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Para Gard?
Hi, I am considering using the IUD para gard which is hormone free, and I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with it? Thanks for any info!
I just had my Paragard taken out after almost a year and a half. I don't have any children, and don't plan to ever have any. I had been on the pill since I was 18, but in the last couple years every pill I tried gave me breakthrough bleeding around week 2.
The IUD insertion was extremely painful for me. I felt very sick afterward and almost passed out when I was leaving, so I had to stay an extra half hour until I felt okay. So definitely have someone else drive you to your appointment. The rest of the day I couldn't do much because of the cramping.
The Paragard was great in the beginning. I have never had regular periods, but I was getting them about every 1.5 - 2 months. Then I didn't have a period for 3 months and I got very worried. I took a pregnancy test (negative) and went in to get the placement checked (everything fine). But I could no longer feel the strings as they had wrapped around the cervix, so I stopped checking for it.
Then when I finally got my period, it never stopped. I had bleeding ranging from spotting to heavy for 3 months straight. When I would tell the doctors, they didn't believe me and just checked the placement again, which was always fine. Then I got a new doctor and he had me keep a menstrual record (it sounds old school, but if you are having problems, it's a MUST so that people actually believe you). He was able to stop the bleeding with a month's worth of hormone pills, but they gave me bad cramps and horrible acne. Then my period was fine again for another 3 months.
But the rampant bleeding started up again, and I was getting awful cramps. So I finally got it removed yesterday. I was nervous about it, but I hardly felt anything at all and it was over before I realized what was happening. From what I've read on other forums, this uncontrolled bleeding seems to be a very common problem, but doctors and certainly the IUD manufacturers don't really acknowledge it.
My doctor wants to do an SIS to check for polyps, but I'm terrified of the procedure because my insertion was so painful. I'm just going to go back to good old fashioned condoms for a while to let myself recover from this whole ordeal. Then I'm going to try NuvaRing and see what happens.
The IUD insertion was extremely painful for me. I felt very sick afterward and almost passed out when I was leaving, so I had to stay an extra half hour until I felt okay. So definitely have someone else drive you to your appointment. The rest of the day I couldn't do much because of the cramping.
The Paragard was great in the beginning. I have never had regular periods, but I was getting them about every 1.5 - 2 months. Then I didn't have a period for 3 months and I got very worried. I took a pregnancy test (negative) and went in to get the placement checked (everything fine). But I could no longer feel the strings as they had wrapped around the cervix, so I stopped checking for it.
Then when I finally got my period, it never stopped. I had bleeding ranging from spotting to heavy for 3 months straight. When I would tell the doctors, they didn't believe me and just checked the placement again, which was always fine. Then I got a new doctor and he had me keep a menstrual record (it sounds old school, but if you are having problems, it's a MUST so that people actually believe you). He was able to stop the bleeding with a month's worth of hormone pills, but they gave me bad cramps and horrible acne. Then my period was fine again for another 3 months.
But the rampant bleeding started up again, and I was getting awful cramps. So I finally got it removed yesterday. I was nervous about it, but I hardly felt anything at all and it was over before I realized what was happening. From what I've read on other forums, this uncontrolled bleeding seems to be a very common problem, but doctors and certainly the IUD manufacturers don't really acknowledge it.
My doctor wants to do an SIS to check for polyps, but I'm terrified of the procedure because my insertion was so painful. I'm just going to go back to good old fashioned condoms for a while to let myself recover from this whole ordeal. Then I'm going to try NuvaRing and see what happens.
I had a paragard for about a year and a half - inserted 3 months after my second child was born. The insertion was mild cramping. Within hours of getting home the cramping became horrendous and I developed a high fever, which would not be relieved with Tylenol. It took about 48 hours for the fever to cease.
A month after insertion I had to go back to the doctor for a check up. At that time they confirmed it was not in the correct location and they had to move it - pain is an understatement. It was a horror show and pure agony. I went back two weeks later to confirm it was placed correctly. During the relocation process the strings were completely cut off.
My periods were horrible and would last 10 days and the cramping would make me vomit. Finally I had enough and decided it was time to take it out. My doctor assured me it could be removed it in their office - needless to say it turned into a surgical procedure at the hospital.
The main reason why I had decided on the ParaGard in the first place was because I was nursing my baby and didn't want any extra drugs floating in my body. I had researched my decision and thought it was a wise decision and investment since I paid for it up front...Luckily no major damage done - but it wasn't a pleasant or positive experience at all. I do not recommend this product for anybody.
