Intrauteran Devices

[Chicklet]

http://www.plannedparenthood.com/images/PPFA/080130-Mirena-IUD.gif​

So, this isn't much of a question...

I went to Planned Parenthood and had an IUD 'installed' yesterday. The experience wasn't exactly pleasant, but it wasn't the worst thing I've gone through for the purpose of sex

Out of curiosity, I was looking on here for threads about IUD's, and didn't find any in the search feature, so I thought maybe we could start one, just to have it there in the records if someone else gets curious.

Has anyone else had any experiences with these devices, positive or negative? Has anyone considered one and have questions about it?

I chose the Mirena.

This site helped me make my decision.

http://www.infoforhealth.org/pr/m19/pg14.jpg​

 

[RUbensBeautY]

I think this is a great idea, Chicklet. I love love love accessible and understandable health care information.

My only experience with IUD so far is a presentation I once had to give for a class that touched on this topic too.

The hormone releasing type would be my first choice as well for contraception. I am not too keen on the idea of hormonal contraception in general for personal reasons but the comparatively low dosage it uses is quite tempting.

It is also the most cost effective solution if I remember correctly.

And while it may not be a double dutch, it is pretty close.

As a potential future user, I look forward to hearing about people who have had first hand experience with IUD.

 

[SoleDesire]

The IUD is fabulous...

I've had an IUD since the birth of my son almost 8 years ago. I'd had multiple miscarriages before his older sister was born and was looking for a more "natural" method of birth control before we had our next child. Since my periods had always been to-the-hour regular, we thought natural family planning (aka the rhythm method) would be a good choice. We went to classes for six months and ended up completely mystified. I got pregnant with our son shortly before her first birthday. I'm firmly convinced the only reason I didn't get pregnant before then was that I was studying for the bar and didn't have time for sex.

During my pregnancy with my son, I found out that I had a medical condition that made hormonal methods of birth control unsafe for me. After his birth, we were stuck with going back to NFP (and having another baby), barrier methods, and abstinence. None seemed very realistic. I talked to my OB and she recommended the IUD. I was a bit anxious about it, after the whole Dalkon shield thing in the 70s, but she assured me the new IUDs corrected the defects that led to PID and toxic shock. Because of my problems with hormones, I went with the plain copper IUD. The insertion was a bit rough (I got light headed), but after that, it's been great. The only difference I've noticed is that my periods are heavier, but this could also be from age. In a couple of years, I'll have to have it replaced (the copper model lasts longer than the Mirena). I'm still not ready to have my tubes tied, though, so I'll either have it removed and try for another baby or just have it replaced. It's really been an ideal method of birth control for me.

Feel free to PM me about any questions you might have about IUDs -- I'm happy to answer them!

 

[Chicklet]

I haven't heard anything about the copper ones before! I wonder how the insertion compares to the Mirena. My insertion went really well, I thought - 15 minutes, a couple of quick cramps, and it was over. Honestly I've had worse menstrual cramps than those. The nurse told me I did better than most people, though, and I do have a really weird sense of pain.

IIRC the copper IUD's last 12 years as opposed to the 5 year duration of the Mirena.

 

[SoleDesire]

It's the uterine sound thing...

that made me feel all dizzy. You know, before they put the actual device in, they put that tube inside? Apparently it can cause a vaso-vagal (fainting) reaction in some women. But she put it in, slid the device through the tube, pulled the tube out and I was ok. It really only took about 5 minutes from unwrapping the thing to me sitting up. I took a couple of advil for cramps and took it easy for the rest of the day (I needed to anyway, since I was six weeks out from a c-section).

They told me I had 10 years before they needed to remove the copper one. The online reports I've read about it say that the most common reason women have it removed is increased bleeding. With the Mirena, there seems to be less of a bleeding problem and more of a hormone issue. Of course, lots of women are just plain sensitive to hormones, so who knows if they'd be better off with BCPs...

The IUD does have the best pregnancy prevention rate in actual use, I believe. Like I said, it's been fantastic for me. One thing, though, if you use something like The Keeper during your period, you can't use it with the IUD. Apparently there's a risk it will pull on the strings and dislodge the IUD. And, of course, if you think you're pregnant, you need to let your doctor know right away. Ectopic pregnancies are nasty things...

 

[Chicklet]

One thing, though, if you use something like The Keeper during your period, you can't use it with the IUD.

The Keeper? Is that the thing that collects the blood which you can re-use throughout the day?

