For those without kids - Mirena related

[puppiesandrainbows]

At a recent follow up with my neurologist, he told me that I could get the Mirena IUD if I wanted, because it was progesterone only, and low progesterone at that. I'm pretty excited because my periods are hell due to endometriosis, fibroids, an ovarian cyst, etc.

However, I called my OBGYN to schedule it, and the lady on the phone said "Wait - you've never had babies? Ever? Then you'll need to come in to see the Doctor first and talk to her about this before we can schedule you for the procedure."

Are they going to give me a hard time about this? I'm 31, single, no prospects in sight (kinda by choice) and I'm really on the fence about whether or not I want kids at all. However, I know that lighter (or possibly no periods) periods will make my life a lot better. And if I do meet the man of my dreams and decide to have a baby, I can always just get it removed, right?

Right?

[lanyac]

I would definitely talk to a doctor about it.

[puppiesandrainbows]

Aug 27, 2012 17:27:32 GMT -5 lanyac said:

I would definitely talk to a doctor about it.

Well, I don't really have a choice there, I was just wondering if others in similar positions were given a lot of push back by their doctors, and if so, why?

[nicoliae]

They shouldn't give you a hard time. I was 18 when I got my first mirena. They basically just ask you questions, make you take a pregnancy test, and check that you are up-to-date on your pap. After the pregnancy test I had one week to schedule insertion, otherwise I had to do another pregnancy test. I can post more information on the whole process if you'd like.

ETA: I ended up having mine inserted by a NP at planned parenthood instead of a ob/gy office because the NP had more experience with inserting them. I spotted the first few months and I haven't had a period since (years!). I never could handle the hormones in BCPs but I love my mirena.

[LoveTrains]

Yes, tons of ladies (including me) on this board that have never had children have mirena.

Some doctors refuse to give it to women that have not had children. I believe originally it was not FDA approved for them, but now it is. If your doctor won't, call another one.

[greekypie]

Aug 27, 2012 17:26:17 GMT -5 puppiesandrainbows said:

At a recent follow up with my neurologist, he told me that I could get the Mirena IUD if I wanted, because it was progesterone only, and low progesterone at that. I'm pretty excited because my periods are hell due to endometriosis, fibroids, an ovarian cyst, etc.

However, I called my OBGYN to schedule it, and the lady on the phone said "Wait - you've never had babies? Ever? Then you'll need to come in to see the Doctor first and talk to her about this before we can schedule you for the procedure."

Are they going to give me a hard time about this? I'm 31, single, no prospects in sight (kinda by choice) and I'm really on the fence about whether or not I want kids at all. However, I know that lighter (or possibly no periods) periods will make my life a lot better. And if I do meet the man of my dreams and decide to have a baby, I can always just get it removed, right?

Right?

They always ask that because if you've gone through a birth, your cervix is a little more open and they have to push the Mirena through your cervix, so insertion is easier (supposedly). It has nothing to do with your fertility before or after Mirena.

I have heard plenty of cases where docs will give a Mirena to someone w/o previous pregnancy. Don't be too worried!

ETA - Disclaimer ... this is per my NP, when I asked her a while back. I am not a medical professional.

[NachoProblem]

From what I understand from talking with my ob/gyn, they are marketed towards women that have already had children. A small group of women contracted a bacterial infection associated with the IUD and they weren't able to have babies after the IUD was removed. Because of this, for some reason, the drug companies think that if you've already had children, you'd be less upset with the inability to have future children? Stupid.

But yes, in theory you should be able to have it removed without any problems... whether or not you've had kids before.

[Deleted]

If you haven't had a child, it's possible your uterus is to small for it to fit I think.

Also, some doctors flat out won't insert a IUD if you haven't had kids.

[Kore]

My doctor didn't even mention pregnancies. The main concern is a slightly higher risk of expulsion because we don't have stretched out utes. It's not like the dalkon shield 50 years ago that made some women infertile.

[greekypie]

Oh, and FWIW, I have a child but never labored/dilated much because I had a planned C-section. So my cervix had not been through a birth and I got the Mirena just fine, and insertion hurt less than waxing my eyebrows.

