IUD Removal Questions

[kbpkitty]

Tomorrow is the big Mirena removal day! Yay/yikes!

This is my second mirena, but my first removal. The first one I had expelled after about 3.5 years - probably because I think I pulled on the strings thinking they were tampon strings, and angered it enough to make it jump ship (which is why the strings on my current one are so short that I can juuuuuust barely brush them with my fingertip).

First insertion was nothing, second insertion took forever and hurt like a motherfucker. This one has been in since August 2013. What's removal like? I assume it will trigger a period, but should I be prepared for bleeding more or less immediately? Should I consider tomorrow CD1? I don't chart yet because I have a tendency to get obsessive about such things, but I do use Glow to keep track in a general way. (I'm open to charting if we take a while to get pregnant, but it's a mental health decision not to do so now.) If I begin bleeding, should I log that as the start of a period?

Anything else I should know?

[ironbaby]

I have had mine removed twice - once to insert another after the 5 years, and the second to try to conceive. The first time was no big deal. Insertion hurt more. Once they grab the strings, it just plops right now, no problem.

The second time, the strings were too short, and she really had to manipulate my cervix to get ahold of them. That was VERY uncomfortable, but instant relief as soon as it was out.

I had spotting for 4 days, starting the 4th day after removal. I got a real period 11 days after removal.

Don't count the spotting as a period. You *should* (in most cases) get your period within a normal cycle time frame from removal. Be sure to check with your doctor when it's removed how long they will let you go before coming back in if you don't get one.

Most people here use the Fertility Friend app to chart BBT and periods. I didn't chart BBT until about 4 months later, so I understand holding off on charting, but it's a good idea to use FF to chart your periods in the meantime so you can convert easily if you don't get pregnant right away.

[notagoddess]

My Mirena insertion hurt a lot, but I barely felt the removal. Good luck!

[kbpkitty]

ironbaby interesting on the spotting vs period question. This is about when my period is due, so I'm not sure how I'll be able to differentiate. I started a full on period immediately after the other one expelled, but I had no periods on that one and have been fairly regular (though exceedingly light) on this one, so it's kind of apples and oranges.

[joy]

Mirena secretes progesterone, which basically tricks your body into thinking it's in the luteal phase. Since the secretion is constant, your body constantly thinks it's in the luteal phase while the device is inserted. High progesterone is present in a natural cycle following ovulation, hence the reason progesterone is used. Higher levels of progesterone are also associated with thin cervical mucus, which is unlikely to support long term sperm survival. This, in combination with the device itself that keeps sperm from exiting the uterus, makes a great birth control.

In a natural cycle, progesterone is secreted by the corpus luteum (empty egg sac of the ovulated egg). As the corpus luteum dies, progesterone secretion drops. Once it drops below a critical level, your body is triggered to have a period.

Removal of the Mirena will result in a drop in progesterone in your body and should trigger a withdrawal bleed. Withdrawal bleeds are just periods that are triggered by your manipulation of hormones and not by your body - that's all.

In theory, you should get a period a few days after Mirena's removal. In reality, you may bleed immediately or not at all until after you ovulate. I've read a range of experiences on here.

Personally, I'd consider removal date as CD1 until proven otherwise. If you get a bleed in a few days, then call the first day of full bleeding as CD1. If you don't, then assume your body is skipping the bleed and going straight to a follicular phase, in which case your removal date was an approximate CD1.

[kbpkitty]

Apr 13, 2016 14:32:19 GMT -5 joy said:

Mirena secretes progesterone, which basically tricks your body into thinking it's in the luteal phase. Since the secretion is constant, your body constantly thinks it's in the luteal phase while the device is inserted. High progesterone is present in a natural cycle following ovulation, hence the reason progesterone is used. Higher levels of progesterone are also associated with thin cervical mucus, which is unlikely to support long term sperm survival. This, in combination with the device itself that keeps sperm from exiting the uterus, makes a great birth control.

