IUDs (Intrauterine Devices)

am 28 yrs old with to children youngest is 7. I just had the Paragard inserted yesterday afternoon. It really wasn't that bad! I had my children C-sections but went through 12 hrs of labor with 1st before they decided C-S would be best. I honestly felt more pressure than cramps. When she 1st measured my cervix I felt a cramp. Then she re-measured a couple times to make sure and that was just pressure. I flinched when she inserted the IUD but it really wasn't that painful. Take a friend if that helps. I did!!! I talked the entire time to keep my mind off it. After the procedure I felt a lil pressure the rest of the afternoon but no cramping. I took 800mg of ibu before going and took 400mg before bed. I put my back out the day before insertion so i'm taking the ibu now for back pain. But I still do not feel cramping or anything. I can tell my body is udjusting to it cause i feel a lil off but nothing terrible. I just hope this works because I'm not able to take the pill. The Dr had issue... Read more

I already talked about the insertion below (katekatekate), but couldn't remember my password here, so here is an update. It's been 8 months since I had a copper IUD inserted and my review went from great to good. Pros - not pregnant - very regular period, which I didn't have on BC pills since I was skipping period a lot and would get all paranoid about it - period eventually went from 9 days (7 very heavy days ) to 4-5 days (2 heavy days) - no vaginal infections or complications Cons - very painful cramps :( I get cramps before my period very bad, so sometimes I have to take 400 mg of ibuprofen just to get out of bed. Also I get cramps AFTER period or anywhere in between periods. FYI - my vaginal discharge changed. It kind of goes through stages during the cycle where before my period I get this thick whitish discharge. First I got all freaked out and went to the doctor. The doctor took swaps and did all sorts of tests, looked under the microscope and said there was nothing wron... Read more

I did tons of research prior to deciding on an IUD and then chose Paragard due to the side effects I was having from the hormones while I was on the pill. Being very apprehensive, especially since I have never had children and read hundreds of horror stories on the web, I am very glad I made the decision. I first decided to order the device directly from Paragard myself since my ins. has such a high deductible. They offer an interest free monthly payment plan directly to the consumer. Then I only had an invoice for the insertion from the MD. Unfortunately, I only had one OB-GYN in my area that would even look at me since I hadn't had kids and I was still told that insertion may not be possible that he would just have to do an exam to see. I took 800 mg ibuprofen 1 hr. before my appt. My cervix/uterus had to be measured ("sounded") to ensure the device could be inserted in the proper place so that I wouldn't be in constant pain from being too small and not being inserted high eno... Read more

i had the marina put in 4 months ago for heavy periods and bleeding for around 20 days per month ,, i have 5 children ,all grown up and am 45 yrs old . and although i had some headaches and more bleeding at first, my periods are already much lighter and my iron levels have gone up from 11 to 12.6 which means i can now give blood again as a donor for the first time in 4 yrs ,, i have also lost about 3 kg without changing my diet ,,i have been a bit moody but i am back on the evening primrose which seems to make a huge difference to my moods. so far so good ..

Copper IUD / Paragard review-- I just wanted to write a quick review on the Paragard IUD. When I was going to get one inserted, I did a lot of research, and some reviews almost scared me away. I'm glad I went through with it. I believe people are more prone to write reviews if they have a unique/negative experience. As some one who has a very positive experience so far with the copper IUD, I will probably be bored to tears writing this review. Alas, here it goes, because I promised myself that I would (no matter positive or negative), 1 year later. I should say I went to a RN who was very experienced with IUD placement. Insertion wasn't bad at all. Just three quick, sharp pains (one from measuring, another quick one from when they expand the uterus, and the last one from when the RN inserts the IUD). I am only 21 years old, with 0 pregnancies. I didn't use any pain meds for it, and it still was completely tolerable. However, after insertion, I had particularly bad cramps and... Read more

I just had the Mirena put in a few hours ago. I'm 29 years old and never had any children. I have been dealing with heavy bleeding and hemorraging for 6 years now. I've needed two blood transfusions, a D&C procedure and been through countless tests and procedures. My bleeding has never been controlled by any kind of pills, so my doctor finally recommended the Mirena. Before I went in today to have the Mirena put in, I read lots of these reviews on this site and truthfully was TERRIFIED. The way some people made the insertion process sound almost scared me out of not going through the procedure. That's why I felt like it was important to write my experience with the insertion. Before I went to the doctor, I took 2 prescription Naproxen (like a very strong Advil) that my doctor prescribed. Once there, my doctor took time to explain everything to me in great detail before starting. He also told me everything I would feel/experience before he did it. After putting the speculum... Read more

