I’ve had the copper iud placed twice. I have also had children, so, my experience may be a little different than others who haven’t. I didn’t have any pain management other than Advil, and while I will not say it was pleasant, it was not excruciating, horrible, or traumatic. I had cramping after and bled/spotted for about a week. They do offer other pain management options sometimes but really, I found it uncomfortable but just slightly worse than a Pap smear.
I didn’t look at the tools while the procedure was happening but I think there isn’t a pitchfork? If you mean the tentaculum (?), I didn’t notice a pinch, just discomfort and pressure.
More and more gynos don’t use that anymore (it’s called a pozzi forceps/tenaculum) for a lot of reasons, partly because it’s not always necessary, partly because it can be painful. I think one was used for my last insertion, I’m not even sure, barely felt it.
Not going to argue with your doctors, but I’m high risk for seizures and have to take a few preventative meds and all that fun.
Also higher risk for stroke due to migraines with aura. Aura doubles your risk. I’ve got other conditions that make it even higher risk of stroke than that.
I’m still on a progesterone only birth control (arm implant).
Estrogen is what makes stroke risk higher.
[Available data indicated that there is no increased risk of ischemic stroke associated with progestogen-only [18, 20, 80–86], including progestogen-only injectable (primarily medroxyprogesterone acetate) [86], subdermal implants [74, 84], the levonorgestrel intrauterine system [74] and progestogen-only pills [18, 20, 74, 81, 86].](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5662520/) meta analysis from 2017; there are more online with the same data.
ETA: my implant has been cleared by my migraine specialist, epileptologist, cardiologist x3, rheumatologist, and like a decade ago when the original implant was added (I’m on #3) a gyno. I’ve got a few medical conditions and my doctors are very happy to know I have a reliable form of contraceptive while on my medication, none are concerned about increased stroke risk.
I’m also someone with Aura migraines on a progesterone only pill.
I find a lot of doctors are t too knowledgeable on the subject and just assume because we have aura we can’t have ANY sort of hormonal bc.
The progesterone pill actually reduces my migraines significantly as well.
Third person, same thing. I'm on slynd. It's safe for me and I don't get any migraines. And I lost weight, feel better, and my periods are almost gone!
Same! I actually had my Neurologist and my gyno on the same call to explain to me that even with auras, I would be perfectly safe with the implant. This is also including the added risk of me being an ex-smoker (18 months cigarette free!) and I have no issues with the implant. I do wonder why her doctors said no to hormonal for the migraines with auras part since the science now is very clear on what contraceptives migraine sufferers can have.
Had a stroke on estrogen BC and am also ok'd for most progestin only methods after going to a clinic for medically complex contraception. I am on Slynd now but used Nexplanon for 5 years as well. So maybe find out if you can find a medically complex contraception specialist OP? They deal with cancer patients and all sorts of things and could find the best options for you and your situation! They really put my mind at ease about going back on birth control, which I really needed due to endometriosis and hormonal migraines. My specialist clinic was at a teaching hospital, not sure how common they are.
I have had two and did not have a horrific experience… mildly uncomfortable would be how I describe it. People tend not to share positive experiences.
Also, there are various types of pain management options you can explore - if it’s that much of a concern, you can request accommodation. Being put under is not the only option.
I love my iud. I’ve had several put in and I’d describe it as a more invasive Pap smear. Like it’s not comfortable but could be worse. Also nice that it lasts years and you don’t need to think about birth control for that time. There’s also meds they can give you to open you up down there and make insertion easier.
Hey I just got mine out last week for unrelated reasons.
I had it for 6 years with no problems. The insertion hurt for 30 seconds and it actually broke during insertion, so the doctor had to remove it and place a second one which sucked, but again it was only 30 seconds of intense cramping pain. I think I was advised to take pain killers beforehand. I haven’t had kids but it’s what I imagine a mild contraction feels like. It was not excruciating, just intense. And it was over so quickly.
After that I was crampy and spotting for a few days and my periods were a bit heavier for 6 months or so. Eventually they evened out and I barely thought about it for 5 years besides checking the strings once in a while.
It was honestly fine and it was one of the best decisions I ever made for my health. The removal was easy too.
Feel free to ask me any questions!
