Tags
birth control, childfree, childfreedom, copper IUD, filipina, IUD, Mirena, ParaGard, philippines, reproductive health, southeast asia
After years of obsessing about it, weighing all my options, and talking to doctors and even med school friends, I finally took the plunge and got an Intrauterine Device (IUD). I was excited and terrified at the same time. If you’re wondering why an unmarried 23 year-old is obsessed with getting an IUD, we’ll talk about me, tokophobia, and childfreedom next time.
“The IUD is a little, t-shaped piece of plastic that gets put in your uterus to mess with the way sperm can move and prevent them from fertilizing an egg. Sounds odd, but it works like a charm. IUDs offer years of protection—between three and twelve, depending on the type you get. And if you want to get pregnant, you can have the IUD removed at any time.” – Bedsider.org
The biggest draw for me was that IUDs are in the 99+ % range of effectiveness. You’d hear some stories of them failing, sure, but you have to remember that they are in the very small minority and this is as close to 100% as you can get without a tubal ligation. My previous two OB-GYNEs did not think an IUD was a good idea for me, and I only found the right doctor through a friend who got hers there too. There are several reasons why an OB-GYNE might decline from giving you an IUD.
“So what are these common reasons?”
- You’re too young, and for some conservative doctors, unmarried
- You haven’t had children yet
- Insertion is apparently more painful if you haven’t been, shall we say, stretched out
- It’s allegedly more likely to fall out
- Your behavior does not put you at such a risk that you’ll need a 99+ % method
- You have Pelvic Inflammatory Disease or other infections, or are prone to them
- You have an STD, i.e. gonorrhea or chlamydia
If you ask me, reasons 4 and 5 are the only ones that should truly be considered. Reason 1 is more imposition of values than anything else, reason 2 is debatable, and reason 3 is silly because there is no such thing as too effective. I got told reasons 1 through 3, by the way.
“What’s the procedure for getting an IUD?”
- You need to get a pap smear at least a month beforehand. An IUD does not cause infections, but it will aggravate an infection if you already have one. That’s why the pre-procedure pap smear is very important. The doctor will be able to give you the necessary antibiotics to clear up any issues you’re having.
- You choose between the two types of IUDs: hormonal and non-hormonal (copper).
- Hormonal IUDs — the more common one is Mirena, which is good for 5 years. I’m not sure if the new one, Skyla, is already available in the country. Skyla is good for 3 years and is specifically geared towards younger women who haven’t had children yet. It works like the BC pill but better because there’s no room for human error such as forgetting to take a pill. Your periods may stop altogether, by the way.
- Non-hormonal or copper IUDs — ParaGard, good for 12 years. It (1) releases copper into the uterus which works as a spermicide and (2) changes the lining of the womb, making it less suitable for a pregnancy. This is the one I have. It can make your periods heavier than they were before.
- If you are cleared by your OB-GYNE to get an IUD, and you’ve already decided on which one, you can set up an appointment. According to my doctor, it should be done during the proliferative phase of the menstrual cycle (the phase after menstruation). It could also be done as emergency contraception if you had unprotected intercourse in the last 120 hours.
- There are drugs you have to buy before your procedure. This may vary, but for me it was:
- Doxycycline 100 mg (twice a day for 7 days, beginning on the night before the procedure)
- Mefenamic Acid 500 mg (2 tablets an hour before the procedure, every 8 or so hours afterwards)
- You have to sign a consent form which states that the procedure might be painful and that you’re okay with that.
- The procedure itself will take around ten minutes.
- The OB-GYNE will talk to you about your life choices, what the process is going to be like, and how to maintain your IUD.
- S/he will conduct the initial Trans-vaginal Ultrasound (TVS) to check the size and shape of your uterus.
- Like during a pap smear, s/he will insert the cold metal speculum.
- S/he will measure your uterus. This is the part that hurts the most.
- S/he might dilate your cervix. This was uncomfortable but not really painful.
- S/he will trim the IUD’s strings to the correct size, then insert it. This also hurts, but not as much as the measuring part.
