Paraguard reviews - Mirena vs. Paragard IUD - Page 21

[MommyTee]

I came onto this blog because I'm doing research myself.  I got the Mirena a couple months after I had my baby and I had the worst experience ever!  I bled, NO LIE, for almost the entire 5 months that I had it. The longest that I went without bleeding at one time was 2 weeks.  I didn't even know when my period was, it was that bad.  It was a serious strain on my sex life and emotionally, I was a wreck.  Also, I agree with the lady that said that she could feel it.  The few times that we could have sex, I could feel it.  

I want to try the paraguard, but am now second-guessing after reading the experiences that you ladies are speaking about.

[Sara Hackeman]

I know this is a bit late... but I have had both the Mirena and the Paraguard.With the Mirena I bled (not exaggerating) 3YEARS! The ob/gyn started me out with up to 3 months that the bleeding/cramping should stop. Then she changed the story to 3-6m, then 6-9m, 9-12, 12-15m, etc. You get the point!! Finally after 3 years I was kinda rude but they would not remove it. And where I live, the place that inserts it has to be the one that removes it!! Finally I told them I would not leave until they removed it and they did. (HORRIBLE experience, never used that place again.)
The Paraguard I have had no problems with. It just barely pinched a Iittle. (With the Mirena it hurt like hell) I had it inserted shortly after I had my child, 10-16 weeks later, had retained afterbirth, I have had this for 4 years. My periods are very regular, and lighter and less crampy. I have found that I don't tolerate hormones at all. Birthcontrol pills, Depo Prevera, Lunelle (not sure how it is spelled, but doesn't matter cause it was recalled and I don't know if they put it back on the market) and a couple other methods that also included hormones, all the same result, I bled constantly. Not super heavy but had to wear a pad otherwise would go thru clothing, and cramping. Now in all fairness with the Mirena I was 21 years old and had NOT had a child. So I think that was part of the problem, my "new" ob.gyn said that they try not to insert in women that haven't had children because it tends to hurt more and it is just not recommended.

[Sara Hackeman]

I think maybe she was posting to rissadear, and i agree with with you both Mirena was HELL. Constant bleeding and cramping, I was always in agony and miserable. But with Paraguard it has been a wonderful experience!!!!

[Carol Zhu]

Personally, I am uncomfortable with the idea of any type of IUD, be it the hormonal version with Mirena or the copper Paraguard. I haven't done as much research on Paraguard, but I know that for Mirena, the manufacturer (Bayer) doesn't even really know exactly how it works. IUDs can also become an issue if they migrate and go through the wall of the uterus, in which case it no longer helps prevent pregnancy. On top of that, these types of birth control cost a ton of money. Why pay hundreds of dollars to take the risk when there are safer and cheaper options out there?  

http://www.publichealthwatchdog.com/doctors-conflicted-about-the-safety-of-iuds-new-study-suggests/

[blahblah14]

HM. I got mine in 2008. I didn't have any children prior to the IUD. I got a paraguard IUD. My girlfriend had one before me and she explained that the periods were CRAZY painful but in a different way. Instead of having cramps that last for hours and hours on end, all that pain is SMUSHED into 15 seconds of horror. But! I think our bodies release endorphins when the pain gets the high so it actually goes away quicker. That is just me and my friend's experince. No vagina-cold like experiences. I have always had heavy bleeding so I couldn't tell the difference. But after I got of progesterone, I lost weight and I was WAAAAAAAAAAAAAY less crazy.  Hormones make me fat, emotional, and irrational. Progesterone is the hormone that is released when you are pregnant so basically while on birth control,we all walk around with our bodies thinking we are pregnant and we have to eat for the baby. Not a good way to live your life.

[FCMom5]

OMGosh, my hair has been falling out like crazy for a really long time. I've had the Paragaurd IUD for 4 years and am just fed up with the hairloss and me not being able to figure it out. I finally just thought hmmm, maybe it's the IUD and googled it to find THIS.

I'm getting this thing removed, I'm done!!! I am at my wits end and want my hair to come back.

