[veriria]

I got the copper IUD inserted about two months ago, and I've got my period right now. This thing HURTS only when I'm on my period! I've already seen my doctor for the 1 month checkup after getting it inserted, and he's assured me that this is "normal" for most women for the first few months. I'm 28, and when I was younger, I didn't have cramps, though I've noticed as I've gotten older I started getting them...But they've never hurt THIS MUCH! It's like a sharp stabbing pain in my lower right abdomen every few minutes I'm going to give this a few more months, but if this is how it's going to be every time I get my period, I'm going to get it taken out XD It is spectacular in theory as a birth control, not so much in application

If you've ever had this before, or currently have it, what did you do for the cramping, which I assume most women have had? My pharmacist told me to take ibuprofen 800 mg. which I did, but it doesn't seem to be helping...

[Shanda]

I had a Mirena and had no issues what so ever but I have 4 friends that had gotten copper IUDs. Of the 4, only 1 still has it and the other say the cramping and horrendous periods caused them to get it removed

[lindsay22]

I have had the copper IUD for almost four years now, every single time I get on my rag I have the worst cramps, I am seriously thinking of changing to Mirena IUD. I thought I would get used to it by now but no I hate it. So you either put up with the pain or change it... I think I have put up with it too long..

[veriria]

Yeah it's nice to know that I'm not the only one; I also knew that other women complained about these terrible cramps as well. The problem I had was it was my personal choice to not want to use hormones, so I decided to go with the copper IUD [and lucky my insurance pays for it as well]! But yeah, I'm going to give it a few more months and if it doesn't go away, I will get it removed. It's also had a weird psychological effect on me, though I am loathe to admit it -- I just don't like the idea of a foreign object inside my body. Though of course, some could argue a copper foreign object inside oneself, where its main function is to prevent conception, is much more preferable to a living, growing baby!

[YvetteL]

I have had my Paragard (copper only IUD) for nearly 4 years now. I love it. I have cramps but not bad ones. The first couple months were really rough but honestly, I would go through the insertion and the first few months pain again to have my IUD. I cannot take hormones ( crazy!) and I do NOT want children so the Paragard was my last option before being sterilized.

In time, my cramps have become bearable, the bleeding has lessened, I dont feel my IUD (In the beginning, I had 'flutters' in my uterus), the hormones worked themselves out (this was the WORST part so if you were on hormones prior to your insertion, know that this is often the cause for a lot women to have issues post insertion, its the hormones in your body getting back to their normal state).

What did I do in the beginning for my cramps? Premsyn (sp?) taken every few hours will help with the bloating and the cramping, add some alleve or tylenol as needed (I cannot take ibuprofin or asprin), and add a hotpack (those thermacare heat wraps are AMAZING).

Give your iud some time. especially if you were on hormones prior to the insertion. Within 6 months I Was in love with my Paragard.

[Philly_Girl]

Thanks for the reviews on Paragard.

i am having it placed on the 22nd. I have 3 kids and want no more. I can't take hormones due to a history of blood clots, so paragard is pretty much my only option.

I'm so nervous and scared due to people talking about the cramps and such. I will get it and hope that it doesn't cause me major issues.

[Alexdur85]

I had the Mirena IUD first.. gained 20lbs and was overly hormonal!!! I've had the copper IUD (aka paraguard) and I love love love it!!! My period is barlely anything (so much for stocking up on tampax and stayfree!!) but I do get some decently bad cramps... i just take some advil and be done with it. I love my IUD. I would never go back to the Mirena.. I'm still trying to lose the weight. what's even funnier is I lost all my weight from Emily after I had her and I gained my 20lbs that i gained w/ her back in that first year of having it.

[Philly_Girl]

Thanks for this. I have been avoid getting the Paragard due to all the horror story side effects. I figure I will deal with that instead of any more children. My job's insurance is changing next month and it is covered 100% with my current plan, so I will finally get it done. I'm still nervous and scared though.

I do like that it is 10 years protection.

[veriria]

Originally Posted by Philly_Girl

Thanks for the reviews on Paragard.

i am having it placed on the 22nd. I have 3 kids and want no more. I can't take hormones due to a history of blood clots, so paragard is pretty much my only option.

I'm so nervous and scared due to people talking about the cramps and such. I will get it and hope that it doesn't cause me major issues.

Actually, the insertion wasn't bad at all! There was about only one minute where I felt bad, and it was apparently because I hadn't eaten anything, or so the nurses said. No one told me that I actually had to eat something before a procedure like that :P I guess I just assumed (wrongly) that I shouldn't have eaten prior to that but oh well. The only thing that I've complained about is the cramps during my period. When my period is finished, I am absolutely fine during the rest of the month. TMI? Sorry, but it is informational! == During intercourse, my husband says that he can sometimes feel the strings that stick out of the cervix, but it isn't annoying/doesn't hurt him.

By the way, my husband finally told me that he had 800 mg Ibuprofen! I was like geeez why didn't you tell me before >_> those have helped a lot!