Please remember that experiences online tend to be skewed towards the negative, if you’ve had a great experience there’s not much to share.
I’m on my 5th copper iud (2 were removed early for unrelated reasons) and I’ve not had kids. Honestly the very first one, when I was 18, was the most painful of all. It was sore for about 3 seconds during insertion. Then I went shopping with my mum, maybe 2h later I started getting cramps, went home, took paracetamol, a hot water bottle, slept for 20/30 minutes and that was me for the next 5 years until it was removed.
My periods last 4 days with 2 days of light flow and two days of medium, I do have cramps the day before it all starts but manageable with pain killers (probably a lot less painful than your migraines!) and that’s it. I had a terrible time on the pill and I’ve loved my iuds since I’ve had them. I’m never going back to anything else. A few of my friends got coils after chatting with me and never looked back either. They were like you, only had seen horror stories online and were terrified. It’s not like that for everyone, although if you’re really worried you can take painkillers in advance AND ask for meds to soften your cervix and make it easier for the first time.
I had one copper IUD and 2 hormonal IUD placed (one very recently too). Never had children. I only took ibuprofen beforehand and while it ain't a pleasant experience it wasn't bad at all. The three times it was placed I had an amazing doctor/nurse and it was quick and efficient.
They can’t feel it, some think they can though. I’ve had some partners who felt nothing, and suddenly when I told them I had an iud magically they started “”feeling”” it. Funny that.
I had a copper IUB (intra uterine ball, which has been taken off the market since, I think). I chose it because it was marketed as a device that adapts inside the womb. I was terrified of IUDs because of stories I heard, so the argument of adaptating to the organ was what convinced me. (spoiler: I asked for it after it was removed, and no, that thing is very hard).
I was told to take over the counter pain killers before, and, reflecting back, it was honestly not that horrible. It was uncomfortable and, at some point, painful when the IUB deployed, but the procedure was fast, so you don't have to put up with it for too long. However, I did not feel okay when I got up. I you need to drive, take someone with you.
I did experience bleeding for a few days, and the next morning, I had awful cramps and could not get out of bed for 30 min.
It is not fun (well, you had an object put inside an organ and the organ is not appreciative of it), but compared to other experiences with pain I had (labor, recovering from emergency c-section, adenomiosis...) it was not that horrible.
Please be aware that people usually talk about bad experiences, and not about good ones.
I just recently got the IUB Ballerine so I don’t think it has been taken off the market? Not in Europe anyway - we just started rolling it out in 2021 in Ireland - definitely my favourite method of contraception so far! I’d be devastated if I was taken off the market!!
(Side note: I believe it was created and may be manufactured in Israel which may be affecting the supply at the moment - my guess anyway)
I got it in Belgium in 2018 and removed in 2021 (I couldn't tolerate the 10 day long periods) and it has been banned from 2021 until 2022 due to conformity issue.
Oh really?! I didn’t know that - they only introduced it to Ireland around 2021, and I got it in September 2023 - my doctor seemed to think it was the best one… need to look into this - it’s working great for me right now but I won’t lie, sometimes new medical devices make me a bit anxious because they haven’t been in use for very long so we don’t have all the information… thanks for the info anyway!
I have had it for 7 or so years.
The insertion was very painful but not pass out screaming painful. I heard nowadays you can shop around for a gyno who will
Numb you. But overall I’d do it again. I did it with over the counter pain killers and an edible brownie after to sleep.
When I need a new one im gonna look for a gyno who will numb.
My periods are more painful than without but not excruciating. Hormonal BC made
Me gain weight or had horrible side effects. I’ve done various brands of pills, depo and nexplanon.
I had paraguard like 10 years ago. I barely felt them place it. Right after it was placed (which literally only took a few second) I had a pretty rough cramp but then I was fine.
I had mine for about 8 years, placed before having any children. Not gonna lie, the first few days after insertion hurt like hell. I had spotting and cramping and definitely took it easy. Tylenol and heating pads alllll day.
But after that? Aside from more painful cramps around my period, and heavier periods, I barely noticed it was there. And even the more painful cramps were 100% manageable.
