Will you talk to me about IUDs / BC options?

[thom]

This is a definite TMI post but I really want to find a better solution.

I need a different birth control option. I went back on hormonal birth control pills, and I am realizing how much I dislike the side effects. I’m on a pretty typical combination pill— a generic of reclipsen. I’ve talked to my doctor some and she recommended an IUD but I’m worried about the cramping, bleeding, and side effects from that too. The main things I don’t like about my hormonal birth control is it seems to make me more tired, possibly more moody, and it makes sex worse. All these symptoms basically appeared instantly when I went back on the pill, and it makes me so annoyed I had become oblivious to them after so many years of taking it.
Edit: It’s not awful but I feel like I should be able to do better.

Do any of you see less or no side effects from other hormonal BC like a patch or injection? I’m guessing they would be similar? Or what about the lowest hormone IUD?

Currently I WAS most interested in the Paraguard (copper) IUD but possible side effects of that scare me too. If anyone does have a copper IUD I’m very interested in your experience. don’t think we are ready for a permanent BC solution yet.

[ktzmoh]

I'm sorry you are having issues. Like you, I had a lot of side effects from hormonal BC too and stopped using it a long time ago. I think I stopped hormonal BC before we had our first, so it's been over 12 years for me.

After we were done having kids, I tried Paraguard because I really wanted to be hormone free given the symptoms I had had on oral BC and the patch. It was so awful. It hurt like hell when it was placed and it hurt like hell every time I had a period. I had periods like you wouldn't believe. I'd be on the phone with my doctor asking what qualified as hemorrhaging because surely that amount of bleeding couldn't be normal and when should I go to urgent care. And they would last for like 9 days. The pain during my periods was also unbearable. It would radiate from my abdomen all the way down to my knees. My back would hurt like crazy and I'd be doubled over with back pain. Then there was the sensation of someone stabbing my right ovary over and over again. That was really pleasant. I had to go in multiple times to check to see if it had punctured my uterus or it was out of place or something. Each time she said it was in correctly and the symptoms should subside after 6 months. So I held out thinking 10 years of birth control would be worth the initial suffering. But the symptoms never went away for me. It was just like my body was rejecting it. Like it was trying its best to expel this foreign object. I truly hated that thing.  I think I suffered for a full year before I finally went in to have it removed.

I basically told my husband I was done with the bullshit and I was having it removed and that if he didn't want any more kids, he had better schedule a vasectomy because I was unwilling to bear the burden of the birth control anymore.

In retrospect, I should have given the Mirena a try. I think the hormone dose you get from Mirena is a lot lower than oral birth control, so the side effects may not have been as bad as I was afraid of. A lot of people I know who had side effects from oral birth control did not have the same effects from Mirena, so it may be worth a try at least. For me, that would be the only possible one I would try again if I had to go back on birth control.

Bottom line: run far far away from paraguard no matter what you decide.

[bullygirl979]

I can give you half information, lol.

So, I had Mirena and loved it. Really. Insertion was a breeze; I literally felt a pinch of pain and that was about it. I maybe had a day or two of light cramps, but nothing worse than a mild period cramp. I would still have the Mirena today if I didn't get diagnosed with cancer. Because my cancer was hormone fed, my oncologist pretty much told me I couldn't have hormonal BC at all. I decided to get the paraguard. Insertion was really easy. At first my periods were longer (8 days compared to 4) but I didn't experience any crazy pains or cramping. However, I was put on an oral chemo which eventually caused my periods to stop. In talking with my OBGYN she did say that the long periods can taper off with the paraguard but given my meds, I never really found that out.

[smock]

I've had both Paragard and Mirena. Of the two, Mirena is way, way, WAY better. On Paragard, I had super long and heavy periods, with awful cramps. On Mirena, I did have spotting for several months after insertion but now I only use a pantyliner for periods.

I'm actually on my third Mirena and plan to keep one through menopause.

[lilypad1126]

I'm on my 2nd mirena and I really like it. I had to quit taking BC pills due to a blood clotting condition that I was diagnosed with about 6 years ago. My only complaint is that my skin is oilier with the mirena than it was with the BC pills. But that's a much more livable side effect for me than the side effects I've heard of from the Paraguard (heavy painful periods). My period has mostly gone away with the mirena (I sometimes get a day of very light spotting). It does not make me more tired, I haven't gained any weight on it, and I don't *think* I'm any more moody now than I was years ago when I was on BC pills. Even though I don't have a period, I do still have cycle related issues crop up: acne leading up to when my period is "due", extra exhaustion when my period should be here, slight hormonal weight gain during my cycle. But not having my period is worth it to me. My two main considerations for BC: I don't want to be pregnant and I don't want my period. Mirena checks both those boxes.

