For the ladies...

I had one placed, no pain for me at all, just a little discomfort. I would ask to lay down for a couple minutes extra after its placed though. I didn't, I sat right up, then passed out.

hi there. i got my IUD in february. I've got the paragard so it's a lot different with side effects but the insertion is the same....no kids here either and the doc didnt give me anything to dilate me. and man it hurt. a lot. BUT the pain only lasted around 5 sec. just take deep breaths and try to relax (it helps) and i'm sure with the pill it will help a TON. PLUS i've talked to other ladies who said it was only slightly uncomfortable and everyone is different. just keep reminding yourself of the PROS of getting it and dont get scared away by a tiny amount of pain that will pass within seconds. msg me if you've got other ?s

I had mirena put in 2 years ago after my second daughter was born. Instead of giving me medicine to dilate my cervix he had me wait until my 3rd of 4th day of my period. It only took about 10 seconds for him to place it. I had pretty bad cramps for about a week afterwards but it was totally worth it! Although I was hoping that I would be in the percentage of women that it totally stops their period I was not, it did slow them down significantly! When my 5 years is up I plan on getting it again! I hope this helps!

Haha - I'm in the same boat! Getting one done in about a month. I hear the pain is quite similar to strong menstrual cramps, so be sure to take two extra strength Advils before your appointment. My doctor actually offers the service of localized anaesthetic, so I'm going to be frozen for the procedure. Maybe your doctor can do the same?

just reading this made me in pain hahaha. that sounds really bad! =O (i wasn't planning on getting one, but still!)

Profile: No children. Very high pain tolerance. Extreme Period sufferer :glasses:

My personal experience (just got it inserted Jan 2011 ~ 1st one ever)

1) Make sure you are relaxed, it WILL hurt when DR measures the depth of your uterus (like a severe cramp), but don't move and keep relaxed breathing, that helps a TON! Just relax through it, it doesn't last very long.
2) If you have little to no pain tolerance, the DR can prescribe a prescription strength pain pill & a relaxant, just make sure you have a driver. =D
3) Also it will cramp for the following three days (mine did) just drink fluids and take alieve or advil, (tylenol & asprin will not help w/that type of pain), rest if possible, getting up did not help me (but you can try!)
4) I don't know if you have hard, normal or easy periods, but be prepared for 24/7 spotting for about 4-6mths (just a liner is all that's needed) I had 2 hard periods right after I got it in (very painful, but much less flow then I was used to) and they've eased up ever since! Never in my LIFE have I worn just a liner for my periods, that is the COOLEST thing ever! Not having to worry about bleeding through everything!!
5) I am at the 6th month mark and actually just had my first couple of weeks w/o spotting
6) Even with my rough experience, I WOULD still recommend it, the biggest thing is don't give up too soon! It is a hormone adjustment and your body will be purging the left over BC hormones while adjusting to the mirena hormones, so be patient

Make sure the dr does NOT cut the strings to short! you want them longer so they can be flexible and move out of the way during sex, my hubby has never felt the strings and we have no issues w/it (and we are somewhat frisky bunnies)

I wish you the best!

No kids, high pain tolerance- Mirena since May 2010. My obgyn gave me xanax before the procedure because I'd never had anything like that done before. (she suggested I take xanax, who am I to argue?!?) Measurement was worse that placement, but it hurts plenty. You'll have cramping and backaches for a couple days, and spotting for the first couple months is normal. Now, just over a year in, I BARELY have a period. That's incredible for me. My menstrual symptoms are so much more manageable! If I knew then what I know now, I would have had an IUD years ago! You'll need advil, and a heating pad. YOU SO CAN DO THIS!

always check the strings (to see if they're there) after your period every month. When it's first placed, the strings are harder and feel kind of like fishing line- you'll know when you find 'em. Other than that, movement of the IUD is minimal because each one is measured for their owner! )

Insertion is a breeze, just follow previous poster's advice.

I do have to question why you are going with Mirena, ESPECIALLY as you are nulliparous. Mirena has been facing class-action lawsuits for causing "secondary infertility" in even women who were able to have children successfully before. Paraguard has been around much longer and is hormone-free. Please read the following before subjecting your body to ANY amount of hormones: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=birth-control-pills-affect-womens-taste (in a nutshell, you put yourself at higher risk of divorce, infidelity in your relationships, miscarriage and sicklier children due to MHC incapatibility.) Just something you might want to think about if it isn't too late.

I had one placed in April after my daughter was born. I took motrin before I went and it wasnt that bad. But I am still bleeding. That is the crappy part, you have break through bleeding for like the first year. It will come and go, but for me for some reason I am still bleeding. I have to wear a pad daily. I had it checked and its placed correctly. I am going to make another appt to find out what is going on.

I've had both the Paragard and Mirena, and neither one was very painful for me, just some minor discomfort. Afterwards it just felt like menstrual cramps. I had one removed and another put in on the same day, and even then it wasn't bad. Try taking some ibuprofen about 1/2 hour before your appointment, that's what I did.

@ Nicole:

I liked the Mirena better. I had the Paragard first, because I wanted to try the one that didn't contain hormones. Unfortunately I had VERY heavy bleeding and pretty bad cramps with it. That's why I had that one removed & got the Mirena. I had no side effects at all with the Mirena. I only had it removed because we wanted to try for another baby.

Hope this helps! Good luck.

I had mirena put in about 5 months after having my first baby. It was not terribly painful for me, and I have a low pain tolerance, and forgot to take motrin. I also have a terrific doctor lol. After about three days the Mirena became dislodged. I made an appointment with my doctor because I was having significant spotting and cramps. My doctor said that this is rare, but does happen occasionally and most of the time it is the womans body rejecting the foreign object. Although my doctor said that if it happens once, it is likely to happen again, it is a year later and I plan on asking him about trying again at my yearly visit this month.

I got one 6 weeks after having my daughter, then a week later I was in so much pain, it moved and they had to put another one in. The 2nd one i had I bled non stop almost everyday or every other for 10 months straight. It didnt not work well with my body,.