Home Questions for IUD-using psers

[Callisto]

So I''ve been strongly considering getting an IUD these past few months. I''ve been on the pill for about 3 years now and the more I learn about hormonal birth control, the less I want to be on it. We''ve tried condoms a few times and just really hate them. And since I don''t trust family planning for myself at this time in my life, an IUD seemed like the next best option. I haven''t had any kids, so I know having an IUD put in does have some extra risks (fyi though, the copper-t IS approved for woman who haven''t had children) but right now I feel like I''d rather see how that works. I mean worse case scenario I hate it and get it taken out in 6 months or a year. I know there are plenty of horror stories out there (and on PS) for IUD''s but I feel like I could spit my hormonal bc horror stories right back so I''m really not asking to hear those horror stories. That being said, if you have advice or things to look out for I would definitely appreciate hearing that.

My main questions though are:

1. For those who went from hormonal to IUD did you stay on your pill for a while or how does that work?
2. Do you have to be at a certain part of your cycle to get one put in?
3. How many doctors visits did it take? Did you have to go for a consultation and then back again to get the IUD put in? I''ve recently moved so I don''t even have a preferred doctor here at the moment, so I''ve never discussed it with a particular doctor. Though I have read up on them a lot.
4. How much did it cost you? It seems that many women here said all they had to pay was the copay for the visit.

Any other information for a potential IUD user would be great. Thanks in advance!

 

[princesss]

Date: 2/20/2010 12:55:01 PM
Author:Callisto
So I''ve been strongly considering getting an IUD these past few months. I''ve been on the pill for about 3 years now and the more I learn about hormonal birth control, the less I want to be on it. We''ve tried condoms a few times and just really hate them. And since I don''t trust family planning for myself at this time in my life, an IUD seemed like the next best option. I haven''t had any kids, so I know having an IUD put in does have some extra risks (fyi though, the copper-t IS approved for woman who haven''t had children) but right now I feel like I''d rather see how that works. I mean worse case scenario I hate it and get it taken out in 6 months or a year. I know there are plenty of horror stories out there (and on PS) for IUD''s but I feel like I could spit my hormonal bc horror stories right back so I''m really not asking to hear those horror stories. That being said, if you have advice or things to look out for I would definitely appreciate hearing that.


My main questions though are:


1. For those who went from hormonal to IUD did you stay on your pill for a while or how does that work?

2. Do you have to be at a certain part of your cycle to get one put in?

3. How many doctors visits did it take? Did you have to go for a consultation and then back again to get the IUD put in? I''ve recently moved so I don''t even have a preferred doctor here at the moment, so I''ve never discussed it with a particular doctor. Though I have read up on them a lot.

4. How much did it cost you? It seems that many women here said all they had to pay was the copay for the visit.


Any other information for a potential IUD user would be great. Thanks in advance!

1. No, I did not stay on the pill. Once it''s inserted, it''s effective, so no other form of birth control is needed.

2. There is a specific part of the cycle (I believe it''s actually best to insert it during menstruation) but your doctor can tell you more about that.

3. I went in for a consult/annual exam, they contacted the insurance company to see how much it was going to cover, and then they ordered it and the next time I saw my doctor I got it in. I had not previously seen this doctor as I was new to the area and just asked about it at my annual exam.

4. All I had to pay was the copay because my insurance company covered everything else. Most offices will contact the insurance company for you and see if they''ll cover it, then call you and let you know what''s covered. So for me it was $7 in pills to soften my cervix to make insertion less painful, and then a $20 copay.

I have Mirena which is not approved for women that have not had children, so it depends on the doctor whether they''re comfortable giving it to you. I went in having researched my options and was really just asking my doc for his final opinion between two choices, and after a discussion about my medical history, he gave me his recommendation and I went with that. Have an honest conversation with your doctor.

