IUD and infection
December 17, 2014 5:58 AM Subscribe
New IUD and possible infection is depressing me. Probably TMI.
I got a Mirena fitted two months ago today. Since then, I've had cramping (about 75% of the time) that is bad enough to need to take ibuprofen every five hours or feel nauseated from the cramps. It is getting better though so I expect it will go away.
I am having my second period now and my periods have been fine, moderate to light. I think they'll probably disappear altogether in due course (I went years without periods when I was on depo).
I've had some hormonal acne which is depressing but seems to be normal with all the birth controls I've tried with the exception of depo (which I tolerated really well for years but it's not really convenient for me anymore to travel to a clinic every three months for a shot). My mood and weight are fine.
The most depressing thing to me is since I've had the IUD put in, I've noticed a strong smell that I didn't have before. When I sit down to go to the bathroom, I can smell it, even if I've showered two hours before. It doesn't seem like a fishy smell, just really...strong. It has sometimes been accompanied by discharge (moreso for the first few weeks after insertion). I have no itching or stinging pain.
I saw my doc a few days ago and she said it might be some excessive bacteria growth, which is not unusual after an IUD. I assume she meant bacterial vaginosis?? She said to call her in a month if it didn't seem better and she'd give me antibiotics. She couldn't do a swab because I was having my period.
This is depressing to me because I feel unclean and I sometimes worry that other people can smell it (though logically I'm pretty sure they can't). I know I'm not supposed to douche but I am ready to douche. I'm sure my doctor would prescribe antibiotics tomorrow if I asked, but I'm a little hesitant to take them if this is totally normal and will easily clear up on its own after my period ends. Though to reiterate, the smell has been there since I got the IUD, not just on my period.
I've googled BV and IUD and of course there are a million horror stories about chronic recurring BV and yeast infections with the IUD which are freaking me out. I'm hoping to get some perspective here. I know YANMD, I'm just looking for informed answers from other people who might have experienced this.
My questions:
1. Is this a normal thing with an IUD?
2. Did it clear up on its own for you or only with antibiotics?
3. What are the chances that I am doomed to now be battling constant BV or yeast infections? As far as I know, I have never had either one before and I am well into my 30s.
4. I've read about home remedies like apple cider vinigar, boric acid suppositories (do they sell these in stores?), garlic etc. I'm also thinking of asking my doctor for a script for a probiotic I can take. Are probiotic pills even a thing?
5. How long did it take for your body (i.e vagina) to return to normal?
A few other things about me:
- I wear cotton underwear. Thongs during the day, bikinis at night.
- I use handmade eucalyptus-scented soap (i.e. not antibacterial) on my nether regions. I think I might switch to Cetaphil though because of this.
- I blowdry my vulva area after a shower to keep it dry.
I like my IUD and would like to keep it but I can't if this smell is going to be constant or persistent.
Any advice is appreciated, thanks.
I got a Mirena fitted two months ago today. Since then, I've had cramping (about 75% of the time) that is bad enough to need to take ibuprofen every five hours or feel nauseated from the cramps. It is getting better though so I expect it will go away.
I am having my second period now and my periods have been fine, moderate to light. I think they'll probably disappear altogether in due course (I went years without periods when I was on depo).
I've had some hormonal acne which is depressing but seems to be normal with all the birth controls I've tried with the exception of depo (which I tolerated really well for years but it's not really convenient for me anymore to travel to a clinic every three months for a shot). My mood and weight are fine.
The most depressing thing to me is since I've had the IUD put in, I've noticed a strong smell that I didn't have before. When I sit down to go to the bathroom, I can smell it, even if I've showered two hours before. It doesn't seem like a fishy smell, just really...strong. It has sometimes been accompanied by discharge (moreso for the first few weeks after insertion). I have no itching or stinging pain.
I saw my doc a few days ago and she said it might be some excessive bacteria growth, which is not unusual after an IUD. I assume she meant bacterial vaginosis?? She said to call her in a month if it didn't seem better and she'd give me antibiotics. She couldn't do a swab because I was having my period.