 

[aimouse]

An ex-lover of mine had an IUD. I'm afraid I have no idea what type.
She was very happy with it, but (and I'm not sure how much of an issue it is) I couLd sometimes feel it during sex, which was both off putting (easily overcome) and occasionally uncomfortable (not so easily overcome).

This may be a reflection on the type of IUD (it was about 9yrs ago) but not necessarily size:
I don't have a huge dick (5.5") but she never mentioned any issues with my predecessor (nearly twice my length) so maybe it was just freak occurrences.

Hope that helps.

 

[Chicklet]

An ex-lover of mine had an IUD. I'm afraid I have no idea what type.
She was very happy with it, but (and I'm not sure how much of an issue it is) I couLd sometimes feel it during sex, which was both off putting (easily overcome) and occasionally uncomfortable (not so easily overcome).

I'm baffled by this. I've heard it before, but how exactly does one feel something up inside your uterus? Were you penetrating her cervix?

 

[Mazuri]

I had a copper tipped IUD in from 1997-2007 and loved it. I only had it removed because it was time to remove it and didn't replace it as my husband had a vasectomy which removed the need for Birth Control. I never had any issues with mine nor did he ever say that he felt the string. It was the best BC I'd ever been on, no hormones, no keeping up with pills...just check it monthly to ensure it hadn't strayed and forget about it otherwise.

 

[red_jane_doe]

My understanding is that the little threads hang down just a touch and that's how you check to make sure it's still in place.

 

[Chicklet]

My nurse told me that the threads tend to curl, even, so that they're against the 'back' part of your body and not exactly dangling down.

She gave me some of the sample threads, I wish I could pass them around the boards! They're like an ultra-thin fishing line...

 

[jrichards777]

my gf recently had one of these put in... I think she has the same kind as you.

what other people said is correct: you can't feel the actual device, but you can feel the strings quite easily. They are most obvious when I put my fingers inside her. it isn't a terrible turn-off, but it can be a bit off-putting until you are used to it.

 

[Chicklet]

How recently? My nurse told me that the strings would eventually curl up so that it would be more difficult to find them.

I'd be interested to hear what her experiences for the first few months with it in were - I'm having cramping off and on, more so around 6pm every evening when I get lazy and start to slouch.

 

[SoleDesire]

Threads

If your partner can feel the threads, the doctor can cut them down. And yes, they can curl back in time.

It's never been an issue for my partner, who's about average-sized, in any position.

Could this maybe be something KY Jelly (it's good for so MANY things) would help with? The strings feeling, I mean.

 

[StusGirlie]

i had an IUD fitted for a year.. it was the worst thing i have ever done to myself from start to finish involving cramping and bad menstrual bleeding and culminated in haemmorhaging and extreme pain..

however, despite this, it was a convenient, no fuss way of contraception which just didnt work out for me on a physiological basis.. it wasnt good to start off with that i have never had children..

people experience things differently, no matter what it is, so don't let it deter you if you wanted to try out this method, i hear the mirena IUS is a very good one in effect.. knowledge is always useful, whether positive or negative in origin..

 

[AgonySceneGirl]

I got the Copper IUD. And so far i've had few problems.
When i first got it, man did i get dizzy that day. I had to sit in my car for 30 minutes before i could drive the hour and a half home. If your not going to take someone with you to drive, i suggest being careful.
My periods have been a lot heavier!
I do not suggest sleeping with multiple people! The IUD basically keeps your cervix open so if you slept with someone who has an STD, it will go up into your uterus which is a not so good thing.
If you bleed after sex for more than 1 day, call your dr. Its not a good sign.


The dr's around here where i live, wont even do the IUD if you have not had a kid or been pregnant for more than 6 months. The uterus stretches when your pregnant and stays stretched for the remainder of your life. Yes it goes down in size quit a bit but still its bigger than it was before you got pregnant. If you had the IUD inserted and you have never had a baby, your dr should have warned you way ahead of time. Your uterus isnt equiped to have something, no matter the size, in it unless its already been prepared through pregnancy. Cramping, severe bleeding and yes sometimes even hemeraging.


This is just my opinion but as far as i'm concerned, if a dr gives someone an IUD that has not had a baby or been pregnant with a semi long term pregnancy - the dr is just plain an idiot. It causes way to many complications and way to much pain. If you've never had a baby before the IUD just isnt for you, Trust me!

A friend of mine also had the IUD, she had never even been pregnant.
Needless to say she had it removed within 3 months due to it beginning to penetrate the outter wall of her uterus.

