kids were 19 months apart...and the second one was a planned surprise, if that makes any sense...). I was all ready to go and then chickened out because 1) I was concerned about the pain for putting it in and 2) I read some absolute horror stories about them coming OUT and the horrendous pain it caused.

    I know, I'm a total chicken. But honestly, my birth control pills are a pain to remember and we too have trouble remembering where we threw the condoms last. So I can still be sold...
    posted by Blogger chloe at 4/17/2006 09:08:00 PM  



  • My experience has been good...but it is only the experience of one.

    I would definitely like to hear if anyone has had poor experiences with it.....definitely good to get all sides on issues where health and potential pain are concerned.
    posted by Blogger Jen at 4/17/2006 09:33:00 PM  



  • I highly recommend the IUD I have because the only side effect I notice is NO PERIOD! No cramping, no mood swings, no tenderness and, that's right, no period. It'l laced with hormones but I really don't feel at all like I did on the pill. I love it--go IUDs!
    posted by Anonymous Anonymous at 4/17/2006 10:18:00 PM  



  • To clarify--The are two kinds of IUDs.
    Copper IUD - Can stay in place for 10 years, no hormones, usually heavier periods & cramping for the first few months or more.
    The other IUD (I forget the name) - Can be in place for 5 years, has hormones, less heavy periods.
    posted by Anonymous Anonymous at 4/17/2006 10:30:00 PM  



  • Would you recommend the IUD if you are NOt done having kids...? Is it better to put the IUD in once you are going to be done or take a significant break? Or does timing not matter at all? How about expense?
    posted by Blogger Kage at 4/18/2006 05:00:00 AM  



  • Kage, I think the Nag is right...it is still a good option. However, my doctor said that if I was planning on having kids in the next year, it probably wouldn't be worth it. As far as cost goes, I paid a $20 copay. I was really surprised ... and pleased...that my insurance paid for the entire procedure and the device.
    posted by Blogger Jen at 4/18/2006 05:50:00 AM  



  • I love my IUD too. My sis talked me into it. I had the same concerns many of you did too, but talked it over with my midwife and also read many articles. I too had an awful time finding a pill that didn't make me feel like I had morning sickness (um, isn't this the reason I'm taking this. . .so I DON'T feel like this). The first time I had it in place for about 2 years. The insertion was a little uncomfortable (not the actual insertion, but the part they call "settling"). But that was only for a few hours then it was all good. As for the removal of it, I actually had to ask, "that was it?" I didn't even feel it. And there is no waiting to try and get pregnant, since there are no hormone issues. We got pregnant that very month. I have the copper IUD, no hormones for me thanks. I do have heavier periods but I can deal with that since I don't have to deal with pills, patches, condoms, hormones, for the rest of the time.

    As for cost/insurance, I think mine was around $400, but all I paid was my $15 copay. Just a LITTLE cheaper than the cost of the pills I was trying which my insurance didn't like.
    posted by Blogger wendysue at 4/18/2006 07:38:00 AM  



  • Only one question for me, like the pill, is it hard to lose weight with the IUD. Sadly, that is why I won't go on the pill til I am back to my pre prego weight, cuz you maintain weight on that, and sometimes gain. I don't want to work at taking weight off, only to have it not work, cuz of birth control. And can you still breast feed?
    posted by Blogger Kelly at 4/18/2006 08:19:00 AM  



  • Z-the copper IUD has no weight issue, I'm not sure about the other one that has hormone in it, and the same goes for breastfeeding. No problem with the copper IUD, not sure about the hormones in the other one.
    posted by Blogger wendysue at 4/18/2006 08:39:00 AM  



  • Thanks for writing about this. I've actually had a lot of questions about this lately, and you answered most of them. I'm 5 months pregnant right now, with a 'surprise' baby. I definetly want to try something else besides the pill. I've tried like 15 different brands, and the only one that didn't make me sick obviously wasn't strong enough! So I do have one more question . . . We want to have another kid in 2 to 3 years after this one is born. So should I look into the 3 year one, or just go for the 10 and get it out when we're ready? Is there really a difference?
    posted by Blogger Trivial Mom at 4/18/2006 08:52:00 AM  



  • Not to make you feel bad, not even sure I agree, but my former employer, a cytologist (person who analyzes pap smears) was convinced that the IUD was simply a glorified monthly abortion.
    posted by Blogger annegb at 4/18/2006 09:14:00 AM  



  • Add me to the IUD fan club! We did it because we feel we are done with kids and a vasectomy seemed a little too drastic.