I had the IUD Mirena inserted November 2010 and let me tell you about that first. I cannot tell you enough how aweful it was. I dont think they tell you really how bad it is going to be. The cramps were unbearable. I have never had cramps before and have no children so this may be the reason why. I got the Mirena on a Friday and that night i would wake up from a dead sleep curled up and crying. I took several ibuprofens that weekend to make it through. Finally on Tuesday I called my gynecologist and got in on Wednesday to check and make sure it was placed right. On Wednesday the gyn told me everything was fine, and I could have him take it out if I want or wait it out. I decided to wait it out and by Saturday I was back to normal. FINALLY :) I have been gettiing my periods and cramps each month since it has been inserted however they are very light. Hopefully they will go away completely. The nice part is I dont have to take a birth control pill each day,which is awesome! I would neve... Read more

Hi everyone, i hope you find my review helpful! I've had all 3 IUDs and can review them from my experience......... Copper IUD with wired strings- 4 years- Good experience Mirena IUD (no periods)- 1 year- Bad experience- Gained 20 lbs but dropped them immediately after removal (no diet or exercise). Copper IUD with plastic strings- 10 months(100% breastfeeding) WONDERFUL! I'll start by telling you a little about myself. First of all, the only reason why i have had a three IUDs is because I've had three kids and an IUD is the only birth control method that I don't have to take daily, which i love. I am 25 years olds and im 5'3''. I got pregnant as a teenager (16) and after my daugther, i definetly didn't want kids for another while. I was very thin (115 lbs) before pregnancy and after the birth, carried 10 lbs more. i had the COPPER IUD inserted immediately at the six week checkup. I de... Read more

I had paragard inserted one month ago yesterday. I didn't plan to have it inserted that day-I had only gone in to discuss my birth control options. It sounded easy and as if there were no side effects. The insertion process took about 10 minutes. The pain lasted less than 30 seconds and I was told it was pain similar to labor contractions. I have never had children, nor do I plan to. The pain was tolerable at that point. I actually commented that that was not bad at all and the doctor said that was the worst of my pain. I walked out feeling good about my decision. I went shopping right after and I realized I was bleeding. Then, since my doctor said it was okay to go running afterwards, I went to the gym for my normal hour long work out. On the drive home from the gym, the worst pain ever began and lasted for three days. I bled way more than I ever have in my 30 years. It was embarrassing to have to wear pads too since I never have. the past month I have bled daily, but not excessively.... Read more

3 stars (put your rating here! 1-5 stars I have had a paragard IUD for 6 months. I am 34 and have one child by vaginal delivery. I thought the insertion was ok, painful but only for a few minutes. I am thinking about having it removed because I have been very tired and have had 3 cases of flu like symptoms. I know it was not the flu because I was put on an antibiotic and felt better each time. I thought maybe I had sinusitis because I have had occasional infections. But, now, I am starting to wonder if the symptoms were due to a uterine infection. I have had odor after sex, which is a symptom of BV. I am not sure if it has made me anemic, I know I was not before I got the iud because I had an H/H checked before insertion. I also do not feel like I am ovulating because I have a decreased sex drive, like while on the pill. I know that after a woman has her uterus removed, she can stop ovuIating, like her body knows there is no uterus. I wonder if the inflammation in my uterus has cause... Read more

Today I got my second ParaGard inserted. I got my first one after I had my 1st child (I was breastfeeding and didn't want any hormones, so this was what I opted for). I took some Motrin before my appointment as advised by my doctor. I felt a slight pinch that felt like a mild contraction when they dilated my cervix for insertion. After that I was fine. I met a friend at the mall immediately afterwards. I had to stop and pop a couple motrin at one point, but it was nothing major...just some small cramps that went away and didn't hinder our shopping trip at all. I didn't have any spotting with it either. My period did arrive (first postpartum) a few days afterwards, but my doctor somehow said that she could see that I was about to start before she even did the insertion. It was a great experience for me...my periods did not change in any way. My husband and I decided that we were going to try for another baby, so I had it removed after having it in for just 9 months. I got pr... Read more

I previously had Para Guard for 5 years and was almost symptom free however I was very prone to BV infections! My period was always on point and lasted only 2 very light spotting days followed by 2 heavy days. I took out the Para Guard 4 months ago due to the recurring infections as my GYN said that the strings carried the infection so I would need a new one. I just got the new one put in yesterday so will keep you posted. BTW. I am 34y/o with 2 children.

