choosing an IUD

[lust2hart]

Those with an IUD, which one do you have and why did you choose that one? And are you still happy with your decision or would you have chosen something different? 

[sadie]

Jan 17, 2024 11:41:56 GMT -5 lust2hart said:

Those with an IUD, which one do you have and why did you choose that one? And are you still happy with your decision or would you have chosen something different? 

I'm on my 3rd Mirena. I picked this one at the recommendation of my dr, no other real reason. I've been happy with it. No periods, really, until just the past year or so due to a significant weight loss, and it's since disappeared.

[countthestars]

I have a Mirena, which is what my doctor recommended. I love it. I had one between kids (2013-2015) and have had one post second baby (2015 to present with a change after I think it's 5 years). I love it. I have had some spotting for a couple of weeks post insertion each time, but have otherwise not gotten a period since 2015. My only unsure thing about it is that I have had weight gain post second baby and I'm not sure if it is a contributing factor.

[penguingrrl]

I had a paraguard IUD for a while and was happy with it. I have medical contraindications for hormonal birth control so Mirena wasn’t an option for me, and at the time paraguard was the only option. I was very happy with it, worked well and didn’t bother me. Took it out to have my 3rd kid and H got a vasectomy or I would have gotten another.

[Saudade]

You’ll have to pry my Mirena from my cold dead hands. I love it so much. Once this one is done, I’ll have another. And then another. Ad infinitum until menopause.

Mirena/Skyla/Kyleena: hormonal IUDs of differing amounts. Good for 8 years. Likely no period or light period after adjustment time (usually up to 6 months for some people)

Paragard: copper, no hormones. Good for 10 years. Likely will have heavy or unchanged periods.

[bex1973]

I have a Paragard because I didn't want hormonal and I've had no issues with it at all. Had my first for 10 years and just had it replaced a few months ago. No complaints from me!

[litskispeciality]

I didn't end up with an IUD, but was really pressed to get one and did a lot of research, so grain of salt. In a perfect world I was hoping for the smallest one possible to avoid complications, but the last GYN I had (who was wonderful) explained that my only option would have been Mirena due to my constant, murder scene flow. I was always told that non-hormonal wouldn't work for me as it could've made my made my periods worse. All that to say your GYN *should* be able to recommend the "right" kind of hormonal IUD, or talk through risks and benefits of non-hormonal if you're able to choose between both.

Good luck!

[al dente]

I've had the Mirena, Skyla, and Kyleena. They've all been pretty much the same, except I did have lots of bleeding at the beginning with Mirena. Mirena I had pre kids though. All of them I end up with no period which I like.

I never wanted the paraguard because of the heavier periods, and anecdotally knew people who got pregnant on it. When I mentioned that to the doctor she also was like "ya... I've also seen that with the paraguard but none of the others"

[shauni27]

Jan 17, 2024 11:50:40 GMT -5 Saudade said:

You’ll have to pry my Mirena from my cold dead hands. I love it so much. Once this one is done, I’ll have another. And then another. Ad infinitum until menopause.

Mirena/Skyla/Kyleena: hormonal IUDs of differing amounts. Good for 8 years. Likely no period or light period after adjustment time (usually up to 6 months for some people)

Paragard: copper, no hormones. Good for 10 years. Likely will have heavy or unchanged periods.

co-signed.

[wanderingback]

Jan 17, 2024 11:50:40 GMT -5 Saudade said:

You’ll have to pry my Mirena from my cold dead hands. I love it so much. Once this one is done, I’ll have another. And then another. Ad infinitum until menopause.

Mirena/Skyla/Kyleena: hormonal IUDs of differing amounts. Good for 8 years. Likely no period or light period after adjustment time (usually up to 6 months for some people)

Paragard: copper, no hormones. Good for 10 years. Likely will have heavy or unchanged periods.

Paragard now good for at least 12 years! Wahoo.
I think skyla is only 3 years and kyleena 5 years, I haven’t seen updated data on those yet, have you? Would be great if so!

[starburst604]

I got the Mirena 2 years ago and forget why I chose that of the options that the gyn presented to me, but so far so good! Spotting for like 4-6 weeks with some cramping and since then not even a spot of bleeding. I never felt hugely inconvenienced by my periods but it sure is nice never having to think about it!

[fernweh]

I have Mirena. My doctor recommended either Mirena or Kyleena which is lower hormone. I went with Mirena because it was approved for longer use (5 years vs 3 years at the time - though I think approval has been extended to 8 years - not sure if Kyleena has been extended or not).

[moreace01]

On my second Kyleena (I think it's only 5 years, not 8?). No problems at all and highly, highly recommended. Haven't had a period in years...amazing!! I'm older and this one will be my last (I assume). The only bad thing is removal sucks - they need to find a better, less painful way.

[NewGirlNic]

I have a Mirena. Zero complaints. I don't get my period. Some months very light spotting, but not even enough that a panty liner is needed. I also typically don't get any PMS symptoms. 

I got it because that was what my doctor recommended. I'm on my second and thought I'd need a new one last year, but it is now good for 8 years. I'll continue to get one until I'm in menopause. 

[circa1978]

I'm on my second Mirena. It wasn't so much a choice. As soon as my GYN heard I wasn't planning on more kids, she was basically like, the Mirina is free and I have one in the next room - why dont' I just pop it in now? 😂 I didn't even know it was supposed to hurt until I looked it up after. I had no period for years on my first one. I started to spot about a year ago (when it was 8 years in) and she swapped it out for a new one. I spotted for a while and now I have what seems to be a light period (no need for a pad - spotting for 3-5 days). Hoping that eventually goes away. Me getting the period coincided with a major weight loss and there are lots of people on Mounjaro and other GLP1s who report getting their periods back even during premenopause so IDK what's going on with that but look forward to the clinical papers.

