ok everyone, tell me what you know about the IUD

[Laura7169]

Please, I'm researching bc methods, am BFing and w/DD didnt get my period back for 15 months. I have the TCOYF book, but at this point don't notice anything helpful except cervix position. I just CAN'T get pregnant again. It would be too much.

I want all positive and negative advice and information.

Thanks!

[lilirose]

sorry, having to remove all posts with personal info due to an online stalker.

[Linda in OZ]

I looked into an IUD after my second was born, mind you that was 5 years ago and I am lucky to remember what happened last week
I DO remember though that I wasn't very comfortable with the idea of having one after hearing about the side effects, those being infections, possible infertility later, excessive bleeding, among others (fuzzy brain) and they aren't fool proof, two of my cousins were concieved with an IUD in place. Sorry not much help but do really check them out first.
Maybe a diaphragm? I used one between the two boys, and apart from remembering to have it handy it was ok.
Herbs maybe?
Linda

[Nathan1097]

Here's my 2 cents.

I had the Copper T380 3 years ago. I didn't notice anything different. Some cramping and bleeding following insertion. I got it taken out after about 15 months and got pregnant within a week! In fact, I just got a Mirena put in on Friday. Same deal- bleeding and cramping following insertion but so far nothing else.

For me this is an easy method and really reliable. I cannot get my tubes tied so this is the next best thing (besides him getting his tied and since I'm not married anymore....)

[myrrhmaid]

Hi Laura, My understanding of the IUD is that it doesn't prevent pregnancy, it just prevents the attachment of the egg to the uterus by irritating the uterine walls. Which means you could possibly fertilize an egg each month not not be able to support implantation. This bothers me personally on several levels. I can't help but think it would wreak havoc on your hormones(?). To have something foreign in the body for a length of time is something I am not comfortable doing. I hope you an find something less invasive that works for you and your partner.

[Nathan1097]

Originally posted by myrhhmaid
Hi Laura, My understanding of the IUD is that it doesn't prevent pregnancy, it just prevents the attachment of the egg to the uterus by irritating the uterine walls. Which means you could possibly fertilize an egg each month not not be able to support implantation.

Actually, what they pamphlet says is "we do not know how it works exactly..." then goes on to list ways it may. Other theories include imobilizing sperm, irritating to the uterus to have an immune response. Either way, its over 99% effective in preventing pregnancy.

[myrrhmaid]

Actually, what they pamphlet says is "we do not know how it works exactly..."

SCARY!! The fact that they say they don't know how it works tells me they have something to hide! I'm sure it wouldn't go over well to say yes, you fertilize an egg each month, you are just incapable of continuing on with a pregnancy! I think it's BS. (Nothing against you Nathan1097!)
What a crock though to have them say they don't know how it works! :!

[Nathan1097]

Its been used for a long time, apparently. Starting with putting stones in camel's uteruses to keep them from becoming pregnant. I don't know that I'd jump to the conclusion that its "aborting" a pregnancy. There is a difference between aborting a pregnancy and preventing a fertilized egg from implanting. Not all fertilized eggs implant anyway. Not to mention that if one were to do any number of fertility treatments- IUI, ICSI, etc- there are many "fertilized eggs" which never make it to pregnancy.

So yes I believe they don't know how it works exactly. But they know it DOES work. They have changed the designs over the years, added progesterone, or copper... But its not an outright lie to just say they aren't sure why it works. You make it sound as if they designed this to abort, know that it does, and are denying this fact. I don't think that's the truth.

[Nathan1097]

After I had it taken out I went on the Pill. I stopped that after nine months to TTC. It took me SEVEN YEARS to get pregnant! I really blame the IUD although I have no way to know for certain

I would be more inclined to blame the pills. I didn't have a period after going off the "regular" pill for over a year. But part of that could've been that I was overweight at the time, or any other number of factors. I wasn't ovulating, that' is for sure. Lots of factors could play into why this person couldn't get pregnant for so long. Once an IUD is removed, there are no residual effects. (Unless there were problems with it of course.) But in my case, I had my copper T taken out and concieved that same week.

[lilirose]

:Puke :Puke :Puke

[flitters]

i had a copper T IUD for 5 years and loved it.

you may want to check this thread:

http://mothering.com/discussions/sho...threadid=91130

[Laura7169]

Thanks to everyone for their input. I very much appreciate every positive and negative response. I am much more concerned about side-effects than I am about whether or not an IUD is an abortifacient.
I like the idea of certain of the IUDs being relatively hormone-free. I don't like the idea of a foreign thing being inside my body, but like even less the idea of being pregnant again!

[Nathan1097]

Now I think that putting a sharp metal object semi-permanently inside my sacred womb is too high a price to pay. But that's just me.

What sharp metal object? IUDs are made of flexible, rounded T-shaped plastic. The copper on the copper-T's isn't sharp either; its wound around the plastic very tightly. (I inspected mine after it was taken out. Tarnished? Yes. Sharp? Not close.)

[Nathan1097]

And the Pill does not have the potential to cause scarring to your fallopian tubes from a silent infection like the IUD does.

From what I understand, they refer to an advanced case of "PID" from STD's as the kind of infection made worse by an IUD. You make it sound like IUD's can CAUSE infections. This isn't the case.

[lilirose]

:Puke

[Nathan1097]

The point is that you can't really know. Nobody can. I was told that I had blocked tubes too. Had an HSG which showed one side completely blocked the other apparently open. Still they said I'd NEED IVF to ever have kids. (This was all pre-IUD, of course.) Well, I have 3 kids from 3 pregnancies and none needed any "extra" help in the conception department. You just never know. I told everybody that I couldn't have kids. And now look. My 3rd even concieved within a week AFTER an IUD was removed!

[Palmetto210]

I don't usually blog unless I have something positive to add...but this is the FIRST time I felt my blood pressure rise reading MDC posts, and I couldn't be silent.

Lili rose -- Cheers to you! You do not need to defend your experiences. Had I survived 7 years of post-IUD infertility, I would be far less forgiving to "medical science" than you appear to be. Your posts were clear, told from a personal angle (non a preaching vantage point) and non-threatening.

Nathan1097 -- Shame on you for being so intolerant! Glad to hear you had a positive experience. I understood that from your first response. Why is it okay for you to accept the side effects but not okay for Lilirose to let others know of possible side effects? Sorry to sound ill-tempered...but I think you owe Lilirose an apology.

Palmetto

[myrrhmaid]

thank you palmetto

[Nathan1097]

Why is it okay for you to accept the side effects but not okay for Lilirose to let others know of possible side effects?

Part 1: Why is it okay for me to accept the side effects? I don't understand the question exactly.

Part 2: She can let people know about the side effects. Anybody can read the pamphlet that comes with an IUD. Its online, in fact. What I'm doing is disagreeing with her conjecture that her temporary inability to get pregnant was caused by her having had an IUD. She has no proof of that. I'm trying to say "Look at these other reasons that may have been the causes instead of blaming an IUD".

[lilirose]

:Puke :Puke :Puke