Also, the first month was really uncomfortable, and my first period with it was miserable. It hurt worse than any other period in my life, it lasted 3 weeks, it was pretty terrible. Once that finished, it was totally painless and easy. I love it and would do it again in a heartbeat.

 

[Callisto]

Thanks princesss I really appreciate you taking the time to give me your input.

What are these cervix-softening pills... I''ve never heard of that before?

Also I could be reading your post wrong, but does that mean you haven''t had any kids either and went with Mirena? I''ve heard that the only reason Mirena isn''t approved is because its a little bit bigger so it''s a tiny bit riskier to have side effects in women with smaller cervix/uterus.

This may be TMI and you honestly don''t have to answer, but do you still get your period with Mirena? I heard some women don''t which I''m worried might lead me to get a bit paranoid.

 

[princesss]

Date: 2/20/2010 2:39:41 PM
Author: Callisto
Thanks princesss I really appreciate you taking the time to give me your input.


What are these cervix-softening pills... I''ve never heard of that before?


Also I could be reading your post wrong, but does that mean you haven''t had any kids either and went with Mirena? I''ve heard that the only reason Mirena isn''t approved is because its a little bit bigger so it''s a tiny bit riskier to have side effects in women with smaller cervix/uterus.


This may be TMI and you honestly don''t have to answer, but do you still get your period with Mirena? I heard some women don''t which I''m worried might lead me to get a bit paranoid.

The pills he had me take were to help make sure I had minimal pain. Part of the reason insertion is harder for women who haven''t had children (and you''re correct, I have not had kids) is that the cervix is still really tight. I mean, nothing has had to come out of there! So the pills help loosen it up, which helps with the pain. I''m not going to lie, it still hurts, but the level of pain I experienced and the level of pain my friend experienced were totally different - and she''s got a much higher pain tolerance than I''ve got!

I don''t get my period, but when I''m not on the pill, I don''t get it anyways so I''m probably not the best person to ask about this. I''m pretty in tune with my body, though, and there are other signs of pregnancy that can tip you off other than missing a period so I''m not worried about ending up on "I didn''t know I was pregnant!"

If you''ve got any other questions, I''m happy to answer! I had a lot of questions about this before I got it, and the best resource I had was a friend of mine at work. There''s only so much reading promotional/informational material can really tell you, especially when it comes to what it''s like to live with different kinds of BC.

 

[Callisto]

Ooo ok, I''ll be sure to ask about those pills. I''m only so so with pain haha so I''d definitely like to make things easier for myself.

Hahaha Oh "I didn''t know I was pregnant" that show is hilarious... my favorite is when they have the cheesy narrator say things really dramatically like "and then she delivered a baby without any pain medications AT ALL" Its like... uh yeah her and the better part of the world not to mention millions of women throughout history. No I don''t worry that I''d end up like that, more so that I wouldn''t be able to change my lifestyle as early as I''d like when if I got pregnant "i.e. stop drinking, take better vitamins etc" but you''re right there are a lot of other signs.

Thanks for the advice. I''ll let you know if I think of other questions.

 

[trillionaire]

Date: 2/20/2010 12:55:01 PM
Author:Callisto
So I've been strongly considering getting an IUD these past few months. I've been on the pill for about 3 years now and the more I learn about hormonal birth control, the less I want to be on it. We've tried condoms a few times and just really hate them. And since I don't trust family planning for myself at this time in my life, an IUD seemed like the next best option. I haven't had any kids, so I know having an IUD put in does have some extra risks (fyi though, the copper-t IS approved for woman who haven't had children) but right now I feel like I'd rather see how that works. I mean worse case scenario I hate it and get it taken out in 6 months or a year. I know there are plenty of horror stories out there (and on PS) for IUD's but I feel like I could spit my hormonal bc horror stories right back so I'm really not asking to hear those horror stories. That being said, if you have advice or things to look out for I would definitely appreciate hearing that.

