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Kimmalah
Nov 14, 2005

Basically just a baby in a trenchcoat.


:siren: Paragard insertion trip report! :siren:

Since I've been bugging the hell out of everybody about my Paragard, I thought I'd let you guys know how it went. Especially for anyone nervous about IUD insertions. To sum it up though: it's not as bad as everyone says!

I got in there, did all the requisite medical paperwork and waited until they called me back. Then I went back and had to pee in a cup for a pregnancy test like right off the bat (which was a good thing because my mouth was dry from nerves and I had been drinking water the whole way up). Then they checked my hemoglobin with a finger stick, took blood pressure, weight, etc. After a little confusion/waiting for them figure out about whether or not I had had a pap smear recently enough, everything got down to business.

It was basically like a pap smear up to a point (no pants, feet in the stirrups, etc. etc.) except I was sitting up a little more than usual. First the NP kind of felt around for my uterus a while. Once that was done in went the speculum, which I've done a million times and is no biggie. Then came the stuff everyone always seems to talk about with horror. First the tenaculum, which I've come to find out is a little doo-dad that holds your cervix in place and also holds it open (I think?) Most people describe it as a "pinch" feeling but I honestly didn't feel it at all, just some slight cramping. Then the sounding--which was by far the worst part but still really not that bad. Just like one BIG cramp that kind of took my breath away and made me flinch a lot. Apparently I sounded at 7 cm, which is completely irrelevant to you guys but really interesting to a geeky girl like me. :3: Once that was done it took them a minute or two to unwrap the actual IUD from its sterile packaging which is good because it gave my now apparently angry uterus a moment to CALM THE gently caress DOWN. Then came the insertion, which was a lot like the sounding. A big huge uncomfortable cramp, but nothing you can't breathe through. Certainly NOT "worst pain of my life!!!1 :byodame: " levels like I had been reading from some people (although I suppose everyone is different). Or if you want a funnier point of reference, it felt like bad gas pains or stomach cramps. :v:

And that was it! She trimmed my strings, had me sit up and root around in there a little so I knew how to find the strings/my cervix. Then she handed me a little Paragard card that said "remove no later than 2025," told me she'd see me in 6 weeks and I was out. It's been a few hours now, but I'm honestly kind of amazed really. I had a little case of the shaky legs on the way out of the clinic but now the only thing I feel is kind of a dull ache and the occasional cramp. At the absolute worst like I ate something bad. So basically it feels like my period always does anyway. I stopped and got some food on the way home, now I'm hanging out typing this up. I still haven't had much bleeding yet since the doctor used some kind of clotting agent on my cervix. But this was my placebo week anyway so I'm sure it will be starting in earnest soon enough.

So there you have it, if I can do it anyone can. Also stay off the internet as much as you can except for this thread because there is some crazy poo poo out there that will scare the hell out of you needlessly. I have a cold right now too and honestly it's a lot worse than anything from the IUD insertion. The worst part for me really was having to wait in there with that little table of medical instruments!

Edit: And another thing that I think has been mentioned in the thread, but I didn't really think of. Be prepared to have a mini-panic attack where you think "Holy poo poo, did I take my pill?!" I just had what I'm guessing will be the first of many just now.

Kimmalah fucked around with this message at 01:45 on Jan 9, 2013

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Pick
Jul 19, 2009
Nap Ghost
It's important to remember that everyone is different and it can indeed hurt as much as you heard. It's not that they're lying, it's just that they are outliers. As I said, it didn't hurt me much, but I have talked to someone since who did pass out from pain during hers.

Kimmalah
Nov 14, 2005

Basically just a baby in a trenchcoat.


Pick posted:

It's important to remember that everyone is different and it can indeed hurt as much as you heard. It's not that they're lying, it's just that they are outliers. As I said, it didn't hurt me much, but I have talked to someone since who did pass out from pain during hers.

Yes, but that was my point really - they're outliers. Stuff like that isn't the norm, but if you go by a lot of what's out there you'd think it was.

