I Was Tired Of The Pill But I Couldn’t Get A Copper Iud Because I’m Bleeding Too Much Already
I got a Mirena in April 2018. I was tired of the pill, but I couldn’t get a copper IUD because I’m bleeding too much already. The insertion was very, very painful. I fainted, but my doctor was perfect, and explained to me what she was doing step-by-step, and asking me several times if she should stop. The day of insertion was supposed to be the first day of my period and it was a bit late, which is the most painful time of my cycle.
After the insertion, I was very tired but the rest of the day wasn’t so painful. For the first few months I had acne and weak cramps sometimes, and my hair became more greasy. It got better after six months. Most of the time I don’t have periods anymore but they were painful, so I’m okay with that. Sometimes when I have sex I have two days of period-like bleeding afterwards. âMiyne, woman, 26, Leiden, Netherlands
How To Get An Iud
Before getting an IUD, you will need to make an appointment with your healthcare provider to see if Mirena, Skyla or ParaGard is the right contraceptive option for you. It is important that you honestly discuss your medical history and sexual lifestyle with your healthcare provider because an IUD isn’t right for all women.
Your healthcare provider will most likely perform a pelvic exam to be sure that your cervix, vagina, and internal organs are normal and not infected. You may be also be tested for sexually transmitted infections, vaginal infections, precancerous cervical cells, or any other condition that needs to be treated before an IUD can be safely inserted.
If it is determined that you are a good candidate for an IUD, your healthcare provider will most likely have you schedule an appointment for you to have your Mirena, Skyla or ParaGard IUD inserted. IUDs can be inserted at any time during your menstrual cycle or immediately after a first-trimester abortion.
- If you want immediate pregnancy protection , Mirena and Skyla should be inserted within seven days after your period begins. If inserted at any other time during your menstrual cycle, you will need to use another contraception method during the first week after insertion.
- ParaGard is immediately effective, so it does not matter where you are in your menstrual cycle when it is inserted.
- Paragard can also be inserted up to 5 days after unprotected intercourse as a form of emergency contraception.
Find A Doctor Who Listens To You
When I got a copper IUD inserted in 2014 it hurt a bit, but only a few cramps here and there. At the start of 2018, I started getting horrible periods and cramps. After a trip to the doctor, we figured out it was the IUD that was doing it and in August 2018, I had it removed, and the Mirena inserted and my periods stopped almost immediately. I haven’t seen any negative side effects like mood swings, libido or anything like that. If anything, my energy has increased because I’m not losing a ton of iron all month!
When I got the copper IUD my periods went from 5-6 days to 28-40 days, so a change had to be made but I still wanted an IUD as it’s the most reliable option for me. My advice is to make sure you ask lots of questions and find a doctor who listens to you and your concerns. It’s easy enough to have removed, but it’s great if you’re not looking or ready to have kids yet. It’s also out of sight, out of mindâno need to remember to take the pill or shot at a specific time. âAnonymous, female, 26 Canada
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Types Of Pregnancy With An Iud
If your IUD fails, the doctor will find out which type of pregnancy you have:
- Intrauterine pregnancy: This is a normal pregnancy in your uterus where your baby will grow for 9 months.
- Ectopic pregnancy: The embryo tries to grow outside your uterus. It usually happens in your fallopian tubes, which carry eggs to your ovaries and then to your uterus. You can also get an ectopic pregnancy in your ovaries, abdomen, or cervix. A pregnancy in one of these areas canât grow normally. Doctors will end an ectopic pregnancy to protect you from possible bleeding that could put your life at risk.
Since IUDs prevent pregnancies in your uterus, youâre more likely to have an ectopic pregnancy than a regular pregnancy. But this doesnât mean youâre at a higher risk for ectopic pregnancies in general just because you have an IUD.