My main questions though are:

1. For those who went from hormonal to IUD did you stay on your pill for a while or how does that work?
2. Do you have to be at a certain part of your cycle to get one put in?
3. How many doctors visits did it take? Did you have to go for a consultation and then back again to get the IUD put in? I've recently moved so I don't even have a preferred doctor here at the moment, so I've never discussed it with a particular doctor. Though I have read up on them a lot.
4. How much did it cost you? It seems that many women here said all they had to pay was the copay for the visit.

Any other information for a potential IUD user would be great. Thanks in advance!

1. I wasn't on BC before my IUD, so once it was in, it was all or nothing!

2. You should be on your period for most comfortable insertion. I was also given a pill to soften my cervix that you put in manually a few hours before your appointment. I was also told to take up to 800mg Ibuprofen before hand, and was given generic vicodin after my appointment (which I didn't need and still have all these years later...) I had only the most minor discomfort at the time of insertion, like one sharp cramp, and that was it. Afterwards though, I was keenly aware of it's presence in my body, and I could feel it if my bladder was full or if I needed to go #2. I was also very, very crampy for about 2 months. Maybe a little more. Sometimes debilitating. I didn't typically get cramps at all, so this was a bit frustrating.

3. I went to one consultation appointment, and they gave me literature and explained the procedure. It was brief, maybe 30 minutes tops. I can't remember if they did a pelvic exam then, but they may have.

4. With my insurance, it cost me $20. I have a friend who paid $10. I had Mirena, though, and not the copper one.



Overall all, after I stopped being crampy and my body adjusted to the 'foregin body', I LOVED my IUD! I had no period, no worries about spontaneous sex or missing pills, NADA! However, it was terrible for my body chemistry, and I suffered severe hair thinning, as well as unwanted hair growth. My hair shedding stopped pretty immediately when I took out the IUD, but it has not grown back, and it's been over a year. I'd say I lost 40% of my volume, and thankfully I had a lot of hair, but it's really heartbreaking for me. I was out today looking for herbal supplements to help my hair grow back. I've spend $1,000+ removing unwanted hair with laser hair removal. Thank god for it, but it's not cheap, and I still have more areas to work on.

I have 2 friends that have had IUDs. One took hers out because she was paranoid about losing hair, and the other loves hers. She is an OB/GYN and highly recommends them to everyone, even though I was the one who led her to get one, lol!

There are a lot of forums that talk about Mirena and the Copper T and hair loss, hirsutism and other side effects, so look into it. It seems to be pretty specific to each person's body chemisty, so there's no real way to know what will happen unless you try. Mirena has taken hair loss off of their website as a side effect, but it used to be there.

I miss the convenience, though it was not worth my hair.

I don't not recommend it, but know the side effects, and know your body. It took about a year for my hair to start really thinning, and it was another year before I pinpointed the IUD as the cause. Also, many doctors will tell you that it's not the cause. If you doctor doesn't take you seriously, find a better doctor.

I haven't had kids, either, and don't intend to.

Hair loss and BC...

 

[trillionaire]

Date: 2/20/2010 3:37:25 PM
Author: Callisto
Ooo ok, I''ll be sure to ask about those pills. I''m only so so with pain haha so I''d definitely like to make things easier for myself.

Hahaha Oh ''I didn''t know I was pregnant'' that show is hilarious... my favorite is when they have the cheesy narrator say things really dramatically like ''and then she delivered a baby without any pain medications AT ALL'' Its like... uh yeah her and the better part of the world not to mention millions of women throughout history. No I don''t worry that I''d end up like that, more so that I wouldn''t be able to change my lifestyle as early as I''d like when if I got pregnant ''i.e. stop drinking, take better vitamins etc'' but you''re right there are a lot of other signs.

Thanks for the advice. I''ll let you know if I think of other questions.

The pill is called something like misoprostil? A doctor should know, but I don''t know how to spell it.

