My teenage daughter is getting an IUD put in this week. She is leaving for college and kept missing BC pills plus with everything going on politically, we think an IUD is best even if she currently has no boyfriend. What will happen to her periods and how long will the pain last after inserting it? I’ve heard it can be painful. I want to help her prepare.
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It depends what kind and whether it’s hormonal or not.
Pain really varies from person to person.
If it’s a Mirena she may not have periods while it’s in.
Insertion experience depends on the skill of the person doing it. Mine was painful for about a minute and then I just didn’t feel great that afternoon. Some doctors offer suppositories to take before that relax the cervix or local anesthetic.
I mean, this is entirely a YMMV experience. In particular I am an outlier. I basically never stopped bleeding for five months and then it expelled itself from my body.
Copper IUD bled for over a year. Was miserable until I took it out. I think my experience is uncommon though.
Unfortunately there’s really no way to know for sure what the experience will be like for her.
I’m on one of the extreme ends of the spectrum. I was given nitrous oxide for the insertion because of a history of painful pap smears. Even with the nitrous I was in agony, literally screaming and clutching the table for dear life. After the placement it took me about half an hour to recover enough to stand up and get dressed.
I had excruciating cramps for about 72 hours. All I could do was lie on my couch and whimper, while maxing out both advil and tylenol. I got a little relief by taking a muscle relaxant I had leftover from a sprained ankle. After the first three days the cramps stopped being as constant, but I still experienced a few hours of cramping at least each day for a month.
It’s been three months now and I think the cramps have finally stopped. I do have intermittent spotting, which is annoying because I hadn’t had my period in about two decades while on oral contraceptives. Hoping that will eventually go away too.
Have it put in while she’s on her period. The cervix is at its thinnest and insertion pain will be lesser.
They will go over all of this at her appointment.
I would have her ask her gyno how much pain medication she should take before the insertion.
I have had two IUDs, and with the hormonal one made my periods light.
I would recommend one of the smaller-size ones for a patient that has never had babies before (kyleena or Skyla). Even with one of these though, the cramping could be a lot or a little. Everyone is different. You should inquire about a local anesthetic block; it’s really the only pain management method that has been proven to give any benefit.
I’ve had Mirena and currently have Kyleena (I think that’s how you spell it) and I haven’t had a period in the decade since I had the first one. The insertion is painful. I always take a muscle relaxer first but ibuprofen will definitely help. She’ll have cramping for a day or two after but it’s worth it.
I hope your 18 year old daughter googles this for herself.
Definitely take her to a physician who gives pain relief (lidocaine injections). I had my first IUD put in without this and it was incredibly painful, so I insisted on it for my second and it was worlds better – barely painful / no big deal. The guidelines have changed recently (finally!) and physicians are being encouraged to offer pain relief now.
Mirena is the one I’ve had and it stopped my periods, which is wonderful.
As for pain, insertion was definitely uncomfortable -take Advil ahead of time to take the edge off. Post insertion, it mostly felt like I had bad period cramps for about 24 hours.
My periods were completely normal for about 6 months and then they started to shorten before disappearing completely. I have a Mirena.
I had very mild discomfort and no periods for the 3 years I had it.
If it’s Mirena my periods stopped altogether.
My very first IUD I had the worst cramps of my life that night. I’m on my 4th IUD and 2-4 I didn’t cramp at all. 1 and 3 were pre kids and 3 and 4 were post
I had three placed without any pain meds and no issues but this last one I had Valium before because the strings were bunched up into my cervix and I was worried about removal. It was quite crampy for about a day after but then fine.
My very first was copper and then I switched to mirena. No periods for the last 20 years. No babies. It’s been great.
ask for lidocaine for the insertion it makes it so much better
What kind of IUD is it? That will influence the effect it has on periods. Copper IUDs tend to produce longer, heavier periods, while hormonal IUDs often produce lighter bleeding.
