Has anyone had one?
Does it hurt (I'm a BIG chicken) ironic huh?
how did it go?
how is living with it?
I am planning to get the one with the hormones, but I'm nervous

Doctors do not recommend this if you plan on having more children. The reason being it could move and become infected which can really damage your fertility. A lot of people have complained of the IUD moving. Maybe try the implant? Same deal but in your arm and won't ruin your fertility

And if you breast-feed the implant is safer then the UID!

Ummm... I may be wrong, but as I understand it (As it was explained by my doctor) the IUD doesn't affect your milk supply / breastfeeding, and the chances of it moving are very slim - but they teach you to feel the strings that hang down out of the cervix and into the vagina so you can tell if it's no longer in place and get it sorted out asap hopefully before infection can set in - there is that risk of course, but it really is minimal.

If you want to avoid the pill because you're breastfeeding / don't trust yourself to remember to take it (or for whatever reason) and you don't like condoms, then the IUD is a good option for some because it is over 99% effective, has very few side effects and is reasonably long-term (can be used for over 5 years without needing to change it or use another form of contraception) but your fertility returns to normal as soon as the device is removed...

I don't have any first hand experience, though - just the facts handed to me on an information booklet

I'm going ahead with it, it's booked for next Tuesday. I'll let you know how it goes

I have never heard of the Coil affecting your fertility, as a nurse i spent some time with a practise nurse at a gp's surgery and watched many being inserted (nice, i know!!) for most woman they said it wasnt painful just slightly uncomfortable, and for a few days after you can feel a bit 'crampy' as if you feel like your period is on the way.
Its defiently a fantastic contraception and yes it can move out of place but that is extremely rare, but is why they advise you to check for the threads regularly. And if you are planning more children then this contraception is ideal because your fertility returns to normal when its removed.
When i worked in the day surgery unit the advise for patients who had had one fitted was to give it 6 months for things to settle down, for example some people experience irriatic bleeding quite frequently but once things settle down you probley wont have a period at all (or just a very light bleed). The reason they said 6 months was because some people would have irregular bleeding for 2 months for example and think 'this isnt right for me' so its just about giving your body time to adjust!.

Critics of coils say that they can increase the chances of an infection which can affect your long-term fertility, such as chlamydia, tracking up from your vagina into your uterus and fallopian tubes. There is some evidence that using of an IUD for even a short time (less than two years) can impact on the time it takes you to get pregnant, but that there is no effect with IUSs. Modern coils rarely cause infection or other complications. If they do, it is usually at the time of insertion and there would normally be symptoms associated with infection, such as a green vaginal discharge or pain deep in the pelvis.

A rare but potentially serious complication is that of uterine perforation. This may occur either during the device's insertion, or from its later embedment into the myometrium (uterine wall) and subsequent migration through to the intra-abdominal cavity. Perforation can cause internal scarring, infection, or damage to other organs, and may require surgery. Uterine perforation has been reported at rates ranging from 1 to 2.6 per 1000 insertions. It is believed that perforations are significantly underreported, however, and actual perforation rates are likely higher.

Here ya go, http://www.fpa.org.uk/information/le...?contentid=151 This has all the facts for you.

Good luck on Tuesday!

thanks hun

Thanks for your help girls. i chose to go for the hormone one, the IUS, 'cos of my periods being painful (when I have them) though secretly I would love to try again must qualify first though