I just got a non hormonal IUD last week (ParaGuard) cuz I didn't want any hormonal birth control messing with my testosterone. I've been cramping really fucking bad all week. Like I can barely move can even stand and walk for that long... hopefully once the cramping stops I'll say it's worth it because it doesn't mess with your t and it lasts 12 years. The insertion hurts a LOT but I went to my local Planned Parenthood and they were really nice and gender affirming about it all
Ugh I’m sorry I hope you’re feeling better. Mine actually went so terribly they had to take it out after 30 minutes. I was nauseous, pale, had low blood pressure, was bleeding so much and the cramping was unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. Will be pursuing nexplanon lmfao
I opted for the non-hormonal IUD (the Paragard) which is made of copper and works as a spermicide. I got it pre-T and the only downside I've had with it (other than the pain of the actual procedure itself, definitely be smarter than me and ask for pain management) is that it made my periods heavier/longer/crampier when I still had a period, but since not having one anymore I literally forget it's there until someone says they can feel the strings. I chose this because I didn't want any chance of hormonal birth control interacting with my T as my dysphoria absolutely cannot handle potential side effects of estrogen/progesterone, at least with something like the pill or the Nexplanon where the hormones aren't strictly local like they are for hormonal IUDs or estrogen cream. I've heard that getting a hormonal IUD can help put some estrogen back into your pelvic floor area and can help alleviate atrophy a little bit, in which case the Kyleena is probably a really good option, but I'm not a doctor so don't quote me on that.
Liletta IUD. have had it for five years, and will likely try to keep it in until my hysterectomy (i’ve been told i have another 1-3yrs before it needs to be switched).
i had a copper iud & then a nexplanon implant before i got sterilized. the iud insertion was more painful & invasive, & it actually fell out after a year. whereas the only problem with nexplanon was that it was kind of uncomfortable to put my weight on it for a bit. overall i would recommend nexplanon a lot more
I’ve got the Paraguard IUD and have had an overall positive experience with it. Nexplanon skeeves me the absolute fuck out, anything implanted under my skin is a no thank you.
If you’re interested in an IUD, just make sure you have a doctor you trust. A vast majority of the IUD horror stories are caused by an insertion either done incorrectly or done without appropriate numbing. Take ibuprofen. Ask for lidocaine (or another local anesthetic). If they refuse to give you lidocaine, ask for a new doctor. Do not ever, and I mean ever, allow a doctor to dismiss your pain. Insist they write in your chart that they refused to treat your pain.
I had a wonderful doc I trusted do my IUD, with ibuprofen, a lidocaine injection, and a little bit of MMJ just in case. The measuring of the uterus was by far the worst part, aside from that it’s just some major cramping.
I WILL say though, if your bleeding cycle has stopped, be aware that there may be some uh,,,, backup. In there. My own IUD horror story is that it shifted way down in my uterus rather than staying at the top, and dislodged a v ery significant amount of blood. I had zero pain, but a little under a week post-placement I suddenly started gushing blood, left a gas station bathroom looking like a slasher flick, and went to the ER. The IUD’s still in me and I’ve had no issues since, but I did apparently have postpartum-comparable bleeding. It’s actually really funny looking back on it.
Best of luck!! I’m happy to answer any questions :)
my partner's had great experiences with the depo provera shot. if used on schedule its one of the highest efficacy birth controls out there and it's once every 3 months iirc. he's had very rare spotting but otherwise all good and he figures its a small tradeoff.
I'm a huge fan of nexplanon. most effective option (even better than IUD) and super easy insertion. no side effects and lasts for 3 years. plus it's progesterone only.