    However, what I find hilarious is that one of the reasons you state for getting one is you don't like trying to remember where you last left the condoms! Ours were always in the nightstand drawer. Way to make me feel like I have the most lame love life EVER!! :) Made all the worse by the fact that no one else even blinked an eye at the comment. Oh, well.
    posted by Anonymous Anonymous at 4/18/2006 09:31:00 AM  



  • Mimi, LoL. Actually it's more like my toddler was always getting into our nightstand drawer so I was always hiding them other places. Wish it were more exciting than that ;-)

    Annegb, That is interesting about what the cytologist thought about IUDs. I have only read the opposite. Since I'm not a scientist myself, I have to go with what the majority of scientists tell me.
    posted by Blogger Jen at 4/18/2006 12:05:00 PM  



  • I'm interested in the connection between being on the pill and sex drive that cc mentioned. Does anyone out there feel like your sex drive is diminished when on the pill?
    posted by Blogger Belle at 4/18/2006 12:23:00 PM  



  • Thanks for the informative post. It made me realize that I really did not know my options when I started on the pill almost 10 years ago. Since then I have been on and off with it still never even wondering about the other possibilities. The good thing is that I have no adverse reactions to the pill like most but I do hate remembering to take it and then remembering to get the scrip refilled. And then when I forget, remembering where the condoms are and wondering how old they are. Yikes.
    posted by Blogger This is Carrie at 4/18/2006 12:26:00 PM  



  • I have to ask this... that sounds great and I would really consider it but to be frighteningly honest we really use condoms because it helps our "timing" if you know what I mean. Other wise my DH is all done in like sec. and I am still warming up. Any thoughts?
    posted by Anonymous Anonymous at 4/18/2006 12:45:00 PM  



  • Michelle, I did notice with one brand of birth control after I had DD that my sex drive took a nose dive. I could tell after a week that I was totally off, so I stopped and switched brands and that helped.

    I've never been a huge fan of condoms because they kill the moment and we always have trouble finding them. I think that you have to have a very open and honest talk with your OB about finding a method that works best for you and won't kill your sex drive

    Or to spice things up you could just resort to handcuffs and cool whip...
    posted by Blogger chloe at 4/18/2006 04:38:00 PM  



  • I got a Mirena IUD before I was married because my periods were so horrendous (soaking through 10 super-plus tampons in 12 hours and being doubled over in pain for two straight days). After my first period with the IUD, the cramps were gone and my period was about 20% as heavy as normal. Now (16 months later) my period is pretty much gone. It's fabulous. I wish I had done this 15 years ago.

    The Mirena IUD secretes a small amount of progesterone locally, but not enough to get into your system and cause mood swings. (The pill made me a crying maniac - I didn't notice any emotional effects with the IUD). It works for three years and doesn't cause cramping like the copper IUD can.

    If you haven't had kids, your doctor might discourage you from the IUD (because it's a little more painful to put in and because sometimes your cervix will expel it) but it's totally worth it. I told my doctor that the pills had me crazy and he agreed to put it in. The procedure was a bit uncomfortable, but it only lasted 10 minutes and at the worst, it only felt like bad cramps.
    posted by Blogger Nikki at 4/18/2006 04:55:00 PM  



  • I was about the get the Mirena IUD but didn't act fast enough! oops :)

    I liked that it had used a light, local hormone to lighten periods without any mood effects.
    I had no clue how long to keep it, I just knew I didn't have ot decide now, it woudln't be as long as 5 years and I could get it out any time for a $15 copay.

