Why women don't get IUDs
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- fountaingoats
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When Klonick felt done with the Pill for a variety of reasons, she, too, went shopping for something that would give her equal contraceptive control with as little hassle as possible.
" That was my question when, after eight years and more than a dozen different incarnations of oral contraceptives, I decided to go back to the drawing board. I had never been good at taking the pill every day, and while my doctor suggested the patch and the ring, both were still under patent, making them more expensive than my monthly grocery bill. I needed something cheap, un-mess-up-able, and, ideally, hormone-free. So I did what any modern girl would do: I Googled. And thus began my research into the IUD and its mercurial history in the U.S. market."
Notably, her gynecologist didn't suggest an IUD — a relatively common experience for childless women our age. One reason is its association with infertility, stemming from a specific device no longer on the market and a lack of STD testing protocols prior to insertion."The major reason why women in the United States aren't using IUDs and doctors aren't recommending them is due to the erroneous belief that they're highly dangerous," says Dr. Katharine O'Connell, a gynecologist at Columbia University who specializes in contraception.
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At my most recent annual check-up, my (new) doctor suggested an IUD. Something about it freaks me out though - I'm not sure why. What do you think? Have you considered an IUD? Were you under the impression that they are dangerous or can cause infertility?
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- Women, Feminism, Women's Issues, Birth Control, 5 more
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seanalyn
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Well I have both endometriosis and PCOS so IUDs arent an option for me since I have to take contraceptive to stop my period (as well as babies). Plus I react very differently to hormones than most women and in fact have to change my pill fairly regularly because my body constantly adapts and changes the longer Im on the pill. Plus the doctor said the IUD could work, but it could also throw my body into menopause or a period for up to 6th months...both of which Id prefer to avoid ;)
Id love to have something long term and reliable, but its just not an option for me. On the plus side I am a oral contraceptive expert...Ive been on probably 10 different pills since I was 15 so I know the ins and outs of them all haha.
- 2 years ago
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seanalyn
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Nettle
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I have an IUD. Couldn't be happier knowing that my lover and I get baby-free fuckin' for 10 years with no maintenance. Yes it hurt when it went in, but a few days of pain are worth cheap, effective contraceptive.
Please feel free to ask me questions.
- 2 years ago
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Nettle
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micromermaid
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Nettle:
Have you had children before? How much did it cost? I've wanted one for a while but no gyno seems to eager to recommend it to an 18 year old.
- 2 years ago
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micromermaid
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Nettle
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Nettle:
I have not had children before. I got it when I was still a virgin (I got it when I was 18 and I'm still 18). I wanted to make sure that I had the most effective contraceptive right off the bat without tying my tubes.
If you're paying up front without any insurance it will cost $500 (which is the equivalent of two years of condoms). But I went to the Planned Parenthood to get mine done and they had a government grant that allowed people with financial disadvantages to get it for a discount or free. I'm so strapped at the moment I got it for nothing.
If you do decide to get it, I'm going to warn you that it was very painful. The speculum in the vagina wasn't bad, but she had to open my cervix with a clamp. From the very second she opened it, I instantly started cramping. Make sure you go with someone to drive you home (I didn't and I almost passed out on my way home). Have lots of rest and water afterward. Then the cramping stops after the second day and all is well in vagina-verse.
- 2 years ago
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Nettle
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Nettle
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Nettle:
And I should mention that I got the IUD called ParaGuard. It's the non-hormonal one pictured above. I have a thyroid imbalance so the pill or the 5-year hormonal IUD was out of the picture.
- 2 years ago
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Nettle
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couldntfindausername
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Probably the biggest single factor in maintaining the negative image is the once-off nature of an IUD. The pill, and even the longer term hormonal implants are a much better cash crop because they are regular purchases.
So, like the tampon ads with the implausibly happy and fun loving women running around doing exciting fun things, these forms of contraception get the marketing budget. The end result is the poor old IUD doesn't feel the love.
- 2 years ago
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couldntfindausername
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cztheday
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Interesting. In 1981, I was a sophomore in college and my girlfriend was a freshman. As summer approached we couldn't bear the thought of returning to our respective homes (2,500 miles apart) and not seeing other until the fall -- so we moved in together and took jobs on campus for the duration. Being (relatively) responsible young adults, we had a pretty good idea that being alone in the house my four best friends and I normally rented together during the school year, we were likely to be...um...active.
