My (Moon)Cup Runneth Over: IUD Hell!

[YankNCock]

I got a non-hormonal 10 year IUD last summer, before I got my period back (DS2 still breastfeeding). Had a bit of spotting and stuff after it was put in, but nothing too bad. Then nothing for ages.

Then, I got my first period since DS was born, and it was heavier than anything I'd ever experienced in my life aside from my miscarriage or following birth.

As an example, I filled my mooncup today in the space of 2.5 hours, to the point that it overflowed (15ml). And then it's just overflowed again now.

I read that 30-50ml blood loss is 'normal' for your entire period, over 3-5 days. I have lost 40ml today in the space of 11 hours!!

I read that it can take 6 months after IUD insertion for the heavy bleeding to settle, but it's been that long already, though I only started getting periods again in November (this is my 3rd now).

It's not getting better, it's getting worse. I really don't want a hormonal IUS, and I don't want to go through the insertion process again EVER. Treatment for heavy periods seems to only be IUS though.

Any ideas? Should I go see the doctor now or wait a few more cycles? It's actually making me afraid to go out, I was extremely lucky to be wearing a liner today at soft play!

[summertimeandthelivingiseasy]

As a stop-gap, have you tried taking ibuprofen from when you wake up?

[YankNCock]

No, not tried that, will give it a go. I've been taking paracetamol because I've broken my little toe (and have no idea how, but that's another thread).

Yesterday (day 2) I lost 65ml. Today I lost 47ml. Periods are classed as 'heavy' when they are 60-80ml over the entire period. I've lost 130ml in 2.5 days.

I've made a GP appointment for Friday morning to discuss options, but wondering if my first port of call should be the GUM clinic where it was put in?

I was really hoping someone would come on and say that it should settle down soon. Poop.

[goodasitgets]

I have a copper coil and mooncup and I'm the same
Due to go back to see gynae doctor at family planning as periods now last 8-10 days. Normal GP gave me mefenamic? acid which didn't help
I found it easier though to say I'm losing X amount and know exactly how much. I can recommend a L/XL Meluna though!

[Lydiejo]

My sister just got hers removed because of heavy bleeding. I think it's fairly common. I barely have a period with the 5 year IUD.

[YankNCock]

Having thought about it, I decided to go back to the clinic where the IUD was put in, rather than see my GP. I'm guessing the clinic will have more experience with these. Appointment made for Thursday evening.

This is my 8th day on, but at least it's down to spotting now.

goodasitgets, I've read about that mefenamic acid as a treatment for heavy periods, but I thought it wasn't for heavy periods that have been induced by the IUD, IYSWIM.

Lydiejo, is yours a hormonal one? Have been reading, the first treatment of choice for heavy periods (naturally occurring) seems to be the hormonal IUD. I really didn't want to mess around with hormones again.

[YankNCock]

I just looked up the Meluna cup. The XL holds 42ml, that's about 3 times as much as my mooncup! It is very hard to tell from the pictures how big it is though, they need to be lined up next to common household objects so you can get an idea of size (maybe the mop bucket!)

[addictedtosugar]

My standard meLuna cup is about the size of an egg. Does that help?

Or, some size indications here

Are you sure the volume is that much larger? have you taken the position of the holes into account? - my bible of info

[YankNCock]

No, hadn't thought about position of holes, I guess that means even the XL meLuna only holds 30ml? That's about twice as much as my mooncup (can't recall which I have, A or B, whichever is the bigger one). The graduations on it are at 7.5ml and 13ml, and it seems to start leaking once it's got a bit past there, so I reckon about 15ml is the absolute maximum.

I looked at the meLuna site, and their size calculator seems to think I only need a medium (as I had EMCS twice, never vaginal births).

An egg is a helpful comparison, but are we talking medium, large, or XL eggs? I did look at some of the pictures, but didn't see a Mooncup and a L/XL meLuna lined up together so I could get a good idea of how much bigger it is. I'm sure I could manage to use it, I managed a diaphragm about 20 years ago*, and that thing was enormous!

(*It's just occurred to me that I am seriously old, and I have no idea what ever happened to that diaphragm. Could it still be in the boxes of stuff at my mom's house in the US?!)

[goodasitgets]

I can do a pic of mooncup next to every meluna size if that helps? I have demo melunas here

[goodasitgets]

I have no children, insane pelvic floor muscles (from sport) and I use a L

[Lydiejo]

Yes, it is hormonal. But it is localized in the uterus, so the symptoms are much much less then the pill, if any at all. I haven't had any problems with mine, but my hormones have generally been steady.

[addictedtosugar]

meluna v mooncup (MCUK)

[YankNCock]

Thanks for the chart, addictedtosugar! I can sort of see that Mooncups seem to be smaller than a lot of the various cups out there, so maybe it's time to invest in a different brand?

goodasitgets, if you think of it and it's not too much trouble, I would really appreciate seeing the Mooncup A right next to a meluna L or XL.

lydiejo, it's good to hear you're not getting bad symptoms. I was quite keen on a 1 time only, 10 year, non-hormonal thing (should be too old to need another once this needs to come out). But, it doesn't appear that my body agrees. We'll see what the clinic doc says on Thursday.

[goodasitgets]

Here you go. My mooncup is the smaller one I think
Black is Meluna L, then mooncup, then Meluna XL
i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/brighthair84/A0311ACD-066D-423B-9C93-90EC00194E52-7958-00000BF05A434991_zpsb4e9fefd.jpg