I have a chronic illness and birth control changed my life
My experiences with birth control have been anything but simple and straightforward. Actually, the same can be said for my experiences as a person who has a period. I have a chronic reproductive illness called endometriosis . It took years of bad experiences with my period and birth control to even find out I have […]
Combined hormonal versus progestin-only birth control
Three of the most common forms of birth control—the pill, the ring, and the patch—all work the same way. They’re all considered “combined” hormonal methods, meaning they contain two kinds of hormones: estrogen and progestin. Other hormonal methods—the shot, the implant, hormonal IUDs, and the progestin-only pill (a.k.a. minipill)—contain only one kind of hormone—a progestin. […]
Is it safe to lose blood by spotting a lot?
Spotting, which can happen with a bunch of different methods, doesn’t make you lose that much blood, even though it might seem like it. We have a Provider Perspective article about it if you want to learn more. Still not working? You may have more luck on a pill with a slightly higher dose of […]
IUD Expulsion: Is it as scary as it sounds?
During the first few months of having my IUD, there were some moments of discomfort that made me wonder if the IUD was in the right place. When I went to my doctor for a follow-up exam, I talked about some of the pain I had been experiencing and my fear that the IUD had […]
Daria, 20, IUD
Many women start on one method and switch to another when their lifestyle changes. It’s good to know that you always have options no matter what your needs are. That was true in Daria’s case. When she got so busy that she started to forget her daily birth control pill, she went to her school’s […]
Tabitha, 20, IUD
Tabitha is a go-getter. She likes working hard and making smart decisions for her future. Because she has so much going on, she didn’t like being on the pill and having to remember it every day. For her, the carefree nature of the Mirena IUD—which can last up to five years—was much more ideal. original […]
George, 22, IUD
George’s girlfriend uses the Mirena IUD. He likes how easy it is, how it feels better than some other methods, and that it’s always there. Women often wonder if guys can feel an IUD during sex. According to George, he does feel the strings, but it’s painless and doesn’t get in the way at all. […]
Mary Lide, 26, IUD
One of the greatest benefits of using an IUD is how long they last. But Mary Lide makes a good point: hormonal IUDs often have very few side effects. ( The levels of hormone in your system are really low .) For women who have had a bad experience with another hormonal method, a hormonal […]
That little T: A step-by-step guide to getting an IUD
UPDATE: President Biden has opened the enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act health insurance plans for 2022. You can now enroll in one of these plans until January 15, 2022, at healthcare.gov . Some states have their own open enrollment periods and websites for signing up. Check to see if your state does . […]
Katie, 32, IUD
Katie used to be on the pill, but having to remember to take it every day at the same time made her a little anxious. With the IUD , she can relax knowing she’s covered by one of the most effective methods available. And like a lot of women, Katie was nervous about getting her […]
