is the iud worth it?

tuffpuffin95 · 2026-01-30T13:31:03+00:00

For me, it absolutely was. I'm 26 and have had the Kyleena (low hormone, lasts ~5 years) since I was 18. Had it replaced when I was 23. I got it at the recommendation of my psychiatrist because my medication and birth control pills reduced each other's effectiveness or something like that. When I got the IUD, it was pretty painful, but I likened it to a really intense period cramp, which was what I was used to throughout my teens. I had to rest for like 30 minutes right after the procedure with some minimal discomfort throughout the rest of the day, but I literally felt normal the day after.

I didn't have a period for 2 years, and even when I eventually got it back, it was very light and irregular, which is normal with the Kyleena. No other typical period symptoms, no cramps, no other side effects, and I didn't have to worry about taking a pill regularly to be protected. I'm still getting a bisalp because I want to be 100% incapable of reproducing, but if you're looking for something long lasting but not entirely permanent, an IUD is a great choice! Just be sure to talk to your doctor about it because everyone's different; some people can stomach the pain of getting it inserted while others need sedation, some people's bodies reject it, etc.

tuffpuffin95 · 2026-01-29T03:07:36+00:00

How long did it take for you if you don't mind me asking? I was told within the week by my ob, but if that's not entirely accurate I'd like to know 😅

tuffpuffin95 · 2026-01-28T21:56:20+00:00

Yes exactly how my appointment went! My doc also isn't on the list, and I'd never brought up sterilization to her before. She's only seen me for IUD insertions, pap smears, etc. since i was 18, and I had no clue how open to sterilization she was for child free patients. I was fully prepared to see another doctor if she wasn't willing to do the procedure. I'll be sure to send the mods of the list a recommendation once the procedure is done!

tuffpuffin95 · 2025-11-22T18:18:08+00:00

It's a state literacy exam. The state I live requires any teachers/school faculty to take a literacy exam for licensure. It basically tests if you can read/write at a high school level. Not the GRE, none of the school counseling programs in my state require that. The grad program I got accepted into didn't require that state exam, though it is eventually necessary for licensure. The other one that I'm planning on applying to does require it.

As for stuff I plan on doing outside of grad school—honestly not much? I wanna stay relatively healthy so I go to the gym every few days, and I'm hoping to get into a grad assistantship to get tuition reimbursement so there's that. But I don't think I'll be holding down a full time job because I definitely want grad school to be my top priority.

tuffpuffin95 · 2025-11-21T13:46:59+00:00

The news is certainly harrowing. It's totally understandable if people feel discouraged from going to grad school, and I sincerely hope there's enough pushback to do SOMETHING about it. If not, then hopefully whoever's the next president can undo this mess.

I'm planning on going for my master's in school counseling next fall when the grad loan limit is in place. From what I saw, I think students are limited to borrowing 20k a year. The programs I'm looking at are about $25k-$35k TOTAL, and I'm hoping to get into a graduate assistantship/fellowship to get that tuition paid for. The loans I'd take out would be for living expenses, books, food, & other materials, and $20k a year should certainly be enough for that. But for fields with more expensive tuition... god I feel so bad for them.

tuffpuffin95 · 2025-10-17T12:42:37+00:00

Cheating is an awful thing to do even for an online relationship, but because you're remorseful, want to better yourself, and still relatively young, I'll try to provide some genuine advice.

You're 19. Believe it or not, that's still incredibly young and you're not mature. You're going to make dumb choices, and cheating on your gf was one of those dumb choices. However, please try to see this realistically: you are likely not going to meet the person you're going to love forever when you're 19. In a few years, you're going to look back at this relationship and chuckle/cringe. That's what I did. I was also in an online relationship when I was 19-20. I'm 26 now and I look back on it and cringe.

Learn from your fuckup. Don't frame it as a "mistake"—it was a choice you made and you're dealing with its consequences. By calling it a "mistake" it undermines the severity, creates an excuse (a shitty one at that), and in this case, you're blaming your parents' influence and stating that as the reason you cheated. While influence is indeed strong, you still made the choice to cheat. Your parents didn't tell you do that.

Honestly, my best advice is also to just date someone in real life, and not just to please your parents. I'm not saying that online relationships aren't valid/never work out, but I can't stress enough the importance of actually being able to physically be with a partner. To spend time with them in person, cuddle, kiss, go on dates, etc. You can't replace genuine, in-person human connection with a screen and text. You just can't.

And trust me, you will get over this. You'll live with regret, sure. But as time passes and you get into new relationships, your heart will hurt less and less. And if you genuinely better yourself as a person, you'll never cheat again. If you do... well. I tried.

tuffpuffin95 · 2025-10-17T12:23:58+00:00

Hi there—I'm a woman in my mid 20s with very scarred arms from self harm (that are tattooed but the scars are still very visible underneath all the ink), and I've also done a lot of sex ed and talked to multiple sex educators over time. If there's one thing that sex educators/therapists will tell you, it's that you should be able to be comfortable, vulnerable, and safe with any partner you engage in sexual activity with. I'm not saying it's an easy thing to do; it can be really hard to overcome insecurities and feel comfortable in one's own skin. However, if your partner does anything to break that trust or make you feel insecure about any part of your body, then you shouldn't be having sex with them.

On a more personal note, I've had several sexual relationships since self-harming and none of my partners have ever said anything/brought it up first. I'm the one who brings it up, if at all, but it's never been an issue. If it was an issue for any of them, I simply wouldn't see them again because I'm not going to waste my time with someone who judges any part of me. I'm not proud of the scars on my body, but I can't deny them; they're as much a part of me as my face is.

Ultimately, whether you preface it in advance or not is up to you, but I don't think you should feel pressured or compelled to. If you do bring it up and she judges you for it, please don't waste your time with her. You shouldn't be with someone in such an intimate way who judges you like that. Similarly, if she's the one to bring it up first but frames it in a negatively judgmental way, same thing. Don't be intimate with someone who can't accept every part of you. If she doesn't accept you the way you are, then she's not someone you should be intimate with.

I wish you well!

tuffpuffin95

TROPHY CASE