I’ll be honest, my first insertion was no walk in the park. Will the provider give her any pain relief options? I think I bled for about 2 weeks after my first insertion, and had a lot of pain too. It wasn’t easy, but to me it was worth it.
For the record, I still use copper IUDs and am on my third one. The second and third insertions (post partum) were remarkably easier.
Hi. I’m a pediatrician & adolescent med doc and I insert IUDs.
Periods: some irregular bleeding & spotting at the beginning is pretty normal. Sometimes it can last for several weeks which is a little annoying, but it does get better! In 6 months, we generally see a 90% reduction in bleeding. (This is for the hormonal IUDs. Copper IUDs can make periods crampier and heavier.)
Insertion is painful. It’s quick, but painful. I recommend talking to your doc about pain management options, including conscious sedation. There will be some cramping & bleeding after the insertion that tends to be reasonably managed with ibuprofen, heat, rest, etc. I have had patients who went straight to work after their insertion, so to each their own! Most of my patients feel back to normal after the first day.
I also prefer to have patients come in for their insertion when they’re on their period because their cervix is more open, but again, not a requirement.
I think an IUD is a great choice, especially as most of the hormonal effects are pretty localized and you get a lot less systemic effects like you would with other methods.
Happy to answer questions!
Edit: I see a lot of people talking about Skyla as an alternative option. Skyla vs Mirena is about 1mm difference. Hormone levels are lower for Skyla which at times means that you may have more irregular bleeding and spotting which can be annoying. It is also painful anytime you insert anything into the uterus, and with Skyla you only get 3 years vs. Mirena’s 8 years. They are also similarly priced. Mirena does have a minimum uterine size need and Skyla doesn’t. My advice would be to try for Mirena!
It varies. Most people stop having periods, some have constantly bleeding. Insertion wasn’t terrible for me, but they can give pain meds
I agree with everyone that the experience is very specific to the person.
One thing I will suggest is that you should ask her doctor to give her some medication to help her partially dilate before the procedure and about a numbing gel for the cervix. It can reduce the pain for some people.
Many doctors don’t even inform you that there are easy options that can reduce the pain.
Another thing to keep in mind is that some people have discomfort that never goes away. That was my experience. My female doctor told me that I was imagining it be I could feel it shift and poke me. I went to another doctor and he said he often gets women with this complaint because some women just have narrow wombs.
edit: typo
https://www.tiktok.com/@ladymonkeydoctor/video/7532584660807716127
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My periods remained pretty unchanged. It hurt like a bitch going in, but only for 5 minutes. Everyone reacts differently. Take the advil before as recommended.
I’ve had three mirenas done under sedation for endometriosis symptom control. The first one was awful, I woke up sobbing, and had severe cramping for about six weeks. The other two were no big deal since my uterus had adjusted. I can count on one hand the number of bleeding cycles I’ve had in the last 10.5 years and have fingers left over. And two of those were due to IVF cycles. She won’t know where on the pain spectrum she’ll be until she does it, unfortunately, especially since she’s too young to have had a pap (sometimes that can give you an idea). I’ll echo the pediatrician, definitely ask about pain management.
I used Nexplanon, always got a kick out of showing it to people.
I’d personally make sure the healthcare provider is complying with the recent CDC guidelines for pain management for IUD placement. Because a lot of doctors aren’t.
https://www.self.com/story/iud-insertion-pain-relief-cdc-guidelines.
If IUD insertion is needlessly painful it’ll put some people off of replacing it in the future, and could cause distrust of medical procedures going forward.
It’s a good idea to ask before the procedure what the pain management plan is.
My wife said she liked the rod they insert in your arm significantly more than an iud. Can’t fall out or get misaligned or anything like that maybe it would be a better option for her.
Mine has an implant in her arm, we got a fresh one just after the election. She’s been happy with it.
YMMV but I had a copper one at first and became downright psychotic… I bled heavily for 10 days out of the month. 2 weeks later would start bleeding again, painful AF, I honestly told people I wanted to reach in and rip the fucker out myself.