[asalin2]

I had the paragard in for about four in a half yrs, I had no problems with it, except it would hurt when i would have sex, but my partner was on the big side, I got used to it, I loved the paragard, My periods were normal and after it was removed I was pregnant soon after by my surprise, I was changing my birthcontrol and went to go get the other one in and by my surprise I was pregnant after it being out three short weeks. After I had my son I decided on the mirena, I just wanted to try it out because I heard to can quit getting your periods with it, Now im second guessing it because thats really not healthy, I havent had a period in three months and i just had it inserted and six months ago, My husband also states he can feel it and never complained about the paragard, I also read there was a recall on the mirena and I dont want to have complications getting pregnant again when we decide we are ready, Im going next month to get it removed and go back to the paragard because I had no problems with it, even though im not having problems with the mirena better safe then sorry. I wouldnt risk it, others have also stated they have had the mirena and they had no problems and got pregnant but everyone is different.

[gina1369]

Paraguard user question... does anyone stay away from their ovulation time just in case or am I being too cautious? ilove my paraguard but I still don't trust it...

[meagawatt1792]

How did the mirena work out for you? I have a one month old and don't plan on having another child for about 5 years and am trying to decide which IUD is best. I have read a lot of terrible reviews about both.

Thanks

Meagan

[Lynda Perez]

I chose paraguard because there are no hormones what so ever and besides unusually long, cranky periods, when I engage in sexual activity my body reacts, with a low hormone birth control pill I was not interested in sexual activities and it annoyed me. But now I'm ready and even when I'm not I can easily be ready. I think I made the beat choice for ME!

[amyrae]

I've had my paragard for about, 2 going on 3 months now. When I FINALLY stopped bleeding after the first month or so it was okay. I had a lot of shooting pain, in which feels like my ovaries. Especially when I exercise (I'm a dance coach), it's like a pulling shooting pain...thing. And the bleeding is ridiculous heavy, when I first had it put in I was changing pads every 30 minutes or so (which is sooo unlike my cycle) for the first week then bleeding normally for the next 2-3 weeks. My periods are heavy, very heavy, & the pain is HORRIFIC. I'm contemplating getting it taken out. When there's no pain it's very much worth it, I love it! But when there is pain...hate it. 

[Katie8681]

Paragard for a year and 4(?) months now. no problems, no pregnancy. just updating.

[r140]

parguard or mirena? go!

[askins]

I'm never doing hormonal BC again, so that's a no on the Mirena for me. 

I've had the Paragard for nearly six months now.  I got it because we tried to use LAM to TTA after DS was born and ended up with a surprise DD.  My kids don't let me sleep enough to use FAM, which is my preferred method (and the method that I used prior to TTC #1).  So until my sleep is regular enough to use FAM again, I have Paragard.

So far it's really awesome.  Insertion wasn't bad, just a few cramps right when my midwife placed it, then just fine.  I'm now in my 3rd PPAF, and my cycles seem to have stabilized back to 30-ish days, and I appear to be ovulation as normal.  AF is just as it was before - about 5 days with 2 really heavy days and then tapering off.  The cramps are not any worse than I had before.  Neither I nor DH can feel it during sex.  I'm happy with it.

All that being said, I'm not a big fan of having a foreign object in my body and am planning to have it removed once my sleep patterns are stable enough to chart again.
 

[JessicaDN]

What?!?! n ive been strugling n almost crying to get the iud but npw im now im not getting to many complaints about it ill just stay whit condoms

[CamaroGirl]

Ok, so I was on BC for years since I was in my teens.  That worked out fine.  They had hormones, etc.  After I had my son in my late 20's, I got on the Depo shot.  LOVED it!  However, I stayed on it too long.  5 years.  So I started getting symptoms; bad back acne (like welts and boils), losing my hair.  Pain in hips and knees.  Anyway, I got off that and onto Mirena!  OMG LOVE.  I bled for the first 3 months like I was told I would.  AFter that, NOTHING.  No bloating, no pms, no cramps, no bleeding.  So after the 5 years were up, I was told they ran out of the Mirena but they'd put me on Paragard.  I was a bit iffy since it doesn't have hormones and that is what my body has been used to for years.  Since the day ONE of insertion, I had nothing but problems.  Bleeding so bad I thought I was miscarrying.  Not even lying!  Cramps were so severe I was begging for major pain killers (and I'm not a pill popper!!!)  The bloating was crazy with adding 6 lbs during my cycle.  I would have PMS and cramps a week before my period.  I'd be on my period for about 5 days when I'd start to have PMS and cramps (severe) AGAIN for another few days, as if I was starting my period all over again.  The fatigue during this time was horrible.  I don't eat much, never really have.  Always weighed about 110 - 115 (5'5") yet gained a whopping 35 lbs.  I went to my doctor after about 6 months and asked to take it out.  She didn't want to and made me troubleshoot my symptoms trying one pill concoction after antoher.  OH and BTW, I had 4 infections in 9 months!  They did blood work on me and checked my hormones, my thyroid.  Lucky me, everything came back normal!!!  

