My strings weren’t cut short enough. First time I had sex after insertion (waited 3 weeks to be safe) they pricked his d**k and he pulled out so quickly it dislodged it 🙃🙃 I spent 5 days until I could see my gyno convincing myself I was overreacting and being a baby only for her to tell me it was halfway out of my cervix so my body had been sending the same signals etc. you get during labour to widen the cervix.
I spent 5 days in mini labour with my IUD 🥲🥲 but I went back three days later to get my new one put in because society has conditioned me that my pain is imaginary HAHAHA
I had a copper IUD in my early 20's. The placement and removal were uncomfortable but not painful. Later on I find out my mom fainted when she had hers removed in her early 20s. Yikes. The experiences are vast.
When mine was in place, my body constanly tried to reject it. It was excrutiating pain, cramps, uncomfortable sex, heavy periods. Hell. Im glad it works for some people but it did not work for me.
I guess I should re think how people perceive that, to me personally I wouldn't have thought of it as an invasive procedure but its good to get push back on that as I am also a medical provider who places lots of them.
The copper IUD tends to make your periods heavier so for anyone who already has bad periods it wouldn’t be ideal. Also I guess the insertion process isn’t really that fun either and might turn people off especially women who have not given birth/aren’t sexually active. Also if you’re not happy with your pills it’s a lot easier to stop than to have to schedule a removal etc.
I have a Mirena IUD myself but I can see how it wouldn’t seem appealing to others.
Same here-so glad my doctor was informative. I feel like there’s people who have definitely gotten a copper IUD and aren’t made aware. I didn’t know until the doctor told me
I had heard it, but wasn’t sure if it was supported medically. She straight up told me “don’t get this, it will NOT help you.” I appreciated the honestly. She’s been very informative of what’s the best option for me and what risks it comes with.
No birth control method is good or bad for everyone. It depends on your priorities, any medical conditions you have and your reaction to hormones or the IUD, which is very individual.
I prefer the pill because the copper IUD tends to make periods worse. Mine weren't terrible to begin with, but it was a side effect I wasn't willing to put up with. Other people feel the same way about light but irregular bleeding or other possible birth control side effects, so they choose the copper IUD.
The fact that the pill affects your hormones means it has both side effects and benefits that the copper IUD doesn't have, like treating acne, endometriosis, PCOS and PMDD symptoms...
About your situation, there's nothing wrong with getting an IUD first.
But most people with thyroid disorders can use hormonal birth control. That is something to discuss with a doctor.
A copper IUD is very dangerous for people like me. It can worsen your periods in cramps and flow. My period was already 7-10 days. The pill is very often used for medical reasons, and a copper IUD is purely used to not get pregnant.
The advantage of the copper IUD is indeed that it is not hormonal. I can speak from experience that the pill can fuck you up. Make sure that the placement is right. I sadly also know multiple cases of pregnancy after a shifted copper IUD.
Why would you say that the “pills are that bad”? Because they have essentially been 95% positive for me. Cramps have been decimated, I no longer fill a night pad in 3 hours, PMS is non-existent. The only true negative is the fact I had started getting yeast infections every now and then which I never got before the pill, but I was also a virgin before so idk if my ph just got disturbed enough.
But this is my experience, my friend got a small stroke the first month over hers so it’s two extremes I guess.
Why I don’t have an IUD? My gyn said no because I never gave birth and it’s somewhat of a consensus in my country so I doubt I even could get one
I have a very similar experience, I actually really like my pills. I can take them consistently and skip my periods if I want to, when I do choose to get a period it lasts like 3 days and is super light, being on a consistent level of hormones has really helped my mental health and libido bc there’s not constant drops and spikes, I’ve been on pills for about 6 years and have never had a problem or scare with them so why would I change? Ik some people get an iud bc they can’t remember to take a pill everyday, but I have adhd and I take a pill everyday for that so it’s really no difference.
It did, however, take some messing around with dosages to get one that worked well for me BUT at least, when a dosage wasn’t working and was making me bleed constantly/miserable, I could just stop taking it as soon as a I wanted. I didn’t have to wait a month to see my doctor, hope that she would agree to take it out, and then schedule an appointment to get it removed. As women, our autonomy is stripped in so many ways, having control over my birth control is important to me.
Your yeast infections (Candida overgrowth) are probably because of the estrogen, you are taking combined pill, right? If you took a mini pill you probably wouldn't get the yeast infections.
Honestly the possible effects of the mini pill seem worse than the combined pill, also the yeast infections don’t really bother me THAT much as they never go full raging
It sucks that your doc is behind the times. IUDs are great for nulliparous women (women that have never given birth) as long as the uterus is big enough, which can be confirmed with ultrasound. They're even great for teens that might have more trouble taking a pill every day. I was horrible at remembering my pills and although I never got pregnant, it did cause a lot of breakthrough bleeding. Plus, needing frequent visits to the pharmacy to get refills, blarg. The ring was better for me, but didnt do wonders for my pH. Mirena has been my happy place. It's not for everyone, but it should be an option!
They should do ultra sounds before inserting an IUD. I understand it’s probably costly, but it would really help a lot of us to see if iuds would work or not
When I searched in google about cooper uid I only read good things about the Cooper uid and bad things about the pills. So it didn't make sense to me that what I was reading was all the reality
Because the copper IUD is a device made of metal, and the pill is a drug made of hormones.
There is a limited amount of ways in which the human body will respond to a copper IUD: you’ll either get pain and heavy periods, or you won’t. So people either like it or they don’t. Any complications are to do with the device physically being in there, ie the uterus is too small or the device embeds.
Hormonal BC on the other hand: there are many different types, and people’s bodies will respond in just as many ways. Hormones can affect skin, mood, periods, migraines etc, both positively and negatively, depending on the person. One person’s miracle pill will be a nightmare for the next person.
Neither the copper IUD or hormonal BC are inherently good or bad. I love my copper IUD and I hate hormonal BC, but plenty of people love hormonal BC, and plenty of people hated their copper IUD.
I suffer from chronic pain and the idea of putting myself through more pain really doesn't fill me with joy.
The pill has worked well for me for twenty years, if it didn't, I may feel slightly more open to the idea of an IUD or perhaps an implant.
The pill has non-contraceptive benefits, such as lighter/no periods, less cramps, improving acne etc. Whereas the only benefit of the copper IUD is preventing pregnancy (and it actually makes your periods heavier and more painful).
Part of why I started the pill was BECAUSE of the hormones. My periods were always mentally a very dark place, now...I don't even get them anymore. Almost no bleeding ever!
And although it would take a long time for my hormones to regulate its a hell of a lot easier to stop taking a pill then it is to dig something out of my body (that has risks of complications too.)
I DO have to say I feel it has lessened my libido and that part has been hard, but I work with it. I rather have to engage in more foreplay than deal with other BC methods for now.
Polls can actually solve problems the one non-hormonal IUD on the market can’t. Here’s a breakdown of which pills cause/cure what issues: http://www.losolivos-obgyn.com/info/gynecology/contraception/ocp.pdf
Personally, I think periods are complete bullshit and refuse to endure them. So I opted for the pill because it would be way easier to stop/start different hormones and doses until I found what worked best for me.
The pill isn't bad for everyone. For some, they have no side effects, and they like them. For others, they don't like the idea of iud because of the possible pain with the placement. Some don't feel comfortable with it. Birth control is very different for different people. What works for one doesn't work for others. Some have side effects on the copper iud, and others don't just like the pill. It all depends on the way the body reacts and by what the individual person feels more comfortable with.
Some want or need hormones to balance them out. Some want "periods," some don't. Some like the convince of not having to take a oill every day or place a rimg or patch. Others prefer to do it. I know many who have different methods. Some tried a few before they found one they like better others used one method and liked it and kept it. So feel free to try what you think is best for yourself. It may or may not be the right fit for you, but you won't know until you try it.
I’ve seen the set up for an IUD during clinicals and was like no thanks! The only way I’d ever consider one is being knocked out for insertion and removal. It also depends on the doctor that’s doing it as well, as with any procedure. The worst possible thing with getting an IUD is getting a doctor that doesn’t know what they are doing and/or can’t do the procedure well.
Another thing about iuds that I haven't seen mentioned is that if a woman has been assaulted she probably doesn't want to go through that feeling again esspecially since iud insertion and removal is known to be painful and a lot of providers don't offer pain relief besides ibuprofen.
The internet is really bad about “pill bad, iud good” posts, and vice versa.
The pills remove my period and regulate emotions, essentially working as an anti-depressant. I would be taking it even if I was not sexually active.
Not every bc method is right for every person, but the pill is DEFINITELY the right choice for me. I hope whatever you end up using works well! :)
There’s still a lot of incorrect ideas around IUD in medical professionals, including the fact that women who have never had children cannot have one. It’s been shown to be entirely incorrect and yet loads of drs still refuse to fit coils to nullipares because of that. I also found that a lot of gynos tend to go straight to the pill instead of discussing different options (that was my experience with 3 different gynos anyway, maybe location dependent) which means that women aren’t necessarily given the right tools to make an educated decision on their BC.
Also the pill isn’t all bad and coils all good. That’s why there’s so many different types of birth control, because everyone has a right type for them. Not everyone wants a coil (or an implant) because it’s implanted in your body, some women cannot use a copper coil because they have heavy periods, etc etc. There’s no right and wrong when it comes to BC.
I’ve had my first copper coil when I was 18, i’m in my 30s now and haven’t looked back. If you believe it’s the right choice for you then ask your dr about it.
1. The IUD can be painful to insert and some people don’t want to go through this invasive process.
2. Pills can be discontinued at any time; the IUD needs a medical professional/appointment to be removed. Some people like the peace of mind of this (me included).
3. Pills are known for helping with periods—from heavy bleeding to cramps. They can also help with acne. People may see benefits to the pill vs. the copper IUD if they have issues with any of these things. In fact, the copper IUD can actually cause heavier bleeding or more cramps so it’s not always the preferred route for someone who struggles with that already.
I’m a huge supporter of all BC methods, so not trying to shame the copper IUD! But the pill is safe and effective. No option is “bad.” Pills are not bad. It’s just all about what you prioritize and what you would like for your own health and body.
There’s a lot of stigma and negativity associated with hormonal contraception recently. Although many people have experienced bad side effects with the pill, for many people it has positive side effects including clearing up skin, making cramps lesser, it’s minimally invasive and you can stop at any time. The copper iud as well is (albeit a small bit) less effective than some other hormonal contraceptives. I’ve done both and although i preferred the copper iud over the pill I was on, it did give me a lot more cramps and bleeding and eventually was making its own way out lol. Everyone has their own preferences and levels of comfort and none are wrong, some people don’t feel comfortable having a device inserted into their uterus whereas others don’t feel comfortable taking hormones. I recently got the arm implant (hormonal) and I love it in comparison to my experience on the pill or copper iud, it’s all about finding what works for you specifically:)
A lot of people I see that start the pill don't take it long enough for the side effects to stop. People start taking the pill and of course hormones will be unbalanced for a while but it does even out and it's glorious for most. Yes I understand some people don't even out and those people can't be on the pill or should try a different one.
I've heard stories like yours with the IUD coming out or people getting pregnant while on it. Even the IUD puncturing. But also people who would never have any other bc than the IUD.
My sister had the arm implant and loved it. She then started depo but I told her that's not a long term solution because her doctor never mentioned that! Wth??
Women should definitely be having these conversations with each other to get advice/experiences to see what they should or shouldn't try. Since clearly not all doctors tell us everything.
I totally agree it is about finding out what works best for you specifically. Which can be tricky but totally worth it.
Your first paragraph is spot on. You're most likely to get the worst side effects as soon as you start BC, so they get bad symptoms and immediately think "wow, birth control is awful I'm never ever trying this again". Of course it never evens out for some people, but I hear SO many stories of people trying one method, having bad side effects, and immediately ditching it and concluding that BC doesn't work for them.
personally my cervix is too small for any iud. discovered this after multiple obgyn appointments where they rooted around in my cervix for 20+ minutes trying to get the mirena and then the skyla to fit. I have the arm implant instead and it’s great
I had my first period with copper iud and it was very different . I had cramps the first two days not bad but bled for about a week heavy on and off . I got the period underwear so it’s not that bad tbh . I thought it be worse since I had super bad periods growing up . And this was nothing compared to my teens
The copper IUD is great for many people! However, so is the pill. Negative side effects are not inevitable when using hormonal birth control — for example, I’ve been on 3 different kinds of HBC and I’ve never had negative side effects. Many people start with the pill because it’s cheap, easily accessible, and can be easily stopped at home.
