Paragard?

[katie80]

I have a 6 week old DS, and made an appointment to get the Paragard IUD put in next week. I picked that one over the Mirena because I'd rather avoid anything hormonal if I can (There's not really a medical reason, I just don't want to use hormones if I can avoid it. Maybe that's dumb). But then I did a stupid thing and Googled, and now I'm worried that it's going to be horrible. 

And yes, I have already discussed this with my doctor. She mentioned that the Paragard can cause heavier and more painful periods, but since mine have always been fine before I shouldn't have too much of a problem with that. 

Does anyone have any experiences to share, good or bad? Thanks! 

[Deleted]

Granted, I know plenty of people who have loved their paragard, but i hated mine. I hated it so much, I had it removed and Mirena put in.

I always had decent periods, nothing too bad. On Paragard, I bled so much, so often, it was insane. I bled through a super plus tampon, through my underwear, and then THROUGH MY JEANS in a matter of 2.5 hours.That was the last straw for me, I called the doctor that day. Oh, and the cramps, OMG. Worst thing I ever experienced, and I had very mild cramps before that. I would seriously bleed for 3 weeks, then have maybe a 1 week break. It was like this for 7 months before i gave in.

I went with paragard for the same reasons you did (didn't want the hormones), but I'm glad I switched to mirena. I still get my period every month, and I get a little bit of cramps, but its not nearly as awful as i had it on paragard.

[rbp]

I think page was reasonably happy with the Paragard. I have one, but I'm just 7mo PP and just finishing my first PP period. It was rough--bleeding in earnest for five days and I'm still spotting on day 10. There were two days of REALLY HEAVY BLEEDING like katie80 mentioned. But I didn't have any cramps at all, so I'm going to wait it out for at least a few months and see if the bleeding slows down. Even if it doesn't, I may be able to handle it with a DivaCup. 

I don't have a particular medical reason for avoiding hormones either, but I think that just a desire to avoid hormones is reasonable. (And I'm totally pro-medicine; GIVE ME ALL THE DRUGS LOL.) I have a lot of anxiety, and I'm not sure that hormonal BC exacerbates my condition, but it probably doesn't help. 

[Deleted]

I had the Paragard after each of my kids. My periods are painless ever since I went through labor--no cramping at all, I used to cramp a lot before. The periods were heavier but not life altering or anything. I just had to change my DivaCup every few hours instead of twice a day and wear a pad as backup. It was mostly annoying when I was traveling--I flew cross country for 2 Phish shows last summer on my first PP period and it was annoying to have to change the cup during the shows but whatever, it's never great to be on your period at a fun event.

The Paragard was fine enough that I opted for it again after my second child, but annoying enough that I had my H get a vasectomy once we knew we were done so I could get it out.

It's been out for 2 full cycles now and my periods are lighter but still about as long, just more spotting instead of bleeding now. It's not a huge difference.

ETA prior to my first pregnancy I had been on BCP for many years, and I got pregnant my first try both times, so I really had not had an unadulterated period since my very early 20s. So it's worth noting that I really did not know what a "normal" cycle was like for me when I began getting the Paragard periods--if that makes sense. Compared to a BCP period it was night and day. Compared to my "real" period it's not as drastic of a difference.

[imojoebunny]

I have it. It was sort of bad at first, but I had been on hormonal birth control for 20 years prior, so I can't really address what it would have been like without that otherwise. I have had it for 6 years. Periods are going to be periods, not modified by hormones, so there is that. It is worth it to me not to have the extra chemicals right now.

[jeaniebueller]

I had one twice. I would have gotten one a third time, but had a tubal instead.

[anna7602]

I'm a scaredy cat. Still using condoms 7 months po because I dont want to use hormones (going off BCP was life-changing for me mentally and emotionally) and the Paragard heavy bleeding/cramping stories have given me pause. My non-BCP periods in-between kids were awful- migraines until I weaned DD and heavy and crampy after weaning.

However, the 2 pp periods I have had so far have been relatively cramp-free and only heavy for the first 2 days or so. I'm afraid to mess with that.

My insurance messed up the whole Paragard thing and the delay has made me rethink everything. Not sure what I will do.

[whitepicketfence]

I have had my Paragard since DD3 was born and I absolutely love it. Insertion wasn't the most pleasant thing ever but it wasn't awful or anything. Also, only like 1 or 2 days of my period are heavier than normal. It's not pleasant but nothing I can't deal with, especially given the convenience of having an IUD. We had originally decided on having DH get a vasectomy when we were done having kids but I've loved the IUD so much that I would be fine with using one as long as necessary rather than him having the procedure.

