Ladies! Does anyone have an IUD for their birth control?

I've been dating my boyfriend for over three years now. I've been on three types of birth control in this time frame (pill, patch, and now pill again). My current bc, Yaz, has been an absolute horror. I am one of the unfortunate few who actually have their PMS symptoms WORSENED by Yaz, rather than made better. Needless to say, it has not been doing good things for my relationship though my boyfriend knows it's not entirely my fault.

On top of that, I have recently been forced to pick up a second job in addition my full time job AND going to school full time; Due to my hectic schedule and stress levels, I've forgotten to take my pill several times in the past couple months. And obviously that isn't exactly a good thing. So I'd rather have a bc that I don't have to remember every single day at a certain time.

I have been doing a lot of research into other bc methods for the past few weeks, and it sounds like getting an IUD may be my best bet. I think I'd like the hormonal one because I'm pretty sure I'm allergic to copper, though I am open to other bc suggestions if anyone has one.

So, I guess I'm just writing now to see what everyone else's experiences with their IUDs has been. When did you get it put in? Were you already a mom, or had you never been pregnant? (I have not, and apparently that makes it more likely to be "pushed out). If you had an IUD at one point but don't any more, how long did you have it in? And overall, what are you feelings?

Thanks so much!

EDIT: Did a forum search and found other established threads about this. Thanks everyone!

Yes, never been pregnant, no problems except pain with the insertion, love it.

There have been several IUD-related posts recently--I think your best bet would be to search for those.  I would suspect that most of us who have IUDs or who have tried them or read about them are getting a little tired of talking about them.  ;-)

I had an IUD when I was young, it was allright but the nylon thread that extended out from my uterus was bothersome. My partner would get it in his penis sometimes and it hurt him. Also, for me it was annoying that when I had a risk of pregnancy I would end up with guys who didnt want children, and with the IUD all I would hear was how much my mate wanted offspring. When I was ready to become pregnant the removal process was unpleasantt too and it was a shock to my system.

I was also bothered by the pill (I am not a moody person ever, and it would make me just flip out for no reason, or start crying, etc.), which is why I opted for the copper IUD (I don't see why you would want the hormonal one when hormones in the pill are what are probably bothering you).

No, I've never had any kids, and yes, it hurt, but not so much that I couldn't go to work the next day (I got it in the afternoon, rested that night, and was fine the next day). I am worried about pain when it's removed, but I guess I'll worry about that when I get to that point.

About the strings bothering a partner, at first mine were longish and bothered me and him as well. I mentioned it to my obgyn, and she trimmed them down so now neither of us can feel them unless we really try to find them. Other than that, I've had no problems at all.

You should do a forum search on this.  It comes up quite frequently and a lot of us have an IUD.  

I have one, have never been pregnant and got it about a year ago.  It hurt a lot to be put in, had a lot of cramping for about 6 weeks afterwards, but it was definitely worth it.  I love it!

Did a forum search and found other established threads about this. Thanks everyone!

I got PID (pelvic inflammatory disease) from an IUD in the 1980's. Due to that, i was told i might not be able to get pregnant. Fortunately, that wasn't the case as i did get pregnant. The scarring in my tube(s) was the reason dr said i might not get pregnant. But, as a BC method, it's easy, don't have to think about it, and i hear they are much better now than 2 decades ago.

Don't get the copper one. Good luck!

Just to let you know, you can't get the horomonal IUD (Mirena) unless you've had kids. It's really unclear from their website, but I talked to my doctor about it recently and if you've never had kids the only option is the copper IUD (Paragard).Which is too bad, since Mirena is supposed to significantly lighten or eliminate periods, while Paragard supposedly makes them heavier.

I know several people who have IUDs and like them, and they are MUCH safer than they used to be. I'm getting mine next week!

Original Post by cosmographer:

Just to let you know, you can't get the horomonal IUD (Mirena) unless you've had kids. It's really unclear from their website, but I talked to my doctor about it recently and if you've never had kids the only option is the copper IUD (Paragard).Which is too bad, since Mirena is supposed to significantly lighten or eliminate periods, while Paragard supposedly makes them heavier.

I know several people who have IUDs and like them, and they are MUCH safer than they used to be. I'm getting mine next week!

Really? That can't be true. I think alle0299 said she's got Mirena, and she hasn't had kids.

I get hives when copper touches my skin, so I can't imagine what it would do if it were inside me; copper just isn't feasible.

