WOMEN ONLY! IUD Question

Lozzy_82

I have a Mirena. Insertion hurt a lot (I squeezed the nurse's hand and yelled "HOLY F**K"!" so loud I think the entire surgery heard me). After that I had fairly severe cramps for a few hours, moderate cramps for a few days, and since then it's been fine. I occasionally get mild cramps but nothing to really complain about. For me it was definitely worth it.

For reference I'm 29, have never been pregnant, and I was previously on birth control pills for around 10 years.

chawntamarie

I've had the paraguard IUD for about 6 months now. I have never had any children and I am married. I chose this IUD because I wanted a non-hormonal, highly effective BC that still allowed spontaneity. I was moody, emotional and always hungry on the pill. (This "contributed" to my weight gain). I also wanted a BC that was quickly reversible so that when we decide to start a family there is no waiting period.

The insertion was painful, but over fairly quickly. I took three Ibuprofen and had it inserted during my period. The first 3-4 cycles were frustrating because I spotted more, both before and after my period, and I had painful cramps. I never had cramps before the IUD. I found IUD Divas on the web and did some research about the cramping and spotting. Now I have a normal period and only occasional cramping. I take vitamin E starting about a week before my period and during to help with the spotting. And I drink Raspberry leaf or Moon Cycle tea at least once a day during my period.
I am highly satisfied with my method of birth control and would recommend it.

fudgebudget

This is actually a very common misconception about IUDs. IUDs work by stopping sperm from reaching eggs. No sperm = no fertilization.

You're WAY more likely to have a fertilized egg fail to implant or implant and then miscarry if you're not using an IUD.

Exactly. IUDs have also been shown to significantly reduce the risk of cervical cancer - http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/13/health/iud-lower-cervical-cancer-risk/index.html

InnerPinup79

I just got my paraguard removed after 2years because I couldn't handle the constant cramps, and the 5-7 day long heavy periods anymore.
I too was told if you have had children it will not not hurt too much to get put in. That wasn't my case. I had no children and was scared to take the pill because I was still smoking at the time and I was afraid of getting bloodclots (I have now quit smoking). I'm embarassed to say that with my high pain tolerance I screamed while they were inserting it. They had to tell me to calm down and relax or I could risk a tear....yeah that didn't help. I'm not one of those dramatic screamers wither and tend to "suck up" my pain. I could not do so here. It took everything I had to drive the 2 miles home (no one suggested I have a.ride) and I passed out on the floor in front of my door as soon as I got home. Scared my husband.

I tried for two years but my cramps were constant and I spotted along with the heavy periods. I thought I would save $ being on an iud vs birth control but I think I spent just as much on new sheets, underwear and boxes of tampons. I seriously would go through a box of supers in a month.

Sorry that was my experience and I will never do it again or recommend one. I honestly think they seem to be better for those whom have had.children.

glitterpiss

NFP is a terrible, terrible idea if you do not want a child in any way. Its easy to mess up and things like stress can affect your cycle and make it a bit harder to predict when its safe to have sex without making babies. Its also true that most women want to have sex more when they're fertile, so your body may be working against you.

I've had Paragard for a few years now (and I'm still baby-free!). I originally chose it because I have a blood clotting disorder and hormonal BC would make it much worse, and I don't want babies, so condoms alone were not enough for me to be comfortable. And abstinence isn't an option. lol

Make sure if you do get one, you take someone with you. It hurt to get it put in, but if you drug your self up a bit before it won't be too bad. I took 400mg of Ibuprofen but would have been better off with twice that. The part I wasn't expecting was that they need to enter your uterus twice, once to probe to measure depth, and the other to insert the device. It was a really weird and uncomfortable, and made me nauseous. I felt ok walking to the car but once I got there I almost passed out. This is where a friend comes in handy to drive you home and microwave you a heat pack for the cramps.

Later that night I went to my ceramics class and was feeling ok.

I do get heavier periods now, and more cramps, but I'm sure that hurts a million times less than child birth.

