Comments on: IUD Update

By: Penny

Penny — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 02:32:07 +0000

Hi Girls!
I have a question for you. I have an IUD and I had it for close to 2 years now. I had a little bit of pain the day it was inserted but nothing since then. The problem I am having now is…. After having sex, I bleed. Not the normal blood color, red. This blood is dark brown. I bled after I do some running as well. Is there anyone else out there going through the same thing?
Penny

By: Mariah

Mariah — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 21:37:02 +0000

It’s great to read all these posts and hear the variety of expereinces. I felt pretty prepared going to have the Paraguard IUD inserted but there were a few things I wish I had known before hand. I hope this list is of help to anyone who’s considering the Copper T IUD.
* Before the insertion, stock up on food, heating pads (I liked having 2, one for stomach other for my back), DVDs, Motrin, and good books.
* Find a friend to drive you to the doctor, and hold your hand if you feel nervous about the insertion itself. You might start cramping right away and you don’t want to be stuck in traffic all cramped up.
* Consider requesting a perscription for a muscle relaxor like Diazepam (valium)in a small 5mg dose before the insertion. The insertion seems to be fine for some women and really painful for others, so why take a chance? If you do take a Valium like I did, you’ll need to have someone drive you as it’s not safe for you to drive.
* On the day itself, take 600 – 800 mg of Advil/Motrin 1 hour before the insertion. Take Advil with a full meal because this is a high dose and you want to protect your stomach’s lining.
* Strongly consider asking the Doctor to use numb your cervix before inserting the IUD. The Doctor can use 2 shots of Lidocaine before insertion, and even though the shots may sting a bit, it’s potentially a lot less painful.
* Definately ask the Doctor to do an Ultrasound immediately after insertion – you’re already there, so make sure the IUD is in place, and you won’t need a follow up visit.
* Keep taking Advil regularly (1 hour for every 100 mg, so 600 mg – 6 hours later take the next dose).
* Be prepared to have cramping for a while – I’m at day 9 since the insertion and I’m still taking 200 a day, but it’s much better.

Take care and be safe.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 04:33:46 +0000

Well my name is Ryan and ive had my iud since december of 2007. like everyone said the procedure isnt tha bad but i did have light cramping while it was being put in. i havent had a period since and now im starting to spot. im kind of scared and dont know what to do……Does anyone have any idea of whats going on?

By: JJ

JJ — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 00:36:59 +0000

I’m an ER nurse and thought that I would be able to work after having the IUD inserted. If you are considering getting an IUD, don’t plan on doing ANYTHING that day, the cramping was pretty severe after the procedure, even with alternating 1000mg tylenol and 800mg motrin. I went home and just layed in bed for the rest of the night.

It’s been 3 months since I first got the IUD, and now it’s great. So fewer side effects than the pill for me. My periods are heavier-but have improved over the last 3 months. And I cramp a little more before I start, but it is such a relief to not be on the pill. If you can’t tolerate the pills side effects-mood swings, weight gain, no libido, hypertension, etc…I highly recomment the copper IUD.

By: Andrea

Andrea — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 22:56:13 +0000

Hello ladies I love this blog I had my initial appointment today for the IUD, I decided to go with Paraguard Vs Mirena, I have two children and are not planning to have any more ever or for a while. I will keep you posted on my insertion story , I’m bracing for the worse but expecting the best outcome. The only drawback is the increase in bleeding and cramping which I seldom experience with my periods.

By: jess

jess — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 11:16:03 +0000

I have had an IUD for 4 years – got it when I was 21, but I had to fight for it! They really don’t like to give them out to women who haven’t already had children. But, fighting for it was well worth it. I hated birth control pills, I was moody and felt emotional and not like myself. I have a copper IUD and, yes, it did hurt like HELL the first 24 hours, but then I was good for 10 years. I am in law school with a serious boyfriend who I have fantastic fun with – I want to be me, travel, make bank, and continue this wonderful relationship with the man I love. What I don’t want is a baby. I don’t understand why doctors do not understand this concept. I really can’t think of anything worse than being pregnant right now. I understand that doctor’s do not want to be liable for malpractice if a an IUD goes awry and eventually causes infertility, but when pregnancy is absolutly not wanted for the next 7-10 years at least (if ever) just let her have some security by allowing her to have the most effective birth control

