birth control question

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Viczaesar

butterscotchjbeans said:

So after our own whoppsie that sadly didn't happen, I went to my doctor and asked about other kinds of contraceptives. The pill is great, but obviously I am part of that 0.01% that has no explanation but a big uh oh. Mirena is a possibility but DH wants me to continue with the pill, since I have no idea how Mirena can affect my body or what reactions it can cause. That is with any new medication pretty much. 

My question, after the background story, do any of you have Mirena? If so, what kind of changes have you experienced since you first got it? Would you recommend it?

My insurance is good, and it would only be a co-pay of 25 for the thing and then check ups every year, unless it falls (?)

More likely you fall into the typical use failure rate of 5%, not the perfect use failure rate of 0.1%.

l9i

Well this discussion actually inspired me to think about changing my BC since I have my check up at the start of the year.  However, we will prb start TTC in about 1.5-2 years so maybe something long term isn't the best right now.  After kids, I'll be looking into IUDs though!  No periods - awesome!

kerbohl

I just recently got the copper IUD, and it has been fantastic.  The insertion was a little tricky, not because of the actual insertion (which was a breeze despite me not ever having given birth), but that there was a mix-up at the pharmacy for the medication you are supposed to take to open your cervix.  I took double the amount because they told me to, and it was absolutely horrible.  But the insertion was no trouble at all, and I barely got cramps.  The second it is was in I was fine.  I keep waiting to get these crazy side-effects that I saw on the websites when I was researching it, and I've had no problems, so I highly recommend.  Unfortunately though, the experience is different for everyone, so even though it is great BC for me, maybe it won't work for others. 
On the flip side, I know some people love the pill, but for me that experience was not good.  It gave me migraines that started to last for five to seven days.  When they got that bad, I was just done.  Stupid hormone-induced headaches!

PrettyGirlLost

butterscotchjbeans said:

I have the Mirena and I LOVE it! I got it last Spring and I have had no complaints. I took two advil before the procedure and my doctor had to manually expand my cervix. That being said, I didn't feel it! I definitely felt when he measured my uterus for placement, but honestly the insertion didn't hurt me at all (I've never had kids). I think there's some build-up and I was certainly nervous. I was also crampy for a few hours after, then it went away. I haven't had my period since, although I did have some spotting the first month. 

I highly recommend it! Up to 7 years protection and literally no upkeep. 

The fact that your period is pretty much nonexistent is what makes me want it. Decisions decisions. Thanks for sharing !!

You can do the same thing while on the pill, it's simple- just don't take the placebo pills and skip straight to your regular pills for the next month.

I'm on Seasonale which is the pill that you take for three months straight, and then you are supposed to have a week off and have a period, so 4 periods a year.  I only have 1 or two periods a year because I skip most of the placebo pills and go right into my next pack.

southernbelle0915

PrettyGirlLost said:

teddygirl9 said:

PrettyGirlLost said:

butterscotchjbeans said:

So after our own whoppsie that sadly didn't happen, I went to my doctor and asked about other kinds of contraceptives. The pill is great, but obviously I am part of that 0.01% that has no explanation but a big uh oh. Mirena is a possibility but DH wants me to continue with the pill, since I have no idea how Mirena can affect my body or what reactions it can cause. That is with any new medication pretty much. 

My question, after the background story, do any of you have Mirena? If so, what kind of changes have you experienced since you first got it? Would you recommend it?

My insurance is good, and it would only be a co-pay of 25 for the thing and then check ups every year, unless it falls (?)

Did you actually take the pill every day, on time, at the same time?

IUD insertion for women who have not had children, and thus their cervix has never dilated, is not a fun experience. . . depending on your tolerance for pain it can be quite nasty so I have been told by OBs and friends who have had them inserted.  Your doctor will either have to medically or mechanically dilate your cervix to insert it ><

No thank you, lol!

I've never heard of 'mechanically' dilating a cervix, they're pretty small to start prying it open. They also offer a 'pill' that you put in yourself, 8-12 hours before the insertion that is supposed to relax the muscles, but has it's own side effects, but it is supposed to make insertion easier.

There's a device that is used to manually dilate the cervix enough to insert the IUD. . . I don't recall what it is called, but several of my friends had this done.

I didn't think it was that bad and I don't have some crazy remarkable pain tolerance.

I had my first Mirena IUD inserted when I was 22 and got my second one inserted at 27. I've never been pregnant or delivered a baby, but it was just quick pinch. The device itself is pliable - they only have to dilate you a tiny bit to get it in and only for a second or two. My doc also used numbing spray, which they told me is typical. I was sore for a couple days afterwards, but worth it for 5 years of protection, IMO.

ETF: age corrections, I'm getting old and can't remember things anymore

PrettyGirlLost

southernbelle0915 said:

PrettyGirlLost said:

teddygirl9 said:

PrettyGirlLost said:

butterscotchjbeans said:

So after our own whoppsie that sadly didn't happen, I went to my doctor and asked about other kinds of contraceptives. The pill is great, but obviously I am part of that 0.01% that has no explanation but a big uh oh. Mirena is a possibility but DH wants me to continue with the pill, since I have no idea how Mirena can affect my body or what reactions it can cause. That is with any new medication pretty much. 

My question, after the background story, do any of you have Mirena? If so, what kind of changes have you experienced since you first got it? Would you recommend it?

My insurance is good, and it would only be a co-pay of 25 for the thing and then check ups every year, unless it falls (?)