This is depressing to me because I feel unclean and I sometimes worry that other people can smell it (though logically I'm pretty sure they can't). I know I'm not supposed to douche but I am ready to douche. I'm sure my doctor would prescribe antibiotics tomorrow if I asked, but I'm a little hesitant to take them if this is totally normal and will easily clear up on its own after my period ends. Though to reiterate, the smell has been there since I got the IUD, not just on my period.
I've googled BV and IUD and of course there are a million horror stories about chronic recurring BV and yeast infections with the IUD which are freaking me out. I'm hoping to get some perspective here. I know YANMD, I'm just looking for informed answers from other people who might have experienced this.
My questions:
1. Is this a normal thing with an IUD?
2. Did it clear up on its own for you or only with antibiotics?
3. What are the chances that I am doomed to now be battling constant BV or yeast infections? As far as I know, I have never had either one before and I am well into my 30s.
4. I've read about home remedies like apple cider vinigar, boric acid suppositories (do they sell these in stores?), garlic etc. I'm also thinking of asking my doctor for a script for a probiotic I can take. Are probiotic pills even a thing?
5. How long did it take for your body (i.e vagina) to return to normal?
A few other things about me:
- I wear cotton underwear. Thongs during the day, bikinis at night.
- I use handmade eucalyptus-scented soap (i.e. not antibacterial) on my nether regions. I think I might switch to Cetaphil though because of this.
- I blowdry my vulva area after a shower to keep it dry.
I like my IUD and would like to keep it but I can't if this smell is going to be constant or persistent.
Any advice is appreciated, thanks.
Please just go back to your doctor and explain all this. Other than prescribed antibiotics, don't try home remedies without consulting your doctor no matter whatever"it worked for me" anecdotes you hear.
You can also call up/get a second opinion from a Planned Parenthood, but please just get opinions/recommendations from trained healthcare professionals.
posted by discopolo at 6:14 AM on December 17, 2014 [8 favorites]
You can also call up/get a second opinion from a Planned Parenthood, but please just get opinions/recommendations from trained healthcare professionals.
posted by discopolo at 6:14 AM on December 17, 2014 [8 favorites]
Also, even if you like your IUD, the cramping, etc, acne---it's no way to live. Don't force yourself to say you're happy with it. Taking ibuprofen every single day every few hours isn't ideal. You need to communicate all this with your doctor.
posted by discopolo at 6:17 AM on December 17, 2014 [7 favorites]
posted by discopolo at 6:17 AM on December 17, 2014 [7 favorites]
BV is usually accompanied by a fishy smell. Since you said that it's just a stronger smell, it's possible that you just have an overgrowth of the good bacteria that usually colonise the vagina, rather than an overgrowth of bad bacteria (bv). If it's an overgrowth of good bacteria, taking probiotics will make the problem worse.
Because of your IUD, I think some of the home remedies are a potentially bad idea. I definitely wouldn't recommend douching with vinegar or anything like that.
Things to try:
Wearing a long nightshirt or loose pants to bed without underwear. Let your bits breathe :)
I would also suggest avoiding thongs for a few days to see if that helps at all. The few times I have worn one, I thought I smelled stronger too.
No more eucalyptus soap down there! That sounds way too harsh. I wash with water and a clean wash cloth.
Drink more water to see if that helps to make the smell less strong.
Wait it out for another month. A lot of these side effects will probably settle down over the next month or so as your body adjusts to the hormones.
posted by kinddieserzeit at 6:24 AM on December 17, 2014
Because of your IUD, I think some of the home remedies are a potentially bad idea. I definitely wouldn't recommend douching with vinegar or anything like that.
Things to try:
Wearing a long nightshirt or loose pants to bed without underwear. Let your bits breathe :)
I would also suggest avoiding thongs for a few days to see if that helps at all. The few times I have worn one, I thought I smelled stronger too.
No more eucalyptus soap down there! That sounds way too harsh. I wash with water and a clean wash cloth.
Drink more water to see if that helps to make the smell less strong.
