Paragard side effects (Page 4)

I have had a horrible experience with Paragard! I got it when I was 28 and had it for two years. I suffered the entire time. It has caused severe constipation, stress incontinence, moderate to severe cramps, very heavy periods and frequent urination due to the pressure on my bladder. If you haven't had children or any pregnancies, don't get it. If you have never had pregnancies most likely your uterus/cervex is too small for a device like this.

The symptoms come on slowly so it takes a while to realize it is in fact the Paragard that is causing it.

I will never get another device like this put into my body because of my horrible experience with Paragard.

So I just got the Paragard today, and I feel okay. Not wonderful, not terrible-- just feel mildly crampy. While the procedure was being done is a whole other story. It definitely hurt! But- totally doable. I took deep breaths, and that seemed to help me through it. All the sharp pains during the [very short] procedure disappeared, and all I was left with immediately after was a dull pain. Yes I have one baby, but due to complications, I never dilated. The doc had to open up my cervix with a dilator, as she noted that my cervix was the size of a pinhole. Honestly, I expected a lot more pain because of that-- but it was totally cool. Labor pains were wayyyyyyyyy worse! Recovering from the c-section was a thousand times worse. Getting my nipple pierced way back in my wild days was a hundred times worse. This? Totally cool. I'll update you over the next few days. Ps- it's been 8 hrs. since the procedure, and I'm still spotting some bright red blood. It's panty-liner light, slightly mucousy. Nothing I haven't seen before though.

So I just got the Paragard today, and I feel okay. Not wonderful, not terrible-- just feel mildly crampy. While the procedure was being done is a whole other story. It definitely hurt! But- totally doable. I took deep breaths, and that seemed to help me through it. All the sharp pains during the [very short] procedure disappeared, and all I was left with immediately after was a dull pain. Yes I have one baby, but due to complications, I never dilated. The doc had to open up my cervix with a dilator, as she noted that my cervix was the size of a pinhole. Honestly, I expected a lot more pain because of that-- but it was totally cool. Labor pains were wayyyyyyyyy worse! Recovering from the c-section was a thousand times worse. Getting my nipple pierced way back in my wild days was a hundred times worse. This? Totally cool. I'll update you over the next few days. Ps- it's been 8 hrs. since the procedure, and I'm still spotting some bright red blood. It's panty-liner light, slightly mucousy. Nothing I haven't seen before though.

So it has now been over 24 hours since I've had the paragard procedure, and most of the cramping is gone. I spotted a little bit throughout the day, but it is now gone. I'm just glad that there is a reliable option for people who cannot use hormones for whatever reasons.

I know that some people feel uncomfortable with how this iud works, due to their beliefs. I too felt uncomfortable about it- it kills sperm on contact, but if one still makes it to your egg, the paragard prevents this fertilized egg from attaching to the uterine wall. I had A LOT of issues with that. Kind of feels wrong. My doctor told me though, that the chances of that happening are low, as the copper creates a super hostile environment for sperm. On top of that, it took us almost six years to conceive our daughter-- so I'm not exactly a Fertile Myrtle. Lastly, I decided that I'd take some precautions around the time I'm supposed to ovulate. I'm sharing this here because I'm sure someone will stumble across this- and I hope this helps you decide solidly either for or against the paragard, depending on your preferences. Good luck!

I was talked into it, yeah i know my fault... But I had horrible cramps and heavy periods before this and it only made it worse. I'm getting it taking out immediately. Its been in to long, about a year and a half. I would not recommend this to anyone!! Just to add, please don't let theses doctors try to talk you into it, its about the money!

I wanted to share my ParaGard experience, since I haven't seen one quite like it on this forum.

I had my first ParaGard inserted 5 months ago. It was extremely painful for the first 3 days or so, and also during my period. On other days, it was only moderately painful. But I was never pain-free. I was having serious second thoughts, but I decided to stick it out for a three months before quitting.

At my 6 week checkup, my gyn found that the strings were 1 cm too long. So my doctor ordered an ultrasound. The NP delivering the ultrasound (the transvaginal kind, by the way) said, "yeah, it's a little low, but it shouldn't be a problem." My doctor disagreed, and decided that it should be removed.

So I went in to get it removed, thinking that my uterus was just the wrong shape or something. I was planning to switch to some other form of birth control, or at least to the Mirena. But my gyn ended up convincing me to give ParaGard a second try. I still don't quite remember how I let her talk me into that!

But in the end, I'm glad I did. The second insertion was WAY less painful than the first. My cramping is way less severe than it was for the first 6 weeks, and the bleeding is also less heavy. And most importantly? No more constant pain. The thing has stayed in place without any problems since then.