And yes, Paragard does prevent fertilization, but if it does somehow happen, the implantation is prevented. Its not like you're getting fertilized every month and they're just not implanting.

jodycoady

I had a copper iud for 6 years and I swear by it! I just got really heavy periods....It never hurt getting it taken out...I only got it taken out because I'm ready for another child

daisynsunshine

She is right. It keeps the baby from implanting after it is conceived it doesn't prevent the sperm from meeting the egg. Also please know that this paraguard doesn't have hormones but it does put copper into your system instead. I had it and got sick. I started getting faint and sicklike the flu. I went to the er and then the next week the dr. took it out. It was copper poisioning from 2 weeks of having it. Please read up on it as much as you can. It does hurt bad going in. Its only a few mins but it for me was like stabs in a nerve filled uterus. They said I was closed so they had to cut space and put it in. I was on my period when I had it put in.

shellma00

I have the Mirena IUD and LOVE IT!! It was painful when it was put in, but only cramped a little afterward. Havent had a period since about 1 month after insertion. As for the weight gain or loss, I am not sure.

riley711

You don't mention if you have any children already. If you have not had any children yet, proceed with caution. The IUD can become dislodged and cause damage that could make it difficult or impossible to become pregnant down the road.

bgrune131

I do not have kids yet. I'm 24, and I've literally been on birth control pills since I was 14. So, I am tired of them! I've already made up my mind & I scheduled my appointment for later this month to get Paragard, not Mirena. I have absolutely NO interest in Mirena. Since it has hormones, it goes against when I'm ultimately trying to do. I want the Paragard because it's 99% effective & I want to be hormone free.

glitterpiss

She is right. It keeps the baby from implanting after it is conceived it doesn't prevent the sperm from meeting the egg. Also please know that this paraguard doesn't have hormones but it does put copper into your system instead.

Please don't spread misinformation, the sperm is prevented from meeting the egg, and if that by chance does not happen then it also prevents implantation.

"ParaGard® prevents pregnancy primarily by stopping sperm from reaching and fertilizing the egg.2 ParaGard® may also prevent the egg from attaching (implanting) in the uterus. ParaGard® does not alter your body's natural menstrual cycle."

from: http://hcp.paragard.com/about-paragard/patient-faqs


Also, no it does not put copper into your blood stream, just in your uterus...

"the copper in ParaGard® doesn't raise the overall level of copper already present in your body." from the same website.

veganbaum

NFP is a terrible, terrible idea if you do not want a child in any way. Its easy to mess up and things like stress can affect your cycle and make it a bit harder to predict when its safe to have sex without making babies. Its also true that most women want to have sex more when they're fertile, so your body may be working against you.

NFP is NOT for everyone, but neither is hormonal birth control. You should follow three signs of fertility and it can only be relied upon if you have a regular cycle, if you don't, or if you are unwilling to track all three signals, then yeah, it's not for you. If you can and do, then it can be as effective as BCP. So, no, not for everyone, but not something to be pushed aside without learning more about, either, especially if one is looking for non-hormonal birth control methods. One should educate themselves on all the options.

glitterpiss

NFP is NOT for everyone, but neither is hormonal birth control. You should follow three signs of fertility and it can only be relied upon if you have a regular cycle, if you don't, or if you are unwilling to track all three signals, then yeah, it's not for you. If you can and do, then it can be as effective as BCP. So, no, not for everyone, but not something to be pushed aside without learning more about, either, especially if one is looking for non-hormonal birth control methods. One should educate themselves on all the options.

Don't get me wrong, I don't recommend hormonal BC either. It just seems like with NFP, from what I've gathered, that you shouldn't have sex for about 13 consecutive days of the month. Which seems like a lot. And easy to mess up. While using the program to be more diligent about using more than one type of birth control during your more fertile time is a great idea, I don't think NFP is enough protection to recommend to someone that absolutely does not want a kid.

It does seem like the combination of NFP+paragard+condoms would make it nearly impossible to conceive though, but overkill.

soccerella

. It just seems like with NFP, from what I've gathered, that you shouldn't have sex for about 13 consecutive days of the month. Which seems like a lot.

I promised the OP that I wouldnt talk about NFP anymore since she is not interested in it, but I had to clear this up. If you monitor all three of your signs like veganbaum said and you do so consistently you are only have to avoid intercourse for about 2 or 3 days (the two days before you ovulate and the day that you do are usually whats recommended). Granted it takes a few months to actually figure out your cycles, especially if you have been using hormonal birth control, but yea its no where near 13 days a month - that would just be ridiculous! If its telling you to avoid for that long a period a time, its probably only taking into account 1 of the fertility signs, but like I said if you combine all three together and learn how your body works (which can take a bit) it really only ends up being a couple days

Valleybabe69

I've had the Mirena for 2 years now I have never given birth before but because of heart problems i cannot be on BC pills- it didn't "hurt" it was more like severe cramping and only for a few minutes if that because they had to dialate my cervix


it's the best thing ever, you don't feel it and it helps with lighter to no periods at all, when my 5 years is up i am definately getting it replaced with another.

also i didn't expierence any weight gain

Lottalooks

I had an IUD put in many years ago and it did hurt putting it in. It is like severe menstrual cramps. They may have improved now. Even if not it is worth it to get off the pills. They are awful when you are trying to lose weight! You will get over the pain 5 min after they stop!! Oh yea my daughter is 33 now that i got pregnant with while the IUD(copper 7) was in place and removed,,, lol

bgrune131

Valleybabe, I'm not getting the Mirena. I'm getting Paragard. The Mirena has hormones. Do not want hormones in my body any longer. It's the same idea as Mirena, just no hormones and purely copper.