Plus, the reason I switched to Yaz was because I get REALLY bad cramping (as in, I get waves of pain bad enough that I sometimes pass out) and Yaz is supposed to help. And it has, but the other side effects are making me go crazy. So getting Mirena and hopefully just stopping my periods all together, not to mention that it's one of the most effective methods out there, seems pretty good to me.

I really, Really hope what your doctor said isn't true or that there was just a misunderstanding.

You're right rudegirl, I do have a Mirena IUD and I haven't ever been pregnant.  Physicians make their own call on if they are willing or not to insert it for you if you haven't had any children.  It doesn't make a lot of sense to me why a doctor would insert a copper IUD for someone who hasn't had kids but not a hormonal one - but I'm not a doctor!  If your doctor says no, I'd encourage you to get a second opinion.

Just to warn you though, my sister's doctor will not give her an IUD until she marries her boyfriend (even though they have been together for 10 years) because apparently without marriage her doctor doesn't consider that monogomous.

I have been on three different types of birth control pill (ortho-tri-cyclin years ago, yasmin and yaz) and yaz was by far the worst. PMS is never my most attractive time, but with yaz it became a nightmare.

For that reason I decided on paraguard (the copper IUD), although my doctor gave me the choice between that and mirena (I've never been pregnant and she seemed okay with the mirena - I haven't heard about any restrictions on either IUD dependent on pregnancy). My doctor told me that Mirena causes lighter periods and some women see their periods simply disappear for months at a time with it. Even with that I decided on the non-hormonal one.

I love it! My sex life became a lot more spontaneous and we've never had problems with the strings. After the first couple of months the heavier periods became normal and now the only thing I notice about it is heavier cramping right before my period starts. I can live with that!

Original Post by repenthea:

PMS is never my most attractive time, but with yaz it became a nightmare.

Yes! That's exactly what's happening to me!

I've got a pretty short temper all the time as it is, but in the 13 months I've now been on Yaz it has been getting progessivly worse. There are now seriously 5 days a month that my boyfriend literally tip toes around the house and won't talk to me unless I say something to him first because he thinks I'll bite his head off. And then if I DO freak out for no reason, I end up crying a few minutes later because I feel bad. It's terrible.

As soon as I get my work schedule for next week, I am going to call my doctor to make an appointment. The gyn I have has always been pretty open minded, so hopefully she'll be happy to give me Mirena. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

New Question: Are IUDs "fitted" or is it more of a "one size fits all" kind of deal? I mean, will I go in to talk to my doctor about switching and be able to get it put in at that initial appointment, or will have I have to make a second appointment? Just trying to figure out if I need my boyfriend to go with me right away;I'll definitely want him to drive me home after it's put in..

You probably will not have it inserted on your initial visit. Before they insert it, you'll need to be tested for certain STDs, which have an easier time accessing your pelvic cavity once you have an IUD. It will take a few days to a week to get the lab results back, and then you can get it. As far as fitting, on the day of the insertion, they put a probe through your cervix that will tell them how long the IUD needs to be, and then they trim it down to size before insertion. After it has been inserted, they trim the strings. You'll need to go back one month after insertion for a "string check" and they can adjust them again then if they're bothersome.

 I have a Mirena, and I have also never been pregnant. I was originally told by one doctor that it was very difficult to get one if you weren't married/were young/hadn't had kids, but after I moved, my new doctor said that that mentality was pretty outdated, but some doctors were still under that impression.

Not gonna lie, the insertion reaaaally hurts, but have a bunch of ibuprofen on hand, and it will be fine. I was only in pain for that one day, and then had some light cramping on and off for a few weeks. I really love it now, my periods are so light, and sometimes nonexistant. It's wonderful.

Single, never had children, never been pregnant, in my 30s, at the time that I made the original appointment I was at the beginning of a relationship so the IUD seemed ideal and while my original gynecologist (50ish man) weaseled the one I got a second consult (30ish woman) from had absolutley no issues.  With me, first I had to call my insurance company and verify that I was covered...that or they would have had me pay upfront.  Then I set up a consult where I thought they would do the insertion, but it turns out they just measured and explained it again.  The measuring was not pleasant but did not have any lingering pain once they removed the measuring tool.  Part of the explanation is that my doctor's office prefers to insert it at the end of your menstruation because apparently the cervical opening tends to be somewhat more dialated which makes it easier.  By that point I was convinced that I might have a bad reaction where exercise for up to a week would be painful, so I delayed it another 2 months since I happened to have a couple of events which I didn't want to skip (plus there was no rush at that point as the relationship had fizzled - please note I did not mention this to the doctor as I was already well schooled in the potential risks and plan to use condoms in the foreseeable future).  When I did go, for me it was painful for a short period of time, but the 3 advil I'd taken as suggested in the morning seemed to help.  I did not need to be driven either to or from, but if you do have a significant other I think that it would be appropriate for them to chauffuer you.  I did have my choice between the Minerva and the Paraguard, but I chose the Paraguard as I have had emotional rollercoasters when I was on the pill.