    I had always considered it abortive before, but once my mind was eased about that, it became an excellent choice. Maybe next year!
    posted by Blogger HornInFBb at 4/18/2006 07:39:00 PM  



  • This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
    posted by Anonymous Anonymous at 4/18/2006 07:53:00 PM  



  • I totally loved my IUD too, until I had an ectopic pregnancy while it was in. I did lots of research online and could never determine if the IUD somehow contributed to the chances of me having an ectopic pregnancy or not. I've been on a low dosage pill which has been a lot better than the one I was on when I got married 10 years ago, but I still don't love it like the IUD.

    I plan on getting another IUD (probably the one with a hormone, just because my periods were awful on the copper T) after I have baby #3 (whenever that is.)
    posted by Anonymous Anonymous at 4/18/2006 08:04:00 PM  



  • Kudos for bringing this wonderful form of birth control out in the open. For some reason, I have found that most LDS women do not like to discuss birth control, but we all use it! I mean hello, I have no desire to pop out children for the rest of my life. I had the 10yr copper put in after my first daughter (who was concieved while on the pill) I had no problems after the fact. No hormones, no weight gain, no worries. My first few periods after were a little tough. Very heavy bleeding and cramping, but after maybe 2 or 3 months. Not a big deal, and they were always 28 days apart. I had it removed a few years later so we could get pg again (this time planned) it took only a few months. There are stories about people who could not get pg for sometime after, but who knows if that is due to the IUD or their body, or maybe even their timing. So I 2 L.U.V my I.U.D.
    posted by Anonymous Anonymous at 4/18/2006 08:30:00 PM  



  • I have REALLY bad indemetreosis and periods were brutal for me 4 days off of work and a bottle of alieve later I didn't want to die. So my OB/GYN recomended the merina IUD for me because I had such painful periods, he did let me know that it would be a sort of painful procedure because I haven't had kids and my cervix wasn't stretched out. All in all it wasn't too bad, like a day of cramps crammed into 4 hours. Well worth it to not have cramps for 5 years. I have loved it!!
    F.Y.I.-although it helps with cysts in/on your uterus it doesn't help with ovarian cysts, but the pill does.
    posted by Anonymous Anonymous at 4/18/2006 08:50:00 PM  



  • I guess I'm in the older-than-dirt category, because I've always heard that IUDs were like mini-abortions too. The link you provide states that IUDs usually prevent the sperm from getting to the egg, but sometimes they just prevent implantation from occurring. This is where it gets tricky. Technically, one isn't pregnant until after implantion occurs, so an actual abortion isn't possible until the woman is pregnant (i.e., implantation). However, I guess one could look at an IUD as an abortion device if they consider abortion as anything that destroys a fertilized egg. From my limited understanding, only 3 out of 10 fertilzations result in implantation anyway, so chances of an IUD getting rid of a fertilized egg that would have been implanted seems slim, but I guess it just boils down to how a person defines the terms.
    Meanwhile, I've been on mini-POPs - a progesterone only birth control pill. No big problems, but a higher chance of a surprise pregnancy. I only started those after both my kids were born (5 years ago), so far, so good!
    posted by Anonymous Anonymous at 4/18/2006 09:47:00 PM  



  • My roommate last year was a doctor (internal medicine) and we had several discussions about various birth control methods. She said that the pill doesn't always prevent ovulation - so that it can also act as an abortive agent if an egg gets fertilized. She said the only way to guarantee that you are never fertilizing eggs is to use barrier devices (condoms, diaphragm, sponge, etc.)
    posted by Blogger Nikki at 4/18/2006 10:14:00 PM  



  • LOVED my paragard (the copper T). LOVED it.

    I just hated taking the pill and I hated the Ring (tried it one month, and let me tell ya', after having 2 kids my vaginal canal was NOT going to let something stay in there without a fight) and so I tried the IUD (after months of research).

