So, I've pretty much decided that my current gynecologist is amazing, but yesterday he mentioned something I hadn't thought about before: giving me an IUD (intrauterine device). The one he's thinking of is called Mirena and it'll basically just continuously release a low dose of progesterone (no estrogen) directly into my uterus which will thin the lining enough that I won't need to have any periods induced. Because of the way the hormone is released, it won't enter my bloodstream and have systemic side effects.

So I'm wondering, have any of you tried one of these?

I believe Mirena is the only available option currently for IUD with progesterone.  Now, if you were just in the market for a long-acting reversible contraceptive there are other options (such as Depo-Provera and Implanon).

There's a lot of side effects associated with Mirena.  My physician advised against it as they said most of their patients experienced abdominal pain and also developed infections (even after taking antibiotics the infection would come back).  However, you could be one of those individual who doesn't experience any serious or re-occurring side effects. 

Consulting another physician and getting a second opinion in situations like this never hurt either and may provide you with new information or options.

Revolution health has a bunch of reviews.

My friend is in her late 20s, has two BC kids (she was on an oral birth control when she got pregnant twice), and hated the IUD for awhile. It took longer than expected to help period problems.  There was more cramping than usual and a lot of random spotting. Eventually it stopped and has been a great birth control option for her. 

If you've never, ah, been pregnant or had kids using your parts, an IUD would be very difficult to get in there. Oh, it can be done, but it can also be incredibly painful and your body can also reject it. Even people who have had kids can reject the IUD physically. Are you just looking to outright stop your period, or are you interested in the IUD as a form of birth control? Either way you want to use it, I would suggest cycling through your other options.

There are most definitely success stories with Mirena IUDs, and the device can be removed if you are having problems with it. You just need to surf around and look for reviews on them. After all, YMMV. Everyone's body is different.

I asked a gynecologist about a (no-hormone) IUD before I had hysto. She told me that she would not recommend it because I had a history of painful Pap smears. She said, "Basically, pap smears have to be no problem for you in order to have this done. Sometimes people scream when I put it in."

Quote from: therewolf on January 29, 2012, 09:48:13 AM
I asked a gynecologist about a (no-hormone) IUD before I had hysto. She told me that she would not recommend it because I had a history of painful Pap smears. She said, "Basically, pap smears have to be no problem for you in order to have this done. Sometimes people scream when I put it in."

You can ask for a local anaesthetic.

I don't really care about contraceptives since I'm not now and never have been sexually active, nor do I plan to be in the near future.
The only other gynecologist I've ever been to treated me like an idiotic little girl, and I am certainly none of those things, so even though a second opinion is usually good, I'm wary of seeking out another doctor who may not understand my gender identity.

Most of my doctor's other patients have had success with it, except for those who had other problems.
The only infections I get are sinus and/or ear infections, so I'm not worried much about that.
He mostly suggested it as a way to thin my uterine lining without having added female hormones wreaking havoc on my body, because the progesterone emitted by the Mirena is absorbed almost entirely by the lining alone. He also said that even though other IUDs can be left in the body for a longer time, the other, copper coated ones will can heavier periods than normal for at least a while.

"Revolution health has a bunch of reviews."
Cool, I will read them.
I was mostly hoping to see how other guys like myself thought of them, especially if someone started taking T while still having an IUD.

Random spotting is no problem. That's all I had for a while and I'd be expecting it anyway. I just really don't want a doctor to put me on birth control again. High levels of added estrogen + my transness = major issues.

I'm not looking to outright stop my period because I actually don't have periods now. The problem is that even though I don't have periods, the lining still builds up and nobody, especially my parents and doctor, wants it to become cancerous. My options are to have a period induced every few months by taking female hormones, or to do something that will thin the lining as is. I don't really want to take the Depo shot because I want to avoid extra female hormones circling through my body as much as possible. Other than those two things, an IUD is really my only option until I get a hysterectomy, which will most likely be more than 10 years from now.
The doctor told me it would be more difficult to insert, but he also said that since I don't have periods, it can be inserted at any time.

Please tell me you live in California. I need your gynecologist @_@!

I personally take the depo shot --- my doctor gives it to all her ftm patients who want their periods to stop before the T takes affect.  My T doctor is a gyno but has a transgender clinic in her practice.

There are side affect like any other thing but I have been fortunate and have had no problems with it.  I have been on it about 9 months -- once I reach my maintance T dosage I will likely not have to take it anymore.

Quote from: Robert Scott on January 31, 2012, 10:50:35 AM
I personally take the depo shot --- my doctor gives it to all her ftm patients who want their periods to stop before the T takes affect.  My T doctor is a gyno but has a transgender clinic in her practice.

There are side affect like any other thing but I have been fortunate and have had no problems with it.  I have been on it about 9 months -- once I reach my maintance T dosage I will likely not have to take it anymore.

I am strongly considering somehting like this as I cannot put up with the time of the month stuff anymore. You know it's bad when I even consider putting more female hormones inside meself lol

Depo is not female hormones according to my doctor

I used a copper IUD for 6 months and removed it last week. I want a Hysterectomy now.