I.U.D. Pros and Cons......?

Hi C.,
I've had Mirena since 2005 - I'll have to change it in early 2010. I love it, have had no problems whatsoever. I won't doubt getting another one inserted. My periods are light and short, I don't suffer any more migraines than I did before getting it inserted (am a migraine sufferer), and have not had any side effects at all. In short, I highly recommend it.

Things to know: The day you get it inserted you have bad cramps, like menstrual cramps; very normal. Also, for two weeks after insertion you can't have unprotected sex. Small price to pay I think for carefree sex life!

I tell everyone on mamasoucre about my experience with Mirena. I had it in for about 6 months. For 5 months, i had constant bleeding ALL THE TIME! Around month 6 i was so relieved when it slowed down and almost completely stopped. One day i went to check for the string and it was gone! I panicked and called my obgyn. They assured me that it was just tucked up in there, but to make me feel better, made an appt. for 2 weeks later....

2 weeks later, after an ultrasound and a trip to the hospital for an x-ray, they told me it was gone!! Fell out!! That it was "probably in a toilet somewhere". In the mean time i was walking around unprotected for at least 2 weeks if not more. Come to find out i have PCOS and can't get pregnant anyway, but defiantly should have in the amount of time it wasn't in. I never felt it fall out, never saw it either.

I guess my case is rare, and the x-ray was to be sure it didn't end up in my abdomen, but all of these things are a possibility. I've heard almost all good things about Mirena. A lot of bleeding first, but everyone i have talked to says it's worth it and usually stops to no period at all. On the other hand, I've heard a lot of bad news for Paraguard. (lots of bleeding and horrible period cramps)

Hope you find the right choice for you. If you do chose to get one, getting it put in is not bad at all. Just a quick sharp cramp and a little bit of cramping after. Make sure you check for those strings though, all the time!!

I have had the Mirena IUD since November 2008, and I have NOT had any problems. I am a person who suffers from severe migraines so I was a bit hesitant to get the Mirena because it does contain progesterone. However, the dosage is so low and so concentrated to the location site, the hormone doesn't even enter the blood stream. The only drawback of the Mirena is that your periods last longer (not heavy, just spotting) and that can take up to a year to adjust and after a year your period may stop completely (YIPPEE). The Paraguard does not contain any hormones, however, it can cause very heavy periods so that was a drawback for me. The Mirena was painless to insert and I would recommend it. Hope that helps.

I like it because it was easy, BUT...

You bleed irregularlly! I hated that part and randomly I got my period, I thought you were not supposed to get it!
I have the Mirena and no pregnancies so I guess it works.
M.
www.WorkingGreenMoms.com

Hello,

I had the Paragard IUD insterted after my second child was born, have since had it removed in order to have a third child. I was VERY happy with it. I could not take anything with hormones because it gave me very bad migraines. But the only difference the doctor told me is that the mirena is more recommended for people without problems with hormones because it can make your period shorter where as the paragard can actually make it longer and heavier. I have never had problems with long or heavy periods but I did notice that I did blead a little heavier the first day or two of my period. It didnt last much longer if anything a day longer so that was not too much of a problem for me. I would recommend the IUD but talk with your DR about which may be better for you! If you have any other questions based on experience with it im more then happy to give my input!!

I have the Paraguard now for about a year after having the Mirena for just under two years. I love having an IUD - nothing to worry about. And while the bleeding was heavy at first with the Paraguard, my periods are normal now. I did have cramping in the beginning, but that too has gone away. We are done having kids right now (we have two), so I plan to keep this in for a while.

I had a bad experience with the hormones in the Mirena - suicidal depression. While most women love the Mirena (it did make my periods much lighter and shorter), there can be emotional side effects that range from minor to severe and these can set in up to three months after insertion. I still recommend the Mirena since most women do not experience the kind of side effects I did.

The Paraguard has turned out to be a good solution for me given my history with Mirena and my want to be on hassle free birth control. Good luck with your decision!

