mirena IUD vs. paraguard- feedback?

Avatar for pearsoned2001
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-16-2003
mirena IUD vs. paraguard- feedback?
3
Sun, 01-14-2007 - 9:36am

Just wondering if anyone has experiences w/ an IUD? I am considering one and would love to hear about maintenance, side effects, etc.

Thanks!

Chris

Chris

Mommy to Ella (10/04) and Ashley (12/06)

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-06-2003
Thu, 01-18-2007 - 11:05pm

Hi! I've got a Paragard (never had the mirena as I wanted no hormones) since September 06. In Sept or Oct I posted about my insertion experience (while not on AF) and it really wasn't that bad. I only have had one AF since and it wasn't too bad either, lasted about 2 days longer and about 1-2 days of slightly heavier flow than before, but nothing too bad. Not really crampy at all and boy was I glad.

Hopefully you've been reading back on some of the posts and gotten some information to help you out. It was really helpful for me to go back and read some of the older postings.

Good luck!

Sallie

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-20-2000
Fri, 01-19-2007 - 3:45pm

Hi Chris,


I've had the Mirena IUD since December 2005 and I love it! Here are my pros and cons with my experience so far.


Pros:



  • No maintenance (besides checking the strings once a month)

  • Sponteanty of sex

  • My sex drive is back now that I'm not on the pill

  • lighter periods

  • longer time period between periods

  • don't have to take a pill every day

  • Cheaper!! I only had to pay $130 for 5 years of protection compared to the $420/year I was paying for the pill

Cons:



  • very painful insertion (but worth it!!)

  • more crampy around period

  • my pre-birth control pill acne has returned now that I'm no longer on the pill

The hormones (progesterin) that the Mirena releases directly into the uterus has had no effect on me from what I'm aware of.


Good luck in your decision!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-02-2005
Sat, 01-20-2007 - 11:36pm

I have the Paragard IUD. I had it inserted in July of 2005. I love it. I have had 2 children and after the birth of my 2nd boy I opted for an IUD. I went in on the 2nd day of my period. I didn't take any Tylenol or Motrin before hand. They had to dilate me and pull on my cervix a tad due to my uterus being tilted. It was a tiny bit crampy, but not bad at all.


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