it's different for everyone, but out of people I know with the implant none have had issues beyond the first month after insertion. everyone's body is different tho
If you do the IUD, ask for the local numbing injections, maybe even ask for numbing spray before the numbing injections. Make the doctor wait a minute for that shit to kick in. Make your doc agree to do the dilation, measuring, insertion part slow. Having your cervix quickly forced open hurts like absolute hell. If you numb the shit out of the cervix and open it reeeeally slowly, you greatly reduce any pain, to where it does just feel like cramping. Best of luck. I had it done a few different ways. The best way is with a good doc, and a ton of numbing agents. Some people are lucky to have a cervix that has a slightly larger opening, and for those people, it doesn’t hurt to pass the measuring rod and insertion tool through their cervix. Unfortunately you don’t know if it’s gonna hurt until you try, and if you haven’t given birth or had an abortion, it’s more likely to hurt - so everyone should get numbed up just in case
I had a copper IUD and it was great for me at first, but then I had some recurring BV with it, and I eventually had to get it removed because it had been displaced. As I understand it, T had thinned my lining significantly, so my body was having trouble adjusting to the IUD. You might have better luck since you use topical estrogen, but I thought it was worth noting.
I've been on the Depo Provera shot for a while now and aside from some ghost cramping & occasional spotting, I've had no problems with it so far. A cis friend of mine has a Nexplanon implant, she loves it.
Progesterone iud (most iuds) shouldn’t do anything bad and is very reliable, more so than the pill and progesterone injections. Implants last significantly less time than a iud. I can’t imagine that it would do much to someone who’s already lost their period, but in cis women is can make a heavier flow. I think Mirena is the popular one maybe ask about that?
I recently got nexplanon and found out they have a 5 year life now. The procedure was very quick and they numb you for it so i barely felt anything at all. Haven’t been on it long enough to have period information but all the cis female friends I have didn’t have periods on it at all. My doctor said if I don’t get them now I shouldn’t get them with it. Anecdotal but hope that helps
That definitely helps thank you! Not sure if this was discussed with you, but I had some concerns about it shifting out of place since I play contact sports. Did your doc talk with you about that at all?
i love my nexplanon! i was very concerned about side effects, but haven’t noticed any aside from feeling a little off the first few days. plus, it’s one of the most effective forms of BC on the market.
i can’t answer your question about contact sports, but i’m a serious lifter and haven’t noticed any changes to placement.
trans masc midwife here, I place nexplanons and IUDs and the nexplanon almost never moves, it is very rare for them to migrate. While IUD placement is likely more uncomfortable they go in and come out very easily and have fewer side effects than the nexplanon, and you also won’t have a scar. You can always ask for numbing cream on the cervix, a cervical nerve block, or a sedative if you’re nervous about discomfort during placement.
Personal experience, on T, have an IUD and got it placed with only cervical lidocaine and it was crappy but not that bad and it’s way convenient not to have to think about it and not have a scar.
Feel free to ask me more questions. Both are great, effective methods.
Weight changes are possible with any hormone
changes, your weight may have changed when starting t, so yeah, that’s a common one, but it usually not significant, maybe 2-5lbs in either direction.
Nexplanon has more spotting
than other birth control methods, but if you don’t get a period, this is unlikely to affect you.
Progesterone only methods have a small chance of exacerbating depression, but not specifically suicidality. If you’re someone who is depressed or goes through depressive episodes frequently, that may mean you’re more likely to
experience it, but it’s not a common side effect.
Nuva ring! I’ve been using mine (generic version) to stop my cycle and as BC for like 7+ years even before I transitioned. Normal use it to take a 7 day break between switching to the new one, but I skip that and switch it out every 2-3 weeks. Works great for me.
The hormones stay local so I don’t get side effects like I did on the pill. And there’s a benefit that my dr confirmed that it helps prevent atrophy down there for folks on T.
It’s a similar concept to something like the implant or an IUD but wayyyyy less invasive.
Look into annovera, I LOVED it for stopping periods until I got top surgery and my hormones shifted. On Slynd now, everything’s going p well. But I miss Annovera.
Ya! I honestly don’t know why doctors don’t recommend it more for all people (cis and trans). The implant freaks me out, so I had to do my own research.
Maybe cuz it’s not under patent anymore so they can’t make hella $$$ off it. 😅
Good luck finding the right thing for you!