Hey. I know I'm a man and everything, but just thought I'd put in my 2 cents. Hope you ladies aren't offended or anything. My fiance had the IUD put in after she had our son. It was pushed out the first time, so she went back to the doctor, and he put another one in, and it was push out, again... We were having unprotected sex the first time. Well, the first time it was pushed out she had had it for about 2 days, so not much went done during that period, if you know what I mean. The second time, the doctor said he was going to put another one in because the first one "might have been defective" and that if it was pushed out this time then she would just have to find another form of birth control. Well, after about a week and a half of no sex, we figured that the IUD was fine. It fell out again about 2 weeks after we started having sex! I don't know wheter it was copper or not so I can't help you there. Now she is on the pill (I have no idea which one) and everything's cool. Good luck!

Original Post by rudegirlsdontcry:

Original Post by cosmographer:

Just to let you know, you can't get the horomonal IUD (Mirena) unless you've had kids. It's really unclear from their website, but I talked to my doctor about it recently and if you've never had kids the only option is the copper IUD (Paragard).Which is too bad, since Mirena is supposed to significantly lighten or eliminate periods, while Paragard supposedly makes them heavier.

I know several people who have IUDs and like them, and they are MUCH safer than they used to be. I'm getting mine next week!

Really? That can't be true. I think alle0299 said she's got Mirena, and she hasn't had kids.

I get hives when copper touches my skin, so I can't imagine what it would do if it were inside me; copper just isn't feasible.

Plus, the reason I switched to Yaz was because I get REALLY bad cramping (as in, I get waves of pain bad enough that I sometimes pass out) and Yaz is supposed to help. And it has, but the other side effects are making me go crazy. So getting Mirena and hopefully just stopping my periods all together, not to mention that it's one of the most effective methods out there, seems pretty good to me.

I really, Really hope what your doctor said isn't true or that there was just a misunderstanding.

 Just so both of you know, and anyone else who has read this and needs info, and of course joekame, I have never had a child and I just had a Mirena IUD placed at the bigging of the month. So they do, of course, let people have it even if they have not been pregnant, it's just not advisable to have any IUD placed due to the pain. A woman who has never given birth has a very tight cervix, uterus, and vagina, so expanding both for the placement causes a LOT (for some) discomfort and pain.

Regarding the pain, I have to say when I got it placed it hurt WAY more than I expected. I teared up and was very, very uncomfortable. But, I returned to work about an hour later (I do a front desk job) and was, for the most part, fine... although a little crampy and bled a bit.

So far I dont feel it, and my boyfriend said he didnt feel anything during sex either. I have still been spotting a little every day, and I feel like I can feel something there, but it's not uncomfortable, and I kind of feel like its my imagination! I feel more "full" than anything, not full of food, just... something feels different. I know it sounds kinda weird/crazy, but... I dunno!!

anyways.... all in all I am so far very pleased! 

From the Mirena website: http://www.mirena-us.com/index.jsp

"IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT MIRENA®:
Only you and your healthcare professional can decide if Mirena is right for you. Mirena does not protect against HIV or sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Candidates for Mirena have had a child."

My doctor told me they just changed the rules about Mirena within the last year. She also said that Mirena might be an option for people who've had miscarriages or abortions, but that otherwise they no longer recommend Mirena for women who have never had a pregnancy.

However, for the OP, if you have a copper allergy you might be able to get Mirena. I'd talk to your doctor if you haven't yet.

Also, I've now had the Paragard for two weeks, and although it caused some cramping for the first few days and the insertion was a bit uncomfortable, I'm very happy with it!

Original Post by alle0299:

Just to warn you though, my sister's doctor will not give her an IUD until she marries her boyfriend (even though they have been together for 10 years) because apparently without marriage her doctor doesn't consider that monogomous.

Ew, that's awful!  I can't believe her doctor would be so judgmental!  Nothing about a marriage makes a ten-year relationship more monogamous than it already is.

I recently asked my gyno about a copper IUD because I've been reading about all the weird stuff the hormones in the pill can do to you and it seems like since I lost 20 pounds the few side effects I've had have gotten worse, but my doctor says they don't insert it into women who haven't had children because the uterus is more easily perforated.  I don't think I'll look for someone else to do it though cos I wanted one so that contraception would be LESS complicated!