Disclaimer: This post was written by Dani about her personal experience with the IUD. As always, Caitlin has her back. This post is intended to enlighten anyone who is considering trying the IUD.
Caitlin and Danielle are wearing jean jackets from Eda and Betty
Once one of the Dolls commits to something, there is usually no turning back. After 15 years of trying several forms of birth control… everything from the pill to the patch, the shot to the ring – Dani Doll decided to take a less hormonal route and try the IUD.
Not everything is black and white. If you’re considering the IUD, this post is my personal story and experience – I’m not here to persuade or dissuade your personal decisions in any way. I’m here as a resource to prepare you in a way that every women deserves before this procedure. There are so many things I (Dani) wish I knew going into having the IUD installed. You read right, INSTALLED. We will get to that in a bit…
Let’s take it from the top: There are two types of IUD’s the Mirena and the Paragard.
The Paragard: Is made of Copper which creates a hostile living environment for sperm and contains no hormones + is known to create heavier + longer periods.
The Mirena: Contains hormones and is known to create lighter + shorter periods.
My decision was clear as I chose Paragard to avoid hormones. After making this choice, the next step was to call my OBGYN and schedule an appointment. Unfortunately, the wait time to see my gyno was way longer then I intended to wait. I did the next best thing and scheduled with Planned Parenthood, where I was able to make an appointment for the following day.
At this point, I googled the Paragard IUD and read up on it. The more I read, the more it sunk in that this method of birth control is right for me. It protects you against unwanted pregnancy for up to 10 years, there’s no pill to take every day, no hormones, It’s FDA approved and it only takes one appointment and then it’s smooth sailing… So I thought.
This was the single handed most painful outpatient procedure I’ve ever experienced in my life! Keep in mind, I’m pretty tough and like most Dolls – Really good at minimizing my pain. You really should take a pain reliever, something natural like CBD 20 minutes prior to your appointment.
Now here comes the part about installation… The process starts very similar to a routine check-up or pap smear. Stirrups out and legs open, the speculum goes in and what happens next is unimaginably painful. The IUD is inserted into your cervix which basically gives you a labor pain. I’d describe it as having my cervix pierced… My personal experience was instantly feeling cold, sweaty, and shaky. I felt the color drain from my face and had to immediately go to the bathroom to relieve my bowels.
The rest of my day was spent in a hot bath or in bed with a heating pad on my low back or low stomach. I would recommend taking 2 – 3 days off from work to let the cramping and discomfort settle. Dolls with children have told me that if you’ve had a baby before, the entire procedure and healing process is less of an ordeal.
The installation took all of 5 minutes but the pain has lasted me about 6 months.
Month 1 – 6 has been consistent with the following:
- Heavy period – Worse then my teenage years and lasting 7 days
- Random cramping and sharp pains in my right ovary
- Lots of Spotting
- Bloating
- Ovulating feels almost as painful as period cramps
- Skin is clear
- Metal scent (basically copper) coming from my vagina
- Zero worry about unwanted pregnancy
If you’re asking yourself, why don’t you get it removed? There are three main reasons
#1) I believe it’s going to get better – Now that I’ve passed the 6 month mark it seems some of the pain surrounding periods and ovulating is toning down.
#2) I’m terrified of the pain of removal – I’ve decided now that it’s in, if I plan to have children, that’s when it’s coming out.
#3) I’ve been able to manage the pain using @Wecanbedifferent CBD – at the Dollhouse we have tried SO many brands of CBD and this one really relieves our pain and quick. Within 20 minutes of taking one 25mg capsule, my cramping comes to a refreshing hault.
Special shout out to the teams at all Planned Parenthood locations across the United States, you are very thorough, accommodating and are providing services to women who may not otherwise be able to get the help they need.
Post Update: Mid- February 2020 Dani Doll had the IUD removed. The removal was painful but less than installation. Immediately After it was removed all pain subsided and she has been able to resume life as “normal.” Due to Aura Migraines, Dani is not able to take hormone birth control so will resort to condoms for safety and protection from STI’s and unwanted pregnancies.
Have you tried the IUD? We would love to know if you had a similar experience.