choosing and iud

[ohthe--horror.livejournal.com]

 I am looking for some advice.  I read through the memories and didn't find a situation quite like mine.

-I'm a 20 year old female and I'm getting married on June 6, 2009
-I have had one good and one bad experience with HBC - the first I tried was great (prescribed for acne), the second made me feel crazy (prescribed as a future BC method)
-I am a virgin!   And plan on remaining one until after I'm married.

I was given HBC a few months ago by PP so I could start being protected for once I'm married.  Also, with the help of a doctor, I used it to move my period a few weeks so I could avoid being on my period around my wedding for, well, obvious reasons, plus I'm going on a cruise for my honeymoon.  I stopped taking the HBC because it made me crazy!! and ultimately was not a reasonable BC method.

I am going to PP on Thursday hoping to get an IUD inserted.  I suspect I will be considered a good candidate because I am in a long-term monogamous relationship, have no STDs or history of STIs, have no allergies to IUD components, etc.  I was initially interested in ParaGuard not because of the length of it's use, but because of it's lack of hormones.  After some research, I am concerned about my periods getting heavier and longer, as my wedding is six weeks away, and I have perfectly timed my period to come the week before my wedding.  

My concern with Mirena is that my family has an extensive history of breast cancer, and I know hormones can aggravate that.  I don't mind having my period - it is naturally only about four days, plus I know it is a positive thing (yay!  female bodies are awesome!!) - but it will erase my fear of a horrible period around the time of my wedding.

Which do you suggest?

Comments

[liliananerezza.livejournal.com]

i'm not sure if doctors prefer not to implant and IUD if you haven't had kids yet? I know you haven't got this one on your list but i have an Implanon implant in my arm and it rocks. I'm the biggest wuss when it comes to needles and I managed to get it, it lasts for three years and can be taken out anytime you want if you wish to become pregnant after you get married. I've had mine since about june last year and had my period on it only twice (which i with the pill didn't happen period every time). I thought i'd throw that one in for another option for you :)

[atalanta0jess.livejournal.com]

Its fine to get an IUD if you haven't had a kid yet. There is just a slightly higher chance that either your uterus will be too small, or you will expel the IUD - however, neither of these scenarios is dangerous, just inconvenient.

[jix.livejournal.com]

Go with paraguard since your wedding is only one day. If you get Mirena you'll have it for awhile and hormones could cause you breast cancer.

[melodic-lyrics.livejournal.com]

While it's true that progestrone can stimulate breast cancer growth in women it's unclear what role Mirena plays in that, particularly because of it's very low hormone dose.

OP - I would talk to your gynecologist about what exactly your needs are, and what s/he would suggest for you based upon your lifestyle. I have a Paragard, and my first 2 or 3 periods were a fair bit heavier, but have regulated since. You could always take a pack of birth control the month of your period if you had a Paragard, to prevent your period from interrupting the wedding plans. :)

[spamanda77.livejournal.com]

If you haven't already checked it out, look at iud_divas (sorry, I don't know how to link it!) There's LOTS of information about IUDs there.
I had a mirena and LOVED it. It was seriously the best birth control I've ever used. I also was able to get pregnant right away after removal -- which was a bonus. :) I had mine placed after my first pregnancy. However, both IUDs are fine for women without children, though you may have a tougher time finding a doctor to do it.
I do just want to warn you that bleeding is really common after insertion. I was definitely still bleeding six weeks after I got my IUD. I believe this is common with both paraguard and mirena. So, you might not be able to avoid bleeding for your wedding if you get an IUD right now. :(
Good luck, I hope you find something that works!

[paraxeni.livejournal.com]

Seconding this. After insertion of any intra-uterine device you can bleed irregularly for up to six months.

[frolicnaked.livejournal.com]

Thirding it. While my post-insertion bleeding was much heavier with my ParaGard than it is with my Mirena, I had 6 weeks of more-than-spotting the first time and am working on 21 days of blood goo now. :P

[atalanta0jess.livejournal.com]

I agree that getting an IUD on Thursday doesn't bode well for your wedding night, no matter which IUD you get. Spotting and bleeding are a possibility with either one.

I also think that an IUD is a long term investment - I would NOT recommend making your decision based on how it will affect one day (or even one week) of your life. I know its an important day and all...but one day, compared to years? Choose the thing that will be best for YEARS. All those little wedding details seem far more important now than they will in sex months, most likely.

It sounds like you are a good candidate for a paragard, if your periods are currently easy to deal with, and you want to avoid the hormones.