If you have an iud and don't have issues

[tonsilhockey]

I've had Mirena for a year. I still get a period about every other month. Spotting to moderate bleeding. No cramps. No hormone surges that I've noticed. No decreased sex drive. No weight gain or increased appetite.


Idk if these are even possible side effects. I'm just trying to share anything pertinent.

I would recommend Mirena. It's been great.

[socomama]

Well, Mirena has a low dose of hormones, so take my experience for what it's worth...

I nursed DD for 15 months and had no issue with supply. I get a very light spotting/period about every 6 weeks. I never even notice my IUD except when I check the strings once a month. I did bleed for around a week after insertion, but it was no heavier than a regular period. I continued with breakthrough bleeding for awhile, but it tapered off and I am happy with it so far. It's been over two years and I have no complaints.

I can't speak for Paraguard, which is the non-hormonal copper IUD, but I understand periods are much heavier.

[tonsilhockey]

Oh, I also EP for about six months with Mirena. No supply issues.

No advice on Paraguard, but I vote DH snip as well, FWIW.

[jess9802]

I love MIrena. LOVE IT. The only reason I didn't get Paragard is because my periods have always been heavy, and I'd heard Paragard can make that worse. I will get Mirena again after I'm done having babies. Did I mention how much I love it? (And so does my best friend and some of her friends, too.)

[triplea598]

I have the Paragard IUD. The first time around, the OBGYN that did the insertion wasn't my usual OBGYN. She didn't do an ultrasound to confirm it was in the correct place and I ended up having a chemical pregnancy because it was in the wrong position.

I decided to make the decision to have that one taken out (obviously) and have a new Paragard reinserted by my OBGYN. I had 2 follow-up appointments along with ultrasounds and everything has been great. I haven't had a period yet though (breastfeeding my 16 month old still), so I can't comment on that part.

[triplea598]

And just to beat a dead horse, I also think your H should get a vasectomy.

Does he understand the procedure? I'm asking because MH had no idea how it worked and said it would never be a possibility. Then I told him how it actually works, and he said "huh that doesn't seem that bad."

[mollywobbles]

I had paragard, no issues with insertion, I swear her cranking the speculum open hurt more than actually getting it inserted! Was a little more crampy the day before/first day of my period, but it really wasn't much heavier. If we had been unsure on having more kids I would have gotten another one after DD, but three was definitely our max so I got Essure instead.

[nanaosaki06]

I'm the midst of a love/hate relationship with my Paragard. I love that I don't have hormones. It's done wonders for me in that way. With Mirena I was very depressed and had lots of sex drive issues. I still have some sex drive issues, but I think it's due to other things rather than the hormones. The downside to Paragard is the bleeding. I had on and off spotting and period like flow for 3 months within a month or two of getting it placed. I rejoiced when I finally stopped spotting over a month ago, except now I'm in the middle of another period and it's like 2nd day PP bad. Which hasn't been fun for me, but it's better than having the hormones or dealing with an oops baby right now.

[theseaword]

I have paraguard. My periods are a lot heavier, but I'm also comparing them to the fake periods I used to get on the pill. I has really bad cramps the first or second month but it's been smooth sailing since. I also am breastfeeding and haven't noticed any impact on my supply. So I'm happy with it.

[brusselssprout]

I also got an IUD - not sure the brand name, but it's copper only (no hormones). I've had it since July, a little spotting and pain for the first week after insertion. Doc checked w/ ultrasound that it was placed ok a month later. I've had two periods, October and December, both were very heavy the first day, but tapered off to nearly nothing after day 2. There's been some spotting in between, nothing more than a panty liner can handle. Highly recommend it!

[Deleted]

We have only had a few quick discussions about permanent birth control. DH has expressed nerves about a snip too. Honestly, the only hesitation I would really entertain is if he thought he might want more kids in the event of my death. Otherwise, time to man up.

Good luck with the IUD, since it sounds like you are ok with it, even if pretty reluctantly

[redhorizon343]

Jan 27, 2015 0:15:50 GMT -5 thumbswayup said:

Yes, DH needs the snip.

As far as the IUD, I have mirena and really like it. It's been less than a year though so I don't have a whole lot of experience with it yet.

Me too. This exactly.

BUT - Your husband needs to get snipped. It's a lot easier and less painful than being pregnant and giving birth. PLAY THAT CARD.

[runnergirl812]

Coming over from the Blended families board (Hi, everyone!). I have a Paragard and have had it for 4 years now. No problems. Insertion was a bitch because I don't have children (just future stepkids). And the first 3 months were the worst with regards to flow. Now I'm a 5 day person and it's great having no hormones. I have some other stuff going on medically, so it's good for me to know that hormonal birth control isn't the cause. I get it checked now at each annual visit and it's still where it's supposed to be. I'd recommend it to anyone.