Geolicious
Oct 21, 2003

Our posturings, our imagined self-importance, the delusion that we have some privileged position in the Universe, are challenged by this point of pale light. Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark.
Lipstick Apathy

NaturalLow posted:

Yes, but that was my point really - they're outliers. Stuff like that isn't the norm, but if you go by a lot of what's out there you'd think it was.

Yeah I get really worried that I scare people off with my insertion tale, even though I am just trying to be honest. But the more women I talk to the more I realize my insertion was one of the few really bad ones. I'd still do it again, though.

And, yeah, I spent about a week and half stopping in my tracks at work going "oh god my pill!" But, then, you get to a point where you're like "silly pill I don't miss you!"

benjai
Jun 26, 2007
Did a doctor seriously just suggest to me that if nothing turns up wrong at the specialist, I should maybe get pregnant since I'm getting married soon anyway?

When I go to her to talk about the issue of period pains for the copper IUD I have because, I dunno, I DON'T want to get pregnant right now?

I don't know, maybe I'm exaggerating, but I feel kind of violated. I can't believe the doctor honestly suggested to me, 23 years old, that maybe I should just get pregnant.

Bollock Monkey
Jan 21, 2007

The Almighty

benjai posted:

Did a doctor seriously just suggest to me that if nothing turns up wrong at the specialist, I should maybe get pregnant since I'm getting married soon anyway?

When I go to her to talk about the issue of period pains for the copper IUD I have because, I dunno, I DON'T want to get pregnant right now?

I don't know, maybe I'm exaggerating, but I feel kind of violated. I can't believe the doctor honestly suggested to me, 23 years old, that maybe I should just get pregnant.

...What the gently caress? See a different doctor!

benjai
Jun 26, 2007
Well, she gave me a referral to an OBgyn to check if there's anything actually wrong with me (doubt it since I've never had period pains before and it started when I got the IUD) and hopefully they're good and I can keep going there. But UGH. I honestly can't believe she said that. I mean what the gently caress?

fine-tune
Mar 31, 2004

If you want to be a EE, bend over and grab your knees...

benjai posted:

Well, she gave me a referral to an OBgyn to check if there's anything actually wrong with me (doubt it since I've never had period pains before and it started when I got the IUD) and hopefully they're good and I can keep going there. But UGH. I honestly can't believe she said that. I mean what the gently caress?

That is awful! My GP was never that bonkers, but when I started going to a OB/GYN only place, it was a world of difference (pill sample packs, all the BC types available, down to earth discussions). I mean, I even like my GP, but for lady health issues the specialized (non-Catholic backed) place was the way to go. For you though, I recommend finding a new GP.

Kimmalah
Nov 14, 2005

Basically just a baby in a trenchcoat.


Geolicious posted:

Yeah I get really worried that I scare people off with my insertion tale, even though I am just trying to be honest. But the more women I talk to the more I realize my insertion was one of the few really bad ones. I'd still do it again, though.

And, yeah, I spent about a week and half stopping in my tracks at work going "oh god my pill!" But, then, you get to a point where you're like "silly pill I don't miss you!"

Yeah I'm sorry if I came off as :smug: about the whole thing, I was just kind of emphasizing that because I went in for the appointment really freaked out about how much it was going to hurt because of some of the stuff I had seen. And for anyone wondering, I feel perfectly normal right now, no cramps at all really (except for the occasional random one) since Tuesday night or so. On the downside it looks like someone got horribly murdered in my underwear right now. I'm kind of hoping that calms down eventually, but I'm coming off the pill so who knows? It's still actually not that heavy to me, just like a period without the pill.

A few questions though:

- Do you ever get to the point where you stop worrying about it so much? I'm so afraid it's going to expel or move out of place that I keep checking the strings everyday right now. I think it's not really helping calm me down since I'm pretty sure my cervix is moving so one day the strings seem long and then another I can barely find them. And really hell if I know if they're still 2 cm long while I'm rooting around in my hoo ha.