    It cost only $20 to put in and $20 to take out --okay, it WOULD have been, if my CNM had been on our insurance --since she wasn't we had a $750 bill (had the other 2 CNM's put it in, we would have been covered).

    Periods were heavy. But that was okay. Personally, I don't think I'll ever have the Mirena. What if something goes wrong and I do get pregnant? How would I know without a period every month? I guess I just like knowing. I like that satisfaction of seeing that my plumbing's all working right. :)

    I got the Paragard taken out a little over a year after I had it put it. We decided to try for #4. We ended up trying for 5 months, getting pregnant, and then losing the baby at 2 months. Now is any of that related to my IUD? Who knows. I can't say, unless I can go back in time and try the same thing but with pills. I had never miscarried before, and we had never had to try more than once to get pregnant the other 3 times. What if...what if. Ahh, there are no what ifs.

    Do I regret using and IUD? Hell, no! If and when we have another child, that paragard will go right back in afterwards.

    LOVED IT!!

    P.S. Any form of birth control can be seen as an "abortive" type. Any and all forms are invasive in that they accomplish the same thing --preventing pregnancy. I think an IUD can be lumped in the common birth control category.
    posted by Blogger Cheryl at 4/19/2006 07:21:00 AM  



  • I love my IUD too! It's the minera so it releases just a little bit of hormone into my uterous, and my periods are now two days of spotting and no cramps at all. IT's TRUE!
    posted by Blogger fMhLisa at 4/19/2006 02:48:00 PM  



  • Oh and it's totally safe to nurse when you have the Minera, I did.
    posted by Blogger fMhLisa at 4/19/2006 02:56:00 PM  



  • meems,
    the progesterone-only pill doesn't sound right for you, because it also is designed to prevent implantation. Generally, folks who want to know ovulaiton is supressed go for combination pills, because it's the estrogen that does the job. the progesterone thickens mucus, acting as a barrier to sperm, and thins the lining.

    These are just the stated actions- every hormonal method is suspected of either not stopping O as much as it should, or of stopping it even when we don't know why- so your pill may work as you hope, but check it out, see Planned parenthood 3rd paragraph, and the pharmaceutical info for your brand.
    posted by Blogger HornInFBb at 4/19/2006 03:53:00 PM  



  • As recently as 2 years ago (the big IUD craze in our ward began then) we had several docs saying that the copper IUD is an abortive, hmmm.. Several docs here have mentioned that more women have problems with the copper IUD than with the Mirena. One doc went so far as to say that 85% of women who have problems with IUD's have the copper one.
    My closest friend here has the plastic(hormones) IUD. She had problems with the hormones in the pill as well, but she has still had no problems with her IUD after 2 years.
    And as a little FYI and TMI, my appointment for mine is next week!! Consider me SOLD!!
    posted by Blogger Mo at 4/19/2006 06:22:00 PM  



  • cchrissyy - thanks for that information and the link. I found it really informative! I guess the POPs act as a pretty effetive barrier, but if by chance an egg did get fertilized, I'd feel kind of sad that it wouldn't be able to implant (even though as I mentioned, theres only a 30% chance of implantation of a fertilzed egg anyway.) But - I don't think combos are right for me either -- they seem too chock-full-o'-hormones! Anyway, thanks for the info!
    posted by Anonymous Anonymous at 4/19/2006 08:47:00 PM  



  • Meems had a good explanation of fertilization versus implantation. Scientifically life begins with a fertilized egg. That's the beginning of new genetic material. But in the 60s with the advent of the pill, the powers that be changed the definition of conception to implantation. That's how you can get contradictory statements like "sometimes the IUD prevents implantation...but it doesn't cause an abortion." They define abortion as stopping a pregnancy after implantation.

