IUDs: The Truth Revealed About Them

In this episode of Talking with Docs, we welcome Dr. Andrighetti, an OB/GYN, to discuss one of the most popular forms of birth control: the IUD. Join us as we explore the different types of IUDs available, their effectiveness rates, and the benefits and drawbacks of each. Dr. Andrighetti shares her expert insights on topics such as the insertion procedure, potential side effects, and how to manage any discomfort that may arise. Whether you're considering getting an IUD or simply want to learn more about this widely-used contraceptive, this episode is packed with valuable information that you won't want to miss. So sit back, relax, and join us for this informative and engaging conversation about IUDs with Dr. Andrighetti

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[tigercomet]

I’m really sick of people (doctors and other health professionals) downplaying the potential for pain during and after insertion. I’m talking extreme excruciating pain, just absolutely mind-numbing. No other pain I’ve experienced in my life comes close to how awful it felt. It should be illegal to insert without local anesthesia.

Update Feb 2024: I can’t believe all the attention this has gotten. A few days ago on the 21st, I had my IUD replaced with a new one. I couldn’t believe it, but it was somehow more painful than the first time I had the insertion done. Especially the removal, which was new for me. It was like if you took the yanking sensation of removing a bandaid, and added the stab and slice of a knife. If there is something above a 10 on a pain scale, that was it. I screamed and cried through the whole thing. I had to bite down on a wad of paper towels and gripped the sides of the exam table. Beforehand, I asked for numbing of any sort, but was told they did not offer it, and wouldn’t recommend it anyways. They tried to intimidate me with language like “very large needles”. I was furious. -100/10 would not recommend. Unless your doctor is willing to use some local anesthesia.

[Modnyy]

My copper IUD has been an amazing method for me. I was so afraid of pain and stories I heard but it was totally fine, periods never got worse ! Wanted to put a positive story here

[flyingunicorn]

my IUD insertion was the most pain ive ever felt in my whole life, i almost passed out, and taking pain med did absolutely nothing, i told myself i would never go through that again because it was insane, BUT not having my period and bad cramps has been amazing! sooo gotta weight out what you want to go through

[hjoy]

As a woman with endometriosis that wasn’t diagnosed for 14 years, surgery and an IUD saved my life. Worth it for my quality of life.

[chrisstepleton]

I had a Dalcon IUD first and then later I had a Copper 7 put in. Then I noticed that the IUD had slipped down and I could feel it. I called the doctor and basically he told me that I was nuts and that can't happen. I kept telling him that it did. He wasn't happy and thought I was wasting his time. He seemed angry but told me to come in. When he checked me, he found out that I was right. He told me this doesn't happen but it did to me. I hope he felt stupid and maybe be kinder to the next patient who had a problem.

[tatianabeastmode]

So glad to see more women's health issues covered! Thanks!

[jessikahbrown]

It is neglectful to down play the pain with IUD insertion this coming from someone who has gone through labor, a C-section and Endometriosis!! I have a very high pain tolerance and while its fair to say youll be ok and it is worth it in the end its also fair to say it is PAINFUL not merely "uncomfortable"

[rshelly]

getting IUD placed was one of the most traumatic pain I ever opted for. Never again after I got it out! Insertion varies for everyone but for me, soooo incredibly painful. Freezing is just as painful :/

but the uses/functions are so great, just not a good feeling at all.

[RY]

I have adenomyosis and crippling first days since age 11. Saw my first gynecologist at 23. Got prescribed and pressured to get an iud on the first meeting. Was in constant crippling pain, crying all day and night. Couldnt sleep because of the pain. Begged them to let me see the gyno for them to take it out because of the pain. Got a referral for an ultrasound in 3 weeks instead. On the seventh day I pulled it out myself. The pain stopped right away. Best decisions ive made in my whole life.

