YOU HAVE WHAT, WHERE? – A mini guide to IUDs

 

 

Like many women, I’ve thought a lot about birth control.  The pill made me crazy, tearful, dry, and unaroused---plus, we aren’t sure what the ecological ramifications are of millions of women peeing out hormones into the environment.  I come from pretty fertile people, so for years I was a condom nazi—but what if it breaks?  

 

I never felt comfortable with the idea of being ‘mostly’ sure that a baby wasn’t trying to set up camp inside me.  On the recommendation from several friends, I began looking into the IntraUterine Device (IUD)-- its all the rage in Europe and Asia, but what’s up with the mixed reputation?  After a lot of thinking I ended up getting one and it’s been a mixed but net-positive experience. Read on!

There are two kinds of IUDs- the hormone one and the copper one.  It is basically a small t-shaped hunk of metal or plastic that your doctor inserts into your cervix.  It hangs out in there and basically makes your uterus an inhospitable environment to sperm.  

The hormone one, Mirena, releases a small amount of hormones to accomplish this—as me and synthetic hormones don’t jive, I opted for the Paraguard copper IUD.  They both can run several hundred dollars but my insurance covered both the apparatus and the doctors visit.  

Here’s the clincher:  it works for up to twelve years with up to 99% effectiveness!  Yay! The only birth control option that is more effective is abstinence. No pills, condoms, diaphragms, or other doo-hickeys to fiddle with when the best part of the day rolls around.  Of course, the IUD does not protect you from HIV or other STI’s, it only covers you for unwanted pregnancy.  Sexy people get tested and make their partners do the same; you should still use a condom if it’s a casual partner. When/if you do eventually want to get pregnant, you simply go back to your doctor to have it removed and your fertility will returns to normal in a month or two.

Sounds pretty rockstar right?  Yep, it is. HOWEVER it can have its range of effects on women.  The hormone one tends to make your period lighter and cramps friendlier; the copper one does the exact opposite.  Some women say it’s god’s gift to ladies, others say it was a disaster.  After reading a ton of forums of women relating their experiences, I think its safe to say that it’s a crapshoot, just like all birth control methods; it works for some and not for others.  The most common side effect is severe cramping, which I definitely experienced.  However, as the body gets used to having a wee t-shaped hitchhiker, it tends to calm down and the cramps are less severe after a few months.  Painful?  Yes.  Worth it?  Just ask my boyfriend ;-)