I got the Paragard three days ago. I have tried the pill and NuvaRing, and came to the conclusion to try Paragard as a last resort. I am notorious for forgetting the pill. I am awful at it. I OD'ed on it once because I didn't understand what to do when I missed a pill. Not fun. The NuvaRing was fabulous, but after a little over 3 years with it, some side effects got to me. My cramps became so much worse and my hips started to swell. No one could explain it. So I went back on the pill for a while until I got the nerve to ask for an IUD.
Now, my younger sister gave birth at 17 and asked for an IUD from our doctor. She said no, because she was too young. Bull s*&@. We deal with the nurse practitioner at our office, and had never met that actual GYN. The GYN is old and very conservative. My sister had to go to her OB to get Mirena. She experienced a lot of pain in the beginning but no longer gets a period. Her skin problems are ridiculous though.
When I finally got the nerve to ask for one, I planned my approach well. I made sure to bring up that I had tried many other options first. Amazingly, the GYN approved it. We chose Paragard because I already have bad skin, and Mirena would only make it worse. I had to wait an entire month to get an appointment, but it did happen.
The insertion appointment was difficult. I had never met the GYN before that day. She asked me several times if I was sure this is what I wanted, and then went on about the price of an IUD and how you must be sure you want it before wasting the money. Are you kidding me?!? My health is more important than the money.
The insertion itself, for lack of a better word... sucked. They gave me local anesthesia to dull the pain. She started too quickly though. She started the insertion but it hurt so bad I cried out. Given that I have never had children it explains some of the pain. After a few more minutes, she started again and I just bit the bullet. I bled a lot. I'm a bleeder anyway, but I messed up and took Aleve instead of Advil. I should have known naproxen would make me bleed, but I was only thinking about the pain. After about 15 minutes of trying to let the pain subside, I drove myself home.. Note: get someone to drive you. I had awful cramping for the next day and a half and its beginning to get better. I notice that when I feel as if I have to urinate it is a bit painful and the actual urgency is off. I feel like I'm bursting when I am definitely not. I checked for the strings and I could feel them. Haven't tested out how it feels with intimacy yet. We'll see. Advil will be my friend this week.

Thanks to all who have contributed to this post, it's helped me out so much. I'm a holistic gal who has been trying to figure out the best form of BC for me to use and my doctor talked me into the paraguard...umm, huge mistake. As I write I am now on day 13 of it being inserted with terrible, terrible cramps. Not only was having it inserted totally awful (I was crying, screaming, squeezing a nurses hand during insertion from the pain), but the pain following it has been consistent with no signs of letting up. I've blown through a large bottle of ibuprofen (umm, I never even take these because I do things all natural but I can't even bear the pain) and am eating an anti inflammatory diet to ease the inflammation. My body is clearly rejecting this tiny, evil device. I'm making an appointment this week to have it removed. I can't believe my doctor was so animate about how simple, easy and pain free the paraguard is. She has had three and went on and on about how great they are...I reminded her that's she's had 3 babies and that I haven't had any and that may make a difference, but she said it wouldn't. Right. My uterus feels like it wants to explode, my bowel movements have been effected (can barely go), I'm super irritable because of this chronic pain each day/night, I can keep going here. Only good thing, I haven't bled more. I will NEVER recommend the paraguard to another female and even though it will make my sex life that much more easier because we won't have to worry about anything, I can't keep putting my body through this pain.

Okay. Finally another woman who has had constant pain! I am on day 14 & have had the pain non stop no matter what I do or do not do. I had my fourth child 8 weeks ago. I got the paraguard inserted at my 6 week check up. My DR said to expect cramping for week or so. Well how long is the or so?!!! It has not let up or lessened any at all!!! I am at a loss for words for this thing! But I am always in pain nothing seems to help, I can only take certain meds as I am nursing my baby. I delivered all 4 of my children with NO epidural or pain meds so I have a high pain tolerance to say the least!! I am in so much pain, I have no interest in sex and do not even want to be touched and its not that I dont love my husband, its just I am in so much pain all the time! I was ok with the pain the first week as they did tell me to expect it. But how long is this going to go on? I am so ready to get this thing out of me!! I feel awful! I cannot lay on my stomach most of the time. My back aches worse than normal, my hips and pelvic area tingle weird and feel odd when I wipe. I just do not feel like doing anything at all. I ache, then throb, then ache, then throb back and forth all the time!! How is this so wonderful? Its not!! I got pregnant on using condoms religiously!! My DR told me they are only 50 to 70% on prevention of pregnancy and that its the STD's that they are 90% + on the prevention of. So I am trying to keep an open mind to this that it may get better. But I had not read where anyone else had the pain nonstop. So has your been any better or did you get your removed?