I had the copper IUD put in a year and a half ago, not to long after I had my second child and its been insane the whole time and now im finally fed up! and getting it removed today. i have an appt. so yah my experiece has been periods heavy!!!.. or spotting the whole month or getting a reg period and thinking it was done and ending for a couple days and it starting back up for a couple more days... ya its been crazy.. i never know when im gonna bleed.... I feel sluggish and moody most of the time! and when i told my doctor about this after 6 months of going through this she had said oh it must be MY hormones doing it and not the copper IUD's fault! " well i say thats bull sh*t kinda crazy how i can go from normal periods and having engery to my periods being so screwed up and moody right after I get this IUD in... ya anyways I gave it a try and cant handle it anymore I only put this in because after mt second i wanted to wait on having a third and didnt want anything with hormones an... Read more

hate it, hate it, hate it!!!!! i'm 17 years old, i got an IUD put in because my gyno said it was the best thing for my ENDOMETROSIS and POLYSYSTIC OVARIAN(im one lucky girl) these two 'diseases' are VERY painful when attacks start, or when my period comes along, first off, the day i got it in, "little cramps" my bum! i was crying of pain, my gyno said i would just feel "little twitches", i was bleeding for 22 days straight (heavily) and it never stopped, to the point where it was dripping down my ankle, i would have mood swings, i was hostile all the time, i was depressed, had anxiety(previously, but it just made it worse) headaches, my breasts were SO tender it was terrible, and i had even more attacks with it in then i did with it out!. i've tried every birth control pill, and the IUD was my last choice, i finally decided that all natural was best!!! when i read these reviews i had to do mine, just incase other younger people were on here and read up on things(: but this is just MY b... Read more

I have a Paragard IUD. The insertion wasn't as bad I thought. I took 4 pills of ibuprofen about an hour before my appointment. After reading all of the comments, I was sitting in the doctor's office absolutely petrified, which I started feeling even worse when I saw all the metal tools they were going to use to open my cervix. So the doctor gave me 10 mg of valium to calm me down. The insertion itself wasn't that bad at all, sharp pain lasted only for a few minutes when they were measuring my cervix. The worst part for me was the first half an hour after the insertion since I fainted in the hallway. The doctor let me lay down for another 30 minutes, gave me a juice box and I was feeling just fine after that. Later that day, my cramps felt no more severe than regular menstrual cramps, so I took 2 pills of ibuprofen before I went to bed. Also I was bleeding heavily after the insertion, but the blood flow decreased significantly by the evening and was completely gone within a few days. S... Read more

I had a Paraguard IUD in for a little over a year . I had it put in after I had my daughter. The reason why I am writing a review is because I really want women to BE AWARE of what has happened to me regardless of what the Doctors tell you (especially when they say certain side effects have nothing to do with the IUD). While I had the IUD I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism. I was extremal TIRED to the point where I could not even function or think properly. I LOST half of my HAIR literally, my SEX DRIVE was WAY down and then a week before I had the IUD removed I got this horrible PRESSURE on my BLADDER, my periods were very heavy (compared to light periods with no BC) and my cramps were very painful. I also experienced dry scaly skin, hives (which I NEVER had before in my life). As soon as it was taken out I felt no more pressure on my bladder and my sex drive went through the roof. That isn't all... After I had the IUD removed my energy went back to they way it always has been... Read more

I had Mirena for the full 5 years and almost had another one placed after getting the old one removed 2 days ago but decided to try Implanon instead. Mirena worked great the first year I had it I stopped getting periods completely and had no side effects, then after that they became very irregular and I started having light periods/spotting that would last 3 or 4 days about twice a month, some were heavier than others but then some months I wouldnt get one at all and they were never heavy enough to wear a tampon (before mirena, I had VERY heavy periods and required a tampon and a pad and they lasted 7-9 days). I did notice it gave me SEVERE PMS though, especially in the last year I had it in and severe acne. I never had any weight gain in fact I lost weight over the 5 years, I went from being 120 lbs to 107 lbs without any dieting. Mirena also gave me headaches and dizziness especially in the last few months. When having mirena removed they almost had to surgically remove it because th... Read more