- S/he will do another TVS, this is the one you will get a printout of, showing the little T that is your new IUD.
- Afterwards, I advise that you wear a sanitary pad for any discharge. And you will probably have to wear pantyliners for the next couple of weeks because as the body adapts to the IUD, discharge will be continuous.
- The next 24 hours will be hell. The level of pain depends on your tolerance of course, but I haven’t met anyone who said they weren’t in pain for those 24 hours. It’s like the worst dysmenorrhea of your life multiplied by ten. I took a lot of mefenamic acid, slept a lot, and used a hot water bottle whenever I felt fine enough to stand up.
- After your first period, you’ll probably completely forget that it’s there.
- You need to get another TVS sometime after your first period to check on its position. After that, you just need your annual OB-GYNE visit, pap smear, and TVS.
“So how much did this entire thing cost?”
The procedure cost 2300 PHP, the medicines were another 200 PHP. The upcoming TVS is about 600 PHP. All in all you should prepare something like 3500 PHP for the entire adventure, including your taxi ride home from the clinic. Do not commute, I repeat, do not commute home. Get in a taxi and get yourself to bed as soon as possible. Your body will make you take the rest of the day off. If you live alone, you should also prepare food and drinks beforehand so you won’t have to go out.
“What happens if I still get pregnant?”
Yes it can happen, but rarely. This is why it’s nice to always, always have a backup method. Spermicides, condoms, the BC pill if you’re using a copper IUD like me, or withdrawal will all make your chances of getting pregnant lower.
In the event that you do fall pregnant, you also have to understand that an IUD raises your risk of having a miscarriage to 40 – 50%. It also raises the risk of having an ectopic pregnancy, in which case the pregnancy must be terminated. If you become pregnant, your OB-GYNE will recommend the removal of the IUD, which may also result in a miscarriage. That said, I’ve read stories of women carrying to term successfully even with the IUD left inside, so it’s really a case to case basis.
“How do you feel about your copper IUD?”
ParaGard has been great and hasn’t given me any problems since the hellish 24 hours post-procedure. I occasionally got strange crampy feelings down my left side or bottom abdomen during the first month, but the frequency lessened and lessened with time. I’ll update when I get another TVS this week.
IUD Removal
You can have it removed at anytime, and that procedure costs a lot less!
Additional Reading
- Bedsider: The IUD
- Options for Sexual Health: Getting an IUD
- Glamour: Wanna Know What it Really Feels Like to Get an IUD? Well, I Got One Yesterday and, Umm, Ouch
- The Huffington Post: Everything You Need To Know About Getting An IUD
- The Childfree Filipina: An Overview of Birth Control Methods
Cherry said:
Will you please recommend this ob gyn? I appreciate it alot.
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childfreefilipina said:
Please send me an e-mail at childfreefilipina@gmail.com. I will give you the address and number of the clinic there. 🙂
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Marie Rana said:
Hi, I would very much appreciate it if you could shoot me an email regarding the name of the clinic and ob-gyne. I’m very desperate to switch from the pill to an IUD. Thank you! 🙂
My email is just4fondue@gmail.com
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ASH said:
Hi! I sent you an email for the address and name of the clinic you went to. Im thinking of getting an IUD myself.
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childfreefilipina said:
Sorry I haven’t been able to check my messages recently. Replied now!
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Marie Rana said:
Hi, I would very much appreciate it if you could shoot me an email regarding the name of the clinic and ob-gyne. I’m very desperate to switch from the pill to an IUD. Thank you! 🙂
My email is just4fondue@gmail.com
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Marie Rana said:
Hi, I would appreciate it if you could shoot me an email regarding the name of the clinic and ob-gyne. I’m very desperate to switch from the pill to an IUD. Thank you! 🙂
My email is just4fondue@gmail.com
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Jes said:
Hi 🙂 please see my message sent to your gmail 🙂 Thank you very much for sharing your story with us.
