I had an IUD and was really happy with it. Convenient to use and no hormones! Mine did expel, but we found out later that it is because I only have half a uterus (just one more way I'm some sort of medical accident!). Pretty rare ... so I wouldn't worry about that for you.

I have never had kids and I'll be brutally honest when I say that I found insertion quite painful. I got vagal and had to have my husband come drive me home. Also had cramps (about the same as a regular period) for a couple of days. If you don't have anyone going with you, I would suggest taking someone along to drive, just in case.

Of course, again, I only have half a uterus, so it was like trying to stick a triangle-shaped something into a banana-shaped something and it just didn't work very well. Might be A LOT easier (and much less painful) if you're actually shaped like a triangle.

The beginning is unpleasant, but when you consider that you only have to get it done once every five years (or ten years, with the copper one), it is a small price to pay.

I had two put in (the first stayed in for three years) and the second time I made a point to take some Tylenol about an hour or so before the procedure. Took the edge off the worst of it, so I would definitely do that.

I did spot for a while on it, but that went away in a couple of weeks. I was on the copper IUD, so I did have slightly longer periods (6-7 days as opposed to 5) but, again, it seemed like a small price to pay.

There's no way to sugarcoat that it CAN hurt, but that worst is over quickly and the remainder is a lot like regular cramps. Take some Tylenol ahead of time and plan on curling up with a heating pad and a good book for the rest of the day.

And yeah ... I thought it was totally worth it! (The hubby was a fan as well!)

I'm having one inserted at the end of May once my lungs have recovered further from the PE (only 2 weeks ago). They will insert mine whilst i am under general anaesthesia for other minor surgery though. I'd love to hear how yours goes though.

I'm going back to work after! So that may not be a good idea. I have my appointment at lunch time and ill take a car to and fro. I think I'm more worried about the spotting. My periods now are pretty light. 3-4 days and I'm done. No real cramping other than the moment it starts, so hopefully it won't make those symptoms worse. Im hoping it takes my period away altogether, like i know it does for some.

I will let you know how it goes..

I have really heavy periods that last about 9 days and my gyno says warfarin can make that worse so for me it's worth the risks involved. I hope in your case the inconvenience is minimised.

I have a copper IUD. It does make my periods heavier, but it's fine.

I think pain is relative so it may be really painful to you or just uncomfortable. Don't psyche yourself out about the pain. That will just make you really tense.

For me, I never had children, plus they had a hard time inserting it because my uterus is tipped. That caused a lot of intense cramping during the procedure. But it was manageable. You breath through it and go to your happy place. It's a good idea to take tylenol prior to the procedure.

The cramping can continue for a while and you feel kind of icky. I went home and laid on the couch for a while. Within a couple of hours the cramps started to get less intense and by the end of the night I felt pretty good.

How was the spotting?

After the procedure, I had very little actually, and I was on warfarn.

Great. Thanks.

I know it's different for everyone so I hope it's a piece of cake for you!

So, i just got back. It was somewhere between severe pain and a piece of cake. It the entire procedure took 5 minutes, from prep to clean-up. There were 2 period, that lasted maybe 5 seconds each, that hurt, but not severe pain, it just hurt, followed by cramping. Im not one who gets bad cramping during my periods, but is comportable to that. Its been an hour since I got back to the office, and the cramping persits, the back pain persists. But, nothing horrible, just annoying and uncomfortable

Yeah for me it was like uber bad period cramps that lingered longer than a period cramp. And the came in waves. Annoying and uncomfortable is a GREAT description.

It'll get better as the day goes on. You'll probably be really tired when you get home because it's kind of an intense experience for such a short little time.

Glad it went ok for you.

I forgot to ask my doctor about 2 things....how long after can you start to have sex and can i use tampons today? i meant to ask and through the ordeal, it stlipped my mind

I don't know about the tampons. But from a birth control perspective, it's effect immediately and so you can have sex right away.

Really glad to hear that this went well for you! That's great news. Let's hope it settles quickly and those cramps and spotting go away quickly.

From an effectiveness POV, it is effective right away.

Me, I always felt weird about using tampons with the IUD. Totally psychological, but I never found out if it was OK or not right after insertion.

Let's hear it for getting that box checked off!

I feel terrible right now. I have never had babies, but i can't imagine labor being any worse thanI feel right now. HORRIBLE cramps. There are timed they are minor, like period cramps, and then there are times when they really bad, especially on my right side. I'm going to take some more tylonel, try and take a hot bath, and hope that helps. I was warned that without kids, i may have longer cramping. but yeah, they are "uber bad" to use rmb's words. ugh.

Im going to try the tampon route tomorrow. Pads gross me out, but I'm spotting -- not horrible. Sort of like the end of a period (which I do have right now, too)