After 8 months of trying to let it settle down,I had it removed and put the Mirena in. omg I love it. I may spot for a few days (rarely need pads or liners), no pain at all. MIRENA FAN.
Tldr: copper – fuck no, Mirena -fuck yeah!
Best decision I ever made. Insertion really varies for everyone. Have her practice deep breathing, inhale for 4, hold for 4, exhale for 6, with breaths coming from her abdomen not chest, before her appointment. Then use deep breathing during the appointment to keep relaxed and less anxious. Def ask about pain relief and take Advil before hand.
For me, it hurt for about 2 seconds, the was very uncomfortable several times then it was over. I have a pretty big pain tolerance though. It took a few months for my periods to stop but I have pcos and was having really heavy ones.
Afterwards, I was crampy for a few days but I went to work the next day and just took Advil when needed.
I initially had a copper IUD. Terrible insertion pain, but later that day I was fine. Very strong periods.
I switched to Mirena after my first one expired, then had almost zero periods from that point. I’ve only taken them out when I had each of my children.
It’s not a super fun procedure. I’ve had 4 inserted and it never “gets easier” but I know what to expect. My first was a Skyla at 24. It was good for I think 3 years when I got it over 10 years ago. My period tapered off after a couple months and then I just never had one again, until I removed my implant to try and have a baby. It did take five years for me to get pregnant. Not sure if it’s related but there ya go.
I’m on my third Mirena IUD and they’ve worked well for me but every body is different. Here’s what my experience has been like:
I was never offered any pain relief for any of mine and it was painful, like bad cramps. The cramping lasted about 3 days so I was grateful that I happened to have leftover pain pills from other procedures each time I got an IUD. I would highly recommend requesting/demanding numbing or sedation for insertion. It’s not painful for everyone but it’s painful for enough that I would request something for it.
I bled for about 4 months after insertion. Not enough to need a tampon but enough to need something so menstrual discs were perfect. When I had my last IUD replaced this did not happen since I was continuing with another Mirena. I did get some cramping here and there during that time, but it was very brief, like a couple hours max.
After that initial bleeding, my periods stopped. I have very light spotting a few times a year and it’s barely noticeable.
I’ve had mood issues on other forms of birth control, even got diagnosed as bipolar while on the Depo shot. I’ve been evaluated by 2 psychiatrists since being off Depo who have told me I’m NOT bipolar so I believe my mood issues were related to Depo. With Mirena I feel like my mood is quite stable and I don’t ever feel overly emotional or moody, just very level-headed.
Removal has been a breeze for me, similar to removing a tampon. I know it’s not that easy for everyone but that was my experience both times.
Overall, I’ve been very pleased with Mirena IUDs aside from the insertion pain and would recommend it to anyone who thinks it could be a good option for them. Just make sure she listens to her body and sees her doctor if anything feels off in the months following insertion. Hopefully everything goes smoothly and this is a good solution for her.
I have a copper one and it was entirely fine for me – no more discomfort than a pap during insertion, and no pain afterwards. This was after two pregnancies which may have helped for me, but just to add to the sense of YMMV and I think the best you can do is support your daughter through whatever the experience is (and hopefully it’s not horrible). Best of luck and good on you for having her back ❤️
IUDs are successful about 50% of the time. Those who they do not work for, absolutely hate them. For those of us who they DO work for – you can pry it from my cold, dead hands. I will always have an IUD. They not only stopped my period but they stopped my migraines. I have my tubes removed now and I will still get a hormonal IUD placed just to stop my migraines.
Some doctors will claim that iUDs don’t have systemic effects, but research shows that isn’t true.
The Mirena didn’t stop my periods and I suffered from systemic side effects that got worse over time. I had to fight my doctors to have it removed after 2 years. I wanted it removed after 1 year, but they kept telling me it didn’t do those things. Mine also required a specialist to remove it using ultrasound to find it because they couldn’t remove it normally.