I also opted for Paragard vs. Mirena because I wanted to avoid the hormones. I hadn't reacted well to hormonal BC in the past and wanted to avoid it at all costs.

[Cowbells]

I've had my Paragard for just over a year. I opted for it because of the hormone thing.

I have PCOS so my periods have always been unpredictable when not on the pill. My periods when I was on the pill prior to having children were light. My paragard periods are definitely heavier then when on the pill, and for the first couple I had cramps, but not since then. Overall I am extremely happy with it because I feel so much better mentally without all the hormones.

[iheartbanjos]

Love my paraguard. I had no change in my periods after getting it inserted.

[jt325]

I had super light periods pre paragard. They were terrible with it. Super heavy for 5 days, needing tampon and pad and still leaking.

I liked it other than that, but it is enough I will not be getting it again. I'll try Mirena.

[smock]

I had a paragard and it gave me very long, very heavy periods. I had it removed and got a Mirena.

You might want to ask your doctor about Mirena or Skyla, since the hormones in those IUDs functions differently within your body--from what I've read, it's much more localized so you are less likely to have the side effects of birth control pills, for example.

Oh, and I'm now on my second Mirena and love it.

[DarcyLongfellow]

I have paragard, and I'm very happy with it.

I had Mirena after DD1, but I thought it might have been contributing to my anxiety (Google told me it could, my doctor was dubious).

I got paragard when DD2 was 6 weeks or so. Insertion was fine both times. My periods were really heavy for the first 6 months or so -- super heavy, like bleed through a super tampon in a couple hours. It's lightened up a bit, plus I started using a menstrual cup which made life much better.

[FoxInFiji]

Mar 12, 2015 10:39:32 GMT -5 @peggyolson said:

I opted for the Skyla, which is a lower hormone version of the mirena.

This is what I have as well.  Pre-pregancy I was having issues with hormonal BC and went off it for a few years.  I wanted the least amount of hormones possible but not heavy periods.  We're likely going to try for #2 prior to the 3 years the Skyla is effective so I saw no reason to go for the Mireana.

So happy with this decision so far.  I had minimal bleeding after it was put in.  My periods haven't returned yet though.

[vcubergirl]

I'm on my second Paraguard and I love it. I've never had any trouble. The first one I had pre-baby for about 6 years, my periods did get heavier for a while with it but after about 6 months went back to normal. I had 1 post partum period after DS was born before I got my second Paraguard, honestly the pp period was way worse, the next one was back to how they were before I got KU. I am super sensitive to hormones (Nuva ring made me have migraines so bad that I thought I was having a stroke and actually went to the ER where they figured out the problem eventually) so this is what I will use until we're done having kids.

[loskadoodle]

I just got mine put in yesterday. My dr said that periods can be heavy but most of her patients don't remember what their periods were like before they went on BCP's, and it has been like 15 years for me so I would def fall in that camp.

[aqualuv]

I've had my Paraguard for 5 months now with no issues at all. My period lasts for nearly a week but it's manageable to me. I don't even have cramps so I usually don't even realize my period is coming. I wanted non-hormonal since the hormones affect my sex drive. I'm still nursing so I'm not sure if that has a affect on my periods and if it will change once I wean.

[kelseybelsey]

I have Paragard. My DS is 5 months old and I got it in December. I have not got my period yet and I noticed zero side effects so far. I like it.

[redheadbaker]

I've had my Paragard for two years and I've been very happy! Only had bad cramps the first two or three cycles after insertion and my period never got heavier, as some report happening.

When this one expires, I'll have another put in.

[winecheery]

I have paragard. Heavy periods for maybe 5 months after my period returned, (like really heavy) and now it's sort of calmed down. No side effects. Really happy with it. I love the lack of hormones, even though I really liked the BCP pre-baby. It's just nicer not going back on them only to have to get them out of my body again before TTC#2.

I admit the first couple periods I was like hmmmm this is a lot of blood, but it was worth it to me because I could have it while I was nursing, and I had tried the mini pill while nursing and hated it. And like I said, it's calmed down now.

[Queen Mamadala]

I had the Mirena twice and then Paragard. I had heavier periods with the Paragard. I don't really get period cramps, so that was never an issue. I may look into it again.

[sixtwelve]

My periods were a lot heavier with paraguard but it got better overtime.