Women who have not had children are more likely to expel an IUD, and insertion is less comfortable. May women have it inserted post birth, when everything is crazy anyway. Also, because of the risk of infection, perforated uterus, etcm that can lead to sterility, it can be a liability issue, with not wanting childless women to lose their ability to give birth. It''s a low risk, but a very real one nonetheless. As I said above, I don''t plan on kids, so this did not dissuade me. I had mine inserted at the hospital associated with my university, and they were very supportive and encouraging. Many doctors will strongly resist IUDs in non-parents.

 

[Callisto]

Hmm so trillionaire you think it was the hormones that lead to hair loss, right? Not an issue with the copper. I''ve been on hormonal birth control for a while and haven''t had any large hairloss so if it''s the hormones that caused that I doubt I''d be affected. Thanks for pointing it out though, I''ll be sure be stay aware of that.

The risks definitely make me nervous but the I remember all the risks associated with my current meds and figure it seems to be a double edged sword...

 

[trillionaire]

Date: 2/20/2010 6:32:09 PM
Author: Callisto
Hmm so trillionaire you think it was the hormones that lead to hair loss, right? Not an issue with the copper. I''ve been on hormonal birth control for a while and haven''t had any large hairloss so if it''s the hormones that caused that I doubt I''d be affected. Thanks for pointing it out though, I''ll be sure be stay aware of that.

The risks definitely make me nervous but the I remember all the risks associated with my current meds and figure it seems to be a double edged sword...

the hormone definitely are associated with hair loss... better explained in the link on my first post. It has to do with how your body processes testoterone and balances it with estrogen. Because the IUD uses all progestin, it causes problems for some women. You could probably do hormone panels before, during and after if you wanted to monitor such a thing.

I have heard, anecdotally, of women saying that they had a similiar problem with the copper T. I think it is even less common, and I don''t really understand the mechanism clearly. I was trying to figure out how to re-grow my hair, but I am still willing to try the copper T. I like the idea of something non-hormonal, and I really loved having the IUD. If you get the copper T and experience hair loss, do not ignore it. Hopefully, though, you will have a great experience!

Paragard Google Search results

 

[MsP]

Date: 2/20/2010 12:55:01 PM
Author:Callisto
So I''ve been strongly considering getting an IUD these past few months. I''ve been on the pill for about 3 years now and the more I learn about hormonal birth control, the less I want to be on it. We''ve tried condoms a few times and just really hate them. And since I don''t trust family planning for myself at this time in my life, an IUD seemed like the next best option. I haven''t had any kids, so I know having an IUD put in does have some extra risks (fyi though, the copper-t IS approved for woman who haven''t had children) but right now I feel like I''d rather see how that works. I mean worse case scenario I hate it and get it taken out in 6 months or a year. I know there are plenty of horror stories out there (and on PS) for IUD''s but I feel like I could spit my hormonal bc horror stories right back so I''m really not asking to hear those horror stories. That being said, if you have advice or things to look out for I would definitely appreciate hearing that.

My main questions though are:

1. For those who went from hormonal to IUD did you stay on your pill for a while or how does that work?
2. Do you have to be at a certain part of your cycle to get one put in?
3. How many doctors visits did it take? Did you have to go for a consultation and then back again to get the IUD put in? I''ve recently moved so I don''t even have a preferred doctor here at the moment, so I''ve never discussed it with a particular doctor. Though I have read up on them a lot.
4. How much did it cost you? It seems that many women here said all they had to pay was the copay for the visit.

Any other information for a potential IUD user would be great. Thanks in advance!

I didn''t want any hormones which is why I went with the paragard instead of the mirena--the mirena is NOT a hormone free BC. I had tried a few different pills and the nuvaring and was tired of switching around. I''m moody enough and have enough problems with weight that I wasn''t willing to keep messing with pills. I am in my early 20s, have had no children, and have no intention of children for quite a while. I didn''t have any issues convincing my one gyno. It WAS painful, but I was not able to get it inserted on my period because my period was so unpredictable. I had taken extra pain pills before too.