    Barrier methods don't stop implantation. Another good option is fertility awareness (more info from "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" by Toni Wechsler, or http://www.tcoyf.com). It worked well for my husband and I for 7 years. There was also some discussion on this method at Times and Seasons a few months ago.
    posted by Anonymous Anonymous at 4/20/2006 01:29:00 PM  



  • meems,
    I'm glad I didn't offend. You have to do what's right for you, it just surprised me at first.

    about ectopics- IUDs are not recomended if you've had one. I have, and looked into it anyway.
    turns out, with an IUD your risk of ecptopic is lower than using nothing, because you're less likely to become pregnant.
    However, of the 1% who do get pregnant with an IUD, it is disproportionately likely to be ectopic. Other birth controls don't have that phenomenon.
    I talked with Mirena on the phone and my OB and we were comfortable choosing it anyway. then the nurse knocked on the door with a + preg test for me, so, nevermind!
    posted by Blogger HornInFBb at 4/20/2006 02:15:00 PM  



  • Deborah--as for the depression issue, I have the copper IUD and it is mainly mechanical: prevents sperm from crossing mainly and makes an "unfavorable place for implantation" should any get through-that's how my mid-wife explained it. So, there's no hormonal-depression reaction. If you are highly sensitve I'd say check into the copper one, anyone with the Mirena have any problems?
    posted by Blogger wendysue at 4/20/2006 07:31:00 PM  



  • I want one! I can't do hormonal BC b/c of a medical condition (so even the hormonal IUD is out) but the barrier methods are such a PITA. I'd have an IUD already, except that our insurance won't cover it and we can't afford the lump sum. We're relocating soon; I'm crossing my fingers for the new insurance to have better BC coverage....

    (Speaking of, why is it that insurance companies don't blink at subsidizing men's erections, but won't help avoid the cost of a whole new and possibly disease ridden person? Not that that's how I think of my kids, lol, but from a cost-expense ratio you'd think BC coverage would be a no-brainer! Grrrrr.)
    posted by Blogger RCH at 4/21/2006 01:58:00 PM  



  • RCH,

    This may not be an ideal option, but if you really want an IUD and your new insurance doesn't cover it, you could get one at a Planned Parenthood. I checked the site and they charge $175 and up...depending on the location. I went when I was a poor soon-to-be-married grad student and got BC pills. They were very professional and I was asked only to make a "donation" of whatever amount I could afford.

    I understand that not everyone supports the mission of PP and that is totally understandable, but it's an option.

    And I am SO with you about the viagra thing. I have never understood how they can justify it as "medically necessary" and then refuse to cover so many other things. I saw this interview on NPR with this 100 year old man and the interviewer asked him what he thought about viagra and the man said, "If you can't do it, don't even try." It was so great.

    P.S. Thanks for commenting ol' roomie...and good luck with the move!!!
    posted by Blogger Jen at 4/21/2006 04:11:00 PM  



  • Love my copper IUD! My LDS OB/GYN showed me a study where women who were to undergo tubal ligations were given copper IUDs and instructed to have intercourse a certain amount of time before the tubal. When the surgeons went in to do the surgery, they harvested any sperm in the tubes, which were statistically ZERO. He then went on to say, "If this IUD were an abortant, I would not use it." And the best news of all, our insurance covered all but $15!

    My sister got the Mirena and loves it--some occasional spotting, but no cramps and no periods!
    posted by Anonymous Anonymous at 4/25/2006 04:43:00 PM  



  • Oooh, thanks, Jen! That's a good idea I hadn't thought of. I have no qualms about the mission of PP -- they provide valuable, legal services to women who need them -- so no problems there. :-)
    posted by Blogger RCH at 4/25/2006 08:22:00 PM  



  • Hi - I just found your thread via Google. I just moved to NYC and am looking for a doctor who does the Merina. I have one now (which I LOVE!!) and am thinking of getting another one - not ready yet for babies with DH. Please email me if you know of any doctors who Merina. =)

    Thanks so much!! Amanda
    thewebbers@mac.com
    posted by Anonymous Anonymous at 7/18/2006 05:25:00 AM  



