I.U.D. as Birth Control---

[tron]

I'm unhappy with my current form of BC-- the pill. I'm convinced the hormones are causing other health problems. Just recently I've started considering an I.U.D., but know VERY little about it.

PLEASE PLEASE advise.

 

[Eilan]

I'm sorry to say that I don't have any personal experience with an IUD, though I did consider getting one between pregnancies.

Here's what Planned Parenthood has to say about IUD's

 

[boston_bbw]

I can't say I know much either5. I was just in the hunt with my GYN for a BC as well to help regulate bleeding. She wouldn't do an IUD since I have never had children, still hope to some day and the scar tissue from an IUD could make that difficult. We opted for the Nuva-ring which so far I love.

 

[M's girl]

I use one for little over a year now. It works well for me and I'm pleased with it. Don't know about the tissue damage Boston speaks about but I'm not planning on having children so for that I'm not too worried.

I'm not sure what you would like to know further? The insertion was done in the hospital and was only a tiny bit painful. I was adviced not to have intercourse for six weeks. Then I had a check up in the hospital again to see if the IUD had settled well. What they told me is that it's as much safe as the pill. I have to get another one in five years but my body can reject the IUD at any given time before that (but I will notice that). You can't place it back after a rejection of some sort. Also you mentioned hormones... I have had problems with their imbalance all my life. That's why I did not want to use the pill anymore. My IUD (called "Mirena") still produces a very small dose of hormones, but the release is very local so the rest of my body suffers less. Because it is so local a smaller dose is needed which also helps a lot.

Every now and then I will feel a very weak sort of pain much like when you are menstuating. I think it's still the hormones combined with the time of the month. By the way... I was also told that women vary in their response to Mirena where menstruation is concerned. You will either lose more blood, less blood or stop menstruating all together. The first few months it was indeed less and after that it stopped all together (and I'm not pregnant ).

I never had any problem (pain, discomfert or anything) during sex because of my IUD.

So all and all I'm pleased with it. Hope this helps and answered the questions you were having.

 

[fr34k_n45ty]

My aunt had one some time ago. Sadly something went wrong and now she can never have kids. I started with the pill and hated taking it cause it was just a gross taste and a pain to remember. I've been on the ring for about 3 months and I LOVE IT. You can find so much info on line about different choices. I hope you find something you like.

 

[Guest]

 

[southernsky]

I use the Mirena. The night after the insertion was HORRIBLE. I suggest asking for painkillers for that night. After those couple hours, I've been fine ever since and it's been in for two months now. I love not having to worry about birth control, since its extremely effective. I have never had children, and my gyno went ahead and put one in anyways. I have no plans on having children, and trust the IUD a lot more than other hormonal methods.

 

[LadyJeanne]

I can't say I know much either5. I was just in the hunt with my GYN for a BC as well to help regulate bleeding. She wouldn't do an IUD since I have never had children, still hope to some day and the scar tissue from an IUD could make that difficult. We opted for the Nuva-ring which so far I love.

I've been thinking about the Nuva-ring - could you tell me what happens to it during intercourse? Does it move around? Does it get in the way? Slide out? Can he feel it? Can you? Is it comfortable?

 

[southernsky]

I used NuvaRing before the IUD. It kept falling out during sex, and we'd have to hunt for it between the sheets afterward. I thought it would be funny to play "ring the cock" and give him points for it, but i'm just ADD like that

 

[FurryFury]

I've been using an IUD for over 12 years. The insertion wasn't too fun. There was some cramping and blood the first night. The first few periods after it was inserted were heavy and so were the cramps but I've had 12 years since of trouble free birth control. I also do not plan to have more kids.

Fury

 

[pplwatching]

The last time I posted on this topic I was flamed for disagreeing with the party line on IUDs. Luckily I have thick skin, but I will say again (paraphrasing) that failure rates are less important than understanding the risks and what will happen when the device fails. When you consider the device, assume that it has failed and that you are pregnant. Look at what the risks to your health will be, what your options will be, and how likely it is that your baby will survive. If you can accept all of that then the IUD may be a good choice for you. My wife and I didn't really comprehend in our bones what the implications were, but we liked the failure rate. When she got pregnant with the IUD it was difficult for us.

 

[FurryFury]

Are you saying you got pregnant and lost the child using and IUD?

Fury

 

[jadefirefly]

I had a Mirena for a very short time, and am looking into getting one again.

I liked that I didn't have to remember to take a pill -- I'm such a flake about that -- and I liked that the odds were good that my periods would lessen or even stop.