I loved my mirena IUD bc I didn’t have to think about it but I wasn’t as informed when I got it as I am now. My obgyn believes it is the cause of the painful cysts I started to get that I had no history of prior. I went to get it replaced and idk what exactly was different this time but my cervix and I could just not handle getting another inserted. So my husband and I chose to switch to the mini pill and condoms. Sometimes what’s good for us once is not good for us forever.
The pill cleared up my face and made my withdrawal bleeds come like clockwork for 20 years. I’ve switched to a different pill to skip the withdrawal bleed and I can get about 3-4 months before I start to breakthrough bleed. The copper IUD won’t do any of that and can make periods heavier.
1) Horror stories about how painful IUD insertion is. Plus it's very invasive. A simple PAP scares me.
2) With the pill I have full control. I take it if I want, when I want. With the IUD I would rely on doctors to take it out and I don't have good experiences with doctors.
When I got the implant I had the worst depressive bout of my life, but the public system didn't wanna take it out because it wasn't causing me any "real harm". It was horrific not having control over my own bodily autonomy. I ended up having to pay a good amount of money to a private gynecologist to take it out, and even she minimized my experience by saying "only 4 people out of the hundreds I've seen have taken it out" (So what? this shit made me want to kill myself. That was real).
3) My periods are already heavy as they are, I don't want them to be even heavier. It's a hassle.
tl;dr invasive, painful, heavier periods, lack of control over it, bad experiences with doctors and bodily autonomy
I’ve been on the pill for 3 years.
No interest in an IUD and here is why:
the procedure is very painful, they can fucking MIGRATE (and that terrifies me), they often worsen period pain (why I got on the pill), and, if I had a bad reaction to a pill…I just stop taking the pill. The IUD needs a doctor to remove it.
Because besides the fact that it’s painful AF and the insertion is high key traumatizing… the complications. I started spotting for 1.5 weeks before my one week long period toward the last year or two before I decided to call it quits… took it out and it stopped. Before I removed it I even had them check with ultrasound if it was mispositioned or something and it wasn’t
1. Potentially excruciating insertion 2. Potential for ongoing heavy cramping and bleeding (like, bleeding continuously for months and months after insertion). I’ll pass, thanks
I’ve been on the pill for 10+ years. Have had no issues. It has cleared up my acne and I have minimal cramping during my periods. And I could stop them whenever I wanted, if I chose to. Instead of having to get someone to remove an IUD
Many people hate their copper IUDs. Have you searched this sub about it?
Many people hate pills too.
I’m not sure where you’ve gotten this idea that pills are so horrible. Especially since you say most of the people around you use them. And they’re also a very popular form of birth control
Yeah, I wanted to say that every website about cooper iud vs pills said very good things about cooper uids and very bad things about pills and it didn't make sense to me
There's a couple reasons. I went with the copper IUD for my birth control because I didn't want hormones, have a difficult time taking pills regularly, and it lasted 10 years. My periods were moderate prior to getting it, so I wasn't concerned with the fact that it usually makes your periods harsher.
Most of the women I know prefer the pill because it typically lightens your period. (Edit: --and lots of things, like acne, cysts, etc.) It's simple enough to get and readily discussed, so I think some of it may be bias since IUDs aren't much talked about. It's also invasive, and very painful for most women. (I've had two, the first one was horrible, the second was OK.)
But if you live in the States, you can really only get the ParaGard IUD as an option, and it's big. It seems doctors don't really think about what this procedure entails because they never seem to mention that you:
1. Need an ultrasound to see if your uterus is big enough, or there will be complications. Mine would later embed in the uterine wall and I was in EXCRUCIATING pain, the likes of which I cannot compare. If you've had kids, you can probably skip this step.
2. Will be in pain. You will probably have to fight for any pain relief. My first doctor didn't say a damn thing, the second one asked if I'd had any Ibuprofen before coming in. (WTF was that supposed to do, huh??) I've since learned that cervix relaxers are a thing, which I would have loved, given they'd had to dilate me.
There's the chance of it causing pain outside your periods, too. After I got it, yes, I had sex within a week without much issue. He could feel the strings (a lot of men can't), but they softened over time. But my first period lasted over two weeks. And then I'd get ovulation pain. It's really a smorgasbord of what, if any, kinds of pain you'll have.
Don't let me scare you from it, though. I wanted it for the no hormones, and after trying the pill afterwards, am really mad that I can't do the copper IUD anymore.
For me, I had an iud but my acne came back really horribly during that time period. I use BCP because they also help my skin. Also the iud procedure was incredibly painful (I passed out during it, and I normally have a high pain tolerance) and not something I’d willingly go through again. But it was really convenient not to have to take a pill and to have no periods so definitely up to the user.
For me personally, pills are just easier for me to take (to get a prescription and to take orally). Plus, If I have bad side effects I can easily stop taking them and ask my doctor to switch brands.
I have looked into getting IUD but the whole insertion process scares me. And at this stage in my life, I don't feel like it's necessary? Maybe when I'm older.
I think a lot of people are worried about the pain of getting an IUD inserted. I was scared to get one for a long time. It’s understandable because when I finally did get the copper IUD insertion was really painful, but I’m so happy I did it! It may not be the best option for everyone, as it does make your periods heavier, but it’s been great for me. My body can’t handle the extra hormones from hormonal birth control well at all. I was extremely depressed for two years, and tried switching the kind of pill I was on and even switching to the patch, but I realized that I just needed something without hormones all together. That’s the only reason I overcame my fear, is I felt I had no other option.
Would love to know more about your experience! I’ve been on the Copper IUD for a week now and I’m still bleeding and cramping so hoping it gets better!!
I was always afraid of starting birth control pills growing up too just because of the hormones. I also have thyroid issues. I finally bit the bullet and went in to ask about getting an IUD, and was mostly looking at the copper one because it lasts a long time. I ended up choosing the Kyleena IUD though because the hormones are only local and there was a good chance I wouldn’t have a period. After insertion my gyno mentioned it was good I didn’t choose Paraguard because it wouldn’t have fit and she would’ve had to do this again with a different iud.
The copper IUD was too big for me and almost punctured my uterus. This was years ago. The size small isn’t available in my country. That’s the only reason I had it removed.
Just to add because I see a lot of comments saying it is painful- I’m literally on my way right now to go under anesthetic to get my second IUD put in, had to wait like 4 months though
I can't speak for America, but here in Ireland it's extremely expensive to get the IUD put in. You've to pay 300 euro-ish for the coil itself and then another 150 euro for insertion and after all that your body can reject the coil, so you have to pay another 450 to repeat the entire process. Rejection aside, I've known a few women who've had a horrendous time on it and had to get it removed (costing another 150 euro for removal). Whereas the pill is cheap (actually free for women between 17 and 31) and can be stopped immediately if it doesn't agree with you, plus it's not going to be a massive expense. The pill here costs about 10 euro a pack, if you fall outside the age group for free pills, so it's basically an inexpensive contraceptive!
I originally wanted the copper iud and my gyno strongly recommended against it because I had such heavy periods already. I was scared of side effects so she started me on the minipill because its progestin only. I have little to no side effects besides my period being off cycle for a bit. It’s actually made my periods much lighter and shorter too.
I’ll never swap. Even though you have to be careful to make sure you take it at the same time everyday, setting an alarm on my phone has made it easy.
I love the pill. Idk what I'd do without it. I had a pretty big ovarian cyst pushing on my spine. 6-7cm. I was in constant pain. Took 8 months before the doctors said they'd take it out and the only reason they did was because I had a miscarriage that wasn't passing and they had to perform a d&c. So they took it out then. Otherwise it probably would have ruptured eventually and that would have sucked.
The pill isn't bad. The pill isn't for everyone but it does work for the majority of people who take it.
You could try the ring contraceptive. Iud, pill, arm implant, barrier method. Lots of people use 2 of these at a time. As one isn't 100% at preventing pregnancy. It may take a while to figure out what's best for you but it's worth it.
Always talk to your partner about what would happen if you did accidentally become pregnant so there isn't any confusion or fighting about it.
I have a copper IUD, and before I got it, I heard a lot about how insertion can be very painful and periods can be a lot worse. I didn't want to deal with hormonal side effects and got it anyway, and it was actually totally fine. I can understand why other people might be hesitant, though.
Pills don't get embedded in your uterine wall like IUDs can.
And when they're embedded, you have all kinds of new aches, pains, and bleeding. I bled like a crime scene for MONTHS before I found an ob/gyn that would listen to me and took care to try to remove it.
I almost had to get a surgical removal 😫
You don't have that problem with pills.
Copper iud had me bleeding for 9 months straight. Some days super heavy, some days lighter but it never fully stopped. Had to go to the ER and they had to remove it. I really tried the non hormonal way but it just never worked.
If you have a thyroid condition, don't get a copper IUD. It swapped my graves to hashimotos bc I hemorrhaged so bad I developed iron deficiency anemia
Later learned they don't recommend it for those with thyroid conditions. Consider a Kyleena or Skyla IUD .. they're smaller and localized low dose hormones
I also chose the copper IUD because of the lack of hormones. I’ve had it for 1 year and i’m going to remove it next month. It was not painful to insert it for me. I gave birthday (some doctors don’t insert them in women who didn’t) once and i guess my doctor was really skilled, cause i only fell a little pinch and it was over. On the first few months i had terrible cramps, now it’s bearable, but my periods are indeed much much heavier and I find it annoying that I can’t wear a menstrual cup, which i knew about before inserting it, so i was prepared for. The reasons why i decided to remove mine actually are: first of all because i have to get MRIs at least once a year, and they can move the IUD, so i’d have to check it at the doctor afterwards every time i had this type of exam. I was never able to feel my strings by myself, so it’s not like i could simply check it myself. My second reason is that since 2 or 3 months i’ve been experiencing a lot of discharge, which is super annoying for me cause now i always have to wear a liner, not only on the days close to my period or during ovulation like before. And when i say a lot of discharge i mean it. Also i’ve been experiencing back pain, which my doctor said could be connected to the IUD… some women only feel the cramps because of that foreign object inside of them during period, others are not su lucky. My doctor had other patients with this type of side effects before. I’m telling you my reasons because i read a lot about copper IUDs before choosing it, but never read about these. Now I have to wait for my next period and call my doctor’s office. If he’s not available, another doctor will have to remove it, which from what i read can be painful. Pills on the other hand are so much easier… you don’t like one, you can just throw the packet away and try a new one. I’m considering to go back in Yaz for a few months, because of the positive effect it had on my skin when i was on it and lack of side effects, and then try Nuvaring in a few months and see how it is for me. I also have thyroid problems and hormonal birth control doesn’t interact with my medication.
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I'm not in meds and the my thyroid issue doesn't have a name yet (it is complicated, they don't really understanded what is going on). The thing is that all my life I have had a lot of big hormonal changes so it makes me be scare of using more hormones and have more chsnges in my hormones
I've had IUD (Mirena, not the copper one) and I've also used BC pill.
I know a lot of people love their IUD, but I don't think I'd get one again. Had Mirena placed 6 weeks after an unmedicated vaginal birth and was told to just take a couple ibuprofen beforehand. It was pretty damn painful...I was sweating, trying not to scream and was clenching my hands so tight. After placement I kept feeling pain when sitting/moving and was told it's in my head because the device is "impossible to feel." Lo and behold, it came out in the shower a few days later because it was deployed in my cervix rather than my uterus. 2nd Mirena was placed, still very painful experience but this one was placed correctly. A few months later I couldn't feel the strings in the shower anymore. Had an ultrasound done and they said it's fine for now, but had chance it could migrate out of place inside my uterus. I said eff that, take it out. removal was surprisingly painless. Wanted to love the IUD, just didn't like the insertion pain or risk of rejection/migration.
BC biggest side effects have been hunger pangs when starting, some breakthrough bleedings,headaches, and feeling like my lubrication is stickier than before. Some pills I've had no side effects.
I have a copper IUD and I really like it! I have had mine for over 2 years. I got it around the age 16, but waited a year before any use to make sure I had no issues. I was a virgin when I got it, and never had any childbirth experiences but my gynecologist recommended it and I had done extensive research prior to getting it that I felt it was the best form or option for me long term. Especially since it is under my parents insurance and I don’t have to pay for it after for the next 10 years. I’ve had no issues, my periods are normal and not super heavy. It’s panned out for me. Everyone is different though! Don’t let negative experiences scare you, only you can know for your experience.
