Who will prescribe me an IUD in Chicago?
September 23, 2010 11:48 AM Subscribe
What doctor in Chicago will give me an IUD? I'm 28, in a long-term relationship, no kids.
My partner and I would like to invest in a birth control method which has a five-year or so lifespan, and after a lot of research, we think an IUD is the answer.
Over the course of my research, though, I've read that lots of doctors will not prescribe or insert one in a woman who hasn't had any kids. Obviously, mileage may vary, but I don't want to waste time or money to just go doctor shopping and ask every one I see, "Will you give me an IUD?"
So, I'm looking for a recommendation for a doctor in Chicago (within city/CTA limits) who you know will prescribe and insert an IUD and is openly friendly about doing so for women who have not yet had children. It's be nice if they take Blue Cross Blue Shield, but we're willing to pay out of pocket if it comes down to it - it's still a savings over five years versus endless pills, condoms, and morning after pills.
My partner and I would like to invest in a birth control method which has a five-year or so lifespan, and after a lot of research, we think an IUD is the answer.
Over the course of my research, though, I've read that lots of doctors will not prescribe or insert one in a woman who hasn't had any kids. Obviously, mileage may vary, but I don't want to waste time or money to just go doctor shopping and ask every one I see, "Will you give me an IUD?"
So, I'm looking for a recommendation for a doctor in Chicago (within city/CTA limits) who you know will prescribe and insert an IUD and is openly friendly about doing so for women who have not yet had children. It's be nice if they take Blue Cross Blue Shield, but we're willing to pay out of pocket if it comes down to it - it's still a savings over five years versus endless pills, condoms, and morning after pills.
Have you asked your own doctor yet?
In general, Planned Parenthood will install IUDs in nulliparous women without a blink.
posted by peachfuzz at 11:55 AM on September 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
In general, Planned Parenthood will install IUDs in nulliparous women without a blink.
posted by peachfuzz at 11:55 AM on September 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
Call up Planned Parenthood in your area and schedule an appointment. They will be nonplussed about your situation, and should you wish to pay out of pocket, I was quoted ~$500 for Paragard (copper IUD) and ~$800 for Mirena (hormonal IUD). They also take private insurance, which can help defray costs.
posted by evoque at 11:56 AM on September 23, 2010
posted by evoque at 11:56 AM on September 23, 2010
I'd recommend Planned Parenthood. Not only will they certainly give you an IUD, unlike most doctors, they have a LOT of experience in inserting them properly. You really, really want someone with experience doing the procedure.
Check out the livejournal group IUD Divas for lots of advice and support.
I'm in Seattle, but I'm also 28 and got one a few months ago. You can memail me if you want to talk about my firsthand experience.
posted by emyd at 11:57 AM on September 23, 2010
Check out the livejournal group IUD Divas for lots of advice and support.
I'm in Seattle, but I'm also 28 and got one a few months ago. You can memail me if you want to talk about my firsthand experience.
posted by emyd at 11:57 AM on September 23, 2010
You've probably thought of this but a friend just had one and had to pay for it because the BCBS they have did not.
posted by Anitanola at 11:57 AM on September 23, 2010
posted by Anitanola at 11:57 AM on September 23, 2010
Try The Women's Practice . Wonderful docs (Walz-Buscher or Norlin are my recommendations). Def take BCBS.
posted by stormpooper at 11:58 AM on September 23, 2010
posted by stormpooper at 11:58 AM on September 23, 2010
I don't have experience with situation, but I do have an OB/GYN who is amazingly sensitive with regard to reproductive issues, generally approachable and a good doctor. She takes BCBS and is at Northwestern on Chicago Avenue. Dr. Catherine Clinton.
