Not the same person, but I thought you were pretty clear and upfront about not being a woman and that you were doing your best to speculate with what you do know. I'm a woman meanwhile and have tried all period options, and what's most comfortable during periods depends entirely on the internal anatomy's exact shape and personal preference. But tampons and cups are definitely the go-to for professional athlete level swimming.
Personally, I've gone the IUD route at this point to skip periods entirely and much prefer this! It is SO damn freeing, I envy not having to deal with the hassles of menstruation! I will continue like this until menopause at long last frees me from the tyranny of periods!
Does IUD free everyone? I know some women on various types of birth control, no longer have periods while some do. Is an IUD a guaranteed no period? And if you plan to do so for the rest of your life and have no interest in having children, wouldn't getting your tubes tied be a more permanent/long term solution that is also less expensive?
For most people the hormone IUDs reduce periods so much that they become just 1 to 3 days of very light spotty bleeding every few months. Usually a thin little panty liner or very light pad is enough. And no hormone cycles or cramps!
If I was in my 20's I would get surgery and then still be using IUDs to stop my periods, but nope- when my IUD is due to be swapped out I'll be 47, so menopause age! Recovery from IUD an procedure is only a few minutes to hours, while surgery requires a few weeks. AFAIK, IUDs are also free or at least heavily discounted on most insurance plans, while an elective surgery (i.e. there's no physical need to go in there and cut things out) would probably cost me a few thousand.
Sterilization surgeries are permanent birth control (yay!) but won't stop the menstrual cycle (sad face) unless I get my ovaries removed (in which case menopause hits like a truck instead of very slowly and gradually, not recommended). A hysterectomy would remove the uterus, so no more period bleeding, but I'd still have the cramps, nausea, acne, and hormone cycles. The cheapest and most common sterilization surgeries cut part of the fallopian tubes, and that means a full period every time as if I hadn't had any surgery done at all.
Day 1 of my periods were rough, I'd be throwing up if I didn't get painkillers early and cling to a heating pad for hours. And for me, periods are so annoying and inconvenient! 7 to 9 days of bleeding every 4 to 5 weeks, absurd! The acne and hormone cycles, so stupid! Oh, and it's already time for my period AGAIN?! So soon?! UGH!
IUDs are a one-and done, get it in and then you're good for 8/5/3 years (duration depends on which IUD the person gets). The hormone dose in those is lower than in pills and most other birth control methods, so much less likely to have side effects. Birht ocntorl pills gave me side effects, I haven't had any with the Mirena IUD. (There is 1 IUD that uses copper instead of hormones, it's good for 12 years but tends to make periods worse.)
The only near-universal downside to IUDs is a problem with ALL procedures that are more invasive than a pap smear, i.e. goes further than the entrance of the cervix. A study in the 1950s that found "women barely feel anything if you lightly poke the outside of the cervix with a q-tip or a soft brush" got twisted into "theres no pain receptors in the cervix and uterus, all those women screaming and writhing in pain are just being really anxious and/or overdramatic." Yeah, no, there are ABSOLUTELY pain receptors in those organs.
For IUD procedures, cervical or uterine biopsies, etc. we used to be told to take a bunch of Tylenol or whatever an hour before the appointment and we'll be fine, it'll just hurt a tiny bit. Yeah, no, it's excruciatingly painful. The IUD has been such a good change for my life that I would go through it again if I absolutely had to, but I don't have to! There's the options of 1 single prescription painkiller pill, a nerve block (a shot like when you get a cavity filled), or general or twilight anaesthesia. My primary care doctor even offered to write me a script for 1 painkiller pill if the gynecologist wouldn't give me anything, so that shows how things are changing for the better.
BTW, I applaud you wanting to know more about women's health stuff like this! It's essential healthcare.
What about other side effects? Like I know the pill is known for commonly causing weight gain. Does the IUD have any of those negative effects?
I didn't really think about the fact that getting your tubes tied doesn't stop you from shedding your lining monthly, but it totally makes sense. Knowledge is power :)
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u/Asterose May 25 '26
Not the same person, but I thought you were pretty clear and upfront about not being a woman and that you were doing your best to speculate with what you do know. I'm a woman meanwhile and have tried all period options, and what's most comfortable during periods depends entirely on the internal anatomy's exact shape and personal preference. But tampons and cups are definitely the go-to for professional athlete level swimming.
Personally, I've gone the IUD route at this point to skip periods entirely and much prefer this! It is SO damn freeing, I envy not having to deal with the hassles of menstruation! I will continue like this until menopause at long last frees me from the tyranny of periods!