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(All things hormones, birth control, toxic-free living, and self advocacy)
IUD Removal (Part 1)

It was finally time. My iud was coming out.

I've had this baby (my IUD, not a real baby) for the last three years ever since I got off hormonal birth control. It was my fallback plan because I wasn't comfortable enough with tracking. It was the next best option to hormonal birth control for me since we don't want kids right now and it was pretty dang effective despite having no hormones. And I've loved it!!!

Seriously. Insertion was the absolute worst pain of my life so far, although I got through it. After that first day of intense cramping and taking it easy, it was easy going for the entire three years. No changes in flow or intensity of my period like my doctor told me I might experience. No migration or perforation into my uterus like I read about. No disruption to my life other than that first day. It was the best choice for me the last three years and allowed me to dig deeper into my body and health and recognize my potential to track my cycle so I can eventually track naturally. I'm still working on recognizing those signs of ovulation and work towards perfecting fertility awareness. 

I had thought about ditching my IUD many times before. It's been heavy on my mind for the last few months honestly the more I looked into the other side effects/dangers of it. Nothing is completely 100% perfect for everyone and there's always pros and cons to each method of birth control. I never actually pulled the trigger on scheduling the appointment for removal though until just recently (aka 2 days since writing this post). However, this time felt different and right, and before I even had time to overthink about it, I was calling to schedule a time to have it removed. 

The few days I had between that call and the day of my appointment were filled with tons of emotions. Gratitude for how far I've come with learning about my body and hormones. Worry for whether or not I could actually take on this "challenge" of tracking my fertility without any sort of backup. Assurance that I have SO many resources at my disposal to learn and grow in my confidence. And so many others! However, I knew in my heart that it was time for me to release this foreign object that had been a part of me for the last few years. 

And I was ready! Or so I thought...(?!)

Stick around for Part 2 next week when I discuss the removal process. See you then! :)

Want more discussion on how to naturally balance your hormones after birth control? Need some more birth control facts and education? How about a support group of those just like you wanting to get off birth control but are worried about the transition? Join the Happy Healthy Hormones Community! Hope to see you in there :) 
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Just so you know, I may earn a commission off the links on my blog at no cost to you through various affiliate programs. I appreciate your support and love sharing my favorite products with you! :)

I Felt Out of Balance

 

It all started with small rashes under my armpits. They grew bigger. They were fiery red. They burned. I couldn’t itch them since they burned so bad. They flaked. They were embarrassing. I didn’t know what they were. Then they showed up on the crook of my elbow and on the top of my right hand. I thought it might be due to a gluten or dairy intolerance, so I changed my diet. It helped temporarily and my rashes didn’t hurt as bad and weren’t as red. But diet changes weren’t enough. I was devastated. My rashes remained for MONTHS!

Then the "fluff" showed up around my belly and hips. Maybe the start of winter contributed as well; either way I swear my pants used to fit me way better…

My hair started falling out. In chunks! I’d always had some hairs come out when I washed my hair, so I was used to it. But not to this extent. I knew something was going on.

My acne became out of control, almost to the extent when I was in high school. Red, painful, cysts that I just couldn’t resist picking. And here I had spent all these years at the dermatologist “healing” my acne for it all to come back with a vengeance.

I was in tears at least once a week. I felt hopeless. I felt so alone. No one could relate besides one girl I followed on Instagram. My boyfriend was supportive, but how could he understand though? He had no idea what I was going through.

I took a deep breath, wiped my tears and trucked on. Then the next week would start all over again with a meltdown because I was fat, my hair was falling out, my acne was returning, and my rashes burned SO. FREAKING. BAD. I was angry, frustrated, confused & hopeless. 

I had heard that stopping birth control could come with some pretty gnarly symptoms. And I thought I was ready for whatever would happen. But I didn’t realize how mentally and emotionally challenging these symptoms would be.

Like many people, I started taking birth control in high school. I took it mostly for my acne, but pregnancy prevention was nice too. My hormones were manipulated for over 7 years. The birth control was prescribed by my doctor, so why would I ever question how it was affecting my body?

Turns out, I had NO idea just how much it affected me. All of me. It wasn’t until I read this book that I understood how much my body was impacted by these synthetic hormones that I didn't even realize were synthetic at the time. How hormonal birth control can be prescribed to “treat” certain conditions, yet it’s really only a bandaid fix. I didn’t want that bandaid fix anymore and I wanted to heal myself naturally. So I took the leap and ditched my birth control.

Aside from some of the challenges of getting off birth control, I noticed a whole new world of positives that came from it. For the first time in my life, I actually had energy! I no longer needed to sleep half the day away. The mental fog was gone! My mood increased, as well as my libido, which I swear was gone for good. I finally felt like I was in control of my health for the first time. Truly healthy and truly better.

My goal is to be that shining beacon of light for you if you are struggling with the decision to finally get off hormonal birth control. You are not alone in worrying how your body will react. You are not alone in this transition and your experiences. It might be challenging. But we are strong. We are healers. We are self-advocates. And only we know what’s best for our bodies.

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