Looking for a bit of advice!
I’ve reacted pretty badly to both the birth control pill (two different brands) and the Depo-Provera shot, so I’m currently off all hormonal birth control.
We’re not planning on having a baby any time soon (both live with our parents still and I’m going back to school in [name_f]September[/name_f] for a two-year program - graduating in [name_u]June[/name_u] 2021), and I’ve been considering going back onto birth control of some kind (we’re still preventing pregnancy, I’m just not using any kind of medical assistance to prevent) until we’re ready to TTC.
Does anyone have any experience with using IUDs or coils for birth control? [name_f]Do[/name_f] they seem to work well for you? Are they painful? Any bad side effects?
Thanks!
I had the [name_f]Mirena[/name_f] coil put in after baby #3 and it’s been fine. It wasn’t too bad to have put in (but apparently it can hurt a little if you haven’t had a vaginal delivery before), and once it’s in you don’t have to think about contraception at all. It’s one of the most effective forms of contraception too — well over 99%. I had a little cramping for the first few days after insertion and have had a fair bit of spotting since, but apparently that usually settles down after a few months. I decided against the copper coil because it can cause heavy and painful periods (which I used to have as a teenager), but if I don’t get on with the [name_f]Mirena[/name_f] long-term then that’s what I’d probably go for. It’s almost as effective and just as hassle-free.
I had [name_f]Mirena[/name_f] also. I had it put in before I had given birth, and while insertion was not comfortable, it wasn’t as painful as a I was expecting due to things I had read online. I had a little cramping that day, and I spotted for like four months after having it put in, but no super obvious symptoms otherwise.
I’m considering getting another IUD after this pregnancy, but I’m thinking about getting the copper kind instead. I have super irregular cycles (and usually pretty light, so unless the copper IUD made them significantly worse I think it’d be ok), and I want as little hormonal influence as possible because we’ll likely try for another baby in a few years (although I got pregnant pretty much immediately after having my [name_f]Mirena[/name_f] IUD removed, so this is kind of just me being paranoid I guess). Also, I think that [name_f]Mirena[/name_f] lowered my sex drive quite a bit, so I’m wondering if copper would be better for me in that department.
I had the [name_f]Mirena[/name_f] for 4 years and loved it! No issues and when we wanted to ttc and I had it removed, my cycle returned perfectly regular and we got pregnant right away. While on it, I didn’t have any negative side effects. I also didn’t have a period, which was awesome. When I had it removed, I was warned about the “[name_f]Mirena[/name_f] hangover” and I was very tired /lethargic for 4 days, but other than that, I was back to normal.
My best friend has the copper coil. She likes it, but she doesn’t seem to euphorically adore it the way I did my [name_f]Mirena[/name_f] lol.