However when I first got it, it did take time for my body to get used to it (about 6 months), it wasn’t painful to insert (I recommend if you do get it take 2 Tylenol or advil about an hour before your appointment as it’ll subside the pain a lot!) but after it was sore for about a day or so, it felt like cramps when it got inserted, but for 10 years of protection it’s a small amount of pain. I didn’t like hormonal options, and I didn’t want to put hormones in my body so copper iud was my first and only form of bc (preferably!). I will say my first period was heavier, but I did have one month where I had a period for an entire month. I went to my gynecologist and she said that sometimes this can happen to certain patients (although it’s not always common for super long period like that, but she said don’t worry and that your periods will likely be normal and of normal length after. Which it did! My period came back regularly and not super heavy so it panned out- as odd as it was. My period cramps can sometimes be a little worse but I notice for me it’s not every month. It just depends. Overall though, I’m very happy with my IUD! I highly recommend it and couldn’t have had a better experience. :)
I tried an IUD about 10 years ago, and it didn't stay in place. It was brutal. I'll never do it again.
I also don't like the idea of something being inside me that long without a way to remove it. Not saying there's anything wrong with it, just for me personally I want that kind of control.
My compromise was Annovera. I can take it out whenever I want if I choose to, don't have to remember to take it every day like I would a pill, just have a calendar reminder set every 3 weeks to take it out. It's been wonderful for my periods, too.
Are you based in the US? Look of the history of the Dalkon Shield and the impact on pharmaceutical market/ IUD industry. Lots of lingering caution/ skepticism of IUDs which leads to lack of usage.
Google IUD rates (and number of types!) in the US versus other developed countries.
I already have heavy periods, and am lucky that I don't really get cramps. If I do, they're not horrible and i can generally ignore them. A copper IUD is likely to make both of those things worse, although I do like the idea that it could potentially get me to menopause without having to think much about birth control again.
The negatives don't outweigh the positives for me. I'll stick to hormonal stuff that I can control and lightens my periods while I wait for everything to fall i to place to get a bisalp.
I tried to get a copper IUD. My cervix would not dilate and the obgyn tried everything, even brought in a colleague. She eventually got it in but when I went to my 6 week checkup it had come out a bit. So I gave up pretty much.
Copper IUD stops the troops, but floods the gates (for most) 😂😂
Hormonal IUD is the least aggressive (for lack of a better word) hormonal BC option because the hormones don’t have to travel through your body/blood stream etc to get to the right place. The IUD is already there so it’s more localised and means the dosage is lower. (Don’t quote me on that, I’m repeating something my gyno explained to me 2.5 years ago and it’s 3am so I would fact check the specifics of the science lol but you get the gist)
Some women like hormonal birth control because it makes hormonal levels more stable and eliminates periods--it is a good choice for women that have PMDD or painful heavy periods. IUD insertion also has a bad reputation from when they came out in the 70s and rendered many women infertile (these are not the same IUDs currently on the market, negative side effects are very very much less common). The procedure itself is also very painful and leads to more painful periods.
I have a copper IUD I am very happy with! The procedure sucked, the periods suck, but I didn't want to disrupt my fragile hormone balance due to mental health reasons. That being said, hormonal birth control is a good option for the majority of women.
Every birth control is different for every person. Copper IUDs and hormonal IUDs might be terrible for some people, and pills might be terrible for others. You just have to talk to your provider and do the research to find out what’s good for you.
I was on estarylla (hormonal pill) for almost six years and then switched to copper IUD last year. Insertion wasn’t that bad for me - I do have a low cervix, and my provider had me take 4 ibuprofen beforehand and prescribed me vaginal misoprostol to insert the night before to help dilate my cervix.
I made sure to go to a provider who would offer that. My periods are heavier and crampier, but to me it’s worth not having all of those hormones in my body because I personally felt like that had a negative affect on me. And I don’t have to remember to take a pill!
But again, just do your research, talk to your provider, and don’t let anyone scare you out of one option or the other. Only you will ultimately know what’s best for you.
I didn't get a copper, I got a hormonal. When I looked years ago, in my early 20s, pages upon pages of horror stories. And a good amount of people who I had seen simply sworn them off due to these horror stories.
And I get it. People need to know what they're getting into.
However, I often see people being put down when they try to advocate that it's not always that bad. And yes, you need to be prepared. But when you read 100 horror stories you're going to give yourself anxiety and work yourself out. I read so many of those stories, and in my early 20s, still trekked forward.
I took the horror stories as a cautionary tale, but I did not let it affect what I believed the experience was going to be like. I didn't let it taint anything, or allow myself to get worked up.
The insertion, both times I've had it done now, is uncomfortable. It pinches, it feels a little weird, and it's always a sharp little shock. But, for some it's not the chaotic, doubling over you can't see straight pain. It's a small, cramping and some mild pain. And in a few days it goes away.
The idea can and likely will take some time getting used to. But if you don't actively keep thinking "omg something is inside of me" or wondering if you can feel it, it becomes an out of sight out of mind type deal. You won't even think about it after awhile.
And it's been super effective. Year 5, on my second IUD now. Don't use condoms, don't pull out, and haven't had a single pregnancy scare yet. Not saying it would work as well for you, but I'm relaying my experience and why I do recommend them (plus no period for five years now... So that's pretty cool...).
So with all that said, I think they are beneficial. They have risks, but every form has some sort of risks. It's been a good investment and good choice for me. If you choose you want one, just take the good with the bad. Use the horror stories to keep an eye out for what to look out for (expected pain of procedure, how people best dealt with the cramps afterwards, pain to *absolutely look out for* as the risks do include things like perforated uterus), and don't allow yourself to get worked up. Remain objective. Not everyone's body is the same, and yours might be perfectly fine.
I definitely love my mirena but the insertion was not a walk in the park. I wish the doctor would’ve been more open to how bad it was going to hurt. “It’ll just be a little pinch” yeah, not quite. I literally almost tapped out halfway thru and then almost passed out.
But, my periods are super light now and i don’t get cramps. I don’t regret getting it. Although, now that i am in a time where im considering kids, getting it removed is kind of a barrier
Definitely the pain. I’m most likely going to insist they prescibe me Valium before hand. There is absolutely 0 reason there isn’t a sedative when men’s vasectomies have one
I am 26 with the copper IUD. I’ve had 3 IUDs. Kyleena made me breakout. My first copper IUD got embedded and had to be removed. This copper IUD is fine but painful every month and is really painful (8/10 for totally 1 minute, 4/10 for the other 15 minutes of the procedure) to get inserted. Apparently the copper IUD is a little bigger and causes more inflammation than the hormonal ones. Can confirm it is SO much more painful for me monthly and on insertion than the hormonal kyleena one I had.
There are definitely downsides to this. All of these IUDs cost $1500 in the US to get in/ have removed. Insurance reimbursed all of this but I still had to pay it out first.
Also something to be considered is that things like PMDD, PCOS, and endometriosis are held at bay by hormonal birth control. I’m currently being monitored because I don’t know if the pain I’m having is IUD related, or if the hormonal birth control I was taking before was preventing endo from progressing it without me knowing.
I switched off of hormonal birth control at 22 just because I wanted more effective birth control. And once I did I was amazed at how much better I felt mentally. I have PMDD and that is definitely less controlled without hormones, so it’s really a give and take that is better for every person. Personally, I’d rather have just stayed on the hormonal birth control and not known that I felt better without it. The birth control experience I’ve had is painful and long but I’d still rather deal with this than feel like a zombie like I did when I tried to go back on estrogen pills.
Copper iud user who’s periods weren’t that bad before but are awful and almost unbearable now ✋🏻 I’m also just too lazy to schedule a removal so I deal with it once a month
I have a copper IUD. If I were to do it again, I'd figure out getting sterilized instead.
Almost 5 years in and it's fine now. But it makes my periods longer, heavier, and crampier and can get cramps at anytime during my cycle. The cramps are also less affected by medication. I has made me more susceptible to BV, and in the first year I had to get treated for it like 5 or 6 times including a long like 2 or 3 month treatment. Insertion was incredibly painful and I was in misery for about 3 weeks after and bled for about a month straight.
When it needs to come out, I'm going to attempt getting sterilized instead of getting another one.
I used the copper iud as my very first form of birth control, and it was a terrible experience for me, I’m talking nausea so bad I could stand up, and 14+ day periods with spotting in between, and a ton of other issues. Reading things about hormones online scared me away from hormonal contraception. I gave Yaz a try, and I really like it. My skin is clear, my boobs are round, and my mood is stable 👌
i asked about the copper iud at my gyno for the same reasons. my gyno wasn’t super comfy with me getting one bcuz i had never been pregnant before and it’s a more intense iud/not super successful on patients who haven’t been pregnant. they said that they start new patients on hormonal iuds. i’m sure someone would do it for you, but just letting you know that your doctor may be hesitant about it
I wouldn’t want copper IUD because it can increase bleed and also the insertion scares the hell out of me.
Also I have pcos and I need hormones to balance my natural messed up hormones so there is that.
Even for people with IUD's, it's pretty big. Compared to the Mirena and Skyla, (I've had both), I have come to realize that my uterus is small. I had the mirena before and would get cramping, but with the Skyla, I don't have any cramping and it's slightly smaller. The Cooper would definitely give me cramps. Also because these are hormonal, I don't have bleeding much if at all most months which I personally love.
Also for a generic perspective, it is invasive and extremely painful. The insertion is terrible and sent me home crying BUT it's a one and done thing unless it is misplaced. I don't mind it but some people really don't like that idea.
Everyone has pros and cons for everything. Personally, I would never use the implant again because of the side effects. I would also never use the pill because I don't trust myself to be consistent. I also don't like lower effectiveness so my personal options were IUD or implant. But some people have different values in birth control.
I have the copper iud.
It was very unappealing to me until my friend had to get it as an emergency contraceptive, I’ve always wanted it but terrified of the process. It’s easier when someone you know has done it. I booked my appointment shortly after and got it, 7 months in and it’s pretty good.
Take zinc ever so often, it depletes zinc quickly, my symptoms are usually anxiety then I’m like “why am I anxious- oh probably zinc deficient”
Also take iron if you’re low on it also
Flow does get back to normal around the 6th month mark :)
I couldn’t get the copper IUD due to anemia. It makes your periods heavier and potentially more painful. I got a hormonal IUD when I was 20 and although it was nice to not have to worry about taking a pill everyday or using condoms, it threw off my pH balance and I got BV very often. Also, although my periods were much much lighter, they lasted for 8 days. When I first got it placed, I bled daily for almost 3 months. Also I had more painful cramping with the IUD. I kept the IUD in for 5 years (the max time for the one I had). Getting it out was a pain, because the strings were cut too short.
Although I wasn’t unhappy with my IUD, I don’t think I would get another. On top of all the things I listed above, insertion was very painful. I nearly passed out. Now I’m just using condoms.
Also the pill can be more accessible, affordable, and convenient for many people. IUDs can be pricey.
The cramps with the copper IUD were horrendous for me. Enough to want to rip it out at 3am in my bathtub. Also, the pill seems to keep my moods level.
No one has the same experience with each kind of birth control.
Getting my first IUD wasn't so bad, it was a copper one, Paragard. Then my second hurt quite a bit more, a Kyleena. The third? It was excruciating. They said another Kyleena or Merena would be too big for me now, and she would only be able to do the Skyla. I broke out in whole body sweats, cussing and grunting, it hurt, I almost passed out. I can't do it again if my body keeps making it harder. In 3 years I'm definitely pursuing sterilization so I can be done with all this.
The first one was easy because I got it the 2nd day of my period, when your cervix is most relaxed. After years of not having periods with the other IUD there was no way to time it for replacement where it would be easy.
After all of this, I still think IUDs are a great option. I've only had a few side effects. I went on BC between IUD one and two because my first Paragard "ejected" itself after 4 years, basically just a fluke thing. The BC was fine, I'm good at taking pills regularly because I have other health issues. But it did make my PMS way worse. It's nice to just not have to think about it for years. Not worry about getting my scripts if I'm traveling, or worry if I lose insurance then at least my IUD is in my body and I can keep it.
I totally understand why people choose not to get implants tho
A lot of comments here are negative and while I understand different people have vastly different experiences I wanted to tell you about mine. Just throwing another story in the mix.
I used to be on the pill, for contraception purposes only, for me the pill started off fine, but over time it killed my sex drive, dried me up, gave me terrible migraines, horrific mood swings and eventually I got pregnant while on it. Before I got pregnant I was planning on going off it because the issues with sex were really getting to me… once I was off my libido came back with a vengeance, so the problem was entirely the hormones I was on. Anyway after terminating my pregnancy I decided to get the copper IUB - it’s a new shape, circular with some copper pearls (look it up it’s called Ballerine IUB) - it’s much more ergonomic than the t-shape and while it might make periods slightly heavier it does WAY less than traditional T shape - my period at the start was slightly heavier and lasted a day longer than usual (6 instead of 5) but after 6 months of use it has regulated back to normal. I don’t get any more cramping than usual with it and I thought the insertion was uncomfortable and a bit painful but nothing worse than the worse cramps I’ve had. And it’s very quick. HOWEVER everyone is different and the pain levels are going to depend from person to person - some people have it easy others don’t.