I had Paragard inserted 3 weeks ago, and the procedure was exactly what I had expected: the NP gave me the lidocaine, and it was somewhat uncomfortable when she measured my uterus, and when she did the actual insertion. I had been told to take some ibuprofen ahead of time, and be prepared for some bleeding afterward. I think my biggest reaction was "ooh." It was unpleasant/uncomfortable, but not particularly painful. I had it done on my lunch break, and went right back to class (and actually took an exam). I had some random "twinges" of pain that day and night, that were pretty much gone by the next day. I was able to ride my bike and go running. Now I've gotten my first period with the IUD, and other than being longer than usual (I'm on day 5; normally I'm around 3) it's normal, not heavy and not crampy at all.

I feel like I was really lucky in that my NP was GREAT at counseling me at what to expect from the device, and making sure I was actually a good candidate. She said that anyone who normally has cramps or heavy periods will hate this device, but for someone like me - with very regular, crampless periods - Paragard is the perfect choice. It's not for everyone, just like the other methods aren't. Personally, I don't want hormones, and I didn't want to have to take pills every day anyway. So far it's been great, and my partner loves it too!

But don't let your Dr. bully you into any decision - it's your body, do what's right for you!!

Before I had my son I would skip 3-4 months without a period and when I did have one it was 3-4 days light-moderate bleeding. After the birth of my son I was on depo for 2 1/2 years with no period at all and another year after I was off depo with no period. I then got paragard and now....I have a period almost every month, some times I will skip up to two months. My period lasts 7-14 days and is heavy the entire time. If I skip a month or two when I do have it the next time it seems like it's doubled. I've had paragard for four years and it's been this way the whole time. I often get fainty and light headed and lose my appetite. There are times I start to look pale in the face which is odd because I am tanned (naturally). The pain feels like the worst cramps imaginable with contractions at the same time that someone is twisting and stabbing me from the inside. The pain lasts as long as the period does. Urinating or bowel movements feels like torture at times. So on top of loss of appetite I've learned to just eat less during my period and stick to more liquids. My entire torso to my arse hurts, back and all. I take 3-4 ibprofen 800mg a day for the duration of my period and when the pain feels like I'm on the verge of dying I take 1-2 vicodins. I tell my self that enduring the pain for 7-14 days will be better than enduring raising another child. So I suffer to suffer less.

first of all i should have been got this thing removed. when i got it inserted it was painful but the pain 30 min later was worse...i have had it for almost a year and a half...my periods went from 3-4 days to 8-10 days...and it seems like they come quicker every month...ive always had bad cramps so idk if the IUD makes them worse...whenever my husband and i are having sex i can can feel the IUD stabbing me...i cant seem to orgasm like i used to and i am more dry...all this makes sex a hassle for me, i dont even want to do it...when i first got it my husband said he could feel the strings stabbing him when we had sex, once he even came out swollen..i have random pains all the time..when i tried to get it removed mi strings were nowhere to be found...i have to schedule a sonogram so they can find it and have surgery for them to remove it...i have random bleeding throughout the month and always after sex, i have to where a liner for a few hours bcuz of it...i had the nuvaring before but hormonal bc give me infections and makes me very tender...i was hoping this would work but it had dont exactly the opposite...my sex life hasnt been the same since i got it..i have 2 kids and wasnt looking to have more for atleast another 2 yrs...but i think i might be pregnant, im having symptoms but i havent missed mi period yet although i am spotting...if mi period comes and i am not pregnant i am getting this thing removed as soon as i can...i think i might get the patch or the shot...i never want anything else stuck in mi body again! #done

I cant take hormonal birth control and was considering the copper IUD. I knew there had to be a catch. Copper and estrogen levels in the body mimic each other. Copper raises estrogen levels and estrogen increases the absorption of copper. So when your doctor tells you that copper is not hormonal birth control, they are either lying or have no idea what they are inserting into your uterus and what effect it will have.

I had my paraguard put in nearly a month ago, it was very painful procedure. I lost all color in my face and felt as though I was going to sh** my brains out and throw up all at once. I did end up having the largest bowl movement of my life directly after, not to be gross, and it wasnt painful, I just think opening up my cervix did something to my body that caused that. 4 hours later I was feeling decent.
I waited three days to have sex with my boyfriend and yes, we both could feel it. I warned my Gyno that he was "above average" (or alot above average) and she told me not to worry. Although I found as I continued that making sure I was properly turned on before having sex really helped us both with not feeling the iud. Now, a month later neither of us have felt it. That is if i even want to have sex. I am on my second round of meds for extremely painful UTI's accompanied with blood in my urine, usually they come up the day after having sex. I get cramps from my iud when I need to make a bowel movement, that subside directly after. I don't understand this but it seems to happen nearly everytime.

