BellaOnline Forums Relationships Married No Kids IUDs

I was curious if any women have an IUD and what their experiences have been with the device.

At my last gyn appointment, through no small feat, I was able to talk my doctor into an IUD although not an Essure procedure. She recommended ParaGuard if I did go through with the procedure. I have been a litle weary of going ahead and having the IUD inserted as I a bit creeped out about having a copper object sitting inside my body for almost a decade. If I had a choice I would much rather go ahead and get Essure and my husband get a vasectomy, but right now it looks like my hopes for sterilization are nil. <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Has anyone on this board been able to get Essure or even a tubal ligation?

Just wondering, why did the doctor not agree about the Essure procedure?

The "you are so young and might change your mind" reason of course. Nevermind the fact that I have ovarian cysts and there are several major diseases/disorders in my family that my potential offspring could inherit. My husband was in the room with me at the time and we were both adamant about this decision and even brought up the fact that *IF* we did decide to have a child we would adopt as there are so many children in the world who could use a loving home and not enough people willing to step up and help out. The only reason I even was able to get my doctor to agree to the IUD is the fact I looked her straight in the eye and calmly said, "If I become pregnant I would not hesitate to get an abortion and probably would not even feel bad about it". She was pretty terrible and practically filled up my entire bingo card, but at the very least she agreed to the IUD.

Now my husband getting a doctor to agree to a vasectomy has been nothing. <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Well that stinks! <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> I had a similar experience earlier this week, and I am 36. My doctor wouldn't even talk to me about a tubal when I brought it up. He told me the surgical ways I could try to fix my uterus! I'm glad it's dysfunctional! It just added fuel to the fire with me, as far as wanting to permanently prevent pregnancy.

I can't figure out why people want us to have babies when we don't want to! <img src="/images/graemlins/wall.gif" alt="" />

Find another Dr. Period. No matter your age (unless you're under 18) you have the right to sterilization. Tell the Drs you know your rights and demand that they do it. Look farther into this topic on another thread, somehwere here it has a legal article stating that anyone has the right to birth control and sterilization.

Don't let Drs push you around, search for one until you find one who will do it.

I was actually thinking about getting an IUD too. I heard it is just as effective as getting your tubes tied, w/o the harrassment of doctors (I'm 23, and I don't think I'll be able to get the tubal ligation procedure done anyways). My question would be what the side effects are, and if you gain weight like the BC makes you do (I'm currently on BC pills)?

I'd like to know about this too. Initially the idea of having a foreign, copper object in my uterus skeeved me out, but since I can't get sterilized, an IUD seems like the next best thing.
Hubby and I talked about the whole no kids issue again the other night. I agreed not to get sterilized YET, and he agreed not to even mention the word "kids" until I'm 31, (I'm almost 26 now.) I have changed my mind about things in the past, but I'm 99.999999% sure I don't want kids. For that .000001% of a chance that I may change my mind, I have agreed not to get a tubal for 5 more years. Hopefully, by then, hubby will have decided that he really doesn't want kids either <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

This is very interesting and I am going to search for the article right now. I have often wondered how on earth it could be okay for a doctor to refuse to treat someone who would like to be sterilized. I even told my doctor I would more than willing to sign a waiver stating that I would NOT take legal action should I change my mind, which I doubt anyways. If my husband and I ever decided to have a child we have already agreed to adopt a child and there is no way we would even risk an accidental biological child if we ever did adopt. We would never want an adopted child to feel like they were not good enough which would not be the case at all.

It is really sickening to be told we will "change our minds" and that I am just young and "overidealized" about the world. As if my thoughts and experiences mean nothing as I am only in my early twenties and surely cannot think for myself!

I am a little creeped out with foreign object idea too, but I figure better it be an IUD than a fetus. LOL.

To all of you who are "creeped out" by the IUD:

I really was too but it became my only option. Can't take the pill anymore because of high blood pressure and the pill also interacts with another med I must take.

There are two kinds of IUDs one is the copper which lasts for 10 years and the other is plastic which lasts for 5 years. I opted for the plastic one and now that I have it I love it! I can't feel a thing and neither can my husband:-)

The only bad part was getting it inserted. It was painful- Dr. said that it would be because I have never had children so my cervix has never been dialated. But the pain was only about 5 minutes during the procedure and then I had cramping for a day or two after that. (No worse than a period.) Also- had some spotting for about a month off and on and then my periods went away completely. The name of the IUD I got is the Mirena. I think they have a website. It truly is a good option if you don't want surgery just yet.

I do know from what my Dr. said that the copper IUD has more side effects than the other- can cause more cramping etc. For me- I do think the initial pain, creepiness factor was worth it in the long run...Good luck to you all!