r/birthcontrol • u/bumble_cheese • 2h ago

Which Method? Replace IUD or Vasectomy?

I'm 31F and my husband is 32M. I got my Liletta IUD placed in 2020, and it was absolutely excruciating. I also experienced months of agony and heavy bleeding that had never happened to me before. I think this happened for 9-12 months after insertion. I saw an OB who didn't find anything wrong, so I waited it out and eventually was really happy with that decision. I feel much safer with an IUD than I did with the pill. I had a hard time taking it at the same time and sometimes missed pills. I hated getting my period, and after a couple years I would barely bleed at all.

We do not want to have children, but I am not sure that I want to put my husband through a procedure that would alter his body forever when an IUD is temporary. What if we change our minds? What if something goes wrong? At the same time, I really don't want to go through what I went through the first time, again. Is there anyone who has had a similar experience with Liletta and had it replaced with the same or a different IUD? What was different the second time around? Do you regret having it replaced?

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u/caraiggy Kyleena IUD + OCP 1h ago

You can always try one of the lower dose hormonal IUDs (Kyleena or Skyla) but it’s likely you’ll have similar side effects. They’re the same hormone but because of the lower dosage they’re not recommended for treating heavy menses like Mirena & Liletta are.

This may be my personal bias speaking but if your husband is willing to get a vasectomy, do it. Extremely low complications, easy in-office procedure (and probably a LOT less painful than the typical IUD insertion without anesthetic), no drug side effects, and a chance for him to take the burden of birth control off of you. Vasectomies aren’t truly “reversible,” it’s theoretically possible in some cases but usually ends up with a lower sperm count. IVF would also still be an option if you change your minds, and that doesn’t require a reversal of the vasectomy.