By: Nikki

Nikki — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 22:20:31 +0000

Ladies, thank you so much for sharing your experiences, this blog really helped me get through my first night with my new Paragard Copper IUD. Iâ€™ve tried several birth control pills, YAZ did me in though, I felt like I was losing my mind! I had a severe reaction: pealing lips, pealing eyelids, memory loss, bad mood swings, I only gained 3 pounds but went from a size 6 to a size 10 in 2 months! My acne cleared up but I had deep circles under my eyes, I looked terribleâ€¦this pill was hell for me and my poor boyfriend! We decided no more hormones for me!!

My first IUD didnâ€™t take due to a curve behind my cervix and I miscarried it within minutes (severe cramping, migraine headache, hot/cold sweats, nausea, light headed) a Ultrasound determined it never made it to my uterus, thatâ€™s when the curve was discovered. I then had to wait until my next period. I was given 3 shots in my cervix for numbing, which felt about the same as a pap smear, then dilated(which means extra cramping as my body returns to normal, no tampons for this period and no sex for 2 weeks because of risk of infection), the IUD was properly inserted and confirmed via ultrasound. The cramps were INSANE! I wish I had been told to take Advil or ibuprofen before hand and told to take it regularly. In the middle of the first night I doubled over cryingâ€¦I was completely unprepared for this and would have stocked up with food, Ibuprofen, pads, and granny panties, I could not take care of myself, could not drive, could not even move! Once I got on taking 600mg of ibuprofen every 4 hours, I felt soooo much better, just a little tired. I believe the key to this procedure is start taking ibuprofen or Advil 2 hours before your procedure and every 4 hours until you stop bleeding. Plan on taking it easy for 36 hours afterwards. If youâ€™re looking for a doctor, I suggest you find one that is used to doing in-vetro.

By: Abbylaine

Abbylaine — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 00:56:35 +0000

Hello! I have been on yaz and birth control pills for a long time, I am about to get married and feel like sometimes my sex drive has depleted! I am glad that IT happens once its going but never have the drive…and I finaly realized, maybe its because of the pill! I didn’t realize it could cause this. So I have bene looking for other options. I also have been getting pretty bad head aches with my periods.
My dilema is which one to go with, the hormonal one or the non hormonal..if you go with hormones in the IUD..will it still cause depletion of sex drive, weight gain anything like that?
Also, I am just nervous of it hurting and having awful periods that last long and that are heavy…pills are great for that. Will the hormone IUD act like a pill in that sense with lighter shorter periods vs the copper one?
Hmm…just an idea i thought of today that someone recommended to me and wanted some info on it.
I am 26 and want to try for kids in probably another year or so…but in the mean time..i wonder what my life could be like off the pill! I feel like maybe it makes me depressed or cranky sometimes…i can be a little brat before my periods!…i was just shocked to learn about the sex drive thing…
any words of wisdom?
Thank you!

By: Catherine

Catherine — Fri, 16 May 2008 19:38:46 +0000

I had Mirena inserted two weeks ago and the process itself was super EASY! It literally took like 2 mintues and was not painful at all. Just felt like a pinch. I did have cramps for the next several days and am STILL bleeding 14 days later… The doctor said this is not uncommon and everything should be “normal” after my next cycle. My only concern is that I’m super-sensitive to hormones and have been really tired and cranky this week. Also, my face is starting to break out…ugh. My youngest daughter is 5 months old and we do want more kids, just not in the next couple of years. I was told that an advantage of mirena is no weight gain (I’ve still got the last 12 to lose). Has anyone seen/heard of weight gain with this?

By: Jodi

Jodi — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 20:03:54 +0000

If I were you, I would go see your doctor. Sounds to me like something went wrong. Like I said above, my cramps lasted a few days and then I was back to normal. I had one other day of cramping about a month after insertion, but nothing else. Not even close to how bad the cramping was at the beginning. I would definitely go see your doctor to see if anything is wrong.