Straight From the Bottle

"What better gift could I possibly give my husband for his anniversary than five years of sex without consequence? "

YIKES- Where to begin with that statement.. When did kids get such a bad rap?

Mrs. Duggar? Is that you?

Happy Anniversary! : )

Happy anniversary! I just celebrated my 4th anniversary last November and so far this year of marriage is much better so I hope that goes for you too, may you have a great year of marriage (and many more after this one)

I love your blog btw. and I also have a mirena. I didn't post anything about it when you wrote about it last cause there were already so many comments I figured you had all grounds covered. The only issue I had with mine (which I've had for almost 18 months now) is that the strings moved up and cannot be felt anymore so now I have to have it checked annually to make sure it's still there.

Lia

LOLZ TO THE DUGGAR BIT

Yay for four years!  And not having to think about birth control is an awesome gift--for him and YOU.

Yay! I hope you love you IUD as much as I love mine!?!  Rock on without anymore kids anytime soon!

Happy Anniversary! :-)

Yay! Welcome to the world of no-birth control to think about. I got mine a few days after your original post, because after reading it (and the associated comments), I had like an epiphany and decided that "I've had it" with the damn pill, RIGHT THERE AND THEN. 6 weeks after, I'm as thrilled as ever. The first day was similar to your experience, and I didn't have cramping since. I've had a period, which was maybe just slightly longer and heavier than it was on the pill, but no big deal. After a few months, it should subside... I'm so in love with my Mirena, I've since convinced my sister and a friend to go get one. Still wonder why they kind of have a bad rap here in North America.

The babydaddy sometimes feels it though, so I will have the strings tucked into the uterus (my ObGyn said he doesn't cut them, or it makes it worse) at my next appoint.

Happy Anniversary and Happy IUDay!

Happy Anniversity and IUD Day! and to Mrs. Dugger aka Anon - She just had a baby...back off!

Yay, happy anniversary AND happy IUD!

(I have to admit, there is always sex with consequences in our house - like, I get a lot friendlier and more happy, the laundry gets done, et c. . . )

glad you had a good experience- i'm still not convinced but wish i had the nerve to just do it.

Anyone who asks where did kids get such a bad rap probably doesn't have any!! Kids are more work than anyone can imagine..until they do it and there is nothing wrong with wanting to be ready and prepared before (or IF) you go for it again!

hahaha! Hilarious Duggar comment!!!

what is that person doing reading your column with that comment anyway?

Rocking seven years of marriage over here and about two and a half with my IUD.

And it is amazing. Not having to think about it.

Thanks for your writing!

I am 8 weeks away from delivering my first and I NEVER want to experience "the joys" of pregnancy ever again. As soon as my vagina doctor gives me the green light, I'm IUDing it all the way! I was just talking about that crazy Duggar lady with my mom today... a woman has got to be nuts... serious.

Sorry if I missed it, but did you decide to go with the Mirena or the ParaGard copper IUD?

Welcome to the IUD club, it's the best BC choice out there! dont have to worry about anything until you want another little munchkin.

The Mirena! And so far I love it!

The strings on mine had to be cut because hubby and his most-endowed self was feeling them.  He said it felt like a little needle pinch (since the "strings" are really like fishing line, kind of a soft-stiff plastic).

Anyways, 2 years later when the thing had to come out, the strings had inched up into my cervix and couldn't be taken out at the doc's office.

Yep, surgery to remove the darn thing.  Thank God for small copays.

Yowza. My doctor snipped strings as short as he could because that was a real concern of mine (ours)... Hopefully that wont happen to me. Oy!

I love my Mirena! I actually haven't had a period in about 2 years! Not a normal side effect, but a nice one, if you ask me! And the "sex without coincidence" is a great bonus! Enjoy it!

Your Mrs. Duggar response is hilarious!

Is it wrong to be amused that I'm reading this on the same day that I posted a happy first birthday letter to Oliver? ;)

Seriously though, I'm confident it will be a great solution for you guys.  Enjoy!

OH MGM... I know. I will be thinking of you every time I have sex for the next five years. Ha!

