Copper IUDs?

[AdminAssistant]

As I mentioned in another thread, I have to go off my oral contraceptive. I had a meeting with a gyn nurse to review my options today. Of course, we can switch to condoms, but....I'd like to double up if I can. I really, really, really need to not get pregnant right now, y'know?

My liver condition means that I can't have anything hormonal, so that basically leaves diaphragms or ParaGard (a copper IUD). After doing a bit of research, the diaphragm just seems like it would be a big hassle. The ParaGuard looks okay, but I'm worried about longer, heavier periods. Any thoughts?

[Dasota]

I find that a little weird since I was also told that I couldn't take the shot, ring, patch or pills because of my liver condition, but Merina was ok? I haven't gone on it yet since I don't have health insurance, but I think the next time I do go in, I'm going to ask about that.

[AdminAssistant]

No, not Mirena. This is ParaGard, and it's a copper IUD that doesn't use any hormones.

[Seshat]

I don't recall any difference in my periods when I had my copper-T IUD inserted. However, I have PCOS, which means my periods are always wonky.

[Dasota]

No, not Mirena. This is ParaGard, and it's a copper IUD that doesn't use any hormones.

I know that, what I meant to say was that I was told no hormonal birth control, and then was told that Mirena was ok. I just thought it was weird I was told one thing, and then the opposite thing in the same appointment

[AdminAssistant]

Oh, ok. I looked at Mirena last year, but I was told that they discourage its use in women who have not had children and may be planning to in the future.

[Treasure]

one of its potential side effects, (though rare) is sterility - ie you're trying to be responsible, and not have kids before you're ready, but you may not be able to have them EVER if you should decide that you are ready and willing... its why I discounted it when my friends suggested it to me as an option.

[telecom_goddess]

This may be just me but I have never trusted copper iuds and have never used one. They potential of stuff that can go wrong is way too much for my comfort level. PID being one of the worst ones.

I vote NO on that...IMO

[Luna Baby]

I had 2 Paraguards, both after each of my children. I liked them because they are hormone free and when I decided it was time to try for our second child, it was taken out and within a month I was pregnant. I can't say for sure what OB/GYN's recommend now, but at the time that I had them ('96 & 2000), they weren't recommended for anyone who had not had a child yet, had multiple partners or a history of PID (not implying that any of these apply to you, but just what the recommendations were). That could have very well changed since then.

The only thing about them was that to be inserted or removed, you needed to still be on your period, preferably the last couple of days of bleeding, and both during insertion and removal, I had some mild cramping afterwards. But, a little ibuprofen and I was good to go.

Also, back then, the Paraguard was good for 10 years and the Merina (sp??) was good for 5. I'm not sure if it is still the same.

HTH

[1756GR2]

I had mine (back then it was the Copper 7) put in sometime in the very late 70's, I think. Had no problems other than the already mentioned slight cramping immediately following insertion. Had it removed for a short time to get pregnant again, then had it replaced. By that time it had been discontinued but my GYN let me have one in exchange for signing off any suits if something went wrong. Again, other than the initial light cramping, no problems. Done, and no further thought given to it other than the occasional necessary self-check to make sure the string was still in place. Heck, I was well into menopause when I remembered I had it and maybe should look into having it taken out.

I like the non-hormonal, don't-have-to-remember-anything approach myself.

[NorthernZel]

I don't recall any difference in my periods when I had my copper-T IUD inserted. However, I have PCOS, which means my periods are always wonky.

Same thing here. However, I've agreed with my doc that I'll switch to Mirena once it is time to get a new IUD, since the small amount of hormones might help a bit on my PCOS symptoms.

[Seshat]

The brand of IUD that was recalled had a twisted-yarn type of 'string', and fluids managed to travel up the twisted-yarn by what's called 'capillary action'.

All IUDs since have single-yarn 'strings', to prevent that.

In the twisted-yarn cases, the PID was caused by fluids in the vagina entering the uterus through that capillary action. (Fluids from the vagina being natural lube, synthetic lube, semen, douche fluid, bathwater....)

Similarly, the recommendation against IUDs for people with multiple partners is on the theory that if one of the partners has an STD, the bacterium or virus might travel up the string and into the uterus.

It is theoretically possible for the IUD strings to provide a pathway through the cervix for fluids or single-cell organisms: however, since the recall of twisted-yarn IUDs, the incidence has dropped to (if I recall correctly) zero provable cases. (As in, all cases might have been the IUD, or might not have.)

Some doctors don't like inserting IUDs in women who have not had vaginal childbirths, because our cervixes have never been stretched, thus the cervical opening is narrower.

Insertion and removal during the period is because the cervical opening is at its widest (non-childbirth) position then.

I had mine inserted by a family planning doctor: clinics that specialise in contraception tend to have a doctor or two who regularly inserts and removes IUDs. This minimises the risk of complications. (The majority of complications with IUDs are errors by inexperienced doctors.)

I hope this information is helpful.

[Laund-o-rama Mama]

I have one! I like it except I do have a lot of spotting. I've always been irregular but the spotting has increased. Nothing that's enough to actually wear a pad/tampon, though.

Also, because of said irregularity, pinpointing when I would have my period for insertion was nigh impossible. And I have my son, but he was C-Section, so I never gave birth vaginally. But they gave me this stuff beforehand to soften my cervix and open it. However....insertion HURT LIKE HELL. It was uncomfortable pinching followed by the most severe cramp I have ever had. It brought tears to my eyes. (And I have a rather high pain threshold. Let's just say that I was up walking around right after my C-Section and made them remove my catheter AND I refused the narcotic meds. So yeah.)

But I would still do it again. You really can't beat the hassle-free, hormone-free 10 year IUD! And it might not hurt as much for you if you can do it during a real period and/or you have had a vaginal birth.

[AdminAssistant]

I went to the gyno last week and she said that the Mirena (Copper IUD which puts out a small amount of progesterone) could be an option. But it would be off-label use; the FDA has only approved it for women who are done child-bearing. And I would have to get the okay from my GI specialist. But, she theorized, since it doesn't put out estrogen and only puts out a small amount of progesterone directing into the uterus, that it would probably be okay. She also has no qualms about putting one in someone who has not had any children. Bonus - I would actually have lighter periods...or no periods at all.

But she does want to wait to insert whichever I choose until I'm on my period, not only because it's easier to insert, but because then they can be more certain that they aren't terminating a pregnancy. Apparently copper IUDs can be used as a morning after pill.