Experiences of IUD or IUS contraceptive

UK0106

Afternoon all

I've been told by my GP that having reached the grand old age of 30 with a history of DVT in the family and suffering the occasional migraine, that I can no longer take the standard contraceptive pill (I was previously on Microgynon).

Now, this in itself doesn't bother me because I stopped taking it about a year ago (not in a relationship, didn't see the point in pumping myself full of hormones for no reason) and since I stopped, the change in my libido has been amazing so I definitely want to keep that up where it is now. :rotfl:

My GP has recommended either the IUD or IUS for me and having read the information leaflets for both, I'm struggling to make a decision on which one I'd prefer (or if I even want one full stop).

I'm leaning towards the IUD so there are no hormonal implications but then the thought of having heavier and painful periods puts me off. I have always had very light (2 days) and pretty much painless periods.

Before anybody asks (because I know I would), I have been given the option of the other type of pill or the implant as alternatives. I have previously had the implant and it turned me into an angry beast of a woman and I'm not keen on the idea of pills anymore. I struggle to even remember to take my inhaler most days!

Do any of you lovely ladies on here have experience with either of the two options, pros and cons, etc, that you'd be willing to share please?

KARO

If you need contraception I would definitely go for the other type of pill rather than one of those contraptions in your cervix :eek:

But.. each to their own, of course.

katsu

I love the IUS.

I've had them since my teens so had several of them so far and plan to keep going through to the menopause.

Mine gives me really light periods of a few days max (before I was massively heavy and had bad PMT - again PMT much better and shorter) and is just so easy - one appointment every 5 years for a change over.

The day of implantation is a bit sore and aching in your abdomen but OTC painkillers and some rest help it pass.

I'm a massive advocate for the mirena and feel it has been a massive benefit.

Hezzawithkids

I've had the Minerva IUD and it stopped my periods altogether. This was fine by me as I'd been having very heavy & painful periods up to that point and as I wasn't planning on having any more children it suited me fine. (but then I've got 20 years + on you ).

ripplyuk

I'm in a similar situation as you OP. I can't decide either. I had decided on the mirena but then terrified myself reading scary reviews! I've realised now that there are bad reviews about every method of contraception.

I read about the new IUS called Jaydess which I like the sound of. It's smaller and has far less hormones than the mirena. Because of that, it won't lighten periods much, if at all, but it might suit you if yours are not heavy anyway.

barbiedoll

I've used the bog-standard IUD ("coil") for many years, since the birth of my son.

I didn't have heavy or painful periods before and I didn't afterwards either. Not everyone has horror stories of infections, painful insertion/removal etc etc, my sister also has one (she's never had kids) and she has not had any problems with hers. Nor have any of my colleagues who have them, they are used by millions of women worldwide but, as with any method of contraception, some people will have problems. I would suggest that you try it, if it doesn't suit you, then you can have it removed and you can try something else.

I was a bit nervous when I saw the size of the pack that it came in though, it was about a foot long! :eek:
But don't be alarmed, the pack includes a very thin insertion device, I didn't find the fitting any more uncomfortable than a smear test. Best of all, no hormones, no worrying about side-effects, they can be left in for years and if you do want to get pregnant, you can have it removed and start trying straight away.

I've had no complaints about my IUD, it's been the best and most uncomplicated method that I've ever used, by far.

tomtontom

OP your experience of the implant would suggest you are progesterone intolerant. Worth keeping in mind that the IUS is also progesterone based. It's what puts me off, progesterone sends me crazy and whilst I'd like to try the IUS I'm scared it will send me off the scale.

Maybe worth a trip to the family planning clinic for a chat?

jackomdj

Hezzawithkids wrote: »

I've had the Minerva IUD and it stopped my periods altogether. This was fine by me as I'd been having very heavy & painful periods up to that point and as I wasn't planning on having any more children it suited me fine. (but then I've got 20 years + on you ).

Minerva for me too and no periods. Fantastic, as I had issues with periods (a couple of days a month without bleeding) after I had my children.

SeduLOUs

I had the implant in for 6 years with only occasional light pain free spotting and a very easy life. Then for some bizarre reason it all decided to go downhill and I started to have very long bleeds and terrible cramps, so was advised to take it out.

I went back to Microgynon for about 6 months but that caused me a whole world of different problems, and I now have a long term condition (IIH) that I am convinced was triggered by it and have now been advised to avoid oestrogen/combined pill.

I'm on Cerazette at the moment which is progesterone like the implant, and I seem to be doing OK with it for the time being. I'm tempted to try the copper coil to avoid hormones altogether.

lantanna

I had the Mirena Coil fitted a week ago on Monday. I have had it because I suffer from irregular periods, usually every 2 weeks and lasting longer than they should do and terrible pmt.


I have tried other pills in the past for contraception and one for my current problems and didn't really get any side effects from any (I think)


I had Depo Provera injection in the past (gained lots of weight), couple of stone at least but it was a good contraceptive at the time.


So what can I tell you about Mirena in the space of a week. I'm not going to lie, it was really sore and uncomfortable getting it fitted. My legs were shaking afterwards with the pain it was like a sharp shooting pain. I had mine fitted at the hospital and they recommend you take pain relief beforehand and give it time to take effect. Somehow I wasn't given this information. For me it was a lot more painful than getting a smear. I felt a bit faint and light headed afterwards but the initial sharp pain disappeared in seconds. I think it was more the shock of it made me feel unwell. I wasn't really expecting it to be sore! I also wasn't expecting the Gynae to be a man or for there to be a male medical student present as well in addition to the nurse!! :rotfl: I went into it a bit blind tbh because the Dept is really overstretched and I'd waited for the appointments for 7 months. I also had to wait that day for an hour as they were running late and that stressed me out a bit.


If you decide to go for it speak with your Gynae about pain management first as a lot of women get an anaesthetic to get it in if its too sore. Apparently if you haven't had children the neck of your cervix is hard to open and so it is likely to be more painful than those that have had children. I find a smear uncomfortable too.


That night I felt really crampy but no worse than a period, took some pain relief and got on the chocolate and a glass of wine :rotfl:to feel sorry for myself. Blood wise, there was no blood initially after it was done. I have been bleeding since about Thursday as if its a period. Hoping that will go away soon! Last week I was like a bag of cats for most of the week, wanted to eat crazily and was seriously moody and short tempered! But hey that's the way I get with PMT anyway. Thankfully that has all passed and I feel a lot calmer now, happier and back to healthy eating. Thank goodness as I was concerned I was going to have a stone on in a week.


I have to go back in 6 weeks to have the strings checked for placement. Would I do it again?? Yes I would as I will give anything a try and hope that this can help my pmt and irregular periods. I just wish I had expected or known that it was going to be as painful as it was. Not unbearable but really sore. Expect to feel a bit out of sorts for at least a few days and don't schedule anything too much. In terms of exercise etc I've been to the gym and swimming, no problems there at all. I have sort of forgotten it is there now. Apparently I have to remember to get it changed after 5 years, I won't be sent for which I think is a bit lax but then the NHS is in a bad way right now.


Hope this helps you!! Whatever you chose if it doesn't suit you, you can change or stop.

Anoneemoose

'Copper' coil (no hormones), for me too! Had it 18 years on and off and have never had any issues whatsoever. Once it's in, that's it for however many years (think 8).