OT - IUD

I'm considering having IUD inserted. My friend had a very bad experience with it and had to have it removed. I'd appreciate it if I can get some input from others. Thanks!

Thu. May 29, 5:23pm

I've never heard of anyone having anything but horrific IUD experiences :( sorry but I'd want to know about the risks, I personally know someone who had to have a hysterectomy after having had an IUD. I actually thought they weren't even doing that anymore ...

just curious, with all the options available, what's are the "Pro's" that make IUD attractive?? I only ask b/c I honestly thought they weren't even doing IUD's anymore and I'm curious what is making you consider that method of birth control?

Thursday, May 29, 2008, 5:41 PM

Wow I've never heard of anyone having bad experiences. I love mine. I've had it in for over 3 years now. No periods, no cramping, no bloating.

IUD are's the #1 form of birth control in Europe and are rapidly gaining in popularity here in the US.
The benefits are:
less hormones
no upkeep, no daily pill, nothing to forget or mess up
if you want to have kids remove it and your instantly fertile, no waiting for drugs to clear from your body.

Thursday, May 29, 2008, 5:54 PM

I LOVE my IUD, and never heard of anyone have a bad experience! The doctor who put it in me highly recomended it for girls my age (20) its perfectly safe and I dont get my period anymore (massive, massive bonus) its only 50$ for 5 years of protection. My mom had one as well and she was easily able to conceive children after...(maybe a little too well!!! heeehehe)

Thursday, May 29, 2008, 7:51 PM

I have one friends who's had a bad experience with an IUD. It basically got lost inside her and no one noticed until she got pregnant.

I think horror stories are more common than satisfactory stories because you never here anyone say, "by the way, my IUD is still working great."

Thursday, May 29, 2008, 8:10 PM

I'm pretty shocked by the first responder -- IUDs are THE most commonly used birth control in the world.

This is why I got mine:
- good for 9 or 10 years (Paragard type), so cheap if averaged over time
- if (doubtful) I want to conceive, I just have the IUD out and can start trying immediately, no wait
- the big reason: I cannot take hormonal birth control, my body does not tolerate it . So, we finally got sick of barrier methods. We had ALL KINDS of problems with barrier methods -- a lot of "Plan B" moments. And since Plan B is a hormonal treatment even if short, it wasn't too pleasant for me!
- I talked to a friend who had one and she loved it.
- I talked to my doctor about it and she thought it was appropriate for me.
- Insertion in the doctor's office, takes 10 minutes.

Here's a note -- if you've never had kids, you can still have an IUD. The doctor has to measure your uterus first, though, to see if it's large enough. Don't ask me why they don't make 'em in more than one size!

The only "con" I see is that insertion does hurt. They say, "you may have cramps." Oooh baby, I had contractions! But only for an hour or so, then regular period-like cramps intermittently for 3 days afterward. Checked back with the doctor 2 weeks later, it was perfectly in place... ta da!

Thursday, May 29, 2008, 8:33 PM

OP Here

Thanks for all your input.
Main reason that I want to get it is for convenience. I'm 42, so I figure if I get the 10 year one, it may carry me through to menopause, and I won't ever have to worry about taking the pill anymore.

Friday, May 30, 2008, 1:24 AM

OP, me too! (8:33 here, I'm 40.)
One thing you might need to know is that the responses from the USA you have concern 2 different types of IUD:

1) Mirena, which lasts for 5 years and releases hormones directly into your uterus, which can make your period lighter and less crampy.

2) Paragard, which is a more conventional copper-wrapped IUD. Lasts for 9 years, and can make your period heavier and more crampy.

I'd say my period was already heavy and crampy, and Paragard hasn't changed it a bit.

Other countries allow other variations on the IUD, but these are the ones in the United States.

Friday, May 30, 2008, 7:01 AM

I <3 my IUD!!!

I've had the Mirena IUD for 4 years now and although I'm fairly certain my next step will be sterilization, I don't want to give it up because it's been so darn convenient!

I simply could not do hormonal BC - I tried nearly everything under the sun and experienced so many expected and unexpected side-effects I thought I was loosing my mind. Y'know what? I wasn't - they were all real and very signifigantly affected the quality of my life. I'm happy to say they all went away within ~6 weeks after I washed my hands of the lot and got an IUD. The IUD has literally been the answer to my birth control prayers.

Now having said that - it's not for everyone and it's not a step I took lightly. I did a lot of research before I took the step and consulted with my doctor who took the time to really talk about it and checked my reproductive health very thoroughly before she would insert one.

Friday, May 30, 2008, 2:47 PM

Can anyone tell me about how much this costs?

Friday, May 30, 2008, 3:29 PM

I have a paraguard iud. I have hmo insurance and they weren't going to cover it. I fought them on it and accused them of discrimating against women (they cover vasectomies but not iud's). I won. I paid my co-pay of $25 adn I got a device that I was told costs $500. see if you're insurance will cover it. if not,try Planned Parenthood - they have reduced fees.

I have VERY heavy periods and lots of cramping. in fact, I am on day 10!!! I never used to experience this. I may switch to the Mirena IUD, but I am afraid of putting on weight due to the hormones.

Thursday, July 24, 2008, 4:46 PM

OT IUD

I wouldn't be without mine! I've had it since 2005 - previously I was anemic all the time from fibroids, in spite of endometrial ablation. Now I have 0 periods and minimal cramping at "that" time of the month. And it has given my husband and me freedom we have never known before - the spontaneity is fantastic.

BTW, I have the Mirena, which is frequently recommended for those with meses-related anemia.

Thursday, July 24, 2008, 5:03 PM

The hormone levels in Mirena are very low and are intended to alleviate the heavy periods associated with copper IUDs. They are not high enough to be birth control themselves. Consult your physician if you'd like to try it but are concerned. Also, Mirena's website is very comprehensive.

Thursday, July 24, 2008, 5:53 PM

Related Content: How To Lose Weight- The Basics Weight Watchers Points System The Fat Smash Diet The Eat To Live Diet The Beck Diet Solution How To Get The Motivation To Lose Weight		How To Be Successful Using PEERtrainer How To Burn Fat Online Weight Loss Support- How It Works Does Green Tea Help You Lose Weight? Tips On Using PEERtrainer Visit The PEERtrainer Community Diet and Fitness Resources
Fitness Weight Watchers Meetings Learning To Inspire Others: You Already Are Writing Down Your Daily Workouts Spending Money On A Personal Trainer? How I Became A Marathon Runner		Preventive Health How To Prevent Injuries During Your Workout Flu Season: Should You Take The Flu Shot? Are You Really Ready To Start PEERtrainer? Super Foods That Can Boost Your Energy Reversing Disease Through Nutrition
New Diet and Fitness Articles: Weight Watchers Points Plus How To Adjust Your Body To Exercise New: Weight Watchers Momentum Program New: PEERtrainer Blog Archive Review Of The New Weight Watchers Momentum Program		Weight Loss Motivation by Joshua Wayne: Why Simple Goal Setting Is Not Enough How To Delay Short Term Gratification How To Stay Motivated How To Exercise With A Busy Schedule
Real World Nutrition and Fitness Questions Can Weight Lifting Help You Lose Weight? Are Protein Drinks Safe? Nutrition As Medicine?		Everyday Weight Loss Tips How To Eat Healthy At A Party How To Eat Out And Still Lose Weight The Three Bite Rule Tips On How To Stop A Binge