By this I mean, no IUD, pill or implant? Is it risky to just use a condom every time, since I don't want my hormones to change and don't want the side effects associated with them.

I definitely don't want to get pregnant right now.

Hi!! I (23F) am going on year 3 with my Kyleena IUD. It has stopped my period (which has been awesome) and manageable side effects, so i really like it!

However recently I have become sexually active, and my partner has finished in me a few times. While I trust my IUD and want to enjoy that, I always get anxious afterwards and think I will end up being that crazy outlier statistic. I will sometimes get cramping or spotting after sex too, but I have read and that seems common/normal for people with IUD’s. But I get in my head that the cramping is implantation or something crazy, even after taking Amazon strip tests after a few weeks and testing negative lol.

So my question is, do you let your partner finish in you with your IUD? How often? Have you ever had a scare? Do you experience that cramping/spotting with or without sexual activity too? Looking for honest advice (mixed with a little reassurance lol).

I've been seeing and reading through a lot of planned parenthood and IUD experiences, and wanted to share my personal account as there were some things I had no idea about! For some background, I was looking for a free IUD option as I am a broke college student and make very little income, and have no insurance.
I first went to Planned Parenthood around two months ago, made an appointment online as I had heard about the free IUD (Just a heads up, the IUD is free from there but the appointment, insertion, and pregnancy test is not! I forget the exact amount but it was $100+) The IUD they offer is the Liletta, but I ended up having to go through another free program they have (had to show paychecks/ proof of hardship to qualify for the other type of free iud) and go back on another day as that size wasn't the right fit for me. I currently have Kyleena.
Anyway, upon going back they ask you if you're aware of the costs for the insertion, as I mentioned above, and I explained my financial hardships and filled out a form to make everything, cost for the visit included, free! (This form you don't need to show proof, they ask how many people are in your household, what your personal annual income is, and to share a brief message on why you're in hardship. They do not check income, I honestly said a bit lower than what is reality.)
Pain wise, I won't lie, it hurt pretty bad. I took the recommended amount for ibuprofen ahead of time (suggested is 800mg, I took maybe 1000mg), and it honestly did nothing for me. I also got my IUD inserted on my period which is supposed to help with pain, but I didn't notice any ease of pain.
Full procedure is them inserting the speculum, clamping and measuring your cervix, preparing and inserting the device and then it's essentially done, it probably took around 10 minutes or less in actuality. The cramps were pretty bad after, I was able to drive myself home but I do recommend a ride or bringing someone with you if that’s a possibility.
The worst cramping was probably for two days (including insertion day) and I have light cramps here and there even until now.
Key things to mention are no intercourse for one week post-insertion, definitely recommend continuing pain medication for the two days following + heating pad.
A side effect I really don’t see mentioned unless I search specifically is the brown spotting/discharge. Don’t get me wrong, the provider tells you that there may be minor spotting, but I’m about a month post procedure still wearing panty liners daily. I also notice it during intercourse, and it varies from very light to moderate. I have read that 3 months is typically the time your body adjusts to it, so will update! Feel free to ask any questions and I can try to answer my best. :) (Sorry for the yap— hopefully this is helpful to someone!)

I got an IUD inserted at Kaiser by a nurse practitioner and honestly the entire experience was fucking awful. I wanna know if I’m overreacting or if this was actually as bad as I think it was.

First of all, I wasn’t offered any actual pain management. I had to ask if they had lidocaine shots, and she said that she doesn’t do that and that she doesn’t believe the shots help at all and are actually painful. Anyway, all I got was topical spray on my cervix, which is something I had to advocate for as well. No heating pad before or after the procedure either. As someone who has a rather high pain tolerance, I was able to handle the insertion; however, my body was in shock so I felt nauseous and dizzy. They gave me an ice pack and water when I started feeling faint.

But what pissed me off the most was what the nurse practitioner said immediately after the insertion was over. She asked how I was feeling, and when I said “I’m okay I guess,” she turned to the nurse and made a joke along the lines of, “See, you were fine. TikTok makes women believe they need a bunch of stuff JUST for an IUD, when breathing exercises do a lot more than people think.” And ofcourse, the nurse laughed along with her. Like????? The “stuff” she was referring to was pain management. I had JUST gone through a painful procedure, and she was basically implying that people exaggerate their pain and don’t need anything beyond breathing exercises, even though IUD’s feel very invasive with and without pain management. Just because I managed to get through it doesn’t mean it wasn’t horrible or that pain relief was unnecessary.