However, it is amazing for some people (other than the insertion pain issues) and the place and forget is great.
I’d honestly still recommend people give it a try, but if it’s not working for her please support her in getting it looked at (they can be incorrectly placed or even move) or even removed.
People mentioned getting a smaller IUD – all hormonal IUDs are the same drug, but physically different sizes and different amounts of the drug. So between aware that the smaller ones don’t last as long, and because the dose is lower, the effects like stopping periods or helping with things like endometriosis don’t last as long and/or aren’t as effective.
I had a Mirena put in and it didn’t hurt at all…I forgot to take any ibuprofen first, too. I may have a droopy old-lady-with-two-kids cervix, though.
Does your daughter want children in her future? Because I got an IUD at 28 and found out my uterus was scarred shut at 38. Had to have surgery to restore my fertility and after 4 surgeries I haven’t been able to carry a pregnancy longer than 6 weeks.
I got the copper IUD for my first one and was offered no pain relief. It was excruciating. I was in pain for like 3 days after. After about 10 months of having it I started bleeding for like a month straight. I went to the doctor and they thought it had perforated. I got an emergency ultrasound and everything looked good. They said that it just happens sometimes with the copper IUDs. I made an appointment to switch to mirena that week. My doctor who inserted my mirena was much better, though still no pain relief offered. Thankfully I only had mild cramps after that insertion, probably because my cervix was used to having something there. I haven’t had a period in years and im pretty happy with it!
It’s amazing but insertion hurts. Talk to the doctor about what the pain management is. If they only offer Advil, ask for more or go elsewhere.
Depends. If it is non-hormonal, she will have irregular spotting for up to six months or so. No guarantees. Could continue. Periods will be weirder to track. Usually a little heavier. Blood clots a little more frequently. Nothing scary. Just a slightly advanced version of whatever she is dealing with now.
With the actual insertion, it was hell. I got a Gynefix. Designed for women with no kids. I was barely coherent when I left. It was really painful. Load her up on pain pills. They had the numbing thing or whatever. I still felt it. Considered breaking it off with my partner in that moment. But hey, everyone’s experience is different.
I had no pain with either of mine being inserted but my OB said cramping can last a couple days. I had none, thankfully.
I had really lost bleeding for about 3 months after but no periods after that. I did also have one removed to have my second baby and my period returned right away so it’s not a long term impact.
Copper IUD for 15+ years, had it put in at 18 (same reason, couldn’t take the pill consistently). Pain was bad but not unbearable ( like bad cramps). My periods were completely normal. In fact, I went off it last year for the first time since I was 18 and my periods were actually worse (more cramping, no issue with bleeding)
Everyone is different
I personally didn’t feel any pain at insertion but I have friends who definitely did, so it can vary a lot.
I have the Mirena (hormonal) and I basically do not have periods. Occasionally I will have spotting, but I’ve only had one actual “period” since getting it in 3 years ago.
I do still have mood swings though and the hormonal type symptoms of PMS, but it usually doesn’t last more than a day or two.
I tapped out of the first attempt to place mine. They forgot to tell me to take Advil beforehand and as soon as she clamped my cervix, I broke out in a cold sweat from the pain. I successfully had it placed under sedation and with cervical lidocaine injections. I had some bleeding and light cramping for a short time afterwards, but haven’t had a period since and it has been multiple years.
everyone’s experience is different but here’s mine if it helps. I’m most likely around your daughters age. I’ve had Kyleena for almost 10 months now. insertion was pretty painful. I was given a lidocaine injection in my cervix (which hurt and might’ve helped a little bit?) and took like 800mg of Advil and 1000mg of Tylenol about an hr before. the most painful part for me was the measuring tool they put through your cervix to measure your uterus (not sure if they used a tenaculum and was too scared to ask). after that I got really dizzy so the dr stopped and led me through breathing. it really wasn’t as bad as I expected. I stood up after and told my friend that it wasn’t that bad lol. she did say there was lots of blood during the procedure.
