For the few men that read my blog, this may not be the post for you. However, this being said, you may be interested in learning more about female contraceptives and what it's like for women... Like maybe? Sheer curiosity? Either way, today I am writing about my experience with the IUD (Intrauterine device) since I can say from experience that hearing other women's experiences definitely helped me with me decision and preparedness going into the appointment.
What is a IUD
According to WebMD (I know, best source EVER), the IUD is "Shaped like a "T" and a bit bigger than a quarter, an IUD fits inside your uterus. It prevents pregnancy by stopping sperm from reaching and fertilizing eggs." With the proper use, the IUD is 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. I was prescribed the Mirena, which stays inserted for up to 5 years and has the hormone levonorgestrel. The IUD is a hassle free method, meaning once it's inserted, you don't need to remember to take something every single day. It takes away that half way through you workday stress of "Holy CRAP. Did I forget to take my pill this morning?". Come on, I know you've been there too. And then it weighs on you for the rest of the day. The IUD is on the more expensive side, however, mine was covered with OHIP+ and is often covered by most medical insurance companies. It is a one time cost, one time pick-up, one time insertion and voila, done.
Why did I choose to get one?
I had been on the pill since around the age of 17-18 years old. I liked how the pill helped with my acne, regulated my erratic period and helped me *ahem* develop a little more. However, the pill added this unnecessary stress into my life. I was always concerned about forgetting to pack it if I wasn't going to be home overnight, or just forgetting to take it all together. I knew that this was not only bad for my hormones and system, but I was also gambling with the effectiveness. The IUD had never even crossed my mind. Honestly, I don't even remember learning about it in school... High five Ontario Sexual Education curriculum of the 2000's! I was at my doctors getting my pill prescription renewed when she asked me if I had ever considered the IUD as an alternative. She explained to me how it worked and told me about how the Ontario government was covering it since I am under 25. She said many of her patients were now switching to the IUD and she couldn't emphasize enough how great it was. When she said that a lot of her patients stopped having their period all together, I was pretty much sold. For me, the IUD would just make one less thing for me to think about on a daily basis. It just made sense for me.
The process
Getting the IUD was a very simple process. Once I took the time to think about it, I went back to my doctor to tell her that I wanted to move forward with the IUD. She did a pelvic exam to make sure everything was okay with my body and also conducted an STI panel, since you cannot get the IUD inserted with an STI. After that, I got a referral to the OBGYN for the actual insertion, which because the office at my doctors is quite busy, it took about three weeks. At this point, I was in no rush to get it done, so the wait wasn't an issue for me. I picked up my IUD from the pharmacy and walked out with it the same day. Next came the insertion appointment and that was it! Nothing more to worry about. The only thing to remember is to check for the tip of the strings about every month, justttt to be on the safe side. Otherwise, no hassle!
The insertion
Okay so, this is the part that honestly sucked quite a bit. I am going to try my best to put the feeling into words. Someone had told me to take Ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil) before an hour before the appointment to help with pain and cramping. It is also important to have food beforehand, since the pain does make some people feel lightheaded or nauseous (*raises hand*). First, the doctor determines the position of the uterus to make sure everything is going in right. The doctor will then use a bunch of fancy metal tools (speculum? yes?...) to open the vagina and cervix. This is the part that was really uncomfortable for me... The best way to describe it would be almost like a pushing feeling from the inside trying to come out through your pelvis. Honestly, this part was so painful to me that when she said she was now going to insert the IUD, I said "Wait was that not it??". The doctor then uses a long stick looking thing to determine the length of the uterus and cervical canal. The IUD is then inserted, the strings cut to the right length, the instruments are removed and voila, that's it, that's all.
The "Recovery"
I will admit, I was such a baby during the insertion. It has become very clear that I do not handle pain very well... A friend of mine who took care of me after my wisdom teeth surgery will be the first to tell you that I passed out at the drugstore because of the pain and nausea. I was expecting the insertion process to hurt, but what I felt wasn't at all what I was expecting. Here's a pro-tip that I wish I could have used: Get it inserted within 7 days of your expected period, since your cervix is a little more dilated than it would normally be. This would make it less painful to pry open. Now, I'm no doctor, so definitely talk to yours about it being scheduled around that time. This is just something someone told me. After the procedure, the room was spinning, I was very hot and felt like I was going to pass out, throw-up, or both. The doctor got me a couple cold wet washcloths and a glass of water, telling me to stay lying down until I felt better. The cramps pretty much started right away and lasted about a day and a half. I went home, took out a hot water bottle, put on my sweats, ordered McDonalds on Uber Eats, cuddled up under a fuzzy blanket and turned on a movie, full out milking it. Hey... It hurt okay?
How it's been since
I was one of the lucky few, I will admit that. My cramping didn't last very long at all and my period mostly stopped right away. I think that since the insertion at the end of February 2019, I have gotten my period maybe twice. Even still, they weren't heavy at all. I spotted a little bit for maybe a week or two afterwards but again, nothing heavy. One thing I did notice was that I felt quite bloated for 2-3 months after. I'm not sure if this was because I wasn't being as active at that time of the year of if it was the IUD, but I did notice that I felt bigger than usual, when I normally have a fairly flat stomach. My lower stomach was also a little more sensitive to things like carrying the heavy laundry basket on my hip for the first little bit. It does take the body some time to get used this new intruder, so all of this is totally normal. I think my acne flared back up a bit because of the change of hormones, but this was to be expected. I had a follow-up appointment six weeks after the insertion and everything has been smooth sailing so far. Honestly, no regrets whatsoever,
Would I do it again knowing what I know now?
ABSOLUTELY. Yes, the insertion SUCKED, but honestly, things have been so easy ever since. The peace of mind of knowing I don't need to take that extra step is really truly nice. The fact that is was covered by health insurance is even better. I would absolutely recommend it to anyone who is considering it. I tell my friends all the time that it was a great decision for me and I would recommend any woman to at least consider it.
In conclusion
The experience is so different for everyone. I know people for who it barely hurt and didn't get any cramping, and then I know others who were that one in a million chance of getting a perforated uterus. Just because it goes horribly for one person, it doesn't mean it won't go well for you and vice-versa. This is definitely something that needs to be discussed with your doctor, since it's not every woman who is a good fit for this type of birth control.
Feel free to reach out if you have any more questions about my personal experience with the IUD! Don't forget to subscribe for notifications on new posts and to check out my social media to see what I'm up to outside of blogging!