I decided to make this post just because before going in for my IUD removal, everyone I talked to assured me that it was no big deal. So much easier than getting it in, they said! "Just like removing a tampon," the doctor (a woman) promised.
It was not like removing a tampon. It didn't hurt as much as getting the IUD in, but it still fucking hurt. I had immediate cramping, which remained for the rest of the evening. Then, the next day, I was nauseous and exhausted, and upon looking online I learned about the "Mirena Crash"—the hormone imbalance that you wind up in when you're suddenly not on Progestin after five years. I felt like total garbage for three days. (And then I promptly got my period for the first time in five years.)
I loved my IUD and have no regrets about getting one. But I wish that we didn't devalue the pain and discomfort that comes with it. I honestly would have been fine if the doctor, instead of saying that it wouldn't hurt at all, had told me that it would hurt a little and that I might feel shitty for a couple of days. Instead, I went in expecting no pain and no side effects, and wound up blindsided on all fronts.
Be honest with each other about pain. If we also go around saying that painful procedures are no big deal, then it gives male doctors more incentive to devalue our pain.
So, for anyone who has this coming up: it's not that bad, but it's not fun, either. Expect bleeding and cramping. Expect it to hurt coming out. If you're not getting a new one right away, expect that you might feel like crap for the next few days because your hormones need to rebalance. Expect that you might need to take it easy, and that's okay.
I decided to make this post just because before going in for my IUD removal, everyone I talked to assured me that it was no big deal. So much easier than getting it in, they said! "Just like removing a tampon," the doctor (a woman) promised.It was not like removing a tampon. It didn't hurt as much as getting the IUD in, but it still fucking hurt. I had immediate cramping, which remained for the rest of the evening. Then, the next day, I was nauseous and exhausted, and upon looking online I learned about the "Mirena Crash"—the hormone imbalance that you wind up in when you're suddenly not on Progestin after five years. I felt like total garbage for three days. (And then I promptly got my period for the first time in five years.)I loved my IUD and have no regrets about getting one. But I wish that we didn't devalue the pain and discomfort that comes with it. I honestly would have been fine if the doctor, instead of saying that it wouldn't hurt at all, had told me that it would hurt a little and that I might feel shitty for a couple of days. Instead, I went in expecting no pain and no side effects, and wound up blindsided on all fronts.Be honest with each other about pain. If we also go around saying that painful procedures are no big deal, then it gives male doctors more incentive to devalue our pain.So, for anyone who has this coming up: it's not that bad, but it's not fun, either. Expect bleeding and cramping. Expect it to hurt coming out. If you're not getting a new one right away, expect that you might feel like crap for the next few days because your hormones need to rebalance. Expect that you might need to take it easy, and that's okay. https://ift.tt/jma3J10 https://ift.tt/iHgoJz4
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