Advice About Using an IUD vs Birth Control Bills

I've got a copper IUD and have had no issues with it. Periods were heavier for the first year following insertion, since then they've lightened up. My husband says he can sometimes feel the string, but usually not and it doesn't bother him or detract from sex at all. I purposefully did the copper instead of the Mirena because the Mirena has horomones and I had trouble with the pill and HORRIBLE problems with the shot.

I'm scheduled to get my mirena iud out this month after having it in for 5 years. i took bc pills for years before deciding my inconsistent memory would cause an surprise sibling for my 2 sons! my only complaint about the iud is the breakouts - at age 37 i thought it would pass, but i still walk around with a zit almost ALL of the time. i've enjoyed the VERY light, almost nonexistent periods...although the cramps didn't slow down, they stayed right on time & just as strong as before. i did notice a weight loss from switching from pill to iud, probably because of the small dose of progesterin that is emitted by the mirena. would i recommend it?...absolutely yes! i'm planning on replacing mine when this one is removed. love the freedom!

I am the kind of person that refuses to put hormones in my body. So when I was researching about other effective forms of birth control, I found that the Paragard copper IUD was the best way to go. My husband and I had our first baby in July, and beautiful little girl and healthy thank God.

The insertion of the IUD was a bit uncomfortable to me, but I kept thinking to myself finishing school was more important so I can bite the pain.

Some other side effects which did happen with me were heavy periods, and some painful cramping from time to time, but the doctor reassured that it was just my body getting used to a new object in side of it.

All in all it is working out for me very well, I don't have to worry about a missed period every month, and although we do want children, we can wait a couple of years so I can finish my schooling.

Hope this helps,

Hala S.

I just had a mirena iud put in after I had my son in july.I have had my period since and had no cramps before I had horrid cramps.There is some cramping the day you get it in but is no more than a period cramp.Trust me you will be suprised how tough you are no that you have had a baby nothing really hurts anymore if you can have a baby you can tolerate anything.So far I really like it you dont have to worry about it and it can last for five years or be taken out at anytime.My doctor said the only thing that really makes them a little uncofortable is somtimes the string can be to long and poke you a little bit.But they can trim it up for you no problem.The whole procedure takes like five min.Just take some advil or something before so after you get you wont cramp bad.Good luck

Hi J.,
Yes, birth control pills can cause migraines and prevent weight loss- it's the hormones. The problem with IUDs is that they work exactly they same way- they use hormones. The best thing for you would be to either try the 'low dose' pill and see if you get better or use another non hormonal preventative such as the cervical cup. A friend of mine uses a cervical cup and she just keeps in when when she thinks she might have relations with her husband....no stopping to insert a condom. They say to use spermicide with it but she never has....

Another thing about forms of hormonal birth control is that it is an abortificant. It prevents a new embryo from implanting, or sometimes it doesn't and causes problems with the baby on down the road (my sister had a painful and emotional miscarriage at 12 weeks because she was taking the pill while unknowingly pregnant.)

S.

I LOVE having the IUD! I've had mine for 2 years and don't even have a period--MAYBE occasional spotting. My insertion was post partum so it wasn't even close to the pain from contractions--more like a moderate menstral cramp. My husband did feel the strings during sex; however, I went back and the doctor trimmed them. I like that the IUD is no-hassel. I was very bad about forgetting to take my birth control pills which is how I ended up with 2 kids that are 17 months apart. :) I have had no side effects with the IUD. I'm not disputing that others have gained weight on the IUD; however, I wonder why since it is such a low dose of hormone that is localized. Good luck on making a decision.

I LOVED my IUD. I had it for about a year and never had a cycle. I had it put in at my 6 week check-up postpartum so it was very painful going in, but afterwards I never felt it again. I had the mirena which only secretes hormones to the area and not throughout your body. I had no weight gain either.

I would first investigate the cause of the headaches, as one other mom suggested.