Otherwise, Planned Parenthood is a good option.
posted by crush-onastick at 12:00 PM on September 23, 2010
Otherwise, Planned Parenthood is a good option.
posted by crush-onastick at 12:00 PM on September 23, 2010
Paragard has a 10-year life span. I got mine at 21 (no pregnancies) and it was free with my BCBS insurance. My doctor mentioned that having had kids is more of a social "requirement" than a physiological one (also, it only exists in the US) in the sense that you're less likely to get STDs if you're in a relationship with the father of your kids.
posted by halogen at 12:10 PM on September 23, 2010
posted by halogen at 12:10 PM on September 23, 2010
This particular question has not come up for me, so I can't give you a specific answer as to the IUD. But! If you're looking for a gynecologist, I love mine. I see Gloria Elam at the UIC Med Center. A lot of folks tend to get chatty when they break out the speculum--to put you "at ease"--and it's like, dude, I know what you're doing down there, you're not fooling me. But Dr. Elam is all business and just really, really nice. From my dealings with her, she has been very pro-contraception, so it's likely she'll be willing to work with you. Here's her info.
posted by phunniemee at 12:39 PM on September 23, 2010
posted by phunniemee at 12:39 PM on September 23, 2010
Definitely Planned Parenthood.
If you can have someone drive you home afterward, so much the better. I am not normally a cramper but I don't think I would have been wise to drive myself.
posted by catlet at 12:43 PM on September 23, 2010
If you can have someone drive you home afterward, so much the better. I am not normally a cramper but I don't think I would have been wise to drive myself.
posted by catlet at 12:43 PM on September 23, 2010
(Tangentially, +1 to Catlet. I drove myself home after the insertion and it was *not* a good idea. Hurt like HELL to have put in, hurt like HELL to have taken out.)
posted by scratch at 1:03 PM on September 23, 2010
posted by scratch at 1:03 PM on September 23, 2010
The idea that a non-married childless woman is not the ideal candidate for an IUD has it's origins in two places:
1. If you catch an STD, you are more likely to get pelvic inflammatory disease *and die.* THIS IS CATEGORICALLY UNTURE WITH IUDS CURRENTLY ON THE MARKET.
2. A cervix that has never dilated all the way and delivered a child is narrower than a parous cervix and is technically more difficult to pass an IUD through. The rate of procedure failure is a little higher. This one is actually true, but with a provider that knows what they're doing it is overwhelmingly likely to work out fine.
I don't know anyone who would hesitate to place an IUD for a woman that really wants one, regardless of whether she has kids or is married. The Planned Parenthood suggestion is a good one, but really, anyone who does them should be willing to do so for you.
Good for you, I think IUDs are a great birth control method for a lot of women.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 1:06 PM on September 23, 2010
1. If you catch an STD, you are more likely to get pelvic inflammatory disease *and die.* THIS IS CATEGORICALLY UNTURE WITH IUDS CURRENTLY ON THE MARKET.
2. A cervix that has never dilated all the way and delivered a child is narrower than a parous cervix and is technically more difficult to pass an IUD through. The rate of procedure failure is a little higher. This one is actually true, but with a provider that knows what they're doing it is overwhelmingly likely to work out fine.
I don't know anyone who would hesitate to place an IUD for a woman that really wants one, regardless of whether she has kids or is married. The Planned Parenthood suggestion is a good one, but really, anyone who does them should be willing to do so for you.
Good for you, I think IUDs are a great birth control method for a lot of women.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 1:06 PM on September 23, 2010
I'd also heard from a lot of people online that doctors were not likely to okay this for someone with no children. Both doctors I have seen in my non-progressive area of GA have been all for it, which has me wondering if this is one of those cases where we expect that there will be far more issues than there are. From the looks of my OB/GYNs office, mirena is getting a big push right now. Also, BCBS in my state does cover it, so YMMV in that sense too.
posted by bizzyb at 1:31 PM on September 23, 2010
posted by bizzyb at 1:31 PM on September 23, 2010
Should the out of pocket cost for an IUD be prohibitive, several of the Planned Parenthood clinics (e.g. the one on West Chicago) are fully subsidized under Title X and will provide reproductive health care, including IUD implantation, for free or whatever donation you deem appropriate.
posted by monocyte at 3:21 PM on September 23, 2010
posted by monocyte at 3:21 PM on September 23, 2010
There was a big scare with IUDs a long time ago, but the modern ones are much safer and most doctors will probably not object at all. Find a nice doctor because you'll probably go back a few times to get the damn string trimmed because it pokes er...things. Other than the string I think its a great form of contraception.
posted by meepmeow at 3:38 PM on September 23, 2010
posted by meepmeow at 3:38 PM on September 23, 2010
Most GYNs will give you an IUD these days regardless of whether or not you have/want kids. I got one--married, no kids but keeping my options open, 33. I have the non-hormonal kind. It was painful--I wouldn't try to do this on your lunch break--but it's been great and I wish wish wish I'd done this years sooner.
