to IUD or not

[lyra_sena]

I'll admit that I might have hypochondriac tendencies. (serialkarma commences hysterical laughing). I don't run to the doctor for every little sniffle though, cause I really don't like going to the doctor at all. I'm the type of hypochondriac who gets a headache and immediately thinks I have a brain tumor, but doesn't get it checked out because of the

Comments

[utterfrivolity]

After being on Depo for years and years, and then a progestin-only pill, and then a normal estrogen/progesterone pill, I've actually decided to go completely hormone-free. So for the very first time in my entire life I'm using condoms. Even though my partner and I aren't super happy with using condoms after nearly ten years without, I decided to stick with condoms instead of getting an IUD because I didn't want to use the copper IUD because of the risk of much heavier periods, and I didn't want to use the hormonal IUD because after the other methods I've used, I've decided that I'm totally done with hormones. My best friend got the hormonal IUD and has been quite happy with it, though, after she got over the initial fear of it being expelled or whatever.

[lyra_sena]

See, I think your decision is Great. - it's so much more natural!! For me, having never really been on birth control long term, the idea of putting hormones into my body made me uncomfortable to begin with, but condoms really are such a pain which is why I want other alternatives.

I would totally go for a diaphram but it seems so inconvenient.

[utterfrivolity]

And immediately after posting this I thought, shit, I didn't even introduce myself, did I? So thank you for not just being, "Who he hell are you?". I was just flist-hopping, and I used to work for Planned Parenthood so I have an almost compulsive desire to discuss reproductive issues. *g*

I definitely think you're on the right track with the IUD. Besides being inconvenient, the diaphragm has a high enough failure rate that if you're anything like me, you'd be freaking out every time you were a couple days late (while condoms have a similar failure rate with typical use, diaphragms have a higher failure rate with perfect use). And the hormonal IUD has a very low level of hormones, although I don't know if your doctor would rather you try the copper after your reaction to the pill.

[lyra_sena]

oh, please, welcome it's nice to meet you! My doctor advised I go to the Planned Parenthood site, actually, to read up on all the different forms of BC, which is why I started leaning toward the IUD.

Yeah, I like the idea of not having to stop and put something in everytime I want to have sex. That's the biggest pain about the condom -- it kills the mood.

[r1cepudding]

I had horrendous reactions to all hormone-based birth control, including umpteen versions of the pill and the one where they stick a needle in your ass, what's it, Depo Provera.

I switched to an IUD (the non-hormone kind) almost two years ago and I would absolutely recommend it. I will tell you that while the insertion was only mildly uncomfortable, no worse than a smear, I did suffer pain that was like, the WORST CRAMPS YOU HAVE EVER HAD for a few hours afterwards. Also my periods were a little wacko, but that very well may have been my body adjusting to not being on the injection anymore, which completely removed my periods.

The IUD is so easy, there's no bother, very few side effects - I would absolutely recommend it. It's worth a little discomfort on the day itself.

[lyra_sena]

Heee, what I love about this post is that I had no idea so many women used an IUD. I just assumed most women were on the Pill. Ugh, Bex, that pill -- only three weeks into it and it made me wacko! I was HOPING I was overreacting, and the doctor would be like, Oh no, give it another month -- so to be told to stop it at ONCE was disconcerting.

IUD is looking like a better option. I was worried about the pain of insertion, and about it moving around or being uncomfortable during sex, but since I know the lot of y'all have wild kinky sex then I feel much better about its staying power. :)

[misspamela]

I loved my IUD! I had the non-hormone kind for years, and I'll probably give the hormone kind a shot after I have this baby. (The hormones don't circulate through your body -- they stay in your lady parts.) I hate hormonal birth control, and I've never reacted well to it. But I definitely like the idea of having lighter/easier periods with the hormonal IUD. If it somehow doesn't work for me, then I will go right back the the copper IUD!

It wasn't uncomfortable to insert and I never noticed it once it was in. Keep in mind, though, that I had it put in six weeks after giving birth, so I was pretty blase at that point about things going in and out of my vagina. When they took it out two years later, it didn't hurt too badly, and I just had mild cramping/spotting that morning.

[lyra_sena]

condom icon! How appropriate! This post was prompted by the fact that I was actually going to email you and ask you about your IUD, and then I was like, hell, I'll just ask my entire flist and see what pops up.

Yay, thanks for the info! I feel much less nervous about the IUD now. I really think I'm leaning more and more toward this option. It just seems like it would be right for me. And I don't hear all the horror stories like with the freaking pill.

[thefourthvine]

Lesbianism! All-natural, fun, and free!

...Although I should warn you that it apparently doesn't work THAT well, since I am in fact pregnant.

[misspamela]

*cracks up*

LESBIANISM: UR DOING IT WRONG

[thefourthvine]

What's really terrifying is that Gmail, when this comment was emailed to my inbox, decided that the perfect, content-matched ad was for EAR CANDLES.

...Apparently, Gmail thinks I am doing lesbianism really wrong.

[lyra_sena]

LOL. Yeah, um. That went REAL well for you, huh?

Now to just get Tech to agree to switch genders... ;)

[china_shop]

Condoms. I find it reassuring that you can immediately tell if it worked. *g*

[lyra_sena]

LOL. Or we could stick strictly to oral sex. :) I don't know why sex with Tech is so much different (the best) but they seriously seem to just *get in the way*. Sigh. Anyway, I really don't mind doing this for us, or for our sex life. I just don't want to develop migraines in the process.