[Kabloomybuzz]

I'm very seriously considering getting an IUD as a contraceptive and was wondering if anyone has had any experiences with it? Insertion, how it felt, side effects, effects on periods etc...

I would rather use a non hormonal option for several reasons.
I dont trust myself to remember a pill every day
My cycle is good, and I dont want to drastically change it and have it take ages to come back if I come off something.
I not really comfortable with being on artificial hormones, or any medication really, in the long term unless its absolutely neccesary.
My bf hates condoms, and I dont blame him... we're looking for something a bit more long term.

So, yeah, any knowledge and experience would be good

[dairygirl224]

I have the Mirena/IUS, but I thought I'd comment as per the insertion experience. I dont know whether you have had the pre-checks yet, but I had to have a screening for stds, which was via internal swap. Wish some had told me this was going to be required.
The insertion was tough, mainly because I haven't had a baby, so the cervix is closed. The doctor used s speculum to "open me up" so to speak. She then inserted a sound, into my womb, to measure how long it was. This was very weird, and made me feel sick when it touched the top of the womb. She then started to insert the IUS, which was very painful. I made her stop, and she used some local anaesthetic. I suggest you ask for this beforehand.
The pain from when I stood up from the insertion was very bad, I had to sleep as it was so strong, period pain-like. This continued for about a week, as it settled. I have had mine almost 2 years this june.

[beccy.]

(Original post by Kabloomybuzz)
I'm very seriously considering getting an IUD as a contraceptive and was wondering if anyone has had any experiences with it? Insertion, how it felt, side effects, effects on periods etc...

I would rather use a non hormonal option for several reasons.
I dont trust myself to remember a pill every day
My cycle is good, and I dont want to drastically change it and have it take ages to come back if I come off something.
I not really comfortable with being on artificial hormones, or any medication really, in the long term unless its absolutely neccesary.
My bf hates condoms, and I dont blame him... we're looking for something a bit more long term.

So, yeah, any knowledge and experience would be good

I've never had one but seen a few people having them removed because their periods have become heavier and/or more painful when they have them. This doesnt happen to everyone, but definitely something for you to consider.
Also, from my own experience, I would prefer to go to a GUM clinic rather than my GP for something like this because they deal with this kind of thing all day every day and i'd feel less awkward!

[thelittleredfox]

I have a copper non-hormonal IUD called the gynefix. It is a frameless IUD, it is just a string of tiny copper beads they attach to the top of the uterus. This means it is more comfortable than a framed one, and doesn't make your periods heavier by as much. I researched it on the internet, and got it fitted by a nice lady at St Helens PCT (near Liverpool/Manchester) who specialises in fitting IUDs.

Insertion

The pain of this varies from person to person. I've seen lots of people on the net, and in real life, say that it hardly hurt or just felt like a period pain. For me, it was horrendous but thankfully quick. The worst bit is when they open up your cervix. It felt like being stabbed and I started to shake uncontrollably. But it only took a few seconds before the pain subsided. Ditto having it actually fitted - maybe 5-10 seconds of excruciating pain, then it subsided. The lady who did mine specialises in fitting IUDs, so was very fast and accurate. I've heard some horror stories about GPs though - best to go to a family planning clinic. Only a few offer the gynefix, but I think it is a better option to a framed one. It might be worth travelling to get. The doctor who fitted mine was called Lydia Kingsley, I found her through a recommendation on the LiveJournal group IUD Divas - you can google it. That was very helpful with lots of advice.

Afterwards

My stomach swelled afterwards, and I had to go to bed for the rest of the day with stomach pain and feeling quite crap from the shock. However, I had a relatively unusual reaction to having it fitted in that I passed out. I had a bit of an ache for a couple of days, and some bleeding, but I've seen lots of women say they went back to work in the afternoon after having it done with no problem. I had sex for the first time 5 days later, and it was fine - no problem.

Thoughts after 2 years

I'm thrilled with my IUD, it was unquestionably worth the pain of having it fitted. I hated taking artificial hormones, and didn't want to carry on using condoms. It works great for me. Some points about it to consider:

• It has made my periods a bit heavier. Not a lot, but a little bit. It can make them heavier in the first few months, and this often subsides.
• However, I no longer get period pains. Some people with framed IUDs say these make the pains worse. The gynefix doesn't do this because it is frameless. I used to get bad, low down, cervical pains with my period, but since getting the gynefix, I no longer get these at all.
• I don't have to remember to take a pill, I don't have to take artificial hormones at all - which is fantastic. I don't even have to think about contraception, it is just there.
• I can't feel it at all, ever. But my boyfriend has very occasionally been 'poked' by the end of the string. This is partly because she cut my string a bit short - it is supposed to be long enough to kind of wrap around your cervix. He says he doesn't mind, and most of the time he can't feel it at all.

[College Lass]

i am now on my 2nd coil and its worth it, no periods, no worries about getting pregnant. I would advsie any girl to consider the fitting of one.

[catestevenson]

(Original post by College Lass)
i am now on my 2nd coil and its worth it, no periods, no worries about getting pregnant. I would advsie any girl to consider the fitting of one.

Is it not the hormonal coil that stops periods?

I was put off by my mum's horror story of when she got it fitted (constant heavy bleeding, really bad period pain and they refused to remove it until she'd had it six months saying that it just needed to "settle". I went with the hormonal one instead and the only problems I've have are a bit of spotting in the first few weeks.

[em165]

Ive had mine for three months and so far periods are much heavier, thought I was gonna faint the last time but it eventually subsided, I've heard the heavy periods don't last though. Insertion hurt, a lot, and I've got a pretty high pain threshold, but it literally only hurt while she was doing her thing. I didn't get any cramping at all afterwards, though I bled for a month straight, this eventually sorted itself out. My strings have also been cut too short so the thread is pokey. Generally it's so far so good, I couldn't tolerate hormones at all, but it's still really early days with mine.

