nervous about getting an IUD

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-05-2003
nervous about getting an IUD
14
Sat, 04-24-2004 - 12:25am
I have lurked on this board for quite a while in my search for the "perfect" bc method. I currently use the bcp, I was on Ortho-cyclen for about year, but I switched to Alesse two months ago because of weight gain and decreased (read: zero) sex drive. Unfortunately, Alesse hasn't seemed to help either of these problems. DH and I want to have kids in about 5 years, and I think that if it works ideally, the Mirena IUD would be best for me. However, I have some problems and questions. First, I'm scared to death that I'll be one of the horror stories of a punctured uterus, an expelled IUD, or a painful miscarriage. Mostly, I'm afraid that this will affect my future fertility. DH and I very much want children, just not right now. I'm planning on quitting the bcp after this cycle b/c my lack of sex drive is really taking it's toll on our marriage. If Mirena left me infertil in 5 yrs, I would rather take my chances getting pg now than being sad later. What are the statistics about the IUD and infertility, and are there any other users out there who worry about this? Finally, I had terrible cramps before the bcp and I'm worried that if I get an IUD, they'll be worse than before. I know the stats on this, but is there anyone out there who had bad cramps before and they got better after? Should I keep experimenting with other bcp's/the ring/fam or nfp before getting a Mirena? Thanks for your help.

~M.C.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Sat, 04-24-2004 - 10:19am
You should check with your dr about how it will affect your fertility...I'm not an expert but I don't think that should be a problem....I've had my Mirena for about 9 months now and haven't had any real problems....I've had the usual--cramps on and off again during the first few months it was in--heavier periods that lasted up to 2 weeks during the first few months it was in..that's mainly it....My periods are basicly down to just spotting a few days each month (luv that!!!!)-I went from using a double pack of kotex overnights pads to using a few pantiliners each month (WOW!!!)....Now I don't really have any cramps around period time--just basicly a few twinges.....good luck!
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-29-2003
Sat, 04-24-2004 - 12:25pm
You seem to have alot of concerns about the iud and I understand that. I was considering one instead of a tubal until my husband went with the vasectomy. If I were you, I would try the ring. It has the lowest dose of hormones. If that doesnt work, then maybe you could just go with condoms(thats what we did until the vasectomy). Or, checkout Mineras website at http://www.mirena-us.com/ Maybe you can find answers to your questions there. Good luck on your decision.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-15-2003
Sat, 04-24-2004 - 12:30pm
M.C.,

The IUD does not affect your fertility. In the past, infertility caused by pelvic inflammatory disease was blamed on an old IUD design (no longer available) which allowed bacteria easier access to the uterus. Infertility is most often associated with sexually transmitted diseases, so if you are at low risk for an STD, you should be fine. Interestingly, women who have an STD and an IUD are no more likely to become infertile than women who have an STD and do not have an IUD. There is a very slightly increased risk of PID immediately following insertion, because the IUD must pass through your vagina, which is not sterile. In the process, bacteria can be introduced into the uterus. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics after insertion to protect against this, but such treatment has not been proven to be beneficial. The risk of infection is very low either way. I have had two IUDs inserted and have not had a problem. The risk of expulsion is about 5%. Perforation and miscarriage are very rare (less than 1 in 1000). Mirena can help significantly reduce menstrual pain. In one study the percentage of women reporting painful periods was reduced from 60% pre-IUD to 29% with IUD. If you are still uncertain, I'd suggest discussing your concerns with your doctor. Ask him/her how many IUD insertions he/she has done. An experienced doctor can help minimize IUD complications. Good luck in your decision.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-15-2003
Sat, 04-24-2004 - 12:34pm
I just wanted to clarify that when I said I have had 2 IUDs and have not had a problem, I meant that I have not had a problem with infection. I expelled my IUDs, but they were copper, not Mirenas.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-13-2003
Sat, 04-24-2004 - 7:05pm
I would strongly advise you against the IUD. I notice that you have a cross after your name and thought you should be aware that IUDs often prevent implantation, not conception. That means that the egg and sperm unite, creating a tiny new baby, in the fallopian tubes. But when the baby travels down the tubes into the uterus, it can't "settle in" (implant) because the uterine lining rejects the baby and the baby is lost in your next "period." Aside from the risks of PID (which causes infertility) this is an issue I think you should be aware of. Hope this helps! If you have any questions, let me know! Best wishes!


BTW, I'm practicing FAM and I love it! I would really encourage you to look into it. I know when I started I thought it sounded really complicated, but it's not! It's really easy once you leaern the basic principles. Go to tcoyf.com to check it out!