  • Hi... I'm getting a Minera next week, and I'm very excited. I had the copper IUD before, and had terrible cramps with. I needed to have removed due to the cramps and heavy long periods. I hope Minera will help with that, but I'm also concern with the side effects. I'm bipolar and I'm afraid the hormones will not cause depression or mood swings. I heard that the hormone doesn't get into your system, and that I shouldn't worry, but some other people told me it can severe impact my treatment to Bipolar disorder. Does anybody have anything to say regarding this? Thanks....
    posted by Anonymous Anonymous at 9/13/2006 09:53:00 AM  



  • I've had the Minera since January 01 and LOVE it!! No worries, no stress, no mood swings, no cramps and RARE if any period. As the hormone part is wearing off (I'm ending my last year here with it)I do notice spotting each month, getting a bit heavier which my OBGYN says is very normal. I LOVE this birth control. We were not 110% certain we were going to have kids as we together have three and that's enough for us to love. So we thought...what's the best option without having to go surgical for either of us. Minera was presented by my nurse practitioner - Kari Leibel (she's great!!) and said it would be the best and least invasive since no birth control pill worked after my son was born - one miscarriage was traumatic enough!! I do NOT handle pain at ALL (37 hours of HARD labor with my child), so I was TERRIFIED of the insertion - and it was like a strong cramping sensation that started and stopped quickly. I was happy when it was over. She promises me the removal will be even easier, I'm going in January for my second Minera to be put in. It'll get me to menopause!!! But yes, no hormonal side effects nor weight gain. It ROCKS!!
    posted by Anonymous Anonymous at 9/25/2006 06:26:00 PM  



  • Re: Minera and Bipolar - did you talk to a pharmasist?!? Call and ask your favorite one about their opinion - it's their job to know about all medication and YES, Minera due to the hormone, is considered medication. Good luck!!
    posted by Anonymous Anonymous at 9/25/2006 06:28:00 PM  



  • Please tell me the cramping will go away!

    I decided on Mirena because my mother has Estrogen based breast cancer. DH was nervous about a vasectomy. I am turning 40, have 4 beautiful children and have no desire to ever be pregnant again.

    Yesterday I had the Mirena inserted. I was very uncomfortable. I had pretty bad cramping most of the night. Today I am still uncomfortable. It feels like a very heavy tampon needs to come out! Will this feeling go away?
    posted by Anonymous Anonymous at 1/25/2007 12:20:00 PM  



  • I had the minera IUD inserted yesterday. Mild cramping when put it. Some sharp cramping for two hours after. After that I was fine, no more cramps at all.
    posted by Anonymous Anonymous at 7/03/2007 05:35:00 AM  



  • While I had my copper IUD I had no problems...oh yeah except when I found out I was pregnant after having it in almost a year. Hahaa. I just recently had to get mine remove because of this very, very surprising pregnancy. I was and still am a strong advocate for IUDs, but I just want everyone to know that .8% just like me could be you. So take extra precaution if you want to be sure.My doctor was stunned. This is my thrid baby. My son ( the second) came about while I was on the shot.Then again I am "Fertile Mertle".My mom now jokes around and says that she doesn't even want to hug my husband in fear she'll be pregnant too! haha True story.
    posted by Blogger LuvLeigh at 1/18/2008 12:04:00 PM  



  • well just a few min ago my IUD came out. i dont want to say im not for IUDs but they just not for alot of people. im thinking if i should get another one i had so many problems with it that i dont know if i want that again i only had it in for a lil over a month. but yes it hurt i never stopped bleeding had bad cramps and back pain and pissed off alot hopefully ill feel better now till i go to my doctors next week to find out what we do next
    posted by Anonymous Anonymous at 4/18/2008 02:49:00 AM  



  • Had a Paragard inserted about 18 months ago. At a perimenopausal age and no thoughts of future pregnancies ever, just wanted a no-nonsense, hormone-free method to get me to the other side of menopause (whenever that may be). Best decision I ever made.

