Need Advice on Birth Control - in Particular IUD with or Without Hormones

I love my Mirena IUD. It's so easy. I have nothing to think about or worry about. I don't even really menstruate anymore, which is totally common for women with a Mirena. I am also the mom of two wonderful little girls, I am done having kids and I have better things to worry about than borth control.

Hi M.,
I really like the Mirena. I've had it for 4 years and I've had no problems with it. It did hurt going in but really not too bad.. I'd do it over again if needed. Two things I love about it, I have no periods and no PMS. It lasts 5 years and I am now just starting to spot and I can tell a difference in my mood around ovulation. I'll probably get another one next year! Not sure how painful it is when being removed... Can anyone tell me this????
I've heard some negative things about the cooper IUD. I had one friend have some serious problems and she couldn't have a baby after getting it removed.
Good luck on what ever you decide!!! E.

i was on the depo shot before and really liked it. You only need a shot 4x's a year and have no periods. I gained weight, which I heard is somewhat usual for depo users and my insurance wouldn't pay for it. So I had to switch to something different. I've heard that it's not intended for use more than about 5-10 years.
It's very effective, and nice to be able to get a shot and then be totally able to forget about birth control for 3 months.

My kids are now 10 & 12 and my husband & I are 100% sure we do not want anymore kids. But we're both not ready still after 10 years to get it "final"! I switched to the copper IUD about 5 years ago, it has it's pro's & con's! Pro's: I don't have to take a pill every day and I don't have to carry around the extra 5 lbs it always made me gain. Con's: you get killer cramps!!!
I do recommend it though! If we can deal with contractions we can deal with a few rough cramps!
Good luck!

Hi M.,

I had the Mirena IUD for just over year after the birth of my second child. I chose it because my doctor kept saying how great it was- shorter, lighter periods that could possibly disapear altogether. With in a week or two I began to have terrible migraine headaches that were so bad I could not lift my head to take care of myself, let alone my two babies. I talked to my doctor about it but she kept insisting that the Mirena wasn't the problem. I started seeing a neurologist who also insisted that the IUD was not linked to my headaches. I had to take a lot of powerful drugs to help my headaches, but nothing stopped them. I was having them up to 5 days a week. Well after a year of this, I had had enough and had the IUD removed. I had my last migraine the day after it was taken out. So, it is my strong belief that the Mirena IUD was toxic to my body, and caused me a year of pain and suffering. I don't know if you are open to the idea of natural family plannning, but it may be a safer choice for women than putting artifical hormones into their systems that may cause serious side effects. I wish you good luck in finding the right, and safe, solution for you.

I had mine put in 10 weeks after my baby was born and it was painless. During the procedure I said to the doctor, "Is this supposed to hurt?" because I felt nothing.

I did feel the strings poking me inside for about a month. I went back into the office, she clipped them, and I've had no issues since. I seem to have a spot in my underwear every week or so--but no real period to speak of. I do think I have SOME PMS like symptoms--but I've got two children to take care of, and no time to think about it, so I'm not sure if it's on a schedule or not.

I'm breastfeeding and haven't had an supply issues.

I'm on Weight Watchers and it is NOT imparing my ability to lose 2-3 pounds a week while nursing. I know a lot of people have said it has made them gain weight, but I haven't experienced that.

Everyone I know has been happy with the Mirena except for me. I am having it taken out tomorrow. The first 4 months were great. Then, it changed. I now have periods that last 1-1/2 weeks, I have cramps 3 days before they start and the first week during my period. I have constant headaches and I'm dizzy a lot. I also have not been able to lose weight. None of this has ever been normal for me.

I'm not telling you the above to scare you. From what I can tell, most love it. But, there are those of us who have terrible problems with it - mine are mild compared to others. We are the minority. Unfortunately, there is no way to know until you try it out. With every procedure and medication, there are risks involved. Most likely, this would work out for you. Just realize there are complications that can occur that the doctors don't tell you about - mine didn't.

I don't know anyone who has used the copper one. I'm intrigued, but I think I'm going back on the pill. Good luck!

I prefer the Paraguard, a hormone free IUD as my personal choice for birth control. After trying literally every pill out there and getting pregnant while properly and religiously using the nuvaring, I found that my body (like those of the women in my family) does NOT tolerate hormones well. Putting any extra hormones into my body, no matter how low the does, causes me to feel like I have morning sickness all day long - I find it difficult to eat, experienced stomach pain and muscle cramps felt exhausted all the time, and a whole slew of symptoms that one would associate with being pregnant. Even with the Mirena IUD which is a progestin only IUD I experience mild "morning sickness" symptoms.
The Mirena IUD is especially good if you have difficult and painful periods or suffer from endometriosis. The very low dose slow release hormones will actually make it so that your periods almost completely disappear altogether - and even if you still get your period, it will be lighter, shorter, and with little to no discomfort. The hormone released only into your uterus by the IUD - they last for 5 years, and I used the mirena successfully for years (it was only after I had the baby that I became so sensitive to hormones).
The IUD I use now, the Paraguard, has no hormones in it - each end of the tiny T shaped piece of plastic is wrapped with copper which makes it impossible for the egg to implant in the uterus (the copper changes the Ph balance of the uterus, and the body recognizes it as an "inhospitable" area for an egg to implant and the baby to grow). The Paraguard has a lifespan of 10 years, and I have been using it successfully for 2 now. My periods are lighter and shorter (the first few months after the copper IUD is placed can come with some really painful, bloody periods until the body regulates your cycle) and I have no hormonal side effects.
IUD's are wonderful - choose whichever one is right for you, they both do a fabulous job.