What scares me is that a lot of people are posting on here that they got pregnant with an IUD in. I do not want children for at least another 4 years, and that scares me. I thought I was making the right decision, but the pregnancy comments are not helping

AviaBatyah

Now everyone is Different. I got off BC because of health reasons. It was making me sick and causing damage to my digestive system after being on it since my teen years. Will in 2 months after getting off BC I gained 30 lbs. So not sure if that is what is keeping you from losing weight.

jess_blonde

Valleybabe, I'm not getting the Mirena. I'm getting Paragard. The Mirena has hormones. Do not want hormones in my body any longer. It's the same idea as Mirena, just no hormones and purely copper.

What scares me is that a lot of people are posting on here that they got pregnant with an IUD in. I do not want children for at least another 4 years, and that scares me. I thought I was making the right decision, but the pregnancy comments are not helping

Purely anecdotal (and potentially TMI) - I have had my copper IUD for seven months now and in at least five of those seven months I have had PIV sex, with ejaculation in my vagina, on or very near the days I was ovulating. Still not preggers I trust it fully. If you've trusted hormonal birth control before this, you are far, FAR less likely to get knocked up with a Paragard so long as your little copper buddy is properly in place.

bgrune131

Thank you for the reassurance. I have trusted my BC pills for many, many years. I am fully confident in doing what I'm planning on doing. I think that not only will it be cost effective, but also wonderful not to worry about taking a pill every day....AND it's good for 10 years! I'll happy with that.

bgrune131

**I'll BE happy with that.

Need to read before I post

Aviendha_RJ

Had one. Went into LABOUR with my first 3 periods because I've never had kids. My body was trying to expel it.

Hurt like a SON-OF-A-***** let me tell u, & there was nothing in there but that little piece of ribbon!

Apparently this is SUPER COMMON for those of us girls that get one who've never had kids yet. I also had cramping & problems the day of insertion & was never told to book the day off work. Trust me, do it. You'll want to spend the day at home with a heating pad. It SUCKED.

Also, mine slipped about 8 months in, & I had to have it surgically removed by D&C FOUR YEARS early. It had fallen against the uteran wall & was growing inside me. I had to have it CUT out of place. It happens about 20% of the time with these things that they slip inside, & have to be taken out by a surgeon.

I'd rather have my TUBES TIED.

kcmg0730

I'm thinking of going off of my BC pills (I've been on them for about 10 years), and I've been looking into getting Paragard. I feel like BC pills are not helpful in my wanting to lose weight, however I don't want to be pregnant either...so, I feel like a hormone-free IUD would be a good solution. Any thoughts? Does anyone have Paragard?

I've read on WebMD that it hurts to get put in...and that scares me a lot. I want to hear what people NOT on WebMD say though. I feel like I should've stayed away from that site....

This may not be a very pleasant thing for some to hear but.........The IUD does not prevent conception. It prevents a fertilized egg from implanting. Many people do not know this.

This is incorrect actually; it does prevent conception by changing the mucus in your cervix (and copper is a spermicide) so that sperm can't get to the egg effectively. This is in addition to preventing implantation. BC pills work in much the same way.

I have the copper coil, and I love it. It didn't hurt at all, have had no probs, no side effects, etc. I think I noticed more uncomfortable cramping in the first 2 periods after I had it, but since then, it's been fine.

Jen2ssaint

I have had paraguard for a year and a half. I took the rest of the afternoon off and I took about 3 ibuprofen when I got home. I was able to drive myself home and laid around for the remainder of the afternoon. I finally started feeling better once I had to get up and get moving to pick up my son from school. After that I was fine. My periods were a lot heavier afterwards and at one point lasted for 2 months straight. For the past 6 months they have been regular (still heavy for one day) and usually only last 4-5 days. Now that I stuck it out I am very happy with the paraguard.

lorification

I have the Paragard and I've had it for 2 years now. When I got it, I was 23 and never had children (and still don't). Some doctors are reluctant to give IUDs to childless women, something to do with the size of the uterus pre-birth. When you go in for a consultation, the doctor should discuss this with you. If they deny you based on age, marital status, or how many children you've had, go to another doctor. This should not be an issue.

