IUD consult today

[blackkitty]

I have a consultation to get an IUD today in 2 hours. I am pretty sure that I want to go with the Paragard because it is non-hormonal. I was thinking Mirena but they risk of depression as a side effect is 5-10% and I just don't want to risk it given my history of severe depression. I also hated BCP because they made me BSC. I dealt with infertility b/c of my XH so I haven't had to even really think about birth control in over a decade and a lot has changed!

I am 95% sure I don't want other kids (I have one that I delivered vaginally, which I hear makes the insertion of the IUD less painful).

Any advice or thoughts on whether I have made the right decision (anything other methods I should consider?), personal experiences (side effects?) with Paragard or questions I should ask? I also have a pretty severe needle phobia so any of the options that are shots I'd like to avoid.

ETA: I also have endometriosis but zero symptoms (I only knew b/c of the infertility they did a laporoscopy on me and found it) not sure if that matters at all where an IUD is concerned

[stephbfan]

Today, I actually had the consultation to get it again as it is pretty much my only option right now. I had Paragard 2 years ago but I had to remove it because of some complications.

You should expect some spotting for several weeks and mild cramps so make sure you take some pain killers before the insertion.

Side effects? My periods got somewhat heavier and I got more cramps than usual. I just make sure I take something before I get the cramps and Im good to go.

[roselis]

I have Mirena. But yes, take something before it gets put in. That makes the cramps less painful. There will be minor cramping for sure. I wasn't having any cramps until they inserted it, then I cramped for the rest of the day. It eased up over time.
I spotted for a few months. At about the 6 month mark, I stopped spotting between periods.

[omeomi]

I've had the Paragard for going on 3 years now. I wish I would have gotten it a long time ago.

I did BCP for the longest time, always low dose, different brands, and all of them killed my libido. I did Depo for about 2 years. I was one of those ones that had a horrible time on it. I shit you not, I bled or spotted almost every freaking day for a year and a half. The only times it would stop would be the week leading up to my next shot. I can't believe I stayed on it that long.

Getting the IUD wasn't too bad of a procedure for me. Doc had to use some sort of med to dilate my cervix since I've never had a child, but I've been told that once you've had a child they typically don't have to worry about that. He gave me a couple of injections into my cervix also to numb things up, really nothing more than what it feels like during a pap. The actual insertion wasn't really painful to me, just weird. There was some pressure and a pinch or two, but nothing that a little deep breathing wouldn't help.

By the time I got home, I was already starting to cramp (about 20 minutes later) and I had intermittent cramping the rest of the day, as well as bleeding. The cramps subsided after the first day, and the bleeding tapered off to spotting after the first 3 days.

I spotted quite a bit for the first 2 months or so, with occasional days of a little heavier bleeding, but nothing that I would really consider a period until about month 3 or 4 (the spotting had gone by then). For the first, oh, 6 months or so my cycles were wonky, but became much more normal after that. I do tend to have a little heavier cramping now, but it's pretty short lived. I've noticed that I tend to have more clots passing now, but nothing horrible.

When/if you have your appt for insertion, like PP said, take some advil about 20-30 minutes before, it'll definitely help with the insertion and the cramps that hit right afterward. And I'd say try to schedule it on a day where you don't have much to do (like don't do it right before a full work day). You'll probably want to be able to take it easy that day.

[bostonterrier]

A little late, but...I have Mirena. Just got my second one this year. LOVE it. First one was uncomfortable, second implantation was no biggie. No periods almost immediately, no hormonal weirdness. It's just about perfect! Good luck!