h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

In light of a past journal entry which nearly struck Psycorp blind, I'm hoping I've given fair enough warning that the subject of this journal entry is rather girly.

For those who are subscribed and do read, if you have any other female friends who might be able to offer some input, please do direct them here. I don't want to post this on Ask. Just because I don't.

Inquiry follows in the second post...

OK.

A little over a year and a half ago, on my GP's recommendation, I stopped using a birth control patch in favor of a Mirena IUD.

I absolutely HATE it, and I want it gone.

I've tried various forms of birth control in the past, with varying results. I'm not entirely sure I'm comfortable getting into all of said results on here... suffice it to say that by process of elimination, I've ruled out the Pill, inplants, Depo-Provera and the patch.

With regard to the Mirena, my GP stated that while a copper IUD might increase bleeding, the Mirena might stop it altogether, save for some spotting. Technically, I guess this is true. However, when the spotting occurs, it is non-stop for 2-3 weeks or so. I'd gladly have my one-day periods back. Other undesirable side effects have included significant weight gain (and I already have a thyroid problem) which happens to me with most forms of birth control (I lose promptly when I go off b/c), acne (I never had a blemish in my life till now, and now I get quite painful ones), terrible migraines when I would normally have my periods, and a massive increase in blood pressure (enough to get me put on b/p meds).

Not to mention that the insertion was so agonizingly painful, the ob-gyn had to stop and give me an anesthetic before she could finish.

The side effects of the blood pressure meds are awful, and I just want to get the Mirena out and have everything eventually go back to normal.

Sure, condoms are an option, but are quite frankly a drag when disease control is not an issue. What I really want is to have my tubes tied, and for some reason my GP will not refer me for any related procedure. I'm getting so frustrated, I'm ready to try a new doctor. I've got a referral from a friend to an ob-gyn who I will ask to remove this awful IUD, but I've no idea if she'll agree to tie my tubes. I asked K to consider a vasectomy, but he didn't respond one way or the other, so I'm going to continue pursuing feasible options for myself.

Has anyone here ever had their tubes tied? How bad was the procedure? How hard was it to get your doctor to do it/ refer you?

I don't know why this should be so difficult. If I was 25, I could appreciate the argument that I might change my mind. I'm almost 40 for bob's sake, I think I've had enough years to make up my mind that I neither like nor want kids.

If no one has any experience with this, at least I feel better having had a bit of a rant.

Sorry, I'm of no hlp there. I never had an IUD (the mere thought scared me), and in the end, my husband had a vasectomy. Mind you, he was over 40 and we had two children, which may have made a difference.

Granted, I'm unable to give you any personal experiences of the time I got my coil fitted. But this idea that men lose control of their bodily functions any time medical or gynaecological topics are mentioned gets a bit tedious. Frankly I don't feel in the least shocked or uncomfortable, and I don't know why anyone should.

As you were.

I'm not sure K won't consider that option- he's dead set againsthaving kids, as well. And no one's likely to interrogate him about it. I'm sure it's something to do with we women being "meant to be" baby factories or something like that.

The IUD didn't sound so scary- though I darn near asked the doctor to stop without finishing the process, it hurt so much. But it's really having some serious effects on my health, and it's not worth the risk.

You're of help because now I can tell K that I know of more than one man who's had a vasectomy and lived to talk about it. I think he's protective of his testicles- understandably so. I don't think he's much fonder of thinking about what all is involved at my end, either.

The Mierna certainly is effective though- for a variety of reasons, it completely kills both parties' sex drives.

Sorry to perpetuate a stereotype, KB. I've actually gotten a couple of "eww" reactions in the past (and what was in reality some good-natured teasing from Psycorp, once). And I'm usually a somewhat private, "avoid TMI" kind of person in "real life", so I'm a little paranoid, I guess.

It was a long process until my husband decided to have it done. Fortunately, he knew somebody who had had it done, so he could talk to him. He has never regretted it for a second, though.

No worries. It's probably an interesting discussion worth having actually - but I won't drag things waaaay off-topic by starting it on this thread.

If you change your mind- I actually enjoy when my journals go off-topic into interesting discussions.

Bel, I guess I'll just keep discussing it with him until I finally get to the doctor and she removes this horrible thing. Then I'll need to have some idea what I'd like to do next. I don't blame him and certainly don't mean to pressure him. It's just much less invasive a procedure... not that I'm afraid to go under the knife. It's only dental work that scares me silly.

