Paragard vs. Mirena

[Leleluvsdis]

For any ladies out there. If it's not TMI Do you have or have had Paragard, and what do you think about it? My dr wants to me to consider Mirena, but I have done mini-pill, and am much less than thrilled about it. I don't like taking medicine, and mini-pill is making me swell really bad. Several people I've talked to with Mirena said they gained a lot of weight from it, and have major mood swings. Cost is also a major factor paragard is much cheaper than Mirena. For those who have experience with both, what do you think?

 

[QVCshopper]

I have not had either one, but I came very close to getting the Mirena. I had it ordered for me, etc., and was within days of getting it, but the stuff on the internet scared me off. There are some nightmare stories out there about it; like it can move and pierce you, etc. And you are more likely to get ovarian cysts. On the other hand, some women absolutely love it, and I'm sure some of them will post on here.

For me, I decided to stick with the pill for now. I'm glad, too, b/c DH is possibly giving the go ahead to try to have one more child; something I've wanted for a few years now. We'll see.

Good luck whatever you decide, but I suggest doing to research on both sides.

 

[Leleluvsdis]

I have not had either one, but I came very close to getting the Mirena. I had it ordered for me, etc., and was within days of getting it, but the stuff on the internet scared me off. There are some nightmare stories out there about it; like it can move and pierce you, etc. And you are more likely to get ovarian cysts. On the other hand, some women absolutely love it, and I'm sure some of them will post on here.

For me, I decided to stick with the pill for now. I'm glad, too, b/c DH is possibly giving the go ahead to try to have one more child; something I've wanted for a few years now. We'll see.

Good luck whatever you decide, but I suggest doing to research on both sides.

I really wanted to do nuvaring, but I had a blood clot last year, so now I am very limited as to what I can take. I have done a lot of reading over various sites, but those sites don't give personal experiences, and those mean the most to me. Thank you for your input. I too have heard horror stories about mirena, and most everyone I know that has had it has had it removed within a year.

 

[clairemolly]

I have Mirena and have had it since my youngest turned 9 weeks in October. So far so good. Also, my insurance paid for it at 100%, so the cost was not an issue for me.

 

[shinysparklybubbles]

I had mirena put in when DS was 10 weeks (he's now 23 months) and I LOVE it. My girlfriend on the other hand, hated it. She spotted/bleed for months and finally had it taken out. I spotted for 4 weeks and haven't since (no AF either). I'm sure if you do a search on here you are going to the people who love it and had great experiences and those who don't. Good luck with your choice!

 

[locolala]

I love mine and have had it for about 4 months now. No issues, including no weight gain. As for the horror stories, I take them with a grain of salt.. there are horror stories about everything out there on the internet. Your best bet is to talk to your doctor and get their opinion, find out what their experience is with the IUD.

 

[El&Asmom]

I had Mirena placed when dd was 6m old. She just turned two a couple weeks ago. No problems at all. I very lightly spotted for the first 4-6 weeks. Then no AF for a while, though I was still bfing dd until she was 18 months and I don't usually get it back for a year after birth.
Now I get AF about every 3.5-4 weeks and it is very light.
Plus I lost over 40lbs since getting it placed. (Obviously, the weight loss was not due to the Mirena, but the fact that I eat well and train for triathlons and am training for the Princess half in Feb, but that's off topic). Just saying you don't have to gain weight from it. Good luck. My midwife says it's her favorite form of contraception for postpartum moms.

 

[.:allisonr:.]

I had my Mirena placed in November 2008 (DS was almost 5 months old), and have had absolutely no problems with it. The first few days after it was put in, I bled pretty heavily, then I spotted for a few weeks. I got my first AF a month later, and each month it would get lighter and lighter, and now I have nothing. I don't notice any mood swings, or extra weight gain. I love having it, and not having to worry about taking a pill everyday. I recommend it to everyone I know that's had a baby and is looking for a new kind of birth control.