1. No pills afterwards. However, you should wait to

for a little while.

2. You *should* be on your cycle, but you don''t *have* to be.

3. Three doc visits. One for consultation, one for insertion, one for a post insertion check up.

4. Cost was complicated for me. I go to two gynos because I have two different insurances. I kind of go to whichever I feel like or whoever can get me into their schedule. My one insurance would pay for 100% of it but I wasn''t comfortable having him insert it(as he doesn''t do many) and also--he had big reservations about doing it on someone so young and without children. I went to my other gyno and she was great about it. But... I did have to pay $160 for it.

 

[luvmyhalo]

I was on BC pills for about 10 years and was just tired of the side effects I was experiencing with hormonal birth control. I was having headaches, sometimes nausea, and a complete lack of sex drive. I decided to go with the Paragard IUD. (the non-hormonal copper one.) We have one daughter and don't plan on having any more children for a while. I was really nervous about all the things you listed but it really was a great decision for me and I'm so glad I did it.


It was effective as soon as it was inserted so no more pills. Yay!

I was on my period when it was inserted, they said it would be less painful during this time. It was still painful but not as bad as I thought it would be. I took 2 Advil before my appt. The actual insertion felt like a strong, pinching cramp but only lasted a minute or so. Later that day and maybe the next day, I had some pretty painful cramping but it really wasn't that bad!

I was also nervous because a lot of women experience heavier periods with bad cramping. I did for the for 3 months or so but it's gotten better over time. (I've had the Paraguard for about 9 months.)

I saw my doctor 3 times. We talked about it at my yearly exam. Then I came back for insertion. Then a follow up to make sure it was in the right place.

I paid my office visit copay of $15 and that's it!

Good luck!!! Let me know if you have any more questions!

 

[PumpkinPie]

I had the copper IUD ( a different brand because I live in Canada but the same thing basically) for 1.5 years. I had it removed recently - about 5 weeks ago.
I loved it while I had it - I hardly ever felt it, my periods were not any heavier, but the cramping was definately painful.
Insertion hurt me a tonne.. the first time my dr. tried, she couldn''t get it in (my cervix was too tight - I haven''t had any children yet) so she gave me the cervix-softening pills (misoprostal) that you insert a few hours before hte procedure. They worked and the dr. was able to insert the IUD. It HURT though! especially the "sounding" part - where they insert a small rod to measure the size of your uterus to make sure it''s big enough to house an IUD (I''ve spoken to others who had IUDs inserted though and they didn''t have the sounding part done so I guess it varies depending on the dr?).. however, despite the pain and the 2 visits to actually get it put in, I would do it again.
I had it removed though because of the spotting! I was spotting about 4 out of every 5 days for the entire 1.5 years - not sure whether it was just the positioning, my body, or the type of IUD but I couldn''t take the annoyance anymore.

 

[Callisto]

Thank you everyone for all of your helpful advice. These are a lot of little details that you can''t exactly learn from reading their websites and such. I''m becoming more and more comfortable with the idea of trying this form of bc. I''m on a temporary insurance right now so I''ll have to figure out the best way to go about doing/paying for this. I really appreciate all of your helpful comments.

 

[nytemist]

1. I was never on the pill beforehand.

2. It is recommended that you have it inserted during your cycle to pretty much guarantee that you aren''t pregnant.

3. I had it inserted during my regular yearly physical/GYN check-up. When I called to make the appointment, i said that I would also to have an IUD done as well and she said sure. It wasn''t a big deal like a lot of doctors who make you jump through hoops or try to convince you do use something else, especially if you say your don''t want children at all. (I''ve heard some horror stories)

4. It was my normal $20 co-pay.

I find it interesting that there are doctors still saying that they can''t use Mirena in women who have not had children. I''ve had mine now just over three years and I''ve never been pregnant. Insertion felt like some bad period cramps. She recommended taking some ibuprofen or something for pain, but once I stood up and started walking, I felt fine enough to go back to work. I had two more cycles which were much lighter and then they stopped. I haven''t had a cylce since roughly April of 2007. I don''t think I''m having any hair loss due to it. I do have other hair growth, but that has to do with me having PCOS.