A month after insertion I had to go back to the doctor for a check up. At that time they confirmed it was not in the correct location and they had to move it - pain is an understatement. It was a horror show and pure agony. I went back two weeks later to confirm it was placed correctly. During the relocation process the strings were completely cut off.
My periods were horrible and would last 10 days and the cramping would make me vomit. Finally I had enough and decided it was time to take it out. My doctor assured me it could be removed it in their office - needless to say it turned into a surgical procedure at the hospital.
The main reason why I had decided on the ParaGard in the first place was because I was nursing my baby and didn't want any extra drugs floating in my body. I had researched my decision and thought it was a wise decision and investment since I paid for it up front...Luckily no major damage done - but it wasn't a pleasant or positive experience at all. I do not recommend this product for anybody.
Hello all! So I just had the Paraguard inserted 3 days ago and I can say that it was MUCH MUCH MUCH better than all of the experiences I have read say!! I went to the planned parenthood in Brooklyn (Boro Hall) to have it done and although the whole appointment, waiting, urine test, and blood test took much longer than I had anticipated, it was far more manageable of an experience than 98% of posts I have read about this.
While certainly everyone's body is different, I do think that the horror stories are WAY overrepresented. So, here is how it went:
First off, I have Horizon BCBS and only had to pay a $15 copay for the WHOLE THING!! I was told to take 800mg of Advil before going in. I accidentally took tylenol which isn't as good because it's not an anti inflammatory - GO WITH ADVIL. I also was terrified so I took more like 1200 mg. I don't condone this, but to be honest I wished to god I had found some weed or leftover painkillers because of how scared I was. After waiting for a while, I went back and spoke with a nurse about the procedure and my full medical history.
I will give you a little backstory. So, I haven't taken birth control since I was in highschool (I am now 24) because it made me TERRIBLY nauseous all of the time. So, I have been using condoms ever since. Recently, I had a condom break and had to take plan b. In case anyone is thinking of doing this while taking an SSRI...well I guess do it, but be prepared to semi withdraw from your antidepressant. Needless to say, I decided I would never EVER take plan b again (if avoidable).
So, I had taken plan b about 3 weeks prior to my appointment and had gotten my period immediately after. This was a weird source of contention and some doctor had to come back and make sure I could still get Paraguard. I was so nervous they wouldn't give it to me, but it turned out it was fine. My nurse was kind of intense. She also told me I couldnt have sex for TWO WEEKS following the procedure which is NOT TRUE according to both doctors who performed the insertion. Very strange.
So, they took a urine sample to make sure I wasnt pregnant (tested it one the spot = benefits of going to planned parenthood), then took a blood sample via finger prick to make sure I wasnt anemic (this is apparently a contraindication, who knew?)
FINALLY, I went into the room with 2 lovely young female doctors who explained everything to me. They told me that it can be used as a form of emergency contraception (AKA like plan b from hell) in certain circumstances, so the nurse was 100% wrong. They only said that I had to wait 48 hours before putting ANYTHING up there because it would risk infection. After that, they said I was "good to go." Honestly, they made the whole thing a lot better for me as I am extremely awkward about going to the gyno.
So, I put my legs in the stirrups and they put in the speculum like a regular pap smear just to check things out. They then put 2 fingers in to feel where my uterus was (which was frankly fine), and then put in what seemed like a larger, colder, metal speculum. They then sterilized (aka swabbed) my cervix, which frankly was really weird and relatively uncomfortable. They then had to "sound" my uterus, which was the worst part. They essentially stuck something through my cervix and this hurt but it was manageable. Honestly I was so scared I was doing lamaze breathing (and it actually helped). The feeling of it going in, honestly, was scary, but mainly because it was a foreign pain. It felt like bad cramps that like surged with pain for like 2 seconds max. It was a build up and then subsided quickly. If you try to like medidate and brace yourself it will be fine.
They then inserted the actual IUD, which was again like a build up, then surge of bad bad cramps, which then subsided. This time was better than the sounding.
The whole actual process took only around 4 minutes (this may even be an exaggeration), with only really 2 scary, but very doable moments. I think the worst part for a lot of people is psychological because it feels much scarier and more painful to be out of control and feeling a foreign kind of pain. If you brace yourself for it psychologically, it will be much better.
Following the insertion, the pain immediately subsided and I wasnt really in any pain at ALL. I walked into the waiting room honestly feeling great. That is when I advise you all to TAKE MORE ADVIL. You are going to have a middle school style cramps session in about 15 minutes. I went directly to get a hamburger and halfway through I just slumped over in fatigue, cramps, and bloating and took a crapload of tylenol.
