#kyleena iud

[thelumberjackhag]

TMI probably:

I had one shot of vodka and took out my IUD myself last night. Wild how easy that was.

That's female empowerment lol

Anyone else feel anxious and have to pee all the time with the hormonal IUD? I feel like it was putting pressure on my bladder or something.

[cr1mson5returns]

So I got an IUD placed at long last on Monday, which was kind of a last-ditch effort at hormonal birth control that wouldn't impact the functionality of my mood stabilizer. I'm just kind of committed to not having to choose between developing ovarian cysts and potentially driving my car off a bridge one day, you know?

Except that here I am, cramping and in pain and kind of cranky, and I open up the booklet that came with my Kyleena IUD to read about how long I can expect these cramps to last. And what does it say is a common side effect?

Cysts. On the ovary.

Apparently, 22 out of 100 patients will develop an ovarian cyst after having Kyleena placed. You know, just the thing that I got the IUD to prevent. No big deal! It's stupid ass bullshit that nobody ever said that to me before I got this thing placed. Feels like a risk they should tell you about before you elect to move forward with the procedure in-office, yeah? Feels like something I should've known about before I applied to have this IUD provided at no cost to me from the pharmaceutical company! But hey, who gives a shit about PCOS, right? That's not a big deal. Just a common cause of miscarriage and infertility, puts people in so much unnecessary pain, wreaks havoc on a body, but it's nothing. Certainly not enough to check and see if the prevention medication actually makes it worse.

[spinebuster]

girl who has gone through 3 IUDs over 5 years and #3 isn’t even 3 years old yet but her pap shows signs that it may have to get removed

[imestelomel]

I'm getting a cake pop at Starbucks after that IUD switch out.

It's like a Didn't Kick the Nurse Practitioner in the Face Award

[recoveryfrommyself]

about to have my iud removed. I can’t wait but I’m nervous at the same time - I’m scared the removal will cause another hormonal storm that will fuck me up even further. I’m removing it after 6 months because it turned out to be an effective contraceptive option for all the wrong reasons - it caused me to bleed for 2 weeks of every cycle and made my previously nonexistent pmss absolutely violent and lasting at least a week. I’m also afraid to lose more hair - iud is definitely the culprit here and nothing seems to help. funnily enough, I booked an obgyn appointment for the day when I was supposed to have my period, but guess what, it’s not happening. I’ve been sitting at home, completely lethargic, swollen, depressed and unable to feel any positive emotions. it kinda helps when I remember it’s just my dumb hormones make me feel this way and it will pass, but at the moment I’m so goddamn frustrated and just want this hormone emitting wire out of me

[wyrmhorde]

Okay so this is day 4 after my IUD insertion here's my experience so far if you're considering it

I got Kyleena for a variety of reasons. Doc said it's best for people who have not given birth before because it's slightly smaller.

Ymmv, ofc

But. Was not as painful as I was expecting. The doctor laughed when I told her this. The whole procedure took like 5 minutes and the actual painful part was like 15 seconds so it was pretty easy to just white knuckle through.

Felt mildly nauseous, went home and slept it off and came up fine. Only had to take 1 round of otc ibuprofen.

The worst part is that I cannot poop, and that is causing worse cramps. I have also been told not to take a bath because of infection risk with everything being kind of open atm, and that's how I would normally soothe this. I am told that it is from the drug they gave me beforehand (misoprostal) to open up the cervix. Part of it is also that I'm a little scared to push too hard, but a lot of it is that I'm very constipated.

I was on day 1 when they inserted it, and so normally I would be having a period right now, but it appears to have gone on pause? Just a bunch of spotting. Not sure how long that will last or if the actual period will ever come back but tbh if this was just it for the next 5 years that would be fine. Annoying but very manageable

[singinginthelondonrain]

it’s been a five year journey with my kyleena IUD and over ten years on hormonal birth control but I am DONE!

[spriteforgirls]

PSA: EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTIVE AND RESOURCES

Now feels like a good time to put out some info regarding emergency contraceptive, and what options exist. Please remember to look out for and help those around you who can get pregnant.

Levonogestrel (Plan B) and Ulipristal Acetate (Ella) are the two most common emergency contraceptive pills currently available on the US market. Plan B is effective up to 72 hours after intercourse and Ella's is effective up to 130 hours after (but it's *most* effective in that first 72 hours.) Generally speaking, the sooner you take them, the more effective they are. Both have shelf lives of up to 4 years. Plan B is less effective if you are over ~150lbs. Some countries recommend taking a 1.5x or 2x dose of Plan B if you are over ~200lbs, as this is generally deemed safe. Ella, however, is less affected by weight and should only be taken at a single dose.

Regardless, something is always better than nothing, so don't just write off Plan B entirely because of your weight. It may be *less effective* if your weight is higher, but it's NOT *ineffective*.