Are There Any Problems With Iuds
The most common side effects of the IUD include:
- irregular bleeding for the first few months
- with the copper IUD, heavier periods with more cramps
- lighter and shorter periods with some kinds of progestin IUDs
- PMS-like symptoms such as moodiness, headaches, acne, nausea, and breast tenderness with the hormonal IUD
Rare problems include:
Expulsion. An IUD can come out of the uterus by accident . Sometimes a woman doesn’t know this has happened. If an IUD comes even part of the way out, it does not protect against pregnancy. A woman can check that an IUD is still in place by feeling for the string . After someone has an IUD inserted, she’ll need to go back for a follow-up visit to check that the IUD is properly in place.
Perforation of the uterus. There’s an extremely small risk that an IUD might push through the wall of the uterus while it is being put in.
Pelvic inflammatory disease . There’s a very low risk of infection from bacteria getting into the uterus during IUD insertion. Most such infections happen in the first 20 days after placement of the IUD.
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How Do Iuds Work
Copper IUDs release small amounts of copper, which is a natural spermicide. Hormonal IUDs thicken cervical mucus to block and trap sperm, as well as prevent eggs from leaving your ovaries.
IUDs are one of the best methods of birth control. They have a failure rate of less than one percent. Theyre more effective than birth control pills, which fail nine percent of the time and condoms, which fail 21 percent of the time.
What Can I Expect When I Start My First Period With Mirena
I had my mirena put in on 10/26/12 and was not on my period at the time. I got off my period about a week beforehand, so they did a pregnancy test and went ahead with the procedure. I didn’t bleed or spot after it was inserted, but am at the point where I would be starting my period. I noticed some spotting this morning and its continued all day. What can I expect? Will it be a normal period, be spotting, lighter, heavier, last longer? Despite all the negative reviews I read before my doctors appointment I love it so far!
DzooBaby
Tell women who choose Mirena about the risks of ectopic pregnancy, including the loss of fertility. Teach them to recognize and report to their physician promptly any symptoms of ectopic pregnancy. Women with a previous history of ectopic pregnancy, tubal surgery or pelvic infection carry a higher risk of ectopic pregnancy.
The risk of ectopic pregnancy in women who have a history of ectopic pregnancy and use Mirena is unknown. Clinical trials of Mirena excluded women with a history of ectopic pregnancy.
Intrauterine PregnancyIf pregnancy should occur with Mirena in place, Mirena should be removed. Removal or manipulation of Mirena may result in pregnancy loss. In the event of an intrauterine pregnancy with Mirena , consider the following:
Asymptomatic PIDPID may be asymptomatic but still result in tubal damage and its sequelae.
ExpulsionPartial or complete expulsion of Mirena may occur .
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See Your Doctor If: Your Period Comes Back
If you got to be in the Secret Club of No Period after getting your IUD, and then your period starts coming back, thats also a time to make sure your IUD is in place, Kelly-Jones said. Because, what would happen if your IUD got expelled? You would start having your period again.
A benign fibroid in the uterus, called leiomyoma, could be the cause of an expulsion, or partial expulsion.
Can You Get Hurt If Its Out Of Place
Itâs rare, but you may have complications if your IUD moves.
If the IUD cuts your uterus near important blood vessels, you may have bleeding and problems with blood flow to your organs, Nwegbo-Banks says. If it cuts your uterus and moves through it into your abdominal cavity, it can cause localized inflammatory reactions, bowel adhesions, or bowel perforations.
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For Someone Who Wants To Be Spontaneous When It Comes To Sex This Is A Good Option
I got a Kyleena in September 2018 and had two days of cramping when I got it in and about 60 days of spotting afterwards, otherwise I havenât had any issues. Make sure you read about the possible side effects, and consider if it will work for you, but for someone who wants to be spontaneous when it comes to sex and to worry about birth control every day, this is a good option. âAnnemette, female, 27, Denmark
Ask For Local Anaesthetic When Getting It Fitted
Iâve had a Mirena for five or six years. I chose it because the single hormone option had less side effects, I wanted a LARC , but when I tried the implant I experienced constant low level bleeding. The IUD was recommended to me by friends who had one.
