KBGirl:
Thanks... I think
Once again, Star... those are your personal opinions and experiences and yes,
unfortunately for the other women here, Eve included, you DO represent a sampling error.
Since I cut and pasted my last post, I wasn't trying to restate my position to challenge you... here's another cut and paste just for you Star...
"As for Star, I'm sorry that you do not have access to any "reputable" doctors in Texas.
It sounds like your gynecological experiences have been less than satisfying and I'm
sorry that you have had a hard time finding the right doctors/treatments. It sucks, and
as your comments show, it's tough for a layperson to know who is "reputable" and
who is not. That's one of the reasons that I was posting to this board; I'd like women
to have current and accurate data to use and pass on to their friends. If you want to
e-mail me your location I can see if I'm familiar with someone in your area. "
A review of the IUD = IntraUterine Device.
Application: In office, less than 5 minutes
Failure rate: from 1/100 – 1/200
Benefits: Effective long term, no systemic hormones, minimal patient effort/compliance needed.
Mechanism of action: Sterile, localized inflammatory reaction. NOT an abortifacient!!! (i.e
it does NOT work by causing the abortion of a fertilized egg at any stage; it prevents fertilization by destroying egg and/or sperm)
THE IUD IS THE MOST WIDELY USED METHOD OF REVERSIBLE CONTRACEPTION IN THE
ENTIRE WORLD AND HAS EXISTED FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS!!
3 types:
1. Copper- Paragard T380 (10 years)
2. Progestasert (1 year, progesterone-containing)
3. 5 year progesterone-containing
Side effects:
1. Copper- Heavier menses (more cramping, clots), usually resolve within 3 months. Occurs in
approximately 10% of women.
2. Progesterone containing- Occasional spotting, irregular bleeding, or missed menses; periods
may be stronger (cramping).
Most side effects improve within 3 months of insertion as well as with the use of non-steroidals
(e.g. Motrin)
Risks:
1. PID (Pelvic Inflammatory Disease).
This is more likely with multiple sexual partners or in the presence of STD’s (especially
chlamydia and gonorrhea). Localized (vaginal, cervical) STD infection can more easily spread
to uterus, tubes, ovaries, and pelvis. If not promptly treated this can in turn lead to internal
scarring of reproductive organs and subsequent infertility.
This was one of the reasons for previous recommendations that nulliparous women (without
children) should not be offered IUD’s. The major culprit for PID resulting from an IUD was an
IUD called the Dalkon Shield, which has been off the market and the company bankrupt for
20+ years. This was due to a design flaw in the string used on that particular IUD.
In general, the incidence of PID can be reduced by proper patient selection and education.
A rare form of PID caused by an unusual organism called Actinomyces israeli occurs mostly in
older women and only with copper-containing IUD’s. This bacteria can be detected on Pap
smears.
2. Perforation/migration.
Incidence of 1 in 1,500. Usually occurs at time of insertion. Definitely operator- dependent, but
can also occur with time left in place (VERY rare). Can require surgery to remove. Also can lead
to internal scarring and infertility if perforation is not detected and the offending IUD removed.
3. Expulsion (IUD falls out).
Not always detectible by patient. This leads to unintended pregnancy. Tends to occur most
often in the first several months of use as the uterus contracts and cramps and the IUD is more
properly positioned within the uterus.
4. Pregnancy.
0.5-1 in 100 women will become pregnant. Upon missing a period, pregnancy test must be done
immediately and the IUD removed ASAP. 50% of the time, the pregnancy will not be normal and
will spontaneously abort after IUD removal. There is a higher complication rate in patients with
IUD’s either removed or in place during a pregnancy.
To directly respond to Eve's questions:
-So, you view the iud as SAFE?
A: Yes
-Do people find sex to be painful?
A: Only Star...seriously- only rarely
-How often do you see women develop infections?
A: Extremely rarely; with 'responsible' patients (those that can be relied on to call in the event of a problem as well as those with a single, monagamous sexual partner) serious infections are extremely rare
-what about oral sex?
A:Sure, when?...seriously- a non-issue, except if you have an increase in vaginal discharge.
-How much of an annoyance are the strings?
A: Occasionally, a partner will complain that they feel the string (also pretty rare occurence). Usually the string is too short and is sticking straight out from the cervical os (opening) or it has been curled at the end...in every case, a little adjustment has always done the trick.
-How often do you see them become dislodged?
A: Also rare, like 2-3%. Usually occurs within the first cycle, hence I see patients for a quick ckeck at 6 weeks.
-Does it reduce bloating?
A:also a non-issue. Even the progesterone IUD only exerts a local effect from the hormone, so NO CONTRACEPTIVE-RELATED BLOATING!!!
-My insurance doesn't seem to cover it....do most OBGYNs give a partial
refund or rebate if you need it removed due to complications? I don't want to
throw away $500+ dollars.
A:a) change that piece-of-shit insurance...they probably will pay for Viagra, though
b)Does any drug or other company do that? because I would like definitely buy their products. Sure,
I know it's not fair but no one said life was fair.
You can buy the thing out of the USA (especially in Mexico) and the device costs less than $30 and is THE EXACT SAME THING. As a matter of fact, the Paragard T380 from France has a ten times better applicator!! Thank Star
and your local PI lawyer for the price of the IUD in the U.S. Fact is, it costs like 23 cents to manufacture and there
are virtually no R&D $$$'s that need to be recouped unlike for other drugs, it's a medico-legal related.
-Why won't planned parenthood offer this for free???
A: Don't start me on Planned Parenthood...They are a pack of Fucking thieves. They are not non-
profit despite their claims; their directors and anyone higher up in the organization make BIG BUCKS. Only it's
paid as salary so the accountants show the organization as not-for-profit, The pack of pills they sell you for
$12 costs them $2, the doctors that work for them are washed-up has beens and are rarely actively
practicing Ob/Gyns (usually they only still perform abortions, and patients get seen by nurses
when they are led to believe that somehow they are getting doctors or that they are being supervised
by M.D.'s. Truth is, you get what you pay for...and they aren't even that cheap.
-Is there anything else you think I should know?
A: It's worth a try if nothing else has worked. Ortho has a program that supplies IUD's free for patients who qualify financially. When you compare costs, after 18 months it's the cheapest form of contraception by
a landslide, And don't forget, abortions ain't cheap either (average $350).
Hope this helps...
If you are in Phoenix maybe I can help you out if you promise to shut Star the F*ck up.