Need Info on IUD

[punkprincessmama]

Please if any of you have used the IUD can you give me some info? I have an appointment at a family planning clinic in a few weeks and can not figure out what kind of BC I want to use. My dh is pretty open, but I refuse to use hormonal bc at all so I was thinking maybe the copper IUD. How is it inserted? Any info / advice would be much appreciated. TIA.

[squeakermansmom]

hello! i'm an np in an ob/gyn office and i insert IUD's. It's usually a relatively easy procedure with only mild cramping and possibly some bleeding. It all depends on how "easy" it is to get it in. If you have had children before, esp. vaginal birth, then it should be pretty easy. The 'hard' part is getting the IUD through the cervix. That's why having had a vaginal delivery helps - the cervical os is now more 'open' than before. best time to insert it is within 5 days of your period since #1 - you KNOW you're not pregnant and #2 - your cervical os is more open from bleeding. worst complication, although incredibly rare (i think less than 1%) is the IUD could perforate the uterus. this is a big 'woops' and a medical emergency! again, very rare!!!! for the most part they are very easy to put in and even easier to take out. the copper IUD is good for 10 years. biggest complaint i've heard with it is your periods may become heavier and crampier in time. usually takes a year or two for you to notice a difference. they are highly effective though and many patients LOVE their IUD. my only recommendation is if you do decide to have one inserted: make sure you find someone that knows what the heck they're doing (i.e. they've done lots of them). this isn't the kind of thing you want screwed up! hope this post doesn't scare you, just wanted to give you all the pros and cons! let me know if you have any other questions.

jodi, mom to joseph 3-31-02

[firstatfourty]

IUD problem

I used an IUD for about 6 years and did not have any significant problems. AT the time I had it inserted they strongly recommended I use a alternitive BC if I ever wanted to get pregnant because of some known problems with IUD and PID and tubal problems. Well, at the time I was young and naive and didn't think it applied to me. Long story short, when I did have it removed and decided to attempt pregnancy, I had problems. I had a tubal pregnancy and have been told I likely have scarring in that tube now and have 50/50 chance of successful pg (depending which tube the egg travels through). THe OB feels this was caused by the IUD. I did get pregnant, and am planing another but not looking forward to the "roullette" game I will play hoping that the pregnancy is successful and the good tube is where the pregnancy occurs. It was very depresssing to have a tubal; and lose the pregnancy. I do not want to go through it again. My only suggestion to you is to do good independent research on the issue before you make final decision. I also know personally one person who became pg with IUD.

[curlygrrl]

I had one and absolutely loved it but unfortuately, it came out! This is very rare.

I would have another one in a heartbeat, and probably will after my baby is born.

Tamara

[punkprincessmama]

thanks everyone!! You've been very helpful to me. I think at this point I'm going to hold off on the IUD..... It appeals more to me than hormonal methods, but obviosly has it's drawbacks too. i wish there were an easy answer to birth control, but that is life!! For now we are going to continue using condoms while I i look into Natural Family Planning more. We definetley want more kids, but we want to wait a few years before the next one.

Again, thanks to you all for your help. It was great to see both sides too -- thanks Jody for your professional insight.

[applejuice]

*

[applejuice]

I just wanted to say that I have always preferred barrier methods (diaphragm, condom, cervical cap, foam, jelly, female condom) even though they may be inconvenient, they leave you "in the driver's seat", so to say; this is, you are in control of your fertility and you do not have to worry about the side effects of hormones or scarring because of a foreign device put in your body.

IOW, the side effects for your future fertility are minimized and the side effects for your future health are also lowered.

JMHO.

Now, I will leave.

[Bex80]

Not so bad

Hey Punk

I had an IUD for a little over a year after I had my son. It was fine on insertion and removal and did it's job at preventing pregnancy. I did notice more cramping as time went on, but other than that it was fine. My problem was in my head.

I couldn't get over think that I could still get pregnant with it in and maybe what if it messed up my uterus, even though I KNEW the chances were very minute. I had to get mine out for peace of mind.

I'm currently on the pill and hating it. I was on it for 5 years before I got pg and never had a problem. After the IUD, I decided to get back on it and I thought it would be just as easy. I am always forgetting it and I have out of control PMDD which I believe is related to the hormones in the pill. I am starting to take some flaxoil, bcomplex, and calcium/magnesium supplements to see if it's really the hormones of if it's because I do not eat right!:

Anyway, I, too am interested in Natural family planning, I am looking forward to gettingsome good info off of these boards Good luck!

[punkprincessmama]

thanks for the replies!! I really appreciate hearing from other mamas.

Applejuice, what does IOW mean?

QUOTE:
I couldn't get over think that I could still get pregnant with it in and maybe what if it messed up my uterus, even though I KNEW the chances were very minute. I had to get mine out for peace of mind.

