So what’s hot in birth control right now? I’ve got to say it’s the IUD, or intra-uterine device. While the pill is still uber popular in terms of hormonal birth control methods, I’m finding that more and more young women are opting for the IUD. For the medical haps on IUDs, I suggest you check here or watch this short video from Planned Parenthood.  For my personal experience and a little TMI, continue reading below.

Choosing the method:

I have personally tried out several types of BC over the years. The pill, the patch, the ring; all with their pros and cons. Those are all hormonal-based methods which I had no problem with. Unlike some women I never really experience mood swings, decreased sex drive, weight gain or other side effects from the progesterone and/or estrogen. Still, I wanted something that I didn’t have to think about daily (pill), weekly (patch) or even monthly (ring). I thought about the IUD but, like many other young women, were told that you couldn’t get the IUD if you hadn’t had children. I had read about IUDs perforating the uterus and getting “lost” in women’s stomachs. I heard about ectopic pregnancies. I wasn’t too sure about putting that piece of plastic in my womb, ya know? Last year things changed. I had learned that several of my young lady friends had IUDs. One was a doctor so I trusted her judgment. I talked with them about their IUDs and they were all really satisfied with their choice. After doing some research for myself I was sold. I headed to my gyno, talked it over with her, and made an appointment to get the Mirena IUD. For one woman’s personal account of the copper IUD, check out Emily’s post at Dangerously Enthusiastic.

Getting it in:

I hope you took the time to check out the video above. It’ll be easier for you to follow along with what I’m saying since I’m not going to get too clinical on you. First I had to have a regular gyn check-up to determine that everything was Kosher. Since the IUD goes in your uterus, you don’t want to have any issues going on “down there” that would interfere with insertion or require removal for treatment. My doctor also had to contact my insurance company to see how they would cover the device. The IUD costs between $175 to $650 and some insurance providers will cover the whole cost upfront or require you to front the money which they later reimburse. I know it sounds like a lot of dough, but when you spread it over the 5-12 years of birth control protection you’re getting, it’s actually a good buy. If you go to a community clinic or Planned Parenthood, you may be able to get it on a sliding scale, FYI.

Anyway, my insurance checked out (fully covered!) and I headed back in for the insertion. Initially it was pretty similar to your basic pelvic examination. Get on the table, feet in stirrups, slide your booty down to the edge. This time, though, the nurse pulled out all of these vacuum sealed tools. It was explained to me that since the IUD went in the uterus, there was a higher chance of infection so they needed to use special, sterilized equipment. My doctorexplained that there would be some pressure when they inserted the device which you can see from the photo is relatively small. The reason for the pressure is that the inserter must pass through the cervix which, you know, isn’t wide open or anything (we hope). Jerkin around with your cervix makes you pretty crampy and even though the doctor said “pressure” she should have said “earthquake”. Man… it was not comfortable at all. I cannot lie to you. I was gripping the sides of that table for dear life. The only consolation is that the insertion takes like 15 seconds. The doctor was literally in and out. Once the IUD is in place, the gyno reached in with special scissors and cut these thin strings that hang from the IUD. The strings are there so that you can check to make sure your IUD is always where it should be. Your partner shouldn’t feel them during sex but it’s possible. The strings are very thin and wiry though, so don’t think of a tampon string. So once the strings were cut, I was done. There’s a video from Chile in Spanish but with good visuals on the insertion process. My doctor sent me home with a pad for the spotting to follow (more on that to come) and an appointment 4 weeks later to check on things.

Getting used to it:

Before I got the IUD inserted, my gyno wanted to make sure I knew what I was in for. That’s really why I’m writing this post, because I know there are tons of women out there who want to know what it’s like to have an IUD. The doc said that I should expect spotting and cramping but she couldn’t say for sure how much spotting and cramping there’d be since every woman is different. Basically, if your periods are normally accompanied by bad cramps, expect more of the same. She said that a lot of women can’t deal with having to wear panty liners nearly every day for 2-3 months and they come back to the office demanding that the device be removed. Way to waste $500, huh?

I knew what I was getting into so I bought my jumbo box of liners and went about life. It was weird at first thinking about the piece of plastic sitting in my uterus emitting hormones. I could tell that my body was wondering who the hell invited that thing and trying to figure out whether it was good or bad. The cramps during the first couple of weeks were pretty intense and I stayed popping ibuprofen. When I went in for my checkup, I asked the doc if what I was experiencing was normal and she said it was. She checked to make sure the IUD was in place, by looking for the strings. The visit was short and sweet – no table gripping necessary.

This week will mark the second month of rocking the IUD. I feel very confident in the protection it offers. I haven’t had any negative experiences with the hormones as far as weight gain, moodiness and libido go, but as I said earlier I never really did. The cramps are way less frequent and intense but show up on occasion. Spotting is still the norm but lighter. I’ve had two periods since insertion. Over time, one can expect their periods to stop altogether and that’s something I wasn’t always ok with. Realizing there’s no medical reason to have a period every month and no medical evidence against NOT having one, I’ve gotten more comfortable with that idea. The funny thing about having my period now, though, is that I’m not always sure when it’s coming. Since I’m spotting and cramping on the random these days, my normal pre-period signs aren’t as apparent. Luckily, I have an iPhone app that tracks my cycle so I know when to be prepared. Geeky but practical.

So we’ll see how this continues going forward. I have no plans to start a family in the next 5 years so I’m covered. I welcome questions and inquiries about my personal experience with the Mirena IUD or the other forms of BC I mentioned earlier but to really find the right answer for you, hit up your doctor. FYI, Planned Parenthood has a cool online tool that can help you narrow down birth control options that work for your lifestyle. Check it.

**UPDATE**
Nearly 6 months in and the spotting is all done. My period is on its way out these days, with last month’s menses being barely noticeable. No more cramps. I sort of forget it’s there now, which is good. The verdict: Best birth control method I have ever used. Now in the grand scheme of 5 years, 6 months isn’t that long but I feel good not having to think about birth control every day, week or even month. With the early side effects wearing off I can’t identify a problem with Mirena at all. Hope my experience has been helpful but remember to check with your health care provider to see if it’s right for you.