Advice on the Birth Control IUD

Updated on March 07, 2009
G.B. asks from La Mirada, CA
23 answers

I just had my postpardum doctor visit and we discussed different types of birth control. I am discouraged from going back to the pill since I got pregnant with my third son while breastfeeding and on birth control. My doctor suggested the IUD or the Nuva Ring. I wanted to get some feeback from anyone who has used either of these methods. If you went with the IUD, please let me know a little bit about the procedure. Thanks so much!

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A.L.

answers from San Diego on

HI GB,

I am a 38 yr old mom of two girls, 6 & 3 years. I have been on the Nuva Ring for 1 year. I am so happy I did it. I've had no problems with it!

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L.D.

answers from Los Angeles on

I just got it yesterday (Mirena) and it hurt a little when they put it in (mild/moderate cramps) and then I was ok until about an hour later and for 7-8 hrs had lower back cramps like I was in the beginning stages of labor again. Now I'm fine, no back pain, no cramping. The one thing I don't like is having to wear a pad for the spotting until they trim the string; I feel like I'm peeing on myself! I think I am going to be very happy with this! I wanted off the pill because I had to have an alarm on my phone to use it and when I'm not at home I forget. Plus I take a ton of medicine anyways.

1 mom found this helpful
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D.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

I am graduating to the IUD, but since it's just me and my son, right now and more about my schedule being too crazy to remember to take my pill at all, and having horrible periods...I went with the Nuva Ring and like it okay. I haven't had any weird issues and it has mininmized my periods and symptoms like cramping, which was severe for me.

According to my research and talking with friends and my OB, the new Mirena is effective and the procedure is uncomfortable but, not super painful. Good Luck!

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J.K.

answers from Los Angeles on

I had an IUD between my second and third sons. It was great! I had a 10 year one but don't remember the name. It was wonderful not to have to think about birth control and hormones. Mine did not have hormones, but my friend's did. She got one after I recommended it to her. Her periods were pretty bad, but with the IUD she has 3-day periods with no cramps! When I wanted to get pregnant again, my doc just took it out on a regular visit and told me I could get pregnant the next month! Just because one in a thousand might have had serious problems doesn't mean you shouldn't get one. Read all the info and risk factors and do what is right for you. Most GYN's will recommend and IUD for women who have already had children. That has to be the strongest recommendation.

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D.P.

answers from Los Angeles on

I have an IUD. I am now 43 and got it when I was 39. It was very easy to insert, not really different then a regular Gyno appointment. It has not affected me at all except I barely have a period (not more tampons). Sometimes I don't even know if I had it. Look into it.

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K.K.

answers from Reno on

I was on the NuvaRing for 1 year back in 2005. I loved it. I was convenient for me to only remember once a month instead of everyday. The only complaint I have was that it took me over 1 1/2 years to get pregnant after I was off of it (but I'm sure part of that was me and not completely the birth control).

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C.A.

answers from Los Angeles on

Dear G B,

I had the IUD and I loved it. One of the side affects was heavy bleeding, but from what I was told the new one will decrease and even stop your period. It goes in at the doctors office and taken out at the doctors office. I highly recommend it.

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E.H.

answers from San Luis Obispo on

Hi, I had the Mirina IUD put in 2 months after by second child was born. It has been great for everyone else that I know who has used it, but it didn't work for me. As for the IUD procedure, don't let that worry you after having kids. It is quick and easy, the extracion was simple too. They are pretty expensive, so make sure your insurance covers it. There are two little strings that come down from the IUD and some husbands say that they can feel them, if this happens, your ob or midwife can trim them. Hope this helps. good luck.

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L.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

I know you have a lot of responses but I had to chime in as I got pregnant on the pill and have since then tried depo, nuv aring an curently have the non hormonal IUD. Depo and the nuva ring were convient but the extra hormones caused migraines and a low sex drive. Tried the IUD and the sex drive went back up and the migraines happened less. Getting the IUD inserted was quick but painful - I had cramping on and off for the next 2 weeks. I had very heavy periods for the 1st year and then they lightened up. I've had it for 4 years now and am very happy with it and will continue to use it. Good luck!
sorry for the bad spelling - am typing fast
L.

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B.N.

answers from Los Angeles on

I have an IUD (Mirena). It was "installed" over a year ago and I have had no problems with it. The procedure was quick and virtually painless. When it was put in I felt a strong quick pinch and that was it. I did have cramping for about a week and very light bleeding. Since then my periods are very light with little to no cramping (I had cronic cramps and PMS before) and my PMS is much less. My experience with it has been nothing but wonderful!

