[Chantilly]

I had my Paragard taken out on December 28, 2010. I tried to conceive a few weeks later because I was told that there would not be any delay. My concern is that as of today, I am 5 days late from starting my period but I am getting negative pregnancy test results (7 to be exact). Is there a certain amount of time before your cycle continues?? I figured since I had a cycle last month and it was always on time while I had the IUD that it would pick up where it left off when I had the IUD removed. Am I wrong??

[dee_tea]

After doing TONS and TONS of research - I decided to have a copper IUD (nova T) inserted - because I read SOOO many horror stories, I promised myself I would make sure I came back to post my experience in hopes that it helps a few ladies out there contemplating the same thing!

From what I've been reading - everybody is different, and everyone reacts completely differently. Also - people who post have usually had bad experiences and that's why they came to post.

My experience - So far - has been amazing = ) I barely felt the insertion, it was very similar to getting a pap smear. Afterwards, pretty bad cramps ... I highly recommend having a heating pad and some pain medication ready for after the insertion. It's only been a few hours since I had it put in place, and my cramps are already starting to get a bit better. I was expecting WAY worse so I am pretty relieved. I have a friend who has had the exact same experience as me, except she has had twins and I have never had babies. I'm definitely open to sharing more detail as I continue to experience this little copper guy - so if anyone wants to message me with questions please feel free! Hope that helps !!

- D

[OregonGirl]

Cramps that come with my regular period make me feel very ill, and I absolutely hate having pap tests done.

So I'm so very afraid of having paragard. It's been suggested to me too, because I hated taking hormonal bc and now use no birth control, but I'm just scared.

[viola]

Hi Ladies, I am leaning towards trying the Paragard. I'm 50, used a diaphram my whole life. But I've had wicked yeast infections, so I can't use spermacide anymore. My gyno recommened either Paragard or Essure Permanent. I'm leaning towards paragard. Can't hurt to try it, if I have problems, I'll just get it removed. I'll probably be fine on it. Not looking forward to heavier periods though, many years ago I had a UFE for fibroids that bleed like crazy. My periods have been a breeze ever since.

[kschuffert]

Hey guys, I joined this because I need advice. A little background on me: I'm 22, I had 3 small blood clots in me lower right leg below my calf about 6 months ago. I was on the NuvaRing from 2006 until this blood clot issue happend in June of 2010. I tested negative for the Protein C deficiency my father has that makes him have blood clots so my doctor said it was probably the hormones in the NuvaRing that caused them. My gyno said that since I was a special case he would let me get the Mirena IUD. Well I did and it was so painful afterwards that I think I was cramping for like 3 weeks after. Then I began to get really bad acne on my shoulders/upper arms, face/neck, and back. Which I have always had acne but this was the worst, it hurt so bad if I was just sitting still. Then I began having horrible hot flashes and would wake up in the middle of the night drenched in sweat. So of course I turned to Google and found that a lot of women were having the same problem and after they got theirs out they problems went away. So after about a month and a half I made my gyno take it out and he told me there was basically nothing else I could use. So I went to another gyno for a second opinion and he said I could use the Paragard since it has no hormones in it but I am so scared that I will have the same side affects and horrible periods/pain that I had with the Mirena. I really want some type of birth control because me and my boyfriend of almost 7 years are not big fans of using condoms and I am tired of stressing myself out if I am late on my period. Please help!!

[jenniferw413]

I had Paragard inserted last August. The insertion was not as bad as I was told it was going to be! It hurt for a few seconds, then nothing. I had some pretty bad cramping that night, but nothing a little Advil and a heating pad couldn't take care of. One of my gf has Mirena, and she said that she feels like she is losing her mind constantly, and she is gaining weight. She actually is thinking about having it removed and getting Paragard. I haven't had any issues at all. No break through bleeding, no weight gain, nothing. I had been on Depo right after my son was born, and I gained almost 45 pounds!

It effects everyone differently...worse case is you have it put in, and it causes unwanted symptoms. So then you get it taken out.

Good luck!

[kschuffert]

Ok well I got my blood work results back and I definitely do have the Protein-C deficiency that causes blood clots. The NP said that I can't have any birth control with any kind of hormones so it is a good thing I ended up having the Mirena removed because I'm not supposed to even have the progesterone in it. So it looks like Paragard it is!! Maybe it won't be so bad since I have already experienced getting the Mirena inserted *fingers crossed* lol!!

