IUDs

[dutch.lover]

Hello everybody, I wanted to ask y'all about IUDs. I recently started considering getting one, as I am kind of fed up with the birth control pills/patches/rings out there and I don't want to have kids for quite a long time (5+ years). I have been reading a lot about it, and it sounds really great- I wanted to know your experiences with IUDs, if anyone has/had one.

If I got one, I would get the hormonal one rather than the copper one i think.

[birdgirl73]

Hey, Dutch.Lover!
My doctor's not an IUD fan, and consequently I'm sorta leery of them. What she says is that she is much more comfortable using them on women who've already had their babies and not on women who're intending to have them in the future. She feels that way because they do have a chance of embedding themselves/perforating the uterus (small chance, but still . . . ) or causing inflammation/irritation/scarring that could later impair fertility or, in the non-hormonal-laden IUDs, of the woman getting pregnant with the IUD in place and then miscarrying. Pregnancies can and do happen with those, but I know that's much less likely with the hormonal IUDs.

That being said, my little sister is getting ready to have a baby by IVF. And her doctor (different doctor) put in an IUD to hold the inside of the uterus open and keep it ready for the insertion of the embryo. The doctor will remove the IUD when they put in the embryo. So that means to me that different doctors feel different ways about IUDs, clearly.

My sister and a couple of IUD-using friends have said that they make periods and cramping more unpleasant than they were before. And the little wires that hang down can be an unfortunate experience for the men! But I think they can trim those wires back so guys don't get poked as they plunge. (Couldn't resist that alliteration.)

[dutch.lover]

The copper (non-hormonal) IUDs are the only ones that are supposed to make periods worse, that's why im thinking of going with the hormonal one. It actually lightens the periods in 90% of women, and in 20% of women, their periods stop altogether in the first year. I made an appointment with my doctor in about a week and a half so I will talk to her and hear her feedback about all this, but the more people's opinions the better!

[EmoRebellion]

Erm.. Isnt that 110%?

[Mrs. Greenjeans]

Erm.. Isnt that 110%?
I believe that's supposed to be 20% of the original 90%. That would be my guess anyway.

Dutch.Lover, I used to have the Mirena IUD. Here's my experience: The wires hung down, poked my hubby. (This is my ex hubby. He was ahem, really well endowed) I got them trimmed. Didn't matter. He had an 8 inch woofer and I only have a 6 inch tweeter, so he still got poked. Then the bastard cheated on me, and the bacteria from his illicit liason used the IUD as an onramp to the freeway of my uterus, traveled up my fallopian tubes, to my ovaries, resulting in fullblown PID, and a 1 cm. cyst on the ovary that subsequently ruptured and abcessed, nearly killing me. I spent a week in the hospital under heavy antibiotics, and missed my baby girl marching in the big 4th of July parade when she was 5. I still have scar tissue, and my right ovary is adhered to the inside wall of my abdomen. This has caused me to have horrid cramping, and pain when I ovulate.

Just my experience. Take it for what you will.:D

[dutch.lover]

ahhh!! that sounded horrible...im sorry your ex did that to you! Well, I am still going to talk to my Doc about getting one, but I am a little less enthused now. lol.

[Mrs. Greenjeans]

I'm not trying to pee on your parade DL. I just firmly believe in people making informed decisions. And as long your honey is faithful (and clean LOL), you most likely won't have any negative experiences.

[dutch.lover]

haha sorry for the reaction, I appreciated your response- don't get me wrong. I'm all for informed decisions, that's why I started this thread. I have been hearing a few negative things about IUDs which is lowering my desire to get one, but we'll see what happens. Im still open to positive feedback tho, lol.

Bye for now!!
ps: I love this new forum!

[dutch.lover]

stupid internet not working well and this was originally a duplicate post....

[Mrs. Greenjeans]

I like this new forum too. It's a nice change from some of the more testosterone laden threads.;)

[L3G10N's wife]

I currently have my second Mirena IUD. My first Mirena was recommended to me while I was pregnant with my daughter by a nurse friend of mine. The idea was perfect so I decided to give it a go. For me, it was the best thing Ive ever done. I love the idea of not having to worry about BC daily, weekly or even monthly. I was completely happy with my first IUD. I had it removed to try for baby #2. After baby #2 was born I had my second IUD inserted. Ive had this one for 9 months and Im completely happy with it. I had my first IUD for 13 months.

