My Paragard IUD experience so far
The past month has been a wild ride.
I think this requires a bit of backstory, so buckle up.
I have always been an anxious person who tends to overthink everything. Despite being a virgin until recently, I have had a few pregnancy scares - honestly, who hasn’t? “Have I washed my hands? Has HE washed his hands? Yes, the amount of sperm in “precum” is small, but...” So as soon as my current relationship started, I have been researching my butt off, trying to find something that works for me.
To be honest, the current political situation has influenced this decision, too - I did not want a bunch of old white men to decide what I can and can’t do with my body. I had to act fast, while the ACA is still working.
I knew I did not want extra hormones in my body. Weight gain and hair loss are good reasons to not want it, but I was more worried about my mental health. Struggling with depression is not fun even without BC pills messing with my brains. So that alone left me with two choices - a copper coil IUD (Paragard, in my case) or tubal ligation.
I don’t want kids. Maybe, in some distant future, I will want one, but I doubt it. I was physically and emotionally abused throughout my childhood, and I am too afraid to be like my mother. I also know that my genes will not be a good addition to the gene pool - thanks, mental health issues, and a not very attractive appearance. Yes, I’m vain like that.
Naturally, I decided to go to Planned Parenthood. But they did not have appointments available at the time I needed (during my period, when it’s the easiest to insert the bad boy). In fact, the center I was going to go to did not have any time slots for the month of February. That actually made me feel good: it meant that women took the matter in their hands and acted as they wanted to before someone takes that right away. So I looked at the providers in the region.
Carafem, sadly, did not work out for me personally. They did not accept my insurance and my very skeptical boyfriend pointed out that there were no OB/GYNs listed on their website. Well, toodles.
And then the heavens opened up and I was advised to go to Capital Women Care. I had to spend hours on the phone trying to make an appointment with my very tight schedule and unpronounceable name. Eventually, on Wednesday, February 8, last day of my period, I was walking in downtown DC to go see the provider and discuss the matter with her.
Boy, was the office shady. Yes, they were going through renovations, but does that explain no cell phone reception and no a/c? Nevertheless, everything went smooth except for the fact that the doctor told me to come back in a month. When I get on my period. Again. “Ugh!” - I said. “Sad!”
However, the next day, I get a phone call. “Hi, do you want to schedule an appointment with ultrasound? Your insurance does not cover it”. I’m very cheap, so I say no, thank you. “Okay, the doctor says she’ll make an exception, so today at three.”
Wait, what? Today? Not in a month? Works for me.
So I take 800 mg of Ibuprofen on the way to their office on a bumpy bus. I sign in and have to take a pregnancy test. Never done that before, totally squished the cup and got pee on my hands. Ew. Turns out, I’m not pregnant and ready to go.
Throwback to a Plan B pill that I had to take because I was freaking out about unwashed hands. Yay anxiety.
So I go in, they take my vitals. I tell the nurse I usually have low blood pressure - the day before I had 96/68. However, on that day I had something like 127/80 - Ibuprofen raises your blood pressure, just so you know. Then I undress from the waist down, wrap the sheet around my waist and get onto the bed. The doctor walks in, makes me sign a consent form and asks if I changed my mind. Nope.
So I get into stirrups. She tells me to scoot closer and relax. Sadly, I read one too many horror stories about IUD insertion pain the night before, and I’m very tense.
Speculum was uncomfortable and cold. Keep in mind that I still had my hymen very intact and it definitely hurt.
Breathing helped a lot. A LOT. Breathe in for the count of four and breathe out for the count of five.
The pain from sound, the measuring device, was bearable. It was like a concentrated gas pain. As she inserted the IUD, the pain grew stronger, but not debilitating. Yes, it was HELLA painful, but again, breathing helped.
After the insertion, I was very dizzy. Part of it was due to anxiety, part of it was due to the cramps that made me want to curl in a ball and cry.
And just like that, I got an IUD. I still have to go back for a check up and I’m scared it gets expelled. Checking on strings does not calm me because they tend to shift and, sometimes, tuck themselves around the cervix. Also, your cervix moves up and down during your cycle.
Drinking water before to be able to pee for the pregnancy test.
Eat food, duh. Take snacks with you (I took gummies).
Definitely take Ibuprofen.
If possible, get a ride home. I was stupid and brave and miserable on my way home on a bus, because my pride did not let me accept an Uber ride from my boyfriend.
Fart and/or poop all you want. It helps with cramps! Really!
Check with your insurance whether they cover the IUD. Most of them do, but be careful just in case.
I have been spotting for almost a week and cramps are still there, even though they are less extreme. My doctor told me “nothing in the vagina for two days”... I followed her directions to the t. Then in the middle of the act I had a mild panic attack because I couldn’t find the strings(they just got tucked around the cervix).
I am going for a check up in a few weeks. Haven’t had a period yet.
If you have any questions, feel free to message me. I attach a link to the PP article on IUDs.
https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/birth-control/iud
