To IUD or not to IUD? That is the question :)

I want to get an IUD! I do not want to risk getting pregnant at this point in my life, and I want something that is effective.

I have been reading up on the IUD and I hear things about 'serious cramping' and 'heavy periods' and it getting embeded into the walls of the urtrus. Also about weight gain? EGH!

Is anyone on the IUD? Whether you have a horror story or a few good words, I'd love to hear it.

PS: I've tried the depo and became REALLY bitchy. I cant remember to even take my vitamin so I dont trust myself with the pill. I do NOT have medical insurance so I dont want anything I keep having to re-fill. Oh and I'm allergic to latex and condoms are just not in the picture. That is why I choose IUD. So please no other suggestions :)

I havent heard much about the IUD, I know one girl who has one and she loves it.. Im looking into getting it also.... I know there is 2 kinds, copper and..... I cant remmeber the second right now.


I used to depo and it was a nightmare..

Then you feel my pain! Depo was a no go for me. I did stay on it for nearly 2 years tho.

The 'other one' is Mirena. That's the one with hormones. My MOM told me she had the copper one way back when and her cramps were horrible.

But thats her, this is me.  I'm really considering just seeing how it works for me.

But then I read 'weight gain' and I'm like EGH! I've been dieting for 11 months now and have lots a bunch. I dont want even 10 pounds creepin back on.

I have never had an IUD for personal reasons. But have you had a child yet? A lot of doctors won't give you one if you haven't due to to the smaller size of the uterus because they run a chance of expulsion or it perforating the uterus. Just some thoughts if you haven't had a child yet.

Nope no kid. :) and I want to KEEP it that way. I dont know if I have a small uterus.  BUT I dont want to have kids for 4/5 years. Maybe they can check when I get my pap. I'll be sure to ask :)

I just checked an ivillage forum and heard nothing bad so far. AND nearly half the women there have not had children. *crosses fingers* i'm going to keep reading!

Hey there, I'm a family planning nurse, and I'm getting a Mirena IUD next month!

The Paraguard, which it is a hormone-free copper IUD, is effective for at least 10 years. As you've heard, the big side effects are cramping and heavier menses. For most women, this is not a big whoop, but I've had some patients who get it taken out after the first month.

The Mirena, which has progesterone (the same hormone in Depo-Provera), lasts for 5 years. The hormones in the Mirena are way less systemic than in Depo, since they're near where they need to be to work, so the side effect profile is better. Most women on Mirena don't get a period. Bonus!

Since you haven't had kids (I haven't either), it might be a tad difficult getting it in. Take a crap-load of ibuprofen (800-1000mg) before your insertion, and ask your MD or NP for a rx for misoprostol. This is a drug that 'softens' your cervix, making it easier to get the IUD in.

Good luck!

Neat! Thanks. Ya I want the hormonal one.  SHHH dont tell my boyfriend it's the same as depo.  I was a total meanie on that stuff. Really mood swingish.  But as with anything, once you reconize the problem you can take action to fix it. So if I know that's whats causing my moods, well then I'll fix it!

When i was on the depo my periods were nearly going away. So I know ALL about how that hormone works.

I go to get my pap on Tuesday, so I'll have them make sure i'm a good canidate at that time.

Now I'm getting all excited :)

The doctor didn't tell me that conception happens when an IUD is in, unlike other birth control (except the morning after pill, oh and abortion if you call that birth control..) so when I found out I was a little steamed. So my reasons for not having an IUD would be because I believe life and growth begins at conception.

I should also alert you that I got pregnant with my beautiful red haired baby boy while inserted with IUD, (hence the proof that conception happens when it is in, which is when i found this out...) and doctor opted to remove it with the risk of miscarriage, a little scary, the other option was more dangerous apparently.

I also had major cramps and so does a co-worker of mine.

I know that it can happen, but it doesnt abort you baby if you find out. As you mentioned, you have a beautiful baby out of it.

As with any BC, you can get pregnant with it. Chances are just a LOT more slim than not having any.

You were probably on the copper IUD. With the mirina one there are actual hormones that go into it. As mentioned above, the same ones as the depo uses. So conception shouldnt occur.

I dont want to be giving mini misscarages through this 5 years. That's why I want the hormonal one and not just the copper.

I'll keep reading tho! I want to learn as much as I can before I get this procedure done.

Thanks for all the input!

You sound really well-informed! Go for it!

I had the Mirena IUD inserted last month.  I have 3 children.  Insertion was uncomfortable, some minor cramping afterwards.  I HAVE ovulated with the IUD in and gotten a periond which is maybe a little lighter than usual.  I'm sure it will decrease or stop over the next few months.  So yes, I suppose you could conceive with it in considering i did ovulate.  However, with the Mirena, my doctor said the hormone in it does increase the mucous viscosity   to make it difficult to implant and difficult for the sperm to reach where they need to go.  So far, I would definately do it again.

I would recommend a visit to Planned Parenthood (if in the States).  They can fully discuss all the options, risks, etc with you.  They offer birth control and check ups on a sliding fee. 

You can also explore options through your local department of social services (welfare, child and family services - the name varies across the states).  There are typically free clinics for family planning. 

There are latex free condoms available.  Sheep skin still allows transmission of STDs, so make sure you know and trust your partner.  Vinyl condoms are made as well.  I believe the female condom is latex free.  Diaphragms and cervical caps are also an option, though not always as effective, can be used with spermicidal jellys to up the effectiveness.

Good luck! -wg

Hey...i got the Mirena in December...it's great.  It only took about 5minutes to get it done...after i had cramping for a few hours...take advil before...i don't get my period at all...occasionally i get an essence of it for a day...which is really nothing at all!  You have to go back a month after it's inserted to make sure it's in good...after that you're all set... I would definetly reccomend it if you want something you don't have to think about...i used depo before too and gained weight...this i have not! good luck!

