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Switch from IUD to Pill?

5 July, 2015

Question:

I'm writing to you because I am in need of some advice. I have a 5 month old baby and some weeks after giving birth (and going to the mikvah) I put in a copper IUD to use as protection. After the insertion of the IUD it took me almost a month or more to become tahor again due to spotting. In the end I was able to go to the mikvah only by doing the minimal amount of 3 bedikot.

Now I have stopped breastfeeding my baby and have recently had my first period after giving birth. The period itself lasted about 6 days but I continued to spot blood (not big amounts) for about a week after the heavy bleeding stopped. Now I have started counting the 7 clean days and I will see if I am able to go to the mikvah.

My fear is that because of the prolonged spotting maybe by the time that I am able to go to the mikvah the next period will come. Since I am not breastfeeding anymore I have been thinking about removing the IUD, and starting on the pill again. I was on the pill before getting married and I didn't experience any problems with it. However ever since putting in the IUD I have had problems becoming tahor. Do you think it would be a good idea to remove the IUD and start on the pill again?

Thank you very much for your advice and I wish you all the best.


Answer:

Mazal tov on the recent birth of your baby!

It is possible that your body may still adjust to the IUD and you may experience less irregular or post-menstrual spotting. You can try to give the IUD another month or two to see whether the situation improves. It is normal to experience irregular bleeding after weaning as your body adjusts to the new hormonal milieu, so this extended staining may have more to do with weaning than the IUD.

If you don't want to give the IUD some more time, you can speak to your doctor about having the IUD removed and starting birth control pills. It is important to note that it is common to experience irregular staining during the first 1-3 months on the pill as your body adjusts to the hormones, so you should be prepared for that possibility. This is true even if you didn't experience this side effect the last time you used the pill.

Whichever option you choose, please review the laws of stains to avoid becoming niddah unnecessarily.

Please feel free to get back to us with any further questions.

B"Hatzlacha!


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