BEX80- I know what you mean. I think this is part of the problem I would have too. Like applejuice has said, with barrier methods you don't have to worry about that. I tried the pill after my dd was born (I had taken it for about three years previously) and it made me crazy. I had huge mood swings... I hated it. I haven't found anything yet that I love, so sticking with condoms for now. Someday I'm going to learn enough to feel comfortable with NFP 100% and then dh and I both will be happy

[CSAndKC]

Natural Family Planning

My sister just got an IUD and has had to return to the Dr. at least once for pain and nausea. We use Natural Family Planning and it is FANTASTIC! We use the sympto-thermal method(as effective as the pill) taught by the Couple to Couple League. You can take a correspondence course if there are no teachers in your area. Also, a lot of Catholic diocesan family life offices offer the classes(for about the price of 1-3 months of the pill) Using this method(which incorporates breastfeeding) our first two children are 3 years apart, and when this one is born(planned!) our younger will be 2 and 1/2. We've been using this method for five years and are really happy with it.

Added bonus: intimacy after the short abstinence is often VERY romantic and passionate.

Extra added bonus: I am very familiar with my personal health and when used to achieve pregnancy you can get a more accurate due date than when you use the first day of last period method. Good luck!

[Amy in NH]

After the birth of my second son, I had an IUD placed, kept it for a little over 4 years without any complications. I had it removed and conceived my now 20 month old son within a month. I had another IUD placed when he was about 8 weeks old, again no complications. I LOVE my IUD and would get another one in a heartbeat!

[memory maker]

I had an IUD put in after dd was born and I hated it. It was uncomfortable from day one. I always had that feeling like when you have a tampon not in far enough. I finally had it taken out and found out that it didnt stay in place, but had gotten stuck into my cervix. Im glad it is out and wouldnt have another put in.
I know lots of people like them, but not with my experience

[lilmiss'mama]

Just a word on NFP...I think it definetly works great for some people, but you have to be honest about the type of person that you are. I am too lazy to do NFP. I was not into charting or putting enough thought into it. Hence, my 2 girls!

[punkprincessmama]

bumping this up for Jessmcg

[Mary-Beth]

I'd be concerned about copper toxcity. I'm not saying it would happen...it's just something I'd look into and research before getting.

I'm basically on the LAM but use condoms becasue I really cannot imagine having a third baby right now.

[punkprincessmama]

Wow, good point Mary Beth.

[TrishWSU]

I think this has sorta become a dying topic, but I just found this forum so I'll put in my $.02.

I got the Mirena (hormonal) IUD after DD was born and I didn't like it at all. I could always feel the string and had to get it trimmed twice and still felt it. DH said he could feel it most of the time, too. I didn't like the idea that I had a forgien object in my body and I couldn't take it out. And, like somebody already mentioned, I was driving myself crazy wondering if I was actually pg or if my period just hadn't returned.

To make a long story short, I had it removed after four months and have been using NFP/FAM w/ a diapraghm(?) as back-up. I don't temp b/c I don't think I've sleep for three consecutive since before dd was born. I found Toni Welscher's book, "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" to be very helpful. I checked it out from my local library and read the whole thing in two days. It was so fascinating! I really like being able to predict my period and know what's going on the rest of the month.

Anyway, this has kind of turned into a ramble, but bottom line: I hated my IUD, I love NFP/FAM.

[Jen123]

The IUD's do not prevent conception. They prevent implantation. Something to keep in mind.

[Bex80]

I learned that after the fact, I wonder hom many I may have lost????

[flitters]

I had an IUD for about 5 years while in college. After unsuccessfully going through pretty much every other method (except NFP) I was thrilled with the IUD. I am now pregnant with my first and I intend to get another after this baby is born. My insertion was very painful and I believe this was because the doctor was not experienced with IUD insertions (live and learn). however, the removal was really quick with only cramps for about 30 seconds and my periods remained easy. dh would sometimes get poked by the string during sex in certain positions, but this was workable.

Originally posted by Jen123
The IUD's do not prevent conception. They prevent implantation. Something to keep in mind.

All the references I have found say that the mechanism of IUD contraception is not known for sure. Most of what I have read says the primary means of contraception is by making the uterine environment hostile to sperm so they can't move well or live long enough to fertilize the egg. On the very rare occassion that one gets through and conception actually occurs, i believe that the IUD does (mostly) prevent implantation, but this is the fallback method of contraception. One study showed there was no evidence that fertilization was ever occurring.

I completely respect that many people would not use the IUD if preventing implantation of a fertilized egg was even a slight possibility. I just have not seen any research that actually decisively shows that prevention of implantation is actually the means of contraception when using the IUD.