copper IUD

[verbal-odyssey.livejournal.com]

I just made a consultation appointment with my gyno about getting the copper IUD in. I am doing this because the hormonal birth control pills I have ben taking decrease my libido.

However, the more I read about this the more freaked I become. I was hoping to find some advice or personal testimonies to make me feel better about going through with this. I've already combed WebMd for the details.

I am 20 years old, have one partner, and have never been pregnant.

Comments

[melodic-lyrics.livejournal.com]

You should check out iud_divas if you want insertion stories...there are lots there.

I got a Paragard inserted last July, and I love it. Insertion was painful, as having things pushed through your cervix is not exactly comfortable, but the cramps are pretty easily managed with iburpofen and a heating pad.

[verbal-odyssey.livejournal.com]

Should I take a day off work? I am getting Paragard too.

I am reluctant to give up my light, 2 day periods that hormonal birth control gives me...

[melodic-lyrics.livejournal.com]

Whether you want to take the day off or not is totally a personal thing and dependent on your level of comfort and what kind of job you have (I'd say if you're on your feet all day, you'll probably want to). I did, and I'm glad for it because I was pretty crampy most of the day, and spent the day on my couch with the heating pad on my tummy. The next day at work I had to take some ibuprofen for the cramps, but they were bearable.

My periods were only heavier with paragard for about 3 cycles, but they weren't too much longer. As mrar said, how heavy your cycles become is a very individual thing.

[mrar.livejournal.com]

It's likely you'd appreciate a day off of work. After I had mine inserted I slept for 20 hours and was quite crampy. I also had mine inserted mid cycle (considered to be the best time to insert as the cervix is dilated the most) and I basically bleed like I was having my period for a week, and had 3 days of cramps needing ibuprofen. Some women don't have much of an issue and only have a day or two of bleeding and are right back on their feet, but it's probably best to plan for at least a day of rest, especially if your job requires you to be on your feet.

[mrar.livejournal.com]

What exactly are you concerned about? I am 18 (close to 19), nulliparous, have one partner, and had my copper IUD inserted in early February.

If you're worried about the side effects such as worse periods, that is very individual and I believe how bad they become has to do with how bad your periods are before the IUD. My periods before the IUD weren't that bad at all, a heavy day, maybe two, followed by medium to light days. Not particularly long and I had little to no cramping, and if I did it was during the heaviest day and I rarely needed painkillers. I've had two periods with my IUD so far and honestly? They're a lot better than I expected. My periods got longer and the heaviest day is heavier, however the majority of the "length" of my periods consists of almost nothing. So basically, my heaviest day got heavier (I always have cramps on that day now but nothing 2 ibuprofen won't kill), but my light days are lighter. The most drastic change is the cycle of my periods, before my first day was the heaviest and then it tapered off. Now it starts with almost nothing, works up to heavy, and then tapers off again.

This is my personal experience (I also had an easy insertion for the record, the only pain killers I had were 4 ibuprofen) but if you'd like more personal experiences and information you should check out the iud_divas community, it's awesome!

[verbal-odyssey.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

Ther heavier period is the main drawback.

[mrar.livejournal.com]

It definitely is the main drawback. However it is generally said that the heaviest periods are during the first 3-6 months after insertion during the "adjustment period" and they get better after that.

You can also look into the Mirena IUD which lightens or completely obsoletes periods. It has an extremely low dose of hormones and most experiences I've read on the iud_divas community say there was no noticeable effect on the libido, but as my doctor said "with hormones anything is possible" but it is less likely because it is such a small amount. However periods can be less regular on the Mirena, I've heard of women who NEVER had a period, and women who had months of light spotting. And women in between. I personally like the copper IUD because while my periods might be a bit heavier and a bit crampier, I still have my cycle and that is reassuring to me. But many women love the Mirena.

[kuradi8.livejournal.com]

I've had IUDs for 30+ years. Insertion is no big deal. One quick cramp and it's over with. My doctor would have me take 3 long breaths in a row. Sometimes he'd do it on "2" and I'd hardly notice. It's no worse than getting a shot.

I did notice that I bled a little more with the copper ones -- but not terribly much. I've always had a "gusher" of a day in every cycle and if I remember correctly, it was just one extra tampon on each of those days. Since you've gotten used to lighter cycles on HBC, you might need two extra on those days. No big deal, right?

Don't sweat it. You'll be FINE! :o)

[h0rsegurrrl.livejournal.com]

It's probably the best birth control I've ever used. I've had it for 2+ years. Insertion was easy (though I wouldn't necessarily guarantee it!) and it's almost completely fool-proof. My periods went back to mostly normal after about six months.

Most of the horror stories you hear about IUD's are either completely false or vastly overstated. Perforation is rare in first-world conditions (less than 1 in 1200 insertions). They don't cause pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility or ectopic pregnancies. Insertion rarely triggers PID (0-2% of insertions without a bacterial STD, 0-5% of insertions with an STD at the time of insertion), but just having an IUD in place does not increase the risk of PID. The risk of PID in an IUD user, a month after insertion, is the same as that of the general population. Infertility is caused by a bacterial STD and subsequent PID, not just from having an IUD in place. Ectopic pregnancy is actually less likely with an IUD, due to a reduced risk of pregnancy overall.

My insertion story.

[melodic-lyrics.livejournal.com]

I found this in my LJ, it may be helpful to you:

"Today I had my IUD inserted. While I'm not entirely sure how long it took I'd say probably near 25 minutes from start to finish. "why so long", you may ask.

Well, things just didn't go smoothly. My doctor was great, my body just wasn't cooperating, I guess.

First she tried a speculum that was apparently too large, so switched to a smaller size. Then she commented that I had a long vagina and that my cervix was hiding...thanks body. Thanks. lol.

finally she got the little cervix holder on there, after putting a little numbing salve on my cervix. Then the real trouble began.

She tried to sound my uterus, but the sound she was using wasn't cooperating. (pain was probably 4 or 5/10) I don't know if it was metal, or if it was plastic, but the assistant asked her if she wanted a plastic sound. So they tried the plastic sound. Success! The cramping was maybe a 6/10, I grimaced but it wasn't bad, and I thought "awesome, almost done!" but she wasn't happy with the measurement so she resounded. Ouch. Pain was probably 7/10, grimaced again and a little "ow!" definitely escaped, but I breathed through it, no issue. Then they loaded up the IUD and...they were having problem with it staying in the little inserting instrument, I guess?

So the assitant asked if she could try. but she needed to sound my uterus again. The last time was the worst cramping, I think because I'd already been sounded twice, and had a lot going on down there and my body was like "enough already". I would definitely say it was a 9/10 for just a moment. The pain was enough to make me cry.

Finally (FINALLY!) they got the IUD inserted. I was still trying to NOT cry when they left the room so I could get dressed. I don't regret a second of it.

I'm having very little cramping right now. Everything just feels kind of sore, really. I'm spotting a TINY bit, but it's mostly old blood, so I suspect it's probably just my period getting ready to start.

Anyway, I'm excited. now it's time for lunch and the heating pad I bought. :)"

[atalanta0jess.livejournal.com]

I have a copper IUD, and I love it! Once I learned to manage the heavier periods, they became no big deal at all...and its so much better not having to deal with hormonal side effects!