Trouble in Paradise
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Tell me your experiences with IUDs.
Paraguard or Mirena.
What was the price, how you paid for it, how it felt when it was placed (cramping, etc), how you did directly after, how you're doing with it now.
Also, why you chose either one.
Re: Tell me your experiences with IUDs.
I chose Mirena based on the rec of my OB who'd had both. She recommended against Paragard if you have anything other than pretty light periods as a general rule. If you have heavier periods, you may well be deluged for two solid weeks out of the month.
I don't know what the price was and I paid nothing for it. (I have good health insurance.)
It hurt a bit when it was placed, but my threshold for pain was majorly recalibrated after my postpartum complications. By that standard it was like getting a Swedish massage. You can take 2 or 3 ibuprofen before you go to the doctor's if you like.
After a couple of weeks of bleeding and then spotting, my periods ended altogether after a few months, which was great. I pretty much liked it overall, but ultimately had it removed after about a year because I felt it was making me too moody (plus I would get these GINORMOUS zits), and I'm not that opposed to another pregnancy right now. If I were totally opposed, I might have been more willing to put up with the unpleasant side effects. I generally hate HBC, and Mirena's as close as I've ever come to liking it.
This is long and TMI...I copied and pasted from a post I wrote on H&F two months ago.
I had my Paragard inserted in March, 2011. You know me...no kids, never been on BC.
Chip took me to the appointment. It was on the 5th day of my period (I got it while I was away for the weekend, and Tuesday was the first day I could get an appointment). The doc gave me Cytotec to insert against my cervix 12 hours beforehand (it softens things up). It never dissolved...oops. I also took 4 Advil about an hour in advance of the appointment. I always take Advil for cramps, and was really glad I did.
So I hopped up on the table, and she got everything ready. I wanted to see it, because I like to see things. The doc said I'd feel two sharp pains, like very strong cramps. I mean, that's kinda what it felt like. It really felt exactly like what it was...a sharp thing going into my ute. It was a sharp pain, a ten second rest, and another sharp pain, and then it was over. Once those pains stopped, they stopped. It's not like a slap, where the pain fades. It was just pain, no pain.
I sat up, felt great. Chip drove me home, but I didn't need him to, really. I went running later that day, no problem.
So, insertion was cake. My issues happened after insertion. Here's where things get unpleasant.
My first period after insertion was in April. And OMG. I took Advil like usual, but the pain was so bad. SO BAD. It felt like knives inside me. I was unemployed and realized that if I'd had a job, I wouldn't have been able to stay at work. My dad's a doc and told me to go to the ER because something could be wrong. After a few days, it calmed down a bit, but I got these terrible pains for the first nine periods (ten months). Yes, they just stopped. The flow was also ungodly. Like, a super tampon in a half hour.
Aside from during my period, I was spotting constantly. It was so gross. I also had a ridiculous amount of CM. It would just bubble out. Like, I'd get a quarter mile into a run and have to duck behind a tree with some TP to clean myself up. It was disgusting. The CM and spotting have gotten better over time, but it's still not quite like it was pre-Paragard.
In the end, I'd do it again, because I like knowing that I have nearly foolproof BC in place, instead of a tiny piece of latex and my own fallibility. I get irregular periods, so this peace of mind is important. But the side effects really were worse than I expected.
Chip loves it. He wants babies even less than I do, so he's glad for the extra protection, and glad he doesn't need to use a condom anymore. His only complaint is that he can sometimes feel the strings. They feel like fishing line: there are two, and they're each maybe an inch long. They sort of curl up around your cervix, rather than hanging down into your vagina.
Anyway. Good luck. I know this was really long and crazy. I hope your experience with insertion is as good as mine was, and that your experience with afterward is better than mine was!
My Lunch Blog
Mirena (I've never had kids)
Insertion no problem, just bad cramping as they explain. As time went on I continued to get bad stabbing pains. I figured it would subside and stuck it out for a week but they became so bad that I could not deal with it. I was leaving work early and it was affecting everything.
I went in and had her check it to make sure it hadn't perforated my uterus. They did an ultrasound and said all looked well and placement was correct. I decided to give it some more time but I was back in (I don't remember how quickly but I think within a week) all but begging her to take the damn thing out. I had to call my now husband at work to come pick me and drive me to her office up because I was in so much pain I couldn't have driven. As soon as they took it out BAM the pains stopped.