I am 16 years old and have been on the pill for a year and a half. I started forgetting my pills and knew it was too big of a risk so I told my mother we needed to consider a new form of birth control. I did not want to end up being a teen mom. I went to a clinic near my house and spoke with the health nurses about the Nuva Ring and the IUD (mirena). She talked me into trying the IUD and said it was the "BEST" form of birth control available. I was told to call the OB GYN when I started my period to make an appointment and the night before I had to insert four pills into my vagina to "help relax and open" my cervix. I have NEVER had children so obviously my cervix had never been opened. I was told it would hurt a little so I was not very scared when entering the office for my appointment. The doctor told me to relax and I was trying my hardest but whatever the tool was that he used to open my cervix delivered the most harshest pain I had ever felt in my entire life. I screamed and ... Read more

I just got a Paragard today. I have never had children and do not what any. I was really scared because of all the negative information I read online, but I wanted a form of birth control that does not involve hormones. My doctor was really helpful and supportive. About an hour before the procedure, I took 800mg of Motrin. It felt like cramps when she opened my cervix. It only lasted for about a minute. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Unlike period cramps, it stopped once she was in. Overall, it took about 3 minutes. The longest part was waiting for her to change her gloves. She told me I couldn't put anything in my vagina for 48 hours (not even a tampon, since I am on my period) and that I needed to come back for a check up in 4 weeks. The rest of the day I have been taking 2 Motrin every 4 hours, immediately when I start to cramp and I have been totally fine. I prepared myself for the worst and it wasn't too bad....really! If you get one, just keep taking some kind of pain... Read more

Paragard. I just got the paragard put in a few days ago. The insertion hurt pretty bad. It was like one quick stab (think that was the tube opening the cervix) and then a really bad cramp from the IUD going into place in the cervix. On a scale of 1 to 10 the crap was only like an 8. I am 21, no children and had been on the pill for a few years now and was just sick of it. I do not like using animal products so the pill was becoming a big issue for me seeing as how all of those are tested on animals and most if not all contain animal products (like urine and sheep fat) GROSS!!! This first period so far has not been too bad. The first few days before getting the IUD I only had one cramp then after I have had dull cramping on and off. I did take two advil about an hour after the insertion, just in case. My doctor did tell me to use backup protection for the first two months. So far it seem like I will love having this. Nothing to worry about and no bad stuff! I have not had sex with i... Read more

I had a Paragard for about 2 years, and had done all the research, thinking it would be a good decision. I was wrong, my periods went to hell, the worst cramping and heavy bleeding. I didn't mind at first , figured its part of life & dealt with, peace of mind, right? Then I started getting different problems, sharp pains and infections. I went to the doctors apparently my strings were knotted up, they said this was not a problem, well it was. I had cotton trapped and wrapped around it. Still they said this wasn't the problem. I cant believe professional's would tell me that this was not a problem. After talking to a friend who was a R.N they were shocked that they would argue with me & deny the issues that were occurring. I looked online for anything about the strings getting knotted up, nothing.... anyone else have this happen??? I think its a great idea (no hormones), why cant we come up with something that is not such a health hazard/painful for women?

I am a 21 year old mother of one. I considered getting the IUD copper-T known as Paraguard for more protection and security. I had the IUD for 3 years already The pill does not work, and basically almost every other method contains hormones, and i sure dont want to gain more weight since i'm already 2oo pounds. Well let me just aware you of the pro's and con's of the Copper T IUD. Pros:99.9% effective & lasts up tp 10 years, dont need to worry about taking a pill everyday or getting the shot every 3 months or inserting the Nuva ring every3 weeks. The copper T IUD is very convenient, and does not releases any hormones unlike the Mirena iud which is good only for 5 years. A visit to the doctor once every 6 mos or once a year is highly recommended to make sure its in its proper place and position. All you have to check for is the string once a month (a do it yourself procedure). Cons: VERY VERY HEAVY bleeding, and LONGER periods that usual lasts up to 3 weeks. Some discomfort maybe exp... Read more

I had the Merina for three years, around that time I started having side effects such as severe cramping, headaches, no sex drive. I had to have it surgically removed because the doctor cut the strings too short and it was inside my cervix. It was great not to have to worry about getting pregnant but I wouldn't do use an IUD again.