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childfreefilipina said:
Replied. ❤
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Marie Rana said:
Hi, I’d appreciate it if you could shoot me an email regarding the name of the clinic and ob-gyne. I’m very desperate to switch from the pill to an IUD. Thank you! 🙂
My email is just4fondue@gmail.com
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ROSE said:
Hi, thank you very much for sharing your experience with us. It’s very helpful for someone like me who has been looking for an alternative to pills. I just would like to ask if the brand of your copper IUD was really Paragard? I’ve inquired from other clinics and all of them carry only the brand SecuriT. I don’t know the difference between the two brands but I prefer the more familiar and known brand which is Paragard. I hope you can confirm this. I’m also interested with the name of the clinic and ob-gyne you went to. Thank you very much in advance. 🙂 How are you feeling with your new IUD by the way? 🙂
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childfreefilipina said:
I replied to your e-mail. 🙂
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Theresa said:
Awesome weblog, it;#2817&s just like a game for me! It’s so infomative and usefull, thanks a good deal! If you post more of this great stuff, I’ll visit your blog again!
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Marie Rana said:
Hi, I would very much appreciate it if you could send me an email regarding the name of the clinic and ob-gyne. I’m very desperate to switch from the pill to an IUD. Thank you! 🙂
My email is just4fondue@gmail.com
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posh said:
Hi. Thanks for the info. May i know thw clinic and the doctor you went to. I have my iud for about 5 yrs and i need to have it remove. Im looking for the doc that will perform the procedure. Thanks and Goddbless.
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childfreefilipina said:
Can you send me an e-mail? I’ll tell you through e-mail. childfreefilipina@gmail.com
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Marie Rana said:
Hi, I would very much appreciate it if you could shoot me an email regarding the name of the clinic and ob-gyne. I’m desperate to switch from the pill to an IUD. Thank you! 🙂
My email is just4fondue@gmail.com
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zil said:
Hi,
I sent you an email a couple of months back but you might be busy. I’ve resent it again just in case.:) Would love to hear from you. More power!
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childfreefilipina said:
I must have missed this one!!! SORRY. Replying now.
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Marie Rana said:
Hello, I would very much appreciate it if you could shoot me an email regarding the name of the clinic and ob-gyne. I’m very desperate to switch from the pill to an IUD. Thank you! 🙂
My email is just4fondue@gmail.com
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Marie Rana said:
Hello, I appreciate it if you could shoot me an email regarding the name of the clinic and ob-gyne. I’m very desperate to switch from the pill to an IUD. Thank you! 🙂
My email is just4fondue@gmail.com
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M said:
Sent you a message asking for your doctor’s details 🙂 thanks so much!
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childfreefilipina said:
Replied!
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Marie Rana said:
Hello, I would very much appreciate it if you could send me an email regarding the name of the clinic and ob-gyne. I’m very desperate to switch from the pill to an IUD. Thank you! 🙂
My email is just4fondue@gmail.com
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L said:
Hi I sent you an email for the doctor’s details too. Great read btw! #empowermenttowomen
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L said:
Hi CFF!
I went to your suggested clinic and had my IUD done. My doctor is a male so I’m guessing he is the same doctor that did your procedure. My procedure went ok just have cramps sometimes (No spotting so far… Thank goodness) and I wanted to tell you thank you so much for the referral, I have been looking for a doctor who knows what to do, coz trust me there are doctors who doesn’t.
They prepped me from the first time I called in and spoke to the assistant until the end.
I’m on my first week from post procedure and still observing. My fiance and I are happy that this has been over and done with and until we decide to have kids, there wouldn’t be any “accidents”. We look forward to plan trips and life together before having our little ones.
Note: To those who wants IUD too, I would also recommend the same clinic CFF suggested. My doctor was a male but he is very gentle and profession (Pretty sure he has seen so many vags in his entire career, so just be comfortable with him). They also have a female doctor, you may email CFF for more information.
THANK YOU AGAIN, MISS CFF!
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childfreefilipina said:
You are very much welcome. I’m glad it went well. ❤
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SJ said:
Hi L! Is it okay if I get the same deets sent to you by CFF? Been trying to get in touch with her but it might be that she doesn’t check this blog regularly now. Would really appreciate your reply! Hope this gets to you!
