[Busty]

SO.........
I just found out that the new IUD Mirena is covered by my medical plan at work and I want to know the lowdown...........Nurse

[Jammy Jambon]

Along with Busty I am curious as well. I have heard horror stories from my mom and female family members not to mention some random junior high scare-tactic "wellness" "education" information. I feel a good discussion coming on...
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Jammy
Jambon~

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"I'm Riding a Furry Tractor!"
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[Busty]

Where is Nurse

[Nocturnal]

Ladies, I have an IUD and can tell you that it is terrific. I am not a health professional but have been through the process and will share what I know.

There are two types of IUD; hormone based like the Mirena $350 (releases a small amount of progesterone) and copper based like the Nova T $70 (simply a piece of copper wire wrapped around a plastic T).

There are a few considerations before you get an IUD. They tend to make your period heavier (although I haven't really noticed a difference). So if you already have an crazy period it may not be for you. Another consideration is if you want hormonal or non-hormonal birth control. Both the Mirena and the Nova T have the same protection rate (99. something percent, just like the pill), I just picked the Nova T because I didn't want any more hormones in my body after being on birth control for so long. Third consideration is size. The Mirena is larger than the Nova T; if you have not had children (cervix has never opened) it is slightly more painful getting a larger IUD inserted.

I believe that once inserted the Mirena can stay in for 5 years. When I got the Nova T 1.5 years ago I was told it was effective for 2 years. Recently my doctor told me that new research indicates that it is good for up to 5 years just like the Mirena.

IUD's have to be inserted by a health professional that has done it before. There are precautions that must be taken...if the person doing it is inexperienced they can puncture your uterus. I think this is very rare though. Horror stories from mums and anunties about IUD's 20 years ago are probably true, however the old torture device IUD's are a far cry from the new ones they have out now.

Insertion is the crappy part of the process. It really hurts. As your uterus is not used to having anything in it, when the IUD goes in your uterus will cramp up to try to push out the foreign object. Once it is inserted there are plastic dental floss like strings that come out of your cervix that the doctor has to trim. The strings are pointy for a few days then wrap around your cervix. If the strings are cut correctly your partner will not notice them.

Discomfort varies a lot between different women. My experience was a day of what I can only describe as very bad period cramps then voila, adaptation. The pain wasn't debilitating, I would have went to a gymnastics class that night had it not been cancelled. I cannot notice my IUD and don't have to do anything at all to maintain it except check every few months to make sure it hasn't moved. As a person looking for an alternative to the pill my experience with an IUD was great, I would completely recommend getting one

[Guest]

AHHH .
First of all much apologies.... My nursey self has been on a bit of a hiatus...
Anyways.. ohh the IUD...
Its popularity hit a peak in the 70s, followed by a rapid crash involving a certain BRAND of IUD that resulted in medical and pregnancy complications.
About 3 years ago I attended a conference where a speaker announced that the IUD was heading for a comeback. Images of babys being born with IUDs implanted in their little foreheads burst into my head , as I shook it with a "ya right" muttered under my breath. That contraceptive became yesterdays news, just as our mothers days a liberated galavanting ended, so too did the IUD.

But I was wrong. The IUD is back and better than ever.
Even with the advances of science, weirdly enough, there is no direct explaination for how it works in preventing pregnany.

In a nut shell.... the small "T" shaped device is a foriegn body to the uterus (where it is inserted by a DR.)... Thus irritating it somewhat (in a way that you cant really see or feel) making it a hostile place that a fertilized egg cant settle in.
Some versions have a copper coil wrapped around the base. For some reason, copper repels the sperm, sending them away from the egg.
Some versions (like Minera) release hormones, which provide added protection by making vaginal discharge thicker (harder for sperm to navigate through) and the uterine wall thinner, and harder to implant in, should a sperm and egg hook up. (much like the birth control pill)

Ideally, IUDs are very effective, Up to 99.9 percent in preventing Pregnancies.
And they last for up to 5 years.

You should aslo know that IUDs can be insterted up to a week after unprotected sex, as an emergeny contraceptive method as well, should you miss the 72 hour "morning after" pill window.

Now as for side effects.... As with any hormonal method, the side effects vary from woman to woman. The side effect I have most encountered is heavy bleeding and cramping with periods.Esp in woman whos uterus has not beared a child. However, with the IUDs with hormone, the thinned out Uterus could result in lighter periods. ..
The strings that hang down, although you dont see or feel them, can lead to increased infection. STD bacteria can climb on them, and introduce themselves to the uterus. This is why the IUD is most reccomended for people practiseing safe sex / ,monogamy all the time. The IUD offers no disease protection.

Insertion, agreed is the painful part. There is also potential for hemmorage due to puncture during insertion. This risk can be reduced by a "trial run", which most clinics due. Its an appointment prior to you getting the IUD, where they visualize your cervix and uterus, to get an idea of how far and in which direction the placement goes. At this appointment I also reccomend you discuss sedation /anti anxiety meds for the procedure.

All in all its a good, longer term method, non without its risks, but worth checking out.

[Nocturnal]

[Busty]

I think I am leaning towards the NO hormones option.....I was on Depropovera for almost 4 years, so I think I got dosed on progesterone with that......Thanks much for all the info ladies!!

How come Nurse

[Ava Love]

A friend of mine just got Mirena last week.
She was not a happy camper that day. But she seemed to get over it quite quickly.

I myself plan on never bearing a child in my womb, and therefore I am content to go into my 5th year of period-less life on Depo.

[Ava Love]

So I've been back on the pill for the last year and a half, and I'm definitely ready to try something new. I did 1.5 years on the pill, 6.5 years on depo, and back on the pill for the last 1.5 years. I have three friends on Mirena, and they all swear it's the best thing they ever did. Unfortunately the cost makes it... difficult... as the pill is covered by my medical, but Mirena is not...

I wish we could get the government to recognize some of the important female medications and devices. You can really tell that there's a man in charge of making those desicions somewhere up the line!
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