- Did you ever get weird aches? I keep getting this really dull ache/full feeling right where I'm guessing my left ovary is. Nothing severe and not all the time, just occasionally I notice it ever since the IUD went in. My lower back and stuff was bothering me too that first day, but it's gotten better. It also seems like I have to pee like crazy right now? :confused:

Geolicious
Oct 21, 2003

Our posturings, our imagined self-importance, the delusion that we have some privileged position in the Universe, are challenged by this point of pale light. Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark.
Lipstick Apathy
- I don't even remember I have it unless I'm having a crampy spell. I was uber worried for about 3 weeks, but after I had a period and nothing went down, I relaxed a whole lot more.

- Yeah. I got those aches and twinges and weirdness the first few weeks. Not sure about the peeing. I always have to pee, so I can't gauge that one! Mirena can increase your risk of benign ovarian cysts so if the pain gets worse let your doc know so you can have it checked out.

Kimmalah
Nov 14, 2005

Basically just a baby in a trenchcoat.


Geolicious posted:

- I don't even remember I have it unless I'm having a crampy spell. I was uber worried for about 3 weeks, but after I had a period and nothing went down, I relaxed a whole lot more.

- Yeah. I got those aches and twinges and weirdness the first few weeks. Not sure about the peeing. I always have to pee, so I can't gauge that one! Mirena can increase your risk of benign ovarian cysts so if the pain gets worse let your doc know so you can have it checked out.

I know, I swear I must have the world's tiniest bladder anyway so it could just be a coincidence. I'm hoping I'll get over it soon, because I hate the constant "OMG is it still in the right spot :ohdear: " feeling in the back of my mind since I know I'm in like the prime time for that to happen right now.

I have the Paragard actually so I don't know if that one increases the risk of cysts or not - I've never had a history of them though. I was mostly just curious if it was just me and something was wrong or if this is a typical side effect of having a piece of plastic shoved into your body. :v:

I will say for anyone getting an IUD: Advil and a heating pad are lifesavers. I also got some herbal tea for cramps, which seemed to help (may have just been a placebo since tea is just relaxing in general) but it was still nice to have.

Geolicious
Oct 21, 2003

Our posturings, our imagined self-importance, the delusion that we have some privileged position in the Universe, are challenged by this point of pale light. Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark.
Lipstick Apathy
Ah sorry I cannot read. I do not think the Paragard comes with the same risk of ovarian cysts. But don't quote me.

I got very nervous and hyper aware of how my body was feeling, but I just had to remind myself of what it had just gone through.

BigGayLogan
Feb 19, 2011

Quit moeing around like that, uguu~?

NaturalLow posted:

Most people describe it as a "pinch" feeling but I honestly didn't feel it at all, just some slight cramping. Then the sounding--which was by far the worst part but still really not that bad. Just like one BIG cramp that kind of took my breath away and made me flinch a lot. ... Then came the insertion, which was a lot like the sounding. A big huge uncomfortable cramp, but nothing you can't breathe through. Certainly NOT "worst pain of my life!!!1 :byodame: " levels like I had been reading from some people (although I suppose everyone is different). Or if you want a funnier point of reference, it felt like bad gas pains or stomach cramps. :v:

Pick posted:

It's important to remember that everyone is different and it can indeed hurt as much as you heard. It's not that they're lying, it's just that they are outliers. As I said, it didn't hurt me much, but I have talked to someone since who did pass out from pain during hers.

I guess I'm part of the minority then. As much as I love my Mirena and would absolutely get another when the time comes, the sounding and insertion in my experience was literally the worst pain I have ever felt. I really envy all of you who barely felt a pinch. I remember when they were inserting it, the pain was so overwhelming I had the wind knocked out of me and I wasn't able to get up for atleast a half hour. Even after that I had trouble walking to the car and pretty much just stayed in bed all day once I got home. By the next day however, I was all fine and dandy and I was able to go out with my friends without any problems (though I did take painkillers every few hours to keep any cramps at bay), and was back at work the day after that. During the first week with the Mirena, my abdomen felt slightly dull, like very mild period cramps. That part is normal (along with brown sticky discharge, but you probably won't get that since you have a Paraguard, NL) and it's just your body getting used to having a foreign object stuck there.