I bled a good bit right after. dr said to put on a panty liner but I had to quickly change it out for a pad. a couple hours after I had some pretty intense cramps. heating pad was my best friend. those intense cramps lasted for a couple days I believe and then started to mellow out.
I think I bled for a couple days after the insertion and then started spotting continuously. I spotted brown for probably 8 months straight with random days where I wouldn’t. I also had an odd smell for around the first week or so that changed into a sour smell. that smell has improved a bit but hasn’t gone away. drs have tested me and say it’s normal.
I had bad but intermittent cramps randomly all throughout my cycle for the first couple months. now I only have cramps a couple days before and during the first couple days of my period, and around ovulation (which is how it was before the iud) but they are more painful than they used to me. I think my period has gotten a bit lighter day-to-day, but it’s also gotten way longer. my period used to be 5-7 days and now it’s 9-10 days. only 3-4 of moderate bleeding and the rest light. I’m hoping it’ll go away but from what I’ve read it could take a couple years or never happen.
but all in all, not having to worry about taking bc pills or anything is amazing. and I haven’t noticed any side effects like mood or weight changes. just keep in mind that it varies for everyone. I know someone who got extremely suicidal on it. so just tell her to keep a look out for anything that changes afterwards and remember she can have it removed at any time. i hope it goes well for her.
Yeah my experience was horrific. My doctor is great, she gave me meds beforehand to make it easier and had my get the Kyleena (small IUD). I still thought I was going to pass out on the table getting it. It was incredibly painful for weeks and I had to go in to double check that it hadn’t moved.
That said, once I was through the first few months, I love it. Like your daughter I sucked at regularly taking the pill. I’d done the patch but with our politics rn I opted for a longer term solution.
So, all of that to say, she will probably be in pain. She should plan to take the day off after her appt.
But it’s worth it.
I found the first six months of having an IUD awful. Constant spotting/bleeding and cramping and hormonal fluctuations. Personally, I also experienced the mental health side effects even though I do not normally have anxiety or depression. I wouldn’t want to deal with that as a new college student, especially if I were not in a relationship. There are other non-daily options, like the ring.
I’m on my second Kyleena and I love it. For the first insertion, I was advised to take 3 ibuprofen beforehand. I wish I’d known I could have asked for better pain relief beforehand. I had to mentally force myself to relax and take deep breaths before my cervix would unclench enough.
Removal and reinsertion of the second was a breeze. I didn’t even take ibuprofen beforehand (I forgot).
Both times I had medium cramping for the rest of the day.
Since then I get about 1 very short period a year. It’s darker blood, sort thicker and stringy, but only lasts 2 days and a panty liner is enough to handle it all.
Before IUD I was on oral hormonal BC and had medium heavy periods, used the medium and large Tampax, with the usual bloating gas and cramping.
I have the Mirena. Insertion was like a sharp pain and then I had cramps on and off for about a month. Minor bleeding also on and off for about a month. I haven’t had a period in years now. I still have very occasional spotting for about a day that only needs a liner but no true periods. It’s been amazing!
Make sure she has a local OBGYN to visit in case of complications. I had a Mirena my sophomore year of college and I got horrible cramping and had it get it removed after only a couple of months, as it shifted in position.
For me, I had pain and cramping the entire day of the insertion. The next day, I had some mild cramping. After that, I was fine! Her experience/pain tolerance may be different, but it was totally manageable for me.
To prepare, I took ibuprofen and cyclobenzaprine a couple hours before my appointment. Afterwards, I sat or laid on an electric heating pad and took my ibuprofen every 6 hours.
Tell her to only go where they’ll give her pain relief.
Thanks for standing with your daughter. ❤️
Lots of info here about the pain involved. I had heavy periods before mine and unbearable daily cramps. Cramps are practically gone. I still get periods but much lighter
If lidocaine isn’t as option, I dosed myself with Tylenol and Advil before hand. While the procedure still hurt, I wasn’t dying afterwards like the first time. First time was awful, I went in not knowing how bad it was going to be.