Did you actually take the pill every day, on time, at the same time?

IUD insertion for women who have not had children, and thus their cervix has never dilated, is not a fun experience. . . depending on your tolerance for pain it can be quite nasty so I have been told by OBs and friends who have had them inserted.  Your doctor will either have to medically or mechanically dilate your cervix to insert it ><

No thank you, lol!

I've never heard of 'mechanically' dilating a cervix, they're pretty small to start prying it open. They also offer a 'pill' that you put in yourself, 8-12 hours before the insertion that is supposed to relax the muscles, but has it's own side effects, but it is supposed to make insertion easier.

There's a device that is used to manually dilate the cervix enough to insert the IUD. . . I don't recall what it is called, but several of my friends had this done.

I didn't think it was that bad and I don't have some crazy remarkable pain tolerance.

I had my first Mirena IUD inserted when I was 22 and got my second one inserted at 27. I've never been pregnant or delivered a baby, but it was just quick pinch. The device itself is pliable - they only have to dilate you a tiny bit to get it in and only for a second or two. My doc also used numbing spray, which they told me is typical. I was sore for a couple days afterwards, but worth it for 5 years of protection, IMO.

ETF: age corrections, I'm getting old and can't remember things anymore

I know this isn't a truly scientific sampling, but most of the posters in this thread that have IUDs have said that the insertion and aftermath sucked, and the symptoms they experienced- extreme pain and cramping- are THE reasons I started taking BC all those years ago.  I don't care to experience that shit for even just a few minutes ever again, lol. 

And my luck is such that I'll be like the majority of posters and not have the experience you and kerbohl had.

I'll stick to the pills until they can Star Trek transport my uterus and ovaries out of me.

kerbohl

@PrettyGirlLost Lol - Star Trek comment.  Nice!  Either wait for that or the male birth control pill . . . either option is pretty great for women. 

ashley8918

southernbelle0915 said:

PrettyGirlLost said:

teddygirl9 said:

PrettyGirlLost said:

butterscotchjbeans said:

So after our own whoppsie that sadly didn't happen, I went to my doctor and asked about other kinds of contraceptives. The pill is great, but obviously I am part of that 0.01% that has no explanation but a big uh oh. Mirena is a possibility but DH wants me to continue with the pill, since I have no idea how Mirena can affect my body or what reactions it can cause. That is with any new medication pretty much. 

My question, after the background story, do any of you have Mirena? If so, what kind of changes have you experienced since you first got it? Would you recommend it?

My insurance is good, and it would only be a co-pay of 25 for the thing and then check ups every year, unless it falls (?)

Did you actually take the pill every day, on time, at the same time?

IUD insertion for women who have not had children, and thus their cervix has never dilated, is not a fun experience. . . depending on your tolerance for pain it can be quite nasty so I have been told by OBs and friends who have had them inserted.  Your doctor will either have to medically or mechanically dilate your cervix to insert it ><

No thank you, lol!

I've never heard of 'mechanically' dilating a cervix, they're pretty small to start prying it open. They also offer a 'pill' that you put in yourself, 8-12 hours before the insertion that is supposed to relax the muscles, but has it's own side effects, but it is supposed to make insertion easier.

There's a device that is used to manually dilate the cervix enough to insert the IUD. . . I don't recall what it is called, but several of my friends had this done.

I didn't think it was that bad and I don't have some crazy remarkable pain tolerance.

I had my first Mirena IUD inserted when I was 22 and got my second one inserted at 27. I've never been pregnant or delivered a baby, but it was just quick pinch. The device itself is pliable - they only have to dilate you a tiny bit to get it in and only for a second or two. My doc also used numbing spray, which they told me is typical. I was sore for a couple days afterwards, but worth it for 5 years of protection, IMO.

ETF: age corrections, I'm getting old and can't remember things anymore

I also didn't expierence any real pain, just mild discomfort. I had had my two kids by the time I had it put in, but both were delivered via c-section. I never dilated.

phira

@prettygirllost The pain and cramping is temporary. Insertion takes less than 5 minutes, and by the time they let me leave 30 minutes later, I felt a lot better. The rest of the day was like a so-so period day in terms of cramping. Cramping lasted on and off for about a week and then was gone for good.

Just a reminder to anyone considering an IUD:

A copper IUD will not prevent your periods, and usually makes them heavier and longer. The mechanism of action is actually that the copper increases inflammation (recruits more inflammatory cells to the uterus), and that prevents pregnancy.

A hormone IUD often reduces period length and heaviness, and in a lot of cases, but not the majority of cases, can stop periods altogether. It's not a guarantee, though. If you want to stop getting your period, the only surefire way to do it is take birth control pills and skip placebos (or get NuvaRing and skip the week off). IUDs are not 100% period-preventing.

emcme22

I considered switching to the nexplanon implant that goes in your arm recently, but after some advice I got, decided not to since it can definitely have some hormonal side effects and I didn't want to risk it.  I am on a generic of the seasonale pill where you only get your period 4 times a year, and was just recently advised by my doctor to skip the placebo weeks to skip my period all together because of some pain issues.  So if not having a period is a goal, sticking to bc pills might be the best way to go.  

PrettyGirlLost

@phira‌ I know several women who had severe pain and cramping for several days after IUD insertion. I know everyone will have a different reaction, but like I said since my periods and cramps were so severe, and I'm by no means a baby when it comes to pain, I just don't care to risk it.

Most women I know who have IUDs just love them, though.