Otherwise, whether you're Superwoman or a big sensitive baby like me, I highly recommend IUDs to anyone who can get one. The tradeoff is so worth it.

Kimmalah
Nov 14, 2005

Basically just a baby in a trenchcoat.


BigGayLogan posted:

I guess I'm part of the minority then. As much as I love my Mirena and would absolutely get another when the time comes, the sounding and insertion in my experience was literally the worst pain I have ever felt. I really envy all of you who barely felt a pinch. I remember when they were inserting it, the pain was so overwhelming I had the wind knocked out of me and I wasn't able to get up for atleast a half hour. Even after that I had trouble walking to the car and pretty much just stayed in bed all day once I got home. By the next day however, I was all fine and dandy and I was able to go out with my friends without any problems (though I did take painkillers every few hours to keep any cramps at bay), and was back at work the day after that. During the first week with the Mirena, my abdomen felt slightly dull, like very mild period cramps. That part is normal (along with brown sticky discharge, but you probably won't get that since you have a Paraguard, NL) and it's just your body getting used to having a foreign object stuck there.

Otherwise, whether you're Superwoman or a big sensitive baby like me, I highly recommend IUDs to anyone who can get one. The tradeoff is so worth it.

Yeah, like I said earlier I didn't mean to sound dismissive of people who actually did experience a lot of pain. Everyone feels it differently, has different tolerances, different anatomy etc. It may have also helped that I had a lot of stomach issues as a teen so I may be a little more tolerant of abdominal pain/cramps by now, I don't know. I had just gotten home when I wrote that and I was really genuinely surprised after the horror stories I'd read, which is why I kept talking about it so much.

And yes Geolicious, hyperaware is a good way to describe how I am right now. It doesn't help that I'm a big worry wart anyway and I've had a cold all week so I've been all "Oh god what if I cough/sneeze too hard?" lately. I'm already having moments where I forget about it completely though so I'm sure it'll pass.

Kimmalah fucked around with this message at 05:21 on Jan 11, 2013

Geolicious
Oct 21, 2003

Our posturings, our imagined self-importance, the delusion that we have some privileged position in the Universe, are challenged by this point of pale light. Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark.
Lipstick Apathy

BigGayLogan posted:

the sounding and insertion in my experience was literally the worst pain I have ever felt.

:smith: :respek: :smith:

I mean, I'll do that poo poo all over again in 2017 if I have to, but dayum it was bad. As I mentioned way back, it was probably my scarred cervix and way tilted uterus that made it so hard. Hopefully, most women don't have that.

Emily Spinach
Oct 21, 2010

:)
It’s 🌿Garland🌿!😯😯😯 No…🙅 I am become😤 😈CHAOS👿! MMMMH😋 GHAAA😫

NaturalLow posted:

Yeah, like I said earlier I didn't mean to sound dismissive of people who actually did experience a lot of pain. Everyone feels it differently, has different tolerances, different anatomy etc. It may have also helped that I had a lot of stomach issues as a teen so I may be a little more tolerant of abdominal pain/cramps by now, I don't know. I had just gotten home when I wrote that and I was really genuinely surprised after the horror stories I'd read, which is why I kept talking about it so much.

And yes Geolicious, hyperaware is a good way to describe how I am right now. It doesn't help that I'm a big worry wart anyway and I've had a cold all week so I've been all "Oh god what if I cough/sneeze too hard?" lately. I'm already having moments where I forget about it completely though so I'm sure it'll pass.

I think it might also be that people who don't have problems are less likely to post about it. When I got my Paragard, the insertion itself was fine; I'd taken some tylenol (all I had) before I went to the doctor and they gave me some ibuprofen right before, but it wasn't too bad. I did have a vasovagal reaction about 15 minutes after the insertion, when I was trying to check out, but I have a bit of a history of them so that's that. I actually walked home from the doctor and went to class later that afternoon no problem.