For some reason my body basically rejected it. Lucky for me all was covered by my insurance. If you don't have out of pocket or a small out of pocket give it a shot. The big thing to remember is EVERY BODY REACTS DIFFERENTLY. Sooooo many women have it and have zero issues!
When I went to my doc to discuss bc options, I brought up IUD's. She said for those who want bc to help with cramping or heavy periods (as I do), both of them would be just the opposite of what I want. Yes, no pills to take and no chance of pregnancy...but that's it. I would probably bleed more and cramp more. She advised against it, for me.
That said, I will always keep it in mind as a good option. I've heard so many great things about them, especially mirena.
Ugh, this sucks.
I'll be paying out of pocket for either (approximately $800 each) because my deductible is $3k and these experiences aren't making me feel like I should get one.
My OBGYN is recommending that I get on BC asap, since I have fibroids. They've gotten so bad recently that I had to go to the emergency room a couple of weeks ago.
I don't want to pay $800 for something they'll have to take out because I'll react badly to it and BCP makes me sick and moody and I generally feel awful while taking it.
I've tried the NuvaRing with no success either because it would never stay inside me properly.
ugggggh
I love my Mirena and will getting another one next year. I had bleeding and cramping for a few days after it was inserted. Bad period cramps that ibuprofen could take care. If you get it, take a couple ibuprofen before the appointment.
I had occasional spotting for the first couple of years, Nd now nothing. Well, not nothing because I spotted the other day, but that was the first time in a year or more.
If they end up taking out your Mirena within the first 6 months for any reason, Mirena will refund you the cost of the device (not insertion costs). If that impacts your decision at all.
FWIW, I have had the Mirena in for about 18 months and I am really happy with it for the most part. (no kids) I had some pretty horendous jawline acne when it was first inserted for about 6 months, but that has worked itself out for the most part. I have some light spotting about once every 3 or 4 months for 2-3 days. I was having a lot of really negative reactions on the pill, and didn't want hormonal birth control again, but my doctor told me that the amount of hormone in the Mirena would not give me side effects, so I went with that instead of Paraguard. I am happy I did, because the period thing has been great. I ended up paying $800+ for it because my insurance wouldn't cover the IUD unless my doctor wrote a letter stating that I was physically unable to take BCP.
Final Siggy Challenge: Favorite photo with FI
At the Apple Orchard
I paid nothing for my IUD. It was covered by insurance. It was put in 6 weeks postpartum which is probably why it didn't hurt. I had mild cramping afterwards, like the last day of my period. I also had maybe two weeks of intermitten bleeding, an additional week of regular spotting and now I occasionally get some very light spotting here and there.
Pudding is 12 weeks tomorrow so it's been 6 weeks since.
I went with Mirena vs Paraguard because, well, idk, they offered Mirena, abs has mirena so I said sure.
Click me, click me!
I am on my 2nd Mirena. Took Advil prior and after insertion. No issues at all. Have not had a period in 6 years. Love it.
Covered by insurances so cannot comment on that.
I have Nuvaring and have been using it for 2 years or so now and I love it. BUT I had the same problem initially. What I learned is that I wasn't getting it placed in the right spot when putting it in! It was me, not the ring, that was the problem.
I've since learned exactly where it needs to be and now have had no slipping problems with it. Basically, you need to have the nuvaring rest on your pelvic bone in the front and then angle upwards towards your back. This can be a bit difficult to do and I had to figure it out by trial and error. But if you hold on to what becomes the "front", push it up inside, and then kind of hook the front of the ring onto the pelvic "ledge" it should not move. I've found that I either need to lay in bed, knees bent or squat down to make this easier. Hopefully this makes sense as I know I'm not using medical terminology. lol
I just got a paraguard put in 6 weeks ago (postpartum). I went with paraguard because I didn't want the hormones possibly interfering with breastfeeding (although the hormones in Mirena are so low I'm not sure if there's really too much of a concern).
So far:
Insertion felt like a contraction. Like a PP, I wonder if I just never had real period cramp before (I'd been on the pill for most of my adult life prior to TTC. In the five months off the pill I'd only have one cycle with cramps).