[thom]

ktzmoh - I am so sorry you dealt with that. It sounds like pure hell. I do think I will try to convince my H to get this little procedure once we are sure we’re done having kids. You have also fully convinced me the potential for horrible outcomes w/ copper aren’t worth it. I know my skin is sensitive to certain metals so this could be a nightmare.

As I read more it’s sounding the hormones in an IUD do effect people less than those in the bloodstream from oral pills. Does anyone have a Skyla? It seems more appealing than Mirena because of lower hormone dose, but all the side effects I’ve read seem similar.

[moreace01]

I have Kyleena which is slightly less hormones than Mirena, slightly more than Skyla and is effective for 5 years (same as Mirena vs 3 for Skyla). Insertion hurt pretty bad and I think I had cramping for awhile (never had kids). But after a month or so, I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary. No weight gain, no issues like that at all. At around the one year mark, I started not having a period anymore, which was a little unnerving. I feel like I still get some symptoms though. To this day, (now 2.5 years in), I get bad cramping when I do a really hard or long workout. But otherwise no real issues.

[vcubergirl]

I'm on my third paragard and I am a huge fan. At first I did have heavier periods, but over time they went back to normal (maybe within 2 years?). I honestly think it was an effect of quitting hormones rather than the paragard.

Before I got my paragard, I had a nuvaring because I've always been sensitive to the side effects of hormones and my obgyn said it would be better. It was a disaster, I had terrible migraines, so bad a friend of mine who is an ER doc thought I was having a stroke. So that's my experience with localized hormones.

I found out later that my family carries the blood clotting gene, so I am definitely not messing with hormones any more. I wouldn't even bother though, everything I've tried with hormones has made me crazycakes, and my paragard experience has been great.

[gt7301b]

Sept 13, 2019 13:32:11 GMT -5 thom said:

ktzmoh - I am so sorry you dealt with that. It sounds like pure hell. I do think I will try to convince my H to get this little procedure once we are sure we’re done having kids. You have also fully convinced me the potential for horrible outcomes w/ copper aren’t worth it. I know my skin is sensitive to certain metals so this could be a nightmare.

As I read more it’s sounding the hormones in an IUD do effect people less than those in the bloodstream from oral pills. Does anyone have a Skyla? It seems more appealing than Mirena because of lower hormone dose, but all the side effects I’ve read seem similar.

I had Skyla for ~ 2 years.  I didn't have any side efects while on the IUD.  My only complaint was after having it removed it took my cycle ~ 6 months to get back to normal. I wasn't expecting that, it also could have been a result of other factors but I had expected things to be normal day and they weren't

[Susie]

I'm just following for the replies, although we plan to be done with kids now and H says he's going to schedule a vasectomy.  Doubling up doesn't hurt, plus he hasn't actually scheduled it yet so his follow through remains to be seen.  

I was on BCPs before kids, nothing in between kids, and the idea of going back to oral BCPs is not appealing.  The one benefit that I remember was that I adjusted my pill weeks so that I used to have Mon-Fri periods -- never on race day!  

[ebeth]

Sept 13, 2019 13:32:11 GMT -5 thom said:

ktzmoh - I am so sorry you dealt with that. It sounds like pure hell. I do think I will try to convince my H to get this little procedure once we are sure we’re done having kids. You have also fully convinced me the potential for horrible outcomes w/ copper aren’t worth it. I know my skin is sensitive to certain metals so this could be a nightmare.

As I read more it’s sounding the hormones in an IUD do effect people less than those in the bloodstream from oral pills. Does anyone have a Skyla? It seems more appealing than Mirena because of lower hormone dose, but all the side effects I’ve read seem similar.

I'm like you.  I didn't realize how much the pills were affecting me until I wasn't taking them and then I just couldn't go back.  I had a Skyla for 3 years (I think it may be approved for 5 now, but I may be wrong).  I would get a some spotting around my period so that was a nice reassurance (but it was also nice not to have a real period). My only complaint was that I got a lot of pain when I ovulated with the skyla.  Now that it's out ovulation is still painful but nowhere near as bad as it was when it was in. I don't really have a baseline for 'normal' after being on the pill for like 20 years and then got pregnant so I don't know if my cycle is back to normal but it is similar to what it was like before I got pregnant.  