And it didn’t end there. I was lying in the room for another 15 minutes because I felt like I was gonna throw up or pass out. I dressed myself cause I didn’t feel like laying butt ass naked while feeling like that.As I was lying down with my clothes on trying to calm myself, the nurse came in and basically said that since I was dressed, I had to leave because they needed the room for other patients, even though the NP stated I could have the room because no one needed it. I felt like I was being rushed out when I was still recovering.
Also, I was given information about Kyleena not being offered at Kaiser, which I felt was unaccurate as I was offered that at prior appointments. The NP explained that Kaiser only takes from certain vendors and those vendors they get their IUDs from only offer the Paragard, Skyla, Mirena, or the Liletta.

I understand that IUD insertions are different for everyone and that not everyone needs the same pain management. And I’m not expecting the procedure to be completely painless. What bothers me is that I wasn’t offered much to help with the pain or recovery, and even asked for majority of it myself, and then had the provider make a condescending and dismissing joke about people who advocate for more pain management with IUD insertions IMMEDIATELY after I went through it myself. Like am I wrong for thinking this was unprofessional??

This also wasn’t my first time getting an IUD, I had an insertion with my primary gynecologist awhile ago, who offered all types of pain management, gave me a heating pad, was very attentive overall, and even used an ultrasound device afterward to check for the IUD. I wish I had just gone to my main gynecologist, but I was upset at her medical assistants for cancelling my appointment without letting me know. So I unfortunately, ended up finding an earlier appointment with a random provider. Horrible idea on my end 🫩

i 16 M and my gf 16 F got carried away yesterday and i inserted my penis inside her vagina but she said she had only 1/2 of the tip inside and i pretty sure i had pre cum but i dont really remember since everything went so fast. the whole ordeal happen between i think 2-5 second. it was both our first times. On her flo app it said she was on her last day of ovulation. i really messed up when i fingered her after with no ore cum on my finger or anything because i think i pushed it farther into the vagina. if you can help or reassure me it would be really nice

A few days ago i got an iud (mirena) under anesthetic and it was honestly the worst experience of my life. i went in thinking everything was going to be completely fine and at least i won’t have to go through the initial pain of getting it in. i went under perfectly fine no complaints but as soon as i woke up i was in the worst pain of my life, i was screaming and crying and couldn’t even talk because of how bad the pain was the doctors and nurses had to give me a ton of medication morphine etc just to get me to calm down and feel okay to even talk. the pain subsided but i spent the next hours in bed throwing up constantly not even being able to even keep liquids down. i know everyone’s experience is different and i did feel better the next day but the waking up in that much pain was the most traumatic thing i have ever went through i really do not know why it was that painful.

For context, im 16 years old (the legal age at which i can buy contraceptives from a pharmacy), in the UK and i had a blood test done quite a while ago that revealed i have a hormone imbalance. At the time, the doctor had suggested getting onto some form of contraceptive pill, however my mother was extremely opposed to the idea (Asian parents bruh) and i eventually ended up not getting any treatment for it as there isn't really any other option. I have tried altering my lifestyle such as exercise and dieting but it honestly hasnt made much a difference. Ive had my period since I was 10 years old (if that's relevant) and my periods are also incredibly irregular. I have been thinking about going and buying the pill myself, but in all honestly im really scared it'll like end up on my gp record and my mum will find out or something. I also wanted to talk to a pharmacist about what contraceptives to buy and if i could get prescribed it so i wouldn't have to pay it would also be nice.

I’m taking aurovela it’s been like 3 months. I did not bleed last month. My period used to start right around the middle of the month. I’m not bleeding today but I’m emotional and I’m trying to figure out if that’s why.

its my first week on Mili (or Sprintec) and my appetite has increased sooooo much its crazy. im a relatively skinny person with a small appetite but im eating like crazy now. has this happened to anyone else?

So I fingered my gf on September 6 but thought I had some semen on my hands… GF’s normal period was Sept 1–4. Took Plan B Sept 7. Then she bled Sept 13–17, much earlier than expected and pretty light/irregular after the first day. She then had another much heavier, painful bleed Sept 23–25, right around when her period was originally expected (Sept 25–27). This bleed soaked her pad. Took a at home preg test 21 days after Sept 6 and it was negative but I’m still mad nervous.
She normally has very predictable 4-day periods. Is this kind of early bleed + later short/heavy period normal after Plan B?

guys I (24F) need to hear if anyone else has had similar experience- I get really sad seeing all the “this pill SAVED MY LIFE” posts and comments because I am having an opposite reaction.

i was diagnosed with pmdd and undiagnosed neurodivergence of some sort (tester said I was too good at school as a little girl :/ ) and I went on slynd bc i cant take estrogen as a chronic migraineur. I was on Loryna before and loved it. my skin was clear which was a huge plus but looking back, i was def anxious as hell as I am now.

slynd though…. oh man. im on my fifth month (continuous for migraines) and my doctor said to wait until 6 months to change to an IUD. an IUD is tough because I dont want hormones but copper might make my cramps worse which are already debilitating ON TOP of my doctor giving no pain meds besides ibuprofen for insertion.

