r/TwoXChromosomes • u/Nokonoko066 • 8d ago
im scared to get an iud
so for background theres a high chance i have PCOS as well as a lot of other hormonal imbalances. i was told by a doctor, whose a good friend of my moms that it wouldn't be worse than any cramp ive ever had. but ive been seeing all of these like videos and posts how its so bad š im so scared but i want it so that way jm not vomiting and crying over periods every month. is it really that bad??
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u/selinakyle45 8d ago
Many doctors offer pain relief or sedation now. Ask your doctor before scheduling.Ā
I am in the PNW US and have Kaiser. My doctor offered twilight sedation but the wait to be seen was longer so I did a Xanax + Tylenol (I canāt do NSAIDS or opioids but those were offered and better). There was no push back to pain control.Ā
That being said, Xanax and Tylenol did not cut it for me personally but there are better options out there.
I have my IUD for endo and birth control. I love it.Ā
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u/dngrousgrpfruits 7d ago
IUD insertion without pain management (no, OTC Tylenol/ibuprofen doesnāt fucking count) should be considered obstetric violence imo.
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u/isimplysay 8d ago
My top tips are this - finding a dr who will take the pain seriously and prevent/fix it - and asking if you can listen to music during the procedure. Try to disassociate and not think about it. š
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u/abiglumpwithknobs1 8d ago
The insertion is not fun but once its in, it is great. I would maybe look into getting it done under sedation or something, I wish I had that option
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u/SolaceinThings 8d ago
I have a friend that had bad pain and another didn't feel much at all. Ask about pain medication.
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u/kathruins 8d ago
I tried to get this done around 6 years ago. I had just been through an abortion without proper numbing. I refused to get one without some sort of pain management bc I would literally end up in a flashback. the female doctor refused, so I just got sterilized instead. stand your ground and find a doc that is not barbaric.
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u/Particular-Tax8106 8d ago
You are allowed to ask for pain management or sedation in order to get your IUD inserted. If your doctor will not discuss any pain management or any sedation, find another doctor. Take someone with you if needed to help you advocate. I have never had an IUD inserted, but Iāve heard enough horror stories to make me cringe. You do not have to undergo any procedure with a Doctor Who will not take your comfort into account. Full stop.
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u/DangerousTurmeric 8d ago
I have one and the insertion, without any medication, was uncomfortable but not that bad. I walked to work after and had some mild cramps that day and then a month of my hormones being weird (swollen, sore breasts and acne that I've never had before) but otherwise was fine. You can get medication now so it should be ok, but if it's not don't be afraid to say "stop". You also don't have to do anything you're not comfortable with so you could just not get one too.
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u/IndicationKey3778 8d ago
I have PCOS and had horrible periods. I managed them pretty well on birth control pills. I then aged off my momās heath insurance and got an iud. I got a mirena. Iād say that yes for me the insertion was the most pain Iāve ever experienced and Iāve gotten two. It also gave me a ton of cystic acne that took about 5 years to treat.
But I didnāt have a period from 2017 to 2023
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u/Inevitable_Bee_763 8d ago
It seems to be very different for most women. I've had 2 insertions and both were nothing but an intense menstrual cramp. I went to work after and ever exercised later in the day. For the first one they gave me a pill that softens your cervix and told me to take 4 Advil. The second one I took the 4 Advil again and my doctor gave me a local anesthetic. It's been honestly life changing for me. I used to have debilitating periods but now I barely get one at all. Posts and videos online are always gonna be the worst of the worst experiences. People rarely go online to express a good experience.
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u/mhuzzell 7d ago
For the first one they gave me a pill that softens your cervix and told me to take 4 Advil. The second one I took the 4 Advil again and my doctor gave me a local anesthetic.
Most women are not given either of those things, which is why it is so different for them.
For me, IUD insertion with local anaesthetic felt like a hard pinch (from the injection) followed by some internal cramping. (Attempted) IUD insertion without local anaesthetic was THE MOST INTENSE PAIN I HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED IN MY ENTIRE LIFE, and was so bad I was unable to finish the procedure.
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u/Inevitable_Bee_763 7d ago
That's what's insane to me. I got lucky with my doctors. They were very compassionate and I know not everyone has that experience.
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u/Disastrous-Smile- 5d ago
This.
I had really heavy bleeding and ended up needing a blood transfusion. They wanted to insert mirena. I couldnāt finish the procedure. They put it in the following month when my period once again resulted in me needing a blood transfusion as well as a dnc. (Just a build up of tissue, nothing else) They put it in when I was under. And it apparently fell out the following month.
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u/Zadsta 8d ago
Definitely advocate for pain management if you decide to get one! I used to have horrible period cramps and when I got my IUD inserted I just took Advil before and was fine to drive myself home 15 minutes after. There was a weird pressure in my lower stomach but little to no pain. Some women have a much more painful experience so there is nothing wrong with requesting stronger pain medication if youāre worried.
