I had the IUD implanted in 2018 and had it for a little over a year. It was a nightmare. I liked the idea it was long term and hormone free. For me insertion was no big deal, uncomfortable, but its just 1 quick procedure, no worse than getting a root canal or stitches and quicker than both. The problem for me was pain and heavy bleeding throughout. My period before the IUD would last ~4days, and Id have extremely bad cramps only the first day that were manageable with high doses of advil. No pain after the first 24 hours. With the IUD, I bled nearly continually for the first 90 days, with constant debilitating painful cramps. When the bleeding finally improved enough I could have sex without turning my sheets into a crime scene, I had pain with orgasm, and dull cramps for 1-2 days after every time I had intercourse. My bleeding improved slightly over time but after 13 months, my period still lasted nearly 2 weeks out of every 4, was extremely heavy, soaking through boxes and boxes of super plus tampons. Cramps after sex the 2 weeks a month I wasnt bleeding and all day every day the two weeks or longer I was, and the aniety about the pain that came with every orgasm made sex barely enjoyable. It had a serious detrimental effect psychosocially, the lack of intimacy had a terrible effect on my relationship, and my mood was depressed and irritable.
After a year of my doctor telling me everything is fine, this will get better, you have to give it time, I finally did some real research (not user reviews, but articles published in peer reviewed medical journals) and found out that is NOT the case. Removal in the first 12 months is nearly 20%, thats 1 in 5, and of those that kept it, 60% still had heavier than baseline bleeding at 2 years. Finally I insisted it be removed, and wouldnt take no for an answer.
Your experience may be different, but if youre like me, I just want you to have the confidence to advocate for yourself with your medical professionals. It was a year of nearly unbearable social, physical and psychological suffering and isolation and I should NOT have allowed it to go on as long as I did. You do have to give it time, but a year of my life in this much pain was way too long. 6 months was plenty to know this was not the right BC for me.. although the bleeding stress and pain alone were effective at keeping me from getting pregnant because it was keeping me nearly abstinent! I look back at that lost year of my life, that lost relationship, and I still want to cry, especially that my medical professionals acted like I was making a big deal over what they considered minor and temporary inconvenience. 13 months is not temporary, nor was it minor.Read More Read Less