Sex can be fun and it can also be meaningful, but there is always that possibility of having a baby. For some people, having a baby is a wonderful element, but for those who are not quite ready yet, it can be a problem. Of course there are birth control options like the pill. Condoms are widely used, but not very reliable. There are arm implants, but doesn’t that sound kind of painful? I believe the most reliable way is getting an IUD.
An IUD is a small T-shaped rod that gets inserted into the uterus. Now there are two types of IUDs. One can get hormonal or non hormonal. There are two hormonal ones available — Mirena and Skyla. The non hormonal is the copper one, Paragard. Both kinds have their pros and cons. Paragard lasts up to 10 years, which is what I got myself. Skyla is three years and Mirena lasts up to five years. Of course if you decide to get an IUD, but torn between choices, doing some research and seeing which one is suitable for your body will definitely help. Personally, the copper IUD has given me heavier periods, but it is not something I mind so much. A friend who had the Mirena for three years told me that she almost had no periods during that span of time.
Deciding on this form of birth control is not only a big choice you have to make for yourself, but it can also be expensive. IUDs can cost hundreds of dollars without insurance. It is a very small price to pay for years of protection, instead of paying every month for pills or boxes of condoms. There are women who have gotten it for free. I only had to pay fifty dollars for mine, just because at that time I was making no income but I wanted to be sexually active without a worry or my parents finding out. If you’re ever curious, just go to Planned Parenthood or a gynecologist and see what options they have for you.
Now the process of getting an IUD is fairly simple. I prepped myself the only way I could think of — reading forums and asking questions online. Naturally, everyone’s pain tolerance and body is different so there can be a lot of mixed reviews. You can all go online and see what people think, but I will speak about my personal experience and the whole process.
I made an appointment at Planned Parenthood and they had me choose what kind of IUD I wished for and they asked me questions about my sexual history, STDs, and medical history. After that, I came back a week later for the insertion. I was very hyped for this, but also very nervous. In the operation room, they had me strip down and I waited in my bare bottom on the chair as the gynecologist prepped the tools. You can ask for them to numb you before they start, but since it was such a short process, I decided to just breathe through it. She used a speculum to dilate the cervix, before inserting the IUD with a special tool. I felt a sharp pain, but it only lasted for a few seconds and then it dulled. If pain is a factor that you do not want to deal with, it is suggested that you take pain meds before doing the procedure, or as I already said, you can ask to be numbed. The whole procedure probably took less than 5-6 minutes. It was very quick. They gave me some ibuprofen after and told me I would probably cramp for a day or two. They also gave me a pad to wear, because there would be bleeding afterwards. After getting an IUD inserted, there are strings that come out of the cervix. Each month after a period, although this is not necessary, you can reach up there and feel if the strings are still there. If you feel the rod sticking out, or it feels like the strings have gotten longer, go to your gynecologist right away to have it adjusted. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO PUSH IT BACK YOURSELF. Go to a professional. For me, she said I would have a very little chance of it coming out, because I have not given birth yet, so it’s pretty snug up there. Again, it is different for everybody, but my gynecologist said if a woman has given birth, it will be at a much higher risk to fall out.
Afterwards, I had to walk back to my dorm and the cramps were absolutely horrific. Being someone who has hardly cramped during periods, this pain was on the next level. The bleeding and cramping lasted about a week for me and at times I would feel dizzy and unwell. It just takes the body a while to get used to the new contraption inside it. I’ve had mine for almost two years now and I have never had any problems with it. It is one of the best choices I have made while being sexually active.An IUD is also amazing in the way that if you suddenly decide you are ready for children, it will not mess up that cycle. After you take it out, you can still have children without any complications. Note: This is a really great form of birth control, BUT it does not protect against STDs and HIV. So please, always use a condom or get yourself checked if you are having sex with multiple partners!
Remember that every form of birth control has its side effects. Do your research before deciding what you want inserted into your body!