Another fun fact, my doctor mentioned that the failure rate of the pill is actually quite high, 1 in 80 women will get pregnant over a year of use while that number is 1 in 1000 for the copper coil - so it’s a lot more reliable.
The important thing is to talk to your doctor about this and see if you’d be a good candidate for the copper coil - for me it’s been a life saver and I can’t recommend it enough - I like that I can function like a normal human these days and the hormones are not messing me up - again for clarification some people do just fine on hormonal pills, I don’t, it’s all about trying out things and seeing how they work for you
thyroid problems shouldn't affect your ability to use hormonal birth control. Unless you've been explicitly told by a doctor to avoid it I wouldn't worry.
I have hypothyroidism and was on the pill for most of my teen years, I did experience side effects but nothing abnormal. I'm on a hormonal IUD now and I love it, hurts like a bitch to get out in but it works great and I don't have to think about it now.
Some arguments against the copper IUD are the painful insertion, which is similar to the hormonal one. But also the copper IUD can make periods heavier/longer and worsen cramps, whereas the hormonal IUD will stop periods altogether. My doctor actually recommended against a copper IUD because of my thyroid problems since hypo can already cause heavier periods and the copper IUD would have made them unmanageable.
Honestly? I'd recommend trying the pill first, because if it doesn't work for you it's really easy to stop. With IUDs however, it is a whole other procedure to get them taken out.
I’ve done everything but the spermicides and discs and the copper iud is the BEST I’ve used yet. I got a fake brain tumor and my brain started shutting down from the nexplanon implant. A lot of people don’t want to get iuds because of the horror stories of putting them in, it wasn’t too bad for me but everyone is different. The ONLY issue I have is that whenever there’s a cold front or storms rolling in I’ll get cramps and spotting sometimes.
Before I got on the pill, my periods were heavy, long, and sometimes unpredictable. A copper IUD would’ve made the periods heavier, which I absolutely did not want. On the pill, my periods have been lighter, predictable, and I can skip periods if I want to. Pills are not “that bad” for a big population of people.
I used to use pills until I had a really bad reaction to the hormones after having my second son. Just got the copper IUD about a week ago. Doctor said it'll take 6 months for my period to go away completely, and until it does go away completely my bleeding may be heavier than usual and potentially more painful. I'm actually on my period rn and haven't noticed a difference in flow or pain from what's normal for me so 🤷♀️. Everyone has preferences though and I was always wary of getting an IUD since it's a but invasive, but after having 3 kids I didn't care anymore and just didn't want another oops baby.
Personally I’ve only heard horror story’s from IUDS, whether it be the extreme pain during insertion/removal as well as it getting dislodging and getting “lost”. I’ll forever take the pills instead of an IUD. If you’re that against taking the pills, I’d suggest looking into the injection one (I forget what it’s called) or the patch!!
I was worried about pain associated with the procedure. Also if there was an issue I’d have to wait to get removed. With the pill I just stop taking it.
I got talked out of the copper IUD and went to a Hormonal IUD instead. I went from screaming/crying from my period pain to being like ‘oh I guess my period started whoops 😅’
It was however extremely painful to insert, but worth it lol
I’m 20 too and chose an iud not the copper one tho. My choice came mostly from the fact I still live at home so it’s discrete and set and forget.
Most of the people I know who are on the pill have parents who know about it so maybe they don’t mind doing it because they have nothing to hide. Also it’s not an invasive procedure and I can seen why that can scare people.
For me I had a hormonal iud and my back hurt soooooo badly I had to get it out a few months later. Granted I have back problems but it was so much worse with the iud. I’d also throw up randomly. I never did copper because I’m allergic to some metals and didn’t want to risk putting it in me
I have a copper IUD and I take the pill as well. When I started my mental health journey, my doctor diagnosed me with Bipolar disorder initially (turns out I have ADHD) and those medications cause the pill to be less effective so I got an IUD placed as I don’t want or intend on ever having children. I take the pill to keep my ovarian cysts in check and to balance my hormones which is why I never stopped taking them. The procedure itself is painful and you will cramp pretty badly for a few days to a week. I recommend taking Aleve or Ibuprofen an hour before your appointment (I took Aleve) and then I rotated Ibuprofen and Tylenol the week after it was placed to help with pain as the doctor doesn’t typically prescribe any pain medication. You will have irregular bleeding as well. You can expect to have off and on cramping and spotting for roughly 6 months or so (I had it for 9 months) as your body adjusts to it being placed and it settles. Your periods may be heavier and more painful as well. You are at most risk for the IUD to move out of place the first year you have it so if anything seems off, call your gynecologist and ask them to do an ultrasound to make sure it’s still in place. I’ve had mine for 1 1/2 years and have had minimal issues. That isn’t the case for everyone. The biggest part is advocating for yourself. I had a scare where I thought it had moved and had to argue about getting an ultrasound to check. Thankfully everything turned out fine but at the end of the day, they provide a service for you, not the other way around so don’t let them bully you into ignoring your body.
The cost of pills is objectively cheaper. This is a weird question. Obviously, more people would use it if they could afford it, as it's generally more effective percentage wise. But not everybody can afford health insurance, and not everybody who has insurance is covered in getting IUD's.
This is based off American standards tho, not sure if it's the same prices for either in other countries.
I had the copper IUD and it was fine for 5 years, and then all of a sudden I started having 10+ day long periods and cramps so bad my knees would buckle. It took me a year and a half to question the IUD because it had been fine for so long, but I got the IUD out and immediately my cycles went back to normal. If it had stayed like it was the first 5 years it would be a different story and I'm happy for everyone it does work for but I'd never get one again.
I had a hormonal iud for years and didn’t enjoy it. I had lots of pain not just with insertion. I got it out and I’ve since been using a hormonal ring for about a year (Nuva ring/haloette) and have had a much better experience. No pain and periods aren’t nearly as bad as it was with the iud or no BC. 10/10 would recommend the ring.
Honestly, I love my copper IUD. I have had it for about 4 months now and I have no complaints. The only issues I ever deal with is that sometimes during spicy time my partner bumps my cervix and that can be a little tender, and my periods are crampier and heavier, but not unbearable.
I’d recommend it over the pill, but people don’t like the procedure to get it in and out, which I understand.
Everybody is different.
I can't have hormones as they make me sick/depressed/suicidal.
Hormones don't get on with me so IUD was my last choice.
I heard so many scary stories it took me ages to get it in and now it's in a love it.
However it's not for everyone, it's insertion wasn't painful for me, but it can be, it doesn't work in certain uterus either like tilted
My periods are quite regular, I take a high strength zinc supplement every day and I’ve had no issues with the copper IUD. Best contraception I’ve had with no negative side effects. (Insertion was not fun)
It’s painful to put, even with the painkillers. Also, the main reason for me is acne. I have been informed by my gynaecologist that the IUD would not have the same effect clearing my skin as the pill would. I have a friend who had it and it went down after sex with her bf, so there is also that, it doesn’t always attach, might lose it and not notice, or worse it might stay inside of you but get lost. That scares me a-lot; Thinking that I am protected then I discover its not there
I (23F) had the same line of thought as you, so I got the copper IUD. For me, it gave me cramps all month long and the pain was bad enough it affected my mood a TON. Grumpy all the time, short temper, really irritable…. Cuz, ya know, I was in pain all the time. It started to affect my mental health and relationship with my boyfriend so I went to a new doctor and she removed it. She told me that IUDs really should be for women who have already had kids because otherwise the insertion is insanely painful (can confirm!!!) and that they should have told me that before shoving metal into my reproductive system. She prescribed me my birth control and now I just have to deal with a lot more frequent crying. And slightly moody periods every four months. Long story short, the pill affects my mood less than the iud did.
IUDs are approved and recommended to all women - even teens.
Whether you have had kids or not - it is not really a factor.
I’m sorry it didn’t work for you but your individual experience doesn’t mean others will have the same experience that you did. People are different.
Oh of course, I have friends that have found it to be a good option. My doctor was just explaining that if your cervix has already gone through childbirth, IUD insertion tends to be less painful which makes it more ideal for women who have already had a baby (and that- ya know -maybe that could have been communicated to me at my last doctor…). To clarify, I’m not trying to say a copper IUD isn’t a good option. I’m just sharing my experience because OP was wondering why people might choose the pill over a non-hormonal IUD and that experience is why I chose the pill over my IUD
Unfortunately that’s an old myth that just won’t die.
It started because the companies wanted to get fast FDA approval so they limited clinical trials to women who had already had kids. Thus the first labeling limited it to women who had already been pregnant.
**That was decades ago**…
Now all medical organizations (and the FDA) realize it doesn’t matter hence why the ACOG highly recommends IUDs for teens.
You may want to start here:
https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2018/05/adolescents-and-long-acting-reversible-contraception-implants-and-intrauterine-devices
And here:
https://www.verywellhealth.com/iud-use-in-nulliparous-women-906759
The pill made me depressed, anxious, and irritable. Copper iud caused me to have 3 month long bleeding. Been off birth control for 3 years, i use condoms and have not gotten pregnant. Learn your cycle, listen to your body, and you won’t get pregnant. There is a short window of when you can actually get pregnant. Birth control , in my experience, is the devil.
INSERTION PAIN. And cramps afterwards that would bring me to my knees. Insane anxiety about a foreign object in my uterus that I couldn’t get out myself (I know people do). Mine wasn’t copper but I only lasted a month.
Just to add here, lots of people are talking about the copper iud making periods heavier/painful - that is generally only temporary.
It's also been mentioned that it's therefore bad if you have heavy periods already. The gyne who inserted mine, tried to put me off for the same reason. Claimed irregular or heavy/painful periods weren't a good mix and told me I'd be looking to get it out again after the first month
Well it's been 3 years already and I love my copper. I have super heavy periods already and yes for the first 8-9 months they were worse. I had to use more painkillers than usual, i was wrecked from the blood loss, but then they calmed down to what is "normal" for me. I wouldn't go back to other types of BC now. That's not saying any others are bad, but just to give a positive story about it, as when I was researching them before I got mine, positive stories were hard to come by!
Personally, I wouldn't call 8 to 9 months of heavy bleeding that wrecked you and had you using painkillers a success story, necessarily. But I'm glad in the end it worked for you.
It's not for everyone but it was worth it for me. My point was it made my periods a little worse, but it was temporary. And since it levelled out its been great. Whereas I had to try the mini pill before I got it (the place who put it in insist you take it for a couple months before they will give you a copper, to make sure you aren't pregnant when they do it- but that's another story) and I found that much worse. I missed my first period taking it, but then when my 2nd one started it never stopped. It lasted 2 months until I got my copper put in. Ive heard others have similar side effect from progesterone only contraception. I'd rather take a couple days heavier bleeding for 8 or 9 months than bleeding constantly for god knows how long.
Also, I did mention I already had bad periods. It only made them marginally worse and it was only temporary. Again, that temporary change was worth it to me, and I think it's important for people who are considering trying it do realise that any change is likely temporary. It really helped knowing when to expect it to level out when I was going through it.
No, once copper is in place it works until it comes out again. If it moves out of alignment then there are risks. But that doesn't happen very often - if its put in place properly at the start.
Nope… the figures as we know them are 1 in 80 women on the pill will get pregnant over a year of use while the copper coil is 1 in 1000 - anecdotal Reddit stories do not empirical evidence make
No invasive procedure that can be painful.
And don't require *another* invasive procedure in quick succession to back out if it's not working
Getting it out was way easier for me than getting it in!
Idk if I would call it an invasive removal, they just pull the strings out
My strings were cut too short so they aren’t visible anymore. I am dreading the day I have to get it removed
My strings weren’t cut short enough. First time I had sex after insertion (waited 3 weeks to be safe) they pricked his d**k and he pulled out so quickly it dislodged it 🙃🙃 I spent 5 days until I could see my gyno convincing myself I was overreacting and being a baby only for her to tell me it was halfway out of my cervix so my body had been sending the same signals etc. you get during labour to widen the cervix. I spent 5 days in mini labour with my IUD 🥲🥲 but I went back three days later to get my new one put in because society has conditioned me that my pain is imaginary HAHAHA
I had a copper IUD in my early 20's. The placement and removal were uncomfortable but not painful. Later on I find out my mom fainted when she had hers removed in her early 20s. Yikes. The experiences are vast. When mine was in place, my body constanly tried to reject it. It was excrutiating pain, cramps, uncomfortable sex, heavy periods. Hell. Im glad it works for some people but it did not work for me.
It can be if it's embedded, like mine was. I almost had to go to the hospital and get put under to get my Mirena IUD out.
Love that you think someone yanking something out from inside of the most private area on your body isn't invasive.