[runblondie26]

I’ll chime in on the Paraguard. I had one for 4 years between kids 1 and 2, and never had anything more than occasional random spotting.

I have irregular, yet very heavy periods, with Paraguard now. But I’m older now and my body is different in many ways. I’m willing to deal
with it for such hassle free birth control. It’s highly effective, lasts for 10 years, and doesn’t give me any side effects otherwise.

[runblondie26]

My doctor did offer Mirena and Skyla, when I last discussed the heavy periods. It’s localized hormones, so less likely to have the side effects of oral BC.

However, I don’t want to go through the removal and insertion of another IUD, and gamble with possible other side effects, when I still have 5yrs left on this one. I can deal with the heavy periods 3-4 times a year. No cramping, just heavy flow.

But I’d certainly consider something low dose like Skyla if you’re choosing for the first time.

[Wines Not Whines]

I’m on my second Mirena and I loooooove it. I haven’t noticed any negative side effects, and I barely get a period.

[thom]

I really appreciate everyone who chimed in. It is so nice to have a group like this where I know I can get real, honest feedback on personal / TMI stuff. The internet can be scary when it comes to reviews or anything medical!
Has anyone ever had any pushback on getting an IUD removed early? I really hope I can pick one & stick with it, but we’ll see how this goes.

[wawa]

I'll just chime in late to say that paraguard had worked well for me. My period is a bit heavier than it used to be I guess? Maybe? I'm not sure that I can blame this for that though since I barely remember what my period was like without hormonal bc.

I had a mirena between the kids and it didn't agree with me. I felt crazy. Similar to when I tried depo in college, though not that bad.

[brooke77]

I have had Skyla for 2 years and will likely get another one. The insertion was super painful for me and I spotted for about a month when I first got it. Otherwise, no terrible side effects. I don’t get a period anymore. Sex drive is a bit less but not gone. I break out a bit when I should have a period.

I chose it because I had just had my son and LOL forever that I would take the mini pill at the same hour every day. I wanted no effects on BFing and it didn’t.

[joenali]

I’ll be getting depot lupron next month. I don’t have any other options. I had a DVT a few years ago when I broke my ankle and I can’t take a standard birth control pill. I also have adenomyosis and the mirena will not help with that as far as pain goes. You can still get unbearable cramping even with the mirena. I’m in a Facebook group for women with adeno and it just doesn’t work for many of them. My dr even said it’s not a good option. My periods are so awful and heavy that I need a break. The lupron will only be a temporary solution.

[cosmowife]

The doctors like to say that the hormones are localized in Mirena but that was not true for me. It caused me to have debilitating anxiety to the point where it was difficult to leave the house. I had to stay home from work at times because I was convinced I was sick but it was actually just the anxiety. It also made me very mentally unwell - to the point where I was very close to driving off a bridge. Luckily I was somehow aware that this was not normal and had it removed that week. The symptoms increased slowly over the few years that I had it. However, I am sensitive to all kinds of meds (not just hormones) so I could just be one of the unlucky ones.

[emilyj]

I had both Paraguard and Mirena. Insertion with both sucked. I didn’t have any issues with Paraguard. Maybe a slightly heavier flow, but nothing unbearable.

I had it removed when I learned I had endometriosis in favor of Mirena. My sex drive tanked like mad on Mirena, and I ended up with horrific acne. I didn’t get a period, which was nice, but I wasn’t a fan.

I had it removed when I had my hysterectomy (when I learned I also had pretty severe adnomyosis). I wasn’t sad to see Mirena go.

[joenali]

Sept 14, 2019 19:11:14 GMT -5 emilyj said:

I had both Paraguard and Mirena. Insertion with both sucked. I didn’t have any issues with Paraguard. Maybe a slightly heavier flow, but nothing unbearable.

I had it removed when I learned I had endometriosis in favor of Mirena. My sex drive tanked like mad on Mirena, and I ended up with horrific acne. I didn’t get a period, which was nice, but I wasn’t a fan.

I had it removed when I had my hysterectomy (when I learned I also had pretty severe adnomyosis). I wasn’t sad to see Mirena go.

