[Kel2688]

After waiting for a year (almost) I finally got an IUD inserted on Monday (T-Safe, I think it's the same as Paragard in the US).

I'm 23, never been pregnant. Insertion was... traumatic to say the least. And I think this is causing me to worry more.

I think I'm doing well so far, I'm extremely pleased with my choice (if everything goes well) and really don't want anything to go wrong. I don't want it to expel and I don't want to have to have it removed. So I'm looking for as much information as I can get to try to make sure this doesn't happen. I've read all the leaflets I was given and read tonnes on the internet too.

Right. So I had a traumatic insertion, cramped all day after (but didn't rest, I probably over did things a bit that evening). Next day was fine, I took some painkillers in the morning but hardly anything cramp wise all day, just some minor cramps. Wednesday was the worst. I'd been decorating and rushing around all day Tuesday so probably over did things again. I was in agony for 5 hours, cried and my boyfriend (a Gynecologist who has inserted these things himself) said everything seems fine. The strings were there, I have no signs of infection and pain is to be expected etc. I barely had any bleeding. But I was stubborn and hadn't taken any painkillers that morning so could be why the cramps started.

I cried for ages and wanted to be sure so called a few people (place I got it inserted etc) and everything seemed fine. But I had an upset stomach so that could have been why I was in pain too.

Yesterday, not a single cramp. I took some painkillers in the morning again just incase. And we finally had sex last night. Bit of a traumatic experience because my boyfriend said he could feel something sharp! But it was from the condom we were using, I checked and IUD is there and fine, he checked too and I had no pain.

But this morning I'm bleeding, like a period. I haven't had a period in, like, a year because of the pill I was on (POP) so I'm guessing this is because of the foreign object that's been inserted? Because all I've read says to expect spotting but this isn't spotting. But it isn't as heavy as I was expecting for a period. I've had some paracetamol and have barely any cramps.

So is this a period? Like, has the IUD triggered a period or something? It's thin stuff (yeah, TMI), no clots and nothing scary or anything. But now I'm freaking out that it isn't going to stop and I'll have to have it removed.

I just love this thing already and don't want to have to have it removed!

I didn't have it inserted while I was on my period but is period-like bleeding normal a few days afterwards?

I so realise I'm being extremely paranoid though haha.

[Mes T]

Whoa whoa whoa wait a second, hold on, take a deep breath my dear! You're making me nervous just reading that!

Have you asked your gyno boyfriend any of these questions? Seems like a great source of info right there, hopefully.

You need to relax. When I got my IUD inserted I had a pretty heavy period shortly after. It's your body reacting to the thing. In most cases it normalizes after a while... few weeks, few months... Just like any hormonal birth control pill might take your body a while to get accustomed to.

Relax for at least... 3-4 months. "Go with the flow", so to speak. See how your body adapts. It is a foreign object in your uterus, after all. If you bleed uncontrollably for longer than 7 days at a time, then see a doctor. If you have cramps then for goodness sake have a lie-down with a hot water bottle and watch some TV.

Look in the end though if your IUD is going to continue causing you paranoia, it might not be the best birth control option for you. Have you always used condoms? Did you want the IUD for added protection?

[Kel2688]

He says it's fine! And I know it's fine because of the lack of cramps, everything being there, correct, present etc. But ah I obsess, research everything to death and read too much into what could go wrong and then convince myself that everything that can go wrong IS going wrong!

Yeah, always used condoms (except for a few months). I've researched and researched and thought about it for a year so I'm convinced it is the right thing for me. Just I've had a horrible experience with hormonal contraceptives, the combined pill was literally driving me insane, POP caused me to bleed continuously so I think I'm just paranoid because, well, I don't want to go back on hormones and really don't want this to fail.

But, yes, I need to be patient and was just concerned that the bleeding today is more than the spotting I've had and was expecting.

[Mes T]

I hear you, at age 22 I was done with hormones because it was making my hair fall out. I was in college and literally going bald.

Yeah definitely expect increase in bleeding, even between periods, for the next few months. I'd be interested to see how you go, I hope you keep us posted.

[Kel2688]

Thanks, I will! I'm VERY excited about it, I was like a child going to my appointment and I'm so excited about coming off the pill. Just don't want anything to go wrong because I'd be devastated if I had to go back on hormones. But early days! Definitely a good start that I'm fine so far and just bleeding I guess.

[Mes T]

Awesome. Look if anything does go wrong down the line, there are other non-hormonal options. Condoms coupled with something else could be just as effective. For instance say you charted your BBT and after a few months had a clear understanding of the days you're actually fertile, you could either abstain from intercourse on those days, or use condoms coupled with something like FemCap, the rest of the month using only condoms. It's definitely an option I'd consider long before going back on any pill.

[Kel2688]

Thanks!

Well, I'm feeling a lot more positive that it will work out today! This "period" if that's what it is, isn't very heavy and I've had no cramps since Wednesday really so all seems fine so far. Very early days but, yeah, I'm determined to stick everything out and make it work!

[Kel2688]

Just thought I'd come back and update this.

I've been paranoid that something's wrong, it's going to expel and all weekend the strings felt longer.

Managed to go back to the Family Planning clinic where I got it inserted yesterday just to check things are OK. After a lot of stress (they'd sent my records to another hospital for some reason) I had to wait two hours and everyone else who'd come after me had been seen. Started to think something seemed iffy so finally asked and because my records weren't there they forgot about me. But they were really nice about it and gave me lollies lol so stayed patient. Anyway. Eventually got to see a lovely nurse, explained I was worried it was going to expel. She said loads of people had been in in the last week alone worrying about the same things. She checked and everything seems fine. Strings are a normal length, maybe a bit on the long side. But she said if she cut them shorted my boyfriend might be able to feel them. So I saisd I was fine for her to leave them as long as she thinks they're OK.

All stupid worries but I didn't feel like I could settle till someone checked and I knew it was OK. And I feel much better now after getting someone to look at it for me.

All is good!