YAY! Gosh I'm so glad a few users have complimented back :) I am going through planned parenthood to get this done since I do not have insurance. I was DENIED insurance after applying because even though i'm in a 'healthy' weight range, I have lost nearly 120 pounds, so they add HALF my lost weight back to my current weight which sets me over the healthy scale. EGH!

I cant say that i'm not in need of paying on a sliding scale basis. I do alright for myself and doubt i'd qualify for any programs to help me pay for it. I'm not worried about the cost at this point, I just want to find something that works for ME.

I have an appointment to get my pap on Tuesday, then my period should star Thursday, so probably in a few weeks I'll get the IUD.

So hesitant, nervous, and excited.

I have an IUD. Had to move to that after bc pill gave me a mini-stroke. My doctor won't allow me to take any bc with hormones. So the IUD I have is the type that has no hormones.

It's a mix bag. I'll start by saying TODAY I am absolutely thrilled an wonderfully happy with my IUD. It's a great thing... no worries about missing pills, etc. My periods are like clockwork. Yes, heavier and longer but in my case that's not so bad, because before they were always very light. YMMV. The best thing is that I feel far more confident I'm not going to accidentally get pregnant. At my age, I'm 100% certain I don't want another child.

But in the beginning, well.... I almost had the thing taken out, the cramps were that bad. I remember hours spent doubled over in agonizing pain, crying. I went through several months of cramping before my body got used to it. Really severe cramping early on, then it got less and less. My doctor made me promise not to make a decision for one full year. I am very glad I stuck it out, because now it's great. Worry-free, hassle-free, inexpensive birth control - yeah!! You pay more up front, but it costs more over the lifetime of the IUD (in my case, it has a 10-year life).

I understand that IUDs like the Mirena that have hormones have less cramping, so consider that if you can take hormones and are worried about cramping. Also, not EVERYONE gets such cramping. My mother had the same exact IUD I had, and she did not have cramping like I did. But, it is a risk. Everyone's body is different.

My partner complained about the string. So my doctor snipped it... but he accidentally snipped too much, and what was left went up into my uterus. So I have no way of checking for it each month. Periodically I go in for an ultrasound just to make sure it's still there (they worry a lot less about expulsion after the first year). It's no biggie, except that when I get it out, I'm going to have to have minor surgery, since there's no string to pull. As a plus, at least this will fall under the category of something my insurance will cover (my insurance does not cover the IUD at all - but it is still cheaper anyway).

And one final consideration: they don't really know how or why it works. I sometimes get this intuitive feeling that an egg has been fertilized but then doesn't implant. These are the months that my period becomes delayed, I may have some mid-cycle bleeding, and I wind up having a heavier, longer period than normal. My doc says it's likely more to do with fibroids, but I dunno. A woman can sense these things, know what I mean?

Even with all the drawbacks, I would *still* recommend the IUD!! MIne is due to come out in 2010. I am trying to talk my DH into a vasectomy. If he doesn't agree, then I will likely get another IUD, to get me through until menopause when I never have to worry again!

I gained no weight on the IUD. In fact, if anything, I lost weight. However, going abruptly off the pill did result in me losing a lot of hair. I went through a period of time where handfuls were coming out in big clumps. ACK! It eventually grew back in though.

And the best of all was that once I went off the pill, my migraines disappeared completely! Haven't had one since 2000.

Yeah I'm planning on getting the one with hormones. 5 years is good for me. I am 23 years old, engaged, and I dont want children for a good 5 years anyway. This is the perfect time to get it!

The only part that worries me is if my uturus is too small. I really hope I'm a good canidate.  I dont hear much bad, mostly good, abut the IUD. Cramping even for a period has never been bad for me. I usually have a weird 'icky' feeling in my stomach, but nothing that is bad enough to take even IB profen for. SO I'm hoping with the IUD, IB profen will do the trick in helping out with my cramping.

I'm a trooper!

I have had both types of the IUD, 3x in 5 yrs. I first put in the copper one. Stayed with it for 2 years but made me bleed heavily so decided to go with the mirena. Had the mirena for 1 yr and in that one year had ance, 20lb weight gain, and bad case of pms and mood swings. I had never taken any hormones and i guess that's why i had it all at once. I recently changed back to the copper one and am slowly getting back to normal, my acne and mood swings are gone and i am slowly losing the weight. I think this is the perfect birth control to date. It's not the same as the ones with the bad rap of the 1960's.

Try googling around for a UK-based support site on this topic. I believe there used to be such a group on yahoo. I'm assuming you are from the US (could be wrong) but what I found was that the US is really weird about the IUD; outside the US, it's far more acceptable and much more common.

For example, in the US many major insurance companies will not cover the IUD. Fewer doctors are trained in inserting the IUD. And it's general practice to discourage women who haven't yet had children to get an IUD.

Whereas everywhere else in the world, women who haven't had children are routinely given the IUD - no problem!!

So this "too small uterus" thing... I dunno. It's more likely that if your doctor is from the US, he just doesn't have as much experience with inserting IUDs in women who haven't had children.

And that is a major important point: make sure the doctor you use has lots of experience!!!

Doctor better have lots of experience! I'm going to planned parenthood for pete sakes! LoL.

ALL they do there is birth control, and prego tests.

Actually I was a little set  back when I found out I could only make an appointment on Monday or Tuesday for such things, because Wed-Sat were for abortion appointments only.  BLEH!

If they can preform an abortion.. well I better hope they can insert an IUD.

:)

Planned parenthood should be fine. But it never hurts to ask.

There are lots of doctors who don't perform IUD insertions as a matter of principle (religious convictions).

And then there are docs that don't do a lot of insertions because insurance doesn't cover it.