Depends on the person. I had some Tylenol 800 2 hours before got it inserted and was good. But I had awful cramps. Like gotta call out of work, and massive back pains. My pain tolerance around uteruses was high for years. Had a pretty heavy period for a few months but then it went away basically. I’ll still get cravings and may spot a tiny bit, but it’s nothing like what I was dealing with before. On my 3rd one now, Mirena. No issues.
The worst thing that happened was they mis-measured one time and had to remove it and measure and insert again. The measuring is the most painful part. But for forgetful folks it’s such a relief. And the benefits to period pain are astronomical.
Have her take a big dose of ibuprofen before the insertion! She’ll probably be crampy for a few hours after, maybe into the next day a bit but it shouldn’t be too bad if it was put in correctly.
My recommendation is to bring along a hot water bottle for the ride home. As others have said, there’s no real way to know what her experience will be but planning ahead for likely outcomes is the best you can do. Personally, my cramping started immediately but got worse after about an hour. It wasn’t unbearable but made for a few miserable days where I stayed on the couch with my heating pad. After that, I had intermittent mild cramping for another month or two but it wasn’t unbearable very manageable. No periods at all but I was previously taking the pill continuously so no periods to begin with. Wishing your daughter the best of luck in this and her new college adventure.
I have had three IUDs. Two Mirena and one Liletta. I haven’t had a period on either of them really. I get a bit of spotting but it never even makes it to my underwear it’s so mild. I do get cramps and the rest of the hormonal swing but it’s waaay better than without.
As for pain, two of mine were incredibly painful and the last one wasn’t nearly as bad. They never offered me any kind of pain management outside of “take Tylenol” type bs. It’s like a severe period cramp and then shitty feeling the rest of the weekend. (I always get mine done on Friday so I don’t have to work right afterwards. 😩)
I had one failed insertion attempt and it was one of the most horrifically painful and traumatic experiences of my life. (That is saying a lot.) It physically and psychologically scarred me. Getting surgically sterilized was a breeze in comparison.
Find a physician who offers thorough pain management. There are numbing shots or sprays **which for most women take about 15minutes to kick in, there is nitrous oxide, and there is partial anesthesia which can be given in a hospital setting. There are also cervical softening medications that must be planned for and taken beforehand.
Absolutely do not accept a practitioner that resists thorough pain management or simply advises over the counter medication. Having a foreign object shoved inside your uterus without comprehensive pain medication is utterly barbaric and common. Find the right doctor and have them notate the pain mamagement plan in her chart beforehand. Some women do just fine, others do not. In this circumstance it is warranted to prepare for the worst.
I had a copper IUD (no hormones) and this is my personal experience. Not to scare you, but I hated it. My cramps were a nightmare. I was literally writhing on the floor in pain the first month. Every month after I think I treated it with OTC painkillers and heating pads, but they never went away completely. I had it taken out early.
For me I cramped for a month after the iud but my gyn said my uterus is tilted :/ but still worth it. My first mirena my periods stopped entirely. Im on my second one now but my periods are very regular. I have lost almost 100 lbs (unrelated, and intentional) so that could also be affecting why I get periods now with my second IUD
I haven’t had a period since I got my first IUD placed. But I got the first 5 weeks after giving birth, before my period returned, and when it’s a lot easier to get one.
I just had it replaced a few months ago. Yes, it hurt. It’s like a strong period cramp. Very similar to a contraction. But my OBGYN was quick. It only took a few minutes. And then I had period-like cramps for about 2 days.
It’s so worth it, IMO. A few days of discomfort for 8 years of protection is something I’m very willing to deal with. I plan on getting another one in 7.5 years when this one expires.
If you’re open to something else the nexolanon was amazing for me. I know everyone is different but the risks associated with IUD were too much for me.
