Mirena to Paraguard

[Deleted]

Did anyone here switch from one to the other? Is it possible to get one taken out and get a new IUD put in the same day? I have Mirena now but I really think its more headache than it's worth.

[TheEleventhHour]

I hated hated HATED my Mirena. It sucked. I only lasted 4 months with it. After I got it taken out I went back on the pill (which also sucked) so I can't speak to whether you could get one taken out and another put in the same day. I have had Paragard for a year and I love it. My periods are longer and my PMS is worse but that is just what my normal periods are like so that has taken so adjustment after being used to short periods and no PMS from the pill for a decade. Not having the hormones is so much better IMO. I wish I had just gotten Paragard right out of the gate (I got Mirena at 6 weeks pp) but for whatever reason my OB really pushed Mirena.

[helenahhandbasket]

No experience, but I wanted to also add to the Mirena hate. I think I lasted 10 months with it in, and I was in near constant pain. Had a bunch of sonograms to confirm I didn't have ovarian cysts (to rule that out before having it removed) and I did not/ do not.

I have heard there's more of an adjustment period when having Paraguard inserted, but I think if I ever go that route again, I will try it myself.

[socomama]

I love my Mirena. My OB said when the 5 years are up, she'll take this one out and put a new one in, same day. I'd assume the same would go for switching to Paraguard, but why not just call your OB's office and ask?

[Deleted]

Feb 9, 2015 13:09:35 GMT -5 socomama said:

I love my Mirena. My OB said when the 5 years are up, she'll take this one out and put a new one in, same day. I'd assume the same would go for switching to Paraguard, but why not just call your OB's office and ask?

I like to have a frame if reference to talk to them. I still have tricare and the only OB's they cover are awful. I miss my old Dr s in New Hampshire, they were amazing.

[eyenigh]

Feb 9, 2015 12:35:15 GMT -5 helenahhandbasket said:

No experience, but I wanted to also add to the Mirena hate. I think I lasted 10 months with it in, and I was in near constant pain. Had a bunch of sonograms to confirm I didn't have ovarian cysts (to rule that out before having it removed) and I did not/ do not.

I have heard there's more of an adjustment period when having Paraguard inserted, but I think if I ever go that route again, I will try it myself.

This was my experience, except with Paraguard. I also bled nearly continuously for 8 months before I threw in the towel. I joked that it was excellent birth control since the last thing I wanted to do was have sex with how crappy feeling and bloody I was. This was pre-baby, though so maybe my body would take it differently now. I found the insertion to be kind of the worst experience of my life. That alone would prevent me from ever trying again.

[Deleted]

Feb 9, 2015 12:25:16 GMT -5 TheEleventhHour said:

I hated hated HATED my Mirena. It sucked. I only lasted 4 months with it. After I got it taken out I went back on the pill (which also sucked) so I can't speak to whether you could get one taken out and another put in the same day. I have had Paragard for a year and I love it. My periods are longer and my PMS is worse but that is just what my normal periods are like so that has taken so adjustment after being used to short periods and no PMS from the pill for a decade. Not having the hormones is so much better IMO. I wish I had just gotten Paragard right out of the gate (I got Mirena at 6 weeks pp) but for whatever reason my OB really pushed Mirena.

I am really hating mine too. I'm getting a lot of strange symptoms and a few scary ones like heart palpitations. Everyone at my old office made Mirena sound like a miracle drug or something. Ugh.

[TheEleventhHour]

Feb 9, 2015 12:35:15 GMT -5 helenahhandbasket said:

No experience, but I wanted to also add to the Mirena hate. I think I lasted 10 months with it in, and I was in near constant pain. Had a bunch of sonograms to confirm I didn't have ovarian cysts (to rule that out before having it removed) and I did not/ do not.

I have heard there's more of an adjustment period when having Paraguard inserted, but I think if I ever go that route again, I will try it myself.

I know everyone is different but FWIW I had a better experience with adjusting to Paragard. My periods were heavier for the first few cycles but with Mirena I had breakthrough bleeding for 6 weeks straight which was just gross so the heavier flow for 2-3 days during my periods didn't bother me as much as constantly spotting/bleeding for several weeks. As far as having it placed I had read that some people feel more cramping and for a longer time after having Paragard placed but to me it all felt exactly like it did with Mirena. I only cramped for a couple of hours after placement. 

Hope that helps @priss08! 

[helenahhandbasket]

Feb 9, 2015 13:36:00 GMT -5 eyenigh said:

Feb 9, 2015 12:35:15 GMT -5 helenahhandbasket said:

No experience, but I wanted to also add to the Mirena hate. I think I lasted 10 months with it in, and I was in near constant pain. Had a bunch of sonograms to confirm I didn't have ovarian cysts (to rule that out before having it removed) and I did not/ do not.

I have heard there's more of an adjustment period when having Paraguard inserted, but I think if I ever go that route again, I will try it myself.

This was my experience, except with Paraguard. I also bled nearly continuously for 8 months before I threw in the towel. I joked that it was excellent birth control since the last thing I wanted to do was have sex with how crappy feeling and bloody I was. This was pre-baby, though so maybe my body would take it differently now. I found the insertion to be kind of the worst experience of my life. That alone would prevent me from ever trying again.

OMG. Yes I saw stars during the insertion. I am sticking to the pill right now, even though it's a royal PITA.