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Greta said:
Hi L! Can I also get the clinic and gyne information? Hope to hear from you. Thank you!
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Alona said:
Hi L, can you give the OB and clinic’s info please. Thanks!
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Marie Rana said:
Hi, L
I would very much appreciate it if you could shoot me an email regarding the name of the clinic and ob-gyne. I’m very desperate to switch from the pill to an IUD. Thank you! 🙂
My email is just4fondue@gmail.com
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Ally M. said:
Hi! I sent you an email. I rally reall really would like to get an IUD but I’ve been to gynes who just won’t recommend it because they don’t believe in them ???????????
Really would like this so I can get off the pill and have less worries
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childfreefilipina said:
Hang on getting to my e-mail now
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Marie Rana said:
Hi, I have the same problem and I would very much appreciate it if you could shoot me an email regarding the name of the clinic and ob-gyne. I’m very desperate to switch from the pill to an IUD. Thank you! 🙂
My email is just4fondue@gmail.com
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Jazz said:
Hello,
I went in for initial consultation with gyno earlier today, and let’s just say the price for the IUD is too much. May I also know your doctor so I can go to him/her instead? This will be really helpful if you can tell me. Thank you! 🙂
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Jazz said:
I also emailed you, hope you can reply 🙂
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childfreefilipina said:
Replied
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Marie Rana said:
Hi, Jazz!
I would very much appreciate it if you could shoot me an email regarding the name of the clinic and ob-gyne. I’m very desperate to switch from the pill to an IUD. Thank you! 🙂
My email is just4fondue@gmail.com
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anonlala123 said:
This seems like a way better alternative to the hassle of pills, but I am so wary of the pain! I was hospitalized last week and even though I have been discharged there has been no clear diagnosis, but the pain I felt that made me go to the hospital was intense that for a second I thought I was giving birth.
Getting the IUD sounds like the reverse of pregnancy, you’re putting something in, albeit smaller. Just started the pills three days ago, they seem to be giving me positive effects instead of negative, so I guess I’ll go from there. I’ve yet to ask my OB about my situation. Four years of sexual activity, no contraception, just withdrawal, yet no pregnancy at all! But I’ve been reading these “got pregnant on the pill” stories and I got paranoid the pills corrected my hormones and for some reason fucked it up and made me a bit more fertile, but that would be stupid because that would be a contradiction of its purpose.
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anonlala123 said:
Btw, great blog! I love it!
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Anna said:
Hi I have sent an email for the clinic and doctor’s details. Hope you can reply as soon as possible before its too late for me to have IUD inserted. Had unprotected sex 3 days ago..
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Kathy said:
Hi, i have sent you an e-mail asking the details of your doctor. Me and my hubby had unprotected sex today (november 18, 2015) and would really appreciate a reply so that I can go to your recommended doctor as soon as possible for emergency contraception. Thank you so much!
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Louise said:
Hey i would like to ask where you got your IUD done. I emailed you already Btw i really like your blog. Very informative. Thank you
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Chenyl said:
Hi there! Sent you an email asking about the contact information of your doctor? Intending to get an IUD as well. 🙂
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GAILE said:
Can anybody recommend an OB willing to insert an IUD here in Cebu? I’m still in my early 20’s, and I’m worried that I may not find a less conservative doctor. Thank you!
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Brigette F said:
Hi! Can you send the name, contact number and address of doctor here in Metro Manila?
Thanks!
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yang said:
How about in Davao? I’m still in my early twenties and had no children yet. Thanks! 🙂
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Charles said:
Please recommend the obgyn who perform iud
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Katie said:
Hi, I just read your blog after researching about IUD’s and I really am interested to have the same procedure done for myself. I was wondering if you could perhaps give me the contact information of the doctor or clinic that did the procedure for you? It would really be a great help.
Thank you for your time and thank you for writing such an informative and helpful blog!