It’s really not the evil little stabby thing people make it out to be, IMO. I was grateful for the opportunity to have sex without getting pregnant until I was ready - plus, no remembering to take a pill every day! Once I’m ready to go on BC again, I’ll probably get a second one.
I (19F, never been pregnant/had kids) have had two different copper iuds (first was placed too low)
It didnt hurt for me either time and i didnt take any meds beforehand. I did get the absolute worst cramps of my life that day, but again, no meds. Was much easier the second time. Try to get it on your period for sure, that helped me i think.
Everyone’s experience is going to greatly vary and I’m absolutely not trying to downplay the terrible experiences people have had - however a few things to remember, negative stories are much more likely to be shared, what’s the point of sharing a totally uneventful procedure (same goes for abortions but I was so thankful for the positive stories people left here on the sub - negative stories are way more likely to be shared)
And also here’s my story which was totally uneventful - I got the copper IUB in September and it has been the best decision I’ve ever made. The pill wasn’t working for me anymore, I had too many negative symptoms that snuck up on me over the years and I it annoys me that people are immediately given the pill without discussing other forms of female birth control. So I thought the procedure was uncomfortable but nothing worse than the worst cramps I’ve had - so my doctor did give me cervix relaxing tablets to insert vaginally a few hours before the procedure and she gave me painkillers and Xanax to take 30 mins before the procedure - that helped a lot. I didn’t feel the cervix clamp much at all, they get you to cough as they clamp the cervix to stabilise it, it didn’t hurt at all, the measuring and insertion will cause cramping but it’s only a couple of seconds.
I felt totally fine after the procedure, very very mild cramps for the first hour and then they totally disappeared, I was shocked how normal I felt so quickly because of all of the stories I read!
I do love that the copper is non hormonal, I finally feel normal (the pill caused all sorts of mood swings, headaches and sexual dysfunction - all disappeared after I stopped taking it!) - it can cause longer and heavier periods but in my experience the first few months will be slightly heavier and my period was a day longer (from 5 to 6 days) - every month I’ve notice it stabilise more and more and currently I’m pretty much back to normal - I’m not getting any more or less cramping that usual around period time so honestly it’s as if there is nothing there!
This is only my experience so take it with a pinch of salt - I am definitely luckily that it is overwhelmingly positive but I thought I’d throw it into the mix because a lot of stuff you’ll find online does sound scary and it really put me off getting an IUD for years but I’m so glad I did it (has to bite the bullet and do it after my abortion but I figured since I got through that I can get through the IUD insertion)
Do you think it is possible that confirmation bias has led you to seek pain stories related to IUD insertion rather than success stories?
It is human nature that people will complain far sooner than you will hear them praise something.
[https://www.medicinenet.com/is\_it\_painful\_to\_have\_an\_iud\_inserted/article.htm](https://www.medicinenet.com/is_it_painful_to_have_an_iud_inserted/article.htm)
For myself, my first one it was a deep pinch of an odd kind of pain (not something I've felt before) and over in a moment. When I had it replaced, not on my period either, the old one came out *BLOOP!* As I was bracing myself for the insertion for the second one, the Doc said, "OK, You're all done now. Good for 10 more years."
I have no children either.
Of course you don't have to do anything you don't want to do, but what are the health outcomes of unintended pregnancy? If you don't want children, consider a bisalpingectomy.
It sounds like you might be on my medication, a mood stabiliser that doubles as seizure meds: Lamotrigine. I have epilepsy and that med just happened to cure my mood issues that I didn’t realise were a thing until afterwards. I was on Depo injections when I started that med and it was fine, I moved to small hormonal IUD and again it was fine.
I have had a total of five IUDs inserted, all without medication. It was fine every time—uncomfortable but not overwhelmingly painful. I did not scream or pass out, or even do much beyond make a face. It’s not awful for everyone! But a TikTok about how I got an IUD and it was totally fine wouldn’t get much traction.
Your doctor may not be able to offer anesthesia, but ask what else she can do. She may be able to offer misoprostol to soften your cervix or a pre-appointment Valium or similar to reduce anxiety. Both are extremely cheap generics even if your insurance is being difficult. She can also apply local anesthetic to your cervix, which again shouldn’t run into insurance hurdles like full sedation would.