Not to nag, but you should be getting a yearly GYN exam anyway, now that you are a sexually active adult. Blue Cross will cover that, and the IUD. Try one of the teaching hospitals. Good luck!
posted by thinkingwoman at 4:56 PM on September 23, 2010
Not to nag, but you should be getting a yearly GYN exam anyway, now that you are a sexually active adult. Blue Cross will cover that, and the IUD. Try one of the teaching hospitals. Good luck!
posted by thinkingwoman at 4:56 PM on September 23, 2010
I had an IUD put in my dr Emily Godfrey at the UIC family medicine clinic. She takes bcbs (I have the HMO and I paid $15 for the whole thing). I haven't had any kids. You can take the halstead bus to the Maxwell st location. It hurt like he'll, but it was the best birth control decision I ever made.
posted by Mrs.Spiffy at 5:05 PM on September 23, 2010
posted by Mrs.Spiffy at 5:05 PM on September 23, 2010
I got an IUD at 22 and nulliparious. This was 10 years ago. I went to Planned Parenthood.
I told the NP that I would use condoms until any new men got completely tested, in the even that I split with my boyfriend (which did happen). I also told her I knew the signs of PID, and would be aware and check on myself.
The notion that IUD+STD = PID is unproven, but the idea is that the strings are a port upon which bacteria could climb into the uterus.
I got the Paragard. They charged me about $200, if I remember right. I had it for four years. I got pregnant less than six weeks after they took it out.
I've since had two more- the Mirena after my daughter was born, and the Paragard again, post son. I like the Paragard better, FWIW.
Getting it put in with a "virgin" uterus sucks. It's painful. It took me a few periods to feel normal again. Getting it taken out was nothing. Getting them placed post childbirth is nothing.
I've also done the pill, condoms, depo, and NFP. The IUD is my favorite contraceptive by far. Set it and forget it.
posted by Leta at 5:25 PM on September 23, 2010
I told the NP that I would use condoms until any new men got completely tested, in the even that I split with my boyfriend (which did happen). I also told her I knew the signs of PID, and would be aware and check on myself.
The notion that IUD+STD = PID is unproven, but the idea is that the strings are a port upon which bacteria could climb into the uterus.
I got the Paragard. They charged me about $200, if I remember right. I had it for four years. I got pregnant less than six weeks after they took it out.
I've since had two more- the Mirena after my daughter was born, and the Paragard again, post son. I like the Paragard better, FWIW.
Getting it put in with a "virgin" uterus sucks. It's painful. It took me a few periods to feel normal again. Getting it taken out was nothing. Getting them placed post childbirth is nothing.
I've also done the pill, condoms, depo, and NFP. The IUD is my favorite contraceptive by far. Set it and forget it.
posted by Leta at 5:25 PM on September 23, 2010
I have a blood disorder that means no estrogen based birth control for me. I don't know if that smoothed the way or not, but it meant I had no problem getting an IUD at age 32 without ever having had children. In fact, it was my OB/GYN who suggested it.
Agreed that it can hurt like a sumbitch. I'd never had a uterine cramp in my life until that day. Now I know why other women hate me when I used to admit to never having had cramps.
posted by 100watts at 1:31 PM on September 27, 2010
Agreed that it can hurt like a sumbitch. I'd never had a uterine cramp in my life until that day. Now I know why other women hate me when I used to admit to never having had cramps.
posted by 100watts at 1:31 PM on September 27, 2010
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posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:52 AM on September 23, 2010