BELOW ARE COMMON HEALTH RELATED QUESTIONS THAT JENN, SHAFIA AND HIPE RECEIVE, WE WANTED TO PROVIDE A SPACE FOR EASILY ACCESSIBLE ANSWERS. IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION, CLICK THE BOX ABOVE TO ASK! |
Hi there. This is a great question. There are no perfect birth control methods, as you probably know. The good news is there are many options (way more than there were 30 years ago!) so you can choose what is best for you. It sounds like you've already done some thinking/research about this, but maybe it's worth thinking about what your biggest priorities are. For example, is your biggest priority health side effects to you? Is it getting the most protection against pregnancy you can get? Or, perhaps it might be whatever is least invasive in the moment? Whatever it is for you, you can then find the birth control that best matches your preferences. If you choose a copper IUD, you're right that they can be painful, but aren't always. Some people experience pain upon insertion, while others don't. Sometimes, if pain is expected, the person can tense up which will most likely cause pain. Some people experience cramping once the IUD is in place usually, the pain/discomfort goes away once a body gets used to it. However, not every single time. If you haven't already seen this, you can find more information here. And, I love this website that answers questions about all sorts of health topics. Here is a response to a question about some of the side effects of IUDs.
I strongly suggest discussing this decision with your doctor, if you have a comfortable relationship with them.That way your medical history can be taken into account. If talking to your parents is a barrier for you, as a teenager, you should be able to request an appointment that is confidential. If that isn't an option, try a clinic (Planned Parenthood or Cole Street Clinic). A doctor/clinician can help you decide what's best for you. It's hard when one person feels the heaviness of the responsibility of birth control. Is there a way your partner can support you in this by helping with research, accompanying you to any appointments, helping with the financial piece of it if that's applicable. Or, what else would be supportive? Hope this helps!
0 Comments
|
AuthorThe responses to all of these questions were written by HIPE members or Jenn or Shafia and are all medically accurate. Archives
May 2022
|