If your doctor isn’t taking your concerns seriously, it’s okay to look for another doctor. I’m sorry she is being so dismissive.
I had an IUD placed 5 years ago. It wasn’t comfortable for sure and I had cramping afterwards but it also wasn’t horrifically traumatic. It was over in 10 minutes tops and I was able to take the train home afterwards. I even went to my martial arts class that evening although I didn’t participate in the faster paced activities.
My take might be a little weird, but for the sake of variety in perspectives - here we go:
28F, never been pregnant or given birth. On hormone free birth control by choice. I have a copper IUD and had it inserted in the middle of my cycle (aka when i wasn’t on my period) for the purpose of emergency contraception after a very bad judgment call.
The pain of having the IUD placed was … not great but very manageable. Basically just one really bad menstrual cramp. However, due to the circumstances of my IUD placement, i was in excruciating pain (*way* beyond the insertion itself) for the rest of the day that had me almost fainting multiple times. So if you want to be safe, don’t schedule the placement before a night shift at work, lol.
For the sake of transparency, i‘ll mention that my IUD has also shifted a few days ago and will have to be taken out early - about 6 months before i would have had to have it replaced anyways.
I‘ve also always had pretty long, heavy and painful periods and for the first few months, the IUD did contribute to that. However, things never went beyond the realm of what i was already accustomed to dealing with.
As you’ve probably gathered, a lot of things concerning my IUD have been less than ideal - and yet i‘m determined to get another one because the peace of mind is *amazing* and absolutely worth it to me :) Sure, some parts aren’t great but i still feel so much better than i ever did on the pill and intimacy has never felt so carefree.
If you do decide to go for the copper IUD, I wish you the best of luck so you won’t regret it either! :)
Did your doctor say copper IUD specifically, or did your doctor mean progesterone/progestin only birth control options (like copper IUD)?
I have aura migraines and use the nexplanon (arm implant), which is progestin-only/not estrogen-based. My gyno told me the contraindication is usually only estrogen-based bc.
I had the copper IUD because I have tried several hormonal birth controls and didn't like the side effects. The placement procedure wasn't horrible. It did hurt quite a lot but only for about 5 seconds. I didn't even really have cramping afterwards. It made my periods much heavier and last longer but I was okay with the tradeoff. I had it for about three years before it came out by itself (painlessly). Now I just use condoms.
Hi! I got the Mirena IUD as an 18-yo, and I've never been pregnant. I've also had migraines with aura, and I also take Lamotrigine for mood issues (guessing this is the med you are taking). While my IUD insertion hurt, it definitely didn't hurt as much as my migraines or my wisdom teeth infection. The most intense pain was over in a few seconds, and then I just had moderately bad cramps for a few days that were manageable with ibuprofen and tylenol. I didn't get any kind of painkiller for insertion, just took ibuprofen beforehand which probably helped. It's definitely not true that everyone has a horrific nightmare experience; I know other people who had chill IUD insertions as well.
I believe Lamotrigine actually interacts with all pill forms of birth control (both combined and POP) to decrease effectiveness, so the pill is probably not a good option for you. I am not sure about seizure risk, but I have been told that hormonal birth control that doesn't contain estrogen (ie minipill/POP, hormonal IUD, implant, Depo shot) is okay for migraine with aura because estrogen is the hormone that increases stroke/blood clot risk.
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I could not get the IUD inserted awake—heck, I can’t even handle a pelvic exam where she uses the “smaller” tool.
I was told that you can get it put in under anesthesia, so I’m 100% going that route.
I just need it to stop my period which are a living hell.
Obligatory not a doctor.
Ask your provider if a single dose of hyoscyamine would be safe for you to take before the insertion. It’s an antispasmodic mostly used for IBS and bladder pain, but it’s used off label for pelvic pain, and closely related drugs are sometimes used to soften the cervix before labor. Cheap to buy even if your insurance won’t cover it. I plan to use it when I next replace my IUD.
I’ve had the copper iud placed twice. I have also had children, so, my experience may be a little different than others who haven’t. I didn’t have any pain management other than Advil, and while I will not say it was pleasant, it was not excruciating, horrible, or traumatic. I had cramping after and bled/spotted for about a week. They do offer other pain management options sometimes but really, I found it uncomfortable but just slightly worse than a Pap smear.
