Is Paraguard IUD worth it?

Question

I'm really considering getting the Paraguard IUD but I'm worried about the side effects/whole procedure.. I'm looking for something without hormones. I'd just like to hear other people's opinions on the Paraguard.

Answer

I had mine for about 18 months and I won’t do it again. Just had it removed a few weeks ago and I already feel a thousand times better. 
For me, the insertion was the most painful and traumatizing thing I’ve ever experienced. I literally was lying on the bed with tears streaming down my face, shaking, and unable to talk or move for almost 20 minutes because the pain from insertion was so intense. I’ve also never had a kid before so that may have been a factor. I had it done while on my period like they recommend and took a ton of pain killers and they didn’t even touch the pain. On a scale of 1-10 it was a 9 for me, with only sheer torture being what I could imagine a 10 being. 
That said, getting off hormones was cool, but I didn’t really notice any difference. I also think my body generally doesn’t react poorly to hormones though so again, your experience may be different. The first period after insertion was insanely heavy, like “couldn’t leave the house and had to sit on tons of pads and towels” heavy. From there periods were heavier than normal but tolerable. I became mildly anemic but didn’t really notice. Now that I’m off the IUD I have a ton more energy. 
The issue that sucked for me was that during my period my cervix would be extremely swollen and painful, which made using a menstrual cup nearly impossible because the suction hurt so bad. That was a big deal for me because I hate pads and tampons. Now that I’ve had a period without an IUD making my cervix miserable, I could use a cup again no problem. I also didn’t have constipation this period like I did for those 18 months with the paragard, and it didn’t hurt like hell to poo because my cervix wasn’t insanely swollen and pushing back on my colon. 
The main reason I decided to have mine removed? (Which btw was a cake walk compared to insertion). The cramps. Oh my god the cramps. The first year or so it was just a day about three days before my period, and then the first two days of where I would get bad cramps, but these aren’t your normal cramps. These are like “put me out of my misery, lying on the floor unable to function” cramps that would go on for hours. It was somewhat acceptable for me at first, but after the first year with the Paragard, those knife stabby cramps increased in frequency, to where it was happening every few days through the entire month. I can’t be that incapacitated for that much of my life. I have a job, and pets, and a fiancé, and life to live. The cramps increasing in frequency and intensity over time is what pushed me over the cliff to get it removed. I’ve felt amazing since. Tons more energy, no cramps feeling, and the gigantic ball of bloat in my lower abdomen is shrinking down. (That sucked too btw, looking pregnant all the time because my lower abdomen was so swollen). 
Anyway, that’s a lot of TMI but hopefully helps. For me the side effects just got to where they weren’t worth it and I would rather be on the pill or use condoms.

Answer

I had it for 9 years, and I’ll get another as soon as I have my baby (I didn’t get pregnant with paraguard).  The few days of side effects after the procedure are completely worth a decade of not messing with your body’s natural hormones.

Answer

Noooooooooooooooooooo. It’ll cause cramps and heavier bleeding. 
Skyla has the lowest dose per day at .01

Answer

The procedure, following days and the first period after are uncomfortable, not going to lie. But after that it's really amazing and I definitely recommend it.

Answer

Insertion was less painful than a pap (but I’ve had one vaginal birth). Period was super heavy for 11 months, then calmed down. It still lasts a full 7-8 days instead of being shorter though. Still worth it. No fake hormones, no mood swings, no skin problems, no loss of sex drive, no pregnancy worries. Do it.

Answer

Absolutely not - it's torture - I've had mine 10 months and the cramping has been getting worse and worse, periods getting heavier and lasting much longer too - and sex has been getting really painful the last few weeks but the gyno says it's still in the right place - it's definitely not worth it

Answer

Thanks everyone for your input! Hopefully I'll be able to try it out one day and see if it works for me. Unfortunately without  insurance and stuff I don't know when that will be, but hopefully soon :)

Is Paraguard IUD worth it?

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