Wait it out for another month. A lot of these side effects will probably settle down over the next month or so as your body adjusts to the hormones.
posted by kinddieserzeit at 6:24 AM on December 17, 2014
Those cramps do not sound normal - has your doctor checked that the IUD hasn't moved? I would get that checked immediately.
posted by you're a kitty! at 7:34 AM on December 17, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by you're a kitty! at 7:34 AM on December 17, 2014 [1 favorite]
I had cramps for a few days, not months. I had spotting for months but nothing beyond what the doctor had told me to expect. There were no unusual smells either. This sounds abnormal, but only your doctor can tell for sure.
Can you get in to see another doctor before a month has passed?
posted by futureisunwritten at 7:45 AM on December 17, 2014 [1 favorite]
Can you get in to see another doctor before a month has passed?
posted by futureisunwritten at 7:45 AM on December 17, 2014 [1 favorite]
I had issues like this. I never really suffered from menstrual cramps before, but the Mirena gave me terrible, terrible cramps. It wasn't 75% of the time though, it was more like 25%/the whole week of my period. My period never completely stopped either, I was still having light periods and cramps for 18 months until I had it taken out. I also had some BV issues but they were mild and I guess my body adjusted, because they resolved without treatment.
In my case, it was just another data point that hormonal birth control makes my periods much worse. I had issues with BCP and Nuvaring, although the cramping was unique to the IUD.
posted by fanta_orange at 9:20 AM on December 17, 2014
In my case, it was just another data point that hormonal birth control makes my periods much worse. I had issues with BCP and Nuvaring, although the cramping was unique to the IUD.
posted by fanta_orange at 9:20 AM on December 17, 2014
I had cramps almost the time for the first 3-4 months with my Mirena and I also noticed some increased discharage; no smell that I recall. Nine months later, things have mostly settled down and I'm quite happy with the Mirena, even though my periods haven't totally gone away and I still have odd periods of cramping. I've always been a terrible awful misery cramper, so this doesn't surprise me. Bodies are funny things, so this may be normal and passing or it may not. Definitely go back and get a swab when you're not on your period, and please see another doctor if yours isn't communicating enough with you to make you feel comfortable.
posted by mostlymartha at 11:23 AM on December 17, 2014
posted by mostlymartha at 11:23 AM on December 17, 2014
Part of what they do when they insert an IUD is spray a disinfecting agent into your vaginal canal to help kill any bacteria on your cervix. This is necessary because you super duper do not want to introduce some of that bacteria into the uterus, but also means that things can be prettttttttty dang weird while your poor vagina tries to sort itself out (this manifested in a mild yeast infection for me and honestly it was the part that squicked me out the most about the whole process, like, Hey lady! I NEED that stuff!)
I would go back to the doc and see if they can help, and also if they can figure out what's causing the cramping. I talked to probably 20+ people about their IUDs before I got mine and I heard a lot of horror stories, but in no cases did I hear about cramping that lasts for months. Probably there's not a problem, but if you're going anyway, might as well ask!
posted by WidgetAlley at 12:06 PM on December 17, 2014
I would go back to the doc and see if they can help, and also if they can figure out what's causing the cramping. I talked to probably 20+ people about their IUDs before I got mine and I heard a lot of horror stories, but in no cases did I hear about cramping that lasts for months. Probably there's not a problem, but if you're going anyway, might as well ask!
posted by WidgetAlley at 12:06 PM on December 17, 2014
So, not to scare you too much with a horror story, but I had an IUD that had to be removed because of an infection.
I also called my doctor to complain that the cramps weren't subsiding and I was having headaches, but they brushed it off as no big deal. After 8 months, the pain, acne and headaches still did not go away. I went to a different doctor, who did a test and took it out immediately. I had Pelvic Inflammatory Disease and needed to be on antibiotics for about a month to clear it up. I also had a lot of lasting effects, like persistent daily cramps that didn't go away until a year after I had the IUD removed.
To be fair, they said that two months was still within the normal adjustment period, which is why no one knew how serious things were until later. But even after 6 months of pain, I had a terrible time getting my doctor to take me seriously. The advice nurse told me that my symptoms weren't related to the IUD and wouldn't even let me make an appointment.