 

[Keepingthefaith21]

Date: 2/22/2010 9:37:08 AM
Author: nytemist
1. I was never on the pill beforehand.

2. It is recommended that you have it inserted during your cycle to pretty much guarantee that you aren''t pregnant.

3. I had it inserted during my regular yearly physical/GYN check-up. When I called to make the appointment, i said that I would also to have an IUD done as well and she said sure. It wasn''t a big deal like a lot of doctors who make you jump through hoops or try to convince you do use something else, especially if you say your don''t want children at all. (I''ve heard some horror stories)

4. It was my normal $20 co-pay.

I find it interesting that there are doctors still saying that they can''t use Mirena in women who have not had children. I''ve had mine now just over three years and I''ve never been pregnant. Insertion felt like some bad period cramps. She recommended taking some ibuprofen or something for pain, but once I stood up and started walking, I felt fine enough to go back to work. I had two more cycles which were much lighter and then they stopped. I haven''t had a cylce since roughly April of 2007. I don''t think I''m having any hair loss due to it. I do have other hair growth, but that has to do with me having PCOS.

1. I used NuvaRing prior to Mirena. I removed it on the regularly scheduled day and went in for my appointment in the middle of my period. My Doctor gave me a pregnancy test to be absolutely sure I was not pregnant.

2. It was explained to me that insertion during the flow is prefered.

3. A total of 3 visits: the first we reviewed my BC options (this was also my anual exam). After deciding on the IUD, I had an appointment for the insertion and about a month later I had a follow up exam to be sure the IUD was placed properly and to be sure I wasn''t experiencing any discomfort.

4. Total cost was $60 which were the 3 $20 co-payments for the office visits. My insurance covered the cost of the IUD.

I wanted to echo my surprise at the statement that Dr''s are not inserting Mirena in women who have not had children - almost every woman I know who has an IUD has a Mirena and several have not had children yet. Aside from the reliability percentages being much higher than standard BC my provider actually sold me on the idea because you return to a normal state of fertility almost as soon as the IUD is removed. Since I have had my Mirena, my cycles have become much more regular (and much lighter than when I was on NuvaRing). However, Mirena does contain hormones. I will say that I love my Mirena but I do experience completely different cramping than before - the cramps are much stronger, come in waves but only last one day. The frustrating part is that they DO come in waves - which means I can be fine and suddenly get hit with a bad cramp that throws me off a bit. I would almost prefer that the cramping be dull and constant rather than sharp and inconsistent. Overall, it''s not worth complaining about which is why I have had mine in for 3 years. I do not plan to remove it until next spring when DH and I start TTC and I will certainly go back to it again if we are able to get pregnant.

 

[Callisto]

Thanks nytemist and keepingthefaith! I''m still a little conflicted between Mirena and Paragard. Mirena seems to be more comfortable as far as periods go since its side effects are decreasing flow instead of increasing it. But the other side of me thinks that I''m going off the pill because of my side effects with hormones which although Mirena has a lot less its still enough to affect your period so why would I think it wouldn''t affect my mood or sex drive. Hmmm right now I''m leaning towards Paragard... but I''m definitely indecisive about it.

 

[Iowa Lizzy]

I'd been on hormonal BC for over 10 years and was sick of the lack of sex drive. I was on BCPs, NuvaRing and a monthly injection that is no longer available today called Lunelle). I talked to my provider and we determined that Paragard was my best option. I too hate condoms and I'm not diligent enough for the family planning method.

I had my Paragard inserted at the very end of my period at the beginning of November. It hurt. It hurt more than I would have expected. Sharp pains during the insertion (and sound) followed by REALLY intense waves of cramping for the next two or three days. Tylenol doesn't work for my cramps so I was taking 800mg of Ibuprofen every 6 hours on the dot.