Go for it!

[leroybrown]

I got an IUD at 6 weeks PP. No period, even though I weaned DS 2 months ago. No pain, no side effects.

[becole]

I have mirena (for the second time) and no issues either time.

[rayray007]

I'm following because I'm planning on getting the copper IUD. I don't want hormones, but I'm also afraid of bad periods.

A side question- they say (I think?) that it hurts more going in if you've never had children. I presume this is bc your cervix has dilated before and your os is bigger if you've had children. Does this apply if you've only had csections, never gone into labour and have never had any dilation?

[keen]

Jan 27, 2015 12:02:38 GMT -5 rayray007 said:

I'm following because I'm planning on getting the copper IUD. I don't want hormones, but I'm also afraid of bad periods.

A side question- they say (I think?) that it hurts more going in if you've never had children. I presume this is bc your cervix has dilated before and your os is bigger if you've had children. Does this apply if you've only had csections, never gone into labour and have never had any dilation?

It's not going to feel good no matter if you've had kids or not!

I got mine 6mths PP. It hurt, like someone pinched my cervix really, really hard and then a big cramp. The pinch lasted a couple seconds, and the cramping lasted the for the rest of the day. Spotting lasted for 3 months, but I rarely needed a panty liner. After that spotting, I went on to have regular, very light periods every month. Never had weight or mood issues, but I never did with oral BC either. I had it taken out about 2.5 years later, which did not hurt BTW. It was just a HUGE cramp and done. I got KTFU 2 months later.

My friend had the paragaurd for 6 months with constant bleeding. She got hers taken out and had the mirena put in, no issues but she had no period, ever whic it was in. She's ready to TTC and had the mirena removed and just had her first post mirena cycle, no problem. 

[runnergirl812]

Jan 27, 2015 12:02:38 GMT -5 rayray007 said:

I'm following because I'm planning on getting the copper IUD. I don't want hormones, but I'm also afraid of bad periods.

A side question- they say (I think?) that it hurts more going in if you've never had children. I presume this is bc your cervix has dilated before and your os is bigger if you've had children. Does this apply if you've only had csections, never gone into labour and have never had any dilation?

It hurts going in. I've never had children and they had to soften my cervix overnight before the insertion. I took 1 dose of misoprostol vaginally the night before. It didn't entirely work as she still had to do some serious pushing in. It hurt, no lie. Take some ibuprofen and it doesn't hurt to have a nurse to hold your hand. It was over in a few minutes.

I bled like a stuck pig for each cycle for the next 3 months. Solid 7 days of heavy bleeding (think Super Plus tampon every 4 hours) that then ended abruptly. After 3 months, it tapered off. Four years later, I'm now down to a normal 5 day cycle with mild cramps the first day.

ETA: The next time, I will probably get Mirena just because I'm over having a cycle. If I could go down to no cycle, that'd be great. My only fear is that even the small amount of hormones in Mirena will make me BSC. But we'll see.

ETAx2: Because, words are hard.

[jumpingpuddles]

Had Mirena for almost 3 years, zero issues. I loved it, line many pp, no real periods on it, only a day of very light spotting (which was perfect because then I had extra confidence it hadn't failed). Will be getting it again once we are done TTC and having Baby #3.

[carrotcake]

I'm on my second mirena with no issues either time. My mood swings are pretty severe during my cycle and I was hoping mirena would even me out a bit bc it does have a low dose of hormones. It didn't.

[Deleted]

I had a Mirena for 5 years after DS2 was born. It was fine. Regular periods, some bleeding after insertion which I was not prepared for nor delighted with but it eventually stopped.

I had no issues other than that and if I was younger, I'd have gotten another one. But....

I had had enough of being in charge of birth control. I flat out told DH it was his turn. No more for me. He was reluctant and nervous but got the vasectomy and now that is done.  I will tell you it was a process to get him there.  He's fine with it now but it did take time.

[ontherock2012]

I got the paraguard 6weeks PP, so almost 3 years ago. I highly recommend it. No issues at all.

[meggyski]

I had a Paraguard before I got pregnant, but made the switch to a Mirena post pregnancy. I've had no complications with either, but I switched to the Mirena because I had pretty severe cramping one or two days a month with the Paraguard. I've yet to have a period post-baby, who is 5 months old. I'm not sure if that's becuase of the Mirena or because I'm breastfeeding. Either way, I'm all for IUDs, they're so simple and hassle free. And the insertion is way, way easier post pregnancy. Even so, I'd be a bit nervous in your shoes too given your medical history. Does your doc have any concerns about an IUD for you given this history? If not I'd say go for it. Good luck!