My health anxiety and OCD have been INSANELY overactive to the point of convincing myself I have rabies, Im going into psychosis, Ive been poisoned, dreaming theres someone in my walls, convincing myself my bf hates me, and having panic attacks on plane flights thinking its going to crash, that im not getting enough oxygen… It has put a huge burden on my relationships. I have a therapist but theres something hormonally wrong with my brain.

executive function is out the window. im struggling through school.

Im tired all the time.

Im bloated to the point of discomfort, feeling pregnant when i just drink water.

libido no longer exists. I dont even masturbate anymore.

my skin is dry and cystic and pimply.

PLEASE has anyone had this happen? My doctor is pretty dismissive and just says “okay then go off it.“ as if its that easy a decision to make.

did anyone switch to an iud? What was that like? Did you just stop one day? What was your withdrawal like? any input is valuable. I cant take estrogen so plz no estrogen recommendations.

been on the nuvaring for multiple years now. it’s potentially causing me some gi issues, and i have limited options due to migraines.
i’m the most interested in the implant because it seems to have the less of a gi impact than depo, and still seems to prevent hormonal migraines.

thoughts or experiences on nexplanon?

i’ve been on the nuvaring since i was 14, i’m 19 now. i got on it to manage heavy bleeding and hormonal migraines. didn’t have any side effects going on it and it did what i needed it to do.

i developed some gi issues january of 2025. ive done so much testing, its been absolutely ridiculous. the only thing left before they just call it ibs is a colonoscopy which im too scared of the prep to do. (fear of vomiting).

to put it plainly my gi tract is healthy. ibd is already out of the picture due to some other testing i’ve done, so there’s not much the colonoscopy could tell me that’s different from what i already know. i’m pursuing the gynecology route now, and so far nothing. the doctor told me to switch my birth control.

has anyone else developed side effects after multiple years of being on a birth control? specifically nuvaring? i’m just not sure if that’s even possible, and if i don’t have to get off it i don’t really want to risk my migraines coming back.

​

Hi everyone! I'm back with another update on my never-ending PCOS bleeding situation. 🥲

For some background, I've been dealing with prolonged and extremely heavy bleeding for months. In September, my hemoglobin dropped to 5.0, and I was hospitalized and given 4 units of blood and 2 units of plasma. I also received IV iron afterward.

Because I have mild mitral valve regurgitation, my gynecologist prescribed Slynd (4 mg drospirenone) instead of an estrogen-containing birth control pill.

I've been taking Slynd for about 11 days now, and unfortunately, my bleeding has gotten significantly worse.

I'm passing large clots, sometimes almost the size of ping-pong balls or bigger. The bleeding fluctuates throughout the day, sometimes slowing down to spotting and then suddenly becoming heavy again.

I went to my gynecologist today. She examined me, said everything looked normal structurally, and suggested that I might just be having a period. She told me not to stop Slynd and to give it more time.

However, my hemoglobin has dropped from around 10 to 9.4, and I've ended up hospitalized again. I'm receiving treatment for the anemia, but I'm really concerned about the bleeding itself.

I also asked my doctor about tranexamic acid (TXA). He said it might be an option, but we'd need approval from cardiology first because of my heart valve condition.

My main questions are:

- Did Slynd initially make your bleeding significantly heavier before it eventually improved?

- If you experienced large blood clots while taking Slynd, how long did that phase last?

- Did your bleeding eventually stop completely, or did you continue having irregular bleeding?

- Has anyone with PCOS and prolonged bleeding actually had success with Slynd?

- Has anyone taken TXA alongside Slynd to manage heavy bleeding?

I know irregular bleeding is common during the first few months of hormonal birth control, but I'm struggling to understand whether this level of bleeding is something other people have experienced.

I'm following my doctors' instructions and staying on Slynd for now. I'm just hoping to hear some real experiences, especially from people who started it specifically to control prolonged PCOS-related bleeding rather than for contraception.

I'm so tired of bleeding. I genuinely just want to have a normal life again. 😭

I started taking the generic version of Yaz 2 weeks ago with only the intent of not getting pregnant (copper IUD did not work for me). The OBGYN prescribed me Yaz because it can also help with acne, and I get big, nasty, cystic pimples around my luteal phase and I thought it would be nice to stop those.