In a natural cycle, progesterone is secreted by the corpus luteum (empty egg sac of the ovulated egg). As the corpus luteum dies, progesterone secretion drops. Once it drops below a critical level, your body is triggered to have a period.

Removal of the Mirena will result in a drop in progesterone in your body and should trigger a withdrawal bleed. Withdrawal bleeds are just periods that are triggered by your manipulation of hormones and not by your body - that's all.

In theory, you should get a period a few days after Mirena's removal. In reality, you may bleed immediately or not at all until after you ovulate. I've read a range of experiences on here.

Personally, I'd consider removal date as CD1 until proven otherwise. If you get a bleed in a few days, then call the first day of full bleeding as CD1. If you don't, then assume your body is skipping the bleed and going straight to a follicular phase, in which case your removal date was an approximate CD1.

Super helpful, thanks! I really need to do some cycle-based reading (I'm sure TCOYF is still the rec?).

[icedtea]

My mirena insertions (I had two) both made me almost unable to walk, but the removal was nothing. A bit of cramping, and I bled for a while. But things evened out fairly quickly. It's different for everyone, so just keep track of things as you're able. Not in terms of charting, as I get the mental part, but just spotting/periods/etc.

[joy]

Apr 13, 2016 14:44:14 GMT -5 kbpkitty said:

Super helpful, thanks! I really need to do some cycle-based reading (I'm sure TCOYF is still the rec?).

Yes'm!  :-)

[kbpkitty]

The app I use has spaces for sex, CM, spotting, bleeding, moods, and physical symptoms (cramps, etc.). I think I could set it to allow for BBT and OPKs if I wanted.

[minionkeeper]

Lurking..... My removal the first time was painless and quick. Second time strings got lost and took survival removal. I counted it as day 1 even though I believe it was withdrawal bleeding and temp'd. I used FF. I caught a temp shift at day 10 and 10 days later started a regular period.
Ovulated on cd 9 (would not have caught it without temping) and got pregnant.

[gabride2010]

My Paragard insertion sucked major balls. The removal hurt a bit, but not anywhere near the insertion. I was already bleeding when my IUD was removed (my IUD fell and the "t" was sitting on my cervix, and the "arms" were rubbing into my uterus - making me bleed). My GYN just pulled on the strings, and the IUD came out.

I wasn't TTC at the time, so I immediately started on another form of BC. My bleeding stopped maybe 2-3 days after the Paragard came out.

Good luck with your removal!

[kbpkitty]

Apr 13, 2016 21:33:37 GMT -5 @pineappleoranges said:

Apr 13, 2016 14:56:27 GMT -5 kbpkitty said:

The app I use has spaces for sex, CM, spotting, bleeding, moods, and physical symptoms (cramps, etc.). I think I could set it to allow for BBT and OPKs if I wanted.

Personally as long as you stay away from the clusterfuck that is the glow community the app itself is pretty solid.

Bahahaha. I haven't waded into the community posts yet but now I'm gonna out of curiosity.

[kbpkitty]

Apr 13, 2016 21:48:24 GMT -5 @pineappleoranges said:

Apr 13, 2016 21:41:43 GMT -5 kbpkitty said:

Bahahaha. I haven't waded into the community posts yet but now I'm gonna out of curiosity.

Godspeed and good luck

[thechickencoop]

I had a Mirena put in at about 3 months PP with DS. I kept it in...18 months ish. Insertion and removal were both NBD which was amazing because I am a super big baby in the pain department so, for it to not bother me, was unexpected.

I started bleeding pretty much immediately once it was removed and I counted that as CD1. We didn't start TTC for another 8 months but I started charting right away and my cycles regulated right from the get go. /anecdote.

Hope your removal goes smoothly! !

[kbpkitty]

It went really well! It hurt while she was taking it out, but it just took a second, so it wasn't that big of a deal. She said count basically any blood as CD1, and call if you don't get a period or a positive pregnancy test in 3 months.

[thechickencoop]

Apr 14, 2016 18:21:53 GMT -5 kbpkitty said:

It went really well! It hurt while she was taking it out, but it just took a second, so it wasn't that big of a deal. She said count basically any blood as CD1, and call if you don't get a period or a positive pregnancy test in 3 months.