BC isnt one method fits all so there are definitely people out there who dont like IUDs. If it sounds like something that will work for you I would say try it.

[vettegurl77]

i just had a copper t took out a few weeks ago i had it for 7 yrs worked fine till about last yr then it made my peroids horrible. now that i have gotton my period since then its back to being normal again. were trying to get pregnant again so hopefully thatll come soon

[passingships]

My fiance has a standard copper IUD and it's pretty much OK. She does get cramps of the first day or two of her period, but she did before so that's not necessarily relevant. She thinks they might have got slightly worse but not completely sure. Having her cervix dilated was painful, although it lasts for up to 10 years.

Before the IUD she was on hormonal birth control (I'm sorry, but I temorarily forget which one) which had the advantage of very light or absent periods but when they did come they were in the form of long and unpredictable spotting, now they're regular and over in about 3 days although much heavier than before although it took months to settle down after coming off the pill.

As regards getting poked: there is a tiny piece of plastic 'string' that just pokes through the cervix and which you have to feel for every few months to make sure it hasn't got dislodged. I can sometimes feel it during sex although it is rarely unpleasnt and only if I'm going deep enough to be at least a little uncomfortable for her so I don't find it much of an issue.

One thing to bear in mind is that you can't use a menstrual cup if you have an IUD, which is a minor nuisance because they're cheap, reduce incidence of thrush compared to tampons, don't have to be changed as often and are environmentally friendly. Apparently the 'string' is a potential route for infection so it's best not to leave menses sitting around the cervix longer than necessary.

On the whole she likes it as it is 'fit and forget', extremely reliable and doesn't seem to cause many side effects compared to hormones.

[Storm Crow]

Had the string problem with the hubby. Got it cut and it only poked him now and then. Made my periods VERY heavy- 7 to 9 days! (Menopause was a relief!) Some cramping. And in spite of what the doctors said I could feel it inside me. Convenience gets an A+, though. Effective and worry free. - Granny:hippy:

[Chronic Chrissy]

I love my mirena IUD. It's the hormonal one. I barely noticed it going in and forgotr about it every since, oh and no periods for me. DH has never been poked. It lasts up to 5 years and you are fertile soon after removing it if you want. I just wish it would have stopped my lactating(From BF my daiughter) it's been almost a year since I've stopped BF and H still gets squirt, lol.

[katyowns]

My mother had an tubal pregnancy caused by her IUD, so I don't think I'll ever be getting one, because of family history.

I'm very happy with my nuvaring, best birth control I've EVER been on, which included the shot and the pill.

[painretreat]

Don't they do that hormonal implant in the arm anymore? I believe it was the safest as far as infections go, they are limited to a place you can see them and take care of asap. I bet most Ob/gyn's will tell you (if they are being honest) not to do it. Ask your doc if she or his wife ever did it? Most likely not. They can be real dangerous, especially if you want children. Being baren is not pleasant and you are taking that risk! Is it worth it, I think not!

When you are finished with kids, etc. There is a relatively new procedure called Ablation (spelling), anyway, I had that and no periods! I was never so excited in my life. You still have the emotions, but done with the mess! Lucky for me, my cramps went away also. But, that was several years ago, don't think I'd be bothered with them much anymore.

I say explore all types of control. Absolutely, do not risk becoming infertile or your life! many women just do not like them, some find them uncomfortable and irritating. A lot come out about as fast as they were put in.

I would really re-read all the above, before you do it! Wanting a child and not being able to is about the most helpless feeling on earth! Not just for you, your potential mate, as well! You may want to think of him and what he thinks of it!

So, what did you do and what has been your experience? Ooops! Missing in Action, that may be an answer!

[WillWork4Weed]

My wife had the copper IUD put in after we had the baby. She couldnt do the hormonal one because her hormones are already out of whack from depo.

She had an allergic reaction to it somehow...and was having a green discharge come out-it was the most discusting thing ive ever seen.

She had it removed and everythings good now, just trying to find a new method of birth control.

[Chronic Chrissy]

My wife had the copper IUD put in after we had the baby. She couldnt do the hormonal one because her hormones are already out of whack from depo.

She had an allergic reaction to it somehow...and was having a green discharge come out-it was the most discusting thing ive ever seen.

She had it removed and everythings good now, just trying to find a new method of birth control.

I know a few people with an allergie to copper. It turns their skin green and itches.