As far as the IUD, I have had the Mirena for 2 years and LOVE IT. No more periods, no more babies. One $35 co-pay and that was it. Sure beats $35 a month for pills!
I haven't had any weight gain. THe hormone is localized, so it shouldn't affect weight gain, etc. like pills can. It can cause dryness, but nothing a little extra K-Y can't fix.

No hair loss either. I wonder if some people mistakenly associate hair loss with the IUD when really it has to do with when it's inserted. If you get an IUD when you're 3 or 4 months post partum, that's the time a lot of women naturally lose a ton of hair because hormone levels are returning to pre-pregnancy levels.

Be sure you check with your insurance co. to make sure it's covered.

Hi J.,

The IUD works almost exactly like the pill, but the horomones are localized and don't run through your entire body. So, many people don't have the same side effects as when they take the pill. Of course, like any birth control, there are negative stories. A lot of the negative stories result from improper insertion by the doctor or failure to continually check the IUD for proper placement.

When I had mine insertion and removal were uncomfortable, but the whole time I had it, it was great.

Good luck.
C.

Personally I have the IUD and hate it. Birth control pills do cause me to get migrains. I would take mine at night and no problems the next day. I have gained more weight with the iud than I did with the pill. Any birth control I think causes weight gain. I am horribly moody and have the worst PMS since getting the iud. My skin has been really bad, I also lost so much hair that I had bald spots, actual bald spots. I also went to the doctor because mine was extreme, not just normal post partum. Cause was found to be the iud. 9 months later and it is still falling out. Not to mention the fact that it has killed my sex drive. My doctor is taking it out next month.

My sister had an IUD put in after her second child. She didn't get pregnant until several years later when the IUD acutally "traveled" up into her system somehow. While pregnant, the doctor had to remove the IUD surgically. She doesn't recommend the IUD to anyone!

I am another vote for the Mirena IUD being horrible. I had the mood swings, depression, etc. worse than I did on the pill, so bad that I went on anti-depressants for the first time ever. I started thinking about the timing and pulled the IUD and voila, felt much better. I pulled mine myself. I hadn't really planned to actually pull it out, but I was checking it after a period and decided to see if it would move and pop, it was out. I had another friend on it at the same time and she ended up getting her pulled for weight gain and headaches. Another friend's FELL out.

It also hurt like unmedicated childbirth going in. Not sure if my doctor wasn't so great at doing it, but it took her way too long and hurt like crazy. I had whacky periods and bled A LOT for the first 3 months and then they did go away for about 5-6 months, then back to heavy bleeding for a couple of weeks, then gone again.

Last negative - hubby could feel the strings and they were pokey.

ON THE OTHER HAND - I have a good friend who has had several and LOVES them.

I have a Mirena for the same reason. I am 27 but have had horrible migraines for 8 years and tried several things prescriped by my neurologist and OB/GYN. I have never had so much relief until after getting my IUD. It was pretty normal for me to have 2-3 headaches a week. I would end up in the ER probably twice a year because it would come on so fast sometimes and be so bad I couldn't keep any meds down, would get dehydrated, the meds wouldn't work, and/or my husband would get so scared something else might be wrong. Now I have one or two every four to six months and that is usually in very high stress times when or I am not feeling well. The IUD was uncomfortable going in and I had some spotting. I noticed it off and on for maybe six weeks and then nothing. I absolutely love it now! If I have a period it's extremely light spotting and mild cramps and then over. It's so worryfree. My doctor did trim my strings as soon as she put it in to make sure my husband couldn't feel it. I've had it 2 1/2 years now and am thrilled.

I did the shot ! it was great ! I never was on birth control pills ! since after my 2nd child, I have one of each now (boy/girl), I had my tubes tied !
Good Luck !

I have an IUD, although it was a little unconfortable going in, I have never felt it or had a problem with it. Nor has my husband felt anything on the rare occasions we get some time to ourselves. I actually have stopped my cycle, which is wonderfull. I would highly recomend one.

