By Leo Aquino
An intrauterine device (IUD) is a t-shaped device that gets inserted into the uterus to prevent pregnancy. Even though the initial insertion process can be uncomfortable, those who have one don’t have to worry about getting pregnant for 3-7 years.
No pills, no rings, no injections — with an IUD, you can just set it and forget it.
People’s stories about what happens to their sex lives after getting an IUD are totally different. In private Facebook groups for people with vaginas (women, trans, and gender non-conforming people), I’ve read stories about painful sex months after an IUD insertion. I’ve also read articles from reputable magazines where writers share that an IUD improved their sex lives.
When it was time for me to get my second IUD inserted, I wondered how my orgasms would change. I grabbed my trusty Lioness Vibrator to see what I could find.
Orgasms without an IUD:
I had an IUD for four years, from 2015-2019. The experience of getting the device put in was jarring, but 3.5+ years without a period was blissful. At the time, I was still having protected sex with men, and having an IUD made me feel so much more confident. I enjoyed lots and lots of sex — rough sex, queer sex, kinky sex, casual sex, romantic sex, spiritual sex, multiple-orgasms-over-a-four-day-weekend sex.
I decided to take the IUD out because I considered having children with my partner at the time. As much as I love the idea of being pregnant, I had a really hard time adjusting to the change in hormone levels after my IUD was taken out. My period came back with full force, which was really triggering; I experienced more gender dysphoria, the feeling that my gender identity didn’t match my body, after the IUD was taken out.
Masturbating with the Lioness Vibrator was one of my saving graces during this time. I felt a little bit disconnected from my vagina, but I could always find ways to reconnect through pleasure. My sessions weren’t the same as before, which made sense because I am undergoing a radical transformation. But having an orgasm feels like the thread that connects my past, present, and future selves.
Without an IUD, I noticed that my sessions were shorter. There would be a little bit of pressure at the beginning of the session, then my vaginal muscles would ease up and let me build up to have an orgasm. I also noticed that I was uncomfortable with going too deep, which is totally different than my previous sex history.
Orgasms with an IUD:
I was dreading the sensation of weirdly-shaped metal instruments inside my cervix. (I mean, tbh, who doesn’t dread that sensation!?) But I knew it was time to get the IUD re-inserted for the sake of my mental health. I chose the Mirena IUD because it’s the same kind that stopped my periods before.
The first few weeks were pretty rough. I experienced a lot of pain, and it took a while for my body to get used to this new hormone again. During the few times that I tried to masturbate, I felt really sore. I tried having clitoral orgasms, but afterward, it just felt like I was punched in the stomach.
But now, nearly three months after the IUD was inserted, I feel like my old self again. My sessions are longer and I have more stamina. I feel really confident and in touch with my vagina again. I don’t know what kind of chemical voodoo Mirena cooked up in these devices, but these orgasms are next-level. Where do I send my all-caps thank you note!?
I could go deep again — hallelujah! — and my sessions became longer, with more of a build-up and a higher tolerance for multiple orgasms. My cervix was more sensitive, which allowed me to have stronger cervical orgasms. My orgasms were so much more intense than ever before, and I felt really connected to my body.
In the past, I leaned on my sexuality as my main form of self-care and stress relief. During the pandemic, I learned how to incorporate other forms of self-care into my daily routine so that sex, especially self-play, could be more enjoyable. Less four-day-weekend-sexcapades and more thank-you-for-surviving-a-global-pandemic, tender, wholesome, gentle type of orgasms.
Be open to change
Personally, I’ve seen a very positive change in my sex life ever since my IUD insertion. My orgasms are longer. I am able to use deeper penetration and tap into the magical powers of the cervical orgasm. I feel more connected with my body.
Whatever your reasons may be for getting an IUD, your sex life might be different. It’s important to strike a balance between knowing your own preferences while still keeping an open mind for new positions or moves to accommodate this new thing that gets to hang out in your uterus for a few years.
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