I am curious if anyone has personally had, or has worked with a student/client, who has an IUD and has developed contraindications resulting from pranayama or bandha practices.
I kindly request that responses offer as much information as possible about the individual woman, the contraindicative practices, the resulting symptoms, and any counter practices if given.
As I learn more myself, I will add to this thread.
With great respect,
I have had 3 different IUDs over several years, and lately I have found that my abdomen becomes uncomfortable doing uddhiyana kriya (holding the lock as a kriya at the beginning of an Ashtanga practice). I also find attempting to do nauli uncomfortable. Once in a while I experience a sharp pain, or nausea, and this has discouraged me from continuing for the time being, although I had been practicing for years. I actually have an appointment next week to have the IUD removed, and I hope to start again shortly after that. In my experience, an IUD doesn’t seem to blend with the way we want to work with our bodies during these practices, to sooth, stimulate and/or massage internal organs. I have not had any reaction to pranayama, including agnisar dhouti, kapalabhati and bhastrika. I hope that helps a bit
Thank you for your response.
Namaste
[B]From [I]Luna Yoga: Vital Fertility and Sexuality[/I] by Adelheid Ohlig[/B]
Breathing Techniques: Firebreath
[I]“You can do it while standing, lying, sitting, squatting, or crouching on all fours. It has a very deep effect on the repoductive organs. Women who have an I.U.D. [sic] should not do this exercise–the I.U.D. could fall out!” [/I] pg 69
It goes onto give instructions for the Firebreath, which is not the same as, but seems to be created from Agni Saur Dhauti (Fire Wash). See Gheranda Samhita (maybe GS 1.19-20?) for instructions on Agni Saur Dhauti.
This practice as a contraindication for IUD users makes sense with the rest of the contraindications given for the Agni Saur Dhauti: high blood, pressure, ulcers, first 3 days of menses, pregnancy, etc.
I am considering the intrauterine device (IUD) as a birth control but I am not sure if it will have a negative effect in me since I practice yoga and I assume poses that affect the uterus.
Has anyone used the IUD? Do you recommend it?
If you are asking whether an IUD would remain where it is placed in light of an asana practice then the general answer would be “perhaps”, depending on the placement, the body, and the nature of the asana practice in question.
If you are asking a bigger picture question about the health effects of IUD implementation for one on the yogic path I’d respond in the following way.
In Purna Yoga there are four components we teach: asana/pranayama, meditation, nutrition/lifestyle, and applied philosophy. In the realm of nutrition/lifestyle I would suggest to my students that they consider not placing a foreign object in the uterus and allowing it to remain there over time.
A mindful choice can only be made when the student is fully informed and has weighed the possible ramifications. After that, even though I may suggest a different course, the student’s decision is to be respected.
Hi daphne,
I have an IUC device (it’s called that…not sure why it’s not called an IUD but I think they’re the same) called Mirena. Got it a couple of mos after having my son, so almost 6 mos ago. I can’t say it’s made a negative impact on my yoga practice. In fact, I haven’t really made the connection between the two. However, these IUD/IUCs are so easily implanted and removed that if you were to decide to get one and you did not like it, then you could just as easily get it removed. It was no different than going to your usual yearly visit in terms of implanting it…took like 2 mins. Lasts for 5 years.
Hope that helps.