Hello ladies. I was Googling "IUD reviews" and found this site. I am 46 and had a Paragard inserted last week. Because I've never wanted to have children, I've tried a number of birth control methods over the years. Most recently I was on the NuvaRing, but I suspected that the hormones were making me gain weight and I know they suppressed my sex drive. I was raised in a time when the Dalkon Shield scare had just happened, so IUDs had a terrible reputation and I had never considered one. Then, a couple years ago at Planned Parenthood I noticed a brochure about the Paragard and read it while I was waiting. Then I asked the nurse practitioner about IUDs and how the science had advanced since the bad old days. She said "I think it's the best method now available"! She also said it would take me right through to menopause without having to think about birth control. Her comments and the prospect of no hormones was very appealing to me, but it took me a couple years to act on it.... Read more

I am a 21 year old virgin haha i know weird but my fiance and I decided to wait till marriage to have sex, well its about that time :) so I knew that I would be needing a birth control. Him and I both don't want children so I decided to go for the Mirena in the event we change our mind. Today at 10 am i got the Mirena IUD put in... I came to this website the night before to see what people had said about their experiences.. So of course I was scared out of my mind. Everyone said how awful it was and how bad it hurt.. Not my experience. It feels just like a pap but with more pressure. Nothing crazy painful or even close. After it was inserted i had "period like" cramps for about an hour, took 2 naproxen and I haven't felt a thing since and its 11pm. So far so good. I hope further down the road I can say the same things about Mirena but for right now I would say I love it. You cant even tell its there. Just a little bit of light spotting nothing else. I cant wait to test this puppy out! ... Read more

I have had many of the same experiences as have been posted. Had I read some of these before, I would not have had my second IUD put in less than a year ago. My first IUD was placed after my second child as i was not certain if we would try again. I was told I woudl feel a pinch and i did, but I also had considerable cramping, which i breathed through. It felt like mini labour pains to me. But i had no period and i didn't have to worry about forgetting to take my pills. My PMS seemed to be much less. The problems did not seem to be too major - although i did have issues with depression (which i had previously as well). It remained in for more than five years as my doctor was not worried about it. My problems did not begin until I went to have it removed (or so I had thought until reading many of these posts). We booked to remove the old one and put in a new one at the same time. First problem was he opened the new one before getting the old one out. Then he could not find the old ... Read more

I had the ParaGard put in three days ago. I am 23 and havent had any children. I have been on seasonel for a little over a year. I have had the normal side affects of the BC. I love not having a period everymonth but i have gained 20lbs and cry for no reasons from the hormones. I wanted to try a BC that had none. So after research and a talk with my OB I decided to get the ParaGard. It was extremly painful but i guess that was because it took my OB 3 times to put it in. Finally on the 3rd attempt she told me it wasnt going to work for me but when she tried to take it out it wouldnt come out. She told me to wait a couple days to see if my uterus would relax and let it stay in place. Over the next 2 days i have had intense pain and cramping. I had to miss work the day it was put i. This morning i woke up with a sharp pain and started to bleed heavy. I called my OB after 3 hours of massive bleeding and she told me to come in right away for an ultrasound. There was nothing wrong w... Read more

I just had the Paraguard IUD put in about a month ago. I am 20 years old and have never had any kids. I really wanted to try something with no hormones in it so thats why I chose the Paraguard IUD. It is true that if you have not had kids it is much more painful getting it inserted. I have never gone through anything more painful in my life. I have just gotten my first period with this object in me three days ago. I have used almost triple the amount of tampons I usually do. This upsets me since it is costing me more money. I also take more and more pain medication which is also costing me more money. (I am the typical broke college student so having to spend more money on these things is affecting me). I honestly don't know what I should do. The cramps I have had has interferred with school and work. I want to leave it in for at least a year to see how much better or worse it will get. But I am honestly scared for my next period. Obviously I don't want to live this way. I try to ... Read more

I hope my review helps people make the best decision for themselves. I have also updated this review with several additional comments that I added within the last year updating on my experience with Mirena. Please read the additional comments to find out about my latter experiences. : ) I got my mirena inserted 18 days ago. I got mine inserted due to endometriosis. I am 43 years old and have been on the pill for the last twenty years. I have two children who are now 19 and 22. I was told by my doctor when I had turned 43, I could no longer be on the pill ! : ( I had been on the 21 day pill cycle, so therefore I had no menstrual cycle for the last 7 years. Being free of endometriosis and my period for those years was so wonderful. Within a few months of switching to a much lower dose pill my periods and pain returned with a vengeance. I had to try something so I decided on the Mirena IUD. I did not take any pain medication before insertion and I now wish that I would have. I have had... Read more