I have the Mirena- so far so good. MUST tell you I had a 2 day period upset stomach (felt like I'd get sick any minute) about a week after it was put in, but doc and friends said that was normal. Also huge piece of info- you will spot for a LONG time, so just GO TO COSTCO/BJ's and buy the big pack of panty liners! I am hoping to have no period after 6mths as told was very common. It is very worth the piece of mind and no having to remember pills, etc. Good Luck!

I tend to be sensitive to hormones and was BFing, but my doctor said that he has never had anyone suffer side effects from the hormones in Mirena. And I have not... I have had it in since January. I was spotty the first couple months and a little crampy, but it has been great since. It has not interfered with nursing either. HTH

Hi C.,
I have used Paraguard for the past 8 years (taking a break to have my daughter in between), and have had no problems at all with it. I, too, wanted to stay away from the hormones in Mirena. Paraguard has worked well for me.
good luck,
C.

I have a paragard, got it right after my son was born. Going in was a piece of cake (tiny amount of cramping), and zero problems since. My OB warned me that my period might be heavier/more crampy than in the past, but I haven't experienced that at all. I love that I don't have to think about protection and it's hormone free. It can also stay in for 10 years+ if I wanted (we'll probably have more kids, so I'll have it taken out), but it's nice to really not have to worry about it at all. Highly recommend it.

I had the Paraguard inserted about a year ago and am happy with my decision. Like you, I didn't want to do hormones anymore. My first few periods with the Paraguard were uncomfortable & heavy but now they're not bad at all. Its nice not to have to worry about taking a pill everyday. I hope this helps!

I have the paraguard. I used it because I can't have any hormones. I did fine on it and had no ssues about it until I started thinking about what would happen if I did end up pregnant. That truly bothered me. I heard of what has happened to others from using it and still getting pregnant. My friend cam in the other day and told me about someone who ended up eptopicly pregnant with it and had to have half a histerectomy. Not sure I'm spelling this stuff right but I felt if I had those stores before, it may have helped me make my initial dicision.
I know that is an extreme and doesn't happen to everyone, it didn't for me in the year I had it in. I just chose to remove it because one day came to realize it just wasn't something I could deal with.

I have the Paraguard IUD and so far I haven't had any complaints. I just had my first period after getting it and it lasted a little longer and was a tad heavier than my periods before my daughter was born (cramps weren't bad at all). I took the Paraguard road vs. using Mirena because I was ordered off hormones by my doctor before I conceived my daughter (I was quite ill because of the hormones). I tell ya, it is so liberating having worry-free birth control. I was never really all that good at taking the pill on time, and so was always worried I'd get pregnant when we weren't intending to. Having the IUD takes that worry away because we know it works. And, my husband and I want to wait at least 4 years before having another child, so the IUD was perfect for us. We LOVE it!

Good luck on your decision!

Hi, I've had the Mirena for the last one year and it's been convenient in that I've not had to worry when it came to intimate moments. However, although I was told my periods would gradually cease over the first 6 months, I still get them. They're much lighter but they do tend to linger for upto 2 weeks - just a little spotting. It's rather annoying. Other than this, I had no pain at all during insertion or afterward. And no other side effects since. Ask your dr. to give you leaflets for both so you can read up before making a decision. good luck.

AR
www.markthatdate.com
www.qualityedits.com

I too wanted to stay away from the hormones since I was breastfeeding, so I went with Paragard after my second daughter. When they say that some women have heavier periods with it, they mean it. I had very regular and very heavy periods for a year with it. I had it taken out after a year so we could conceive again, but I think next time I'll go with the Mirena.

Hi C.! I had the paragard for about six months (inserted when my daughter was 6-8 months old) and I loved it. As the other women have said, my initial periods were heavier, and I cramped for about a month straight at first. I was hoping to get pregnant quicker this way, but 5 mos of trying wasn't enough time for us. My hubby is now gone on deployment, and we have agreed no more kids, so I'll be having it replaced next month! Best of luck!