This is hilariously weird: when I had my annual OB/GYN appointment last week, the doctor removed my Mirena because it was a couple-few months past its expiration. I'm getting a new one, because Trump, but the office manager has to order it, so I am currently IUD-less.

All day my IBS has been particularly painful, all lower-abdominal crampy and such. Except, no, it's not my IBS. Or at least not entirely my IBS. I'm getting my first period in 10 years. TEN. YEARS. I don't even remember how to have a period. This is so weird. And also painful. I did not miss this at all.

Oh dear, I hope you get the new one soon! I don't miss periods whatsoever.

You have my sympathies, Teppy. It wasn't 10 years, but it was long enough in between periods that when I had my first one after ltc was born, I had sort of forgotten how miserable they were.

I don't miss them either. Have you read Connie Willis's "Even The Queen"? it's set in a future world in which menstruating is optional ... and some women do, indeed, choose it. For some reason.

Almost five years without a period with my Mirena, and after it was removed I had two of the worst periods I ever had. But after those, nothing. Fingers crossed for menopause! woooo being a girl sucks

I remember that from getting my IUD out. It was NO FUN AT ALL.

I should be due for my quarterly period about now. My body is holding on to Not Quite Menopause by its fingernails.

Edit: Give it up, body! We'll be 56 in two months, there ain't no baby coming out of this factory!

My body has a different agenda for my life than I do.

Yeah, I asked my OB/GYN if I could skip a third IUD since I'm probably close to menopause, and she said "Not close enough." (I know there's a bell curve, so maybe I am about to hit menopause at 45, but I'm not willing to take that chance.)

Yeah, at 47 I was one of the younger people I knew.