Anonymous wrote: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.

Yeah, I'm not going to use these terms. Ever. Nice try, though.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mine totally ruined my health - heavy periods and weird discharge . My body did not like have a foreign object in it.
I wouldn't recommend it.

It seems like a big threat to a teen would be sexually transmitted diseases - herpes, chlymydia , gonorrhea, AIDS ?
Seems like conform use would be a much better idea.

No reason you can't use an IUD and a conform.

Doubling up on birth control that way never hurt anyone.

Anonymous wrote:Mine totally ruined my health - heavy periods and weird discharge . My body did not like have a foreign object in it.
I wouldn't recommend it.

It seems like a big threat to a teen would be sexually transmitted diseases - herpes, chlymydia , gonorrhea, AIDS ?
Seems like conform use would be a much better idea.

No reason you can't use an IUD and a conform.

Anonymous wrote:IUDs can cause heavier and more painful periods- they did for me but they are totally worth it for me.

That's Paraguard. Mirena does the opposite.

IUDs can cause heavier and more painful periods- they did for me but they are totally worth it for me.

Mine totally ruined my health - heavy periods and weird discharge . My body did not like have a foreign object in it.
I wouldn't recommend it.

It seems like a big threat to a teen would be sexually transmitted diseases - herpes, chlymydia , gonorrhea, AIDS ?
Seems like conform use would be a much better idea.

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.

I have a Mirena precisely for that reason- to help with heavy flow and cramps. IUDs are an excellent birth control option for teens. Anything that allows for user error (condoms, pills) aren't very reliable.

That's not to say condoms aren't important. I don't understand the poster implying that because she has an iud she'd be less likely to use condoms. Just go over the facts. IUD is for birth control but isn't 100% effective. Condoms are for preventing pregnancy and stds, and are necessary because IUDs don't protect against stds at all. I'm sure OP's DD is smart enough to understand this.

Anonymous wrote:I asked my Gyn about teens and IUDs citing the studies OP mentioned. She is definitely in favor of the IUD as great birth control. However, they can be very hard to insert in a woman who has never had a baby.

See earlier post about Skyla, which is designed for this situation.

Mirena IUD post 2 babies and it was miserable-- cramping and continuous light bleeding. And, oh yeah, because I was constantly spotting and cramping, I missed my ectopic pregnancy until it ruptured. Good thing I was done having kids, because I probably would not have been able to get pregnant again. And I am not the only woman I know who had an accidential pregnancy on the Mirena. I would never let my DD get one in HS. No way it is more than 99% effective. And if you have side effects, they suck.

The first time I had an IUD inserted (after 3 unmedicated vaginal births in 4 years) I had terrible cramps during the insertion, as strong as hard labor. My midwife had to keep pausing to wait for my uterus to stop contracting. 5 years later, when I had it replaced with my second IUD, it didn't hurt much at all.

As much as I am a natural birth junkie, I wish I had had strong drugs during insertion the first time. That must be an option, isn't it?

If you've never been pregnant. Once you've had a baby (or twins) stretch out your uterus, it's not going to hurt as much as a tiny 16 yr old fresh as a daisy uterus.

Anonymous wrote:I asked my Gyn about teens and IUDs citing the studies OP mentioned. She is definitely in favor of the IUD as great birth control. However, they can be very hard to insert in a woman who has never had a baby.

Is it if they have never had a baby or never had a vaginal birth?

I have a paraguard inserted after twin pregnancy (can't and don't want to do hormones) and I had a c-section. I found insertion to be uncomfortable with some minor cramping for the remainder of the day. For my own kids, I'd more likely advocate paraguard vs. mirena unless they need the hormones for another reason.

Anonymous wrote: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.

+ 10000 something very few people talk to kids about, they get lazy, they get convinced by guys that say you can't get pregnant but guess what else can happen. This is a really bad idea to say ok great, here you go you are safe when they are not.

I asked my Gyn about teens and IUDs citing the studies OP mentioned. She is definitely in favor of the IUD as great birth control. However, they can be very hard to insert in a woman who has never had a baby.

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?

If there is any thread where the facts that 1) You have a uterus and 2) You have sex with men are relevant it's a thread on birth control. I love my lesbian and MTF friends but I don't go to them for advice on birth control.