iud

[Annie456]

Are IUDs just for women who have had children? Most of the research I have done suggests that it is but I wondered if its ok to have one if you've not had children?

[smudge]

Hi Annie - everyone is different, but I can't see why you couldn't have one fitted if you haven't had children, although personally I wouldn't.

 

Many years ago, I had three different types fitted, but not one of them suited me. I was in so much pain one day, that I walked into the doctors & begged the nurse to take it out there & then. A couple of hours & pain killers later, the pain subsided completely. As I said, everyone is different & that is only 'my' experience.

[Annie456]

ok, had you had children at the time?  apparently it is more painful if you haven't?

[smudge]

Sorry Annie, I should have mentioned that our two daughters were aged 7 & 10 at the time. I honestly did give all three a try, but like everything else in life, they don't suit everyone. You may be absolutely fine though. Good luck.

[dirtyharriet]

I too tried an IUD and found they caused much longer and more heavy periods.
My first one fell out, and my second one half slipped out and rubbed me raw until I managed to get a nurse to remove it.

[Hgrove]

I don't think they are only for women who have had children, but for some reason doctors are reluctant to fit them to women without children.  There is a type of coil called "Mirena" which is supposed to make periods lighter and generally have beneficial effects.  A friend of mine has it and swears by it.  I however, had a bad experience:  my GP was not able to fit it.  She tried and tried (which was uncomfortable to say the least) and then she said she could not do it, and offered to have another GP come in and fit it, but I would have to wait a month.  In the end I changed my mind.

[dirtyharriet]

Hgrove it sounds as though you may have the same type of problem as me, I have a retroverted uterus which is why my iuds kept falling out.

I have heard that the IUS is a better idea for women who have problem periods as it releases hormones inside you much like the pill.

[happy_face]

Hi Annie.

When I was about 23 I had the IUD for about 4 years. I hadn't had any children previous to having it fitted and I never had any problems with it. I had been on the pill for several years but always got side effects from all the different pills. As in excess weight gain or monthly thrush. So I went to my GP and explained this and was offered to try the IUD. Apparently there's a standard one and one which is coated in hormones which makes the bleeding less. I had the standard one fitted and apart from some very heavy periods in the first month I never had any probs.

Take Care

[kaz35]

hi Annie - I have an IUD and i havn't had children, I had mine fitted to sort out period troubles.  Mine was fitted by a gynaecologist, rather than the family planning clinic, because it is more difficult to fit if you havn't had children because the cervix is 'tighter' than if you have had children. I will say though, it was quite painful having it fitted, but only took about 15 minutes.   I had a Mirena Coil, which releases progesterone into the system and keps the lining of the womb thin. It lasts for 5 years.  It also decreases your periods to almost nothing - bonus!! -but you do get spotting nearly every day for about 3 months after having it fitted, but all that will be explained when you see the doctor.  aside from that, no problems.  Hope that this helps you  XX :)

[Morrisonker]

I recently went to the doctors and asked about getting one because I thought perhaps the Pill was causing the depressed feeling i'd been having.  The doctor I spoke to said that he, personally, wouldn't advise the fitting of an IUD to someone my age (19)  because if it gets infected (rare, but a risk all the same) it can seriously affect your chances for being able to concieve later in life.  

 

My mum had one for 7 years and said it was prefect, but i have to admit it just appeal to me.  I haven't had a pelvic exam yet, so I'm not over joyed at the idea of a coil of metal being put there! 

[Morrisonker]

god, sorry, heaps of typos in that last post of mine!  I meant 'it doesn't appeal to me'

[tracymort]

The reason they say that is it's easier to put in as a mum has a cervix thats already been stretched. I had one once, awful thing, couldn't leave the house during my period, husband got "prickled" by the wires too!
If you want side effect free contraception try FAM, 98% effective according to family planning associating as long as you do it properly, it can be taught on the nhs too. It's what i do.
http://www.fertilityuk.org/
the book "taking charge of your fertility" is excellent too.