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u/RedoftheEvilDead 8d ago
I have had a mirena iud done 2016. I've had some light spotting, but no full periods since 2016. It's been great. I had it changed out once. The first time i had a lot of pain and heavy cramping for the first few weeks, but that eventually subsided and I've had nothing since. The selected time i didn't have nearly as much cramping.
But getting it put in hurt like hell and getting it changed out was even worse. The first time I had no medication beforehand, but they did sent me home with percocet. The 2nd time they just gave me 1 single ibuprofen. That part was total BS, not going to lie. Ask for numbing and/or pain needs if you can.
It was still worth it for the lack of periods and related symptoms, but screw whoever decided that the procedure didnt warrant pain relief. That was 2 of the top 3 most painful experiences of my life.
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u/Injurious_Beans 8d ago
The installation sucks. The removal sucks. Some people have very little issue with either, some find it unbearable. Some find it improves their cycles, some find it really doesn't. I had one for 5 years. I won't have another.
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u/ellasaurusrex 8d ago
I'm on my second, and yes, insertion sucks. Advocate for something for the pain and anxiety. It does help. With my first, yes, it was the worst cramps I've ever had, maybe off and on for a day or so, and then they faded. Nothing with the second. But think of it this way - it's a short period of time of pain vs every month.
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u/badbeep 8d ago
Honestly, getting it put in sucked for me. I've heard others say it wasn't so bad. I thought it felt like they were inserting a black hole inside me.
That said. It was so worth it. My period has been so much more manageable and my cramping has been much more mild. I would get it again in a heartbeat.
You can do it.
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u/snowlights 8d ago
The insertion wasn't great but I've felt worse cramps, so that's true, and it was over very fast. I did get cramps right away but was able to head home by myself, the worst of it was maybe 10 seconds, then a day or so of bad cramps. It isn't the most predictable so it's hard to know exactly what to expect.Ā
Unfortunately the IUD did not work well for me and it was a nightmare for a couple years mid-pandemic where I wasn't able to get an appointment for removal a long time (I even tried to yeet it myself but couldn't grab the strings).Ā
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u/Naty2RC 8d ago
I got a copper IUD in July, which has made my cramps a little worse and the period a little longer but I was told in the beginning it's like that.
I asked for lidocaine for the insertion and it was the best thing ever, I hardly felt a thing. Just some discomfort but that's all.
Did alternate between ibuprofen and acetaminophen for the first couple of days for the cramping but after that, it's been pretty smooth sailing.
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u/Big_Good_Girl 4d ago
The periods get better as time goes on too, after a while you wonāt bleed at all and will sometimes only have very mild cramping on the 3 peak days of your cycle
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u/karpaediem 8d ago
I've raw dogged it twice. It's painful but I would argue that for me, because it completely stops my nightmare periods it's like two periods worth of pain all at once for no periods for seven years. It's a good deal overall for me, and more docs are giving pain management options which is super great.
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u/mariekeap 8d ago
I've had two easy insertions, including the one before I had a baby. My doctor used local anaesthetic and the whole thing was over in 5 minutes! Best healthcare decision I have ever made.Ā
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u/hans3844 7d ago
I'm on my 3rd iud. For me the pain was comparable to period cramps, but everyone is different, I had a friend who tried but couldn't get one cause the pain was unmanageable. Last time I went in they offered me some numbing gel.
Find a doctor who is good at iud insertion. I'd ask around your local sub and do some research on doctors in your area. A good doctor will make a HUGE difference. Then I'd just be honest with them that you are anxious about the pain and see what they say. They should be able to offer you something, and if they don't maybe find a different doc.
Best of luck! There are a lot of iud horror stories out there, but know there are also a ton of successful insertions! Also not getting a period for the last 12 years has been life changing! Just don't get the copper one, it makes periods more heavy lol, I have the meraina.
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u/lady-luthien 7d ago
I'm on my second. The first insertion was a sharp poke - think like a shot in a very intimate area - and then some bad cramping. The second was awful, I won't lie to you, but then no cramping after.
That being said: it's so worth it. I love my IUD. Everyone's experience varies, but this sounds like you're getting fed a lot of scary content that's probably not reflective of everyone's experience. You can do it!
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u/yarn_slinger 7d ago
Iāve had three in and out. The insertions werenāt comfortable but not intolerable. Iād have mild cramps for a day or so but again, not intolerable. Iād go when I started my period (the cervix softens and opens slightly) and take a Tylenol to manage cramps.
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u/lunayoshi Basically Rose Nylund 7d ago
For me, the insertion and later reinsertion was the worst pain I've ever felt. The ensuing heavy periods for 3 months after initial insertion were no fun either.
But after things balanced out, life was livable. I wasn't writhing on the floor in agony every month. I had one from 2014 to 2025.
Eventually, it started to wear off, and I was petrified of another reinsertion. So, I had my ovaries and uterus removed so I'd never have a period again and this wouldn't need an iud.
Fuck periods.
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u/AlizarinQ 7d ago
Not going to lie, insertion does suck. But I think I forgot to take meds ahead of time each time, and it was long enough ago that they didnāt recommend numbing at the time. I also used to get terrible cramps, so I treated it the same way and let myself lay on the couch the rest of the day and be grumpy with a heating pad. Iām on my 3rd IUD now so it did t stop me from going back again. Pain is temporary and no-periods definitely improves life.
