I'm contemplating upgrading my birth control. Don't get me wrong, I love the Nuvaring. It works beautifully. I don't have to think about it for a whole month. But it does cost me $30 a month because there is no generic available yet. ('Cause I'm so cutting edge with my BC. Hey, if I can't be fashionable on the outside...) Also, I have to remember to refill my prescription, find a time to go get it, and then remember to, you know, use the thing on the right day. It's not exactly rocket science, but then again, it is fertility I'm messing with. You can never be too careful.
So yeah, I'm looking into Mirena. It's an IUD that covers you for 5 years. Five years! I have to find out about my insurance coverage but if they do what I think they'll do (based on a friend's experience) it will cost me a $10 co-pay and $60 for parts and labor, so to speak. Doing the math, the Nuvaring at $30/month for 5 years means I'd be shelling out $1,800 (still only 20% of X's vasectomy reversal surgery. Ha!) versus the $70 installation of this IUD. I'm willing to save $1,730.
The only weird thing about Mirena is that their website pretty much states that they don't know how or why it works:
Um, yeah. I'm glad it does work but it is a little...unnerving that the reasons are unclear. A little too much faith based science for this atheist to handle.
What is also somewhat odd is that the website only really caters to women who have already had children. If they were smart they would advertise to the single gal who is on and off her BC because of her various relationships. Hello? Women don't want to be spending all that money and time on pills when they aren't even getting any. This is perfect. After the inital investment, it's always there. As long as you use condoms while you're still in the "I don't know if you are healthy" stage, its all good.
I'll hear back next week as to whether my insurance does actually cover this. Then, I just have to make an appointment, and wham, bam, thank you ma'am, I am free to fornicate with wild abandon. Or at least with less fear of pregnancy. Although I'm sure Friendster Guy would encourage the wild abandon part. (And no, all you Christian Coalition people stumbling upon this blog, birth control does not encourage a person to have sex. It encourages them to have educated sex. Plus, you don't want me to have an abortion, do you?)
I am a little concerned about going back to the non-chemically regulated periods though. I don't like surprises.
So yeah, I'm looking into Mirena. It's an IUD that covers you for 5 years. Five years! I have to find out about my insurance coverage but if they do what I think they'll do (based on a friend's experience) it will cost me a $10 co-pay and $60 for parts and labor, so to speak. Doing the math, the Nuvaring at $30/month for 5 years means I'd be shelling out $1,800 (still only 20% of X's vasectomy reversal surgery. Ha!) versus the $70 installation of this IUD. I'm willing to save $1,730.
The only weird thing about Mirena is that their website pretty much states that they don't know how or why it works:
Q. How does Mirena work?
A. There is no single explanation of how Mirena works. Mirena may:
Block sperm from reaching or fertilizing your egg
Make the lining of your uterus thin (this may also result in benefits like less menstrual bleeding over time)
Stop the release of your egg from your ovary (but this may not be the way it works in most cases)
It is believed that all 3 of these actions may work together to prevent pregnancy.
Um, yeah. I'm glad it does work but it is a little...unnerving that the reasons are unclear. A little too much faith based science for this atheist to handle.
What is also somewhat odd is that the website only really caters to women who have already had children. If they were smart they would advertise to the single gal who is on and off her BC because of her various relationships. Hello? Women don't want to be spending all that money and time on pills when they aren't even getting any. This is perfect. After the inital investment, it's always there. As long as you use condoms while you're still in the "I don't know if you are healthy" stage, its all good.
I'll hear back next week as to whether my insurance does actually cover this. Then, I just have to make an appointment, and wham, bam, thank you ma'am, I am free to fornicate with wild abandon. Or at least with less fear of pregnancy. Although I'm sure Friendster Guy would encourage the wild abandon part. (And no, all you Christian Coalition people stumbling upon this blog, birth control does not encourage a person to have sex. It encourages them to have educated sex. Plus, you don't want me to have an abortion, do you?)
I am a little concerned about going back to the non-chemically regulated periods though. I don't like surprises.
Comments
If it only cost that much, I'm going to be a bit upset. My doc convinced me not to do the IUD because having it for a only a year (which is all I'd like to have it in for right now) wouldn't be cost efficient. He did also say that it gets more effective after the first year, so that could still have been a factor.
I'm not sure they should really approach it that way specifically, but I do know that IUDs are absolutely not recommend for women who aren't in monogamous relationships. IUDs can increase likelihood for complications from STDs, especially pelvic inflammatory disease. It is sort of wrong to imply that women without children wouldn't be in monogamous relationships, though.
I'm going through birth control issues not too.
Several points.
1) I've had Mirena for five months and I haven't had a period. I spotted once, and I wouldn't have even noticed I if I hadn't looked at the toilet paper.
2) It's hella cost effective. I paid a $25 copay for 5 years of birth control.
3) You think you know where your cervix is, but you don't until they shoot that little IUD right through it. Take Advil before you go. My doc told me that it would hurt for a few hours and then I wouldn't feel it anymore. I didn't believe her while I was weeping openly, but sure enough, four hours later I didn't feel a thing, and I haven't felt a thing since.
4) My sister has had Mirena two different times - once for five years and once for three. And now she's on her third Mirena.
5) If you're planning to use your uterus for its intended purpose, Mirena might not be a good choice because it does increase the risk problems with pregnancy, but if you're not, have at it.
6) Anyway, I like it.
Thank you and good night.