[Kabloomybuzz]

(Original post by College Lass)
i am now on my 2nd coil and its worth it, no periods, no worries about getting pregnant. I would advsie any girl to consider the fitting of one.

Guessing that must be the hormonal IUS... I dont want hormones and I WANT periods... call me mad, but I would prefer the monthly reassurance that an accident hasn't happened... however small the chances.

[Herr]

(Original post by Kabloomybuzz)
I'm very seriously considering getting an IUD as a contraceptive and was wondering if anyone has had any experiences with it? Insertion, how it felt, side effects, effects on periods etc...

I would rather use a non hormonal option for several reasons.
I dont trust myself to remember a pill every day
My cycle is good, and I dont want to drastically change it and have it take ages to come back if I come off something.
I not really comfortable with being on artificial hormones, or any medication really, in the long term unless its absolutely neccesary.
My bf hates condoms, and I dont blame him... we're looking for something a bit more long term.

So, yeah, any knowledge and experience would be good

Make sure your bf is aware it is there... if he is "longer" his penis might just get a major shock as it hits the thread..... feels like using a needle and poking the head of the penis however hard he thrust.

[Sazzy890]

I was really considering getting the copper coil but I was scared about something which I'm hoping someone could advise on; the possibility of it puncturing the uterus. I know this is rare but I'm scared that I could be one of the few cases that this happens If that happens could it cause infertility?

I've also heard it's not recommended for women who haven't had a child before.

[dairygirl224]

Its only not recommended for childless women as the cervix has never dilated, so in theory it is harder to open in order to insert the iud/ius. However, I have no children, and I have an Ius, so its perfectly possible.

[Kabloomybuzz]

I've gathered that its less of a problem for women who haven't given birth now than it used to be.

I'm going to try to make an appointment with the dr on Friday and take my bf with me, I want him there when I get it fitted so bringing him for if an appointment for fitting is made so it suits us both... doubt they'll do it there and then.

I really hope the Drs dont try to push the pill or anything hormonal on me. I know what I want and why I want it... I hope they accept that.

[sheepy18]

My mum was a nurse and later worked in medical records. During that time she saw MANY infections as a result of IUDs, if they go wrong the outcome can be quite horrific . People may say its rare, but it happened alot! And they can get lodged. I wouldn't touch one with a barge pole.

[thelittleredfox]

(Original post by Kabloomybuzz)
I've gathered that its less of a problem for women who haven't given birth now than it used to be.

I'm going to try to make an appointment with the dr on Friday and take my bf with me, I want him there when I get it fitted so bringing him for if an appointment for fitting is made so it suits us both... doubt they'll do it there and then.

I really hope the Drs dont try to push the pill or anything hormonal on me. I know what I want and why I want it... I hope they accept that.

If you are wanting an all-copper non-hormonal IUD, get the gynefix rather than a framed one, they are far better. Not everywhere fits them - I got mine fitted by a lady at St Helens near Liverpool who specialises in IUD fittings. Couldn't recommend her, or the gynefix, enough.

[sheepy18]

(Original post by Kabloomybuzz)
I'm very seriously considering getting an IUD as a contraceptive and was wondering if anyone has had any experiences with it? Insertion, how it felt, side effects, effects on periods etc...

I would rather use a non hormonal option for several reasons.
I dont trust myself to remember a pill every day
My cycle is good, and I dont want to drastically change it and have it take ages to come back if I come off something.
I not really comfortable with being on artificial hormones, or any medication really, in the long term unless its absolutely neccesary.
My bf hates condoms, and I dont blame him... we're looking for something a bit more long term.

So, yeah, any knowledge and experience would be good

I would call effective contraception pretty ****ing neccesary!

[Kabloomybuzz]

(Original post by sheepy18)
I would call effective contraception pretty ****ing neccesary!

thanks for your opinion. I am of course bearing the risks in mind, and really don't think there is any need to be so aggressive about it.

[sophie_snail]

(Original post by Kabloomybuzz)
I'm very seriously considering getting an IUD as a contraceptive and was wondering if anyone has had any experiences with it? Insertion, how it felt, side effects, effects on periods etc...

Hey

Just to say I had Mirena fitted about a year ago as I didn't get on with any other form of contraception... Putting it was ridiculously painful, but she did say I was a reasonably rare case, and for the first hours afterwards I felt quite sick and had bad stomach pains, but the next day I felt absolutely fine again. I had erratic periods for the first couple of months but then they just disappeared and I haven't had one since and I feel great for it.
It's supposed to be one of the most effective means of contraception... I suppose the only risks are of it getting dislodged and you not knowing about it, but they'll tell you how to check it's still in place, and if you have regular check-ups if your worried it'll all be fine.

You'll have to have a talk with someone beforehand as to why you think it'll be appropriate, and you'll have to be checked for STD's, but then the procedure can be done in about 10 minutes at you're local GP if they can do it there

Good luck!

[thelittleredfox]

(Original post by sheepy18)
I would call effective contraception pretty ****ing neccesary!

Many people are uncomfortable with taking artificial hormones, and they remain unnecessary while there are other, non-hormonal contraceptive alternatives. I don't consider putting any artificial hormonal substances in my body as 'necessary' and choose not to do so. There are other choices - the whole point of this thread.

[Kabloomybuzz]

I went to the doctor and given that I have done a lot of research and thought about and I am already on migraine medication he agreed immediately that an IUD would probably be right for me.

He suggested I go to the family planning clinic where it could be sorted there and then and the'll have most of the devices on offer and a lot of experience with fitting them... so I'm going on Friday with my boyfriend to get it sorted.