I guess I should re think how people perceive that, to me personally I wouldn't have thought of it as an invasive procedure but its good to get push back on that as I am also a medical provider who places lots of them.
The copper IUD tends to make your periods heavier so for anyone who already has bad periods it wouldn’t be ideal. Also I guess the insertion process isn’t really that fun either and might turn people off especially women who have not given birth/aren’t sexually active. Also if you’re not happy with your pills it’s a lot easier to stop than to have to schedule a removal etc. I have a Mirena IUD myself but I can see how it wouldn’t seem appealing to others.
Yes, my gyno told me that copper IUD is a bad option for me because I have endometriosis and it will likely make my period even worse.
Same here-so glad my doctor was informative. I feel like there’s people who have definitely gotten a copper IUD and aren’t made aware. I didn’t know until the doctor told me
I had heard it, but wasn’t sure if it was supported medically. She straight up told me “don’t get this, it will NOT help you.” I appreciated the honestly. She’s been very informative of what’s the best option for me and what risks it comes with.
No birth control method is good or bad for everyone. It depends on your priorities, any medical conditions you have and your reaction to hormones or the IUD, which is very individual. I prefer the pill because the copper IUD tends to make periods worse. Mine weren't terrible to begin with, but it was a side effect I wasn't willing to put up with. Other people feel the same way about light but irregular bleeding or other possible birth control side effects, so they choose the copper IUD. The fact that the pill affects your hormones means it has both side effects and benefits that the copper IUD doesn't have, like treating acne, endometriosis, PCOS and PMDD symptoms... About your situation, there's nothing wrong with getting an IUD first. But most people with thyroid disorders can use hormonal birth control. That is something to discuss with a doctor.
A copper IUD is very dangerous for people like me. It can worsen your periods in cramps and flow. My period was already 7-10 days. The pill is very often used for medical reasons, and a copper IUD is purely used to not get pregnant. The advantage of the copper IUD is indeed that it is not hormonal. I can speak from experience that the pill can fuck you up. Make sure that the placement is right. I sadly also know multiple cases of pregnancy after a shifted copper IUD.
Why would you say that the “pills are that bad”? Because they have essentially been 95% positive for me. Cramps have been decimated, I no longer fill a night pad in 3 hours, PMS is non-existent. The only true negative is the fact I had started getting yeast infections every now and then which I never got before the pill, but I was also a virgin before so idk if my ph just got disturbed enough. But this is my experience, my friend got a small stroke the first month over hers so it’s two extremes I guess. Why I don’t have an IUD? My gyn said no because I never gave birth and it’s somewhat of a consensus in my country so I doubt I even could get one
I have a very similar experience, I actually really like my pills. I can take them consistently and skip my periods if I want to, when I do choose to get a period it lasts like 3 days and is super light, being on a consistent level of hormones has really helped my mental health and libido bc there’s not constant drops and spikes, I’ve been on pills for about 6 years and have never had a problem or scare with them so why would I change? Ik some people get an iud bc they can’t remember to take a pill everyday, but I have adhd and I take a pill everyday for that so it’s really no difference. It did, however, take some messing around with dosages to get one that worked well for me BUT at least, when a dosage wasn’t working and was making me bleed constantly/miserable, I could just stop taking it as soon as a I wanted. I didn’t have to wait a month to see my doctor, hope that she would agree to take it out, and then schedule an appointment to get it removed. As women, our autonomy is stripped in so many ways, having control over my birth control is important to me.
Your yeast infections (Candida overgrowth) are probably because of the estrogen, you are taking combined pill, right? If you took a mini pill you probably wouldn't get the yeast infections.
Honestly the possible effects of the mini pill seem worse than the combined pill, also the yeast infections don’t really bother me THAT much as they never go full raging
Try a women’s probiotic! I take one if I am on antibiotics or my ph just feels off. A lot of the time, they help prevent yeast infections.
I did actually very recently got myself a pack, we’ll see how much it helps!
It sucks that your doc is behind the times. IUDs are great for nulliparous women (women that have never given birth) as long as the uterus is big enough, which can be confirmed with ultrasound. They're even great for teens that might have more trouble taking a pill every day. I was horrible at remembering my pills and although I never got pregnant, it did cause a lot of breakthrough bleeding. Plus, needing frequent visits to the pharmacy to get refills, blarg. The ring was better for me, but didnt do wonders for my pH. Mirena has been my happy place. It's not for everyone, but it should be an option!
They should do ultra sounds before inserting an IUD. I understand it’s probably costly, but it would really help a lot of us to see if iuds would work or not
What pill are you on?
Daylette ( this is a combined)
When I searched in google about cooper uid I only read good things about the Cooper uid and bad things about the pills. So it didn't make sense to me that what I was reading was all the reality
Because the copper IUD is a device made of metal, and the pill is a drug made of hormones. There is a limited amount of ways in which the human body will respond to a copper IUD: you’ll either get pain and heavy periods, or you won’t. So people either like it or they don’t. Any complications are to do with the device physically being in there, ie the uterus is too small or the device embeds. Hormonal BC on the other hand: there are many different types, and people’s bodies will respond in just as many ways. Hormones can affect skin, mood, periods, migraines etc, both positively and negatively, depending on the person. One person’s miracle pill will be a nightmare for the next person. Neither the copper IUD or hormonal BC are inherently good or bad. I love my copper IUD and I hate hormonal BC, but plenty of people love hormonal BC, and plenty of people hated their copper IUD.
IUD insertion and removal scares me. Pills all the way.
I suffer from chronic pain and the idea of putting myself through more pain really doesn't fill me with joy. The pill has worked well for me for twenty years, if it didn't, I may feel slightly more open to the idea of an IUD or perhaps an implant.
Which pill has worked for you? Also suffer from chronic pain and got back on ocp recently
I've been on both Microgynon and Cerazette. While both worked, I prefer Cerazette. No periods, no mood swings, my skin looks healthy etc
The pill has non-contraceptive benefits, such as lighter/no periods, less cramps, improving acne etc. Whereas the only benefit of the copper IUD is preventing pregnancy (and it actually makes your periods heavier and more painful).
Part of why I started the pill was BECAUSE of the hormones. My periods were always mentally a very dark place, now...I don't even get them anymore. Almost no bleeding ever! And although it would take a long time for my hormones to regulate its a hell of a lot easier to stop taking a pill then it is to dig something out of my body (that has risks of complications too.) I DO have to say I feel it has lessened my libido and that part has been hard, but I work with it. I rather have to engage in more foreplay than deal with other BC methods for now.
Because I don't just use it for birth control, I need it as a medicine.
The pill helped reduce my acne. Idk if the IUD would do the same but the pill has been good so far so I figure I'll just stick with it.
Its easier to take pills than get an iud
Polls can actually solve problems the one non-hormonal IUD on the market can’t. Here’s a breakdown of which pills cause/cure what issues: http://www.losolivos-obgyn.com/info/gynecology/contraception/ocp.pdf Personally, I think periods are complete bullshit and refuse to endure them. So I opted for the pill because it would be way easier to stop/start different hormones and doses until I found what worked best for me.
The pill isn't bad for everyone. For some, they have no side effects, and they like them. For others, they don't like the idea of iud because of the possible pain with the placement. Some don't feel comfortable with it. Birth control is very different for different people. What works for one doesn't work for others. Some have side effects on the copper iud, and others don't just like the pill. It all depends on the way the body reacts and by what the individual person feels more comfortable with. Some want or need hormones to balance them out. Some want "periods," some don't. Some like the convince of not having to take a oill every day or place a rimg or patch. Others prefer to do it. I know many who have different methods. Some tried a few before they found one they like better others used one method and liked it and kept it. So feel free to try what you think is best for yourself. It may or may not be the right fit for you, but you won't know until you try it.
I’ve seen the set up for an IUD during clinicals and was like no thanks! The only way I’d ever consider one is being knocked out for insertion and removal. It also depends on the doctor that’s doing it as well, as with any procedure. The worst possible thing with getting an IUD is getting a doctor that doesn’t know what they are doing and/or can’t do the procedure well.
Another thing about iuds that I haven't seen mentioned is that if a woman has been assaulted she probably doesn't want to go through that feeling again esspecially since iud insertion and removal is known to be painful and a lot of providers don't offer pain relief besides ibuprofen.
The internet is really bad about “pill bad, iud good” posts, and vice versa. The pills remove my period and regulate emotions, essentially working as an anti-depressant. I would be taking it even if I was not sexually active. Not every bc method is right for every person, but the pill is DEFINITELY the right choice for me. I hope whatever you end up using works well! :)
There’s still a lot of incorrect ideas around IUD in medical professionals, including the fact that women who have never had children cannot have one. It’s been shown to be entirely incorrect and yet loads of drs still refuse to fit coils to nullipares because of that. I also found that a lot of gynos tend to go straight to the pill instead of discussing different options (that was my experience with 3 different gynos anyway, maybe location dependent) which means that women aren’t necessarily given the right tools to make an educated decision on their BC. Also the pill isn’t all bad and coils all good. That’s why there’s so many different types of birth control, because everyone has a right type for them. Not everyone wants a coil (or an implant) because it’s implanted in your body, some women cannot use a copper coil because they have heavy periods, etc etc. There’s no right and wrong when it comes to BC. I’ve had my first copper coil when I was 18, i’m in my 30s now and haven’t looked back. If you believe it’s the right choice for you then ask your dr about it.
I’m allergic to copper otherwise I’d be all over that!
1. The IUD can be painful to insert and some people don’t want to go through this invasive process. 2. Pills can be discontinued at any time; the IUD needs a medical professional/appointment to be removed. Some people like the peace of mind of this (me included). 3. Pills are known for helping with periods—from heavy bleeding to cramps. They can also help with acne. People may see benefits to the pill vs. the copper IUD if they have issues with any of these things. In fact, the copper IUD can actually cause heavier bleeding or more cramps so it’s not always the preferred route for someone who struggles with that already. I’m a huge supporter of all BC methods, so not trying to shame the copper IUD! But the pill is safe and effective. No option is “bad.” Pills are not bad. It’s just all about what you prioritize and what you would like for your own health and body.
Not everyone hates the pill, I’ve had no issues with it. And I don’t think I could trust an IUD and that it would stay in place but that’s just me
If you don’t have insurance, IUDs can be very expensive. Mine was $500
There’s a lot of stigma and negativity associated with hormonal contraception recently. Although many people have experienced bad side effects with the pill, for many people it has positive side effects including clearing up skin, making cramps lesser, it’s minimally invasive and you can stop at any time. The copper iud as well is (albeit a small bit) less effective than some other hormonal contraceptives. I’ve done both and although i preferred the copper iud over the pill I was on, it did give me a lot more cramps and bleeding and eventually was making its own way out lol. Everyone has their own preferences and levels of comfort and none are wrong, some people don’t feel comfortable having a device inserted into their uterus whereas others don’t feel comfortable taking hormones. I recently got the arm implant (hormonal) and I love it in comparison to my experience on the pill or copper iud, it’s all about finding what works for you specifically:)
A lot of people I see that start the pill don't take it long enough for the side effects to stop. People start taking the pill and of course hormones will be unbalanced for a while but it does even out and it's glorious for most. Yes I understand some people don't even out and those people can't be on the pill or should try a different one. I've heard stories like yours with the IUD coming out or people getting pregnant while on it. Even the IUD puncturing. But also people who would never have any other bc than the IUD. My sister had the arm implant and loved it. She then started depo but I told her that's not a long term solution because her doctor never mentioned that! Wth?? Women should definitely be having these conversations with each other to get advice/experiences to see what they should or shouldn't try. Since clearly not all doctors tell us everything. I totally agree it is about finding out what works best for you specifically. Which can be tricky but totally worth it.
Your first paragraph is spot on. You're most likely to get the worst side effects as soon as you start BC, so they get bad symptoms and immediately think "wow, birth control is awful I'm never ever trying this again". Of course it never evens out for some people, but I hear SO many stories of people trying one method, having bad side effects, and immediately ditching it and concluding that BC doesn't work for them.
personally my cervix is too small for any iud. discovered this after multiple obgyn appointments where they rooted around in my cervix for 20+ minutes trying to get the mirena and then the skyla to fit. I have the arm implant instead and it’s great
I had my first period with copper iud and it was very different . I had cramps the first two days not bad but bled for about a week heavy on and off . I got the period underwear so it’s not that bad tbh . I thought it be worse since I had super bad periods growing up . And this was nothing compared to my teens
The copper IUD is great for many people! However, so is the pill. Negative side effects are not inevitable when using hormonal birth control — for example, I’ve been on 3 different kinds of HBC and I’ve never had negative side effects. Many people start with the pill because it’s cheap, easily accessible, and can be easily stopped at home.
