Considering IUD...

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-03-2004
Considering IUD...
2
Mon, 05-03-2004 - 2:08pm
I'm 25 years old, married, and mother to an 18 month old boy. Here's my birth control history.

The first pill I ever used was Levlite, which is a low dose monophasic combination pill, and I was very emotional while taking that pill. I also started getting bad pap test results while using that pill, so after a year of use I quit and just used condoms for a while. My pap tests started to clear up a few months after I had a cervical biopsy. I actually ended up getting pregnant from not using condoms during my period. After my son was born, I started using the mini pill (progestin only pill) because I was breast feeding, but its been 10 months now since my son stopped breast feeding all together. I'm still using the mini pill and I have experienced no side effects while taking it. The problem is that the mini pill is even more annoying to take than the regular pill because not only does it have to be taken every day, but also at the same time every day. If your more than 3 hours off, your supposed to use a back up method of two days.

I'm interested in the Copper T IUD since its a long term reversable method of birth control, it is non-hormonal, and doesn't require daily attention. I was wondering what experiences others have had with the IUD. I hear a lot of good things about it, but also bad things. My main concern about the IUD is that if you do manage to get pregnant while using it there is supposed to be a high risk of miscarriage and other serious complications to the woman and developing child. Does anyone have any additional information on this particular risk. How often does this situation actually happen?

I read some place that you should use condoms when you are most likely to be fertile during the first two or three months after the IUD insertion. Has anyone else heard this or done this?

Also, anyone who has the copper IUD, did you get tested for copper allergy before getting the IUD? I wonder what complications would arise if someone is allergic to copper and had a copper IUD? I'm slightly concerned about this because I remember I had a a problem wearing earrings. A few days after I first got my ears pierced (I was 12 at the time), the posts that were used to pierce my ears started to sink through my ears. I kept geting infections years after that too.

Of course, I have to get another good pap test result before they will let me get an IUD. I'm not sure what I will do if I get another abnormal pap test result. I was thinking about the Nuvaring, but I've afraid I'll probably have the same emotional side effects that I had with Levlite, since its side effects are similiar to the combination pill.

Any input that anyone has will be greatly appreciated.

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-15-2003
Mon, 05-03-2004 - 6:49pm
I used the copper IUD and loved it. The biggest downside is that it tends to make your periods heavier and more crampy, so if you already have really bad periods, you may want to avoid the copper IUD. Yes, there is an increased risk that if you do become pregnant, the IUD may cause some problems. The most serious problems occur if the pregnancy goes unnoticed into the 2nd trimester. As long as you catch the pregnancy in time, the IUD should be able to be removed without risk to you. The risk of miscarriage from removing it is 25%, but this is the same rate of miscarriage for any pregnancy. My best friend became pregnant with an IUD, had it removed, and delivered a healthy baby. But all of this is not even an issue unless you are one of the very few who do become pregnant. It is very rare, as the IUD is a very effective method of birth control. I have not heard about having to use a condom during the fertile time for the first few months. I was not tested for copper allergy. I believe it is very rare. If you are worried about it, or if you have bad periods, you may want to reconsider the Mirena hormonal IUD. Since you already are doing so well on the mini-pill, I see no reason for any hormone related problems from the Mirena. The dose is lower in Mirena than with the mini-pill. It may even be the same type of hormone - which mini-pill are you taking (what's the hormone name)? For more information on the types of IUD, you should check out www.paragardiud.com and www.mirena-us.com. As I said, I loved my IUD. Insertion was not bad at all. If you have any more questions, please let me know.
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-03-2004
Tue, 05-04-2004 - 8:27am
Thanks. I appreciate your input. I'm not as concerned about the rare possibility of getting pregnant while using the IUD. I couldn't imagine not being aware of a pregnancy. I'm not really concerned about the heavy, crampy, long periods. I remember would get some cramps and have heavy periods that lasted for 7 days before I started taking the pill. It didn't bother me back then. Since taking the pill, my periods are maybe 4 days long, no cramps, and much lighter. I figure it can't be worse than having a baby. I was bloody for 3 weeks after having my son. I'll probably give it a shot, if my pap test comes back ok again.