I am 44 years old and when I was a kid I went to health class, they told us about baby's being born with iud in them, or dying because growing around iud. So, I myself would never use one. Just my opinion. I wont let my daughter or daughter's in law use them either.

I love my paragard! Okay here is my full story..2 years ago I had mirena put in, she did not have paragard handy(had to wait and order it) so she offered way reduced cost mirena. 300$..I went for just a consulataion, but when I said I was on my period, she said "well we'll just put it in". I took no advil or anything, it was a very crampy insertion, I will not lie. But the cramps were quick, did nto last long at all. So I had it for a year and a half, and I had terrible spotting, my blood flow was erratic, and it displaced. Strings went missing ect.. I wanted it out anyways due to the spotting, so I got my wish..

December 15 paragard insertion... Went great, felt nothing. The doc gave me cytotec to help soften my cervix, and I took vicodin before insertion. I love it! So far so good. I highly reccommend iud's.

Wow...To the lady with the iud baby story...Thats just horrible! I mean you are supposed to take it out if you get pregnant!
Also do you think it will be ok for people who have never had children?

First of all, the iud is not recommended for women who have not had any children. The reason is cuz your cervix is permanently dilated (ever so slightly) after having babies, so it is less painful & easier to insert. So, they don't recommend it to women who haven't had babies cuz it would hurt a lot worse. Also, to the lady who said that about babies being born with it in, that was years & years ago, the new iuds are much much better; completely different than the iuds from the 70's & 80's. I'm no dr, but that's what i've heard from drs. I'm going any day now to get my paragard & can't wait! I'm completely through with hormonal bc, as I have had nothing but problems from all the different methods out there!
Good luck to everyone who is thinking about getting an iud. I sure hope I like mine!

Actually fda has changed, women who have never given birth can have an iud.They just give you a medicine to help soften and dilate your cervix. I do not have babies, but I have had an abortion.

I have a question...This may sound crazy, but can you get a non-hormonal iud and still take birth control pills?

Yes you can..But the non hormonal iud is statistically as effective as sterilization... It's meant so you don't need hormones..

I had mine put in a year ago but have no complaints. The doc's told me I would feel heavy cramping, I actually have less cramping than before. I wanted it for a long time but they would not give in cause I had no kids. I did obviously have a child. I'm not sure wich one I have but it does have hormones in it but the hormones are not supposed to leave my uterus. I also have never been able to fish for the string but good thing the hubby enjoys that part. The biggest plus of all, I only have a few spots a month. I think this is the very best ( I have tried everything)

Sounds like you have the mirena, which is the one with the hormone progestin in it...
I have decided against that one cuz of the hormones; i'm trying to get away from hormones, after being on them 8 1/2 years...Even though the mirena is 99.9% effective, I still decided against that one...The paragard is only 99.3% effective, but I think it would be a better choice for me.

Also, I was gonna say that yes, a woman who has never had a baby can get an iud, but I was just saying it is not recommended, that's all. Sure, you can get one, but most ob/gyns don't recommend it cuz of possible increase of problems.

Good luck to everyone! I can't wait to get mine!

that is why it is still on the discovery channel and things like that. I am sure it has changed but, it still happens.

And there are a lot of women who dont know they are pregnant for months or more. And if you already have irratic periods with them, who says they will return to normal or always cease with pregnancy. A lot of women have periods with pregancy too.

Oh well, I guess that's why we all have to make our own decisions based on what we feel led to do! If it was that big of a problem (women constantly getting pg with the iud in) they wouldn't be on the market ma'am!!!!
That's why they took them off the market back in the 80's, cuz of the many problems people were having with them. But, obviously they fixed it & made iuds much better now! Or else they wouldn't have put them back on the market!

Also, you gotta realize that there are gonna be side effects to every single form of birth control out there! You can die taking the pill, patch, etc...You can have tubal pregnancies after getting your tubes tied, as well!
You're taking a risk no matter what form you decide to use! If you don't want side effects, then quit having sex! That's the only form of birth control that will keep you from getting pg, as well as keep you from unwanted side effects! However, I don't think many people are gonna choose this form of birth control...I for one, am not!

If you get pregnant with an iud, you can take it out. My periods are perfectly normal on an iud. I have a 29 day cycle, and it stays that way. I don't ever want kids, so I would choose to terminate. But many women still have healthy babies after an iud is removed.

Hey I was asked for my opinion--ma'am. This is my opinion. And yes if there is any danger why are any of the things .Dr's do or prescribe on the market????

Thats how safe I feel with any of that.!!!!

When I initially decided to get the iud I did not want any thing w/ hormones. I have battled w/ the pill the shot & anything w/ hormones and had severe consequences. I had decided maybe I will not be able to be on any kind of birthcontrol at all. Thank goodness my doc talked me in to giving the iud a chance, she explained to me that since the hormones do not leave the uterus I would not have any of the awful side effects that all of the other birthcontrol does & a major plus ( won't have to worry about forgetting to take a pill or get a shot or replace a patch for five years )

Mirena is the iud with hormones... Iud's today are much safer than they used to be. Thanks to better ultrasound technology, and better iud's, women now have a better option :) I am glad you are giving mirena a try:)

I had the lirena for two years. I loved it but i did have my period every month. I didnt have any other side effects from it. It didnt hurt when i had it inserted but i just had a baby. I had it removed last week because i found out that it thins the lining of your uterus and if the sperm and egg actually met...which is very rare, because the iud acts as a spermicidal, it would cause the egg not to plant to the uterine wall and cause an abortion. Your body would just rid of it. I am very pro-
life and i recommend that if you are too.......DON"T GET IT!!! There are natural birth control options. try cycle beads... I'm getting them soon! Go to fertilityfriend.com for more info..