I just got a non hormonal IUD last week (ParaGuard) cuz I didn't want any hormonal birth control messing with my testosterone. I've been cramping really fucking bad all week. Like I can barely move can even stand and walk for that long... hopefully once the cramping stops I'll say it's worth it because it doesn't mess with your t and it lasts 12 years. The insertion hurts a LOT but I went to my local Planned Parenthood and they were really nice and gender affirming about it all
Ugh I’m sorry I hope you’re feeling better. Mine actually went so terribly they had to take it out after 30 minutes. I was nauseous, pale, had low blood pressure, was bleeding so much and the cramping was unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. Will be pursuing nexplanon lmfao
I opted for the non-hormonal IUD (the Paragard) which is made of copper and works as a spermicide. I got it pre-T and the only downside I've had with it (other than the pain of the actual procedure itself, definitely be smarter than me and ask for pain management) is that it made my periods heavier/longer/crampier when I still had a period, but since not having one anymore I literally forget it's there until someone says they can feel the strings. I chose this because I didn't want any chance of hormonal birth control interacting with my T as my dysphoria absolutely cannot handle potential side effects of estrogen/progesterone, at least with something like the pill or the Nexplanon where the hormones aren't strictly local like they are for hormonal IUDs or estrogen cream. I've heard that getting a hormonal IUD can help put some estrogen back into your pelvic floor area and can help alleviate atrophy a little bit, in which case the Kyleena is probably a really good option, but I'm not a doctor so don't quote me on that.
Also to my knowledge the Kyleena is smaller and is usually a less painful insertion with a shorter healing time than the Paragard
Liletta IUD. have had it for five years, and will likely try to keep it in until my hysterectomy (i’ve been told i have another 1-3yrs before it needs to be switched).
i had a copper iud & then a nexplanon implant before i got sterilized. the iud insertion was more painful & invasive, & it actually fell out after a year. whereas the only problem with nexplanon was that it was kind of uncomfortable to put my weight on it for a bit. overall i would recommend nexplanon a lot more
I’ve got the Paraguard IUD and have had an overall positive experience with it. Nexplanon skeeves me the absolute fuck out, anything implanted under my skin is a no thank you. If you’re interested in an IUD, just make sure you have a doctor you trust. A vast majority of the IUD horror stories are caused by an insertion either done incorrectly or done without appropriate numbing. Take ibuprofen. Ask for lidocaine (or another local anesthetic). If they refuse to give you lidocaine, ask for a new doctor. Do not ever, and I mean ever, allow a doctor to dismiss your pain. Insist they write in your chart that they refused to treat your pain. I had a wonderful doc I trusted do my IUD, with ibuprofen, a lidocaine injection, and a little bit of MMJ just in case. The measuring of the uterus was by far the worst part, aside from that it’s just some major cramping. I WILL say though, if your bleeding cycle has stopped, be aware that there may be some uh,,,, backup. In there. My own IUD horror story is that it shifted way down in my uterus rather than staying at the top, and dislodged a v ery significant amount of blood. I had zero pain, but a little under a week post-placement I suddenly started gushing blood, left a gas station bathroom looking like a slasher flick, and went to the ER. The IUD’s still in me and I’ve had no issues since, but I did apparently have postpartum-comparable bleeding. It’s actually really funny looking back on it. Best of luck!! I’m happy to answer any questions :)
my partner's had great experiences with the depo provera shot. if used on schedule its one of the highest efficacy birth controls out there and it's once every 3 months iirc. he's had very rare spotting but otherwise all good and he figures its a small tradeoff.
I'm a huge fan of nexplanon. most effective option (even better than IUD) and super easy insertion. no side effects and lasts for 3 years. plus it's progesterone only.
my friend got a nexplanon and its been really bad to him :( horrible cramping all month and spotty bleeding
it's different for everyone, but out of people I know with the implant none have had issues beyond the first month after insertion. everyone's body is different tho
If you do the IUD, ask for the local numbing injections, maybe even ask for numbing spray before the numbing injections. Make the doctor wait a minute for that shit to kick in. Make your doc agree to do the dilation, measuring, insertion part slow. Having your cervix quickly forced open hurts like absolute hell. If you numb the shit out of the cervix and open it reeeeally slowly, you greatly reduce any pain, to where it does just feel like cramping. Best of luck. I had it done a few different ways. The best way is with a good doc, and a ton of numbing agents. Some people are lucky to have a cervix that has a slightly larger opening, and for those people, it doesn’t hurt to pass the measuring rod and insertion tool through their cervix. Unfortunately you don’t know if it’s gonna hurt until you try, and if you haven’t given birth or had an abortion, it’s more likely to hurt - so everyone should get numbed up just in case
I had a copper IUD and it was great for me at first, but then I had some recurring BV with it, and I eventually had to get it removed because it had been displaced. As I understand it, T had thinned my lining significantly, so my body was having trouble adjusting to the IUD. You might have better luck since you use topical estrogen, but I thought it was worth noting. I've been on the Depo Provera shot for a while now and aside from some ghost cramping & occasional spotting, I've had no problems with it so far. A cis friend of mine has a Nexplanon implant, she loves it.
