I love it!!!! It's hands down the best form of birth control that I've used.I've used different pills over the years-I went on birth control when I was 18 ( to help control bad periods)....I recently had a little boy 2 years ago.I've had the IUD for a little over a year.I love it! I've gone from using a double pack of kotex overnights pads each month to now using a few pantiliners.Basicly I just spot for a few days each month that I have a period.The mirena can cause some women to stop having periods the longer it's used.You might have a period and then you might not.That's a little annoying-not knowing when it's coming.But it's also nice to have a break from it.Recently I went 10 weeks w/o a period but then spotted for 16+ days (to make up for it I guess)....
I have had my IUD since April. I am very happy with it. I love never thinking about it. The first few periods were heavy but I am back to normal now. I have the paraguard IUD that lasts for 10 years. I am very happy to be hormone free. I disliked BCP for various reasons and the IUD seemed like the next best option for me as I knew I didn't have the discipline for barrier methods and I needed something very effective (>95%).
An IUD is about as effective as a method can be, 98-99+% effective. Read the post about IUDs in the FAQs at the top of the board and also: Intrauterine Device (IUD) http://www.ivillagehealth.com/features/birthcontrolaz/pages/0,,436274_438014,00.html Let us know what you decide, ok?
Good luck,
Jill
www.mirena.com/
Edited 9/7/2004 10:37 am ET ET by mrs_frazier
Good Luck!
www.paraguard.com