Who’s got an IUD or Mirena IUS?
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Category: General Chat
Forum Name: General Chat
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URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=10136
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Topic: Who’s got an IUD or Mirena IUS?
Posted By: Katherine
Subject: Who’s got an IUD or Mirena IUS?
Date Posted: 23 August 2007 at 3:34pm
| After a lovely long chat with my GP today, I've been looking at alternative forms of contraception to the same-old, same-old Pill (which I am terrible about remembering to take) and condoms (which DH is depressed about always having to use). It looks like I'm going to go for the Mirena IUS or a regular old IUD, but as I've never had anything like this done before, I'm curious to know what it's like. Is the insertion painful? Has it helped with your period at all? Has anyone had any "accidents" when using one (the "accident" I'm talking about is of the pregnancy variety, not the wetting yourself variety!). Pros and cons? I'd love to hear your thoughts! |
Replies:
Posted By: Lisha
Date Posted: 23 August 2007 at 3:44pm
I have used most forms of contraception, but have had an allergic reaction to most of them...  including an IUD, yes it did hurt, I remember getting one done at family planning and it wasn't the most pleasant experience, are you meant to have a local while these are inserted? Anyway a few days later I woke up in a sweat, and was hallucinating (sp?) so out it came.  ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 23 August 2007 at 4:08pm
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CaraMel has got the Mirena. I am looking at getting one if insurance will cover it. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: caraMel
Date Posted: 23 August 2007 at 5:19pm
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Yup I sure do.
I love my Mirena! It is a huge investment. Around $400 if you do it with Family Planning. Thats including the before and after check ups. If you do it at a gynae add about another $50. Insertion wasn't very painful. It took about 20 minutes to put in and they provided a nurse to hold my hand in the painful bits. It was a pinchy kind of pain and didn't last long. I was crampy for about 2 days afterwards, but not too bad. Good things for me: It lasts up to 5 years. It doesn't affect your fertility, i.e when you take it out your cycles should immediately return to normal. No periods. I just had my first period in the 9 months I've had it, and it was 2 days of light spotting. Bliss compared to the 8 heavy, painful days I had before! No PMS. I was a scary hormonal witch with PMS before. Hardly any side effects. I had random dizzy spells and a little nausea in the first few months but nothing serious enough to worry me. Not having to worry about contraception, taking the pill on-time (I was really crap at taking the pill regularly) or condoms 
Bad things: Random spotting for 3 months after I got it inserted. Constant pregnancy fears because I don't get periods. I have never heard of anyone getting preggers with a Mirena. It is super-effective, like 1-1000 chance of pregnancy. There is a slightly increased risk of ectopic pregnancy with it though so you do need to be aware of any strong cramping on one side etc. I hope I've answered your questions! Feel free to ask if you have more 
------------- Mel, Mummy to E: 6, B: 4 and: 
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Posted By: nikkitheknitter
Date Posted: 23 August 2007 at 5:36pm
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I have a normal IUD and looooove it!
In the past few years I have been on the mini-pill (got pregnant), the injection (was hormonal and horrible most of the month as well as having to buy a whole new wardrobe as my butt was steadily increasing in size), then condoms (quite annoying for long term use and constant pregnancy fears). Now I'm on the IUD I've been able to relax about being pregnant, know I'm not putting any hormones into my body, and know that when I'm ready to have another baby I can have it taken out and voila! Ready to go! It did hurt a little bit going in, like a pinching sensation, but that's neither here nor there as it's over so fast. I took panadol beforehand. I think I bled for a while after that and that was annoying. Then my first period was quite horrible. A lot heavier than usual and just as crampy as usual except the cramps lasted for a few days rather than just the one day. BUT my last period was fabulous! Barely got any cramping at all. It was a little heavy to start with but nothing too bad. Lasted about a week. I hope they are going to stay like this! So even though my period is a bit heavier, I would still MUCH rather that than having constant pregnancy fear, or the bloating and mood swings I got on the injection. Very happy customer here. 
