Paragard — Diva Cup — Clue — THINX

My Experience Converting From Pills, Tampons, & Calendars to Paragard IUD, THINX, Diva Cup, & Clue

Anna E. Cherian
Jul 10, 2017 · 7 min read

The topics of birth control and period collection methods are very close to my heart. I strongly feel that normalizing coversations centered around our menstrual health is a healthy habit to form, and benefits everyone- not only those who menstruate. It’s no secret that talking about our menstrual cycle is considered taboo all around the world, but this lack of conversation is what prevents major innovation in the field of menstrual health.

With free-flowing conversation about the best forms of birth control and period collection methods, people who are currently using less effective methods or who are not satisfied with their current methods can recieve updated information and hear personal reviews of those who are happy with their menstrual health tools.

In this article, I’ll dive into my personal experience with the IUD, why I chose this form of birth control, my period collection methods, and how I keep track of my “time of the month”.

1. Seeking a New Method

So, admittedly, when I decided I wanted to get on birth control, I already had my mind on a contraceptive that was long term and that did not require any daily effort. I felt that it would be difficult for me to keep up with a pack of pills everyday, everywhere I went, and take it at the same time everyday. I knew that as a college student, my life was just too inconsistent for that kind of schedule. (Disclaimer: I did actually go on The Pill for a week, and I failed to take it at the same time everyday.) I began looking into the Intra-Uterine Devices (IUDs).

There were 3 types of IUDs on the market when I began my search:

  1. Skyla (up to 3 years)
  2. Mirena (up to 5 years)
  3. Paragard/Copper (up to 10 years)

The first two IUDs are hormonal, and from testimonies of my friends, it reduced their periods to a mere spotting, if anything at all. No weight gain, acne development, or strange hair growth. Despite the lack of side effects, I still chose to steer clear of hormonal birth control because I’ve always had a very pleasant period experience, so I never felt the need to reduce my symptoms. As I took into account my age, academic ambitions, and career goals, I decided I was looking for a long term birth control that was nonhormonal. Enter the Paragard IUD.

2. The Consult, Insertion, and First Thoughts

I scheduled a consultation at my university health services office in the women’s health department, and together with my nurse practitioner we discussed the different birth control devices. She reaffirmed my decision about the Paragard, and said it was great for someone my age who wants long term protection and doesn’t need hormonal alterations. Medical professionals always have to arrange a consultation first, before actually inserting a device, so that they can make sure an up-to-date pap smear has been done, as well as ensure that your uterus and cervix are compatible with the device.

On the day of my insertion, (usually scheduled during the menstrual cycle), I took a few pain reliever and left a urine sample to test for a pregnancy. (A urine sample is legally required to be done the day of the appointment before the insertion to ensure you are not pregnant.)

The nurse practitioner inserted a speculum and placed the IUD in my uterus. It must pass through the cervix to get to the uterus, which can be the greatest source of pain during the insertion. It was by no means comfortable, but not horrible! I worked at a women’s OBGYN clinic during college and we inserted at least two IUDs a day. I would say that most people left our office completely fine, without feeling any pain or inhibition for the rest of the day. I, however, was not so lucky. I stayed in the room for probably 45 minutes after the insertion in pain, and then went home and took a long nap. I was cramping pretty badly that evening, but a day or so later, I was biking and feeling fine. If you are wondering… no, you don’t feel it inside of you. Partners generally cannot feel it inside of you either, but if you are trying, you can feel the IUD’s strings near your cervix, which doctors use to check and make sure it remains in the correct position.

A month later, it is standard to return to the gynocologist for a check-up to ensure that the strings are placed correctly. To my delight, mine were! Those three visits are all the appointments required! It is such a low maintenance procedure. I was officially protected for ten years. Every year at my annual well women exam, my gyno will check the strings to make sure they remain in place.

3. Period Collection

I quickly learned that with the Paragard, my menstrual cycle was much heavier. I was bleeding so much more than I ever had before, but, for the first time in my life, my period came each month like clockwork! I had always struggled with an irregular cycle, which was frustrating. With the help of my period tracking app, Clue, I knew what day my period was coming every month without fail, and I began to prepare ahead of time by taking two pain relievers a day or so before my cycle began, thanks to their reminder settings. I loved knowing ahead of time when my period was coming and feeling prepared. I also liked clearly knowing each month that my birth control was working, with my period as proof. I do understand that is definitely my personal preference and not everyone may want this monthly validation.

The only problem I was experiencing now was that my period was just so heavy. It was four days a month, and the first two days were hell on Earth. Tampons and the thickest pads you’ve ever seen were absolutely no help. I was at a dead end. I loved my Paragard, but even with pads and tampons, I was heavily bleeding through dark jeans the first two days on my cycle. That just wasn’t practical for my life. It was not convenient to be bleeding that much. Also, I hated pads and was really looking for a way to never have to wear them again.

I began looking into different options and got a recommendation about the Diva Cup from a friend. I read online that with the use of a menstrual cup and an IUD, you can run the risk of expelling your IUD with the cup’s suction when you take it out of your body to empty the cup. I can gladly say that I have been using it for 6 months now and have been completely fine. Granted, I don’t yank it roughly out of my body! I slowly wiggle it out and am sure to break the suction as I do it. Here’s the thing- I don’t expect that menstrual cups will be everyone’s cup of tea, but I wish they were. (It’s important for me to mention that there is a bit of a learning curve when inserting the cup correctly, but it didn’t take long for me to insert it like a pro! Just be sure to always use clean hands when inserting or removing it. )

I LOVE my menstrual cup, and here’s why:

  1. You can leave it in for up to 12 hours.
  2. 2. Blood is caught right as it is coming out of the cervix, so it does not have time to be exposed to a lot of oxygen, unlike a pad or tampon. This means that the period blood has very low/no odor.
  3. 3. While removing the cup, you can see how much blood you lose — which is fascinating and informative to learn how much blood your body loses in a cycle.
  4. 4. It can hold a lot of blood!
  5. 5. (Most importantly) IT’S ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY!

Unfortunately, I still had not solved my problem entirely. Even on my heavy days, I would overflow the Diva cup in a day, or even within several hours. I needed a backup for my menstrual cup.

4. One Year Later

I finally decided to buy THINX period underwear. I had been aware of the brand for a while and saw great reviews, but always had held off. After a year with the Paragard, I decided enough was enough. I bought the full on hiphugger panties designed for your heaviest day. When it arrived, I wore them every day of my period, and LOVED them. Each night I would lightly rinse them out in my sink, wash them on cold in my washing machine, and hang them dry overnight. If I leaked with my Diva Cup, THINX caught everything and I didn’t even notice if they were soaked. The anti-microbial material was incredibly comfortable and absorbent. I was thoroughly impressed.

I could write on and on about how much I love these products and what life-savers they are for me. With THINX, Clue, Diva Cup, and the Paragard, I am prepared 365 days a year for every part of my cycle, and thanks to Clue, I always know what stage I’m in. I am 100% environmentally friendly in the process creating zero waste, and I love every phase of my 28 day cycle.

My hope is that every person who menstruates finds the right tools to navigate their period, from the birth control to collection method. Being prepared and informed has caused me to love and look forward to my period, and not many people can say that. I may be biased- but I think I just hacked my period.

I recommend you try it ;)

Anna E. Cherian

Written by

Art Direction, UX/UI Design, Brand Strategy & Storytelling.

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