Mirena IUD Vs. Copper IUD Vs. Vasectemy???

I have looked into both the Mirena and Copper IUD, Paraguard. I personally like the idea of the copper one better, because it has no hormones. I dont like the idea of adding un-necessary hormones into my body, especially after finding out that my mothers breast cancer was in part, caused due to too much estrogen, which other forms of birth control have. .. just my 2 cents. Good luck whatever you decide

I just removed my mirena after almost 2 years to try for a second baby. I absolutely LOVE it and would recommend it over everything else available. I have not had any problems and hardly have a period at all! No cramps, weight gain, or depression/PMS. I had heavy periods before and suffered from all side effects of birth control pills so the mirena was wonderful for me. I plan to use it again after the next baby:)

my husband got a vasectomy about four months after our now thirteen year old was born - and has regretted and resented it ever since - claims it has affected his "performance" but in my opinion he "performs" the same as before it - my advice is to make sure anyone getting altered has no mental issues - really

You have gotten great advice so far! Just wanted to tell you about my experience. I have always been really sensitive to birth control (I have 4 kids because of lack of birth control...hee hee) so my doctor and I chose the copper IUD and I LOVED it. At the time, I had 2 kids and we weren't sure if we were done. I did have heavy periods that lasted 7 days while I had the IUD (3 years), but my doctor said my body was acting exactly as it would naturally as the copper IUD has no hormones. That made me more comfortable, and really not a major side effect...the good out-weighed the bad for me. When we decided to have it removed and try for another baby, I was pregnant the next month! After our 4th baby was born, we were definately DONE having kids so my husband had a vasectemy. He was a major wimp (aren't most men) and complained of soreness for months, but it's now been a year and a half since his surgery and he is 100% ok. I'm sure my husband would say exactly what the guy posted (awesome post by the way) that it helped our sex life and he felt like it was finally his turn to take care of the birth control. Now I am not on any type of birth control and my periods are exactly the same as when I had the copper IUD. Good luck and God Bless!

Hi L.,
Vasectomy RULES!!!

I didn't feel a thing, and never gained a pound! (LOL!!!!)

Good luck!
t

I have the Mirena IUD and have had no issues. It was very easy to have put in and it has caused me no problems. I don't have a regular cycle (which some consider good and some not good). I don't miss my cycle personally, but sometimes I get a bit of spotting unexpectedly which is a bit of a hassle.

I am considering a newer option, called Essure, which is permenant and outpatient. You might ask your doctor about it as a possible option for you. However, I too think it is better to wait on permanent choices until your baby is a bit older (1 or 2 years old). You would hate to make a permanent choice and then change your mind.

Good luck.

I had the mirena & took it out. It was uncomfortable & I had cysts. It made me irritable (to say the least), I broke out & gained weight 17lbs!!!! taking it out was the best thing I did, but I did get pregnant.
So do something....but research it.

I was in the same boat as you a few months ago. We chose to have my husband have a vasectomy. He was a little tender for a day or two after, and that was all. For a woman to have her tubes tied, even though the procedure is a lot less invasive now than it was, it's still a 6 week recovery time, and in my mind, it is much harder for the mom to be down and out with young children at home. good luck!

I have had both IUD's. One benefit of the copper IUD is that there aren't any hormones. I really liked that because I don't do well with hormones in the pill/etc. (Moodiness, weight gain) My periods were REALLY heavy for the first 6 months then they went back to normal. I had it removed to conceive our first child. After my 1st son, I had a Mirena. I really liked it and I tolerated the small level of hormones just fine. I was pregnant within 2 months of removing it. I have another one now that my second son was born last summer. I love it. I haven't had any issues with it. We know we don't want more children but we tend to be a little spontaneous so who knows. My husband wants to get a vas but I am a little concerned about the permanance.

Overall, I would strongly recommend an IUD. If you try it and don't like it, it is easy to have it removed. Good luck!

Hello!

I can speak first hand about Paraguard (the copper IUD) because I had it before I had my second baby and now that he's born I will be getting it again in 3 weeks. I LOVED IT!!! It did make my period a little heavier and last a little longer but it was worth it for me! No hormones to mess with my thyroid medication but the freedom of not having to use other contraception or "the pill".

When we decided were ready for baby #2 i just booked an appointment to have it removed and it was super easy to conceive after. I love it because it is less permanent (you never know what the future brings) than a vasectomy or tubal ligation but I don;t have to worry about it for up to 10 years!! I hope this helps!

Women go through enough just being pregnant for 9 month and then having to deliver a baby. I have always felt that men should have to get the vas. done. My husband did it and it is a quick 10 min procedure and then he WALKED out of the office 10 min. after the procedure. It isn't that big of a deal for them. To me it is the ultimate act of love a man can do for his wife. Just my opinion of course.

I had the mirena with no problems before my son was born, and now I have it again. I havent noticed any of the side effects you mention. However, be prepared to spot pretty continuously for the first three months after insertion. Its a drag, but for me, preferrable to other options. Once that is over, almost imperceptible periods and no other side effects of note.

Good luck!

Sorry this is so late! I wanted to put in my 2 cents though, so I thought better late than never!