Outside of the cystic pimples, I usually have a few bumps on my face all the time, sometimes one or two, never really more than three or four.

But now, I have about 20 pimples all around my face. Forehead, nose, chin, cheeks, everywhere. Am I purging? Has anyone had this experience and does it get better? I put pimple patches on them at night, and never changed my skin care routine, and they don’t seem to want to go away.

I started the birth control patch this past Monday in hopes of skipping my period for an important event next week. I'm 26, 5'4, and roughly about 200 lbs. I wanted to ask others who have a similar BMI and height to me about their experience with the patch. I understand that it is less effective with those who have a BMI over 30, but how much does the effectiveness of it lower? Should I switch to a different form of BC? I mainly wanted to be on the patch to see if it would help with my BPD and Depression, I was on the pill a few years ago and it gave me a lot of negative side effects (I.E. weight gain, mood swings, constant bloating). I am sexually active, how effective is it against preventing pregnancy with a higher BMI? I do have an appointment with my Gyno in a few weeks, and if needed I will talk to her about a different method of birth control (besides the IUD, depo, and implant, I don't really want any of those). I think I just have some anxiety and nerves about the patch, so any advice or knowledge would be very helpful. Thank you!

I took the pill from 14 years old to 25 years old (currently 28). I had to stop because of severe depression & suicidal thoughts - fun ! Anyway, I'm considering my options now because I hate relying on condoms as my only form of bc.

I need to avoid hormonal bc because my mental health is not great and a revisit of the decade long depressive psychosis the pill caused cannot come back. I'm considering the copper IUD because its not hormonal, but looking for any experience you guys have had with it and if you've found it bad for side effects related to neurological/mental health stuff?

Just wanted to share a positive coil experience as I was so nervous and had read lots of horror stories, so if this helps anyone to ease your nerves then it’s done its purpose.

I took 600mg ibuprofen an hour beforehand and they used a local anaesthetic spray on the cervix. Also made sure I had a good breakfast. I opted for Kyleena as I have never had children so it’s slightly smaller than Mirena with lower dose. I went to GP surgery but the practitioner had a lot of experience in family planning clinics. She was very friendly and warm, I think that helps a lot.

The first part of insertion was absolutely fine, the spray really numbed my cervix so I couldn’t feel a thing. When they measured the uterus, the GP said I might feel some cramping and I would say I felt very intense period cramps for about 1 minute while they measured and put in the coil. It was nothing like a punch to the stomach I had read about, just quite uncomfortable cramping and strange feeling. It wouldn’t put me off having another inserted, I just took about 3-5 very deep breaths during the most intense part.

I am a couple of hours post insertion and I am having very intense cramping that comes in waves and then settles down again. Heat pad has helped with that & keeping topped up on ibuprofen.

Whilst it wasn’t completely pain free it was nothing like what I had expected (no fainting or nausea for me). I hope this helps someone who might be considering a coil and is currently put off by insertion stories.

Long story short, I got sterilized, and I got an IUD inserted for hormone related issues. I've had and lower back rash and hives, as well as horrendous acne, could this because of the IUD. i have done process of elimination. I'm using all hyperalogenic stuff, I've cut out perfumes. Et, I'm eating a very plain Diet, I honestly do not know what's going on. I do have an appointment with my gynecologist In three weeks, but I don't know if this is something I should call ahead of time for it's not like I'm dying.

hi everyone, I recently started birth control about a year ago and have noticed about once a month. I get aura migraines. well, I’ve gotten my whole life. It seems to be that on birth control. They’re much more common. I’m currently on Junel Fe. just wondering if anyone else has aura migraines and struggles. i’ve also recently had pretty bad, visual, snow, symptoms, depth, perception, and Alison Wonderland syndrome. Have any of you had this and worried about getting a stroke as I’ve read that people who get aura migraines are a much higher risk. I take birth control for my endometriosis so stopping isn’t something I really wanna do but I wonder if anyone else struggles.

i've posted complaining about how the mirena iud made my periods last longer, found out that it's been abnormal bleeding. it's been going on for 11 days, it doesn't fill a pad but i still produce fresh blood every day, it looks like it'll never end. i haven't been able to skip a day without wearing a pad. idk how long this will last but i hate it :(

I'm taking Microgestin Fe, and I missed one pill, so I took two the next day—one when I realized I had missed a pill and another at my usual time.

Then, silly me, I forgot to take the next pill again! I ended up doing the same thing and taking two pills the following day.

They’re around on week 1-2 (can’t remember) thoI know missing pills can reduce their effectiveness. Thankfully, my husband and I aren't that sexually active, and we always make sure to use condoms as a backup method of protection.