You'll get used to it after a while. I was worried for a few weeks that I'd expel it, then I calmed down until I started using a menstrual cup about a year later, and now it's over a year with cups and I only ever think about it when I'm explaining it to a new partner or evangelizing to friends.

Kimmalah
Nov 14, 2005

Basically just a baby in a trenchcoat.


Geolicious posted:

:smith: :respek: :smith:

I mean, I'll do that poo poo all over again in 2017 if I have to, but dayum it was bad. As I mentioned way back, it was probably my scarred cervix and way tilted uterus that made it so hard. Hopefully, most women don't have that.

My money would be on the scarring if anything. Apparently my uterus is tilted way forward (which I didn't know until right before when the doctor was feeling around on my belly).

Geolicious
Oct 21, 2003

Our posturings, our imagined self-importance, the delusion that we have some privileged position in the Universe, are challenged by this point of pale light. Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark.
Lipstick Apathy
Glad she used that Hurricaine spray. Though the sounding was painful as fuuuuccccckkk. When that thing hit the top of my uterus, I saw loving colors.

Kimmalah
Nov 14, 2005

Basically just a baby in a trenchcoat.


For me it was just like a super-cramp that kind of radiated through my body. The doctor called it a "labor cramp," but I have no idea if it's really like labor (if so, gently caress THAT).

It definitely was the worst part though.

InEscape
Nov 10, 2006

stuck.
Saw you guys talking about it on the last page and wanted to pop in and say that I got Nexplanon recently and the application/insertion process was a breeze. The NP told me to ice it a bit, which I did, and I had next to no bruising or pain unless I twisted my arm all wrong.

Also, I feel like I'm from the future.

Kimmalah
Nov 14, 2005

Basically just a baby in a trenchcoat.


InEscape posted:

Saw you guys talking about it on the last page and wanted to pop in and say that I got Nexplanon recently and the application/insertion process was a breeze. The NP told me to ice it a bit, which I did, and I had next to no bruising or pain unless I twisted my arm all wrong.

Also, I feel like I'm from the future.

I read a webcomic once where a character got Implanon and described herself as being kind of like a cyborg after that. I think of that sometimes now, because I'm a hopeless geekanerd. :v:

In other news, I gave the Paragard a um "test drive" yesterday finally. I wasn't feeling too sexy earlier in the week between the blood and having medical instruments/personnel up in there so much. But no complaints! No pain (which is what I was bit worried about) and he didn't seem to feel the strings, so I think I'm now officially in love with my IUD. It looks like The Bloodening is finally tapering off too, so I'm feeling pretty good.

Also I just want to say thank you to everyone in the thread for giving me such awesome level-headed advice, answering my endless questions and ultimately giving me the courage to go through with it!

Koivunen
Oct 7, 2011

there's definitely no logic
to human behaviour
I got my Mirena IUD over a year and a half ago and haven't had any problems. My periods also went away completely and I haven't had one since a few weeks after it was put in.

Two nights ago my boyfriend and I had sex, and at first I think he was bumping my cervix because it hurt, but with a position change the pain went away. This has happened before with no lasting effects. We went to sleep, and a few hours later, I woke up with awful cramping, comparable to what it felt like when I had an early miscarriage. I lay on my side and after a while it dulled enough to get back to sleep. I've been having mild cramping ever since. Yesterday I checked the strings and I can still feel them, but I'm concerned. I haven't had cramps since I've had a period, and I'm definitely not having a period right now.

Do I wait this out or do I make an appointment to be seen? Does anyone else get cramps and no period with their IUD? Do you think this is related to the initial pain during sex? Should I be taking a pregnancy test?

BlueOccamy
Jul 1, 2010

Koivunen posted:

Does anyone else get cramps and no period with their IUD?