It was 2 years in February when I went back to my doc (oh, for about the 8th time in 1.5 years) begging for pain killers or a bullet to the head.  Finally, that day, we yanked that sucker out.  She put me on chewable BC pills with hormones.  Happy days are here again.  Can I just tell you that I felt immediate relief.  Had my first period since and no problems.  Normal 3 day period, no bloating, no cramping, no major pms.  Hopefully, my weight will go down again!  

I may stay on the BC pills but I may go back to Mirena for the convenience.  Hope this information is helpful.

[bestchildren]

I had the mirena for five years I did experience the depression, the cramping, the headaches and hair loss toward the end of the five years.I got it out a year ago and I am still experiencing the hair loss. It is really bad. I was hinking about getting the paraguard now but is very undecided. Being a junior in college I really don't want anymore kids right now so any suggestions will help. Many of the pills made me very sick the shot made me bleed none stop for 11 months straight. So I would appreciate any suggestions anyone may have. Thank you. 

[sarabethwilson]

I recently got the Paragard, and when I was researching I could not find very many success stories or good reviews.  So here is my experience:

(I am 24 years old and I have not had kids.  I have been on Yasmin birth control since I was 16) I chose Paragard over Mirena because I am used to more estrogen than progestin, I did not want to mess with those horomones.

I had Paragard inserted 5 days ago.  The insertion was indeed painful, but it only lasts maybe 2 minutes max.  It was a really bad cramp, but nothing unbearable.

After insertion, I had pretty severe cramps for about 4 hours.  But nothing advil, a heating pad and a nap cannot fix. I started bleeding about 6 hours after insertion, but it only lasted about 4 hours. 

Since the insertion 5 days ago I have had very minimal spotting to almost none, no cramps, no side effects.

Overall, it is 100% worth it :)

I know everyone's experience is different, but I wanted to share my success story.

[Escaping]

Originally Posted by sarabethwilson 

I recently got the Paragard, and when I was researching I could not find very many success stories or good reviews.  So here is my experience:

(I am 24 years old and I have not had kids.  I have been on Yasmin birth control since I was 16) I chose Paragard over Mirena because I am used to more estrogen than progestin, I did not want to mess with those horomones.

I had Paragard inserted 5 days ago.  The insertion was indeed painful, but it only lasts maybe 2 minutes max.  It was a really bad cramp, but nothing unbearable.

After insertion, I had pretty severe cramps for about 4 hours.  But nothing advil, a heating pad and a nap cannot fix. I started bleeding about 6 hours after insertion, but it only lasted about 4 hours. 

Since the insertion 5 days ago I have had very minimal spotting to almost none, no cramps, no side effects.

Overall, it is 100% worth it :)

I know everyone's experience is different, but I wanted to share my success story.

I think there are no "success stories" on it because if it works, you pretty much forget it's there and it's wonderful. It's the people who hate them that are vocal about it. I love mine and tried it even after reading the horror stories thinking it's worth a shot and it totally was! I have no idea it's there, it has no hormones, no side effects, and was 90% covered by my insurance so I had to pay $10 for all those years of birth control!

[CamaroGirl]

That's what the forum is for, being vocal. When i posted mine, is just for informational purposes, especially since i had both the murina and paragard and sharing my experience. I'm happy for those who love one or the other. I loved my murina. But my experience, more than half my life started with the pill, then the Depo, then the murina. All have hormones. So when i ended up with paragard, i think my body could not handlet its own natural effects without the added hormones i was used to for so many years. Lesson learned. I've been off paragard and on a pill with hormones for almost 2 mths and omg, it was an immediate difference. Its simply my experience and possibly, if someone had been on any sort of bc with hormones, id suggest going with murina. For first time users probably paragard. Everyone is different. If it doesn't work, take it out and try something else. :-)