I've had Paragard since six weeks after the birth of my second child. The placement was difficult and somewhat painful however I have a tilted cervix which makes everything from childbirth to PAP smears more difficult, so I don't know if my experience reflects that of the average user. I was lactating when I had the Paragard inserted and therefore had no menstrual period for the first six months I had it in. At this point in time I felt like this was the best birth control I'd ever used - of course I hadn't had a period yet. My first period when I stopped lactating was so terrifying I actually went to the hospital. The flow was exceedingly heavy, and though it's tapered off a bit over time, I still have extremely heavy menstrual periods that last up to eight days a month. I also noticed menstrual cramping which I'd describe as pretty painful though not debilitating - this is a symptom that I had never experienced prior to Paragard placement. Those are the side effects I deal wit... Read more

Shortly after insertion (which was painful and during which I almost passed out) Paragard IUD perforated my uterus and migrated into abdominal cavity!!! The next day I went to the doctor who did not find strings and therefore ordered sonogram. My sonogram was ready only on Thursday (IUD was inserted on Tuesday) and showed no IUD in my uterus! I was surprised that OB GYN office did not have an ultrasound mashine. I think every such office should have one to monitor IUD insertions (not talking about doing pregnancy ultrasounds). After negative ultrasound results, my doctor ordered X-RAY, and I had to spend almost the whole day waiting for the results. The perforation caused me such severe sharp pains in my pelvic that I screamed sometimes. I had a scheduled laporascopic surgery only a week after insertion to get it removed. Needless to say, that week was miserable and I was afraid that IUD could cause infection or damage other organs! I even had to go to the ER because I was scared a... Read more

Paragard almost killed me when I became pregnant in my falopian tube which ruptured on an artery. I was 23, in perfect health and had a tiny infection on the device which gave me NO syptoms but caused it to stop working. Also have heard of many babies conceived on Paragard. Not worth the risk.

IUD: My uterus was perforated at insertion!! (T-safe CU 380A QL) After what I went through last week, I feel I must add my review since I NEVER imagined that I could be the 1 in 1000 with a perforated uterus!! I am absolutely gutted. :( The GP used anaesthetic to make it easier to insert, because I had a c-section so my cervix had never actually been opened. It was still incredibly painful! The GP said I should not feel any cramps after 2 days, however I still felt mild cramps and went back after 5 days. They told me to go to the hospital, (St Thomas, London) to get a scan since the string was no longer visible and it probably moved to the wrong position. After a long wait I finally saw a senior doctor who did proper scans and found the Copper IUD was halfway between the uterus and abdominal cavity!!! They wanted to operate the same night since the thing was causing infection and could damage other organs. They operated the next day and when I woke up, the consultant explain... Read more

I had the Paraguard IUD for a year. I LOVED it because it was so easy and I did not have to think about it every day. Unfortunately my periods became VERY heavy. Cramps were not that bad but my periods were heavy and long. I didn't really think too much of it because my doctor told me this should pass by the six month mark. I had my regular physical in January and I told my doctor how I was so incredibly tired. She ordered a CBC and found that I was very anemic. I was put on over the counter iron pills. I was checked in February and March and my H+H was not any better and my doctor also checked my Iron TIBC and Ferritin. Come to find out I had probably been anemic for quite some time since I had essentially no iron stores in my body. I had to see a hematologist who ordered 5 doses of IV iron. Pretty scary stuff. It was determined since I did not have heavy periods before the IUD and because my periods were so heavy that the IUD was the reason for my anemia. I reluctantly e... Read more

I'm seeing a lot of awful reviews about the IUD and there are a few things to keep in mind when you consider it. First off, I only looked at reviews for it when I was having a bad time and when everything evened out, I sort of spaced it out so keep in mind that most women that have good experiences with it don't feel the need to research, therefore good reviews are scarce although the IUD itself is great. Second, it's good to remember that this is a completely foreign object placed in your body. Your body is going to try and reject it and this gets worse if your body doesn't have good immunity, you smoke, drink a lot, etc. I smoked and just toned it down a little, realizing that it probably wasn't helping my starting months and the pain immediately decreased. I'm not saying you have to quit or immediately become the healthiest person you will ever be, but it really does help to 'help' the IUD find it's home in your body and welcoming it as a fragile object. Also, the pain does go away.... Read more

I've had the paragard IUD for almost two years now. I'm 22, no kids. The biggest selling point for me was that I don't want to have kids for a few years, and my birth control was just getting more and more expensive. I love the IUD. Every part of it. My periods are more "like clockwork" now, but my flow is about the same. I do have slightly worse cramps -- nothing that would make me change my mind about having it. The funny part about my cramps is that before I got the IUD inserted I would only have cramps the day of my period, and never before or after that. Now, it seems like I get cramps 3-4 days beforehand, maybe lasting a day or two. But, as I said, nothing that's too bad. Having said that, I do think it was the best decision I could have made for me. I have had zero complications. I will say, however, that if you haven't had kids, be prepared for the pain. If you don't tolerate pain well, request your gynecologist to give you a prescription for pain meds. I handle p... Read more

"Thank God I wasn't born a woman".

