Does anyone have the ParaGard?

andrew's wifey · May 2011

How do you like it? Does anyone have any stories as to why I shouldn't use it?

I've been thinking about something like this- because we're 3 or 4 years out from TTC again. I've never been on hormonal birth control before and I'm not really interested in it, so the ParaGard is probably my best choice, right?

robinsokj · May 2011

I have it and am happy with it. My first few periods were insanely heavy with it, but they've since calmed down

greenclown · May 2011

I have it. Insertion was a piece of cake. I can't comment on much else because I haven't had a period or sex.

KKM · May 2011

I had mine insterted April 14th. So far I have really good luck with it, but I have yet to have a period yet, I am scared for that. I have just in the last week had some really intense cramping for part of the day and associated spotting.

MooCowMJ · May 2011

I've had it and loved it! Insertion and removal were a breeze. No pills, rings or patches to worry about. My first few periods with it were heavier and crampier, but that's probably because they were my first post-baby periods, too. Several months into it my flow was still a bit heavier than pre-ParaGard, but nothing insane.

I had mine for just shy of 1-1/2 yrs. so it maybe wasn't our best choice money wise (my insurance doesn't cover BC, so it cost around $600), but we also decided to TCC again a bit sooner, too. Over all, I will be getting the ParaGard again after our next baby. I was a raging biotch on BC pills and don't plan going back on them again. My husband was much happier with me not on hormonal BC, too. :-)

swimrbride · May 2011

I have had it for almost a year and love it. No issues that would ever make me not want to get it again after we have another one. My periods have been heavy, but have gotten a little lighter. They did tell me when it was inserted that DH might feel it during sex and they could trim it if it was a problem, but it hasn't been an issue.

Leila'sMommy · May 2011

I have had it for over two years.

My periods are horrific. Super, super heavy. Since my first pp period to currently. My cramps are horrific. Before I had the Paragard, I did not experience painful periods.

The pros, obviously, are not putting hormones into your body for birth control, and not stopping in the middle of sex to put on a condom, or risking it by pulling out at the last second. It has made our sex life AWESOME with the freedom. And it's one of the safest birth control methods available.

So for 3-4 days out of the month, it sucks. But the rest of the time it's fine.

andrew's wifey · May 2011

Thanks for all the info! I think I'm going to talk to DH about it, and then go from there.

Rach21 · May 2011

greenclown:
I have it. Insertion was a piece of cake. I can't comment on much else because I haven't had a period or sex.

Insertion for me was like those wonderful "let's see how far you are dilated" checks in labor/delivery but twice as painful... but I had an emergency C/S when I was only dilated to 6 so maybe my cervix is funky. In the end, my OBGYN couldn't get a "sounding" and we decided against it. I hurt/bled for 4 days at just the attempt...

nickert2000 · May 2011

I had the Paragard for almost 5 years, I was so very happy to get it removed last November and will never get it again. With it I had insanely heavy periods that lasted over 7 days with the bonus of days of spotting before and after and cramps so bad that my Dr gave me a prescription for 800 mg ibuprophen. And once it was removed I went right back to no cramps and light periods. This may be TMI but orgasms where no where near where they are without it [I had forgotten until it was removed..then it was like oh I remember them being like this]. But even with it being pretty much hell I did not want to go on hormonal birth control and did not want to have another kid so I dealt...