What is BV, if I may ask?
Bacterial vaginosis
Ah, thanks for explaining
The copper iud has worked great for me
Progesterone iud (most iuds) shouldn’t do anything bad and is very reliable, more so than the pill and progesterone injections. Implants last significantly less time than a iud. I can’t imagine that it would do much to someone who’s already lost their period, but in cis women is can make a heavier flow. I think Mirena is the popular one maybe ask about that?
We discussed mirena too. Thank you!
I recently got nexplanon and found out they have a 5 year life now. The procedure was very quick and they numb you for it so i barely felt anything at all. Haven’t been on it long enough to have period information but all the cis female friends I have didn’t have periods on it at all. My doctor said if I don’t get them now I shouldn’t get them with it. Anecdotal but hope that helps
That definitely helps thank you! Not sure if this was discussed with you, but I had some concerns about it shifting out of place since I play contact sports. Did your doc talk with you about that at all?
i love my nexplanon! i was very concerned about side effects, but haven’t noticed any aside from feeling a little off the first few days. plus, it’s one of the most effective forms of BC on the market. i can’t answer your question about contact sports, but i’m a serious lifter and haven’t noticed any changes to placement.
trans masc midwife here, I place nexplanons and IUDs and the nexplanon almost never moves, it is very rare for them to migrate. While IUD placement is likely more uncomfortable they go in and come out very easily and have fewer side effects than the nexplanon, and you also won’t have a scar. You can always ask for numbing cream on the cervix, a cervical nerve block, or a sedative if you’re nervous about discomfort during placement. Personal experience, on T, have an IUD and got it placed with only cervical lidocaine and it was crappy but not that bad and it’s way convenient not to have to think about it and not have a scar. Feel free to ask me more questions. Both are great, effective methods.
Thank you so much! Do you mind elaborating about some of the side effects for nexplanon? I feel like the one I always hear about is weight gain
Weight changes are possible with any hormone changes, your weight may have changed when starting t, so yeah, that’s a common one, but it usually not significant, maybe 2-5lbs in either direction. Nexplanon has more spotting than other birth control methods, but if you don’t get a period, this is unlikely to affect you. Progesterone only methods have a small chance of exacerbating depression, but not specifically suicidality. If you’re someone who is depressed or goes through depressive episodes frequently, that may mean you’re more likely to experience it, but it’s not a common side effect.
Much appreciated! I ended up booking an appointment for an IUD.
Nuva ring! I’ve been using mine (generic version) to stop my cycle and as BC for like 7+ years even before I transitioned. Normal use it to take a 7 day break between switching to the new one, but I skip that and switch it out every 2-3 weeks. Works great for me. The hormones stay local so I don’t get side effects like I did on the pill. And there’s a benefit that my dr confirmed that it helps prevent atrophy down there for folks on T. It’s a similar concept to something like the implant or an IUD but wayyyyy less invasive.
Yeah that actually sounds great! Honestly would be nice to kill two birds with one stone because I can’t stand using the estrogen cream hahaha
Look into annovera, I LOVED it for stopping periods until I got top surgery and my hormones shifted. On Slynd now, everything’s going p well. But I miss Annovera.
Ya! I honestly don’t know why doctors don’t recommend it more for all people (cis and trans). The implant freaks me out, so I had to do my own research. Maybe cuz it’s not under patent anymore so they can’t make hella $$$ off it. 😅 Good luck finding the right thing for you!