Geeky Talks
Eye Dee, You Dee, We all scream for IUD
Internet, I love you. If I wore lipstick, I’d write a big heart with our initials in it on a paper napkin while we we’re out to drinks together. “I heart Internet.” I’m not thinking the neosporine chapstick has the same effect. But I’d kiss a napkin and write my phone number on it if I could.
I went to the doctor yesterday for an ultrasound. The vaginal variety. (seriously? The most action I’ve seen in months. MONTHS, I tell you.) The technician was just lovely. I even stayed IN THE STIRUPS while I talked to her after the session. Hi! You just stuck a wand up my vajayjay. Let’s talk about the housing market!
As it turns out, I had a very large cyst on my left overy, which is gone now, and hi! I ovulated. Swell. Can someone sit down with my girl parts and explain that they JUST had a baby and, well, it’d be nice to take some time off of the reproduction and all? Thank you.
So, I’m ok. In fact, I’m fine! I’m “You can have a martini and resume sexual activity” fine. To which I told the nurse, and I quote, “HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! The martini? Great idea.”
Here I am, again, Internet, all volunerable and scared (hold me) asking you for some advice. What is your experience with an IUD? Because if I google the Marina IUD? It’s scary as hell. Tell me it’s swell. Tell me it’s wonderful. Tell me you LOVE your IUD. And then tell me I don’t need to buy stock in condoms. Because only a 97% birth control rate is just not ok to me.
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No no no do not get an IUD. Evil perforations. Condoms and foam?
No experience with the IUD…just wanted to say glad everything is a-ok!
just say no to iuds. they are evil. iud=pid. seriously. not worth it. take a daily pill, wear a patch, use condoms/foam.. but do not do the iud. take it from a previous nurse/previous pharmacy tech. nasty-butt solution.
I had a good friend who used an IUD for years and love, love, loved it. I had another who was in so much pain with it in that it had to be taken out after just a couple of days. I was recently told though that they’re now made out of better material than they were just a couple of years ago. I don’t know, might be worth considering.
Leslie, I can’t give you any advice based on experience with IUDs. I will say that my OBGYN recommended one for me when I was considering my options, but after researching it and considering all the ramifications I just wasn’t comfortable with it. Part of it had to do with HOW the IUD acts as birth control.
Anyway, I couldn’t do hormonal treatments and SD wouldn’t cooperate (most of the time) with condoms so after a lot of soul searching we decided we were definitely permanently finished having children and I got a tubal ligation. I’ve had issues with it too (painful ovulation/menses) but it was the only option we could live with.
Just try to educate yourself on all the options and go with what you and Mr. Flinger can both live with.
I actually had a good friend recommend, of all things, a diaphragm to me after I confessed to her that my pill was making me crazy. She said she’d used a diaphragm + spermicide for years with great success when she didn’t want to be on the pill. Just thought I’d throw that in the mix—I didn’t even realize that ladies did that anymore, but apparently they do, especially if they want to avoid the hormone route. (and Mirena does have hormones infused in it)
My mom told me she had an IUD for years with no problems, but I must admit I am a little wary when you can google “Mirena” and the second hit is a bulletin board for plaintiffs in a class-action lawsuit against its manufacturers.
IUD? I would avoid it at all costs. I knew we didn’t want more kids after Son was born, but I couldn’t choose the tube-tie at the second unplanned c-section because I was too hormonal to make that decision at that time. Anyhoo….I was thinking that Husband and I would just use the pill, condoms, foam, sponges, and wear turtlenecks to bed every night. Honestly, I coulda handled all those options except the pill (KILLED my sex drive after 6 solid years on it; also messed up my thyroid) and condoms…good Lord, that’s how we got pregnant with Son. Not because one failed, but because we failed to wear one. The only thing better than sex with a condom is no sex at all. We had one passion-filled irresponsible night. I think it was the first time in like three months. It’d been like that ever since Daughter was born. Presto! Son was conceived.
So…do tell…why doesn’t Mr. Flinger get the ol’ snipperoo? That’s really the best option. My husband got his shortly after Son’s birth, and it was the best option.
Suck!
Just typed a nice long comment, and then Firefox ate it.
Had the Mirena IUD for almost 2 years. Loved it, then developed a freaky uterine infection, which Dr. C @ Bellegrove said was most likely NOT related to IUD. Had to have it removed, and then had 2 weeks of antibiotics. Could have had it reinserted, but he recommended against it because I’m now at risk for pelvic inflammatory disease. Oh yeah, and I momentarily lost my mind and thought I wanted another kid. HAHAHAHAH!
Oh Kate, you big joker.