I had copper one, from excruciating pain on insertion, months of bleeding and cramping, and a perforated uterus. I would never willingly participate again. But I know the vast majority of women who get them don’t have that experience. I just personally cannot recommend.
I’ve gotten the Mirena 3 times, no kids. First insertion was awful, 2nd was simply uncomfortable, 3rd they eventually had to switch to twilight anesthesia.
1st time I had fairly mild cramps for maybe the first month or so. Nothing I’d even take meds for. 2nd and 3rd time I think I had mild cramps for up to a month after insertion. I occasionally spot until I’m about 5 years out and then start going from consistent spotting during periods until the point where I need to use liners at which point I get the Mirena switched out.
It’s so different for everyone. It’s a great method of BC if it works for you because it is really “set it and forget it” for the most part. My period was very normal and still came like clockwork, but each IUD has had slightly different symptoms despite them being the same brand. I chaulk that up to me and my reproductive system getting older not the IUDs themselves. Please get pain relief if it’s available, the insertion can be low-key traumatic.
Thanks for being a proactive parent and talking to your daughter about different options for birth control. I wish more kids had parents who were helpful in giving their kids the freedom to transition into adults as prepared as possible. It’s a scary time post Roe to be a teenage girl these days but I’m glad that options like IUDs remain available. I’m on my second Mirena and I wish I had started earlier. The first time I felt like I was not prepared for insertion and it was painful but the most recent time they offered me lidocaine swab before and a heating pad and it really helped. I took 2 naproxen before and my anxiety medicine, they might be able to offer her some ahead of time. A heating pad really helped afterward. I haven’t had a period most of the time I have had an IUD so I recommend it to anyone who has bad period cramps or anemia. Hopefully it will give her some peace of mind for a while.
Look into cervical shock. It’s a response that can happen during this procedure. It’s not talked about often enough but for a lot of us that had horrible experiences I think this is what happened. It’s a vasovagal response.
I had my third one put in last week and I had to be sedated. The first two times I experienced cervical shock and it was traumatic. This time was nice and calm. I woke up with some cramping any they gave me an oxy. Just drastically different.
It’s hard to know what it’ll be like until it happens. But I was never warned by a doctor that this could happen so I think you should at least know it’s a possibility.
I’ve had a hormonal IUD now for about 4 years and I love it. During insertion it was painful and honestly pretty scary and that’s coming from someone who never has had any anxiety about medical procedures. The rest of the day I had really bad cramps and honestly I wish I hadn’t gone alone and made my partner or someone go with me just so I wouldn’t have to deal with driving with those cramps ( He had offered but I didn’t want him to miss work especially because he had just started at this job.) afterwards I definitely was out for the count the rest of the day and really wanted to lay with a heating pad on my lower stomach to aid in those cramps. I don’t really remember the next few days being painful or tender but it’s been awhile since I had it put in. That being said I have never had a period since and it’s been amazing. I would suggest buying cheap pregnancy pee test strips online for your daughter to take with her to collage because without the regular period there has occasionally been fear that I may be pregnant and not know. Also have her keep a small pack of pantie liners just in case she has spotting.
Take pain meds at least 20min before the appointment that won’t thin blood, like Tylenol.
I also recommend a small, flat pillow to sit on in the car to help with bounces on the drive home.
It is painful, usually lasts me 1-3 hours. once I get home I have a heating pad and my husband got me all my favorite treats that day.
I’ve got a strong pain tolerance, currently laying with my arm shifting around its socket after a hard fall 2 days ago 🙈 and it hurts but I’m mostly ok while I wait for my dr appointment….my last IUD I was tearing up and clinching my husband’s hand for dear life.
I’ve had 3 now, one at 20, 23, and 29.
I had two close together because I was leaving the country for up to 3 years and my IUD was only good for 5 years. Now it’s 10yrs. I was single for the first two.