 

[Chicklet]

This is just my opinion but as far as i'm concerned, if a dr gives someone an IUD that has not had a baby or been pregnant with a semi long term pregnancy - the dr is just plain an idiot. It causes way to many complications and way to much pain. If you've never had a baby before the IUD just isnt for you, Trust me!

I'm really liking mine, and I've never been pregnant before. My doctor told me that it's more ideal for someone who's carried a pregnancy to term, but that it's fine for anyone.

My update is that I finally started a period while using the IUD, and the cramps I felt for the week or two after getting my IUD have completely dissipated. = )No pain, no pain during sex, no reports of discomfort from my partner.

 

[southernsky]

I've never had children, and I've had a Mirena in for four years now (I think, maybe it's three? It's written down, I don't know off the top of my head). I don't have periods anymore, the HORRIBLE menstrual cramps I had since I had my first period don't happen anymore. I was in the worst pain of my life the day they put it in, and then 24 hours later I was fine. They didn't believe me, and wouldn't give me pain meds however. Dr's office was horrible in that regard. I don't regret having this in at all, and I'll replace it after the 5th year.

 

[AgonySceneGirl]

Really Chicklet?
How long have you had it? You must be one of the lucky few to not get many long term side affects.
I got it about a year ago, 2 years after my son was born. And i even have problems with it.
Bleeding after sex, severe cramping during periods <which i guess would be normal anyway considering i had a c-section.
I have never had any pains during sex or reports of discomfort from him though.
He actually wears a condom because he doesnt feel the strings. lol its kind of funny actually - they're there. i can feel them, he cant so he thinks i'm lieing lol

 

[Chicklet]

I've had it about 3 weeks now, that's all. The cramps lasted about a week, and I'm having my first period with it in. It's not a lot different than my periods on the pill: light and easy without a lot of pain. I'm not bleeding after sex, and I'm comfortable.

I have about six friends with the Mirena, and none of them have had any negative side effects. Insertion wasn't completely pleasant, but didn't hurt. My friend put it as "Two cramps, fifteen minutes of discomfort, and then it's over." - very similar to my experience.

I have to say, the only people I've heard of having bad experiences with the IUD had the copper ones - so maybe the mirena is just a better option for folks who don't mind the hormones.

 

[AgonySceneGirl]

I have one question though for people who are on the Copper IUD. Arent you suppose to gradually stop having your period? I've had it for about a year and still have extremely heavy periods and very painful periods<lots and lots of bad cramping-- -- Example - changing tampons every 15-30 minutes and in bed the rest of the time due to the cramps.
I wouldnt mind it so much but i feel so drained for the week following my period...then i get cramps from ovulation...then...pre-period cramps which arent so bad, but shortly thereafter i get my actual period. Its just a pain in the neck. I have an appointment to figure out whats going on on the 25th of this month so hopefully i'll get it straightened out.
I would have gotten the Mirena but i'm a smoker.

 

[Chicklet]

They told me I had 10 years before they needed to remove the copper one. The online reports I've read about it say that the most common reason women have it removed is increased bleeding. With the Mirena, there seems to be less of a bleeding problem and more of a hormone issue. Of course, lots of women are just plain sensitive to hormones, so who knows if they'd be better off with BCPs...

quoted from post 5

I haven't heard of anyone I know with the copper IUD (and honestly I only know a handful of people, none of them liked it and all had it removed within a year) having their periods stop. I feel like everything I've read is the same as your experience - heavier periods.

 

[PertPerth]

My friend was thinking about getting one after her second child was born, only she was told that it may hurt to be inserted as she's never had a vaginal birth (and so her cervix isn't as open). She was saying that her friend had one inserted recently and she was cramping for about a week, but perfectly fine after that.
Has anyone experienced the same thing?

 

[AgonySceneGirl]

when i had it put in it only hurt when they put it in, and that was only like a poke with a needle type of a feeling.
I had a c-section also, no vaginal birth here.
But everyone is different. Depends on how much their cervix dialates during their period if its gonna hurt or not.

 

[Chicklet]

She was saying that her friend had one inserted recently and she was cramping for about a week, but perfectly fine after that.
Has anyone experienced the same thing?

That was my experience.

It was not *comfortable* going in, but I wouldn't say it hurt. I got flushed, because the body reacts that way to being dilated in that fashion, but other than that it was fine. I fanned myself off, and the nurse, while the device went in

The cramps were annoying, but no worse than my monthly cramps were before I went on the pill.