But as we went through the various options, I just remember the IUD falling quite quickly to dead last. I remember thinking "well, it's dangerous, but at least it's not very reliable, either!...and kind of wondering how sales were going of the device that seemed to be the worst of all worlds. I was also slightly angry that the only choice for men was the condom (it just seemed like SURELY somebody with a few million dollars in research money could figure out a MALE contraceptive that was less uncomfortable and more effective/reliable than condoms...but no).
While I can't say that I am "thrilled beyond human comprehension" that my daughter will almost certainly be needing one of these solutions in the next few years, I would be pleased to know that she had more options than we did.
- 2 years ago
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cztheday
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fountaingoats
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cztheday:
According to the article, the IUD's association with infertility "stems from a specific device no longer on the market and a lack of STD testing protocols prior to insertion. 'The major reason why women in the United States aren't using IUDs and doctors aren't recommending them is due to the erroneous belief that they're highly dangerous,' says Dr. Katharine O'Connell, a gynecologist at Columbia University who specializes in contraception."
So given that your experience was in the early 80s, you were probably right to worry about the risks, but it may no longer be a relevant issue. As for its reliability, all I can offer is that my doctor said it was more reliable than hormonal birth control, though I would guess that's because of the high risk of user error with the pill - if you don't take it at the same time every day, its effectiveness drops dramatically.
I admit I was surprised that my doctor recommended it, given that I'm in my mid-twenties and have never had children (and would like to some day). That said, I don't think it would ever be a realistic option for me. Though I do think it's great to have more options available for women - and I agree with you that we need more options for men!
- 2 years ago
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fountaingoats
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cattheawesome
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IUDs typically aren't suggested to nulliparous women because insertion requires SHOVING IT THROUGH THE CERVIX and for those of us who are not baby-stretched it probably going to be even more painful. my baby-havin' friends are fans, but i'm none too keen to try.
- 2 years ago
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cattheawesome
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lisai
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cattheawesome:
All I can say is Mirena Mirena Mirena IUD! I LOVE it, it has made my life simpler, with no remembering and no period!
I am a person who has a "freer concept of time," so taking the pill every day at the same exact time never worked and felt rigid. This created anxiety when I would forget and have some hormonal side effects. Just one more thing to think about scheduling into my life--it is rare that I do anything at the same time every single day!
An IUD works with my life--I forget that I even have it. I haven't had my period in the 7 months since I got it! (Response to other comments about period: copper IUD=potential for heavy period. Mirena IUD=potential for little-no period)
Reading about the IUD procedure, it seemed scary to me, I talked to my doctor, and I just went for it and had it done...walk in, not a huge deal, like going for your annual pap... low key. Numbed area to reduce sensation. A zap of pain for a few seconds. Cramping feeling afterward (could have prepared better by taking some tylenol before). After resting, a few hours later I was out with my friends!
I thought for a long time about the right option for me, and researching IUDs, there was a lot of talk about how it is best for post-baby mothers (also insinuated its for married women). But my gynecologist talked about how back in the day (decades ago--copper IUDs) there were some complications that lead to some women not being able to have babies---DONT WORRY, that's oldschool IUDs. As a result of this historical incident, today American companies are being overly cautious--saying it is for women who have already had children--they say this to "protect" the young single woman consumer, incase that tiny complication were to ever occur, at least she would already have kids and it wouldn't be the end of the world for her to not be able to have any kids. Decades ago when that travesty occurred with the oldschool IUDs... it has left a bad impression in America of the method, and is not representative of the current modern IUD 'technology' like plastic Mirena.
I think IUDs are for busy, young, unmarried, or women without children. Especially those who already use two methods of birth control (ie. pill+condom). It was annoying to me to be in a monogamous relationship and having to use both as extra security because my pill-taking was unreliable.
Women with an IUD who have multiple partners can just focus on using a condom for STD prevention, but feel comfortable not having to worry about unexpected pregnancy.These are simply my opinions, but want to share this perspective to counter the traditional concept of who an IUD is useful for.
- 2 years ago
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lisai
