The Public IUD: A Tiny Copper Wire That Everyone Seemed to Know About

After I’d been dating my boyfriend for about seven months I’d decided I wanted to get an IUD. Regular birth control wasn’t an option for me, and we’d both decided we wanted some form of birth control that was more reliable and easier to deal with than condoms. It was all up to me of course as it was going into my uterus. I’d researched online and read all the horror stories of girls passing out from the pain of getting one inserted, but finally after about a month of considering I decided I would do it.

There was just one problem. I was Muslim, and by going to my doctor whose staff was mostly Muslim, I knew I was going to get judging looks no matter how much they tried to hide them. As a Muslim premarital sex was not only frowned upon but forbidden. So by getting an IUD, I was pretty much announcing that I was having sex even though I wasn’t married. But it was my uterus, and I definitely didn’t want any children.

The day of my appointment I was pretty much a nervous wreck. My mother came with me and was making sure that the doctor and nurses understood that she didn’t approve of this. My doctor was great though and made me feel very comfortable and feel like I was doing the responsible thing, the right thing. Which I was. I was choosing to take control over my body and decide to keep myself from having children before I was ready.

Finally as things were about to get started they realized they had run out of pregnancy tests. My mother had to run to a nearby drug store to get one and I’m pretty sure that was the longest 20 minutes I’ve ever had to wait. Finally after making sure I wasn’t pregnant, I took a deep breath as the doctor inserted the tiny copper wire into my uterus. And yes, it hurt, but I didn’t faint.

I wish there wasn’t such a stigma attached to getting an IUD. At least for me it felt like I was being judged for choosing to possibly not have children for the next ten years. While this isn’t necessarily true, because an IUD can be removed at anytime, I feel like most people are misinformed. I will say that the doctor herself did not make me feel this way, but pretty much everyone else around me and even research on the internet gives the impression that getting an IUD should be a last resort. It’s been about five months since I’ve gotten my IUD and I couldn’t be happier. I haven’t had any major side effects besides a little more cramping than I used to have but otherwise it’s going well. What I’m saying is more people should know their options when it comes to birth control and more women should be proud to talk about the forms of birth control they use whether it’s pills, an IUD, or condoms. I know I’m glad I made this decision and I feel more in control of what happens with my uterus and my body.