There is also something called the Oral Yuzpe Method, which utilizes standard hormonal birth control pills. A few things are important to make note of here: 1.) Like Levonogestrel and Ulipristal Acetate, the yuzpe method works to prevent ovulation. It will NOT terminate an existing pregnancy. 2.) The Yuzpe Method is less effective than Plan B or Ella. 3.) The Yuzpe method generally comes with more side effects than Plan B or Ella. 4.) Despite this, when push comes to shove, once again, something is better than nothing.

The Oral Yuzpe Method, as previously mentioned, is an off-label use of BC pills. It generally calls for taking 2 large doses of BC pills taken 12 hours apart. How large that dose is varies on the exact pills, but generally speaking, it's usually about 4. Here is a dose reference table from the American Academy of Family Physicians:

So, for example, if the BC pills you have are Levora, you would take 4 pills all at once, then 12 hours later, you would once again take 4 more pills, adding up to a total of 8 pills taken.

The third and final emergency contraceptive I will touch on in this post is IUD insertion. I put this last on the list because, in general, it's already quite difficult to find and access a physician willing to place an IUD on very short notice, and I suspect that will only get more difficult as time passes.

But, in the rare instance where a willing physician is available within 72 hours of the unprotected intercourse, you can request placement of a copper IUD (like Paraguard). It may be more difficult to find a physician willing to place a hormonal IUD (like Mirena, Kyleena, Liletta, or Skyla.) on short notice as this would be considered an off-label use.

The exact reason why copper IUD placement works isn't completely understood, but like the previous two methods, it is NOT a way to terminate an existing pregnancy and likely works by preventing ovulation before fertilization occurs.

[superspoonie24]

Oh so update on that. I got it taken out soon after i posted this. (Actually i think 2 years ago to the month (April 2021 to now April 2023)). I had it in like three weeks? Getting it out was a bitch cause she needed to do it under ultrasound which meant i spent 5 hours in the office between showing up for my scheduled appointment, waiting 2+ hours to be seen. 15 minutes talking to the doc, before waiting another like hour for the ultrasound to be free. Then excruciating pain removing it.

Key here tho is that the doc agreed that the pain was concerning (though some cramping is normal (not that i was told that)). The staff were the ones fucking me over. And then i got surgery in august 2021 for endometriosis and it was stage 4 :))))))

TL;DR fuck IUDs and INSIST on seeing the doctor. Or at least speaking directly to them.

If I got the stupid IUD to help with cramps, then why am I

On my period 2 weeks after i ended

Cramping just as bad

STILL IN FUCKING PAIN

This was not part of the plan. This was not the deal. And now I can't even use my new frickin toy. I'm so upset and angry and can't move and it hurts and I want to curse everyone.

[ptsilencedhill]

Got my Kyleena IUD removed yesterday and today I feel like a million bucks help

[fuckyeahasexual]

For the IUD anon: I've had a Kyleena IUD for a little over a year and a half now and I've loved it. It's hormonal and it's one of the smaller ones in terms of physical dimensions. I'd heard a lot of horror stories (who doesn’t) going in, but I have a gyno I really trust, which I think is the biggest part.

She gave me a prescription for misoprostol (brand name is cytotec) to take the morning of since it helps dilate/soften your cervix, but I know that's not super common. But I know misoprostol has also come under some scrutiny politically recently since it's used in abortions sometimes, so it's possible that some gynos who would prescribe it for IUD insertion are maybe not doing that as much anymore? I don't have any data on that, but regardless.

The other thing I'll say is that I scheduled my appointment for the insertion right as my period was ending (I was having some spotting still but not really any flow) because the cervix also tends to be a bit dilated at that point still, so if you aren't prescribed anything then it may be a good idea to schedule for just before/after your period as it may be a bit easier.

I think I saw some other responses about bleeding post-insertion, which I don't particularly remember experiencing much, but I was still spotting also so it's possible I just didn't think enough of it to have it stand out in my memory.

In terms of the actual process, it honestly wasn't awful, but pain-wise I'm not the best judge. I used to have debilitating cramps for 2-3 days of my period, and during the worst of it would be pretty much immobilized on the couch with a hot pad even after taking pain meds. So. The insertion itself was pretty tame, comparatively. It wasn't nothing, but it just felt like what I would call moderate cramping. I did have some fairly decent cramps afterwards as well, starting maybe 10min or so after. They didn't last too long, though. So, I'd second the advice of taking some ibuprofen or whatever your preferred pain med is.

My gyno by default does a one month post insertion check up but it's possible that others just do follow ups if something doesn't seem right to you. Just take it slow and listen to your body.

In terms of longer term trends, my periods are definitely a lot lighter and I don't really get cramps anywhere close to what I used to. At worst I take some pain meds for a day but they get me back to not feeling any discomfort. The only other thing really is that the amount of time between my periods and how long they last is actually more variable now. Used to be 28 or 29 days from the start of my cycle to the next like clockwork, with about 7 days of bleeding, but now it can be anywhere from 26-32. Although, it generally goes so that I have a few months with like 30-32 days between with maybe a 4-5 day duration and a few months with less time from start to start but a few more days of bleeding.