I did have to go in to get the strings shortened after about a week. I found that in different positions I'd feel a pinching/poking. Since having the strings shortened, I no longer feel any pain.
I haven't had a period yet (knock on wood it will stay that way for a while longer with the breastfeeding). I have had a slight increase in CM, but not "bubbling out of me." More just like what I used to have around ovulation. I had thought the CM meant I was ovulating, but now I wonder if it's just a side effect of the IUD>
My insurance covered the cost, so I can't speak to that.
Good luck with your decision!
Here's a novel for you.
My Para ended up costing my insurance company $7000. I believe I've posted this on PCE before.
For starters, I was not told to take anything in preparation for insertion. It was really painful. Not just 2 cramps. There was tugging and wrangling. I made it to the car (DH was driving), but by the time I got home I was clutching the door handle. Got inside, got into my sweats, and got into bed. Probably took 35 minutes to do that. Just those 3 things.
I laid there rolling around, and finally managed to sit up long enough to take an ibuprofen. I mean I quite literally couldn't uncurl and straighten up enough to sip water. I had chills, nausea, couldn't catch my breath. DH called the insurance co's nurse hotline. She said I should go to the ER.
Went to the ER. I sat in triage waiting behind some drunk demanding that the hospital feed him (the nurse said 'this isn't a diner, if that's what you're here for, I don't have time for you), and some 20 year old girl who fell and bruised her knee. She got taken in immediately. I'm so not kidding. That's when I vomited in the garbage in triage. They gave me a styrofoam cup for the next time (which followed immediately). The nurse seemed to think it was the ibuprofen. Now, I've taken those pills before on an empty stomach on numerous occasions, and I just took the same pills 3 hours ago on an empty stomach, and I'm fine. So I'm pretty sure that wasn't it. I digress.
Eventually, they bring me back, and I lay in the hallway with a blanket and 20 other people. Over the course of the next 4 hours, the pain gradually lessened. Didn't see a doctor, had blood taken. They did nothing until about midnight, when they sent me for an ultrasound. The tech wanted to do an internal, which I refused because a- things were better and I'm not one to go messin', and b- I was told no insertion of anything for 24 hours.
So around 1:15 am, I finally see a dr., who says I have a mildly high white cell count and he wants to do a pelvic even though he does not suspect appendicitis and the us looked good. I suppose this is my fault for not recalling that I had a sore throat for 18 hours six days prior. You know, in the dead of winter. But I digress.
I convince Dr. Crackerjack that I will follow up with my regular doc and he lets me go after a shot of some antibiotic. I did, and I everything came back fine. She was soooo aggravated that they gave me a course of antibiotics without determining the source of the infection.
Anyway, I've had the thing since January. I just got my period this afternoon so I'm in bed as I type this. I really can't do anything else. Transitioning from sitting to standing will cause another cramp. If I let more than 8 hours lapse between my 800 mg ibuprofen, I end up spending 2 hours on my hands and knees. I bleed like a mofo for 7 days.
Between periods, I still sometimes get cramps if I move the wrong way. I love not having to worry about being pg, but there's a constant low-level discomfort. I really don't think this is going to last.
Random chime-in from a lurker:
I got the mirena back in december. I don't have kids. I have had a mostly great experience. No cramps, no periods, the insertion was relatively painless. However, I have gained 20 pounds in four months. So, that's pretty extreme weight gain when my weight only fluctuates about 5 pounds in a year. My skin is also breaking out a lot more than usual. I used to have amazing skin, with hardly any skin issues. But now I keep 3 or 4 pimples pretty continuously.
If it wasn't for the weight gain and breakouts, which I honestly do feel is completely related to the Mirena, I would be 100% sold on it.
My doctor won't admit the weight gain is the mirena's fault, since less than 5% of women are reported to have weight gain (reported to who? I'm reporting!).
But, I put myself on a strict diet and am exercising more, so I have hopes that it will come off easily enough. My doctor says if the weight comes off, it's not Mirena-related weight. But I've never gained 20 pounds in four months in my life, and my eating/exercising habits haven't changed in almost two years.
So, yeah. andecdotal evidence that I'm sure super persuaded you!