Teens and IUD?

[Anonymous]

My 18 yo DD told me that she and her boyfriend may start having sex soon. I had bad experiences with birth control pills in my youth and have been very happy with my copper IUDs for the past 15 years. Seems like it can’t be beat for pregnancy protection ( I would have course urge condoms for sti protection).

Have any of your teens gone with IUDs for birth control? If so, how has the experience been?

[Anonymous]

No, because insertion can be REALLY painful, as can taking it out. Just because you had bad experiences with BCP doesn't mean your daughter will. She is not you.

[Anonymous]

My daughter has one and almost passed out from the insertion. The next time she got it they put her to sleep and it was so easy and painless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, because insertion can be REALLY painful, as can taking it out. Just because you had bad experiences with BCP doesn't mean your daughter will. She is not you.

Wait - while she is not OP, there are newer, smaller IUDs made just for teens and tweens.

They are smaller and I’m sure insertion must be much easier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, because insertion can be REALLY painful, as can taking it out. Just because you had bad experiences with BCP doesn't mean your daughter will. She is not you.

Wait - while she is not OP, there are newer, smaller IUDs made just for teens and tweens.

They are smaller and I’m sure insertion must be much easier.

Still very painful

Ask about anesthesia

[Anonymous]

Yes it is pretty common

There are ones made with and without hormones specifically for teens

I don’t know one teen who had an insertion without anesthesia

There are many more BCP and just because a mom didn’t like them doesn’t mean her daughter will have the same reaction

[Anonymous]

My daughter had one inserted at 17 without anesthesia. The doctor warned her it would be painful and she said it was but it didn’t seem overwhelmingly so. I was in the room with her (my daughter asked me to be) during the procedure and she looked uncomfortable but not in terrible pain. The doctor said she did really well so maybe she was an exception.

[Anonymous]

I would never recommend an IUD to my daughter because I disliked the side effects and had it removed. I much preferred oral contraceptives which had the added benefit of clearing my skin!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, because insertion can be REALLY painful, as can taking it out. Just because you had bad experiences with BCP doesn't mean your daughter will. She is not you.

Wait - while she is not OP, there are newer, smaller IUDs made just for teens and tweens.

They are smaller and I’m sure insertion must be much easier.

Still very painful

Ask about anesthesia

I had a paraguard and the insertion wasn’t too bad. My teen asked for an IUD and I went with her for the insertion and it was very painful for her (there were tears and I held her hand and talked her through it but it was worse than we had expected).

There was an article a few months ago I think in the post re IUD pain and how it is a major deterrent to people getting one because people are filming their insertion and posting it on Tik Tok. So teens see these videos and get scared. The article also said doctors may be too quick to dismiss pain concerns and that patients SHOULD be pushing back. I wish I had read that before we went. If there are alternatives to pain relief other than lame suggestions to take an advil one hour before I strongly suggest people ask, ask a second time, etc. Be your child’s advocate.

My teen had been on bcp for a year but kept forgetting to take them. She is the one that said I need something else. The facts re IUD protection are very good.

[Anonymous]

I had a copper IUD and it caused a lot of cramping during my period. It was so bad that I eventually had it removed. The hormonal type might be better because they usually decrease or stop periods.

[Anonymous]

I had a paraguard and it was a little painful but nothing too significant. I took two Advil beforehand and it was fine, though I have a high tolerance for pain. Every body is different. Talk to the OB/GYN about your daughter's current periods and see what they recommend. I have endometriosis and tried numerous methods of BC.The IUD worked best for me, with few side effects, something I had while on various pills, patches, ring etc.

[Anonymous]

If the teen is using condoms for STI protection, why does she need an IUD? Not being judgmental, just wondering. I just wouldn’t want the IUD to deter them from using condoms.

I read a different article in the Post anbou pain from insertion and it made me angry because so many doctors as dismissive of it.

The Post has published a few articles about the pain and I’m sharing them here to include the one I mentioned and the one PP mentioned.

https://wapo.st/3QuKtZh
https://wapo.st/4bkH6fk
https://wapo.st/3Wl3lxw

[Anonymous]

Planned Parenthood recommends the arm implant birth control. It lasts a long time and is fool proof. I know I would miss taking bc occasionally at that age.

[Anonymous]

I don't think copper IuDs are recommended for teens--hormonal ones are supposedly better. And yes, my GYN provides teens with anesthesia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, because insertion can be REALLY painful, as can taking it out. Just because you had bad experiences with BCP doesn't mean your daughter will. She is not you.

Wait - while she is not OP, there are newer, smaller IUDs made just for teens and tweens.

They are smaller and I’m sure insertion must be much easier.

Tweens? OMG.