Hi J.. I have the copper iud and i love it so far. i've only had it for 5 months after my second son was born. I have not had a period yet, so i am not sure how uncomfortable it makes my cramps, but i did not have bad cramps before, so i should not have them now. I had bad side effects to birth control pils. anything with hormones made me feel wierd and sick. The copper iud doesn't have any hormones and i can't even feel it. i know there is another iud called the mirena, but that one has hormones and isn't healthy. anyway, i hope this helps. good luck!

I have been on the pill most of my life (16-47) . My gyn says it is a good thing and that now that i am at menopause i will hardly notice the change of life (hot flashes etc.)he said that the 2-3 days of light spotting i have been having for periods is healthy and that heavy periods (used to have them really bad whenever i took a break from the pill) is very unhealthy and can lead to the need for a histirectomy . So i took his advice and stayed on the pill all these years. Still have all my parts and very light , barely there periods.

It is the best.. You can get pg faster than with the pill and no hormonse or side affects . I don't even have a period at all any more . my husband and I both love it. I had mine for almost 2 yrs all my girlfriends are love there aswell.Go for it..

I've had an IUD for 2 years now. I got it right after I had my 2 year old because I didn't want to go back to taking pills everyday, and I didn't really feel comfortable with the patch. I've had no complaints and would recommend it to anyone. My best friend has had it longer than I had it and she loves it. She's the one that talked me into getting it. I love it because you don't have to do anything!

I am very pro Mirena IUD. It has very little hormones in it. Insertion was an uncomfortable pinch and that was it for me.

I couldn't do the pill because of my blood pressure. Have you had your blood pressure checked lately? When mine is out of whack, I have headaches...if yours is running a little high the birth control pills could be aggrivating it.

Also, you can get lower dosed bc pills if you really like the pill.

Just a couple of thoughts for you. As far as I am concerned the Mirena is the bomb... I paid my $30 copay and that was it, so no monthly expense. I have had mine nearly 2 yrs and most the time forget it is there. I had some irregular spotting after getting it but that lasted about 3-4 months and then rarely I have some spotting at what should be my period time. Which is just fine by me! That bothers some people, but it is just one less hassle for me!

Good luck with your decision!

My husband and I recently just had a child and we decided that I get on the IUD and wait a little till we had another one. Since I've had it in Ive had extreme cramping, longer lighter periods, and horrible headaches. My sister in law just took hers out and she bled heavily for three days. She had to buy depends.

Hi there. I got the Paragard 10 yr IUD 5 weeks after I gave birth because that is what Medicaide pays for. I also have Poly Cystic Ovary Syndrome which plays a role in the act that I have not stopped bleeding since I got it almost a year ago. It is normal to bleed for a few months and it gets really irritating. But the Mirena 5 yr IUD my doc says doesn't have quite the same length of bleeding plus it helps to reduce your normal periods with no weight gain or other birth control side effects. I am getting my IUD out soon and would love to get the Mirena but I know it costs about $600 or so. I don't have insurance also. So my doc recommends the Nuva Ring. It doesn't cause wieght gain and can help shorten periods as well. So That is all I can tell you. Good luck with your choice.

I had the copper IUD for 2 years with no problems. But then I started getting yeast infections frequently to almost monthly. I kept asking my doctor if it was the IUD. She kept telling me it was hormones or other causes. I finally got the worst infection and had my ob/gyn take out the IUD. No more problems after that. It was the IUD.
In Aug. 2006 I had ovarian cysts. My ob/gyn started me on the depo shot. Took away my periods completely. Was on the shots for a year. No problems. My last shot was due in July which I didn't get. Been off it a while, thinking about starting back up. Not on birth control now and I don't plan on any more kids. Might get fixed. But since I've been off the shot I still haven't had my period. Keep doing preg. tests every once in a while. I'm not pregnant.

If you decide to go with Mirena, just make sure the insertion AND the IUD itself is covered by insurance. I ended up paying for the IUD, because the doctor didn't order it from the pharmacy or something. What a mess...other than that...worth it. (even if you have to pay for it)