A week ago I could not sleep because I felt like if I was in labor, this is what it would feel like. I was periodically woken up by what felt like the worst pains/spasms in my uterus. I got spotting/ what I thought was my period a few days later and I am now able to sleep. They said I would get heavier periods but so far its a week early and very light. I'm wondering if its just spotting or actually my period. I hope to god its not just a "preview" of my period, i will have a heart attack if these pains get anyworse. I literally had to lay on the floor a few times last week it hurt so bad.
I got this iud because I literally cannot orgasm on horomones or feel anything when having sex, and my boyfriend cannot fit into most condoms. I am about to just use the pull out method and spermicide. I did this so we could have safe sex, now I don't even want to have sex! I have missed over 2 days of work and countless work outs, I find myself laying in bed when I am a very active person besides! My appetite spikes some days and then I cant eat at all the next, and I need to rest several times a day. My weight has been up and down 7 lbs at the most since as well. I feel depressed/irretable and usually dont want to do anything at all, even on my days off. I don't feel like myself. I am 22 and have never had std's or children, as a reference. My doctor told me to wait it out and I am having an ultra sound done tomorrow.

Reila,

I was a virgin until I was 20. I first tried birth control when I was about 16 due to heavy periods. My doctor made me very uncomfortable asking me repeatedly if I have had intercourse and insisting I can tell her as I am protected by doctor patient confidentiality. I assured her that I understood and was being completely honest but she continued to question me as if she couldn't comprehend me being a virgin. I never went back and thereafter found a doctor I was comfortable with. It's awkward enough having your body explored for medical purposes..you shouldn't suffer uncomfortable emotions on top of it!

Ladies, I am considering Paragard as hormones have given me terrible side effects. Yaz put me in the hospital due to severe heart palpitations, Mirena caused hair loss, backne, loss of sex drive, etc. I already have heavy periods so I'm concerned Paragard could make me anemic and worse. Choosing a BC is like picking the lesser evil! :/ I just don't trust condoms. Confused and frustrated.

Is anyone having acne problem weird places on ur face? I never had acne. I tried the 5year bc now i have the paraguard

Is anyone having acne problem weird places

So I'm sitting on the couch right now with a heating pad and reading the comments about paraguard cramping. So thought id share my experience. First off I'm 20 years old, i was using the nuva ring for about 4 years. My husband is about to get out of the military so i wanted a birth control i didn't have to worry about. I ran out of nuva ring for a month. And wow i felt great without all the hormones, sex and my mood was so much better. The day i got the paraguard it hurt, they say it feels like a cramp getting it inserted. Well i yelled out in pain on the final part of the procedure. Man it hurt. But ok it was over, im good for 10 years. 15 min later the cramps started, then they got worse. Really bad. I took some advil an eventually took a nap to forget about the pain. Heres the fun part. I had a note for work so i was getting ready to drive there. 5 min away with my husband. As soon as we hit the first the first speed bump in the apartment complex i was instantly car sick. Hyper ventilating an panicking. Ended up in the bathroom sitting on the floor waiting to throw up. My husband was on the phone with a nurse. Turns out my blood sugar dropped. I was cramping still hyper ventilating an cramping for 10 or 15 min. The bathtub and heating pad was my best friend for the day/ night. Horrible experience. Im hoping it will all work out an these cramps will stay away. As for now, well im still on the couch.

Ive had paragard for almost 5months i have the heavy periods bt thats all my only problem is my boyfriend can feel it an he says it hurts when he goes deep then we cant have sex for days i can feel the end i think mine might b out of place an my strings are long can i have those cut shorter???

I have had paraguard for 8 months. Last 3 I have bled nonstop and leak though so have to wear tampon and bad. I am going to day to have removed. Would not recommend!

I have had paragard for almost 3 years now, and I loved it at first but not so much now. I'm in serious pain from cramps that feel more like contractions, id rather give birth to my daughter again over dealing with these pains because at least when you give birth you can get an epidual and I dont only get cramps during my period, every time i have sex i get really bad cramps either right after or the next day. I wanna get this thing taken out but im not very comfortable with strangers looking at my vag. But honestly the only thing I have found to take away my cramps is smoking weed. I'm also prescribed oxycodone and that doesn't work, nothing does. Only smoking.