I had an ultrasound a few weeks later b/c the pain had come back again. The doc wanted to make sure I hadn't partially expelled it. Turns out it was in fine, but I was ovulating which was causing so much pain. A week after that, I had another follow-up appointment to check the strings. The day I had mine inserted, I went back to work only to have to go home sick an hour after that. If you decide to get it, I would do it on a Friday afternoon before a weekend when you don't have any big plans. (I had to go wedding gown shopping the day after mine was inserted. Not.fun.at.all).

Every body is different. I tend to think I have a pretty high pain tolerance but that IUD had me on the floor sometimes for the first couple months right before my period. I survived with Ibuprofen and heating pads. (Thermacare makes these AMAZING patches you can wear under your clothes for 8 hours at a time. A total lifesaver for when I was at work). Now I have mild cramping when I'm ovulating and moderate cramping just before and during my period.

So it's been about 4 months since I had mine inserted. I have my period right now and I'd say my cramps are mild to moderate. My flow has gotten heavier and my period has gone from 5-6 days to 6-7+ days/month. My cycle is generally right around 28 to 30 days. The total cost with all my appointments has been about $50 and my Paraguard can remain in place for up to 10 years.

Was is worth it? That remains to be seen. I figure I will give myself up to a year to determine if I really like it. I love not having to remember to take a pill (or run to the pharmacy to buy more pills, Nuvaring, etc) and that my FI and I can be completely spontaneous. I have never been able to find my strings. I haven't noticed any hair loss or gain. I have heard that some people have issues with copper and hair loss.

If you decide to try it, give your uterus some time to "get to know it." It's a foreign object in your body. Google "IUD Divas" to find a really great website full of women's personal stories.

I'm sorry my post has gone on for so long! I hope you keep us updated as to what you decide to do!

 

[MsP]

Date: 2/23/2010 8:53:42 AM
Author: Callisto
Thanks nytemist and keepingthefaith! I''m still a little conflicted between Mirena and Paragard. Mirena seems to be more comfortable as far as periods go since its side effects are decreasing flow instead of increasing it. But the other side of me thinks that I''m going off the pill because of my side effects with hormones which although Mirena has a lot less its still enough to affect your period so why would I think it wouldn''t affect my mood or sex drive. Hmmm right now I''m leaning towards Paragard... but I''m definitely indecisive about it.

Another "mirena vs paragard" thing to think about is...are you okay with having an unpredictable period? ie getting it sometimes, sometimes not, having it late, sometimes going away all together, etc? Supposedly this is quite common with Mirena. I didn''t want this. I obviously got an IUD put in because I didn''t want kids for a long time. I don''t want to be missing my period and having to worry about being pregs all the time. My gyno said with Mirena, most ladies cycles settle back down into a "regular" pattern but many do not. And it might take 6 months for this to happen.

...the ovulation pain is something I do have though. And something I never had before. It''s not killer though.

 

[Aloros]

My main questions though are:

1. For those who went from hormonal to IUD did you stay on your pill for a while or how does that work?
My doctor said it was effective immediately, so I stopped taking the pill right away.

2. Do you have to be at a certain part of your cycle to get one put in?
I wasn''t. I hear a lot of people recommend you do it on your period, since your cervix is softer then.

3. How many doctors visits did it take? Did you have to go for a consultation and then back again to get the IUD put in? I''ve recently moved so I don''t even have a preferred doctor here at the moment, so I''ve never discussed it with a particular doctor. Though I have read up on them a lot.
I went for my yearly visit, discussed an IUD then, and went back two weeks later to get it inserted.

4. How much did it cost you? It seems that many women here said all they had to pay was the copay for the visit.
It only cost me my co-pay.