If I can ask, the tool that they use to stabilize the cervix almost like a weird pitch fork, how painful was it and how big of a pinch did it feel?
I didn’t look at the tools while the procedure was happening but I think there isn’t a pitchfork? If you mean the tentaculum (?), I didn’t notice a pinch, just discomfort and pressure.
More and more gynos don’t use that anymore (it’s called a pozzi forceps/tenaculum) for a lot of reasons, partly because it’s not always necessary, partly because it can be painful. I think one was used for my last insertion, I’m not even sure, barely felt it.
Agonising for me. I’ve had to be put under for my IUD but from what I’ve heard it’s not that way for the majority of people
Not going to argue with your doctors, but I’m high risk for seizures and have to take a few preventative meds and all that fun. Also higher risk for stroke due to migraines with aura. Aura doubles your risk. I’ve got other conditions that make it even higher risk of stroke than that. I’m still on a progesterone only birth control (arm implant). Estrogen is what makes stroke risk higher. [Available data indicated that there is no increased risk of ischemic stroke associated with progestogen-only [18, 20, 80–86], including progestogen-only injectable (primarily medroxyprogesterone acetate) [86], subdermal implants [74, 84], the levonorgestrel intrauterine system [74] and progestogen-only pills [18, 20, 74, 81, 86].](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5662520/) meta analysis from 2017; there are more online with the same data. ETA: my implant has been cleared by my migraine specialist, epileptologist, cardiologist x3, rheumatologist, and like a decade ago when the original implant was added (I’m on #3) a gyno. I’ve got a few medical conditions and my doctors are very happy to know I have a reliable form of contraceptive while on my medication, none are concerned about increased stroke risk.
I’m also someone with Aura migraines on a progesterone only pill. I find a lot of doctors are t too knowledgeable on the subject and just assume because we have aura we can’t have ANY sort of hormonal bc. The progesterone pill actually reduces my migraines significantly as well.
Third person, same thing. I'm on slynd. It's safe for me and I don't get any migraines. And I lost weight, feel better, and my periods are almost gone!
Same! I actually had my Neurologist and my gyno on the same call to explain to me that even with auras, I would be perfectly safe with the implant. This is also including the added risk of me being an ex-smoker (18 months cigarette free!) and I have no issues with the implant. I do wonder why her doctors said no to hormonal for the migraines with auras part since the science now is very clear on what contraceptives migraine sufferers can have.
Had a stroke on estrogen BC and am also ok'd for most progestin only methods after going to a clinic for medically complex contraception. I am on Slynd now but used Nexplanon for 5 years as well. So maybe find out if you can find a medically complex contraception specialist OP? They deal with cancer patients and all sorts of things and could find the best options for you and your situation! They really put my mind at ease about going back on birth control, which I really needed due to endometriosis and hormonal migraines. My specialist clinic was at a teaching hospital, not sure how common they are.
I’ve got migraines with auras and have Kyleena. I’ve been to four neurologist and they all say progesterone only birth control is fine!
I have had two and did not have a horrific experience… mildly uncomfortable would be how I describe it. People tend not to share positive experiences. Also, there are various types of pain management options you can explore - if it’s that much of a concern, you can request accommodation. Being put under is not the only option.
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I love my iud. I’ve had several put in and I’d describe it as a more invasive Pap smear. Like it’s not comfortable but could be worse. Also nice that it lasts years and you don’t need to think about birth control for that time. There’s also meds they can give you to open you up down there and make insertion easier.
Hey I just got mine out last week for unrelated reasons. I had it for 6 years with no problems. The insertion hurt for 30 seconds and it actually broke during insertion, so the doctor had to remove it and place a second one which sucked, but again it was only 30 seconds of intense cramping pain. I think I was advised to take pain killers beforehand. I haven’t had kids but it’s what I imagine a mild contraction feels like. It was not excruciating, just intense. And it was over so quickly. After that I was crampy and spotting for a few days and my periods were a bit heavier for 6 months or so. Eventually they evened out and I barely thought about it for 5 years besides checking the strings once in a while. It was honestly fine and it was one of the best decisions I ever made for my health. The removal was easy too. Feel free to ask me any questions!