[lanyac]

Aug 27, 2012 17:28:40 GMT -5 puppiesandrainbows said:

Aug 27, 2012 17:27:32 GMT -5 lanyac said:

I would definitely talk to a doctor about it.

Well, I don't really have a choice there, I was just wondering if others in similar positions were given a lot of push back by their doctors, and if so, why?

Yeah that was stupid of me to say. I had a mirena before I had kids, and it was horrible and painful and I bled for months. She thought it was an excellent idea. Lol.

[puppiesandrainbows]

Ok, it's good to know that the odds of me being "rejected" aren't too high, LOL. Thank you!

[puppiesandrainbows]

Aug 27, 2012 17:30:26 GMT -5 @ameliapond said:

If you haven't had a child, it's possible your uterus is to small for it to fit I think.

Also, some doctors flat out won't insert a IUD if you haven't had kids.

Hmmm. I've already been told by two GYN's that I have a smaller than average uterus. I wonder if this will be an issue...

[puppiesandrainbows]

Oh, and Greekypie, your first post had me clenching like a mofo. I'm sure I'll be fine though, I'm pretty stoic about these things, but still. Eek!

[pumpkin]

I'd go in an talk to the doctor. I got mine a 32, I have not had children, and was and currently am single. I had to go in and meet with the doctor first too. It never hurts to talk to them about it.

[wedbliss5]

I was always under the impression it was because ectopic pregnancies CAN occur, so if you have a history of ectopic PG they tell you NOT to get one.

Although, I'm not sure WHERE I got that opinion or if it is even related.

[cahabalily]

I have endo and PCOS and also have the mirena. If your doc does give you a hard time, find a different doctor. It is painful at insertion if you haven't had kids, but nothing life-altering.

[sillygoosegirl]

My OBGYN didn't want me to get it. She felt that my risk of STDs was too high to get it as a childless woman (if you have an IUD and get an STD, it's especially bad, I guess). I'm married and DH and I have only been with each other, so I would have thought I was in a pretty low risk group there. But I have childless friends who have it, and I think one or two even got it before marriage, so obviously not all OBGYNs have the same opinion about it.

[puppiesandrainbows]

My doctor is pretty cool, so I'd be surprised if she gave me a hard time about it, it's probably more of an "office policy" than anything else.

Thanks everyone!

[Kore]

Aug 27, 2012 17:40:55 GMT -5 sillygoosegirl said:

My OBGYN didn't want me to get it. She felt that my risk of STDs was too high to get it as a childless woman (if you have an IUD and get an STD, it's especially bad, I guess). I'm married and DH and I have only been with each other, so I would have thought I was in a pretty low risk group there. But I have childless friends who have it, and I think one or two even got it before marriage, so obviously not all OBGYNs have the same opinion about it.

Wtf. Having babies doesn't increase one's immunity to STDs. Your doctor sounds dumb.

[NachoProblem]

Aug 27, 2012 17:42:40 GMT -5 Kore said:

Aug 27, 2012 17:40:55 GMT -5 sillygoosegirl said:

My OBGYN didn't want me to get it. She felt that my risk of STDs was too high to get it as a childless woman (if you have an IUD and get an STD, it's especially bad, I guess). I'm married and DH and I have only been with each other, so I would have thought I was in a pretty low risk group there. But I have childless friends who have it, and I think one or two even got it before marriage, so obviously not all OBGYNs have the same opinion about it.

Wtf. Having babies doesn't increase one's immunity to STDs. Your doctor sounds dumb.

lol!

[sillygoosegirl]

Aug 27, 2012 17:44:47 GMT -5 NachoProblem said:

Aug 27, 2012 17:42:40 GMT -5 Kore said:

Wtf. Having babies doesn't increase one's immunity to STDs. Your doctor sounds dumb.

lol!

Like someone above said, I think the reasoning is that if it causes infertility, you won't mind so much if you already have kids. Which is also dumb, in a different way.

Though from what I hear from some parents, you'd think the STD risk goes to zero. But younger siblings prove that isn't true in all cases...