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KK said:
Hi CFF! I’m interested in getting an IUD as well. Haven’t had much luck looking for a suitable OB Gyn through the vine since most of the women in my circles are incredibly conservative.:( Could you send me the name, contact details, and address of this OB? 🙂
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Nina G said:
Hello! May I also know who is your OB thank you!
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Martha Fontelera said:
Hi! Can I get the clinic and the doctor’s name? Thank you.
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Greta said:
Hello! I’d appreciate if you can share the contact information of your gynecologist for the IUD? Your blog is very helpful by the way. 🙂
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Carol said:
Hi. Sent you an email asking the contact and address of the clinic. I hope i get a reply. Thanks a lot
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Carol said:
Can someone who already knew send us the name of the clinic. Thank you soo much
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Alexi said:
Hello, fellow ladies.
I appreciate and LOVE this blog so much! This is a huge thing, especially here in our backwards country.
I also want to ask what the name of the clinic is (and possibly the address as well) and both the male and female OB. Let’s help each other!
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jbl said:
Can I get the contacts of the clinic you went to for your IUD? Thank you.
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blueberrydrew said:
Hi! I’ve been reading your blog and posts in reddit. And it’s been so helpful so I want to thank you! That being said, I wonder if I can get the contact details of the OB you went to? I’m planning to get an IUD just in case BC pills eventually run out because of the TRO on the RH bill. >_> Thank you!
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L said:
Hello! I sent an email as well, asking for recommendation. Thank you
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Elle said:
Hi can you send me the details of the Clinic as well? Thanks 😀
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Gel said:
Hi! Been looking for an OBGYN who offers Mirena since I had to remove my copper one. Does your OBGYN offer Mirena? 🙂
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Greta said:
Hi Gel, can I ask why you have to remove your copper one? What’s your experience on this? I’m planning to get an IUD but not sure what to get. Hope to hear from you. Thanks!
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Bry said:
Hi I sent you an e-mail!
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Alona said:
Hi, I sent you an email asking for the clinic and OB where you had this done. I’m not sure if you still check blog.
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Anne said:
Hi, I’m looking for OB / clinic for IUD insertion procedure as I’ve been refused previously. Doctor was too conservative & imposing. Can I ask for a recommendation? Kindly send the contact details to my email: jealyne.anne@gmail.com. Thanks a lot!!
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PamAldaba said:
Hello! Just wondering what clinic you went to to get the copper IUD bec I need it asap! I’ve tried researching clinics but I can’t seem to find any that offer this service. I really do hope to hear from you hopefully by tonight. Any recommendation would do as long as they provide the service. Here’s my email if anyone wants to send me details regarding this! pamela_aldaba@yahoo.com
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Marie Rana said:
Hi, I sent you an email regarding the clinic name and address. I hope to hear back from you! 🙂
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Ciara Santonia (@_ciawaa) said:
I sent you an email please do reply thanks, im the one who emailed the name Ciara Mae Thanks in advance 🙂 Godbless 🙂
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Ciara Santonia (@_ciawaa) said:
🙂
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Ciara Santonia (@_ciawaa) said:
hello , kindly delete nmn po ng comment ko , hindi ko po kasi madelete . thanks po 🙂
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Rose said:
What’s your email address? Email me at torilroyce@yahoo.com
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Rose said:
To anyone who’d like to know the name of the clinic, you can also shoot me an email at torilroyce@yahoo.com. I also happen to comment here 2 years ago and was able to get the details from CFF. I’d be glad to share the info with you and help you girls out. I’ll try my best to reply at once. 🙂
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Alec said:
Hi! Could you share with me the details? I also sent an email to CFF but if you could shoot me an email that would be great. My email is alecddl@gmail.com. Many thanks! 🙂
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Jes said:
Hi Rose! A bit of update: one of the doctors at the MD Care Clinic said she does not like to insert IUD due to the risk of ectopic pregnancy that comes with this method. I worried about this a little. So I went back to the PDFs about the device. I read that ectopic pregnancy is prevented by IUD by preventing fertilization in the first place. However, ectopic pregnancy has occurred in a small number of IUD users. When it happens, they undergo a procedure removing the IUD. They can still proceed with having their baby. Of course, it will require special attention. Some users have successfully conceived without problems. A woman with IUD will feel the pregnancy if it occurs because it will be painful and she should see her doctor when she believes she is pregnant even with the IUD in place. Sometimes women do not notice the IUD slipping off from the uterus, so the method, in this way, can fail. This is why checking if the IUD is in place every time a woman has sex should be a habit.
