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[destruct.livejournal.com]

This is my IUD story. When I was considering getting one, I couldn’t find any first hand accounts, so I thought I’d post mine in case someone else was interested.

Be warned, it's kind of long, and i tend to ramble.


I had finally decided that the pill just wasn’t working for me anymore. Every month around my period I absolutely hated my boyfriend, and snapped at everyone in general, and it was keeping me from losing any weight whatsoever. (side note: I’m not overweight, but I know this isn’t my proper weight so I went on a diet. 1200 calories a day/45 minutes of exercise 4 times a week = no weight loss) I went and talked to my dr. and she tried to talk me out of it, but I told her that I wanted to have an IUD inserted. She made very sure to note that it is imperative that I be in a monogamous, long term relationship because multiple partners puts you at a high risk for infection and infertility. She also stressed that an IUD is usually for someone much older than me (I’m 21), or already has a child. Regardless, I made the appointment with her.

I had read all kinds of information online about the process of insertion, so I felt I was ready for it. I took aspirin about an hour before the appointment, but I completely ignored the warning that it was best to have someone drive you to and from the appointment. The whole thing took all of 3 minutes, and it really wasn’t a big deal. Clamping the cervix was the worst of it because it caused an instant menstrual cramp. She cut the tiny string on the IUD, and it was all over. I paid, left, and I felt fine. Unfortunately, this didn’t last long. The second I got into the elevator I thought I was going to pass out. I got really hot and light headed. I knew I couldn’t drive home, so I called my boyfriend who was the closest to the doctor’s office. Luckily, he was driving right by when I called, because the fun was about to start. It was the worst cramp I’ve ever had in my life, and it went in waves. It went from intense pain to horrible pain and back again. I really just wanted to go home, but my cousin was visiting and I felt weird about telling him. For the next three hours, I laid on the floor moaning, crying, and generally wishing I were dead. My boyfriend was absolutely fantastic through the whole ordeal (I was doing this for us after all!), he shut the hell up when I yelled at him, he brought me things when I demanded them, and he held my hand when I was really hurting. Over the three hours, the pain gradually lessened, and finally I was okay enough to drive home. I took some more aspirin, and I went out that night with only a few sporadic pains.

Even though I was in so much pain, getting an IUD was totally worth every single cramp. I don’t have to take a pill. I instantly lost 10 pounds. I no longer hate my boyfriend when I get my period (why is that?), and I feel better in general. My mood is significantly better all the time. But the best thing is the big red letters on the pamphlet she gave me that says “Schedule removal: January 2012”! I don’t have to pay for any more birth control for ten years. I think I made a great decision.

I don’t know if any of this will happen to you if you decide that an IUD is right for you, but I really wanted to share this, just in case somebody was thinking about it and wanted an honest, first-hand account.

Comments

[naath.livejournal.com]

with the monogamy thing, is that just because of the higher chance of getting an STD?

[destruct.livejournal.com]

Honestly, I don't understand why. Since I am in a long term relationship, I didn't really ask more questions about it. Try one of the IUD links from the vaginapagina page. Sorry!

[jkatj.livejournal.com]

I found the IUD to be great in some ways (convenience, no pills, that sort of thing), but over time it greatly increased my monthy cramps. I finally had to have it removed after a couple years because the cramps were insane.

[bonniebon.livejournal.com]

sorry to hear that :( hope you found another method that was more comfortable! btw, what is it like having it removed??

[jkatj.livejournal.com]

I found the best contraceptive ever -- date a woman instead of a man. LOL. No more pills, no more cramping IUD, no more painful sex. Women rule!!

As far as removal, I don't remember very well. I think it was just some tugging, a tiny bit of pain, and it was over. I think I may have had some spotting and light cramps after the procedure, but it's hard to say for certain.

[destruct.livejournal.com]

did you get bad cramps before? the dr. said to expect more severe cramping from a combo of the new IUD plus going off the pill, but i always had such light cramping i figured it wouldn't make much difference.

[gezellig-girl.livejournal.com]

I've had an IUD since 1998, and my story is pretty much the same as yours - instead of gaining weight though, it was the hormonal side effects of the pill that I couldn't deal with anymore.

The clinic I went to didn't really give me the "an IUD is usually for someone who already has a kid" - no, just my doctor NOW gives me that crap. Anyway, getting it put in was uncomfortable. I didn't have cramps as severe right away, but I had increased cramps for the first three or four periods afterwards. Nothing debilitating, but just more cramps than I was used to.

I could not be more pleased with this IUD. No more mood swings, no more "oh crap, I took my pill at 6:45 instead of 6:00!", etc. etc. etc. And I never have to think about until 2008!

[bonniebon.livejournal.com]

so the non-hormone IUD lasts ten years then? I guess that means mine does too (mine is a Nova T whatever that means heh), but I'll no doupt get it removed before them in order to have kiddies :)

[gezellig-girl.livejournal.com]

Yup, mine's the non-hormonal one (totally forget what the brand name is). I have to admit, I'm having mine out sometime in the next 18 months or so, and I'm paranoid about finding someone experienced in IUD removal. They're still relatively rare, and I don't want some bumbling doctor who's never done it before.

[bonniebon.livejournal.com]

good luck with that, from what I've read they just pull it out through the cervix fairly easily but of course it's best to find a doc who has done it before so they know exactly how to do it without damaging you in any way. Let us know what it's like having it removed, I'm sure others like me will be interested.

[destruct.livejournal.com]

i don't get why the stress the kid thing. that's the whole reason why you get reversible birth control, right? so if you decide you want kids at some point, you can.

no more mood swings
by far the best advantage. i've decided that i am never again going to take hormone pills, or have anything to do with a patch, etc. it's just not natural, certainly not for me, and i wish that i figured this out earlier!

[bonniebon.livejournal.com]

thanks for posting your IUD story, it seems yours is pretty similar to mine which is comforting to know. When I had the really bad cramps at the begining I was worried that something was seriously wrong, but I phoned the family planning clinic helpline and they told me not to worry :)
But yeah, those initial pains were bad, like intermittent knock you on your butt crampy stabbing pains, not at all like the usual constant menstrual cramp. But exactly as you say, I think it was well worth it.

[destruct.livejournal.com]

i'm so glad i can finally talk to someone else about this! thank you.

i was also worried about those initial pains. i was convinced i was having some rare, life threatening reaction!

p.s. i was looking at your profile and i saw that you were from the midlands. i have family in derby and nottingham. yay!

[bonniebon.livejournal.com]

I'm originally from the south east, but I moved up here just over a year ago. Derby isn't far from me, the cool thing about where I live is that all the big towns are within reach! London, Manchester, Leicester, Derby, all an easy bus ride away :)