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D.T.

answers from Reno on

Good morning! I have the Mirena IUD. It is great. It is really easy to place (in the doctor's office, in about 5 minutes). Super effective (something like 99.9% for women who have had children). I could feel it (like a twinge) right at first, but not at all anymore. (I've had it for 7 years now. A gal at my office got it a few months ago and loves it too.) I have lighter periods, less mood swings, no issues. It was a really great decision. (And easy to remove if you decide to have more kids.) Good luck!

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L.E.

answers from Los Angeles on

I had the Mirena IUD inserted in December 2007. In my case, the procedure was quite uncomfortable, and I was somewhat uncomfortable for a couple of months afterward. However, now I am very comfortable and happy with this form of birth control.

Lynne

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O.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

I've been on Mirena IUD which stays in for 5 years: I'm 39 years old and mother of 3 kids and been loving it. It helped me with my pms pains, menstrual overflow and now I don't even know when I have my period: it's fantastic and the procedure is very painless. Go for it!!!I couldn't do birth control pills.

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J.H.

answers from Los Angeles on

I have IUD, no hormones because I think it is healthier, I got it at 6 months after giving birth and I couldn't be happier. It was an in office IUD insertion, it took 30 seconds and it pinched, not to bad at all. I get pregnant on a dime and my husband is very potent so this has been a dream. No scares and no condoms, hormones, pulling out etc. Our son is 2 now and we are happily done having children. Good luck with whatever choice you make. I love mine.
Jennifer

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S.A.

answers from Honolulu on

I was on the Nuva Ring for about a year and I loved it. Except for one thing - it game me yeast infections quite often (every 3-4 months) and I had never had one before the Nuva Ring, or since I was off it (apparently it is a common side effect). Other than that it was comfortable, easy, and convenient.

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H.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

My doctor told me since I had hypothyrodism, among other things, that I would probably never get pregnant. My first son was born about a year after that.
I was nursing him and husband was using a condom, and found myself pregnant with my daughter.
Finally, I was had an IUD and 4 years after my daughter was born, she had a sister.

Husband had a vasectomy. I understand they can be reversible, but we have had no more kids since. Vasectomies are the way to go.

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D.P.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi,

I am on Depo Vera (Shot) it's perfect, every 3 months and my copay is $25, I was on it for 5 years and it did take 9 months for me to be able to conceive.. it's great though.. I totally recommend it. Nuva Ring was also a choice but not a covered benefit with the insurance so it woud be expensive to pay $90.00 a month.

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T.B.

answers from Visalia on

Never, never, never, NEVER get an I.U.D.
I have a horror story that happened to me and thousands of others and I'm not going to take the hour to describe it, complete with the emotional pain.

DONT GET ONE.

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T.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

I had iud right now.... But theres side effects on it... I had fibriods from the iud and my period went well but fibriods isnt good could be cyst or cancerous so ask doctor for the side effects before you can decide what to do .... If you take iud itll be 5 years b4 you will have other child... Youre welcome for me to answer it to you ...

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S.J.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi GB
I had the IUD put in after the birth of my son. The procedure was pretty quick and painless. However, on the first period after the IUD I was sick!!! I had bad tummy aches and even fainted!!! My periods were very very heavy. After about the 3rd period I decided to go get it checked and I found out that it was not pleased properly!!! So... I had it removed and just went on the piles. That is my story with it though and may be very different for someone else. hope you get other feedbacks on it.
Good luck with whatever you decide.

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A.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

I got the Mirena put in over a year ago. The procedure was pretty quick...a little painful, but not too bad. I cramped for a couple hours...then fine. Worth it for sure! I love it...and I haven't had any problems. A nice option.
Good luck!

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S.H.

answers from Los Angeles on

I tried the IUD after my second child, the paraguard IUD, not the mirena. I spotted almost constantly for the year that I had it. It certainly didn't help an already pathetic post baby sex life to be spotting all the time. I tend to have very heavy periods, so I think I was more prone to spotting. Anyway, I had it removed. Both the insertion and the removal were SO simple, easy and painless. If you think it will work for you, don't be concerned about the insertion, not a big deal at all.

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J.O.

answers from Los Angeles on

I had an iud...I chose one without added hormones. It hurt more than a labour pain when they inserted it. I almost fainted and pooped at the same time (but it was only for a minute) aside from that it worked perfectly. Just wanted to warn you of the pain of insertion- I would ask them for pain medication or to knock you out before hand. (taking it out didn't hurt much)

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