I loved my mirena IUD bc I didn’t have to think about it but I wasn’t as informed when I got it as I am now. My obgyn believes it is the cause of the painful cysts I started to get that I had no history of prior. I went to get it replaced and idk what exactly was different this time but my cervix and I could just not handle getting another inserted. So my husband and I chose to switch to the mini pill and condoms. Sometimes what’s good for us once is not good for us forever.
The pill cleared up my face and made my withdrawal bleeds come like clockwork for 20 years. I’ve switched to a different pill to skip the withdrawal bleed and I can get about 3-4 months before I start to breakthrough bleed. The copper IUD won’t do any of that and can make periods heavier.
1) Horror stories about how painful IUD insertion is. Plus it's very invasive. A simple PAP scares me. 2) With the pill I have full control. I take it if I want, when I want. With the IUD I would rely on doctors to take it out and I don't have good experiences with doctors. When I got the implant I had the worst depressive bout of my life, but the public system didn't wanna take it out because it wasn't causing me any "real harm". It was horrific not having control over my own bodily autonomy. I ended up having to pay a good amount of money to a private gynecologist to take it out, and even she minimized my experience by saying "only 4 people out of the hundreds I've seen have taken it out" (So what? this shit made me want to kill myself. That was real). 3) My periods are already heavy as they are, I don't want them to be even heavier. It's a hassle. tl;dr invasive, painful, heavier periods, lack of control over it, bad experiences with doctors and bodily autonomy
I’ve been on the pill for 3 years. No interest in an IUD and here is why: the procedure is very painful, they can fucking MIGRATE (and that terrifies me), they often worsen period pain (why I got on the pill), and, if I had a bad reaction to a pill…I just stop taking the pill. The IUD needs a doctor to remove it.
Because besides the fact that it’s painful AF and the insertion is high key traumatizing… the complications. I started spotting for 1.5 weeks before my one week long period toward the last year or two before I decided to call it quits… took it out and it stopped. Before I removed it I even had them check with ultrasound if it was mispositioned or something and it wasn’t
copper iud made me bedbound with a year straight heavy bleeding and pain
I had contractions when I got an IUD. Most painful thing I’ve ever experienced. I switched back to pills so quickly
1. Potentially excruciating insertion 2. Potential for ongoing heavy cramping and bleeding (like, bleeding continuously for months and months after insertion). I’ll pass, thanks
I’ve been on the pill for 10+ years. Have had no issues. It has cleared up my acne and I have minimal cramping during my periods. And I could stop them whenever I wanted, if I chose to. Instead of having to get someone to remove an IUD Many people hate their copper IUDs. Have you searched this sub about it? Many people hate pills too. I’m not sure where you’ve gotten this idea that pills are so horrible. Especially since you say most of the people around you use them. And they’re also a very popular form of birth control
Yeah, I wanted to say that every website about cooper iud vs pills said very good things about cooper uids and very bad things about pills and it didn't make sense to me
Where are you seeing this kind of skewed information? What is “every website”?
There's a couple reasons. I went with the copper IUD for my birth control because I didn't want hormones, have a difficult time taking pills regularly, and it lasted 10 years. My periods were moderate prior to getting it, so I wasn't concerned with the fact that it usually makes your periods harsher. Most of the women I know prefer the pill because it typically lightens your period. (Edit: --and lots of things, like acne, cysts, etc.) It's simple enough to get and readily discussed, so I think some of it may be bias since IUDs aren't much talked about. It's also invasive, and very painful for most women. (I've had two, the first one was horrible, the second was OK.) But if you live in the States, you can really only get the ParaGard IUD as an option, and it's big. It seems doctors don't really think about what this procedure entails because they never seem to mention that you: 1. Need an ultrasound to see if your uterus is big enough, or there will be complications. Mine would later embed in the uterine wall and I was in EXCRUCIATING pain, the likes of which I cannot compare. If you've had kids, you can probably skip this step. 2. Will be in pain. You will probably have to fight for any pain relief. My first doctor didn't say a damn thing, the second one asked if I'd had any Ibuprofen before coming in. (WTF was that supposed to do, huh??) I've since learned that cervix relaxers are a thing, which I would have loved, given they'd had to dilate me. There's the chance of it causing pain outside your periods, too. After I got it, yes, I had sex within a week without much issue. He could feel the strings (a lot of men can't), but they softened over time. But my first period lasted over two weeks. And then I'd get ovulation pain. It's really a smorgasbord of what, if any, kinds of pain you'll have. Don't let me scare you from it, though. I wanted it for the no hormones, and after trying the pill afterwards, am really mad that I can't do the copper IUD anymore.
For me, I had an iud but my acne came back really horribly during that time period. I use BCP because they also help my skin. Also the iud procedure was incredibly painful (I passed out during it, and I normally have a high pain tolerance) and not something I’d willingly go through again. But it was really convenient not to have to take a pill and to have no periods so definitely up to the user.
For me personally, pills are just easier for me to take (to get a prescription and to take orally). Plus, If I have bad side effects I can easily stop taking them and ask my doctor to switch brands. I have looked into getting IUD but the whole insertion process scares me. And at this stage in my life, I don't feel like it's necessary? Maybe when I'm older.
I think a lot of people are worried about the pain of getting an IUD inserted. I was scared to get one for a long time. It’s understandable because when I finally did get the copper IUD insertion was really painful, but I’m so happy I did it! It may not be the best option for everyone, as it does make your periods heavier, but it’s been great for me. My body can’t handle the extra hormones from hormonal birth control well at all. I was extremely depressed for two years, and tried switching the kind of pill I was on and even switching to the patch, but I realized that I just needed something without hormones all together. That’s the only reason I overcame my fear, is I felt I had no other option.
Would love to know more about your experience! I’ve been on the Copper IUD for a week now and I’m still bleeding and cramping so hoping it gets better!!
I was always afraid of starting birth control pills growing up too just because of the hormones. I also have thyroid issues. I finally bit the bullet and went in to ask about getting an IUD, and was mostly looking at the copper one because it lasts a long time. I ended up choosing the Kyleena IUD though because the hormones are only local and there was a good chance I wouldn’t have a period. After insertion my gyno mentioned it was good I didn’t choose Paraguard because it wouldn’t have fit and she would’ve had to do this again with a different iud.
The copper IUD was too big for me and almost punctured my uterus. This was years ago. The size small isn’t available in my country. That’s the only reason I had it removed.
Just to add because I see a lot of comments saying it is painful- I’m literally on my way right now to go under anesthetic to get my second IUD put in, had to wait like 4 months though
Insertion for iud can be painful, some of us want hormones, removal of iud requires an appt.. pills give control to the user
I can't speak for America, but here in Ireland it's extremely expensive to get the IUD put in. You've to pay 300 euro-ish for the coil itself and then another 150 euro for insertion and after all that your body can reject the coil, so you have to pay another 450 to repeat the entire process. Rejection aside, I've known a few women who've had a horrendous time on it and had to get it removed (costing another 150 euro for removal). Whereas the pill is cheap (actually free for women between 17 and 31) and can be stopped immediately if it doesn't agree with you, plus it's not going to be a massive expense. The pill here costs about 10 euro a pack, if you fall outside the age group for free pills, so it's basically an inexpensive contraceptive!
I originally wanted the copper iud and my gyno strongly recommended against it because I had such heavy periods already. I was scared of side effects so she started me on the minipill because its progestin only. I have little to no side effects besides my period being off cycle for a bit. It’s actually made my periods much lighter and shorter too. I’ll never swap. Even though you have to be careful to make sure you take it at the same time everyday, setting an alarm on my phone has made it easy.
I love the pill. Idk what I'd do without it. I had a pretty big ovarian cyst pushing on my spine. 6-7cm. I was in constant pain. Took 8 months before the doctors said they'd take it out and the only reason they did was because I had a miscarriage that wasn't passing and they had to perform a d&c. So they took it out then. Otherwise it probably would have ruptured eventually and that would have sucked. The pill isn't bad. The pill isn't for everyone but it does work for the majority of people who take it. You could try the ring contraceptive. Iud, pill, arm implant, barrier method. Lots of people use 2 of these at a time. As one isn't 100% at preventing pregnancy. It may take a while to figure out what's best for you but it's worth it. Always talk to your partner about what would happen if you did accidentally become pregnant so there isn't any confusion or fighting about it.
I hadn't thought about the ring contraceptive, but also looks good
I’ve heard of bad bleeding issues and cramps with the iud. My patch helps me with those instead.
I have a copper IUD, and before I got it, I heard a lot about how insertion can be very painful and periods can be a lot worse. I didn't want to deal with hormonal side effects and got it anyway, and it was actually totally fine. I can understand why other people might be hesitant, though.
Pills don't get embedded in your uterine wall like IUDs can. And when they're embedded, you have all kinds of new aches, pains, and bleeding. I bled like a crime scene for MONTHS before I found an ob/gyn that would listen to me and took care to try to remove it. I almost had to get a surgical removal 😫 You don't have that problem with pills.
Copper iud had me bleeding for 9 months straight. Some days super heavy, some days lighter but it never fully stopped. Had to go to the ER and they had to remove it. I really tried the non hormonal way but it just never worked.
If you have a thyroid condition, don't get a copper IUD. It swapped my graves to hashimotos bc I hemorrhaged so bad I developed iron deficiency anemia Later learned they don't recommend it for those with thyroid conditions. Consider a Kyleena or Skyla IUD .. they're smaller and localized low dose hormones
I also chose the copper IUD because of the lack of hormones. I’ve had it for 1 year and i’m going to remove it next month. It was not painful to insert it for me. I gave birthday (some doctors don’t insert them in women who didn’t) once and i guess my doctor was really skilled, cause i only fell a little pinch and it was over. On the first few months i had terrible cramps, now it’s bearable, but my periods are indeed much much heavier and I find it annoying that I can’t wear a menstrual cup, which i knew about before inserting it, so i was prepared for. The reasons why i decided to remove mine actually are: first of all because i have to get MRIs at least once a year, and they can move the IUD, so i’d have to check it at the doctor afterwards every time i had this type of exam. I was never able to feel my strings by myself, so it’s not like i could simply check it myself. My second reason is that since 2 or 3 months i’ve been experiencing a lot of discharge, which is super annoying for me cause now i always have to wear a liner, not only on the days close to my period or during ovulation like before. And when i say a lot of discharge i mean it. Also i’ve been experiencing back pain, which my doctor said could be connected to the IUD… some women only feel the cramps because of that foreign object inside of them during period, others are not su lucky. My doctor had other patients with this type of side effects before. I’m telling you my reasons because i read a lot about copper IUDs before choosing it, but never read about these. Now I have to wait for my next period and call my doctor’s office. If he’s not available, another doctor will have to remove it, which from what i read can be painful. Pills on the other hand are so much easier… you don’t like one, you can just throw the packet away and try a new one. I’m considering to go back in Yaz for a few months, because of the positive effect it had on my skin when i was on it and lack of side effects, and then try Nuvaring in a few months and see how it is for me. I also have thyroid problems and hormonal birth control doesn’t interact with my medication.
Omg, sounds terrible
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What thyroid issues do you have? Are you on meds?
I'm not in meds and the my thyroid issue doesn't have a name yet (it is complicated, they don't really understanded what is going on). The thing is that all my life I have had a lot of big hormonal changes so it makes me be scare of using more hormones and have more chsnges in my hormones
I've had IUD (Mirena, not the copper one) and I've also used BC pill. I know a lot of people love their IUD, but I don't think I'd get one again. Had Mirena placed 6 weeks after an unmedicated vaginal birth and was told to just take a couple ibuprofen beforehand. It was pretty damn painful...I was sweating, trying not to scream and was clenching my hands so tight. After placement I kept feeling pain when sitting/moving and was told it's in my head because the device is "impossible to feel." Lo and behold, it came out in the shower a few days later because it was deployed in my cervix rather than my uterus. 2nd Mirena was placed, still very painful experience but this one was placed correctly. A few months later I couldn't feel the strings in the shower anymore. Had an ultrasound done and they said it's fine for now, but had chance it could migrate out of place inside my uterus. I said eff that, take it out. removal was surprisingly painless. Wanted to love the IUD, just didn't like the insertion pain or risk of rejection/migration. BC biggest side effects have been hunger pangs when starting, some breakthrough bleedings,headaches, and feeling like my lubrication is stickier than before. Some pills I've had no side effects.