[LilRkrGA]

I had mine put in under anaesthesia and it solved my life-crippling heavy periods and pain. Best invention ever, life-saving for me even

[naomi]

I had a copper IUD and had to have cervix pulled open to have it inserted. The table was covered in blood. The next few weeks were about thirty time more painful than the worst period of childbirth. It caused pain so bad every period that I would get nauseous, dizzy and sometimes pass out. I started bleeding heavily and started getting cramps and bleeding mid cycle as well. Getting it inserted was so traumatic that I was afraid to have it removed. I ended up in hospital with very severe anaemia that affected my heart and a load of other things. The pamphlet said, “you may experience some mild discomfort afterwards” - I don’t know who wrote that but they hadn’t spoken to any women who had gone through the process of having one.

[paulacharman]

I've had 3 Mirenas over the course of 25 years and have never had any negative side effects; I used each one for an average of 7 years, but the last one was in for 10 years (without any complications) and I'm now using this IUS in conjunction with HRT.

[annstar]

I had a horrible experience with an IUD- in the ER with severe excruciating pain a few hours later. Never again !!!

[cristyf]

This seems like an ad for IUDs not education. There are so many women that have suffered from Mirena that there are huge online support groups. So many terrible side effects. Mine made me so miserable. I couldn't get a doctor to believe me there was an issue until the strings disapeared. It was lodged in my fallopian tube and it was so bent and twisted, blood everywhere, and so much pain to get it out. But the relief of it being out started almost immediately and was so worth it.

[AmallieGames]

I had a copper IUD (paragard) for a few years (they last 10 years). It caused me some bad side effects, like a thick constant discharge and horrible periods, but I kept it because it was so effective against pregnancy. Well, I got pregnant despite my IUD still being perfectly placed. If I knew how traumatic that would be I would have never gotten an IUD. Knowing that I had a baby growing inside of me next to a metal device that emits copper that is toxic to the cells that made that baby was horrible. I was terrified it was an ectopic pregnancy because of the increased risk, but luckily it wasnt. At 8 weeks I had the IUD removed, which caused bleeding and that was traumatic because you have a chance of miscarriage after IUD removal. Today I have a 5 month old boy and I just feel so lucky that my pregnancy was safe despite the IUD. My doctor asked me what birth control I wanted after delivery and I told her I 100% knew which ones I didn't want! I advise women considering an IUD to think through what it would be like to be one of the rare women who gets pregnant with one in. No one ever talks about that.

[jenvanginhoven]

My IUD travelled through the uterine wall. My surgeon indicated that, on average, he removes one per week for that very reason.

[Ash-uvtd]

I haven’t seen anyone mention this yet, but I had a lot of weight gain with the Mirena. Mind you I am extremely active (I train Muay Thai, run a lot as well as lift every week), eat clean and have been for most of my life. When I got the Mirena inserted it’s def cause me massive weight gain. 30 lbs in 3 months to be exact. Professionals tend to say it doesn’t cause weight gain but everybody is different and this is the heaviest I’ve ever been in my life. My IUD caused a lot of bloating and water retention. My periods were lighter. I’ll say that. I did get cramps randomly for months. I decided to finally get it removed. This was my experience with Mirena so I thought I’d share it.

[evilbunnyfdoom]

These docs make it sound so wonderful. While I enjoy not being pregnant & avoiding hormonal birth control; the painful insertion and cramps make it a lot less worth it. Also iud may damage the cervix or uterus and make it difficult to become pregnant/carry to term in the future.

Threw up for 3 days after insertion due to the cramping pain.

[blanchard]

I had a copper 7 IUS. It was, for me, a nightmare that lasted for 10 months when I had it removed. I had periods that lasted about 10 days with heavy flows and then spotting for a few days mid-cycle. I came close to passing out and collapsing with severe period pain. I think you paint a too rosy picture of this device. I had not had a child before insertion.

[itsmahsa]

I had my copper IUD inserted 3 months ago.
Omg, the pain…I have no words that can describe the hell that I went through that day. I was crying and writhing and rocking in pain for hours that day.
Over the next 2 months I would have intense cramps in my hip and lower belly, sometimes I’d feel it in my thighs too. I would have this about every other day, and it would come and go throughout the day.
The last month has been much much better, as in I get cramps a lot less frequently. I go for days with no pain at all, unfortunately I can’t say they have completely gone away though.
I even had an ultrasound because I was concerned about these cramps, but everything was normal.
I can only hope that the cramps go away over time, because I don’t want to have to live with this.