I'm a huge fan of the copper IUD. I am currently sporting my THIRD one. I have 4 boys and got my 1st copper IUD after #2. It was GREAT to not have to worry about extra hormones OR getting pregnant unexpectedly! When we were ready to have #3, I got it out and got pregnant right away. Ditto for #4 who is now 14 months old. Although I am pretty sure we are done having kids, I did not feel ready to make a "permanent" decision, so getting another IUD was a no-brainer. I will tell you that my periods are a lot heavier for the first few months, but once your body adjusts to having it, it's back to normal. In my book it's a very small price to pay!

There is absolutely no reason to be nervous about an IUD - they are a godsend!! All three times - it didn't hurt to have it put in and the 2 times I've had them removed it was NOTHING. Seriously.

Give yourself some time to decide on a more permanent solution to birth control. IMO the copper IUD is the next best thing to a permanent choice...you won't have any problems (except for a few heavy periods) and you won't have to worry about getting pregnant! Makes for a very stress-less, and enjoyable sex life!

Good luck with your decision and congrats on your upcoming baby!

Although I do not have any experience with IUDs (but know several women who have them and are happy with them), my advice would be to not choose a form of permanent birth control until a year or so after having your baby. Speaking from my own experience...I had my tubes tied at the time my second son was delivered. Now a year later I regret having made that decision at that time. I may have made the same decision later, but wish I had given myself some time to adjust to the new baby and think more clearly. You can always have tubes tied/vastecomy at a later time and an IUD would probably sufice in the meantime.

I have the Mirena IUD and I have really loved it, but it isn't without side effects. I don't have a normal period anymore which is great, I'll spot for a day or two every three months or so and there's no cramping or anything so that's been amazing. However, there has been weight gain and some lack of energy due to thyroid issues caused by my IUD. I have been on medication to bring up my thyroid levels up, but I'm going to have to get some stronger meds because they're not really helping too much.

You have to take it out after five years, but I really like not having my period. I am actually currently trying to decide if I want to stay on Mirena and not have periods, but have to take a pill every morning or if my husband should get a vasectemy and not get the IUD again and not have to worry about pills, but then I'll have my period again ... not sure what I'm going to do.

I got the Mirena IUD 7 weeks ago and so far I'm still adjusting. I have an almost 3 yr old and 3 mo old and this is it for us too. My hubby would gladly get a vasectomy, but I feel like we are too young to make such a big change (we're both 32). After I had the IUD put in I felt a light cramping feeling but that went away after a day or so and I had very light spotting each day for about 4 weeks and then no spotting for about 2 weeks and then I started spotting again a week ago with light cramping, irratability, bloating and low back pain so it may be my period. I'm not too sure since I've never had this before and Mirena is supposed to make periods very light and short. I've heard great things about Mirena so after this time of adjustment I think it will be worth the spotting and uncertainty. Good luck to you!

I've had a Mirena IUD for about two years. I had a period the first couple months, then spotting for the next couple months then NOTHING from then on! I haven't had any weight gain (at least not significant enough to blame on anything) or pain except for the last three months I've had one day of cramp-like pain in my lower left abdomen... I called the doctor the first time and went in to make sure everything was in place and it was. I think it must be when I am ovulating and it is only for a day so it is still well worth it. I recommend having one or the other IUD because you never know if you might change your mind! (my sister is pregnant after her husband went through a V and a reverse V after they changed their minds five years later). Good luck!

I am also pregnant with our last child. We have gone back and forth about what to do after this little guy comes in April. We've decided on Vasectemy. I had the Mirena between children and I had SEVERE depression after about a year. It was horrible. I am not a depressed person and I had no idea what was wrong with me. I finally went to the doctor for some help and he said that the Mirena has been linked to depression in MANY women. Sure enough... as soon as it was out, I started to feel like myself again. I think that the potential side effects of a vasectemy are sooo rare that it's a better choice for US. I'm done with hormones. Good luck and and congrats on baby on the way!

PS... KUDOS to John for posting on here. Thanks for being honest and upfront about something that most men are terrified about. I have a friend who's husband WILL NOT get a Vas and she is now about to have her tubes tied instead of doing hormones anymore. I'll be copying and pasting his response to her email in one last attempt to rescue her from such invasive surgery!! :)

Hi L.!

If you are truly done having babies and want to do somethng ask about Essure. Its a simple procedure done in your doctors office. IT is basically having your tubes tied but less invasive and there is no down time. I had mine after having my third and final baby. Mind you though that this is a permanent procedure and there is no going back after having it done. It is much easier then a vas and better then an IUD because you do not have to worry about any side effects.

Good luck in your decision!
M.

I currently have the Mirena for the second time. The first time, I got it removed only to get pregnant (which I did the second month after its removal). This second time, just like the first, has not given me any issues whatsoever. In fact, I have been losing weight, so if there are claims on those gaining weight, I don't know how. I couldn't get the Copper as I am allergic to copper, so that wasn't even an option for me. In regards to periods, there are none. Every once in a while, I'll have a light spot day, but that's about it. I love the Mirena and haven't had any issues whatsoever. Personally, I wouldn't want to have any permanent surgery done, because you never know. That's my own personal opinion. The IUD hurt for only a second during the procedure. There was some cramping for a few hours afterwards (only because the uterus is not used to something in there), but that is only temporary. I love the fact of how quickly it starts working and as soon as you take it out, you can get pregnant again.

Keep in mind that every body has different pre-dispositions. I have not had any health changes with this Mirena at all. It has not affected anything except for taking away my periods, which I don't mind!

You'll figure it out. Good Luck.