I'm not quite sure what to do with that, except to say thank you.  Maybe I'll slip you the tongue this summer in Chicago.

Happy Anniversary and IUD Day! I've had my Mirena for about 18 months now, and I absolutely love it. I haven't had a period in over a year, and not having to worry about whether I took that damn pill every day is wonderful!!!

I got an IUD too.  My period was all f-ed up for a while.  Now they are normal.  I had cramping for a while.  Totally worth it though.  How about it is suppose to be more effective than tying your tubes?!  What?  That's what they say anyway.  I guess we will see.

I'm counting down the days until I get MY bouquet of flowers.  What the hell is their problem?!!

W'sup with that first comment, sounds eerily like the Anon of my nightmares.  Just wanted U to be sure it wasn't me.

happy sexing!  happy anniversary!  happy skinny jeans!  happy muffin top you sexy thang!

mirena is the best! except when it gives me random period.

yay happy anniversary and iud(c?)!

I'm AFRAID to get an IUD.  So glad you described its after effect, but the procedure, ugh!  Like I need that extreme pap smear feeling.  And strings?  

I place a LOT of these IUD's. The Mirena is the most popular form of birth control in my practice.  I'd say 90% of my patients are extremely pleased with their choice. Even the ones that say, "Oh, it hurt like hell" or "It messed up my periods for a while" all come back a year later and say they are sooo happy with their choice.  I'm also the proud owner of one. Girls with things stuffed up their uteruses are the coolest---everyone knows that ;)

Ok, midwifeme, that was hilarious.  I am one of the cool girls too then.  I have a copper iud and my periods are longer and heavier than they were before, and I have had it in for over 2 years.  But I guess it is great to never think about birth control!

happy anniversary! i hate to rain on your anniversary sex parade and really, really hope the mirena works for you but... i don't think it's as consequence free as we're told. i know it's not supposed to affect your hormone levels but if your sensitive (like me), you might start to think you're crazy. or depressed. or really, really forgetful. i'm just saying... if you start to feel different, it could just be your iud.

Ok, so I am a little behind in reading this post, but I seriously snorted with laughter at the Mrs. Duggar comment.  Congrats on the Mirena. I got mine in April, and am enjoying the start of at least 2 years of sex without consequence (we'll re-evaluate our desire for consequences when Big Boy turns 2).  And super congrats on rockin' the skinny jeans.  No more stretchy panels are totally a cause for some consequence-free celebration.    

Happy belated Anniversary and Happy belated IUD Day! I hope you like your IUD. Unfortunately mine didn't work out but I however got it 6 weeks postpartum, maybe I should have waited? I pulled it when my son was about 5 months I think. It just didn't work for my body. BUT I did get fitted for a diaphragm, which was REAL awkward and hilarious. I loved it, but come to find out there are no f-n diaphragms in Seattle! Apparently they're on back order? What? One company makes them here and one company only.

I'm on year 4 of the Mirena, after two kids in two years.  And I LOVE it.  Four months after getting it, my period disappeared, and I haven't seen it since.  FOUR YEARS of no tampons, hardly any cramping, and no migraines.  No problems at all....next year when it's done I'll prob get another one.

I Love my Mirena! Working on 18 months...and may I add I am childless. I had to "talk" my doctor into the Mirena, due to oral birth control and its possible ineffectiveness while taking other medication for Headaches. And since, I am not wanting children at this time in my life...MIRENA was the choice.

I also have to say, that there was a lot of pain at insertion. WOW. Lost my breath kind of pain. My mother who is a nurse, was at my side-squeezed my hand and said "BREATH...the pain will pass, BREATH!"

No period since. No problems for me or him. Love it and recommend it, to any and all (if your doctor agrees).

I don't want to be a bummer, but my best friend (two kids in her early 30's) nearly died this year from her IUD.  Like on a very special episode of House, she was terribly ill but they couldn't find out what was wrong with her.  Turned out an IUD infection spread to her whole body.  Once hospitalized, it took weeks before she could even walk.  Months before fully recovered.  I am not trying to scare you, just saying that if you're ever mysteriously dying, tell them about your IUD.

Sorry!!!