Do you use a tampon with your IUD?

Avatar for smoorum
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Do you use a tampon with your IUD?
5
Tue, 08-31-2004 - 1:02pm
I'm just wondering if anyone does this. Since the insertion of mine in the beginning of this year, I've only been spotting so only needed liners. Now, I am beginning to get a real period and am using pads. Thing is that I'm not always comfyin pads, for obvious reasons. For the most part, I'll tolerate them, but am just wondering if anyone has any good or bad experience with tampons. I'm thinking I'd be pushing the IUD string back up to where it shouldn't be or something. Thanks in advance!
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-31-2004
Tue, 08-31-2004 - 2:23pm
Hi!

I have had my IUD in for about a month now and on my last period I used a tampon. I did a bit a research and nowhere does it say you can't. I can still feel the strings, so I don't see it as a problem. I feel the same way about pads...I'm a tampons girl all the way. Hope this helps.

I have a quick question for you. After you had your IUD inserted did you have severe cramps before and afte your period? I am trying to figure out if this is a normal thing for the first few months. Your input would be greatly appreciated.

Ginette

Avatar for smoorum
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Tue, 08-31-2004 - 4:01pm
To answer the question...No I haven't had any cramping. For the record, I'm just having my first real period since insertion. All I had before was light spotting. This is my first real period, and I've had no cramping, except for when I put the tampon in the other night. As soon as it went in, I had light tightness for a few minutes, which is what my body always did in the past. (It's been over 3 years since my last period)

On the other hand, in my research, I know that cramping is very normal in all stages of your period, even severe cramping. It's part of the warning. Severe cramping and heavy bleeding are very normal. It has cause almost 20% of us to take the IUD out before the end of the first year. They say it should all even out, but everyone is different. My bleeding is not heavy, either, rather middle weight, same as before.

Do you check your strings after every period, like they recommend? I haven't checked mine at all yet, waiting to for the end and for someone else to tell me they do the check!

Hope this helps. Really hope you feel better soon.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Tue, 08-31-2004 - 7:35pm
Personally,I haven't used a tampon yet-I've had my IUD for a year now....When I have heavier periods I usually use a pad....normally I just spot so I use a pantiliner.But I have heard that it is OK to use a tampon with an IUD.....they're just not for me-I had a bad experience with them in the past....And as far as cramps go,I had some pretty bad ones the first few months but now they're more of an annoying twinge every now and then...ibuprofen knocks them out!


Edited 9/1/2004 6:09 pm ET ET by mrs_frazier
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-31-2004
Wed, 09-01-2004 - 5:15pm
Thank you so much for your reply. I fell much better and hopefull that the cramps will lessen eventually.

Ginette

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-15-2004
Thu, 09-02-2004 - 7:37pm
I asked my doctor when my IUD was put in if I could use tampons and instead cups, she said that either was fine, and that she couldn't think of anything to avoid.