    Locally, I found the Planned Parenthood doc had recently inserted enough of these for me to consider her competent. A great many OBGYN's in private practice have never inserted one. They are not well-publicized. Think of all the profits to be lost if the Pill suddenly went out of vogue, and you will begin to understand why most practitioners, who depend on pharmaceutical salespeople to keep their practices well-stocked with samples, and who bring other perks to the docs, have no reason to be interested in promoting or inserting IUD's.

    Easier to be sued over a perforated uterus than over a script. No one else to blame when the doc perforates the uterus due to incompetence. A competent professional should be able to do this without incident. Make sure you've got one. Just ASK how many IUD insertions they've done in the last 5 years. If you don't get a satisfactory answer, visit your local Planned Parenthood office and explain your concerns to them.

    My insertion went smoothly, only the mildest of cramping, and some additional, but very controllable, bleeding for a few days. I'm perimenopausal so stable periods aren't any guarantee, but I think the IUD caused a little instability for about 6 months. Very manageable. And for those of you ladies who have never given birth, let me say this: cramping from a cervix dilated to the size needed for insertion does not equate to childbirth, it provides a vague hint. Yes, it will be uncomfortable. No, it won't last. Yes, you will live through it. Go ahead and whine, put yourself to bed for the rest of the day, or do whatever you need to do to get through a day of discomfort. For the next ten years if you choose, you're going to be free of daily hormones that may wreak havoc with your natural systems, free of worry over unwanted pregnancy, free of last-minute fumbling for condoms, spermicides, or diaphragms, free of morning-after pills, free of additional expenses for up to ten years following.

    It's a pretty sweet trade-off. Look into it, read up on it, and don't let anyone scare you off without a real good reason. Are there risks? Yep. Are there risks with the Pill? With condoms? With natural family planning? With unprotected sex? With driving a car? With walking out your door in the morning? Yep. No guarantees in life. You take your best guess based on as much information as you can reasonably gather, and then you make a decision, and keep moving forward.
    posted by Anonymous Anonymous at 1/14/2009 07:24:00 PM  



  • Hello how r u all..
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    After that i want to tell u about the Tubal reversal...

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    posted by Anonymous tubal reversal at 8/28/2009 12:34:00 AM  



  • hello, i got my merina in 2003 it was suppose to stay in for 10 years. in 2007 i was experincing horrible cramps, then i started to bleed. finally i went to the hospital because the pain was unbearable. well make a long story short. i was pregnant in my tube. my tube burst and i almost died. i spent 55 horrible days in the hospital. my right fallopian tube and ovary had to be removed. so because of the merina i almost died will never get any kind of iud in my life again.
    posted by Anonymous sheba at 6/01/2010 06:26:00 PM  



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    posted by Anonymous 3d ultrasounds at 5/24/2011 08:23:00 AM  



  • What a write!! Very informative also easy to understand. Looking for more such posts!! Do you have a myspace? I recommended it on digg. The only thing that it’s missing is a bit of new design. Anyway thank you for this blog.
    posted by Anonymous reversal of tubal ligation at 5/24/2011 11:05:00 AM  



  • I had the Mirena IUD for 4 months. I bled for 4 months straight. Not just spotting... but like a very annoying LIGHT PERIOD every single day. I bled to the point where I was SEVERELY anemic. I also experienced SEVERE joint pain, anxiety and panic attacks... which I had never experienced before, not even on the pill.

    I would like to try the Copper IUD. My only concern is the joint pain, anxiety and panic attacks I had with the Mirena IUD. I sure hope it was due to the hormone in the Mirena... and not simply from having a foreign object in my uterus.

    If anyone can comment about joint pain, anxiety or panic attacks with their Copper IUD... I would like to hear your story!

    Thanks! And good luck to you all! It's so great to have places like this!
    posted by Anonymous Anonymous at 6/08/2011 05:47:00 PM  



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