The insertion DID hurt, but it was QUICK. I cramped afterward for a bit, but was completely fine by the next day. My periods are heavier and cramping is maybe a little worse, but I'm okay with this.

I believe the FDA recently increased the length of the ParaGard from 10 years to 12 years, so that's another bonus.

If you have any other questions, feel free to msg me!

Kate_UK

I have a plain copper IUD (not sure of the brand name) and I love it. It was no more uncomfortable than having a smear test to put in and its been great for the last 3 years. I did have 2 pretty heavy periods after it was first done, but was told to expect that. I'd definitely recommened one x

scuret12

I have Paragard the insertion was a bit uncomfortable but not painfull I when to work right after the md visit. The only issue I had with mines was the horrible cramps and Heavier blood floow to the point that the first 5 months I had accidents cause I was not used to just a heavy flow plus know I get my period for 7 days and before paragard I only had it for 3 days. Know that it has been 10 whole months I still get some cramps but there not horrible and the flow is not as heavy neither. It has worked for me good luck

IndigoVA

I was just wondering, have you been off of hormones long enough to know what a normal period would be like for you? I was considering Paraguard after the birth of my 2nd child, since I was done having kids and my hubby didn't want to get snipped. I asked my gyn about it, and she said that she wouldn't recommend for me because I already have very heavy, very painful periods and copper IUDs only make that worse. I had to stop taking hormones several years ago when I found out there was a blood clotting disorder in my family, and periods on BCPs vs. periods without is all the difference in the world. So if you haven't already, I would strongly recommend waiting 6 months or so without hormones to see if you won't mind having heavier, more painful periods.

bgrune131

I know what my periods were like before I had BC pills, and I will be fine. I don't want to go off of BC pills without having something else in its place. If it doesn't work out for me, then it doesn't. I won't know until I try it for myself and see how my own body reacts. I think that I will be perfectly fine.

veganbaum

NFP is NOT for everyone, but neither is hormonal birth control. You should follow three signs of fertility and it can only be relied upon if you have a regular cycle, if you don't, or if you are unwilling to track all three signals, then yeah, it's not for you. If you can and do, then it can be as effective as BCP. So, no, not for everyone, but not something to be pushed aside without learning more about, either, especially if one is looking for non-hormonal birth control methods. One should educate themselves on all the options.

Don't get me wrong, I don't recommend hormonal BC either. It just seems like with NFP, from what I've gathered, that you shouldn't have sex for about 13 consecutive days of the month. Which seems like a lot. And easy to mess up. While using the program to be more diligent about using more than one type of birth control during your more fertile time is a great idea, I don't think NFP is enough protection to recommend to someone that absolutely does not want a kid.

It does seem like the combination of NFP+paragard+condoms would make it nearly impossible to conceive though, but overkill.

Any birth control method can fail, the important thing to look at is the failure rate. There's method failure rate and there's user failure rate. So, each person accepts that by having sex you are accepting a certain level of risk of pregnancy, you just have to choose which risk is acceptable to you. For those who absolutely do not want to have children, the truth has always been the same - the only thing 100% is abstinence (or true infertility/sterilization). Used correctly, the failure rate using three signals of fertility is about the same as BCP, provided that both are used as intended. Typical number of days to avoid sex are around 9 to 10 if you want to be really, really safe (like soccerella said, you can actually get it down further than that) - so about a week and a half a month where you can't have sex without some other protection (true NFP is not day counting and all that crap - that is NOT reliable and is typically what people think of when they hear NFP). A week and a half is completely acceptable to me in order to avoid hormonal birth control or an IUD that I have no control over. But that's what I am willing to accept, not all people would be. I just don't think people know enough about NFP and go off of myths and rumors and dismiss it, and tell others to dismiss it. Just like any method, people should learn about it and weigh the pros and cons of each. I think too many young women jump immediately to birth control pills because it's so common they feel safe. I think non-hormonal IUDs are better than hormonal birth control, but I still wouldn't use them, that's just my choice (and they're more environmentally friendly than hormonal birth control). As a woman, I think it's important to understand our own bodies and have control over them. Know your bodies, know your options (and research them yourself - don't just go off of what you hear), then make a choice - that's all I'm saying.