I will say though that throughout the day, I didn't experience CONSTANT cramps, just like 1-5 minute spurts of BAD CRAMPS and then fine. I actually ended up going out that night.
My advice: Take Advil constantly for 2 days, don't be shy. It will be better on your body and your soul.
By day 3, TODAY for me (!) you will likely feel much better. I only very occasionally feel a little bloated and a tiny bit of lower back pain. I also have very very very minor spotting, more like slighly brown discharge. I expect it only to get better. I don't know why this hasn't been suggested yet, but I think midol would probably be a GREAT addition to the recovery process.
I'll come back with any updates, but as of now I am extremely happy I did it, and all I have to do is go in for a check up in 6 weeks and then nothing until 2025!!!!!! I hope the thoroughness was helpful rather than annoying!
WOOHOO PARAGUARD!!
While certainly everyone's body is different, I do think that the horror stories are WAY overrepresented. So, here is how it went:
First off, I have Horizon BCBS and only had to pay a $15 copay for the WHOLE THING!! I was told to take 800mg of Advil before going in. I accidentally took tylenol which isn't as good because it's not an anti inflammatory - GO WITH ADVIL. I also was terrified so I took more like 1200 mg. I don't condone this, but to be honest I wished to god I had found some weed or leftover painkillers because of how scared I was. After waiting for a while, I went back and spoke with a nurse about the procedure and my full medical history.
I will give you a little backstory. So, I haven't taken birth control since I was in highschool (I am now 24) because it made me TERRIBLY nauseous all of the time. So, I have been using condoms ever since. Recently, I had a condom break and had to take plan b. In case anyone is thinking of doing this while taking an SSRI...well I guess do it, but be prepared to semi withdraw from your antidepressant. Needless to say, I decided I would never EVER take plan b again (if avoidable).
So, I had taken plan b about 3 weeks prior to my appointment and had gotten my period immediately after. This was a weird source of contention and some doctor had to come back and make sure I could still get Paraguard. I was so nervous they wouldn't give it to me, but it turned out it was fine. My nurse was kind of intense. She also told me I couldnt have sex for TWO WEEKS following the procedure which is NOT TRUE according to both doctors who performed the insertion. Very strange.
So, they took a urine sample to make sure I wasnt pregnant (tested it one the spot = benefits of going to planned parenthood), then took a blood sample via finger prick to make sure I wasnt anemic (this is apparently a contraindication, who knew?)
FINALLY, I went into the room with 2 lovely young female doctors who explained everything to me. They told me that it can be used as a form of emergency contraception (AKA like plan b from hell) in certain circumstances, so the nurse was 100% wrong. They only said that I had to wait 48 hours before putting ANYTHING up there because it would risk infection. After that, they said I was "good to go." Honestly, they made the whole thing a lot better for me as I am extremely awkward about going to the gyno.
So, I put my legs in the stirrups and they put in the speculum like a regular pap smear just to check things out. They then put 2 fingers in to feel where my uterus was (which was frankly fine), and then put in what seemed like a larger, colder, metal speculum. They then sterilized (aka swabbed) my cervix, which frankly was really weird and relatively uncomfortable. They then had to "sound" my uterus, which was the worst part. They essentially stuck something through my cervix and this hurt but it was manageable. Honestly I was so scared I was doing lamaze breathing (and it actually helped). The feeling of it going in, honestly, was scary, but mainly because it was a foreign pain. It felt like bad cramps that like surged with pain for like 2 seconds max. It was a build up and then subsided quickly. If you try to like medidate and brace yourself it will be fine.
They then inserted the actual IUD, which was again like a build up, then surge of bad bad cramps, which then subsided. This time was better than the sounding.
The whole actual process took only around 4 minutes (this may even be an exaggeration), with only really 2 scary, but very doable moments. I think the worst part for a lot of people is psychological because it feels much scarier and more painful to be out of control and feeling a foreign kind of pain. If you brace yourself for it psychologically, it will be much better.
Following the insertion, the pain immediately subsided and I wasnt really in any pain at ALL. I walked into the waiting room honestly feeling great. That is when I advise you all to TAKE MORE ADVIL. You are going to have a middle school style cramps session in about 15 minutes. I went directly to get a hamburger and halfway through I just slumped over in fatigue, cramps, and bloating and took a crapload of tylenol.