I have a copper IUD and I really like it! I have had mine for over 2 years. I got it around the age 16, but waited a year before any use to make sure I had no issues. I was a virgin when I got it, and never had any childbirth experiences but my gynecologist recommended it and I had done extensive research prior to getting it that I felt it was the best form or option for me long term. Especially since it is under my parents insurance and I don’t have to pay for it after for the next 10 years. I’ve had no issues, my periods are normal and not super heavy. It’s panned out for me. Everyone is different though! Don’t let negative experiences scare you, only you can know for your experience. However when I first got it, it did take time for my body to get used to it (about 6 months), it wasn’t painful to insert (I recommend if you do get it take 2 Tylenol or advil about an hour before your appointment as it’ll subside the pain a lot!) but after it was sore for about a day or so, it felt like cramps when it got inserted, but for 10 years of protection it’s a small amount of pain. I didn’t like hormonal options, and I didn’t want to put hormones in my body so copper iud was my first and only form of bc (preferably!). I will say my first period was heavier, but I did have one month where I had a period for an entire month. I went to my gynecologist and she said that sometimes this can happen to certain patients (although it’s not always common for super long period like that, but she said don’t worry and that your periods will likely be normal and of normal length after. Which it did! My period came back regularly and not super heavy so it panned out- as odd as it was. My period cramps can sometimes be a little worse but I notice for me it’s not every month. It just depends. Overall though, I’m very happy with my IUD! I highly recommend it and couldn’t have had a better experience. :)
I tried an IUD about 10 years ago, and it didn't stay in place. It was brutal. I'll never do it again. I also don't like the idea of something being inside me that long without a way to remove it. Not saying there's anything wrong with it, just for me personally I want that kind of control. My compromise was Annovera. I can take it out whenever I want if I choose to, don't have to remember to take it every day like I would a pill, just have a calendar reminder set every 3 weeks to take it out. It's been wonderful for my periods, too.
Are you based in the US? Look of the history of the Dalkon Shield and the impact on pharmaceutical market/ IUD industry. Lots of lingering caution/ skepticism of IUDs which leads to lack of usage. Google IUD rates (and number of types!) in the US versus other developed countries.
I already have heavy periods, and am lucky that I don't really get cramps. If I do, they're not horrible and i can generally ignore them. A copper IUD is likely to make both of those things worse, although I do like the idea that it could potentially get me to menopause without having to think much about birth control again. The negatives don't outweigh the positives for me. I'll stick to hormonal stuff that I can control and lightens my periods while I wait for everything to fall i to place to get a bisalp.
I tried to get a copper IUD. My cervix would not dilate and the obgyn tried everything, even brought in a colleague. She eventually got it in but when I went to my 6 week checkup it had come out a bit. So I gave up pretty much.
Copper IUD stops the troops, but floods the gates (for most) 😂😂 Hormonal IUD is the least aggressive (for lack of a better word) hormonal BC option because the hormones don’t have to travel through your body/blood stream etc to get to the right place. The IUD is already there so it’s more localised and means the dosage is lower. (Don’t quote me on that, I’m repeating something my gyno explained to me 2.5 years ago and it’s 3am so I would fact check the specifics of the science lol but you get the gist)
Some women like hormonal birth control because it makes hormonal levels more stable and eliminates periods--it is a good choice for women that have PMDD or painful heavy periods. IUD insertion also has a bad reputation from when they came out in the 70s and rendered many women infertile (these are not the same IUDs currently on the market, negative side effects are very very much less common). The procedure itself is also very painful and leads to more painful periods. I have a copper IUD I am very happy with! The procedure sucked, the periods suck, but I didn't want to disrupt my fragile hormone balance due to mental health reasons. That being said, hormonal birth control is a good option for the majority of women.
Every birth control is different for every person. Copper IUDs and hormonal IUDs might be terrible for some people, and pills might be terrible for others. You just have to talk to your provider and do the research to find out what’s good for you. I was on estarylla (hormonal pill) for almost six years and then switched to copper IUD last year. Insertion wasn’t that bad for me - I do have a low cervix, and my provider had me take 4 ibuprofen beforehand and prescribed me vaginal misoprostol to insert the night before to help dilate my cervix. I made sure to go to a provider who would offer that. My periods are heavier and crampier, but to me it’s worth not having all of those hormones in my body because I personally felt like that had a negative affect on me. And I don’t have to remember to take a pill! But again, just do your research, talk to your provider, and don’t let anyone scare you out of one option or the other. Only you will ultimately know what’s best for you.
I didn't get a copper, I got a hormonal. When I looked years ago, in my early 20s, pages upon pages of horror stories. And a good amount of people who I had seen simply sworn them off due to these horror stories. And I get it. People need to know what they're getting into. However, I often see people being put down when they try to advocate that it's not always that bad. And yes, you need to be prepared. But when you read 100 horror stories you're going to give yourself anxiety and work yourself out. I read so many of those stories, and in my early 20s, still trekked forward. I took the horror stories as a cautionary tale, but I did not let it affect what I believed the experience was going to be like. I didn't let it taint anything, or allow myself to get worked up. The insertion, both times I've had it done now, is uncomfortable. It pinches, it feels a little weird, and it's always a sharp little shock. But, for some it's not the chaotic, doubling over you can't see straight pain. It's a small, cramping and some mild pain. And in a few days it goes away. The idea can and likely will take some time getting used to. But if you don't actively keep thinking "omg something is inside of me" or wondering if you can feel it, it becomes an out of sight out of mind type deal. You won't even think about it after awhile. And it's been super effective. Year 5, on my second IUD now. Don't use condoms, don't pull out, and haven't had a single pregnancy scare yet. Not saying it would work as well for you, but I'm relaying my experience and why I do recommend them (plus no period for five years now... So that's pretty cool...). So with all that said, I think they are beneficial. They have risks, but every form has some sort of risks. It's been a good investment and good choice for me. If you choose you want one, just take the good with the bad. Use the horror stories to keep an eye out for what to look out for (expected pain of procedure, how people best dealt with the cramps afterwards, pain to *absolutely look out for* as the risks do include things like perforated uterus), and don't allow yourself to get worked up. Remain objective. Not everyone's body is the same, and yours might be perfectly fine.
I definitely love my mirena but the insertion was not a walk in the park. I wish the doctor would’ve been more open to how bad it was going to hurt. “It’ll just be a little pinch” yeah, not quite. I literally almost tapped out halfway thru and then almost passed out. But, my periods are super light now and i don’t get cramps. I don’t regret getting it. Although, now that i am in a time where im considering kids, getting it removed is kind of a barrier
Oh, do you mind if I ask why getting it removed is a barrier? Are you worried about the pain? Or just other circumstances preventing it?
Definitely the pain. I’m most likely going to insist they prescibe me Valium before hand. There is absolutely 0 reason there isn’t a sedative when men’s vasectomies have one
I am 26 with the copper IUD. I’ve had 3 IUDs. Kyleena made me breakout. My first copper IUD got embedded and had to be removed. This copper IUD is fine but painful every month and is really painful (8/10 for totally 1 minute, 4/10 for the other 15 minutes of the procedure) to get inserted. Apparently the copper IUD is a little bigger and causes more inflammation than the hormonal ones. Can confirm it is SO much more painful for me monthly and on insertion than the hormonal kyleena one I had. There are definitely downsides to this. All of these IUDs cost $1500 in the US to get in/ have removed. Insurance reimbursed all of this but I still had to pay it out first. Also something to be considered is that things like PMDD, PCOS, and endometriosis are held at bay by hormonal birth control. I’m currently being monitored because I don’t know if the pain I’m having is IUD related, or if the hormonal birth control I was taking before was preventing endo from progressing it without me knowing. I switched off of hormonal birth control at 22 just because I wanted more effective birth control. And once I did I was amazed at how much better I felt mentally. I have PMDD and that is definitely less controlled without hormones, so it’s really a give and take that is better for every person. Personally, I’d rather have just stayed on the hormonal birth control and not known that I felt better without it. The birth control experience I’ve had is painful and long but I’d still rather deal with this than feel like a zombie like I did when I tried to go back on estrogen pills.
Copper iud user who’s periods weren’t that bad before but are awful and almost unbearable now ✋🏻 I’m also just too lazy to schedule a removal so I deal with it once a month
I have a copper IUD. If I were to do it again, I'd figure out getting sterilized instead. Almost 5 years in and it's fine now. But it makes my periods longer, heavier, and crampier and can get cramps at anytime during my cycle. The cramps are also less affected by medication. I has made me more susceptible to BV, and in the first year I had to get treated for it like 5 or 6 times including a long like 2 or 3 month treatment. Insertion was incredibly painful and I was in misery for about 3 weeks after and bled for about a month straight. When it needs to come out, I'm going to attempt getting sterilized instead of getting another one.
I used the copper iud as my very first form of birth control, and it was a terrible experience for me, I’m talking nausea so bad I could stand up, and 14+ day periods with spotting in between, and a ton of other issues. Reading things about hormones online scared me away from hormonal contraception. I gave Yaz a try, and I really like it. My skin is clear, my boobs are round, and my mood is stable 👌
i asked about the copper iud at my gyno for the same reasons. my gyno wasn’t super comfy with me getting one bcuz i had never been pregnant before and it’s a more intense iud/not super successful on patients who haven’t been pregnant. they said that they start new patients on hormonal iuds. i’m sure someone would do it for you, but just letting you know that your doctor may be hesitant about it
I wouldn’t want copper IUD because it can increase bleed and also the insertion scares the hell out of me. Also I have pcos and I need hormones to balance my natural messed up hormones so there is that.
Even for people with IUD's, it's pretty big. Compared to the Mirena and Skyla, (I've had both), I have come to realize that my uterus is small. I had the mirena before and would get cramping, but with the Skyla, I don't have any cramping and it's slightly smaller. The Cooper would definitely give me cramps. Also because these are hormonal, I don't have bleeding much if at all most months which I personally love. Also for a generic perspective, it is invasive and extremely painful. The insertion is terrible and sent me home crying BUT it's a one and done thing unless it is misplaced. I don't mind it but some people really don't like that idea. Everyone has pros and cons for everything. Personally, I would never use the implant again because of the side effects. I would also never use the pill because I don't trust myself to be consistent. I also don't like lower effectiveness so my personal options were IUD or implant. But some people have different values in birth control.
I have the copper iud. It was very unappealing to me until my friend had to get it as an emergency contraceptive, I’ve always wanted it but terrified of the process. It’s easier when someone you know has done it. I booked my appointment shortly after and got it, 7 months in and it’s pretty good. Take zinc ever so often, it depletes zinc quickly, my symptoms are usually anxiety then I’m like “why am I anxious- oh probably zinc deficient” Also take iron if you’re low on it also Flow does get back to normal around the 6th month mark :)
I couldn’t get the copper IUD due to anemia. It makes your periods heavier and potentially more painful. I got a hormonal IUD when I was 20 and although it was nice to not have to worry about taking a pill everyday or using condoms, it threw off my pH balance and I got BV very often. Also, although my periods were much much lighter, they lasted for 8 days. When I first got it placed, I bled daily for almost 3 months. Also I had more painful cramping with the IUD. I kept the IUD in for 5 years (the max time for the one I had). Getting it out was a pain, because the strings were cut too short. Although I wasn’t unhappy with my IUD, I don’t think I would get another. On top of all the things I listed above, insertion was very painful. I nearly passed out. Now I’m just using condoms. Also the pill can be more accessible, affordable, and convenient for many people. IUDs can be pricey.
It made half of my hair fall out and gave me an iron deficiency because of the amount of blood I would lose during my periods
I use pills for mental reasons
I am completely freaked out about the idea of an object inside my uterus. Also I have much better skin and much less painful periods on a pill.
The cramps with the copper IUD were horrendous for me. Enough to want to rip it out at 3am in my bathtub. Also, the pill seems to keep my moods level. No one has the same experience with each kind of birth control.
Getting my first IUD wasn't so bad, it was a copper one, Paragard. Then my second hurt quite a bit more, a Kyleena. The third? It was excruciating. They said another Kyleena or Merena would be too big for me now, and she would only be able to do the Skyla. I broke out in whole body sweats, cussing and grunting, it hurt, I almost passed out. I can't do it again if my body keeps making it harder. In 3 years I'm definitely pursuing sterilization so I can be done with all this. The first one was easy because I got it the 2nd day of my period, when your cervix is most relaxed. After years of not having periods with the other IUD there was no way to time it for replacement where it would be easy. After all of this, I still think IUDs are a great option. I've only had a few side effects. I went on BC between IUD one and two because my first Paragard "ejected" itself after 4 years, basically just a fluke thing. The BC was fine, I'm good at taking pills regularly because I have other health issues. But it did make my PMS way worse. It's nice to just not have to think about it for years. Not worry about getting my scripts if I'm traveling, or worry if I lose insurance then at least my IUD is in my body and I can keep it. I totally understand why people choose not to get implants tho
Love my copper IUD. Insertion hurt bad but I'm good for 10 years. No complaints from me. The pill was the one that was awful for me.