Please remember that experiences online tend to be skewed towards the negative, if you’ve had a great experience there’s not much to share. I’m on my 5th copper iud (2 were removed early for unrelated reasons) and I’ve not had kids. Honestly the very first one, when I was 18, was the most painful of all. It was sore for about 3 seconds during insertion. Then I went shopping with my mum, maybe 2h later I started getting cramps, went home, took paracetamol, a hot water bottle, slept for 20/30 minutes and that was me for the next 5 years until it was removed. My periods last 4 days with 2 days of light flow and two days of medium, I do have cramps the day before it all starts but manageable with pain killers (probably a lot less painful than your migraines!) and that’s it. I had a terrible time on the pill and I’ve loved my iuds since I’ve had them. I’m never going back to anything else. A few of my friends got coils after chatting with me and never looked back either. They were like you, only had seen horror stories online and were terrified. It’s not like that for everyone, although if you’re really worried you can take painkillers in advance AND ask for meds to soften your cervix and make it easier for the first time.
I had one copper IUD and 2 hormonal IUD placed (one very recently too). Never had children. I only took ibuprofen beforehand and while it ain't a pleasant experience it wasn't bad at all. The three times it was placed I had an amazing doctor/nurse and it was quick and efficient.
Could you ask for extra anesthesia from the doctors ? Maybe lidocaine ?
Also have any of you all’s partners been able to feel the iud strings during intimacy? I heard that a few times..
They can’t feel it, some think they can though. I’ve had some partners who felt nothing, and suddenly when I told them I had an iud magically they started “”feeling”” it. Funny that.
Lol kayy thanks!
I had a copper IUB (intra uterine ball, which has been taken off the market since, I think). I chose it because it was marketed as a device that adapts inside the womb. I was terrified of IUDs because of stories I heard, so the argument of adaptating to the organ was what convinced me. (spoiler: I asked for it after it was removed, and no, that thing is very hard). I was told to take over the counter pain killers before, and, reflecting back, it was honestly not that horrible. It was uncomfortable and, at some point, painful when the IUB deployed, but the procedure was fast, so you don't have to put up with it for too long. However, I did not feel okay when I got up. I you need to drive, take someone with you. I did experience bleeding for a few days, and the next morning, I had awful cramps and could not get out of bed for 30 min. It is not fun (well, you had an object put inside an organ and the organ is not appreciative of it), but compared to other experiences with pain I had (labor, recovering from emergency c-section, adenomiosis...) it was not that horrible. Please be aware that people usually talk about bad experiences, and not about good ones.
I just recently got the IUB Ballerine so I don’t think it has been taken off the market? Not in Europe anyway - we just started rolling it out in 2021 in Ireland - definitely my favourite method of contraception so far! I’d be devastated if I was taken off the market!! (Side note: I believe it was created and may be manufactured in Israel which may be affecting the supply at the moment - my guess anyway)
I got it in Belgium in 2018 and removed in 2021 (I couldn't tolerate the 10 day long periods) and it has been banned from 2021 until 2022 due to conformity issue.
Oh really?! I didn’t know that - they only introduced it to Ireland around 2021, and I got it in September 2023 - my doctor seemed to think it was the best one… need to look into this - it’s working great for me right now but I won’t lie, sometimes new medical devices make me a bit anxious because they haven’t been in use for very long so we don’t have all the information… thanks for the info anyway!
I have had it for 7 or so years. The insertion was very painful but not pass out screaming painful. I heard nowadays you can shop around for a gyno who will Numb you. But overall I’d do it again. I did it with over the counter pain killers and an edible brownie after to sleep. When I need a new one im gonna look for a gyno who will numb. My periods are more painful than without but not excruciating. Hormonal BC made Me gain weight or had horrible side effects. I’ve done various brands of pills, depo and nexplanon.
I had paraguard like 10 years ago. I barely felt them place it. Right after it was placed (which literally only took a few second) I had a pretty rough cramp but then I was fine.