Ok, let me first state that I've only had the copper Paragard in for a little over a month. However, I seem to have had VERY little complications compared to most, so far, so I wanted to share that. I'll be back here months later to give an update. **SEE BELOW AFTER YOU READ THIS; I HAVE UPDATED THIS REVIEW.** I'm 25, very healthy -- ideal weight, exercise, fruit and veggies, ect. Never had children. I've had normal periods, only occasionally I'd get moderately bad cramps; severe ones maybe once a year. My periods were nothing heavy. Before getting the Paragard inserted, I was not taking hormones or anything. (I had taken hormones in the past and disliked their weight-gain and emotionally-numbing side effects, which is why i chose this method of BC). All of this information is really important to state before explaining how the paragard has affected you. Insertion was, indeed, one of the most painful things I've experienced. According to the person who performed it (a Plann... Read more

There are so many horror stories floating around the Internet about IUDs, Paragard in particular, that I'm afraid it will scare women away! I am a 32 yo female, never had any children, and I had the Paragard IUD inserted about 3 months ago. I love, love, love, love, love it. It was by far the best decision for me and for 10 years of birth control, you can't beat it. Now, I'll be honest, having it inserted was no fun whatsoever. It goes to a place where things are just not supposed to go, so it's not pleasant, and I won't lie about that. But, an hour after I had it inserted, I was fine . . . only a little mild cramping. By the end of the day, it was like I hadn't even had anything done. I have had zero problems and I love having a nonhormonal form of birth control, and I love not having to remember to take a pill every day or change a ring every 4 weeks. The only downside for me is that my periods have gone from 2-3 days max with light flow and no cramps to about 6 days max, wi... Read more

I recently got the Mirena IUD. I read many reviews and felt I needed to post a review of it. There are so many scary reviews, that it might frighten some people away. If you are thinking about getting an IUD and you are currently on birth control pills, I would recommend getting off of those completely for 3 to 6 months. Some of the reviews I read made me wonder if they had just recently stopped their pills just prior to getting an IUD. Get off the pill first and see if you like it better. Some women have more benefits on the pill than off of it, and you really should make sure that you are happier off the pill first. The procedure isn't too bad. It isn't the most pleasant thing in the world, but it feels like bad cramps and is over very quickly. Afterwards, you will very likely feel sore and have cramps. Let me repeat that, you will likely feel sore and have cramps. Some of the reviews I read made me wonder about the women getting them, it was as though they thought the pain would ins... Read more

I recently got the iud of paraguard. This was the best decesion for me. Since the age of 18 of having sex I have never used any form of birth control other then condoms. Basically my main concern was the hormones that unaturally throw me off balance. When i was informed even though i haven;t had a child i was approved to have the paraguard iud . i was ectastic. For the first 3 days I had spotting which didnt bother me. Then the first day of insertion i had intense cramping. Now a week later im so happy to have a non hormal form of birth control. i am pro choice about women sexual health and i think its a great idea for a person in a serious relationship to get an iud.

This is my first time reviewing a product, and my goal is to be honest and factual rather than let my emotions do the writing! I'm 32 years old and just had my second laparoscopic procedure for endometreosis (in two years--I had rapid regrowth) on March 19th. I have never been pregnant. My gynecologist (male) wanted to put me on Lupron, but as my family doctor (female) put it, "That's a frightening drug." Nevertheless, I wanted desperately to avoid having another painful regrowth so quickly, and I had read that the Mirena IUD is used in Europe to slow endometriosis regrowth. I asked my gynocologist if it could be inserted immediately after my procedure (since I would still be under anaesthesia), and he said yes. One quick note--another reason I liked the idea of the Mirena was because the hormones it contains are not distributed directly into the blood stream, as are the hormones in birth control pills. I had been on the Nuvaring for several years (also very low dose) and I love... Read more