Hope this helps!!

Thanks for sharing!

-Fae

[tinysatanplant]

This is awesome to see, I've always felt that menstruation could be altered far more than most people attempt due to doctors not really offering these suggestions. I've never had painful periods, but since they started mine were hellishly irregular and I wanted them gone completely.

The first thing I tried was contraceptive pills, those gave me withdrawal bleeding monthly (like a "regular" cycle) but that made me hate bleeding even more, and I felt like I couldn't function as a person that way. The doctor was only concerned with the regularity, not my desire to eliminate periods.

Next I went for a pill again, but one with a 3-month cycle, only one week of withdrawal every 3 months. I had to really push and ask multiple times about options to bleed less, it's like they didn't understand what I wanted? But I got it - this was one of the best things to ever happen to me!! I started telling all my friends with periods about this option, nobody seemed to relate though, so I stopped bringing it up

Side note, I also started using menstrual cups instead of tampons/pads around this time, and that helped a lot with the hygiene and comfort side of things

Then, finally, in my second year of college, I went for a low dose hormonal IUD (Kyleena). Taking a pill every single day was never easy for me to remember, and I became sexually active so I wanted the LOWEST chance of pregnancy possible (I was also living in TX at the time). Before this my mother had always scared me away from IUDs due to stories she'd read, but I went for it anyway.

Life. Changing. No more bleeding. No pills. No pregnancy concern. Less hormonal alteration than the pills too. I plan to get it replaced when the 5 years are up even though I recently had my tubes removed and can't get pregnant (YAY!). The IUD is worth it just for stopping my periods

Awesome to hear that there are still more options that can work better for others! Using testosterone like this is so smart and I'm glad it's helping boba-t-butch live, I hope this information makes it to people who need it <3

What procedure did you get to stop your periods? Was it an IUD or a full surgical procedure? I want to stop mine, hence why I’m asking.

baby taking brestosterone does that

[nanamin-nah-nanamine]

How was getting an IUD inserted for you? I'm getting one soon and I've heard that it's really painful. Lowkey nervous.

I think since pain is very subjective I can’t give a really good marker on how much it might hurt for you. I normally have terrible period cramps that are always at about an 8-10 on the pain scale and it kinda felt like about a 6-8 at the worst of it? I’m not sure if that makes much sense, but I was able to tolerate the pain because it didn’t last very long and my cramps are like awful usually lmao.

I think the one thing that mainly three me off afterwards was being dizzy and nauseous cause mannnn wtf😕 but my doctor was lovely and told me that it was all normal.

I spent the rest of the first day laying down on and off with a heating pad and using pain meds. The second day I also spent a good portion of the day laying down, but I can note a very big change in my emotional state bc I got a hormonal IUD inserted, specifically the Kyleena which is a lower dose of hormones and lasts for 5 years. On a slightly different note, do research beforehand and make sure you know your options.

I’m currently on my third day and mostly just emotional and nauseous and overall hormonal. I think this might be a mixture of the influx of hormones and currently pmsing. I will also say you’re going to experience spotting for a few months which is what I’ve heard, I’m currently still experiencing spotting but despite the side affects I’m still very happy with my choice to have the procedure done.

Pls bring a friend or trusted family member to your appointment with you if you can. I brought a friend who held my hand and it definitely made the procedure go a lot smoother.

Feel free to message me with any other concerns or questions!

[leftistfanenboii]

Just got an IUD put in, and here is some advice I have for people who want to get one:

1. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND HAVING A DOCTOR THAT YOU HAVE SEEN A COUPLE TIMES AND TRUST DO IT

2. Ask about anesthesia options at that clinic and others in the area

3. An emotional support person would have helped me, I am sure it will help you

4. If in the US, the Kyleena iud is slightly smaller than the Mirena. The kyleena is built with ppl who have never given birth in mind. Yea it only lasts 5 years, but I think that is a fair fucking trade off for not dilating my cervix anymore than absolutely necessary.

5. The dilating is the worst fucking part, hands down. The actual insertion was a cakewalk for me after the dilation. Once you are over that hill, you're through the worst of it in my opinion.

6. Do not have plans on the day of an iud insertion. You went through something very intense, and afterwards, you will be cramping hard. Also, be ready for some slight bleeding after.

7. Your uterus may push the IUD out. I actually had to do the insertion twice bc that happened right as the doctor was about to cut the strings. Be prepared for that. (The good news was that the second time was easier.)

8. Keep your breathing steady during the whole thing. Really helps with managing both nerves and pain

9. Go slow while getting up after. You might be lightheaded.

10. Be proud of yourself afterward. That shit sucks, but you don't have to do it again until like 5 years later (or more if you go with a longer lasting on). Be free to fuck around and not find out

Note: I am a trans man, DO NOT CALL ME A WOMAN OR SHE