Does anyone know if it’s possible to get the Kyleena IUD in Taipei/Taiwan? I’ve been searching but can only find Mirena or copper IUDs. I’ve heard so many horror stories about the copper ones that I’m very hesitant to put one in, and concerned about the high dosage and large size of Mirena.
Alternatively, is there anyone who’s had experience with the IUB Ballerine in Taiwan? If so, what made you choose it, and are you happy with it? It’s not FDA-approved in the US and it seems like most medical studies on it have been sponsored by the company, so I’m also hesitant about this one. However, the clinic I called recommended it and it seems like TW doctors have more experience with it than e.g. UK and Dutch ones, where it’s also approved.
How married are you to the idea of an IUD? Have you met with an OBGYN in Taiwan to talk about your options? Being from the US, I was shocked to learn that there’s a drug available in the EU and most of the rest of the world for endometriosis that’s not approved by the US FDA. I say this because I was getting the impression that there are a lot more options generally for women’s (reproductive) health than what’s available in the US, most of it approved by the EU, which has much stricter regulations than ‘murica.
I’m sure there are others on here that can share their own experience with BC (or PM you), but I just wanted to put it out there that you might have a lot more clarity of options talking to a doctor (for me, I’d say preferable a female gyno…all the male OBGYNs I’ve interacted with were incompetent and didn’t seem to know anything about anyone’s health, let alone women’s health, we’re incredibly creepy, spoke incomprehensiblly bad English, and refused to use simplified Chinese to talk to me. All the female OBGYNs I’ve been to have used whichever language I was comfortable using, spoke both English and Chinese fluently, and pronounced the English they did speak very clearly, explaining what I needed explained and shutting up when I said I got it.)
I’m quite married to the idea of an IUD. I’ve been on birth control for 14 years and have tried three different pills, the ring, and finally, IUD. All estrogen-containing BC were hell for me. A relative of mine got pregnant and miscarried three times on the classic copper IUD, so I’ve been warned all my life about those (which is also why I’m hesitant about Ballerine). The side effects of the shot seem very similar to what I experienced on the stuff I’ve tried before. I guess the implant is the one effective birth control I haven’t tried yet, but after a decade of suffering with various birth controls, I’m not that excited about trying a new one… It also seems like TW doesn’t have Jaydelle (the levonorgestrel-releasing implant).
I tried to get a new Kyleena when I was back visiting family this summer, but the midwife couldn’t find my old one and all the gynecologists were booked up until October (gotta love healthcare in Sweden), so there was nothing I could do.