I had Mirena for 2 years. At first, I was very pleased. The insertion was not terrible, and I was excited for my periods to stop. I had several friends who absolutly loved theirs, and only one who had had a bad experience. However, for about 17 months, I had abnormal, frequent spotting: 3 days on, 4 off, 6 on, 2 off... After sex (normal, never rigorous) alcohol, or randomly. I was moody, lacked sex drive and failed to lose weight, even while maintaining a 1300 calorie diet and obsessively working out. I have had my thyroid checked, went on anti-depressants and anti-anxieties. I experienced frequent UTIs, chronic yeast infections and BV, I was odorous, itchy and constantly discharging brownish mucous. I also had this constant full, painful almost bloated feeling in my abdominopelvic area. Finally, while volunteering @ a mass immunization clinic, I ran into 4 other medical professionals in the restroom. We all happened to be scrounging around for change or pantyliners. We began to talk a... Read more

I rate this a 3 star. I got the Merina placed in 6.15.09. That makes it right @ 6 weeks after we had our second child. After the Merina was inserted I didn't feel any pain/bleeding. That's a good thing. The worse of everything, I feel like I get sick often. Maybe that mite be allergy. But around Janurary for a mth I was vomiting feeling sick, with everything I ate. Of course that made me think and I went to a Dr. Nope not pregnancy! Thank God. Sometimes I feel like my Uterus was twitching. It happens rarley and lightly. I was haveing a regular period every mth until last mth I stop haveing a period. I don't know what happened. They say your period mite stop/or lighten after time. Overall I LOVE the MERINA! My husband wants me to take it out because he wants another baby. But lucky me I used the excuse that I can't take it out untill 4 1/2yrs. Lol, So hopefully my Merina dosnt fail me!

Im 29, never been prego and dont plan on it for the next few years. My doc wants me to switch from regular bc pills to micronor which is a progestin only pill or mirena or paragard due to my high blood pressure. I have read reviews on all 3 but i still dont know which is the best for me. I have been off bc for a month now as i have been on regular bc for over 10 yrs and thought that while i decide whats the best option i would give my body a rest. I liked being on bc. I had no trouble taking the pills but now that i have been off them, i think the pills may have caused my migrains, weight gain and acne. well, maybe i should say the desogen did b/c i was on lutera before i had to switch to the desogen b/c i moved to a diff state and that planned parenthood didnt have lutera and i didnt have those symptoms when i was on the lutera. anyway, the micronor pill that my dr wants me to switch to has no estrogen and if you dont take it the same day at the same time your chances of getting preg... Read more

I have never provided an online/Internet review before, but I have to share my Mirena experience with those who are considering it as a form of birth control. I am a healthy 34-year-old with one 3-year-old child. I didn't want to return to birth control pills and wanted a form of birth control with low dose hormones. Friends provided me with positive experiences and I read extensively about the pro's and con's. On 2/25/2010, I had the Mirena inserted. The insertion was a bit uncomfortable, but nothing too extraordinary. I had taken 800mg of ibuprofen prior to the insertion. I had spotting for the next two days. I had no other problems. Four days later, on 3/1/2010, I started bleeding like I was on my period. I thought it was a bit strange because I had just finished my menstrual cycle. I started to experience cramping and began to take ibuprofen. As the cramping continued, I went online to read about how other people felt post-insertion. The cramping got progressively wo... Read more

in a 18 yr old mother. Personaly i like the iud, besides the pain in the begining (nothing compaired to child birth.) i have had side effects, cramps,headaches, bloating, nausea, mood changes. its nothing you cant deal with on a daily basis. knowing i wont get pregnant for 5 years is a great feeling!

As most of us had, I read tons of reviews on so many different sites about mirena, and honestly I wasn't really nervous until I was sitting on the table half naked waiting for the nurse. I came in and there were a bunch of things laying out on the counter and I realized they were all just to put this thing in me-that's when the nerves kicked in. I am 17 years old and never been prego. I had to make the appointment a month out because my gynos office was really busy, but when it came to the day of, I was on the second day of my period and apparently that makes the rate of expulsion too high. We rescheduled for about 5 days later. I had to take a pregnancy test both times, the first seemed somewhat pointless considering I was on my period but hey. gotta do what you gotta do. I laid down and held on tight to my mom's hand and I will be completely upfront with you, there was pain. But not nearly what I was expecting. When I walked in that office I was expecting to want to die from the pain... Read more