You're subject line is a guaranteed way of getting this boy to read.

mol (you can find her on my friends list) is having IUD issues so may be able to advise. I'll give her a heads up to this thread but I'm sure she won't mind if you want to drop her a line.

I hate using condoms but they're a necessary evil.

Hope you manage to resolve the problem one way or the another.
Van

Well, I guess you know how to help him make the decision without even mentioning it.

I had a coil because I hated everything else. But it wasn't one that stopped your periods - in fact mine were (and still are, even though I don't use any form of birth control outside of condoms now) awful awful.

The argument for vasectomy over a female operstion (hysterectomy, tied tubes etc etc) is that for men it's usually an outpatients appointment and not major surgery. For us that's the clincher and eventually I think will get round to it. Or maybe not, I'm nearly 47 so my window of opportunity for more gruesomes is only open a tiny crack

In your position though, I'd be getting rid of the coil. Right now.

Sorry, I'm no help. Good luck with the new doctor, if that's how you decide.

Argh, my eyes! Why did I read this?



What Sho said about vasectomy versus hysterectomy is spot on, it's a much safer procedure for blokes to be sterilized. Maybe you could talk to Dr Zen on here, he's usually pretty generous with advice.

Also, no way are you nearly 40.

Kind of stumbled on this..

Sorry that you're having such problems I know the Mirena is horrendous for some whilst suits others fine (small side effects overridden by a huge 'monthly' improvement in my case), and some doctors don't recommend fitting IUDs in women who haven't had children.

Most birth control methods seem to have their drawbacks but a vasectomy seems a more prudent than a hysterectomy. My OH was talked out of it by our old GP

Thanks for all the input, everyone- even if it's just sympathetic words. I appreciate them. I think I will reach out to Dr Zen for sure and see what he has to offer. That's a good idea.

Iago- I'm 38.5 years old, that's close enough to 40 for me. I'm seriously debating counting backwards from 39 after my next birthday in May.

I most likely wouldn't consider a hysterectomy unless it was medically necessary.

Recently I heard about Essure, which are inserts that are placed in the tubes non-surgically, which sounds better than tubal ligation. According to their web site, "the body's natural pathways" are used, it's a quick procedure and relatively painless (though I guess I'd expect it to be as unpleasant as having the IUD inserted was). My insurance company probably even covers this.

Hello! Am I too late?

See, this is interesting, cos there's an IUD discussion in my journal too. I'm having problems with my new copper coil, which is apparently heftier than my old copper coil, which I loved and which had no side effects whatsoever.

I'm seeing my GP in just under a fortnight so she can do something clever with the threads, which she think should stop the 'wicking' I've been experiencing. 'Wicking' is when the threads wick down some blood-stained discharge before the period itself - currently I'm experiencing about 8 days of it, and its more blood than stain . Certainly an effective contraceptive - our window of opportunity, taking into account teenage children who stay up late, and me feeling totally exhausted all the time (possibly because of blood loss) is about one night a month. Plus I'm running out of nice underwear.

It really does sound as though the Mirena isn't for you. A copper one won't necessarily give you heavy periods (although, if you used to have one-day periods , they'll be heavier than *that*). On my previous coil my periods reduced from 7 to 5 days plus 'wicking', albeit the flow was faster on the middle three days. So ... go back to your doctor. I've had 14-day periods for the past six months and I know *exactly* what it's like, and even after being reassured by people here (including Dr Zen) I still apologised and said it sounded trivial when I spoke to my GP. And it's not trivial, really, it's really been dragging me down; and I imagine you're in a similar position.

Are caps still available? We used a femidom once ... only once ... something of a comedy contraceptive, I imagine people who like the sensation use clingfilm as a cheaper alternative ...

Mol

Hi there- not too late! If yu don't mind, I'd like to read the discussion on your journal, as well. I'm assuming anyone *too* modest about it wouldn't discuss it online.

Your "wicking" problem sounds similar to my problem. I haven't been getting many actual periods since I had the Mirena put in. It's been 21 months and I've had just three periods. But I get the spotting every month when my period would be... but for much longer duration. It has the same effect on my nice underwear collection. And yes, it's also an effective contraceptive.

With my GP, he no longer has OB/gyn certification, so he can do my annual pelvic exams and prescribe birth control that I can get at the pharmacy, but can't install anything for me.

I don't know about the caps, if they're available or not. I'll look into them, too.

Thanks for all the input! (I still need to drop a message for Dr Zen, too...)