Again, I really am not sharing this to scare you. Your situation is probably not as bad, but I would encourage you to see a different doctor if you don't feel that yours is taking the problem seriously enough.
posted by ohisee at 1:04 PM on December 17, 2014
I also called my doctor to complain that the cramps weren't subsiding and I was having headaches, but they brushed it off as no big deal. After 8 months, the pain, acne and headaches still did not go away. I went to a different doctor, who did a test and took it out immediately. I had Pelvic Inflammatory Disease and needed to be on antibiotics for about a month to clear it up. I also had a lot of lasting effects, like persistent daily cramps that didn't go away until a year after I had the IUD removed.
To be fair, they said that two months was still within the normal adjustment period, which is why no one knew how serious things were until later. But even after 6 months of pain, I had a terrible time getting my doctor to take me seriously. The advice nurse told me that my symptoms weren't related to the IUD and wouldn't even let me make an appointment.
Again, I really am not sharing this to scare you. Your situation is probably not as bad, but I would encourage you to see a different doctor if you don't feel that yours is taking the problem seriously enough.
posted by ohisee at 1:04 PM on December 17, 2014
Your dr should be able to check its position and also look for signs of infection, and sometimes they also recommend getting an ultrasound since that helps them to be able to see more. Good luck.
posted by mermaidcafe at 2:07 PM on December 17, 2014
posted by mermaidcafe at 2:07 PM on December 17, 2014
The bacteria that causes BV is not a "bad" bacteria, it is always present. You are not unclean! And please do not douche as you want your vagina to go back to normal balance and putting foreign stuff into it will just make things worse.
You don't have to wait a month to get treated if it's already been 2 months. Just call your doctor and tell her how much this is bothering you. I am sure she'll be happy to help.
I had intermittent cramps the whole time I had the IUD but not so bad I needed to take meds for them. No more BV or YI than usual. For every million horror stories there are tens of millions more quiet successes.
posted by treehorn+bunny at 2:43 PM on December 17, 2014 [2 favorites]
You don't have to wait a month to get treated if it's already been 2 months. Just call your doctor and tell her how much this is bothering you. I am sure she'll be happy to help.
I had intermittent cramps the whole time I had the IUD but not so bad I needed to take meds for them. No more BV or YI than usual. For every million horror stories there are tens of millions more quiet successes.
posted by treehorn+bunny at 2:43 PM on December 17, 2014 [2 favorites]
I hope you've been to the doctor in the mean time. Also hope you're feeling better!
Upon reading the question my first thought was cervicitis. Contrary to many online sources for the public that tie cervicitis mainly to STIs, trauma (like from gynecological procedures) can cause the inflammation/infection. Cervicitis is pretty common but if left untreated it can last for months to years and the infection can progress to PID (Pelvic Inflammatory Disease), meaning it can spread to the uterus and ovaries.
I agree with ohisee that it is wise to be persistent. Listen to your body - it gives you plenty of warning signals - and seek out medical help. Good luck!
posted by travelwithcats at 3:22 AM on December 30, 2014
Upon reading the question my first thought was cervicitis. Contrary to many online sources for the public that tie cervicitis mainly to STIs, trauma (like from gynecological procedures) can cause the inflammation/infection. Cervicitis is pretty common but if left untreated it can last for months to years and the infection can progress to PID (Pelvic Inflammatory Disease), meaning it can spread to the uterus and ovaries.
I agree with ohisee that it is wise to be persistent. Listen to your body - it gives you plenty of warning signals - and seek out medical help. Good luck!
posted by travelwithcats at 3:22 AM on December 30, 2014
This thread is closed to new comments.
I would also cut out the Eucaplyptus soap.
My incidence rate of BV went up when I got an IUD and started having regular unprotected P in V sex with my partner - I asked my doctor, and she said the combination of semen and blood in the vagina just happens to be a great breeding ground for BV, c'est la vie! I do make sure to pee/clean up after sex, that seems to help. But not with soap, just warm water.
posted by stray at 6:10 AM on December 17, 2014 [2 favorites]