I’m so on the fence with having a hysterectomy for adenomysis. I had severe anemia last year and needed two iron infusions my flow was so heavy. I also missed several days of work because of my period. How are you feeling now? How was your recovery?

[chitownbelle]

I also have the Mirena. I was on orals for 11 years and went off of them in 2011/12 cold turkey and was infertile and had to conceive with IUI. After my daughter was born in 2014, I discovered why they make Super Plus tampons! Had the heaviest periods of my life, but didn't want to have to do fertility treatments again, so opted on no hormonal BC. Then I was able to get pregnant the 2nd (miscarriage) and 3rd times on our second month trying! After my 2nd was born, I got the IUD because I didn't want to go back on orals or have the responsibility to remember to take a pill every day...call me lazy. I am honestly exhausted all the time and feel like crud a lot. My periods barely exist, and when I do get one, it's basically light spotting. I maybe wear a light tampon 1 day every couple of months. We are pretty much done having kids, but I don't like the permanence of a vasectomy. I haven't even had the IUD 2 years, but will consider yanking it early if I can't get a hold on feeling like crap in the coming months. Unfortunately hormonal BC effects every woman differently, and we will all have different stories to tell and advice to give. I hope that whatever you choose works for you!

[MrsE]

No advice, just following. Thanks for asking. Hope you find a good solution.

[wambam]

I had a Paragard IUD for 6 years and had few complaints. I bled heavily and had cramps, but that was because I had undiagnosed endometriosis. Insertion was uncomfortable, but not unbearable.

I had it removed when I had a bilateral salpingectomy for permanent sterilization. That surgery was the biggest nothingburger of my life.

[wambam]

Sept 13, 2019 20:59:16 GMT -5 thom said:

Has anyone ever had any pushback on getting an IUD removed early? I really hope I can pick one & stick with it, but we’ll see how this goes.

I had mine removed after 6 years (not to get pregnant, because I was getting sterilized) with no issues. 

[gt7301b]

Sept 13, 2019 20:59:16 GMT -5 thom said:

I really appreciate everyone who chimed in. It is so nice to have a group like this where I know I can get real, honest feedback on personal / TMI stuff. The internet can be scary when it comes to reviews or anything medical!
Has anyone ever had any pushback on getting an IUD removed early? I really hope I can pick one & stick with it, but we’ll see how this goes.

Nope, I  called the office and scheduled an appointment to have it removed, I only needed one appointment and the removal was really easy too.

[oswin]

I've had both the Mirena and Paragard. I got the Mirena after having DS1, and it was my first experience with hormonal birth control (I've got a genetic clotting factor). I hated it, because it seemed like it was making me weepy (I'd get way more upset about things than usual). So I had it taken out after a year and we stuck with condoms until we decided to go for DS2. After DS2, I got a Paragard. For the first maybe 6 months my periods were heavier and longer, 2-3 days of heavy flow where my Diva cup would leak if I wasn't careful, total of 7-9 days. Now it's lighter and only lasts about 7 days, very light for the last few. Which is about what it was before, maybe one day longer. No other side effects. Planning to keep it for the rest of the 10 year span, then probably have DH get the snip.

[wawa]

Sept 17, 2019 8:20:12 GMT -5 oswin said:

I've had both the Mirena and Paragard. I got the Mirena after having DS1, and it was my first experience with hormonal birth control (I've got a genetic clotting factor). I hated it, because it seemed like it was making me weepy (I'd get way more upset about things than usual). So I had it taken out after a year and we stuck with condoms until we decided to go for DS2. After DS2, I got a Paragard. For the first maybe 6 months my periods were heavier and longer, 2-3 days of heavy flow where my Diva cup would leak if I wasn't careful, total of 7-9 days. Now it's lighter and only lasts about 7 days, very light for the last few. Which is about what it was before, maybe one day longer. No other side effects. Planning to keep it for the rest of the 10 year span, then probably have DH get the snip.

I should have just waited for you to post because this was precisely my experience as well.

[mrshandy]

I'm on my second Mirena as well. No periods for almost 10 years (some of that was pregnancy and mini pill). But I love it. 

It's really hard to gauge hidden side effects for me my body has gone through so many different phases the last 10 years that I don't know what's normal. I've been on some kind of birth control for many years other than being pregnant. 

I don't really want to start having periods again so I may keep my Mirena forever. Lol.