Can't say for the rest of it, but I also have a Mirena and have been crampy during the times when I should be having my period (I don't really bleed anymore and it's been slightly more than 6 months since insertion).

Has there been any bleeding at all since then? I'd at least call and check, if nothing else.

Geolicious
Oct 21, 2003

Our posturings, our imagined self-importance, the delusion that we have some privileged position in the Universe, are challenged by this point of pale light. Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark.
Lipstick Apathy
I get bi- to tri- monthly cramps with my Mirena with no period. Sometimes they are quite unpleasant. Everything still feels in place, so I just chalk it up to one of those things I'm having/going to have with it.

Chicken McNobody
Aug 7, 2009
Has anyone tried Lybrel? It sounds good to me but I wanted to see if anyone had unusual problems with it before I ask the doc for it.

lemonsaresour
Feb 17, 2011
I switched pill brands a few months ago from Loestrin 24 fe to ortho tricyclin lo. Around the time that I switched I started experiencing crippling anxiety. I was wondering if anyone knows if this is a possible side effect or if anyone has had experience with this?

Of course there is the more likely scenario that recent events in my life have triggered the anxiety and its just a coincidence that I started a new pill around that time. It would be good news if it were just the pill though. I have already scheduled an appointment to talk with my doctor but she won't be able to see me for a week for various reasons.

Kimmalah
Nov 14, 2005

Basically just a baby in a trenchcoat.


lemonsaresour posted:

I switched pill brands a few months ago from Loestrin 24 fe to ortho tricyclin lo. Around the time that I switched I started experiencing crippling anxiety. I was wondering if anyone knows if this is a possible side effect or if anyone has had experience with this?

Of course there is the more likely scenario that recent events in my life have triggered the anxiety and its just a coincidence that I started a new pill around that time. It would be good news if it were just the pill though. I have already scheduled an appointment to talk with my doctor but she won't be able to see me for a week for various reasons.

Unfortunately it could be the pill, it could be life stresses or it could be both of them working together. I've definitely heard of people experiencing anxiety with certain pills (for example, in my case I tend to get depressed and kind of "blah" on the pill). But different pills affect people in different ways and it can be hard to pinpoint the cause of things like anxiety.

I will warn you now, don't be surprised if your doctor is a bit skeptical. It depends on the doctor of course, but I've had several dismiss me completely when I brought up the possibility of the pill causing any of my problems like migraines, low libido, etc. They were usually very quick to jump on stress as the sole cause even when I knew from my own experience that it probably wasn't the only factor.

lemonsaresour
Feb 17, 2011
When I was on Loestrin I was very depressed and had no sex drive at all. We waited 6 months before switching and I only convinced her to switch when I started bleeding through.

I knew to expect a different set of side effects but this anxiety snuck up on me. I'm hesitant to say its definitely the pill as I've always had a low level of anxiety but it's so much worse now. I have to struggle to open my email because I'm anxious I might have missed something important.

I have a feeling she's just going to throw an anti-anxiety or antidepressant at me.

Kimmalah
Nov 14, 2005

Basically just a baby in a trenchcoat.


lemonsaresour posted:

When I was on Loestrin I was very depressed and had no sex drive at all. We waited 6 months before switching and I only convinced her to switch when I started bleeding through.

I knew to expect a different set of side effects but this anxiety snuck up on me. I'm hesitant to say its definitely the pill as I've always had a low level of anxiety but it's so much worse now. I have to struggle to open my email because I'm anxious I might have missed something important.

I have a feeling she's just going to throw an anti-anxiety or antidepressant at me.

Probably the only way to know would be to stop the pill and see if there's any change (don't take that as a recommendation though). I think the main thing to remember here is to be an advocate for yourself. Don't let your concerns be brushed aside if they're not being addressed just because it's your doctor doing it. I've let myself fall into that trap before and I suffered with medical problems a lot longer than I had to because of it.

I know even the doctors I talked to about getting my IUD were very skeptical/dismissive once I told them why I specifically wanted to get off hormones even though they went through with it anyway.