Lolololll. It could take that long for your cycles to even begin to normalize. Oy.

ETA oH but duh, I'm glad it went well. Quick and *mostly* painless!

[kbpkitty]

Apr 14, 2016 18:39:40 GMT -5 thechickencoop said:

Apr 14, 2016 18:21:53 GMT -5 kbpkitty said:

It went really well! It hurt while she was taking it out, but it just took a second, so it wasn't that big of a deal. She said count basically any blood as CD1, and call if you don't get a period or a positive pregnancy test in 3 months.

Lolololll. It could take that long for your cycles to even begin to normalize. Oy.

ETA oH but duh, I'm glad it went well. Quick and *mostly* painless!

::shrug:: I really don't have an objection if she wants to try to jumpstart things if my body does a whole lot of nothing for 3 months. Hopefully it's a bridge I don't have to cross!

[ohinvrtedworld]

Apr 13, 2016 21:33:37 GMT -5 @pineappleoranges said:

Apr 13, 2016 14:56:27 GMT -5 kbpkitty said:

The app I use has spaces for sex, CM, spotting, bleeding, moods, and physical symptoms (cramps, etc.). I think I could set it to allow for BBT and OPKs if I wanted.

Personally as long as you stay away from the clusterfuck that is the glow community the app itself is pretty solid.

Hooooooooly what. You just gave me a new pastime pineapples. I am lol-ing at a post about a lady who is 10 weeks pregnant and bitter that her boyfriend bought his sister a ring as a gift. 

kbpkitty, GL with saying adios to the IUD! I have no advice but it's exciting!

[kbpkitty]

Apr 14, 2016 18:48:03 GMT -5 W said:

Apr 14, 2016 18:46:46 GMT -5 kbpkitty said:

::shrug:: I really don't have an objection if she wants to try to jumpstart things if my body does a whole lot of nothing for 3 months. Hopefully it's a bridge I don't have to cross!

I think it's normal for them to say that. No period for three months after my removal would be concerning. I doubt they'd do too much of anything (unless you have PCOS?) except an exam

No (known) PCOS, though I have some warning signs. I've been given progesterone (I think? That makes sense, right?) before when I was in my late teens when I kept skipping periods and wasn't on BC yet.

[kbpkitty]

Apr 14, 2016 18:49:13 GMT -5 ohinvrtedworld said:

Apr 13, 2016 21:33:37 GMT -5 @pineappleoranges said:

Personally as long as you stay away from the clusterfuck that is the glow community the app itself is pretty solid.

Hooooooooly what. You just gave me a new pastime pineapples. I am lol-ing at a post about a lady who is 10 weeks pregnant and bitter that her boyfriend bought his sister a ring as a gift. 

kbpkitty, GL with saying adios to the IUD! I have no advice but it's exciting!

Right? I saw that one yesterday. There's also a tonnnnnn of posts that show just a complete lack of sex ed and it gives me the sads.

[thechickencoop]

Apr 14, 2016 18:48:03 GMT -5 W said:

Apr 14, 2016 18:46:46 GMT -5 kbpkitty said:

::shrug:: I really don't have an objection if she wants to try to jumpstart things if my body does a whole lot of nothing for 3 months. Hopefully it's a bridge I don't have to cross!

I think it's normal for them to say that. No period for three months after my removal would be concerning. I doubt they'd do too much of anything (unless you have PCOS?) except an exam

Ok ok that makes sense when you put it that way. I read it more on its own, not KU in a few then come back in!.

Juuuust ignore me.

[kbpkitty]

Apr 14, 2016 20:23:05 GMT -5 W said:

Apr 14, 2016 20:10:47 GMT -5 thechickencoop said:

Ok ok that makes sense when you put it that way. I read it more on its own, not KU in a few then come back in!.

Juuuust ignore me.

I did too at first :-)

Probably my lack of clarity then. It's all good!