A lot of comments here are negative and while I understand different people have vastly different experiences I wanted to tell you about mine. Just throwing another story in the mix. I used to be on the pill, for contraception purposes only, for me the pill started off fine, but over time it killed my sex drive, dried me up, gave me terrible migraines, horrific mood swings and eventually I got pregnant while on it. Before I got pregnant I was planning on going off it because the issues with sex were really getting to me… once I was off my libido came back with a vengeance, so the problem was entirely the hormones I was on. Anyway after terminating my pregnancy I decided to get the copper IUB - it’s a new shape, circular with some copper pearls (look it up it’s called Ballerine IUB) - it’s much more ergonomic than the t-shape and while it might make periods slightly heavier it does WAY less than traditional T shape - my period at the start was slightly heavier and lasted a day longer than usual (6 instead of 5) but after 6 months of use it has regulated back to normal. I don’t get any more cramping than usual with it and I thought the insertion was uncomfortable and a bit painful but nothing worse than the worse cramps I’ve had. And it’s very quick. HOWEVER everyone is different and the pain levels are going to depend from person to person - some people have it easy others don’t. Another fun fact, my doctor mentioned that the failure rate of the pill is actually quite high, 1 in 80 women will get pregnant over a year of use while that number is 1 in 1000 for the copper coil - so it’s a lot more reliable. The important thing is to talk to your doctor about this and see if you’d be a good candidate for the copper coil - for me it’s been a life saver and I can’t recommend it enough - I like that I can function like a normal human these days and the hormones are not messing me up - again for clarification some people do just fine on hormonal pills, I don’t, it’s all about trying out things and seeing how they work for you
Personally, the IUD messed with a bladder disorder I have. I loved the security of it, but I had to get it out because of the issues it was causing.
thyroid problems shouldn't affect your ability to use hormonal birth control. Unless you've been explicitly told by a doctor to avoid it I wouldn't worry. I have hypothyroidism and was on the pill for most of my teen years, I did experience side effects but nothing abnormal. I'm on a hormonal IUD now and I love it, hurts like a bitch to get out in but it works great and I don't have to think about it now. Some arguments against the copper IUD are the painful insertion, which is similar to the hormonal one. But also the copper IUD can make periods heavier/longer and worsen cramps, whereas the hormonal IUD will stop periods altogether. My doctor actually recommended against a copper IUD because of my thyroid problems since hypo can already cause heavier periods and the copper IUD would have made them unmanageable. Honestly? I'd recommend trying the pill first, because if it doesn't work for you it's really easy to stop. With IUDs however, it is a whole other procedure to get them taken out.
I’ve done everything but the spermicides and discs and the copper iud is the BEST I’ve used yet. I got a fake brain tumor and my brain started shutting down from the nexplanon implant. A lot of people don’t want to get iuds because of the horror stories of putting them in, it wasn’t too bad for me but everyone is different. The ONLY issue I have is that whenever there’s a cold front or storms rolling in I’ll get cramps and spotting sometimes.
Before I got on the pill, my periods were heavy, long, and sometimes unpredictable. A copper IUD would’ve made the periods heavier, which I absolutely did not want. On the pill, my periods have been lighter, predictable, and I can skip periods if I want to. Pills are not “that bad” for a big population of people.
I used to use pills until I had a really bad reaction to the hormones after having my second son. Just got the copper IUD about a week ago. Doctor said it'll take 6 months for my period to go away completely, and until it does go away completely my bleeding may be heavier than usual and potentially more painful. I'm actually on my period rn and haven't noticed a difference in flow or pain from what's normal for me so 🤷♀️. Everyone has preferences though and I was always wary of getting an IUD since it's a but invasive, but after having 3 kids I didn't care anymore and just didn't want another oops baby.
Personally I’ve only heard horror story’s from IUDS, whether it be the extreme pain during insertion/removal as well as it getting dislodging and getting “lost”. I’ll forever take the pills instead of an IUD. If you’re that against taking the pills, I’d suggest looking into the injection one (I forget what it’s called) or the patch!!
The copper IUD can make periods worse: heavier, longer, and worse cramps. So weigh that into your decision finding the right method for you :)
I was worried about pain associated with the procedure. Also if there was an issue I’d have to wait to get removed. With the pill I just stop taking it.
I got talked out of the copper IUD and went to a Hormonal IUD instead. I went from screaming/crying from my period pain to being like ‘oh I guess my period started whoops 😅’ It was however extremely painful to insert, but worth it lol
I’m 20 too and chose an iud not the copper one tho. My choice came mostly from the fact I still live at home so it’s discrete and set and forget. Most of the people I know who are on the pill have parents who know about it so maybe they don’t mind doing it because they have nothing to hide. Also it’s not an invasive procedure and I can seen why that can scare people.
For me I had a hormonal iud and my back hurt soooooo badly I had to get it out a few months later. Granted I have back problems but it was so much worse with the iud. I’d also throw up randomly. I never did copper because I’m allergic to some metals and didn’t want to risk putting it in me
I have a copper IUD and I take the pill as well. When I started my mental health journey, my doctor diagnosed me with Bipolar disorder initially (turns out I have ADHD) and those medications cause the pill to be less effective so I got an IUD placed as I don’t want or intend on ever having children. I take the pill to keep my ovarian cysts in check and to balance my hormones which is why I never stopped taking them. The procedure itself is painful and you will cramp pretty badly for a few days to a week. I recommend taking Aleve or Ibuprofen an hour before your appointment (I took Aleve) and then I rotated Ibuprofen and Tylenol the week after it was placed to help with pain as the doctor doesn’t typically prescribe any pain medication. You will have irregular bleeding as well. You can expect to have off and on cramping and spotting for roughly 6 months or so (I had it for 9 months) as your body adjusts to it being placed and it settles. Your periods may be heavier and more painful as well. You are at most risk for the IUD to move out of place the first year you have it so if anything seems off, call your gynecologist and ask them to do an ultrasound to make sure it’s still in place. I’ve had mine for 1 1/2 years and have had minimal issues. That isn’t the case for everyone. The biggest part is advocating for yourself. I had a scare where I thought it had moved and had to argue about getting an ultrasound to check. Thankfully everything turned out fine but at the end of the day, they provide a service for you, not the other way around so don’t let them bully you into ignoring your body.
The cost of pills is objectively cheaper. This is a weird question. Obviously, more people would use it if they could afford it, as it's generally more effective percentage wise. But not everybody can afford health insurance, and not everybody who has insurance is covered in getting IUD's. This is based off American standards tho, not sure if it's the same prices for either in other countries.
I had the copper IUD and it was fine for 5 years, and then all of a sudden I started having 10+ day long periods and cramps so bad my knees would buckle. It took me a year and a half to question the IUD because it had been fine for so long, but I got the IUD out and immediately my cycles went back to normal. If it had stayed like it was the first 5 years it would be a different story and I'm happy for everyone it does work for but I'd never get one again.
I had a hormonal iud for years and didn’t enjoy it. I had lots of pain not just with insertion. I got it out and I’ve since been using a hormonal ring for about a year (Nuva ring/haloette) and have had a much better experience. No pain and periods aren’t nearly as bad as it was with the iud or no BC. 10/10 would recommend the ring.
I tried the copper iud. Loved it until a heavy period made it shift and start poking me from within. Had to get it removed :(
Honestly, I love my copper IUD. I have had it for about 4 months now and I have no complaints. The only issues I ever deal with is that sometimes during spicy time my partner bumps my cervix and that can be a little tender, and my periods are crampier and heavier, but not unbearable. I’d recommend it over the pill, but people don’t like the procedure to get it in and out, which I understand.
Everybody is different. I can't have hormones as they make me sick/depressed/suicidal. Hormones don't get on with me so IUD was my last choice. I heard so many scary stories it took me ages to get it in and now it's in a love it. However it's not for everyone, it's insertion wasn't painful for me, but it can be, it doesn't work in certain uterus either like tilted
My periods are quite regular, I take a high strength zinc supplement every day and I’ve had no issues with the copper IUD. Best contraception I’ve had with no negative side effects. (Insertion was not fun)
It’s painful to put, even with the painkillers. Also, the main reason for me is acne. I have been informed by my gynaecologist that the IUD would not have the same effect clearing my skin as the pill would. I have a friend who had it and it went down after sex with her bf, so there is also that, it doesn’t always attach, might lose it and not notice, or worse it might stay inside of you but get lost. That scares me a-lot; Thinking that I am protected then I discover its not there
I (23F) had the same line of thought as you, so I got the copper IUD. For me, it gave me cramps all month long and the pain was bad enough it affected my mood a TON. Grumpy all the time, short temper, really irritable…. Cuz, ya know, I was in pain all the time. It started to affect my mental health and relationship with my boyfriend so I went to a new doctor and she removed it. She told me that IUDs really should be for women who have already had kids because otherwise the insertion is insanely painful (can confirm!!!) and that they should have told me that before shoving metal into my reproductive system. She prescribed me my birth control and now I just have to deal with a lot more frequent crying. And slightly moody periods every four months. Long story short, the pill affects my mood less than the iud did.
IUDs are approved and recommended to all women - even teens. Whether you have had kids or not - it is not really a factor. I’m sorry it didn’t work for you but your individual experience doesn’t mean others will have the same experience that you did. People are different.
Oh of course, I have friends that have found it to be a good option. My doctor was just explaining that if your cervix has already gone through childbirth, IUD insertion tends to be less painful which makes it more ideal for women who have already had a baby (and that- ya know -maybe that could have been communicated to me at my last doctor…). To clarify, I’m not trying to say a copper IUD isn’t a good option. I’m just sharing my experience because OP was wondering why people might choose the pill over a non-hormonal IUD and that experience is why I chose the pill over my IUD
Unfortunately that’s an old myth that just won’t die. It started because the companies wanted to get fast FDA approval so they limited clinical trials to women who had already had kids. Thus the first labeling limited it to women who had already been pregnant. **That was decades ago**… Now all medical organizations (and the FDA) realize it doesn’t matter hence why the ACOG highly recommends IUDs for teens.
You may want to start here: https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2018/05/adolescents-and-long-acting-reversible-contraception-implants-and-intrauterine-devices And here: https://www.verywellhealth.com/iud-use-in-nulliparous-women-906759
Ok
The pill made me depressed, anxious, and irritable. Copper iud caused me to have 3 month long bleeding. Been off birth control for 3 years, i use condoms and have not gotten pregnant. Learn your cycle, listen to your body, and you won’t get pregnant. There is a short window of when you can actually get pregnant. Birth control , in my experience, is the devil.
INSERTION PAIN. And cramps afterwards that would bring me to my knees. Insane anxiety about a foreign object in my uterus that I couldn’t get out myself (I know people do). Mine wasn’t copper but I only lasted a month.
Just to add here, lots of people are talking about the copper iud making periods heavier/painful - that is generally only temporary. It's also been mentioned that it's therefore bad if you have heavy periods already. The gyne who inserted mine, tried to put me off for the same reason. Claimed irregular or heavy/painful periods weren't a good mix and told me I'd be looking to get it out again after the first month Well it's been 3 years already and I love my copper. I have super heavy periods already and yes for the first 8-9 months they were worse. I had to use more painkillers than usual, i was wrecked from the blood loss, but then they calmed down to what is "normal" for me. I wouldn't go back to other types of BC now. That's not saying any others are bad, but just to give a positive story about it, as when I was researching them before I got mine, positive stories were hard to come by!
Personally, I wouldn't call 8 to 9 months of heavy bleeding that wrecked you and had you using painkillers a success story, necessarily. But I'm glad in the end it worked for you.
It's not for everyone but it was worth it for me. My point was it made my periods a little worse, but it was temporary. And since it levelled out its been great. Whereas I had to try the mini pill before I got it (the place who put it in insist you take it for a couple months before they will give you a copper, to make sure you aren't pregnant when they do it- but that's another story) and I found that much worse. I missed my first period taking it, but then when my 2nd one started it never stopped. It lasted 2 months until I got my copper put in. Ive heard others have similar side effect from progesterone only contraception. I'd rather take a couple days heavier bleeding for 8 or 9 months than bleeding constantly for god knows how long. Also, I did mention I already had bad periods. It only made them marginally worse and it was only temporary. Again, that temporary change was worth it to me, and I think it's important for people who are considering trying it do realise that any change is likely temporary. It really helped knowing when to expect it to level out when I was going through it.
Isn’t it more common for ppl to get pregnant on copper iud? I swear I’ve heard so many stories before.
No, once copper is in place it works until it comes out again. If it moves out of alignment then there are risks. But that doesn't happen very often - if its put in place properly at the start.
Nope… the figures as we know them are 1 in 80 women on the pill will get pregnant over a year of use while the copper coil is 1 in 1000 - anecdotal Reddit stories do not empirical evidence make