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IUD - Mirena vs. Paragard?
Considering I'm currently pregnant with a very welcome surprise, I figure I actually need to look at birth control after he's born!
I can't/won't go on the pill. I have bad reactions to the hormones (or lack of) so I'm looking seriously at the non-hormonal Paragard IUD. I know the Mirena is supposed to have less hormonal side effects than the pill, but considering it has zero estrogen and that's what makes me sick, I'd rather go the non-hormonal route. My OB is happy to do either.
I haven't begun to research Paragard at all but was curious if anyone here had any experience with it?
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Re: IUD - Mirena vs. Paragard?
I had the Mirena last time. I was fine with it, but this time around I am seriously considering a non-hormonal IUD.
I did have some side-effects (I can tell you offline if you want details) while i was on the IUD, but it's hard to tell if the effects were due to the IUD or the fact that I was breastfeeding, but I'd rather go non-hormonal next time and see if there's a difference.
Photo by Zemya Photography
me toooo.
though, I'm still spotting and have had it for over a month (sorry TMI)
The Blog | BirthbyKellyM
This is my only major complaint. I spotted off and on for nearly three months!
My OB mentioned this was the most common side effect with Paragard. But, my periods are suuuper light to begin with and honestly, with endo I'm used to wacky, painful periods. I'm okay with that as long as I don't feel sick every day like I do on the pill. I think. Ha.
I know that each woman is different and Mothers to Daughters don't necessarily mean equals. But personally, my cycles/experiences (very heavy, painful, irregular periods) are VERY similar to my mothers, so I do take her history into account when making choices like this. I also realize that medical technology has advanced quite a bit since her day.
I decided with Mirena. I wasn't too keen on the hormones but after hearing my Mom's experience with the old school copper IUD, I wasn't jumping at the chance to go with Paraguard.
I don't know if my experience with Mirena was average, but I did have pretty heavy periods for about the first 6 months with no real schedule to keep.
After that, they tapered off quite a bit and now if I do have any sort of period, it's one day of spotting. I still get a slight mood change, and an occassional bloat with my normal cycle, but nothing major.
I have decided that even though DH plans to get snipped after #2 that I will go back to Mirena. The savings in feminine products is tremendous!
Oh, with the Mirena I had a long bleed following (over a month too). I'll talk over the differences w/ my OB when the time comes.
Photo by Zemya Photography
Mom has a history of Endo also & I'm a prime candidate for it. She ended up having the worst possible reaction to the copper, and that's whats steered me clear of Paraguard.
I've never felt sick from the hormones released in Mirena. Because you aren't ingesting the hormones and because they are released locally, they don't have to travel through your entire system to get to where they are going (which is what causes that nausea in a lot of people on the pill). I could be totally lame here, but it's how it was explained to me.
After reading other responses, I see that my 6 month adjustment period wasn't the average, but it is a possible side effect & was monitored by my OB with no alarms.
I don't get nausea from the pill, I have multiple really bad reactions to having less estrogen than my body likes (and having endo, it likes a lot) so how it's released isn't going to be a big improvement for me. It would be a touch better than the pill, and I don't want to get PG again, but I also don't want to be sick and in pain all the time.
The only plus would be I tend to lose weight when on the pill or the like, ha!
I just removed my Paraguard after having it for 6 years (to ttc) and I thought it was the best choice for me. I had been on the pill for years before and decided to switch becasue I wanted something without hormones. My peroids were never really THAT heavy before, and only once in a while did I have heavy peroids with mild cramping while the IUD was in.
Many of my friends have the Minera and they all say that they have stopped having peroids...the thought of something messing with my system enough to stop my cycles scares me.
My little firecracker. Born on her due date,7/4/11
i have the mirena as well as all of my friends that have an iud. it seems that most obs push the mirena over the paraguard, not sure why though. smuches is right that the hormones are only delivered to your uterus and do not go through the bloodstream.
i had mine inserted on tuesday and so far have had no bleeding or spotting. the insertion did hurt like a beeotch though! that may be because i have only had c-sections - but OUCH!
I had the paraguard for 3 years before taking it out to TTC. I had pretty heavy periods before, and I didn't notice them being much heavier after getting the copper IUD. I have a connective tissue disorder and my doctor thought not taking the hormones would help, and it did!
I'm getting another one as soon as I can!
I have the Paragard and LOVE it. My periods are heavier but it's not problematic. It's like a couple days of really heavy then tapers off. I had a tiny bit of spotting the day I got it but after that nothing and my periods have been regular.
My body does not do well with hormonal BC, various side effects like severe acne and such. So this was a good option for me and I'm very happy with my choice.