IUD for teens

[Anonymous]

ACOG, AAP, and Planned Parenthood all say the IUD is "one of the safest and most effective forms of of preventing unintended pregnancies and are especially safe for teenagers." I think they say for as younge as 15.

So... anyone have a teen with an IUD? Has it worked out well?

One of my teen girls is struggling with heavy periods and cramps. I'm considering suggesting she talk with a gyno about getting an IUD. I love my Mirena though I know the side effects can be bad for some women.

[Anonymous]

As a heterosexual cisgendered woman who has been dodging unwanted pregnancy for what feels like a million years and the mom of a teen (though a boy), I am very much pro-IUD. I wish I'd been able to get on that bandwagon when I was a teenager.

I think suggesting she talk to the gyno about the Mirena is a good idea. I'm sure both you and the gyno will tell her this if you have't already, but she still needs to use condoms to protect against STIs.

[Anonymous]

My sister has one -- I think she got it when she was 15 or 16 (she is 19 now) Aside from insertion (which gave her pretty wicked cramps for a day), it's been a non-issue for her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous[b wrote:]As a heterosexual cisgendered woman[/b] who has been dodging unwanted pregnancy for what feels like a million years and the mom of a teen (though a boy), I am very much pro-IUD. I wish I'd been able to get on that bandwagon when I was a teenager.

I think suggesting she talk to the gyno about the Mirena is a good idea. I'm sure both you and the gyno will tell her this if you have't already, but she still needs to use condoms to protect against STIs.

Thanks so much for these relevant details. What color is your hair?

[Anonymous]

OP here - thank you to those who replied politely and generously. Let's ignore the troll.

[Anonymous]

Talk to your doctor, OP. IUDs can cause complications in women who have never been pregnant.

[Anonymous]

Insertion for 16 yo dd was super painful day of but otherwise no issues.

She wanted it and I do like that there is not really a user error risks to it (as opposed to the pill).

[Anonymous]

I would ask if that is an appropriate solution for heavy periods and cramps.


If you are looking for birth control options than sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous[b wrote:]As a heterosexual cisgendered woman[/b] who has been dodging unwanted pregnancy for what feels like a million years and the mom of a teen (though a boy), I am very much pro-IUD. I wish I'd been able to get on that bandwagon when I was a teenager.

I think suggesting she talk to the gyno about the Mirena is a good idea. I'm sure both you and the gyno will tell her this if you have't already, but she still needs to use condoms to protect against STIs.

Thanks so much for these relevant details. What color is your hair?

Brown. Thanks for asking! Look, there are plenty of people who aren't any of these things that read these forums, and some of them honestly don't think about this reality of our lives. We're fertile for something like forty years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would ask if that is an appropriate solution for heavy periods and cramps.


If you are looking for birth control options than sure.

Exactly.

[Anonymous]

Take a look at the Skyla IUD- it's the same hormone as Mirena but smaller for women who have not yet been pregnant

[Anonymous]

I don't have an opinion on IUDs to prevent pregnancy in teens, but condoms are still important for STD prevention>>gonorrhea, chlamydia, trich, hpv, hiv.

[Anonymous]

No way in hell. While they are very safe, if something goes wrong, you're possibly putting her future fertility at risk.

Look at Nexplanon. Even more effective, less risk.

[Anonymous]

Also talk to your daughters about plan b and also keeping close track of their cycle.
If you are 5 weeks pregnant, it's a lot easier to take a pill than be further along and have to hAve an abortion.
I'm not supporting either, but girls should be informed there are options if all else has failed...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also talk to your daughters about plan b and also keeping close track of their cycle.
If you are 5 weeks pregnant, it's a lot easier to take a pill than be further along and have to hAve an abortion.
I'm not supporting either, but girls should be informed there are options if all else has failed...

Plan B prevents ovulation, thereby preventing conception. Plan B does not do anything if you are 5 weeks pregnant, which you can only be if you have already conceived.