 

[jodifla]

Frankly, you are going to have to try it yourself to see if you like it. I tried it, LOVED it. I also went by the fact that it had a huge percentage of female doctors using it.

You do have to give it 6 months or so to get past any spotting. And it can be painful for the first couple days. After that, I forgot all about it.

 

[2girlsmommy]

I just want to say I've had it for 4 years and I love it!!! As soon as i have to have it replaced I will! I haven't had any issues at all!

 

[ancestry]

I LOVE the Mirena -- barely have a period with it. I'm on my second Mirena.

I initially tried the paragard after my twins were born. The paragard was a complete and total nightmare and absolutely would not recommend it to anyone. Avoid it like the plague -- pain, cramping, bleeding throughout the month, it was AWFUL!

 

[woodkins]

On my 2nd mirena already, loved the 5 period free years with the first one. Had no weight gain or side effects at all. Cost wise, mine was covered by insurance, but I was told my my dr they charge about $350 for the mirena and insertion process, so divide that by five years and it is quite affordable imo.

 

[latmck]

I had Mirena for two yrs now. I had mines put in after my 6 wks check up. I had some spotting at first but nothing to worry about. I have light cycle every 6 months or so. I have no problems with it at all. Like pp said, I even lost wt & continue to lose wt. I LOVE it!!!

 

[anl]

I have had two. One after 2nd baby at 6 wk check up and did the same with the last baby. I too had light spotting for a bit and then no more AF for me! I get really sick on the pill and this hasn't bothered me at all. I would say the mood swings are comparable to pms...or maybe it's just having 3 kids and a husband. But I've had no problems and like having the piece of mind that it will protect for now and i can take it out whenever I want. Also, I read before I got the first one that it hurt being inserted...didn't hurt me at all.

 

[DCbride]

I have had Mirena for a year. I did gain about 8 lbs, and can't get rid of it and each month for a day I am a total nightmare, ask DH. And finally I do get acne a bit for a few days each month. So I can't say that I am side effect free, but I do love not having to worry or care and will remain on it. I do have to say during insertion, I cramped terribly, like wanting to jump off the table. I was not prepared for the pain, it lasted probably less then a minute but wow did it stink during that minute!

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Paragard here. I used to be on the Pill, but hated now the hormones made me feel.

I really like the Paragard, for the most part. I've had it for 9 months. My periods are MUCH longer (12 days rather than 6), but that's not a huge issue for me. The insertion was the worst part.

 

[ashleendanny]

I have had Mirena for about a year and a half now. I was one of the ones that spotted for about 6 months, thought I would never stop, but now I love it, no problems, have also lost 20 lbs. Do have light spotting about every 4 weeks, but light. Like PP said everyone is different, so you should try it.

Ashlee

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

My friends love Mierna, but I had mine taken out. I could always feel that something was there- which drove me nuts. I also put on belly fat which has not gone away!

 

[mamaLori05]

I had Mirena put in at my 6 week check-up after having ds (3). It was covered by insurance, so no cost, and it was pain free for me. I LOVED it!! I did spot very very very lightly for the first month or two, but then it went to once a month having very very light spotting for a day or two. I had no complications with it what so ever, and couldn't even tell it was there. No weight gain for me either. In fact, I too had lost weight (not due to Mirena, but my own working out). I had mine removed earlier in the year because my dh and I were trying for our 3rd, and we got preggo 3 months after having it removed (Didn't try the first month because you are supposed to wait to have one normal period before trying.) We are now 8 months pregnant with what looks to be a very healthy little girl. I will definately be putting in another one at my 6 week check-up after having this baby.

 

[bean]

I had Paraguard for 5 years. It was placed at my 6 week postpartum visit. I have issues with migraines and was breastfeeding at the time so I didn't want any extra hormones. Insertion wasn't fun but I liked it for the most part. My periods weren't much heavier and lasted maybe 5-6 days instead of 3-4. I took it out this past May and was pregnant by July. So no problem with returning to fertility either.