Cycling, IUDs, and Cramping

[Ambikes]

I had a copper IUD inserted in March of this year. I hadn't had any abnormal issues with it until last weekend. After a 30 mile ride (about 2 hours for me), I had uterine cramps. They felt just like menstrual cramps. Since my period was due to start soon, I thought it may just be that. However, four days later I haven't started my period and I've been having intermittent cramping that seems to be caused or worsened by riding my bikes (I commute, mountain bike, and road ride.). The longer I ride, the worse the cramping. I'm not sure whether the amount of time I'm spending in the saddle would have caused this problem pre-IUD because I'm riding a lot more this year than I ever have.

I'm heading back to the doctor to make sure the IUD is still in the proper place. If it is, I really have no idea what to do. I don't want to make the choice between cycling or writhing in agony for days every month

Does anyone else with an IUD ever experience this type of cramping issue?

[bunny_ninja]

I have a copper IUD too. It took at least 6 months for it really to find it's place in my uterus. I think this is just coincidental. BTW - stock up on superplus tampons and pantiliners

My period was so bad initially that I also had to take an iron supplement.

[GLC1968]

Wow, that sucks!

I had the Mirena (the hormonal IUD) for the first 4 years that I rode. I actually got it about four months after I bought my first road bike - so the timing was almost identical. I never had any cramping issues related to biking (though I did get monthly cramps on occasion) even as I began to increase my ride length.


I hope you get it figured out soon!

[bunny_ninja]

I can't handle hormones at all - so I have the copper too. from what I understand - there may be less cramping with the hormonal one?

Anyhoo - don't stop cycling! and I doubt you'll have to remove it. It really does take a while to chill out in there...

[Ambikes]

Thanks for the support!

Aside from the expected side effects of heavier cramps and bleeding, the copper IUD has been working well for me. My symptoms were actually getting better with time, so this latest episode was definitely a step in the wrong direction. Hopefully my body will settle down soon.

I guess it's always something when you're a woman. Since I can't do hormones either, this was the best choice for me. When I was suffering with cramps the other day, I suggested to the boyfriend that he get a vasectomy since he's the one that says he never wants kids. He didn't think that was a good idea for some reason

[Dianyla]

My first copper IUD took at least a year to settle in, and I would often get cramps and spotting with any kind of physical exertion. I always thought of it like breaking in a new pair of shoes. Interestingly, when I had a fresh one put in this past year, the 12-year old one that came out was actually somewhat skewed, permanently bent into a specific shape. Most uteruses are not perfectly symmetrical.

[GraphikDeziner]

IUD's are funny little things - I've had the copper IUD for about 8 months now and my body is still getting used to it. I've had a whole host of funny side effects but things are slowly returning to normal. In terms of riding - its takes some getting used to and most definitely its like breaking in a new pair of shoes - I experienced cramping while riding, but usually only within a week of my period coming or going - and after a few months I was fine. The strangest and most awkward side effect I seemed to experience was a moisture overload for the first 6 months or so...which affected my long rides, chamois comfort and there really was no way to control it - besides carrying personal wipes with the rest of my bike gear.

IUD's are great, but for those of us out there in spandex, can be a little annoying - The most important thing to remember is just to take it easy and let your body do its thing, eventually it will normalize.

[GLC1968]

I guess it's always something when you're a woman. Since I can't do hormones either, this was the best choice for me. When I was suffering with cramps the other day, I suggested to the boyfriend that he get a vasectomy since he's the one that says he never wants kids. He didn't think that was a good idea for some reason

I used to think my IUD was the best birth control I'd tried...until my husband got his vasectomy. It wins best BC ever, hands down!

[badger]

My first copper IUD took at least a year to settle in, and I would often get cramps and spotting with any kind of physical exertion. I always thought of it like breaking in a new pair of shoes. Interestingly, when I had a fresh one put in this past year, the 12-year old one that came out was actually somewhat skewed, permanently bent into a specific shape. Most uteruses are not perfectly symmetrical.

I just made an appointment to get my 5.5year old copper IUD replaced. They recommend changing it every 5 years, but someone like you have it in much longer. I'm not sure if I'm unnecessarily replacing it?

[bunny_ninja]

5 years! EEEP! That is coming up for me. OUCH!

[Dianyla]

I just made an appointment to get my 5.5year old copper IUD replaced. They recommend changing it every 5 years, but someone like you have it in much longer. I'm not sure if I'm unnecessarily replacing it?

Nope, copper ones are FDA approved for 12 years. The hormonal ones (Mirena, etc) are the 5 years.

[bunny_ninja]

oh thank goodness. I think I screamed when I had it inserted...

[badger]

hm, up here in Canada Mirena is only for 3 years.

I wonder why it's less than half the FDA approval for the copper ones here? Part of me is thinking for $60 maybe it's just better to be safe than sorry, but another part of me doesn't want to go through that pain again. Better do some more research.

[Ambikes]

Hmmm, the manufacturer recommends that the copper IUD I have (I believe it's the Nova T) be replaced every 3 years. My doctor said that it would probably be fine for up to 5 years, though. She chose this particular model because of it's small size since I've never had kids/been pregnant.

When I was researching IUDs, I was kind of surprised by the fact that the choices were so much different in here in Canada vs. the United States. Also, Europe is light years ahead of North America when it comes to IUDs. I know a lot of women who don't like hormonal birth control pills for a variety of reasons. I'm not sure why more doctors don't recommend IUDs to more women. Painful cramping aside, it's a low maintenance, worry-free method of birth control.

[Dianyla]

Hmmm, the manufacturer recommends that the copper IUD I have (I believe it's the Nova T) be replaced every 3 years. My doctor said that it would probably be fine for up to 5 years, though.

Oh, you have the smaller sized Nova T then? This has less copper in it (200 mm^2) and hence a shorter lifespan. I have the Paragard T380A which was recently extended from a 10 year lifespan to 12 year. The drawback is that it is larger and less comfortable for us nullipara women.

The hormonal ones have a shorter lifespan because once they run out of their impregnated dosage of progestins they become ineffective. With the copper ones, the copper does gradually dissolve, and aging IUDs can eventually have issues with structural breakage. There have been research studies indicating that most copper IUDs have an actual lifespan several years beyond the official policy determined lifespan.

Besides the discomfort, you really don't want to reinsert a new IUD sooner than necessary. Every time you open the cervix and insert an IUD, there is the risk of introducing sepsis (leading to PID) in the normally sterile uterus. This is the main reason reason to not routinely swap IUDs out before the end of the device lifespan, assuming one wants to continue using this method of contraception.

When I was researching IUDs, I was kind of surprised by the fact that the choices were so much different in here in Canada vs. the United States. Also, Europe is light years ahead of North America when it comes to IUDs. I know a lot of women who don't like hormonal birth control pills for a variety of reasons. I'm not sure why more doctors don't recommend IUDs to more women. Painful cramping aside, it's a low maintenance, worry-free method of birth control.

There are a few factors. One big thing I kept hearing about from concerned friends and family members was the Dalkon Shield fiasco. Additionally, concerns over hormone safety are a lot lower in the US than they are in Europe. I think they are too low, frankly.

While I have no facts to back this up, I think the biggest reason that IUDs are discouraged in favor of hormonal methods is money. Monthly prescriptions for hormonal contraceptives are a lot more profitable. A secondary reason is that many providers are not trained to do insertions.