Like many other young people in their twenties, I am on birth control. I started on the birth control pill when I was 17. To say the least, it sucked. I gained weight, got more hormonal, cried almost every day, and had almost every other imaginable symptom as well. This is why, when I was 19, I decided to join the club and get an IUD. My sister had one, my friends had them, and after some long hours of me Googling every method of birth control available, I landed on getting a hormonal IUD at Planned Parenthood. It is one of the best things I have ever done.
The experience of getting the IUD put in was both painless and horrific at the same time. I chose Planned Parenthood for a couple of different reasons, the first being that it was local. I am not a Massachusetts resident year-round, but when I am at school it’s my home. I didn’t feel like getting a regular care provider in town because it seemed like a lot of effort. I chose Planned Parenthood for the ease, but my experience there was so much better than I could have hoped for. They walked me through all of the different types of IUDs available and what I could expect with each one, and there was no judgment. It is hard to believe that in such a modern world my regular doctor still gives me the side-eye every time she is reminded I am on birth control. It may be time to switch doctors. But again, that seems like a lot of work.
The not-so-happy side of the story is that the actual process of getting the IUD put in hurts. A lot. Something I actually hadn’t expected. While I knew many women who had the procedure done, I had remained ignorant to the details. This was naive. It is exactly what it sounds like; they open you up and stick something in there. I was warned I might pass out. Sadly, I didn’t. I remember all of it and felt every part. Even the clouds on the ceiling, which I think are there to distract you. Yep, I definitely remember those. I was there for the long haul and although it only took about 10 minutes, it felt like forever. Eventually, it was over, I was offered some ginger ale and crackers, and a warm “well done” from the doctor. I was caught slightly off guard by the compliment because I didn’t feel like I had accomplished anything. I knew that the IUD is a widely chosen form of birth control, and therefore thought it shouldn’t be that bad to have inserted. My pain must have meant something was wrong. It turns out that every member of the IUD club just keeps it a secret. It hurts and that is normal.
I have now had my IUD in for about a quarter of its lifetime and I am so happy with the decision I made. I am one of the lucky members of the IUD club to not have my period anymore, which I think is phenomenal. My period used to mean days in bed of getting nothing done and even more time being an absolute emotional wreck. I do not have many hormonal symptoms with my IUD, and quite frankly never even think about it unless I am recommending it to a friend. I think one of the reasons I hated my previous birth control so much was the constant feeling that hormones were regulating my body. The IUD is a happy compromise of hormones regulating my uterus but not everything else.
Now, having gone through the experience, I have some tips to share:
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Get your IUD inserted at night. It can be a painful experience and I think it was easy to go to bed and then wake up the next morning pretty painless. Giving your body the time to rest is much easier to do while sleeping
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Don’t forget to eat! One of the things I found eased the pain the most was food, which sounds totally against what your body is telling you at the time but I swear it helps.
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Drink water. Drinking lots of water will help your muscles relax and help you start to feel better even faster.
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Remember that it ends. It was easy for me on the first day after getting my IUD to feel like it wasn’t worth it. There is no doubt that getting an IUD in definitely feels like they are putting something somewhere it doesn’t belong, but it does get better. The pain does go away and remembering that will actually help you get through the pain.
Not everyone has the same IUD experience, and some even have bad ones. Mine is pretty great and I encourage everyone who is considering it to meet with a consultant at Planned Parenthood and discuss it. I was recommended the Liletta IUD when I went in because it suited my needs the best, but there are so many other types to choose from. I will gladly give my own recommendation of an IUD in general to anyone that asks. I love my IUD and the club of others who love theirs too.
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