Unfortunately it had to be taken out when I required a minor medical procedure to remove abnormal cells from my cervix, the tiny string attached to it would have been in the way. By the time they'd cleared me to have another one, I was leaving the area and wasn't able to get a doctor in my new place of residence.

I'm still working on getting health insurance again so I can get a new one. They're one of the most convenient methods for me.

 

[pinkpunani]

I've been thinking about the Nuva-ring - could you tell me what happens to it during intercourse? Does it move around? Does it get in the way? Slide out? Can he feel it? Can you? Is it comfortable?

I used the ring for about six months, and my husband could feel it during intercourse. I never noticed it, and never had it come out or anything. He said it didn't bother him, he could just feel it there. The reason I went off of it was b/c we were trying to get pregnant, but otherwise I had no issues with the ring.

 

[fr34k_n45ty]

I've had no issues with the ring. i've never lost it and I don't feel it. i dont belive my bf feels it, unless he's got his fingers in me. The only thing that I find annoying is that when I have to take it out it's a pain cause I have really long nails and I have to be careful not to scrach myself.

 

[boston_bbw]

I have had no problems with the Nuva-Ring. You keep it in for sex, with or without a condom, tampons, and even your yearly exam. I havn't felt it since the day I put it in and actually wonder sometimes if it has slipped out and it hasn't. No complaints from him feeling it or tasting it either. The pill made me violently ill and this was just a slight headache for the 1st 3 days when I used my 1st one. No issues since. Should it slip out during sex it can be re-inserted up to 3 hours later just rinse it off. My GYN suggested a month before she would try sex without another form but the booklet says your fully protected after 7 days. For those who are concerned it dosn't say if it is Latex or not but it dosn't seem it. And just an added benefit for those who can't keep track of shit.. Nuva-time.. a little program with an icon on my taskbar that keeps track of when I put it in, will notify me in 3 weeks when it needs to come out and then when the next goes in. I also have the long nail hazard.. my nail tech suggested wearing a tight fitting latex glove so as not to cause injury...lol I have yet to try it.

 

[ickle_stace]

Are you saying you got pregnant and lost the child using and IUD?

Fury

my old next door neighbour had an iud in, i think she got pregnant 2 or 3 times while she had it in

 

[FurryFury]

my old next door neighbour had an iud in, i think she got pregnant 2 or 3 times while she had it in

*shivers*

Scary. I don't like to imagine that at all.

Fury

 

[ickle_stace]

*shivers*

Scary. I don't like to imagine that at all.

Fury

well my mum has one in, and apart from problems for a while after it went in, she's glad she has it in now and she's had no problems like my neighbour did

 

[FurryFury]

Me either, it't worked well for me.

Fury

 

[SlickTony]

YMMV--your mileage may vary. There are lots of people for whom it works like a charm. OTOH, I never had much success with them. I had around four of them--I threw out (expelled) each of them. The last one I threw out was the biggest to be had, and at that time, it also resulted in an early miscarriage. That doesn't necessarily mean you'll have that experience--you might be one of the ones who do perfectly well with it.

 

[FurryFury]

I've been incredibly lucky in birth control matters. I've never gotten pregnant when I didn't want to. I got pregnant exactly when I wanted to both times. I had healthy kids.

I hear tell Elves can decide when they do and don't want to get pregnant perhaps I have some of that lovely magic.

I feel very, very blessed. My heart aches for those who lose children to miscarriage or early childhood death.

*hugs*

To you, I'm so sorry you went through that.

Fury

 

[webothliketoshow]

Hi All,
i had a iud put in after the birth of my son,i had a tiny amount of cramping the first day/night but after i had no problems for a little over a year at which point i got pregnant,(i had been planning to go to my Gp to have it removed as we wanted to try for another baby but never got around to making the appointment!) so was really happy to get "caught" but unfortunatly i miscarried at around 6-7 weeks,havent used anything since as still want another child but have been trying for the past 18 months to no avail but i dont think this has been because of my iud (had some scans and no adhesions or anything)
just wanna get pregnant now but i wont be choosing the coil in future
But like alot of the others say it does work very well for some.

 

[SlickTony]

Also, my first husband complained that he could feel the string. I doubt that. He didn't want me to have BC in the first place. I didn't hear any such from my present husband, and it's not like he couldn't reach just as far in.

 

[southernsky]

My bf can feel the string. I can actually see the place on his penis where it rubs him. I know he wants the bc as badly as I do, and it's not just a matter of him complaining.