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Sat, 04-24-2004 - 9:14pm
Hi sarabecca,

Actually, the medical community considers abortion as the removal or induced expulsion of a fetus. So an egg that doesn’t implant is not an abortion. You have every right to your beliefs but this board deals with birth control not religion and we try to provide medical facts. We have asked you before to curb the use of inflammatory comments in your posts and I do so, again, now. We have also asked you to share with us citations of clinical studies to back up your comments, not right to life proselytizing and you have provided none. If you would like to join the abortion debate please try iVillage’s Parent Soup Abortion Debate Board http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-psabortdeb

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-05-2004
Sat, 04-24-2004 - 10:26pm
hi. have you tried levlen (levora is the generic)? i know a woman who uses this and she hasn't had weight gain or a decreased sex drive. just another option.

~pinklemonade~

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-14-2003
Sun, 04-25-2004 - 12:44am
I had two IUDs. The first one was partly expelled (happened while DH and I were making love) and got "stuck" in my cervix. My GYN had to remove it. It was VERY painful. However, my doctor said it was very likly not put in properly to begin with, since DH swore he could feel it sometimes when we made love(a different doctor had inserted it a year prior.)The second one I had removed after 2 years so my DH and I could have DS. DH and I were very happy with my second IUD and had no problems(couldn't even tell it was there).

The Cons for me were:

It can hurt to have it put in. I felt a burning when the IUD was inserted through the cervix and I had cramps for about 2 hours afterwards.

I had heavier periods for awhile, and they were more painful(cramps).

After my first one "fell out" I was parinoid it would happen again.

Pros:

Never having to think about BC.

Long lasting form of BC, it can stay in for 5 years.

Cheap form of BC, when compared to average yearly cost of other methods.

No hormonal side effects, sex drive isn't effected, no weight gain, etc.



iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2004
Sun, 04-25-2004 - 3:38am
Hey there,

I'm 23, slightly overweight but in good ealth, never been pregnant, and now used Mirena for 4 months to the day.

I have to say that everyone is overly paranoid about this. Biggest downside? It HURTS to get it put in. Don't eat before instertion and take a pain pill 1 hour beofre your appointment.

I ended up feeling so bad I threw up and defecaed simultaneously, and my doc said that was not that unusual. gross.

As for having it I don't know if I'd reccomend it. I used to want sex about 5 days a week, now never. I can't orgasm without about 40 minutes hard work where as it used to take ten or fifteen tops.

I have bad cramps. I'd been on orthro-Tri Cyclen from age 16 and hadn't really cramped. now I have bad cramps for days before my periods, worse than they'd been before I used the pill.

The upside? My periods are getting lighter so i might be on of the 1 in 5 women who experiences cessation of their period after a year.

I asked my doctor about the no sex drive and my explosion of acne (I never had a problem with acne, not even as a teenager before I went on the pill. now I have no less than 15 constantly).

She says it's normal, that it takes about 6 months for the body to calm down.

As for Mirena causing the same side effects as the Pill, that's BS.

Talk to your doctor at length first. But if you want to lose weight and just hate having to remember to lug your pills around on vacation and so forth, an IUD might be good.

I hear the copper is good but I wpon't do it because copper IUDs don't prevent fertilization, they prevent a fertilized egg from implanting itself into the ueterine lining. If you're okay with that the copper IUD has no side effects but has 98% effectiveness. Mirena has 99.5%.

I hope this helps you and anyone out there. BTW there is a 1% risk your fertility will be hurt, but that's about the same as using the pill.

It is very painful to have it inserted, I'm told by my motherly friends that it's similar to what giving birth feels like. it was a leraning exerience.

So if you do it, take an Advil first and make sure you have an EXCELLENT skin regimin.

before I went on Mirena I had dry skin and now it's oil city. And also be sure you have an understanding man because your sex drive will change.

Best of luck!

Nora

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-25-2004
Sun, 04-25-2004 - 6:21am
Hi mg girl, I too wanted to get the 5 year IUD about a year ago, and my doctor strongly disagreed with me. Not only for all the other reasons that you stated, but something about getting an IUD when you haven't had any children yet (and want to) isn't a good idea because it can scar your fallopian tubes? I hadn't heard of it, but it scared me enough to stay on my current method of bc. It's all up to you, but maybe you should try the depo shot, it didn't really agree well with me, but a lot of my friends are on it and it works great for them! Also, I have known a few girls that had an IUD and their periods/cramps were horrible.

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