Apr
i know about heavier periods…but is there anything else? are the periods more painful too? are there larger pms effects? someone told me you could put on a lot weight with it but i don´t understand why you would as it´s not a contraceptive which uses hormones (which i assume are responsible for the water retention)….
also are blood clots anything to worry about? it´s just the physician asked me if i had a history of them and i was wondering why….i don´t have a history but i don´t want to make one either!!!
i got it fitted on tuesday evening and still feel a tiny crampy…is this ok? it´s nothing extreme, i´m not taking painkillers or anything, but still, i´m aware of it.
my last period was 19th march and i have a roughly 30 day cycle.
i´m 23 155cm, 49kg, non smoker, low blood pressure and never been pregnant (for this reason the physician told me the coil might “sit awkwardly” and so i may need to come back at have it adjusted).
and can your partner feel it during sex? because doctor stated no but then she also told me i can check if it´s in place right by feeling for two strands, checking they´re the same length…so surely if i can feel these stands then my partner will be able to feel them too?? and what are the strands made of?
thanks for all help!
Answer:
Some women find that the IUD causes longer, more painful and heavy periods. Not each women experiences this, as I’ve explained to you before, it's trial and error- you will just have to wait and see. These symptoms are generally only experienced within the first 1-3 months and should settle down. Only rarely does it become a long term problem. There’s no risk of blood clots with the IUD as it's hormone free.
When you’ve the IUD fitted, you will generally experience mild cramping and spotting at first (If you experience severe pain in your abdomen, have a temperature or foul smelling discharge within 3 weeks of having it fitted then return to your Physician ASAP as it can indicate an infection.) The cramping should settle down. Unless contradicted, take some ibuprofen. Weight gain with the IUD wouldn’t be common.
With regards to the strings. You’re supposed to check them after each period- providing you can feel them, they’re still in place. Your partner might be able to feel them, if this becomes a problem then your Doctor can actually trim the strings (he won't be able to feel actual IUD as it's in your uterus- it's only the strings which hang down past your cervix). The strands are just pieces of string.
You can use tampons with the IUD. Where did you read you can't? I'm fairly certain you can use tampons. I'll ask Dr Frank
Edit
I really can't see any reason why there would be a problem using tampons with the IUD. Check with your Physician and show him the leaflet, maybe it's a new thing.
Yes you should get your period on time as usual but in the first few months you might get breakthrough bleeding between these periods.
Answer:
Hi, the other answer was quite good-I'll just add a couple of things for you.
You definately can use tampons and I have never known anyone who had a coil fitted and needed to sit awkwardly. It is inside the uterus, not in the cervix, so there should be no discomfort.
Yes your partner can feel the strings during deep penetrative sex and of course, during foreplay with his fingers.
As you quite rightly pointed out, this coil isn’t hormonal so there will be no weight gain or changes with PMS. Women with a coil often have more clotting with their period and obviously, if you had a problem with it before the fitting, it might not be a good idea to add to the issue.
Oh, the strands are made of synthetic material, very common to what’s used in sutures. They won't dissolve or fray.