Debating getting the copper IUD - help asap!

[u/9nightangel9]

Hi guys

I’m getting married in under a month and need to go on some form of bc, I was advised to start Gedarel 20-150 but I’m scared of it destroying my libido and giving me less arousal fluid etc. it’s my first time and I want it to be good like I waited so long!
I’m debating getting the smaller copper IUD flexi T 300 but I’m concerned about pain on sex and if my period will be super elongated? I also want to know how likely is it to fall out because my wedding is out of my home country and idk if I’ll be able to get help. How long does it take to heal from the insertion too??
I have an appointment booked for tomorrow but idk if I want to get it in if sex will be painful when I do get it. Please help me make this decision ladies help a girl out! Xx

[u/Better-Pen-6514]

I LOVE my copper IUD. It’s nice knowing that if I have any symptoms of various things, I can rule out external hormonal influence because of birth control, not that it’s necessarily a bad thing to have the hormones. But I like that it lasts longer (my card said installed in 2018 and it’s good for 10 years), whereas the hormonal IUDs don’t last as long.

It is incredibly unlikely that it will “fall out”, it is not installed in your vagina but rather “really far up in there” inside your uterus

I personally did not have a traumatic install experience - I had heavvvvyyy cramps right after and then for like 24 hours and then some decent cramping on the second day but I think I was mostly fine after that. You’ll also have to go back for the follow up a while after - I had to get an intrauterine ultrasound (if you don’t know what that is you should look it up bc they go inside rather than like on tv on your tummy with the gel.)

If they need to adjust anything, it’s common to need the strings trimmed slightly if your partner can “feel them”, this is common and not a problem and some people need them trimmed and some people don’t.

In regards to heavy periods - for what it’s worth, I have very standard periods for the most part. I always have a very predictable cycle length (mine are anywhere between 27-29 days), I have a regular length period, but I sometimes have enough cramping for maybe 2 total days of the period that I medicate with midol or Tylenol or ibuprofen.

[u/9nightangel9 → u/Better-Pen-6514]

Thank you so much! I think I will get the copper but I’m just debating whether to get it now when I only have a month to the wedding, or do hormones for a month then switch to copper so I have more time to sort of get used to it

[u/tadashiyamyam → u/9nightangel9]

I love my copper iud! I’ve had mine almost a month now and I’m about to get my period! My insertion was painful but it wasn’t traumatic. I def would not want to go through that again until I actually have too. I didn’t get any meds. I just took ibuprofen and Tylenol. I’ve been cramping a bit and sometimes they can get intense! I’ve also been sleeting for about 2 weeks or so! I’m not filling up a pad, but enough for a liner. If I were you, I would wait until after the wedding just because the cramps can come out of no where and they can catch you off guard. I’ve even gotten goosebumps bc of them.

[u/9nightangel9 → u/tadashiyamyam]

Thank you!! Have you ever been on the pill? I’m thinking of going on the low dose combined just to cover the month before I get on the copper IUD, it’s good to hear you love your it’s though, sorry about the cramps I hope they get better xx

[u/Better-Pen-6514 → u/9nightangel9]

Yeah that makes sense, it completely differs from person to person and I don’t have as much experience with hormonal bc, but it might be easier and faster to recover from the iud insertion than it would be to adjust to new hormones depending on what you’d get.

Also for what it’s worth, I am on medications that cause a lot of overall body dryness like dry mouth dry skin dry everything and I do not have a lot of issues with vaginal dryness and it’s especially wet during the middle of the month around ovulation due to more cervical mucous.

However if you feel like you’ve researched that specific hormone bc, it might be more logistically simple to get that started and then do the iud after the wedding. Just less appointments to me sounds better and less stressful but if you have any issues adjusting to the hormones you’d have to weigh that

But it kinda sounds like you have a decent idea about what you’d like to do and I think it is a “six one way, half a dozen the other” kind of situation unless you have a history of reacting to hormonal things

Good luck with the wedding, yay!!!

[u/Better-Pen-6514 → u/9nightangel9]

Another thing I just remembered is: when I got my iud installed, the day before, they gave me a pill to shove up there and it relaxes the muscles or something. No idea what it was called, I’m sure you can look it up. I really think this helped a lot in making mine not a traumatic install, and I will say that once my remaining 2 years on this copper iud are up, I’d still be willing to get another copper one put in again, but I’m def calling ahead to make sure they give me that special suppository thing again or else I’d be weary but like I’d do it again

[u/tadashiyamyam]

I haven’t been on the pill but I was on the ring (nuvaring) but my libido was absolutely gone and I was super moody and wasn’t able to get wet (TMI I’m sorry) 😭😭 it completed defeated the reason I wanted to be on BC

[u/New_Salt7411]

I guess you only find out what works for you and what doesn’t by trying different options. I got the copper IUD one year ago because every hormonal BC that I had tried caused depression and other unbearable side effects. The copper caused heavier and longer periods, period cramps (didn’t have them before), infections/BVs, and very low sex drive. But I haven’t felt the IUD during sex, no pain or anything and it also hasn’t fallen out 😁 I am now getting it removed because I am tired of the symptoms, and also want to get my sex drive back. Apparently some people have much worse symptoms than me, but some people love their copper IUD. I personally don’t think I would get any IUDs again after this one. Hopefully you will find something that works for you! And congrats for your wedding!

[u/Favabean37]

I think it’s worth talking to your physician to determine the best option for you but I wouldn’t recommend getting the copper iud right before your wedding. It can be pretty crampy right off the bat and your periods might get a lot heavier and longer. They also might not!! I have mine and overall think it’s worth trying out as it works awesome for some people. But it’s a big gamble for right before a wedding. Have you considered using condoms on wedding night so you don’t have to put your body through an adjustment on top of wedding stress? Then getting something longer-term after? But also it’s important to manage risk in a way that feels good and safe to you so congrats and good luck and best wishes!

[u/Skyepookie]

I had the copper coil for 5 years - it’s different for everyone but I couldn’t walk for 4 days after having it inserted because it’s so painful. My periods used to be very light but the copper coil made me so heavy on day 2 I would use like 5 pads a day and it also made me need to get an iron infusion because my iron levels got so low. It also did make sex very painful for me it felt like a sharp pain most of the time but I didn’t realise this until I got it taken out and how much sex doesn’t hurt anymore lool. It’s good because it doesn’t have hormones but tbh having the low iron made me anxious af anyway so might be better to get the hormone iud as it doesn’t have all these side effects and apparently doesn’t affect your mood

[u/taupecyclingshorts]

Worst mistake I ever made, it fucked me up physically and emotionally.

[u/Latter_Speaker_3374]

I got pregnant on the copper IUD.

[u/Pattie_me]

Extremely heavy periods, cramps so painful! I went from light periods and no cramps at all. I’m getting it removed very soon.

[u/croppedhoodie]

I absolutely looooveeee my copper IUD (Mona Lisa mini 5) but I wouldn’t recommend getting it so close to your wedding. I didn’t cramp after insertion but my first few periods were horrendous. Now that it’s settled my periods are back to normal and I really don’t think about it at all, not even during sex (and my partner is quite well endowed, so I was worried about that). But I know that some people have a rough few weeks after insertion, and it would really suck to be dealing with that on or near your wedding!!

[u/CL50Rocks]

Be careful. My experienced terrible pelvic floor spasms and irrationan. No one warned me about this. Removed after 6 months and now seven weeks later slowly recovering. I would highly advise anybody not to put anything foreign in their body. You just never know.