I love it. My periods are like, once or twice a year. The IUD dissolves the uterine wall or something like that making the periods not necessary. I do still get symptoms, but for me, I went from crippling cramps to minor inconveniences. Man, the amount of money I save on period products. I also love to travel and only needing to pack a period cup or two is soooo nice. I’ve never had any sexual partners feel it.
I recently had a Salpingectomy (tubes removed, we don’t want any kids) and kept my IUD because it minimalizes my pains and if I don’t have to bleed then I don’t wanna. No more stained underwear.
I got a Mirena IUD in my first semester of college. It hurt really bad for about 5-10 seconds when they put it in. Horrible, awful cramping pain. Then I had some extremely mild soreness/light cramps for an hour or two. Never had any more pain. It stopped my periods for about 3 years, then they came back very light. No more period cramps or discomfort.
My friend had one put in the same time as me (we went to Planned Parenthood together). Her experience was very similar, but the insertion hurt less for her.
You’ll get a lot of negative stories in this thread, because that’s how the internet works. Those stories are real, valid, and important. But I’m here to tell you that I love my IUD! The peace of mind it gave me in college was so valuable. The lack of periods/cramps was amazing. The insertion hurt a lot, but it was 1000% worth it. When I reached the 5 years they were rated for (now I think it’s 8), I had them put a new one in when they took the old one out.
If she gets a hormonal.one, then she’ll likely have very light or no periods at all. After insertion bleeding is done (usually 2-4 days), there can be light bleeding for (if I remember correctly) up to 9 weeks. I’ve had Mirena 3 times. The first I had no periods, the second 2 very light periods.
If she’s getting a copper one, her periods will probably get heavier.
Hormonal can lighten periods. Copper can make them horrific.
The main pain is during insertion, and that is over pretty quick, especially with a doctor experienced with inserting IUDs. Afterwards, it is cramping which can be quite uncomfortable, so I would plan for nothing else to happen that day.
I had my copper IUD placed by a resident (i think that’s correct) that may have never done one before. It was supervised by a doctor, of course, but it took a little bit of time. Like maybe 10 minutes tops. My Mirena I got put in by an experienced doctor also after having 2 kids so apples and oranges. It was in and done in like 30 seconds.
I don’t know if I would opt for the lidocaine injection because that is also painful. It’s not pleasant, but it is bearable for me. Everyone’s pain tolerance is different. It’s over quick enough.
Now, if they can numb the injection site and then the lidocaine then yes, request it.
Aleve or Advil 1 hour before. Be well hydrated.
She may bleed for a while in the first month. I got Mirena a few days before my period and it lasted 3 weeks ugh. Over 2 weeks of needing a tampon, not just spotting. Eventually periods go away. Spotting mid cycle can also be normal
i have the copper one, find a doctor that does them often and provides pain relief like localized numbing or laughing gas(the planned parenthood in my college town was awesome). take a high dose of ibuprofen beforehand, i think i took 600mg.
lots of edibles and heat pads helped the cramping the next few days. it was a 5/10 at most for a few minutes on the pain scale for me. the most pinchy/painful part was clamping the cervix open
I had one popped in around 4pm and was uncomfortable the rest of the evening. I wouldn’t recommend having much planned for the rest of the day, and I would recommend talking pain management with the provider. I didn’t, and regret it.
I had Mirena and have a Liletta now. I largely spotted the first few months of Mirena before my periods all but disappeared. I would just spot once in a blue moon and get some minor cramping. This was great, considering I had cramps so severe my vision would white out pre birth control.
I recommend the implant (Nexplanon) they don’t last as long (3yrs in Canada) but at least you get numbing before they put it in your arm lol, and if the doctor is good at it there should me minimal bruising/side effects at the incision site.
Also I’ve lost two IUDs (no longer a candidate to have them) I didn’t notice the first time, and ended up pregnant both times even using back up BC and plan b 🥲
Call the office ahead of time take her somewhere that offers some sort of anesthetic.