IUD insertion was the best decision I’ve ever made

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IUD insertion was the best decision I’ve ever made

Because I’ve got better things to do than take a tiny white pill

Sexually active college students have about a million things to worry about. Avoiding STDs like they’re 8 a.m. classes (or maybe the other way around?), attempting to dismantle rape culture and preventing unwanted pregnancy all top our lists. Choosing to use birth control was an obvious choice for me, but selecting a type was the thing that had me stuck.

The Pill seemed like too much of a hassle – sometimes I can barely remember what books I have to read, what meetings I’ve scheduled and what essays I need to write, let alone remember to take a tiny pill every day at the same time. Getting a shot every few months or having an implant placed under my skin didn’t seem like a fun time, and neither did reapplying patches to my arm or inserting rings every few weeks. Those methods work for many people, but none of them seemed like a good fit for me. Not to fear: I discovered the IUD.

Look how tiny it is!

How do IUDs work exactly?

IUDs, or intrauterine devices, are tiny T-shaped implements inserted by a doctor that sit inside the uterus. There are three brands currently on the market: two release a low dose of hormones to prevent pregnancy, and one works by changing sperm cells’ reaction to your body. They don’t produce many — if any — negative side effects, and all of them are effective for years at a time. That’s right — years.

IUDs are also considered the most effective form of birth control. Since they stay put in your uterus, there’s no room for user error — you can’t forget to take it every day or somehow use it wrong. Minimal hormones, maximum effectiveness, barely any side effects and protection for three years so I wouldn’t even have to think about it. Yeah, the IUD was definitely for me.

The three types of IUDs: Skyla, Mirena and Paragard

Was this really the right choice for me?

I did have one hesitation. Many obsessive, late-night Googling sessions lead me to come across a few IUD horror stories about how bad the pain could be when you get your IUD inserted. Some people reported feeling faint or dizzy or being in tons of horrible pain. I was worried, but I decided that the benefits of the birth control outweighed any fears I had. I went to my campus’s Planned Parenthood health center where my doctor gave me an exam to make sure my body was fit for a Skyla IUD, and explained all about how it worked and showed me a model. A week later, I went back for the insertion.

What’s insertion actually like?

The previous night, my doctor had given me a low dose of pain medication to take that would help dilate my cervix to make insertion easier. I laid back in the examination chair, and my doctor described exactly the steps she would perform. She told me when I might feel some pinching or tension, and she gave me a little stress ball to squeeze during those times. Then the insertion began. I’m surprised the stress ball wasn’t squeezed into oblivion after the extreme vice grip I had on it, but the worst pain I experienced throughout the whole thing was feeling like I had a really bad period cramp. And…that was it! The entire process took less than 10 minutes. Throughout the day, I continued to have some period-like cramps. But one day of cramps for three years worth of protection made it totally worth it.

Studying abroad and still protected – thanks IUD!

Me + My IUD = True Love

I’ve had my IUD for about a year and a half now and I love it. It’s never interfered with sex, and being on birth control has made my once heavy and reliable periods much lighter and less frequent – no complaints there. I haven’t experienced any of the negative side effects (like mood swings or weight gain) that some people experience when they use other hormonal methods. But the best part about having an IUD is never having to think about it – I’ve studied abroad, traveled, gone to visit friends and lived back and forth between home and school without ever worrying about going to the pharmacy to get more birth control or remembering to pack it in my suitcase. Wherever I go, no matter what I’m doing, my IUD has my back with constant, super effective protection. In another year and a half when it’s time for me to get a new IUD, you can bet I’ll be the first one in line at the doctor’s office.

So happy because I don’t have to worry about birth control for three years!

@livvlaura