7. Eat and drink a lot of water before your appointment.
The 30 seconds of pain that you are exposed to has a tendency to take away a lot of energy, leaving you a bit pale and disoriented immediately after the IUD is inserted. Most times the nurse will bring you water and ask you to lay down for 5-10 minutes if you’re noticeably paler/clammier, so help yourself beforehand and stock up on that energy and hydrate.
8. This is not for the squeamish or overly-modest.
Just know that after you get an IUD, you have to check to make sure everything (well, the string) seems to still be in place every month, so this is not for the people who aren’t comfortable doing self-checks and engaging with your anatomy. Some women are more comfortable with their lady parts than others, so keep that in mind before you make that decision!
9. Pregnancy isn’t the only important precaution.
If you’re not in a monogamous relationship or get checked on a semi-regular basis, don’t stop using conventional protection, because IUDs do not protect against STIs/STDs. Yeah, it’s nice to know you’re not going to surprisingly pop out a mini-me prematurely, but remember that’s not the only dangers of sex.
10. Don’t plan anything for the rest of your day, unless those plans are sitting on your couch with a bottle of wine.
You’re not going to want to go party, go back to work/school, or really even talk to people. You’re going to want to spend the rest of the day doing nothing with a heating pad for your cramps, extra wine for your weary mind, and a good show/movie to pass the time in solitude. Pop a couple Midol and enjoy it.
In the end, I’ve been on the IUD for about 3 months now and I couldn’t be happier with my decision. Eliminating the stress of unwanted pregnancy and the hassle of an everyday pill allows me to forget about the responsibility and just live my life (of course with routine checkups and monitoring like a responsible IUD user!) But don’t take it from me, go make an appointment with your OBGYN to talk about the pros and cons if you’re considering making the plunge. Have any interesting stories/tips from other women with IUDs? Leave a comment below!