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Posted By: Katherine
Date Posted: 23 August 2007 at 5:41pm
| Hey, you chicks are awesome -- thanks for sharing the nitty-gritty about all that. You told me exactly what I was wondering! I am thinking it's going to be the Mirena for me. I understand about the investment -- I'll probably do it at Family Planning, and my GP is trying to see if I'm anaemic enough to qualify for the subsidy so it doesn't cost as much (apparently if you're really, really anaemic, you can get a subsidy on it because it reduces blood loss with periods). But I'll just pay for it if I don't qualify. It's the pregnancy fears that freak me out -- I am totally not ready for another one, but the injections scare me a little bit because there's no telling when my fertility could come back, and with the IUS/IUD it sounds like it's pretty instant. Anybody else want to weigh in? |
Posted By: Kels
Date Posted: 23 August 2007 at 8:00pm
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I had a mirena between Mercedes and Alize and it was fantastic. I would highly reccommend getting as they work a treat. I got it funded thru healthpac due to anaemia but there are some DHB's that also offer funding thru community funding streams for mirena so I would check that out as well incase there is one in your local DHB area. BTW not at all too painful, more just a bit of discomfort than anything and slight cramping just after it was put in. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
Busy mum to Miss 15yrs, Miss 10yrs and Master 4yrs |
Posted By: minik8e
Date Posted: 23 August 2007 at 8:25pm
| I know a woman who had a Mirena inserted, and she got pregnant with it in - but she then found out it hadn't been put in properly, and in fact was growing it's way in to the muscle. She had to have an op to get it cut out. BUT that is a rare rare occurence, and everyone else I've heard about having one has raved at how great it was. |
Posted By: Katherine
Date Posted: 24 August 2007 at 12:30am
| ACK, minik8e! That is disturbing! I wonder if I should have it inserted at the gynaecologist, or if it matters? I suppose the Family Planning people know what they're doing... But I suppose I can always tell Fair Go if my IUS gets inserted improperly and I get pregnant. LOL |
Posted By: mizzuzp
Date Posted: 24 August 2007 at 12:50am
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Hi Katherine,
I have the Mirena IUD and am really happy with it. I had it put in January last year and so far no complaints. I had mine inserted in Australia by a gynaecologist. I would highly recommend it as a long term contraception. L Mummy to B & L. |
Posted By: nikkitheknitter
Date Posted: 24 August 2007 at 8:53am
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Family Planning are specialists with these things. That's what they do! (Blatant plug )
They check it after 6 weeks to make sure it is inserted properly. Oops, which reminds me, I have to go make an appointment for that!!! |
Posted By: Lissy
Date Posted: 24 August 2007 at 9:09am
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Hi, I have an IUD. OOPppss just got a Skye, better go! ------------- Harlan Drew DOB: 06.12.06 & Stepmum to Ethan & Christian, DOB: 25.02.99 |
Posted By: caraMel
Date Posted: 24 August 2007 at 12:40pm
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Yeah I was told that Family Planning are actually better than gynaes for doing it as they do it more often and are more practiced at it. ------------- Mel, Mummy to E: 6, B: 4 and:
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Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 24 August 2007 at 8:59pm
| I've got an appiontment this week to get a mirena. Family planning came and talked to us and she said make sure the dr you get it done by does at least 8 a week. They are as reliable as a vasectomy the family planning lady said so thats why we are getting it. |
Posted By: newmum
Date Posted: 26 August 2007 at 8:17pm
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I'm thinking of getting one inserted after this baby is born as my midwife can refer me to have it done for free! Good to read this thread! Thanks for sharing ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: AnnC
Date Posted: 26 August 2007 at 9:50pm
How come you can get it done for free??? ------------- Ann 
Also Mum to Josh (15) and Brooke (10) |
newmum wrote:Posted By: AnnC
Date Posted: 26 August 2007 at 9:52pm
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Also is the merino one like the normal IUD - I had a bad experience with the normal IUD (end up in hospital because of it) and got told never to have one again. BUt love the idea of no remembering to take a pill (do not like the idea of the depo) and condoms are good for short term but not long term.
Also does anyone know if you can claim on health insurance? ------------- Ann
Also Mum to Josh (15) and Brooke (10) |
Posted By: newmum
Date Posted: 27 August 2007 at 11:40am
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Apparently because I have a very low iron count and the IUD is supposed to help periods get a lot better (I have very heavy ones)? If I am referred within 6 weeks of having baby I can get it done. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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