My question is, do I still need to take the placebo pills, or should I skip them and start a new pack?

Have any of you had any Hair problems after getting Copper IUD

I used to be on Lo loestrin fe, a combined pill, and I had the nicest hair I have ever had. I switched to a hormonal IUD about 2 years ago, and now my hair sucks. I am almost 100% sure it is due to my IUD. I have tried EVERYTHING to get my hair back, and nothing works, and the timeline tracks with my hair getting bad and the IUD.

I am worried my hair was nice due to the combined pill, because I've read some people get better hair from combined hormones. Idk if that was true or if that was how my hair has always been, because I've been on BC since I was 16 (I'm 26).

I also read hormonal IUD can (and other single hormone BC) cause hair to change for the worse. I think this is what is happening (super coarse, breakage prone hair, doesn't grow, frizzy/poofy constantly).

Idk what to do. I could either try a Copper IUD, maybe risk having my hair still this shitty, maybe slightly improved ? I read a few reports of people losing hair on Copper IUDs as well ? I could also go back on the combined pill.

Here are some side effects I've experienced depending on BC:

Pill: PMDD, shorter/lighter periods (sometimes none), mood swings (unsure how much of this was teenage hormones vs pill though), lower lubrication/libido

IUD: HORRIBLE HAIR, easily motion sick/search sickness/dizziness, No periods (very rare PMDD), lower lubrication/libido

I dread PMDD because I often don't know I'm suicidal lying depressed due to my period because it always comes a week before and stops wheN I start my period amd then I'm like SO THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO DIE.

I always wanted to know how my libido is without hormones fucking me over.

I want my hair back.

I'm concerned about what hormones will do long-term to my body. Idk if it is actually bad, but we don't have many options for Non-hormonal BC that is effective.

I actually originally wanted a Copper IUD, but my gynecologist reccomended against it since I don't have kids and never gave birth, therefore it would hurt worse (but tbh Liletta is similar in size to Paragard, so I think thats BS)

I've never had a scare on any BC, thankfully. I'm pretty responsible, but I'm worried witu turning 26 soon, where and how I'll afford BC when I lose my parents' insurance coverage. Idk what to do tbh omce that happens, lol.

Idk if my insurance will cover another IUD since my current one is still "effective and fine".

I wanted to hear some experiences regarding Copper IUd and what you think I should do ?

this might be long and lengthy, but please take the time to at least skim it. It would really be appreciated!!
I’m 25 female and I have been diagnosed with adenomyosis. I have no kids and I’ve never been pregnant. I’ve been on birth control many times. I got the Mirena IUD inserted in this April and removed about two weeks ago. The IUD helped tremendously with the bloating and inflammation that adeno gave me, but it made me lose half of my hair and gave me severe acne.
I’m now on the first month of yaz. My stomach is back to being extremely inflamed and bloated to where I can’t even wear pants most of the time. I’m so insecure and I know it’s because my endometrium lining has thickened back up. I was so relieved when the IUD helped my bloating but now it’s just came back.
i’m almost at the placebo pills so I don’t know how my periods are on Yaz just yet however, I struggle with extreme heavy bleeding that puts me in concerning iron levels in which I need to get iron infusions. I bled every single day on the IUD up until removal. I bled straight for six months. I’m not bleeding/ spotting as much on yaz. without birth control, my periods are so heavy that at night I bleed through my pads, my underwear, my sheets down to my mattress. I really wanna get a hysterectomy. I don’t want kids. I’m just so tired of looking down and seeing my stomach and entire body so inflamed I lost 20 pounds in the six months that I was on the IUD and I truly believe it was because it helped my inflammation and shed the lining of my extremely inflamed uterus. Does anyone have experience with having these types of symptoms and being on Yaz. At this point, my main wish is for my body to feel normal. and to not look constantly pregnant.

Need help! I was supposed to start my new pack on Monday of last week but I moved that day and completely forgot. On Tuesday the pharmacy had refilled the script but I had to have it transferred to my new location. I picked it up Wednesday and STILL FORGOT to start it. I didn’t start it until Thursday. Me and. My boyfriend did it unprotected that Friday but I told him I started it late so he needed to pull out. He did. Now it’s been a week since I started it, no spotting or anything, but my nipples are rock hard sensitive. Likely just the hormone imbalance. I know starting a new pack late is risky but I didn’t know how risky until today when I started looking things up. It’s too late for plan B. Is it a high chance I got pregnant? I know about pre cum and stuff and how I can end up preg off of that, even though he pulled out, but need someone to give it to me straight….