I will say though that throughout the day, I didn't experience CONSTANT cramps, just like 1-5 minute spurts of BAD CRAMPS and then fine. I actually ended up going out that night.
My advice: Take Advil constantly for 2 days, don't be shy. It will be better on your body and your soul.
By day 3, TODAY for me (!) you will likely feel much better. I only very occasionally feel a little bloated and a tiny bit of lower back pain. I also have very very very minor spotting, more like slighly brown discharge. I expect it only to get better. I don't know why this hasn't been suggested yet, but I think midol would probably be a GREAT addition to the recovery process.
I'll come back with any updates, but as of now I am extremely happy I did it, and all I have to do is go in for a check up in 6 weeks and then nothing until 2025!!!!!! I hope the thoroughness was helpful rather than annoying!
WOOHOO PARAGUARD!!
Hello everybody,
I had the Paragard placed in about 6 years ago after having my son. I was in the Army and during that time I was going through postpartum depression. I released so much anger during that time and got into so much trouble with my job. I have always been quite a mean and stubborn person but not as bad as I turned out to be. I got out of the Army and immediately enrolled in college. I started to feel more anxious, less confident, upper back/shoulder pain, PMS became more extreme, more constipated, more UTI's, fatigue, depressed at times etc... I thought I had a thyroid problem and so far have had 2 test these past 6 years. I recently started feeling so fatigue. I attributed all these symptoms to college. I decided to get total blood work analysis. Everything turned out to be normal. I kept wondering why I was feeling this way, I kept telling my husband that I didn't feel right and something was wrong with me. Also, with the Paragard, I started cramping more, bleeding very heavily, and sometimes I think I ached inside around my IUD. So I finally decided to have it removed and replaced with the Mirena. It was a pretty intense procedure. I almost cried but it took less than 15 minutes. Since then which was only 3 days ago, I have had no cramping, very little PMS symptoms...period supposed to come about around the 27th of March. I feel okay. I feel like I have more energy. I'm not totally sure if I am being myself or just trying to force my issues on the IUD switch. I hope that I experience more positive ways to feel about myself and that my mood swings become kinda non existent. I forgot to add, I was diagnosed as being bi-polar and ADHD. I have had crazy anxiety attacks and I am so afraid of so many little things. I use to be very very confident and very tough, not afraid to take risk. Now I feel like I became a hermit and a scared little baby. After reading all your comments, I think I am beginning to believe that the paragard IUD totally screwed me up.
I had the Paragard placed in about 6 years ago after having my son. I was in the Army and during that time I was going through postpartum depression. I released so much anger during that time and got into so much trouble with my job. I have always been quite a mean and stubborn person but not as bad as I turned out to be. I got out of the Army and immediately enrolled in college. I started to feel more anxious, less confident, upper back/shoulder pain, PMS became more extreme, more constipated, more UTI's, fatigue, depressed at times etc... I thought I had a thyroid problem and so far have had 2 test these past 6 years. I recently started feeling so fatigue. I attributed all these symptoms to college. I decided to get total blood work analysis. Everything turned out to be normal. I kept wondering why I was feeling this way, I kept telling my husband that I didn't feel right and something was wrong with me. Also, with the Paragard, I started cramping more, bleeding very heavily, and sometimes I think I ached inside around my IUD. So I finally decided to have it removed and replaced with the Mirena. It was a pretty intense procedure. I almost cried but it took less than 15 minutes. Since then which was only 3 days ago, I have had no cramping, very little PMS symptoms...period supposed to come about around the 27th of March. I feel okay. I feel like I have more energy. I'm not totally sure if I am being myself or just trying to force my issues on the IUD switch. I hope that I experience more positive ways to feel about myself and that my mood swings become kinda non existent. I forgot to add, I was diagnosed as being bi-polar and ADHD. I have had crazy anxiety attacks and I am so afraid of so many little things. I use to be very very confident and very tough, not afraid to take risk. Now I feel like I became a hermit and a scared little baby. After reading all your comments, I think I am beginning to believe that the paragard IUD totally screwed me up.
I've had the same problem except I would add in extreme mood swings and thoughts that went beyond my control. Everything would irritate me and I even hated my bf most days. I also lost my hair in chunks and had a few bald spots. The drs did blood work on everything and said they all came back normal. Then it dawned on me that maybe it's the copper from the paragard. I believed I had high levels of copper and it could have been the copper that was causing all these problems. So I took the iud out about a month ago and noticed that I'm more relaxed and happy, and my hair is shedding half as much. It could be the copper that was causing all those things.
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