I would definitely recommend it. If you get it, be patient with it, it can take some time getting used to, with spotting and stuff. Give it a few months, unless you start bleeding to death or the removal strings start poking through your belly button or something. Ha.
lol!!! I would totally kiss a napkin and give the internet my number!
I am glad you’re okay!
No advice here on the IUD. Good luck figuring all that out!
A friend had an IUD taken out because it started messing with her cycles and added more cramps and such all of a sudden (like after being in for 2 years with no problems). She and the doctors couldn’t find an actual cause for the seemingly random flipout her body did.
I’m a freakin’ witch with extra hormones floating around in my body (yeah, just ask dh about those 2 months we actually tried bcp after the miscarriage - it’s a wonder our marriage made it). So I just do the FAM method (temping, cervical mucous, condoms or no sex during ovulation). Read _Taking Charge of Your Fertility_ by Toni Weischler. Even if you don’t end up doing FAM, I bet you’ll learn something you didn’t know.
In case you wanted to know way too much about us, dh’ll get snipped at some point in the future. Messing with my tubes or anything in there just ain’t gonna happen unless he wants to deal with the messy fallout (again, hormone issues, plus I’m sure I’d have a ton of medical issues stemming from something like that) or I end up in a life or death situation of some sort.
Good luck figuring it all out!
I agree with the snip, snip comment for hubby, Also, if you’re still trying to breastfeed an IUD can mess with supply no matter what you’re told.
I am telling you…Dr. Snip is the way to go. He’s friendly and fast…and final. He has a killer success rate and seriously, H and I were in the room when C got it done and it was a breeze *for us* (not sure how that happened, but I blinked and the doc was over there snapping rubber bands on C’s balls..go figure, so I settled in for the whole ride- ok, don’t mention the ball snapping thing (it was some way to deliver the anesthetic)...anyhoo…before I knew it, it was over (with a *brief* green spell C was fine and we were on our way to worry free frolicks (look I said frolick again!). And BONUS, on our way out, like how I use to get a lollipop after an appointment with my pediatrician, they gave C a shiny, new…pocketknife. A humorous, yet very practical and useful tool, lovingly engraved with Dr. Snip.com. We chuckled. C spent the next day lounging on the couch. He watched movies while I waited on him - bringing him fresh ice for his crotch and refreshments…a vacation really. How much better than that can you get? The next day he was up and around and feeling good. The next part of this might make *you* cringe, but is really a selling point and might seal the deal for him…after he “heals” (he will most definitely play up the recovery, but really, it’s nothing- they are men remember) you have to “do it” S-I-X-T-E-E-N TIMES (I had to spell it out so that there was no mistaking the commitment here on your part)...they “recommend” that you complete this task in ::cough:: 6 weeks…HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA ...That’s funny Mr. - Rules are meant to be broken, right?!? That computes to like 3 times a WEEK, YOWZA. Anyway, after your homework is done (throwing in another form of birth control obviously), he’ll have to bring in a sample to verify that all the swimmers are stuck behind the wall and then you are good to go! C would like me to insert here: NOTHING changes after you get it done…function (in every way) is the same…there are the same fireworks, the same pomp and circumstance…MINUS the fear that you will conceive another soon-to-be-toddler.
OK…I am done. But, I really think this is something to consider…and remember, you can freeze some swimmers beforehand too if you want to, just in case you can’t deal with the finality of it all and I am pretty sure it can be reversed too (we didn’t bother asking this question ourselves).
I got the total salespitch from my ob about the Mirena - I’m guessing they make some good $ doing the insertion. I researched different options and just couldn’t get used to the idea of having a device inside of me, so I’m on the mini-pill for a while. We are discussing the snip-snip option now - 2 kiddos is enough for us!
LOVED IT! Absolutely loved it. And will get it again. For sure 100% best thing I’ve ever done!
I had it inserted 8 weeks postpartum and had minor spotting for a couple months and then BLISS! No periods, no forgetting pills, no condoms…
I’d recommend it to anyone and everyone. (including strangers on the internet. *ahem*)
Love my IUD. In fact, I’m on my 2nd one now. It’s the only form of birth control I’ve ever found that is highly effective and doesn’t fuck with my body. I’m so sensitive to hormones that the birth control pills sent my blood pressure and heart rate through the roof. Spermicides give me a rash (yeah, not the BEST place for a rash, that’s for sure). Diaphragms, low, looooooow effectiveness rate.
But the IUD? Good for 10 years. TEN. For the cost of a year’s worth (or less) of birth control pills. Without the nasty cancer and blood clot side effects.
Yes, it does have some disadvantages. Because of the string, you have a higher probability of uterine infections, so wash your hands before you use tampons and don’t leave them in for more than 6 hours. There’s also the possibility of ectopic pregnancy and of endomitriosis. ALTHOUGH, there’s a hormone-laced IUD that people are now using to combat endomitriosis. So there you are.