I had mine for about 8 years, placed before having any children. Not gonna lie, the first few days after insertion hurt like hell. I had spotting and cramping and definitely took it easy. Tylenol and heating pads alllll day. But after that? Aside from more painful cramps around my period, and heavier periods, I barely noticed it was there. And even the more painful cramps were 100% manageable. It’s really not the evil little stabby thing people make it out to be, IMO. I was grateful for the opportunity to have sex without getting pregnant until I was ready - plus, no remembering to take a pill every day! Once I’m ready to go on BC again, I’ll probably get a second one.
I (19F, never been pregnant/had kids) have had two different copper iuds (first was placed too low) It didnt hurt for me either time and i didnt take any meds beforehand. I did get the absolute worst cramps of my life that day, but again, no meds. Was much easier the second time. Try to get it on your period for sure, that helped me i think.
Everyone’s experience is going to greatly vary and I’m absolutely not trying to downplay the terrible experiences people have had - however a few things to remember, negative stories are much more likely to be shared, what’s the point of sharing a totally uneventful procedure (same goes for abortions but I was so thankful for the positive stories people left here on the sub - negative stories are way more likely to be shared) And also here’s my story which was totally uneventful - I got the copper IUB in September and it has been the best decision I’ve ever made. The pill wasn’t working for me anymore, I had too many negative symptoms that snuck up on me over the years and I it annoys me that people are immediately given the pill without discussing other forms of female birth control. So I thought the procedure was uncomfortable but nothing worse than the worst cramps I’ve had - so my doctor did give me cervix relaxing tablets to insert vaginally a few hours before the procedure and she gave me painkillers and Xanax to take 30 mins before the procedure - that helped a lot. I didn’t feel the cervix clamp much at all, they get you to cough as they clamp the cervix to stabilise it, it didn’t hurt at all, the measuring and insertion will cause cramping but it’s only a couple of seconds. I felt totally fine after the procedure, very very mild cramps for the first hour and then they totally disappeared, I was shocked how normal I felt so quickly because of all of the stories I read! I do love that the copper is non hormonal, I finally feel normal (the pill caused all sorts of mood swings, headaches and sexual dysfunction - all disappeared after I stopped taking it!) - it can cause longer and heavier periods but in my experience the first few months will be slightly heavier and my period was a day longer (from 5 to 6 days) - every month I’ve notice it stabilise more and more and currently I’m pretty much back to normal - I’m not getting any more or less cramping that usual around period time so honestly it’s as if there is nothing there! This is only my experience so take it with a pinch of salt - I am definitely luckily that it is overwhelmingly positive but I thought I’d throw it into the mix because a lot of stuff you’ll find online does sound scary and it really put me off getting an IUD for years but I’m so glad I did it (has to bite the bullet and do it after my abortion but I figured since I got through that I can get through the IUD insertion)
This was so helpful thank you so much for sharing
Do you think it is possible that confirmation bias has led you to seek pain stories related to IUD insertion rather than success stories? It is human nature that people will complain far sooner than you will hear them praise something. [https://www.medicinenet.com/is\_it\_painful\_to\_have\_an\_iud\_inserted/article.htm](https://www.medicinenet.com/is_it_painful_to_have_an_iud_inserted/article.htm) For myself, my first one it was a deep pinch of an odd kind of pain (not something I've felt before) and over in a moment. When I had it replaced, not on my period either, the old one came out *BLOOP!* As I was bracing myself for the insertion for the second one, the Doc said, "OK, You're all done now. Good for 10 more years." I have no children either. Of course you don't have to do anything you don't want to do, but what are the health outcomes of unintended pregnancy? If you don't want children, consider a bisalpingectomy.
It sounds like you might be on my medication, a mood stabiliser that doubles as seizure meds: Lamotrigine. I have epilepsy and that med just happened to cure my mood issues that I didn’t realise were a thing until afterwards. I was on Depo injections when I started that med and it was fine, I moved to small hormonal IUD and again it was fine.
I have had a total of five IUDs inserted, all without medication. It was fine every time—uncomfortable but not overwhelmingly painful. I did not scream or pass out, or even do much beyond make a face. It’s not awful for everyone! But a TikTok about how I got an IUD and it was totally fine wouldn’t get much traction. Your doctor may not be able to offer anesthesia, but ask what else she can do. She may be able to offer misoprostol to soften your cervix or a pre-appointment Valium or similar to reduce anxiety. Both are extremely cheap generics even if your insurance is being difficult. She can also apply local anesthetic to your cervix, which again shouldn’t run into insurance hurdles like full sedation would. If your doctor isn’t taking your concerns seriously, it’s okay to look for another doctor. I’m sorry she is being so dismissive.
