ParaGard IUD - Grapevine,TX

Sorry this answer is later than most but I have had Paraguard for 3 years and I do really really like it. I am limited on birthcontrol because my body does not do well with hormones. I had heavy periods before the IUD and haven't really noticed them get heavier after the IUD was put in. I do not spot in between my periods. I did however cramp when it was put in; however I did not have a vaginal birth with my children. One of my girlfriends just had one put in a week ago and had no problem with the insertion. Hope this helps and good luck

I have had a ParaGard IUD in for 7 years now. Ironically I was at the OB office today talking about having it removed since we will be trying to conceive soon, but I know I will go right back to it again after we're done having kids. I have type 1 diabetes and wanted an effective, hormone-free option so it is the perfect contraception for me. Because I had not had children prior to the insertion I had about 6 months of extremely painful cramping but I think that would not be as much of an issue for you since your uterus has been "stretched out" already. Other than that I have had no other side effects or health concerns. It gets my recommendation! Good luck.

a girlfriend recently had an IUD inserted and when she went in for annual, they couldn't find it! It punctured through her uterus and she had to have laproscopic surgergy to remove it from her abdomen. May have been improper placement vs a problem with device. My friend was really upset that this happened. Evidently it's a pretty rare occurrence, but I just thought I would share. Good luck!

love it! I never got the hard heavy periods with it. But without it i am a 3 dayer. Post baby i am bleeding heavier then I ever did with the iud.
In fact, as soon as I get pregnant and the next baby comes out I am getting one put back in.

I have had my paragard now for about... 9 months I think.. I for the most part love it. I had a bit of bad cramping when they inserted it and then for a few days afterward. I do not experience harder cramps when I have my period, I do however have a very strange menstruation. I will start off very extremely light (like I do not know if it's my period or if i'm just spotting, don't know if I should put a tampon in thinking it will start up any second) for a couple of days and then it will get very heavy for a couple of days and then get real light again (it's very dramatic the change and how quickly it will change). I can also lightly spot during my ovulation. Other than that I really like it.. I like not having hormones affect my body..

I've had mine for almost 8 years now, and am in the "Love It!" category.

The biggest health effect it has on me is that it doesn't give me cancer. I'm prone to the "not recommended for women with certain types of reproductive cancer" small print that is on hormone birth control. :) So no hormones for me!!!

I also love that it has a lower failure rate than a tubal ligation, and that I can take antibiotics and still be protected... neither of which are true with hormone BC. I also got preggers more than once on hormone BC, so when I add together that hormone BC not only triggers cancer, but also doesn't protect against pregnancy for me... the answer of tossing the hormones is a simple one.

First 3 periods were gnarly (but that was years and years ago). Since then, I just check the line once a month and make sure it's still there, and my OB checks the placement every year. No way to tell, otherwise.

I'm gonna be in the not-so much category. I've had mine for alittle over a year. I get horrible cramps and heavy periods which were not a norm for me. The 2 bad things about it are that I get heavy discharge I guess from my body trying to reject it (said my OB) and I bleed constantly! I have to wear a liner everyday because I never know when I'm going to bleed on my pants! It's not a "period" it's just annoying spotting. I love that it doesn't have hormones and that I don't have to think about birth control which is a must right now because I am in school full time. When I graduate I am getting mine out.
That all being said, my friend has had one for about 8 years now and loves it!

I have to agree with Melissa there. I had the paraguard IUD in for almost a year and I hated it. I was constantly spotting and I never knew when I was going to have my period. I would also get random cramping with the occasional charlie horses (which was totally weird). Bleeding was alot heavier and I eventually had to have it removed because of the heavier periods I was getting, my doctor told me I was at risk for anemia and recommended the mirena IUD instead. The Mirena is amazing, periods have been super light, no cramping, no health issues. But it is hormonal. I'm not exactly sure if you are even considering any other hormonal products, but I would be on the ehh side of paraguard.

I looked into it. I was told it wouldn't be great for me because I already had heavy, painful periods and the ParaGuard tends to make that worse. I would have been better with the Mirena because of the small amount of progesterone it emits.

I have a friend who went into shock when she had hers placed the first time, but tried it again a year later and it was just fine. She thought maybe her life circumstances had something to do with her reaction.

I just want to also make sure you understand exactly what any IUD is. Many women don't understand that it is an abortive device. It can help you not ovulate (especially the Mirena since it has the progesterone) but mostly it relies on thinning the lining of the uterus so that if and when conception occurs, the uterus sheds the lining along with an implanted fertilized egg. I was totally cool with it, but many women aren't.

Good luck with your decision!

I work for a ob/gyn office, I have not had any women not like it. It does not have any hormones like the mirena. I have alot of people that love the mirena though especially since most women do not have any periods with it. If you do not like it you can always have it taken out.