Bottom line: I have been using nothing but an IUD (and condoms, before I settled down & got monogamous) for the past 13 years with no problems and no pregnancies. When my first one needed replacing, I had a new one installed during that same doctor visit. It’s the only form of birth control that has worked for me. If I didn’t use an IUD, I’d have to be celibate.
Hopefully that wasn’t overshare.
I haven’t been here for a while… so I wanted to say a belated congratulations on your new baby! And. A good friend of mine has an IUD and loves hers. Has had it for two years, I think, and seriously loves it. In fact, because of her, I have seriously considered one myself. Because like you said, 97% just aint that great of odds.
Darn it, I have missed heaps of your posts due to me being a twit and not saving your blog Home page! So as to IUD’s, they can make you gain weight and they don’t always work… I got No 2 baby with an IUD in place. I recently had an internal scan too, eeewwww! And I am still making friggin eggs too, like I need them at 48 and have got 8 kids already !!! Stoooopid ovaries!
Forgot, my Mum had a IUD, it perforated her uterus and she had to have an emergency hysterectomy at 32 years old. Mine gave me pain when having “marital relations” too…. the best and most fail safe solution if you don’t want more kids is for hubby to have the ‘snip”..... it worked for us!
I love mine. Worth every penny. No problems at all, and more effective than sterilization. Good luck!
I never tried an IUD. The stories I heard about them making cramps worse scared the heck out of me!
My mom got pregers with me with an IUD in, (it slipped). Made for a very dangerous and complicated pregnancy, (couldn’t be removed until after I was born, had to be monitored, etc.) although that was 30+ years ago. I LOVED the diapram with a purple polka dotted passion, well up until I had the husband snipped, now I just love the stress free sex, although, knowing you, you’ll probably still pee on sticks. Is there anything else you need to know about my sex life?
I’ve heard rants and raves about Mirena… and I know one person who got pregnant on it and had a whole mess of problems including, but not limited too an ectopic pregnancy. That pretty much killed it for me.
I’m currently going back and forth between deciding on the pill again for awhile and the natural method, which do pretty well with… but then again, we DO want more kids, so if that method fails for us, it’s cool… for you? Not so much… personally, I’d make Mr. Flinger get snipped. It’s the least he could do after you were sliced open twice to bring his children into the world, no?
I agree ~ scary stuff. I was supposed to have an IUD after Bridget was born, but I was feeling VERY ambivalent about the whole thing. The day I went in to have the procedure done, I happened to mention to the nurse that I thought I might be getting mastitis. Sure enough, I was. And of course you can’t have an IUD if you have any type of infection, so it was put on hold. I took it as a sign, my friend. My husband agreed to have a vasectomy instead. Of course, he agreed to that back in January!
I agree ~ scary stuff. I was supposed to have an IUD after Bridget was born, but I was feeling VERY ambivalent about the whole thing. The day I went in to have the procedure done, I happened to mention to the nurse that I thought I might be getting mastitis. Sure enough, I was. And of course you can’t have an IUD if you have any type of infection, so it was put on hold. I took it as a sign, my friend. My husband agreed to have a vasectomy instead. Of course, he agreed to that back in January!
I should probably clarify that I don’t have a Marina IUD. I have the copper-wrapped Para-guard, which is the type that has worked for me for 13 years.
I know absolutely nothing about the Mirena.
Here’s a really great explanation of the differences between the two as well as general considerations: http://www.fwhc.org/birth-control/iudinfo.htm
I unfortunately had a very bad experience with Mirena IUD. For one thing, it made me spot every other day for nine months straight with horrid cramping. For another, it made me crazy. I lost friends while using the Mirena. I was a lunatic and I thought I was fine until I had it removed and realized how nuts it made me.
BUT I am very sensitive to hormones, always have been so don’t just take my word for it.
I still thought you should know.
Sorry if I ruined your day.
Hello. Glad that you are OK.
Let me say that for EVERY form of birth control you can find 100 “worst experience ever” stories. Just like you will hear that c-sections are never necessary, and breastfeeding will save your babies life, and that every teenage pregnancy happened because of a failed condom- you will hear that IUD’s are dangerous/horrible/bad. Everyone knows a friend of a friend of a friend whose nipples fell off because of an IUD.
With that said, I have a IUD. The Mirena IUD. I have hac slight cramping, but nothing so bad that I had to have it removed. I have had it a year now- no PID, no UTI, no pregnancies. I don’t get my period for more than two days and I don’t worry about birth control. I go to the GYN every 3-6 months (for other reasons) and he checks my IUD too. My husband does not feel it.