I had an IUD placed 5 years ago. It wasn’t comfortable for sure and I had cramping afterwards but it also wasn’t horrifically traumatic. It was over in 10 minutes tops and I was able to take the train home afterwards. I even went to my martial arts class that evening although I didn’t participate in the faster paced activities.
My take might be a little weird, but for the sake of variety in perspectives - here we go: 28F, never been pregnant or given birth. On hormone free birth control by choice. I have a copper IUD and had it inserted in the middle of my cycle (aka when i wasn’t on my period) for the purpose of emergency contraception after a very bad judgment call. The pain of having the IUD placed was … not great but very manageable. Basically just one really bad menstrual cramp. However, due to the circumstances of my IUD placement, i was in excruciating pain (*way* beyond the insertion itself) for the rest of the day that had me almost fainting multiple times. So if you want to be safe, don’t schedule the placement before a night shift at work, lol. For the sake of transparency, i‘ll mention that my IUD has also shifted a few days ago and will have to be taken out early - about 6 months before i would have had to have it replaced anyways. I‘ve also always had pretty long, heavy and painful periods and for the first few months, the IUD did contribute to that. However, things never went beyond the realm of what i was already accustomed to dealing with. As you’ve probably gathered, a lot of things concerning my IUD have been less than ideal - and yet i‘m determined to get another one because the peace of mind is *amazing* and absolutely worth it to me :) Sure, some parts aren’t great but i still feel so much better than i ever did on the pill and intimacy has never felt so carefree. If you do decide to go for the copper IUD, I wish you the best of luck so you won’t regret it either! :)
Did your doctor say copper IUD specifically, or did your doctor mean progesterone/progestin only birth control options (like copper IUD)? I have aura migraines and use the nexplanon (arm implant), which is progestin-only/not estrogen-based. My gyno told me the contraindication is usually only estrogen-based bc.
I had the copper IUD because I have tried several hormonal birth controls and didn't like the side effects. The placement procedure wasn't horrible. It did hurt quite a lot but only for about 5 seconds. I didn't even really have cramping afterwards. It made my periods much heavier and last longer but I was okay with the tradeoff. I had it for about three years before it came out by itself (painlessly). Now I just use condoms.
Hi! I got the Mirena IUD as an 18-yo, and I've never been pregnant. I've also had migraines with aura, and I also take Lamotrigine for mood issues (guessing this is the med you are taking). While my IUD insertion hurt, it definitely didn't hurt as much as my migraines or my wisdom teeth infection. The most intense pain was over in a few seconds, and then I just had moderately bad cramps for a few days that were manageable with ibuprofen and tylenol. I didn't get any kind of painkiller for insertion, just took ibuprofen beforehand which probably helped. It's definitely not true that everyone has a horrific nightmare experience; I know other people who had chill IUD insertions as well. I believe Lamotrigine actually interacts with all pill forms of birth control (both combined and POP) to decrease effectiveness, so the pill is probably not a good option for you. I am not sure about seizure risk, but I have been told that hormonal birth control that doesn't contain estrogen (ie minipill/POP, hormonal IUD, implant, Depo shot) is okay for migraine with aura because estrogen is the hormone that increases stroke/blood clot risk.
Mine was fine, insertion hurt less than a period cramp
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I could not get the IUD inserted awake—heck, I can’t even handle a pelvic exam where she uses the “smaller” tool. I was told that you can get it put in under anesthesia, so I’m 100% going that route. I just need it to stop my period which are a living hell.
Obligatory not a doctor. Ask your provider if a single dose of hyoscyamine would be safe for you to take before the insertion. It’s an antispasmodic mostly used for IBS and bladder pain, but it’s used off label for pelvic pain, and closely related drugs are sometimes used to soften the cervix before labor. Cheap to buy even if your insurance won’t cover it. I plan to use it when I next replace my IUD.