[mommabailey]

I choose birth control pills (Lo Ogesterel) over IUD. I lost my Aunt Zella ("Sis") in the early 90's. Her IUD attatched to her uterine walls and caused growths (including a brain tumor) throughout her whole entire body. She suffered from horrific headaches every single day. I was 12 years old when she passed away. (There were thousands of women that died from this specific kind, it just wasnt my Aunt. There was also a huge lawsuit against the Manufacturer.) I know today IUD's are more safer and the chance of this happening to anyone is very slim if none, I just wanted to share my Aunt's story with everyone. Please research and discuss side effects with your Dr/Gyn before you choose any contraceptive.

[veriria]

Originally Posted by mommabailey

I choose birth control pills (Lo Ogesterel) over IUD. I lost my Aunt Zella ("Sis") in the early 90's. Her IUD attatched to her uterine walls and caused growths (including a brain tumor) throughout her whole entire body. She suffered from horrific headaches every single day. I was 12 years old when she passed away. (There were thousands of women that died from this specific kind, it just wasnt my Aunt. There was also a huge lawsuit against the Manufacturer.) I know today IUD's are more safer and the chance of this happening to anyone is very slim if none, I just wanted to share my Aunt's story with everyone. Please research and discuss side effects with your Dr/Gyn before you choose any contraceptive.

Wow, that's creepy...Was it a hormonal one or a copper one?

[Philly_Girl]

Originally Posted by veriria

Actually, the insertion wasn't bad at all! There was about only one minute where I felt bad, and it was apparently because I hadn't eaten anything, or so the nurses said. No one told me that I actually had to eat something before a procedure like that :P I guess I just assumed (wrongly) that I shouldn't have eaten prior to that but oh well. The only thing that I've complained about is the cramps during my period. When my period is finished, I am absolutely fine during the rest of the month. TMI? Sorry, but it is informational! == During intercourse, my husband says that he can sometimes feel the strings that stick out of the cervix, but it isn't annoying/doesn't hurt him.

By the way, my husband finally told me that he had 800 mg Ibuprofen! I was like geeez why didn't you tell me before >_> those have helped a lot!

thanks again. I was worried about insertion too, so relief on that.

[mommabailey]

Originally Posted by veriria

Wow, that's creepy...Was it a hormonal one or a copper one?

I would have to look it up online, but Im pretty sure it was copper. I was too young at the time to even know what birth control was, so I may be wrong. If I can figure out what kind it was then I'll update my post. My Uncle has been awarded more than a million dollars between all of the "disbursements" over the past ten or more years. He ended up moving to Cocoa Beach, FL and remarrying. I saw him last month for the first time in almost ten years. Its a shame my Aunt is not alive to spend any of the money.

[genosgirl]

There were issues with the old copper IUDs. The problem was specific to the "strings" attached at the bottom of the T. In the older models they were porous. I think the IUD with issues was the Dalkon Shield.

[mommabailey]

I called my Mom and asked her and she said it was Dalkon Shield. It caused my Aunt pelivic bacterial infections then forced her to have a complete hysterectomy and from there on lead to her death. The brain tumor is what killed her.

genosgirl, from what I've read you're right it was the wick in the "strings". They absorbed vaginal fluid that backed up and caused infections, like PID.

[babybleueyes1017]

I have the Mirena and I love love love it! I haven't had a period since DD2 was born ( had it inserted at my 6 week checkup) the only problems I have had is that I had a really hard time nursing her because of the hormones and I haven't lost my baby weight. But other than that, I would happily testify that it is the perfect birth control!

[JessicaJ]

Just thought I'd add in for others who may not know...my DR has told me I can't use an IUD because I've had a tubal pregnancy. that apparently ups my chances of having another one when an IUD is placed.

[veriria]

I'm just glad that the government finally allowed women who've never had children before, to get an IUD. I didn't know that it wasn't allowed up until only three years ago -- how ridiculous is that?!?

My doctor WAS surprised that I've never had a child before, and I was getting it...Seriously, I wish people would get over the whole "not wanting kids," or at least, "not wanting kids right now," thing. There is nothing wrong with not wanting kids XD

[YvetteL]

Amen Verira!! I knew from an early age I didnt want kids and have been asking gynos about getting my tubes tied since I Was 18. always "you will change your mind" or "you are too young to know" blah blah. I had decided on an IUD and was prepared to fight for it. I talked to my gyno that put in my paragard and she was amazing! when I told her I didnt want kids she asked if I wanted Essure (a tubal implant that is permamant). I nearly fell over. Since I had decided on the Paragard I went with it butknew that she would do a tubal for me. talk about refreshing!
(My gyno and a LOT of the nurses had mirena, none had a paragard.)

[khev2]

I had the mirena for less than a month when I went back to have it taken out. I was experiencing a lot of depression, hair loss, just not feeling right. I started some online research and found a lot of sites with women have unspecified problems after both mirena and copper iuds. I spoke to one of the ob/gyn doctors i work with about and he said he won't even offer it as a form of birth control unless the patient had one in the past without problems because too many patients were having issues with them. I know that work great for a lot of people, but do some serious research before you get one. Another thing I didn't realize is that they can increase risk of miscarriage after removed. When I saw that it scared me. I 2 healthy children and thank God I have never miscarried. I don't know if I will have more kids or not, but I was not ready give up the opportunity to have more if I decide to in another year or 2.