Insertion was fine as I was offered the option of a local anaesthetic. Not all are offered this! I could feel sometimes, and my partner could feel them during sex, but this wasn’t a problem. No periods. Iâve been very happy. It was super easy to have removedâjust a quick cough.
I had it removed as decided to start a family and will get another one once we’re done having kids. Itâs great if you’re in a stable monogamous relationship, and don’t want kids for a few years or more. Still good if you’re not in a relationship and don’t want to have to remember a pill, but obviously youâll need to use something else as well for STI protection. Ask for the local anaesthetic when getting it fitted! âAnonymous, female, 33, Scotland
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What To Expect When You Get An Iud
An IUD is a small plastic tube that is inserted into your uterus through your vagina to prevent pregnancy:
- You may feel cramping or discomfort as its being put in, which may increase if you have anxiety.
- You may also experience dizziness or nausea, which is normal.
- If you have given birth in the past, you may have less cramping because your uterus has already undergone a lot of stretching and has become less sensitive.
Things To Expect When Using An Iud
IUDs are quickly growing in popularity as a form of birth control in the U.S. There are relatively few side effects in most cases, but they can spark lots of questions for women.
Dr. Alyse Kelly-Jones, the founding provider of in Charlotte, has answers. She offers consultations and treatments for sexual health as well as gynecological needs, and is a pro at bringing both sex talk and IUD information out of the closet.
The little T-shaped devices not much bigger than a quarter are placed in the uterus and stop sperm from reaching and fertilizing eggs. Lately, Kelly-Jones lately has been performing at least one IUD insertion a day. Most women are surprised by how relatively easily the insertion goes despite some cramping and discomfort, said Dr. Alyse Kelly-Jones.
There are three hormonal IUDs that are probably used the most in her clinic: Mirena, Skyla and Kyleena. They share the same advantages: theyre 99% effective, they last three to five years and they release a tiny dose of the progestin, a synthetic form of the bodys hormone progesterone. The progestin gets absorbed by the body.
For women who dont want hormones, the copper IUD is an option. Just make sure you talk to your doctor about the possibility of heavier periods, Kelly-Jones said.
As a gynecologist, Kelly-Jones said, You have to set up expectations with a patient about whats going to happen. If you dont do that, youre not going to have a happy IUD user.
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Can My Iud Fall Out
Your doctor will check your device during your regular office visits. Your cervix should hold the IUD in place, but in rare cases, it can fall all the way or part of the way out.
This is more likely if:
- You don’t have children.
- Youâre under 20 years old.
- You had the IUD put in right after having a baby or after having a second-trimester abortion.
- You have fibroids in your uterus.
- Your uterus is an unusual size or shape.
IUDs are more likely to come out during your period. You may see the device on a pad or tampon. Check periodically to make sure you can feel the strings. If they feel shorter or longer or if you can feel the IUD itself pushing against your cervix, it may have moved. If this happens, contact your doctor.
At A Glance: Facts About The Iud
- When inserted correctly, IUDs are more than 99% effective.
- An IUD works as soon as it’s put in and lasts for 5 to 10 years, depending on the type.
- It can be put in at any time during your menstrual cycle, as long as you’re not pregnant.
- It can be taken out at any time by a specially trained doctor or nurse. It’s then possible to get pregnant straight away.
- Your periods can be heavier, longer or more painful in the first 3 to 6 months after an IUD is put in. You might get spotting or bleeding between periods.
- There’s a small risk of getting an infection after it’s been fitted.
- There’s a small risk that your body may push out the IUD or it may move. Your doctor or nurse will teach you how to check it’s in place.
- It can be uncomfortable when the IUD is put in, but you can take painkillers after, if you need to.
- It may not be suitable if you have had previous pelvic infections.
- It does not protect against sexually transmitted infections , so you may need to use condoms as well.
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