[BeckyP84]

Hello Ladies! I wanted to share my Paragard experience with you for anyone wondering if it's worth it. I am 26 and have never had children

I was on Mirena from November 2010 until yesterday (5/2/11) and gained 15lbs during that time. I am an avid runner and training for a half marathon in June and the weight would not come off no matter what. The only thing different was the Mirena. So I had it removed and my Dr. suggested Paragard since it was hormone free.

The procedure was less than 5 minutes! There were two cramp-y feelings, one when she was measuring my uterus and the 2nd when she inserted the IUD. The 2nd camp was the longest and the worse of the two but went away after a few minutes. I was up and walking around in a matter of minutes after all was said and done. I was a little crampy for the rest of the day but nothing I couldn't pop a couple Advil for! I went back to work and was there the rest of the day. I do have a little bleeding but I'm not concerned because she did remove the Mirena and put in Paragard, as of today it's pretty much gone.

Today has been really good, I have only taken ibuprofen in the morning, this was recommened from other forums I have read to help with the inflammation. I also started taking Evening Prime Rose vitamins because it helps with your cycle and keeping it pretty regular.

My Dr. said that I need to check for the string in a couple days for a few days in a row. She said as long as I feel the strings I am in good shape, if there is a day that I don't feel the strings I need to call her ASAP because it means the IUD has become embedded in my uterus and needs to surgically be removed, if I feel too much string it means my body is rejecting the IUD. I am scheduled to go back in 2 weeks for her to check everything out and make sure it stayed in place and we are good to go.

I am really excited about this because I have been on hormonal BC for the last 10 years!

[EyeRoll]

S2009
I'm sorry to hear that you had to have your IUD removed.
Hope that you can come back and give us an update to let us know if you are feeling that pinch. Did it just get worse and worse throughout the months? Did you rule out anything else that might have caused you that pain other than your IUD.

So, far today marks my third week since I got my ParaGard. I have no problems with it. I"m on my period right now. Yes, I have noticed a heavier longer flow. I'm hoping that it will subside by Friday. I have an appt for my follow-up visit on Friday. I have not had any cramps at all. I'm hoping that this will be the case in future monthly visits for me. I'm also crossing my fingers that my body will except the IUD. So, far so good.

I just had mine put in on Monday. Today is Thursday and I thought those first 3 days would never end. I have a tight muscle that cramps, and it nearly paralyzes my leg, this is a normal thing for me and after having my cervix dilated, that cramp stayed for 3 days. Today is not as bad (AT ALL), but now am starting my cycle.

To note, I have felt a feeling of fullness, almost like my digestive system stopped working. I get a sharp pain every once in a while, I attribute this to my cervix trying to cope with the strings hanging out. Which, btw, were not easy to find at first and that kind of scared me. Now that I know how far in they are, I'm not concerned at all. It is hard to stand up and sit down right now, my body is definitely in a "laboring" process.

I chose the non-hormonal IUD because BC hormones make me a flaming jerk. When I realized what I was doing once (let's call it a light case of road rage), I got off hormones. I suffered a miscarriage last summer and at this point in my life don't see myself ever having children. This was where my doctor and I met in the middle, I wanted a hysterectomy, she wanted to keep me on the NuvaRing.

[BeckyP84]

I just had mine put in on Monday. Today is Thursday and I thought those first 3 days would never end. I have a tight muscle that cramps, and it nearly paralyzes my leg, this is a normal thing for me and after having my cervix dilated, that cramp stayed for 3 days. Today is not as bad (AT ALL), but now am starting my cycle.

To note, I have felt a feeling of fullness, almost like my digestive system stopped working. I get a sharp pain every once in a while, I attribute this to my cervix trying to cope with the strings hanging out. Which, btw, were not easy to find at first and that kind of scared me. Now that I know how far in they are, I'm not concerned at all. It is hard to stand up and sit down right now, my body is definitely in a "laboring" process.

I chose the non-hormonal IUD because BC hormones make me a flaming jerk. When I realized what I was doing once (let's call it a light case of road rage), I got off hormones. I suffered a miscarriage last summer and at this point in my life don't see myself ever having children. This was where my doctor and I met in the middle, I wanted a hysterectomy, she wanted to keep me on the NuvaRing.

Today is my 4th day as well! This day has been the best since having it put in...however like you my period has def started...but it's not as heavy and horrible as I thought. I don't know if taking ibuprofen and evening primrose helped or what but I can get used to this!

I also had a hard time finding my strings and started to freak out a little! But when I did find them I calmed down lol