As for how it stops pregnancy- it thickens cervical mucus and thins the uterus. It also may stop your uterus from releasing eggs. The pill also stops the uterus from releasing eggs. That is the purpose of BC. It is supposed to stop you from getting pregnant.
I did the research. I made an educated decision, you will too.
Oh, and I breast feed for ten months with my IUD (got it 8 weeks after Mimi was born)
Thank you, y’all. No, no, nobody ruined my day. I’m so glad I asked the ever informed Internet because y’all account for the “real people” that are out there. It sounds like it depends on the individual person and I won’t know until I try something. With that said, I can’t stand the pill because of the hormones. So? Maybe we’ll revisit the Dr. Snipp idea. (Thanks, Michelle)
I am also on my second iud and getting another one in 2 weeks! BEST BC EVER! No huge hormones, no thinking, my kind of work! PERK: my periods got lighter and lighter and now, after 5 years, I DONT REALLY have one! Does it get better than that? Dont think so! Sure every once in awhile, about 2 times a year and we have lots of sex (TMI?) it pokes DH but ya know, if he had gotten a vasectomy (WUSS!) that wouldnt happen would it??
I asked this same question a few weeks back…everyone except a few advised against the IUD.
I went back on the pill. It’s only been a week and I’m already as crazy as a raving lunatic. I think I may need to reconsider my options.
Used the diaphragm after my son was born and it was fine.
What about a snippety-snip on the hubs? I gotta convince mine to go get it.
And the blog crush in the sidebar?! Thanks! I’m kinda crushing on you, too!
I know a lot of people who had problems with IUD’S . But the same goes for the pill. And I’m not just saying that because I’m Catholic ;o) My mom had a blood clot in her lung from the pill. She was put on it right before menopause. My cousin Beth had a stroke from it and my MIL also had many complications from them. Non of them smoked which they say increases the risk for those problems. I know it’s a pain to do but try to look into Natural Family Planning. I know it’s easy for me to say being pregnant and all, I dont have to worry about none of that! Just puking my baby out from all the excessive dry heaving.
My husband is all set to get snipped after we have #2. Since we are not even thinking of #2 right now I am on the pill, we use condoms and he pulls out.
Knowing other people who got snipped it seems like the easiest, safest long term option. There is discomfort for a couple days but after the alloted time span where they re- test the ejaculate you are good to go. It is so much safer then having them mess with your tubes!
Leslie,
I love my Mirena IUD so much I’ve had it twice. Never had a problem with it. My monthly flow is so small now I don’t even need a pad (i used to suffer from painful heavy periods for 5 days). Now it’s just one day and only light cramping. I never have to give birth control a thought. Get the Mirena; it is nothing short of a miracle, IME.
Karyn
I’ve had this second one for 2.5 years. It didn’t harm my breastfeeding at all; I breastfed Baby L. until this past April, when she was 30 months old.
Well, I’ll chime in on the pro-IUD side. I have had a mirena since a few months postpartum, so over a year and a half. I haven’t had any problems at all! I love it.
BUT, as you seem to have ascertained, that is not always the case.
I have no advice regarding the IUD. I just wanted to say that I am glad you are better.
No advice on the IUD… I’m in favor of Dr. Snippety Snip though. And the diaphragm is fine too…
So you got acquainted with the ol dildo cam too huh? *shudder* That was an experience I could’ve lived without~
Glad to hear you’re doing better.
I can’t give you an IUD advice. I was always a bit more than squicked out by the thought of a curly wire thing up my coochie. I do believe I’d rather have another go with the dildo cam than an IUD
My hubby got a vasectomy after our daughter was born. It’s been 21 yrs. now and no problems whatsoever. Quick and easy procedure. Very quick recovery time. Back in action quickly as well
a number of friends of mine ar e on the iud and they LOVE it, In fact I was considering getting one when I became pregnant this LAST time so get going with something. ANYTHING!
After getting pregnant with baby #2 while on the pill and after being a hormonal bitchy monster with depression while on “the shot.” I got the Paragaurd after having baby #3.
I’ve had no problems with it, my only complaint is that I’ve had heavy periods. But, don’t know if that is from the IUD or just from being a woman.
Seriously, go with the prevention that requires the least amount of thinking. You’ve got two kids and are running on 50 cups of coffee and 2 hours of sleep, the brain will fail you! LOL!! (With that in mind, I’m amazed you are even considering sex! LOL!! Forget sex, give me sleep!!)
Totally chiming in like a month later, but so far, so good with the IUD. The strings are kind of pokey, but after about a week I didn’t notice it. I am hoping for no more periods. I am fertile myrtle and had sex 2xs in a year and got knocked up the first time. Good for you that you still feel like having sex. I just feel like having a nap. Hugs!