Paragard vs. Mirena

[Leleluvsdis]

Thank you everyone for your responces. I would mind the regular periods, because now I'm lucky if i get it every 4 months. I really don't want to take hormones, just because I don't like the way I feel when i take them, but I'm thinking I am going to consider either one. Can I call my insurance company and see what they will pay on them, or does my doctor have to do that. I hate having to deal with a middle man, so if I can do it directly i would be very happy, but if not i understand that.

 

[alyssa810]

I love my Mirena; one of my SILs and a cousin had suggested it to me because I didn't want to go back on the pill. I got mine when my DS was about 6 months old, so I've had it almost 3 years now. I did have a little spotting like others mentioned, but I haven't had a period since my last one before I got pregnant. I LOVE that part of it most of all!

The only concern I had was that it seemed like my milk supply went down after I got it, so it's something to consider if you're nursing. My DS was always a formula and BF boy, so it wasn't too much of an issue; it was also shortly after I went back to work, so that might have made a difference as well.

My co-pay was $160, so divide that over the 5 years years, and it's big savings over the pill, which was going to cost me $80 a year. Not having to buy tampons and pads is also a nice savings too!

 

[Derby]

I had Mirena and hated it. I had it taken out after 6 weeks. I then got a ParaGard and loved it. Yes, it sucks that your periods are heavier and longer and first but it gets better. I like not using any hormones. After this baby is born, I will definitely get ParaGard again.

 

[Derby]

Can I call my insurance company and see what they will pay on them, or does my doctor have to do that. I hate having to deal with a middle man, so if I can do it directly i would be very happy, but if not i understand that.

I called my insurance company to check what they covered. They told me how much it would be to get it inserted.

 

[livibug]

I just had my 2nd mirena put in back in October. When I had it first put in over 5 years years ago, I had about 3 months of light spotting and bleeding and then it just stopped along with my periods. Every once in a while I will have some minor spotting for a day but that is it. I make sure I go to my yearly checkup to make sure it is okay. I had a 2nd one put in and no problems at all except for a day of cramping and spotting. I LOVE the mirena. My DH and I haven't had any issues with it in the bedroom dept.

Some of my friends have had it put in and taken right out b/c they didn't want to wait out the adjustment time. I think it was completely worth the wait.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[bnhasak]

If I may ask, how much spotting/bleeding in the first months? I am being prompted to get the Mirena to control my heavy periods. I also can't take estrogen due to blood clotting issues. I'm just so nervous that it will be heavy and with both my kids having special needs, I'm not sure I can function with every day bleeding for a few months.

I too have read the horror stories online. They make it sound like torture and have scared me off of trying it for the last 2 years.

Any tips for insertion, to make it less painful? My doc has prescribed me all sorts of narcotics, etc...to get me through the insertion, but I'm afraid to take all those pills. I hardly take a tylenol normally so vicodin and zofran and xanax being prescribed together scares me. Is it THAT painful to need those kinds of strong meds or is my doc just covering all the bases? I am hoping a few advil will be sufficient?

I really appreciate the unbiased opinions here! Really helps give me some perspective.

 

[tinker&belle]

If I may ask, how much spotting/bleeding in the first months? I am being prompted to get the Mirena to control my heavy periods. I also can't take estrogen due to blood clotting issues. I'm just so nervous that it will be heavy and with both my kids having special needs, I'm not sure I can function with every day bleeding for a few months.

I too have read the horror stories online. They make it sound like torture and have scared me off of trying it for the last 2 years.

Any tips for insertion, to make it less painful? My doc has prescribed me all sorts of narcotics, etc...to get me through the insertion, but I'm afraid to take all those pills. I hardly take a tylenol normally so vicodin and zofran and xanax being prescribed together scares me. Is it THAT painful to need those kinds of strong meds or is my doc just covering all the bases? I am hoping a few advil will be sufficient?

I took advil 45 min prior to my appt for the mirena. I told the Dr I tend to pass out and they had a tech sit with me for about 20 min after and I brought a juice box to drink because I know that if I drink something like that and lay down I am less likely to pass out. It worked fine.

The bleeding is annoying but I am two months in and it seems to get better. My biggest side effect is I have noticed slight cramping off and on in my lower back but that seems to be lessening too.

 

[brooke.jax.gia]

I have a love/hate relationship with my Mirena.

I had mine put in June 2009, and it was TERRIBLE. When the dr told me that I should take some Motrin before having it placed, I should've listened. I spotted on & off for the first 3 months. And now I'm have a period every other week. And this is after being pretty regular with one every 3 weeks.

But... I don't have to worry about taking a pill or any other hormones (they make me feel like I'm pregnant, morning sickness, lol), and I'm not pregnant! So, it does what I need it do to.

 

[kpk89]

Chose Paragard because of no hormones. I've had it over 7 years now and no issues aside from heavier than usual periods (although since I was on the pill for years before that, they were lighter than normal so maybe it's just the difference between the two.)

I think I'd be nervous about something that causes there to be no periods, even though on the surface that seems GREAT!

 

[clairemolly]

I didn't take any meds prior to having mine inserted. It was uncomfortable, but not any worse than being checked for dilation. My doctor talked to me while she was doing it to distract me, and it was over in like 3 minutes. It was like a heavy period for the first 2 days, then off and on for about 5-6 weeks. Since then I have had very minor spotting lasting less than a day. I have had it almost 3 months. Also, with both of my girls, I had my period back by 4 months, even though I was BF. Haven't seen it yet with Gavin and he'll be 5 months next week. I'm hoping I'm one of the lucky ones that don't have cycles with Mirena.