Kerfuffle
Aug 16, 2007

The sky calls to us~

Chicken McNobody posted:

Has anyone tried Lybrel? It sounds good to me but I wanted to see if anyone had unusual problems with it before I ask the doc for it.
Side effects and problems vary from person to person. One might do horrible and have every lousy side effect possible, another might have zero negative affects. Just reading over stuff on google, Lybrel is just another birth control pill, so not much to say about it. If it doesn't work out there's tons more you can try. Technically you can "end your period" on ANY monthly hormonal birth control, this is just the first one specifically approved, marketed, and sold as such.

e: I just picked up my first $0 nuvaring. :neckbeard:

Kerfuffle fucked around with this message at 02:17 on Jan 15, 2013

Chicken McNobody
Aug 7, 2009

Kerfuffle posted:

Side effects and problems vary from person to person. One might do horrible and have every lousy side effect possible, another might have zero negative affects. Just reading over stuff on google, Lybrel is just another birth control pill, so not much to say about it. If it doesn't work out there's tons more you can try. Technically you can "end your period" on ANY monthly hormonal birth control, this is just the first one specifically approved, marketed, and sold as such.

Yeah, I used to take Ocella and just skip the placebo week, but my insurance wasn't real happy about having to pay for a new pack a week earlier each month, and eventually just refused altogether (which is why my son now exists!). Assuming Lybrel is covered, it would seem to solve that particular problem.

Regarding the above discussion on Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo: I've had anxiety and depression all my life, but I was never suicidal until I started taking that pill. (Another reason why I was seeking personal experience with Lybrel.) I consulted my doctor with the possibility that it might have triggered suicidal ideation, she basically shrugged and said "maybe, let's try something else and see if it helps." Switched to Yaz and the urges went away.

Anecdata, I know, but switching BC is usually a fairly small hassle...might as well try it and see if your anxiety lessens. If you think your doc is going to pooh-pooh you just tell her "I don't think this pill is quite right for me, let's try something else."

Budget Bears
Feb 7, 2011

I had never seen anyone make sweet love to a banjo like this before.
Apologies if this has been asked already but I haven't kept up with the thread lately.

I've been on Implanon for almost a year and during that time I've never had a proper period, just occasional spotting, which I understand is normal. Now I've been having heavy-ish, consistent spotting for nearly two weeks. I'm not having cramps or any other period symptoms and it's not nearly as heavy as my usual periods used to be, but it's a little heavier and way longer than usual. My previous spotting has only lasted 1 day, maybe 2 tops. I know this is normal and that Implanon is famous for causing irregular bleeding, but I'm just wondering how long this spotting/quasi-period needs to go on before I should be concerned? For what it's worth, my periods used to last about 4 days and this one is going on 14 days.

fork bomb
Apr 26, 2010

:shroom::shroom:

Budget Bears posted:

Apologies if this has been asked already but I haven't kept up with the thread lately.

I've been on Implanon for almost a year and during that time I've never had a proper period, just occasional spotting, which I understand is normal. Now I've been having heavy-ish, consistent spotting for nearly two weeks. I'm not having cramps or any other period symptoms and it's not nearly as heavy as my usual periods used to be, but it's a little heavier and way longer than usual. My previous spotting has only lasted 1 day, maybe 2 tops. I know this is normal and that Implanon is famous for causing irregular bleeding, but I'm just wondering how long this spotting/quasi-period needs to go on before I should be concerned? For what it's worth, my periods used to last about 4 days and this one is going on 14 days.

Welcome to Implanon, world of irregular bleeding! Unless you're badly cramping or pouring buckets, I wouldn't be worried. I bled for 3 weeks once and the doc kept assuring me that it's one of the possible side effects. For what it's worth, I'm nearing the end of my second term on Implanon, so a little irregular bleeding is worth it to me in the grand scheme of things.

Lanthanum
Oct 19, 2008

I wish I had a robot husband. That would be baller as fuck.

