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From: andrea@hp-sdd.UUCP (andrea)
Newsgroups: net.med
Subject: Re: IUDs & the Dalkon Shield
Message-ID: <-800001001@hp-sdd.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 23-Feb-85 02:11:00 EST
Article-I.D.: hp-sdd.-800001001
Posted: Sat Feb 23 02:11:00 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 3-Mar-85 03:33:06 EST
References: <7719@brl-tgr.UUCP>
Organization: HP San Diego Division
Lines: 53


There was another danger to the Dalkon shield - it was a triangular
piece, with VERY sharp pointy corners.  When I decided to go off the
pill in college and try an IUD, the college health center used only
Dalkon shields (wonderful choice).  Of course, since I had never had
a child my uterus was somewhat small, so the doctor used the smallest
one and placed it as high as it could be placed.

I had some slight pain and spotting, and could feel the IUD sticking
into me.  The doctor (in the supercilious, arrogant MCP way that is
unfortunately typical of the majority of male gynecologists I have
known) informed me that it was impossible for me to feel the IUD
sticking me, since there were no nerves there.  Since I was inside my
body and he was outside, this pronouncement didn't impress me with his
level of expertise or sensitivity.

A couple weeks later, in a biochemistry recitation section, I was
doubled over by the most powerful cramps I'd ever had.  I literally
couldn't straighten up.  They started coming more and more frequently,
and when they stabilized at every six minutes a couple friends helped
me to hobble (bent over, pale and sweating) to the health center.
The doctor got me into the stirrups, and announced that I was attempting
to give birth to the IUD!  The thing had slipped down until it's two
top points were wedged firmly into the cervix; the cervix, being built
for one function essentially, was stimulated into action.
Unfortunately, the pseudo-birth contractions didn't have soft flesh but
hard pointy plastic to clamp down on, yielding excruciating pain and
much blood.  All this time, the doctor was telling me (in a very blase
and condescending voice) that it was no worse than menstrual cramps
(how the @#$%@ would he know?) and that there were no nerves in the
cervix anyway.

I was actually dumb enough (at the age of 17) to have the shield
re-inserted, but it happened again in only three days - at which time
I had the thing (which I'd started thinking of as an instrument of
torture) removed.

Years later, I had only slightly better luck with the Copper-7 (it
tried to perforate my uterus, but since I had decided to believe my
internal sensations more than the doctor's pronouncements, I realized
it in time before the perforation was total).

Sigh - back to the pill.  (Unfortunately, I haven't found a really GOOD
form of birth control yet - as a country, we seem to spend more on
research to keep lipstick looking wet and shiny than we do on letting
people control their fertility in nondamaging and healthful ways).
Fortunately, though, at least I've found an intelligent and sensitive
gynecologist!

Andrea Frankel, Hewlett-Packard (San Diego Division) (619) 487-4100 x4664
net:  {allegra|ihnp4|decvax|ucbvax}!hplabs!hp-sdd!andrea 

 ...searchlights casting for faults in the clouds of delusion