ETA: I did gain a lot of weight after first getting an IUD but I've also lost a lot of weight while on it and am hypothyroid so I don't think it's related. 

[circa1978]

Also, I have said more than once that if I could time travel and tell my younger self just a few things - "get an IUD" would have been pretty high on the list.

[somersault72]

My doctor recommended Mirena, that's what we both have (I also work in women's health). I'm 5.5 years in on my second one. I will spot for a day or two randomly but that's it. I love not having a period. I'll likely need 1 more to get me through to menopause. FWIW most of the female OB/Gyns I've ever worked with opt for the Mirena as their contraception of choice.

The only downside for me was the insertion for the first one. It felt like I was being stabbed with a hot poker when she did the sound, but it was quick and once it was in I was able to work the rest of the day.

[meanie]

I'm on my 2nd Mirena, it's ok. I don't get my period but for some reason I bled for a really long time after getting the 2nd one and had pretty bad cramping. Now everything is fine though.

[joy]

I’ve had Paragard and Liletta.

Paragard: I loved it except for the periods. So heavy. Murder-level heavy.

Liletta: no periods, no cramps, no idea where I am in my cycle ever, progesterone makes me eat all the things so I gained weight.

[followyourarrow]

I have Mirana and am very happy with it. I have a reaction to copper, if I wear copper jewelry I get blisters under it, so that was a risk we didn't want to take.

[jamaicam]

Jan 17, 2024 12:08:15 GMT -5 wanderingback said:

Jan 17, 2024 11:50:40 GMT -5 Saudade said:

You’ll have to pry my Mirena from my cold dead hands. I love it so much. Once this one is done, I’ll have another. And then another. Ad infinitum until menopause.

Mirena/Skyla/Kyleena: hormonal IUDs of differing amounts. Good for 8 years. Likely no period or light period after adjustment time (usually up to 6 months for some people)

Paragard: copper, no hormones. Good for 10 years. Likely will have heavy or unchanged periods.

Paragard now good for at least 12 years! Wahoo.
I think skyla is only 3 years and kyleena 5 years, I haven’t seen updated data on those yet, have you? Would be great if so!

That's awesome re the 12 years! My son is 9 so I was thinking I only had another year before replacement. I am happy with my Paragard - yes I still get periods but nothign worse than before

[Saudade]

Jan 17, 2024 12:08:15 GMT -5 wanderingback said:

Jan 17, 2024 11:50:40 GMT -5 Saudade said:

You’ll have to pry my Mirena from my cold dead hands. I love it so much. Once this one is done, I’ll have another. And then another. Ad infinitum until menopause.

Mirena/Skyla/Kyleena: hormonal IUDs of differing amounts. Good for 8 years. Likely no period or light period after adjustment time (usually up to 6 months for some people)

Paragard: copper, no hormones. Good for 10 years. Likely will have heavy or unchanged periods.

Paragard now good for at least 12 years! Wahoo.
I think skyla is only 3 years and kyleena 5 years, I haven’t seen updated data on those yet, have you? Would be great if so!

No, you’re right. I haven’t had anyone actually want a Skyla or Kyleena so I erroneously generalized.

Good to know about Paragard! I love that they’re getting more data to support longer times!

[smock]

I've had Paragard and Mirena. Got the Paragard removed early because of super heavy periods. I'm now on my fourth Mirena. Very, very happy with it, even though I now have period spotting for 5-ish days when I had no periods with Mirena when I was in my 30s.

[minzy]

I have Paraguard. I didn’t want the hormones. It has worked as intended. I tend to have like a nine day period on it though, and that part I don’t love. However I have several years to go before it’s up (and maybe even more now that it goes to 12 years!) and I do not have plans to switch.

[VillainV]

I have a Mirena. For various reasons, this is my 3rd. I mostly made the change back to an IUD because I’m concerned about the continued availability of contraceptives, and since H and I are done having kids, it made sense to go with something more permanent.

[gault]

Get any iud. I have the kyleena primarily for the low hormone dose.

I say get any iud because with how politics are going, it'll be less worry to have a self-controlled birth control for years instead of a monthly pill that could be taken away, etc.

[elefun]

Jan 17, 2024 12:35:00 GMT -5 moreace01 said:

On my second Kyleena (I think it's only 5 years, not 8?). No problems at all and highly, highly recommended. Haven't had a period in years...amazing!! I'm older and this one will be my last (I assume). The only bad thing is removal sucks - they need to find a better, less painful way.

I have this and love it. It's less hormones than Mirena is why I picked it.

[circa1978]

I hate to sound paranoid but I am also on the politics are a reason to get one. Honestly, I live in Missouri and even at the age of 45 we use a condom AND and IUD. I worry a lot for women who are more fully in their reproductive health years and who think they are too young for an IUD because they haven't had a child yet. Actually, I saw this bit on TikTok the other day and it sort of sums up their struggle: https://www.tiktok.com/@donttellcomedy/video/7237944552571718958

[spindle92]

Mr Dr would only recommend the Kyleena (over the Mirena) for me because of my mother's type of breast cancer.
I had minor cramping the remainder of the day he put it in, very minimal bleeding for about 3 days and now haven't had a period in 5 years.
Mine needs to come out because it's been 5 years and I am going back and forth on if I want to get another ONLY because of my age.

I'm 50 in June - so menopause age and I'm not sure if I want to go hormone-free or not.

[sunnysally]

I had 3 Mirenas. I get frequent MRIs and my doctor discouraged me from Paraguard.