Budget Bears posted:

Apologies if this has been asked already but I haven't kept up with the thread lately.

I've been on Implanon for almost a year and during that time I've never had a proper period, just occasional spotting, which I understand is normal. Now I've been having heavy-ish, consistent spotting for nearly two weeks. I'm not having cramps or any other period symptoms and it's not nearly as heavy as my usual periods used to be, but it's a little heavier and way longer than usual. My previous spotting has only lasted 1 day, maybe 2 tops. I know this is normal and that Implanon is famous for causing irregular bleeding, but I'm just wondering how long this spotting/quasi-period needs to go on before I should be concerned? For what it's worth, my periods used to last about 4 days and this one is going on 14 days.

This is far from normal, but I bled for 3 months straight until it was taken out. Mine was like a regular period though, not spotting

NewsGunkie
Jul 23, 2007
Sometimes, there's a clog in the pipelines.
Yeah, my biggest issue with the implanon was that I was having regular flow periods at least twice a month for 6 months. But give it time, yours may reregulate itself. If it does, call your gp or the provider who put it in and see what they might be able to do to help get it back in sync.

Anne Whateley
Feb 11, 2007
:unsmith: i like nice words
I'm also on my second Implanon. At least for me, the biggest factor is how heavy the spotting is. If it's like, you have to wear pads/tampons, I would get fed up after 10 days or so (this was all over after a few months for me). If it's like, sometimes when you go to the bathroom, you notice things are a little pinkish, then I wouldn't worry. In either case you should still be protected and healthy (since you're not losing tons of blood); it's just a matter of what you can put up with.

Emily Spinach
Oct 21, 2010

:)
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The FDA's approved a new hormonal IUD called Skyla. :toot: It's only supposed to last for 3 years and apparently will be marketed towards younger women.

Geolicious
Oct 21, 2003

Our posturings, our imagined self-importance, the delusion that we have some privileged position in the Universe, are challenged by this point of pale light. Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark.
Lipstick Apathy
Yay for more LARCs!!

fine-tune
Mar 31, 2004

If you want to be a EE, bend over and grab your knees...

Budget Bears posted:

Apologies if this has been asked already but I haven't kept up with the thread lately.

I've been on Implanon for almost a year and during that time I've never had a proper period, just occasional spotting, which I understand is normal. Now I've been having heavy-ish, consistent spotting for nearly two weeks. I'm not having cramps or any other period symptoms and it's not nearly as heavy as my usual periods used to be, but it's a little heavier and way longer than usual. My previous spotting has only lasted 1 day, maybe 2 tops. I know this is normal and that Implanon is famous for causing irregular bleeding, but I'm just wondering how long this spotting/quasi-period needs to go on before I should be concerned? For what it's worth, my periods used to last about 4 days and this one is going on 14 days.

I'll echo what others have said re: when to panic. Something my doc mentioned when doing the consult for the Nexplanon was going on a combined pill (very low dose, like LoLo Estrin FE) to try to regulate bleeding. If it keeps going long enough to drive you batty or worry you, definitely bring that option up with your doc.

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Kimmalah
Nov 14, 2005

Basically just a baby in a trenchcoat.


This is a kind of weird but :barf: question for people with Paragard (or Mirena too I guess). Did you notice a uh weird smell for a while down there? I'm worried that it could be something like BV, but I've had that once before and it doesn't feel the same. I know it sounds nutty, but I swear it's kind of a metallic/coppery smell with no other symptoms to speak of. I've heard a few other people mention this on other forums, but they also have some crazy ideas about IUDs so I didn't out much stock in it until now. It's really gross and kind of annoying, so I'm hoping this is a temporary thing.

Also do your cramps kind of get on a schedule? It's the weirdest thing since I'm fine all day long, but right around 10 or 11 at night I get super crampy. This one isn't a pressing question, I just thought it was weird and got curious.

Sorry I keep asking so many questions about this thing! I'm an IUD noob, my follow-up appointment isn't for another month, and my doctor is great but very hard to get on the phone.

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