hormonal BC with IUD?

[wearflowers.livejournal.com]

Just a few questions again about IUDs:

Does anyone take hormonal birth control - like Alesse or TriCyclin (or other pill form birth control) - while they have an IUD?
Are there hormones in the IUD that will help with slight acne problems? Will the IUD help to know when periods are coming, or regulate them?

Right now I am on Alesse and have been for about half a year or so. But I want to get an IUD because I don't want to worry about pills and pregnancy.
However I am concerned that if I switch my acne will get worse again, because it only became less when I went on the pill. And I also really like knowing when my period is going to come. So I was thinking that when I get my IUD I will continue with my Alesse. Does anyone know if the IUD will help to control this stuff too???


And is there a group for IUDs on livejournal, cause I couldn't find it if there is one...

Thanks everyone. :)

Comments

[lilclerk.livejournal.com]

iud_divas is a WONDERFUL community with a lot of helpful information. Definitely read through the memories in there and in birthcontrol. =)

There are two types of IUD. The Mirena has hormones in it, and is likely to make your period shorter, lighter, or possibly disappear altogether. I'm not sure if it will help with acne. The Paragard is nonhormonal and will likely make your period much heavier, longer or both.

I have heard of people continuing to use birth control pills for reasons other than birth control while they have the Paragard, but I don't think you could do it with a Mirena.

[ashestothestars.livejournal.com]

There is (http://community.livejournal.com/iud_divas/). iud_divas.

[mandaryn.livejournal.com]

I belive it's iuddivas or iud_divas or somthing similar, I know someone else can post.
Although, I do belive that taking HBC pills while on an IUD is overkill and not necessary, as an IUD offers the same (with slightly different precentages) protection as HBC pills.

[frolicnaked.livejournal.com]

"Although, I do belive that taking HBC pills while on an IUD is overkill and not necessary, as an IUD offers the same (with slightly different precentages) protection as HBC pills."

I think, from the OP's wording, that she's thinking of getting an IUD so her contraception effectiveness won't be compromised by taking pills imperfectly. However, she's also considering staying on birth control pills for other reasons, like acne management and period regulation.

[mandaryn.livejournal.com]

Gotcha! =) That makes sense, acutally once I saw one of the commenters above me mentioned something similar right as mine posted, I was like, "oh ok =)"
I figured I'd at least leave my opinion up. Thanks for the new persepctive! =)

[the-leh.livejournal.com]

You cannot, as far as I know, combine the Mirena IUD with the pill. BUT you CAN combine the copper IUD with the pill, however, you really do NOT need to. The Mirena will make your periods lighter, and could make them stop alltogether. I don't know if it will regulate them, however.

The Paragaurd IUD, even without the hormones, has pregnancy rates just slightly shy of those equal to sterilization. The Mirena has rates equivalent to that of sterilization. No form of birth control is 100%, even if you combine meathods.

There is a group on LJ for IUD users, iud_divas

[the-leh.livejournal.com]

*I should specify, since it is a little unclear in my wording...The Paraguard is hormone free copper IUD, the Mirena contains a small amount of hormones.

[pirogoeth.livejournal.com]

Upon searching through iud_divas a bit, I think the consensus is that it's safe/alright to take BCP along with having an IUD inserted, but I would definitely talk to a medical professional before doing so. :)

[wantsmorecats.livejournal.com]

I believe if you have a non-hormonal IUD, you can continue to take hormonal oral contraceptives. With one of the hormonal IUDs, though, I wouldn't be so sure.

There's a fabulous community for IUDs, iud_divas

[10yearsgone.livejournal.com]

i have problems with hormonal acne that improved when i was on a pill containing estrogen but i had other side effects that i didnt like. i'm on the progesterone only pill in to see how i would do with the mirena iud (they contain the same hormones so my nurse practioner said i would have about the same reacions), and sadly it does nothing for my acne. you might want to look into staying on the pills or having the paraguard and pills for your acne.

[frolicnaked.livejournal.com]

If you get a nonhormonal IUD (ParaGard if you're in the US), you can continue to take HBC pills without needing to be concerned about potential interactions. When I was experiencing some extended bleeding after my first ParaGard insertion, my nurse practitioner suggested that she prescribe HBC pills to regulate that bleeding. (I declined only because for me, the bleeding was preferable to side effects I'd experienced on HBC.)

I'm not sure, however, about possible interactions between a progestin-releasing IUD (Mirena in the US) and HBC pills. It would probably be best to speak with a doctor on this one.