It has been 15 days since I got my IUD from MD Care. Dr. L was very helpful and he commented that my IUD insertion was relatively easier. He said that it is important to insert the IUD on the fifth or sixth day of the period.
I wanted to share how I prepared for the little operation. After getting the Pap Smear and while waiting for the result, I watched some Youtube videos of women sharing their IUD stories. This is not always very helpful. Sometimes you can find scary stories online, but mostly the videos show the simplicity of the procedure. It is best to stick to the facts and to think about why you are getting the IUD in the first place. A vlogger said she is getting it for the world; it is said that one way of helping in the climate change is by timing when a woman becomes pregnant, allowing for her and the new family’s proper preparation and to pool the resources needed in bringing up a person. Personally, I am getting an IUD as a step in my zero waste lifestyle. I am currently transitioning to this lifestyle. So far, I think it is cost-effective and gives impetus for me to make essentials instead of consuming mindlessly.
In preparing to get the IUD, it is wise to consider previous experiences of users. I listed questions after reading about IUD stories and asked Dr. L about them. I was mainly concerned with the IUD “rusting” or oxidizing inside the uterus. Creepy! But apparently some women experienced this. They posted their stories in an anti-Paragard Facebook group. I asked Dr. L if IUD oxidizes or becomes “rusty” (Copper IUDs technically do not rust) and he said he has never found an oxidized (rusty-looking) IUD when he removed the IUDs of his patients (such as when they decided that they are ready to be pregnant). He said his patients had the IUD for something like five years and when he removed the IUD, they were in the same condition as when he inserted them. Now that I think about this, the facebook page that I found seems dubious. There are thousands of women who get IUD all over the world and women who reported that they had a rusty IUD problem are relatively few. Still, Paragard will have to clarify these cases for its users, don’t you think?
Finally, I want to advise readers to do some yoga before and some days after the insertion (and maybe forever). For me, yoga helped the whole time I was mentally preparing for the IUD, during the insertion itself (with breathing exercises), and after. Originally, I started practicing yoga to improve my physical activity. Office work is not always a good preparation for IUD insertion. Often it means sitting all day in front of a computer trying to beat deadlines and learn about many things. This can be stressful to the mind and the body. Yoga will help to shine some light on the dark places, including our often neglected womb. Chamomile tea is also very useful. It calmed my nerves so well, I fell in love with it again. I made large cups of it and brought some to the clinic to drink while waiting for my turn. It goes without saying that drinking the mefenamic acid, buscopan and the antibiotics is a must. Dr. L asked me to drink the first two meds some 20 minutes before the insertion. I took the antibiotics two nights before the schedule for IUD insertion.
I noticed some cramping on my fifteenth day probably because my next mens is approaching. I read this is normal in the first few months after the IUD insertion (more cramping and more blood for some women). Drinking chamomile tea eased the cramping. Sleeping did too, since our bodies may need (more) rest as it gets familiar to the IUD.
Thank you, Rose for writing about your decision to get the IUD. It helped so much. 🙂
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Alec said:
Hi! I sent an email asking about the clinic and doctor you went to. Would very much appreciate if you could share the info. Many thanks! 🙂
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CK said:
Hi,
I sent you an email as well. I would like to know about the clinic and doctor you went to for the IUD, as I’d want to get one as well. Hope you reach out to me soon!
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edu said:
Good day all, my girlfriend has been using mirena IUD for the past 5 years and 5 months when she was still in germany. We are looking where we can buy the mirena and get it replace. Can you recommend where and who? We have been searching for it here in baguio city for the last 5 months now with no success. Thank you in advance! this is my email add edwardson_cotiwan@yahoo.com
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