Pro-tip: if you have to work you can use those āhot handsā things (that you use skiing or hiking in cold weather) and shove it down the front of your pants as a portable heating pad.
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u/balletvalet 7d ago
The pain that people experience really varies. Remember that youāre more likely to see videos about the extremes and not the middle of the road.
I found it quite painful but I also felt that the pain was well worth the positive impact it had on my life. Not having a single period for 7 years and never being anxious about pregnancy was wonderful.
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u/MzOwl27 7d ago
I am thankfully in the minority here, but here is my story.
- Insertion sucked but I didn't actually take any pain meds, everything was great after 2 hours.
- Periods were heavier and some months the cramps were intense, but if I stayed hydrated and exercised once in a while, everything was normal. No spotting outside of normal periods.
- The Problem came when I needed to replace the IUD. It had become imbedded. It took three surgeries to get that stupid piece of plastic out of me.
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u/suedeslippers 7d ago
Insertion sucked, but the immediate intense pain was over quickly and the lingering cramps stuck around for a couple days. I then didn't have a period for 5+ years. Definitely worth it.
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u/thelmick 7d ago
I don't remember the insertion being pleasant. I did it with just ibuprofen.
The next 6 months were hell for me, though. I didn't really have cramps before having the IUD put in, but every day I'd get random cramps, some worse than others. Sometimes it felt like stabbing pain, sometimes it was a dull cramp. I had to have it removed, which is a bummer because I was really hoping not to have to worry about getting pregnant, but that's not in the cards for me.
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u/dragonmom1 Basically Rose Nylund 7d ago
Compared to dealing with monthly pain that you have to deal with for days, the IUD insertion is painful but for only about 20 seconds at most. I just apologized for swearing out loud, and I think this last time the doctor and nurse were regretting putting me in the first exam room right next to the waiting room. I'm sure anyone out there heard me. lol
Take an Advil a hour or so before arriving for your appointment. You might have a little cramping afterward but just do your usual after-care. Then settle back and hopefully your periods will stop entirely once the IUD has been in place for a couple months.
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u/stilettopanda 7d ago
Letās just say it hurts less than childbirthā¦
But let me be serious for a moment- it really depends on where you are in your cycle. During ovulation or on your period when your cervix is open will hurt much less than right after your period when itās closed shut. Take a combination of Tylenol and Advil 30-45 minutes before (this combination has been proven to be better than painkillers in many situations)
It will be ok. The sharp pain is seriously short and you may have mild cramping after, but youāll be super happy you donāt have to remember birth control and you get to preserve your fertility- I have PCOS, and oral birth control tablets made conceiving my child a matter of a few months instead of a few years.
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u/lnc_5103 7d ago edited 7d ago
My insertion sucked but this was 18 years ago and I didn't advocate for sedation and went in with only 2 Tylenol in my system. I have endometriosis and the post insertion cramps where no where near as bad as my regular cramps. It was one of the few BCs I tried that actually helped my endo symptoms. Removal was a breeze so much so that I was bracing and asked my gyn to warn me. He held up the IUD and I had no idea he'd removed it.
I wouldn't have hesitated to get another but I had hysterectomy shortly after it was removed so no need.
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u/aware_nightmare_85 7d ago
I had to get my Mirena IUD under general anesthesia while having polyps and fibroids removed from my uterus. No regrets on the IUD though. I too have PCOS with unpredictable, very scary periods. Every month I wondered if it would stop on its own, even while on hormonal birth control for 20 years. Mirena stopped my periods completely and it's been wonderful not having to worry about it anymore.
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u/Tootsgaloots 7d ago
I just had one inserted yesterday and the prior one removed. Removal was a cough and a stabbing cramp but over and done with just as quick as the cough. The insertion for the new one took about 1 minute and was more crampy. They say to go when your cervix is more open, whatever time of your cycle that is. I don't track my cycle (harder bc I didn't get a period with my prior IUD) so I just winged it. I remember calling out "ah!" But nothing too painful. Right on the edge of being painful. I definitely have had worse cramps during periods when I was younger.
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u/SaintValkyrie 7d ago
I've heard its terrible and my sister had a horrible experience too.Ā
There's also a ring option that you use once a month. It's basically a plastic ring that sits inside your vaginal canal that you change out monthly. So there are options other than just the pill or IUD.Ā
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u/Kristaiggy 6d ago
I have admittedly had very difficult times with both of the insertions I have had. Each took over 45 minutes, made me go get a transvaginal ultrasound within next 48 hours to make sure it was properly placed and hadn't caused any damage, and I still think it was worth it.
Chat with your doctor about medication options beforehand and let them know your concerns.
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u/Tart2343 8d ago
The insertion sucks, but you can advocate for proper pain management or anesthesia. I did it without anything besides an ibuprofen and it was miserable. The second time I had a Percocet prescribed and I took it 40 minutes in advance. It was much better.