I have a Paragard IUD. It was painful to get it inserted. I won''t lie, it hurt a lot, but it was over quickly, and it was bearable. I''d say it was comparable to badly stubbing a toe, but with less duration of pain. I think the anticipation is worse than the actual event. I had cramps for the rest of the day, but those eased quickly. My period is heavier, but it''s not that much crampier than it used to be. I got the IUD inserted in late August, and I no longer notice it''s there. Very comfy.

 

[Keepingthefaith21]

Date: 2/23/2010 7:19:02 PM
Author: MissPrudential

Date: 2/23/2010 8:53:42 AM
Author: Callisto
Thanks nytemist and keepingthefaith! I''m still a little conflicted between Mirena and Paragard. Mirena seems to be more comfortable as far as periods go since its side effects are decreasing flow instead of increasing it. But the other side of me thinks that I''m going off the pill because of my side effects with hormones which although Mirena has a lot less its still enough to affect your period so why would I think it wouldn''t affect my mood or sex drive. Hmmm right now I''m leaning towards Paragard... but I''m definitely indecisive about it.

Another ''mirena vs paragard'' thing to think about is...are you okay with having an unpredictable period? ie getting it sometimes, sometimes not, having it late, sometimes going away all together, etc? Supposedly this is quite common with Mirena. I didn''t want this. I obviously got an IUD put in because I didn''t want kids for a long time. I don''t want to be missing my period and having to worry about being pregs all the time. My gyno said with Mirena, most ladies cycles settle back down into a ''regular'' pattern but many do not. And it might take 6 months for this to happen.

...the ovulation pain is something I do have though. And something I never had before. It''s not killer though.

SO TRUE!!!

For me it seems every 6 months or so there is a shift in my cycle. I did have a 3 month time where I had no period at all...then it just cropped back up. The first time I missed a period I was a little concerned - for so long you teach yourself if you miss a period you need to start to worry. The following month, my period returned. Even when I did have the 3 month window where I had no period I really didn''t get overly concerned - I knew it was a possibility and had no other symptoms of pregnancy. I thought briefly about buying a test but ultimately decided against it. It has been 3 years and I am still not completely regular - however, I question if that is because of the Mirena or simply my reproductive organs beginning to show their age a bit

 

[Callisto]

Sooo... I made my appointment yesterday

My insurance is switching over April 1st so I have to wait until April to start this process. I made an introductory appointment for april 5th and an insertion appointment for April 30 (as I''m on my period and will be out of birth control pills as of May 1st haha) I figured it was safest to have both since this will be my first time at this gyno (I moved in June). I asked if they did Paragard and she said yes. I tried to ask a few other questions about the process but its so frustrating to only talk to the receptionist. She was helpful but just didn''t know the answers. But the appointment has been made!!! And I made it for as late on the Friday as I could - 11:30am and am just planning to take the afternoon off.

I''m definitely going to ask her about that pill to open your cervix to minimize pain. I''ve also read that taking that pill helps minimize chances of rejection so that''s positive too.

Only downside is I was really hoping SO would be able to come with me to the appointment to keep my mind off the pain and also to drive me home if necessary but he has a workshop thing that day with his students that he has to be at.

sooo... not sure what my back up will be if I don''t feel up to driving home, granted its not that far from my house so hopefully it won''t be an issue. I just wanted him there though, he''s good at distracting me - like when I had to get a shot into the ball of my food.... ouch.

Travel Goddess- I will definitely look into those heating pads. I haven''t had terrible cramps in the past so hopefully even if they get worse it will be manageable.

Thanks for all the advice guys!

 

[luvmyhalo]

Yay! I hope everything goes well for you. I drove home from my appt with no trouble. Just be sure to have your Advil ready. The following couple of days will be a little painful. That night I was cooking dinner and all of a sudden these crazy painful cramps nearly knocked me off my feet. I took a break on the couch (wish I had thought about those heating pads, that would have been AWESOME) and soon the pain subsided.

Let us know how it goes!