NWR: Anyone use the copper IUD, Paraguard?

@Honeybee, I did not, and I do not anymore.

My time of the month is usually 2 days max (has been since I was in my early 20s), with a few spotting days after (I know, I'm TMI'ing all over here). I might get a few superficial cramps the day before. That's it. So, Paragard was really a whole new hell for me.

I have pcos and the paraguard has been the only BC that works for me

I got a Liletta put in about a month ago and the insertion was painful, it lasted about half an hour and afterwards my legs were shaking like a newborn deer. I am very glad that I got mine put it at the end of the day on Friday so that I could spend the whole weekend curled up on the couch.

I was on the depo shot for two years before the IUD and my period went away after 2 months with it, so I'm hoping for a similar deal with Liletta!

I'm still getting cramps, usually just a few hours at a time every few days. They can get bad, but I can still function with them. Overall, I'm very happy with it and hoping that the cramps will completely go away within a few months!

My mom had Paraguard in between kids and loved it. She gets horrible hormonal migraines, so it was one of her only options other than condoms. She said it made her periods heavier, but that it was worth it.

I have the paragard. I had to have it inserted THREE times due to my uterus having an odd tilt. I have severe cramping during the first few days of my cycle but it's so much better than being the crazy bitch I was on hormones. I don't know how or why FH stayed with me during that time.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don't get a copper IUD. They can cause infertility, bleeding, more cramps etc. My doctor threw that idea out the window for me. I had Mirena for five years, and it caused some cramping and bleeding, but not much. I ended up getting a small uterine tumor towards the end, but the doctor said the two were unrelated.

When I had the tumor removed, they replaced my Mirena with a Skyla. It's smaller, lasts for three years, and has not cause me any cramping or bleeding AT ALL.

Also, the insertion for the Mirena was traumatically painful for me. Luckily I was KO for the insertion of the Skyla but I can imagine it wouldn't be as bad since it's smaller.

I have the Mirena. Before it I had cramps so bad I would I was physically ill. I have the Mirena and though I still have my cycle (ugh) my cramps aren't as bad. Honestly I barely cramp,

Wow, Kayla! Why exactly did your doctor say that it can cause infertility?????

As much as I loved not having a period at all on regular birth control, my moods were horrible. I switched to paraguard and LOVE it. The first two months were rough but now I wish I would have done this years ago!

ETA: I have had zero cramping, and my periods are 5 days (2 heavy, 3 light) long like clockwork.

@ Honeybee, they have to measure your cervix and I think somthing else it has been 7 years since I went through all of that so I am not really sure, but I know I had an appointment to do it then had it inserted when I was on my period, which is what they perferred. I don't remember having real awful cramps before, but I went almost 5 years without a period on mirena which may be why mine feel awful now.

I've had the Mirena for about 3 years now. The insertion was terrible for me, I was in a lot of pain. They had to do it twice. However, I haven't had children and I didn't take any Tylenol or anything before. Everyone's experience is different. Overall, it was worth the pain. I love not having to worry about BC or periods. I will probably go with the Skyla when I have to have the Mirena removed because it is a lot smaller and less hormones.

I love my Mirena, I got it 3 years ago and it will come out about 8 months after our wedding, perfect timing for us. it was painful for maybe 3 minutes during insertion (I've never had children), but it has been a god send for me and FH...i love not having a period and worrying about pills! Every BODY is different

I took ibuprofen before the insertion of my mirena and it still hurt. And I went to work after but I was so crampy that whole day. Every once in a while I still get cramps on it and I never had a single cramp before I had it inserted. Also for the first year I still got my period but that has really seemed to slow down over this year. I love not having to worry about taking a pill!

I had cramps before the pill, none with the pill, and now with the IUD. They are worse now and last a day longer. Mind you, if I pop midol like crazy they are not noticeable but if I forget, there are times when it feels like I'm getting punched in the gut.

I'm glad this post came up. I was just looking up the prices for Paragard and other IUDs this morning. DH wants me to get off of hormonal birth control, but we don't want children. Paragard seemed like a good choice. I'm starting to rethink that now...

I refuse to do the copper IUD because the doctors say it's more painful. The copper can poison the uterus, cause infection and make you unable to carry children. My FH and I refuse to take that risk!

When I was on Morena I got panic and anxiety attacks. I tried multiple pills, and Niva ring. All cause pain or other weird symptoms. Especially after a year. At one point they found I was basically overdosed on estrogen. I have optical migraine headaches and that means my estrogen is at high levels. I take anything with estrogen and it could put me at stage 4 of getting a stroke!

I had it for about 6 months. I had it removed because it increased my bleeding and the cramps were unbearable. On mirena now and there's no pain but I still see my period. My sisters have mirena and didn't get their periods, but one had hers removed.

I am seriously rethinking the copper IUD now. Maybe I should just switch my pill to a pill that doesn't have estrogen, a progestin only pill. They don't raise blood pressure, from what I hear. But I also read the progestin only pill is not as effective at preventing pregnancy as the combination pill. Has anyone else heard that? Of course, I will discuss all these options with my doctor when I see her for my appointment in a week.