[puppiesandrainbows]

I read it to mean that if you were not in a monogamous, serious relationship, (and therefore a Slutty McSlutterson), your chances of getting an STD were higher because of your sluttiness. So they discouraged it as an option for single women ::cough::whores::cough:: because the complications from having an IUD plus STD were really bad, and could make you infertile, and thus worthless on the marriage market.

[emilyj]

My past two gyn's refused to put a Mirena in me because I haven't had kids - the explanation I got was because of my cervix not having ever dialated/uterus size.

Mirena has been recommended for me now (endo and adenomyosis) so I just made an appointment with a new gyn. If I get push back there, the surgeon that recommended Mirena for me said I could come back to him and he'd place it.

[Kore]

I still think that's a bullshit excuse to come from a doctor. It's not up to them to decide if I'd be disappointed or not if I caught a PID so bad that my insides rotted out. If anything, someone with a kid has a demonstrated history of unprotected/"risky" sex, since they got pregnant.

I feel like doctors who won't give IUDs to childless women are really outdated. If you google IUD risk of infertility, there are a shitload of reputable sites debunking this belief. Here's one:

"Pelvic infections. What was thought to be an increased risk of pelvic inflammatory disease has proven not to be true. Large groups of patients have been evaluated, and their risk does not seem to be any greater than the risk in the general population The risk for infection may be increased around the time of insertion of the IUD, but routine screening before insertion is generally not recommended There is also no evidence that IUD usage increases the risk of HIV infection.

Infertility. IUDs were thought to cause infertility, mostly because of concerns about infections. However, studies have shown that women with a history of using an IUD are no more likely to be diagnosed with infertility than those who have not used IUDs. This seems to be true for women who have never been pregnant or women who have been pregnant previously.

Ectopic pregnancy. Another concern was a presumed increased risk for an ectopic pregnancy. In reality, women using IUDs have a significantly lower rate of ectopic pregnancies than women using no contraception at all. Even for women who have a history of ectopic pregnancies when not using contraception, the IUD is considered safe and may even lower their risk for another one."

[vtdiamond]

I have one and have not had kids, my dr had no issues at all. Process was mildly uncomfortable but nothing terrible.

[cahabalily]

Aug 27, 2012 18:12:37 GMT -5 emilyj said:

My past two gyn's refused to put a Mirena in me because I haven't had kids - the explanation I got was because of my cervix not having ever dialated/uterus size.

Mirena has been recommended for me now (endo and adenomyosis) so I just made an appointment with a new gyn. If I get push back there, the surgeon that recommended Mirena for me said I could come back to him and he'd place it.

I'm really glad to hear this! I thought about you when I first saw this post, I hope it works out!

[aurora]

Aug 27, 2012 17:38:03 GMT -5 wedbliss5 said:

I was always under the impression it was because ectopic pregnancies CAN occur, so if you have a history of ectopic PG they tell you NOT to get one.

Although, I'm not sure WHERE I got that opinion or if it is even related.

I think it's that the risk that a pregnancy will be ectopic is higher. But that's because you're really really really unlikely to get pregnant, but if you do get pregnant it's extremely unlikely for the embryo to implant in the uterus, so hence it could be ectopic. But again, still a much lower risk of ectopic pregnancy than with no BC and most other kinds of BC (because Mirena is more effective than most).

*Not a medical professional, just recalling what my doctor told me.

[polarbearfans]

I had Mirena and have never been pregnant. My doctor didn't ever mention anything about it. I didn't even think about it until I went to more as website and it made mention that there is a higher rejection rate of you haven't had a child. My did well the full 5 years and my doctor was going to put another in but my new instance didn't pay enough to make it worth just a year or twos time

[hannamaren]

Aug 27, 2012 17:31:36 GMT -5 greekypie said:

Oh, and FWIW, I have a child but never labored/dilated much because I had a planned C-section. So my cervix had not been through a birth and I got the Mirena just fine, and insertion hurt less than waxing my eyebrows.

I had a Csection and I dilated to about 1cm. The insertion post birth was painless.
I also had 3 Mirenas pre pregnancy with no questions from my doctor and they were more crampy on insertion.
My doctor asked both times if I was in a monogamous relationship