Mirena vs. Paraguard vs. Nuvaring

[morleyroarly]

I have an appointment soon for insertion of Mirena, a hormonal IUD. Does anyone out there have experience with Mirena and/or Paragard (the copper one)? I know it's a good option, and cheaper than the ring over 2 years, but the whole "perforated uterus" thing and the whole "occasional spotting and really bad cramping for the first three months" thing scares me.

Nuvaring worked without a hitch for me - I would be opting for the IUD for the long-term cost savings and the decreased hassle, as well as the lower hormonal load.

Comments

[levanah.livejournal.com]

I have a paraguard. I've had it for... uh... *checks livejournal* around two years and I'm very happy wiht it. I did/do get nasty cramps, but that really isn't different. I was on Norplant for 10 years, and rarely had a period at all, so I really don't have a "cramp history" to compare to. My period is very regular now, no spotting, and normal (most of the time) cramping. iud_divas is a great place to ask questions and read abotu other people's experiences.

[ladymsruby.livejournal.com]

Hey - I love the Mirena.

Love, love, love it and have had it 5 years this month.

It sucked getting in. Hurt like mad. Take ibuprofen or something that prevents cramping. Take pain meds or have them with you. Have your man rub your feet and be good to you.

In my experience, the pain subsided the first night, the second day was crampy, but the foot rubbing from the ex-bf helped, and then now five years later it rocks to have an IUD. My periods are about a day or day and a half of spotting - nothing like a period and a side effect of the light dose of hormones. Cramps are almost nonexistent. I hear those are worse with the copper-T. And, I don't have to think about birth control and haven't for five years.

But I do recall the first few months had irregular spotting and occasional cramps. It wasn't so bad, and utterly manageable. I think the perforation risk is negligable - they say that because it's a risk in like one in a million. You're young - your uterus isn't stretched out from 10 pregnancies, which I'm led to belive has a lot to do with perforations (which I've only seen once in a woman who had been pregnant 13 times, at an abortion clinic I worked at over the span of a year. And they were doing an abortion not inserting an IUD - an IUD is not going to perf your uterus). Most of the women who work at said clinic, including the doctors, have the Mirena. And of all the women in my grad school program, the women who had the Mirena all had worked in women's health care. I guess we knew all our options and figured out that it was the best for us. And all of them really liked it too.

Anyway, ask a question, get answers.

[buckminster.livejournal.com]

Kris, my gf, got mirena two months ago. She had a pretty easy time of it, switching from Depo. Painful cramps for a week and some random bleeding that gradually got better. None since then. We had to to be gentle with that area for about two weeks, but that was about it. Copper is supposedly more likely to be rejected by the body and can cause heavier monthly bleeding. Her doctor didn't recommend it for someone who hadn't had a kid yet. Overall feeling like she had less issues with mirena than many people.

[fuzzycoffeebean.livejournal.com]

Also check that your health insurance will cover the procedure. I was detered from getting mirena due to 1) my doctor and any one in her practice did not perform the procedure on any woman who hadn't had a full term pregnancy before (even though I know plenty of women w/mirena who have not been pregnant) and 2) my insurance didn't cover the cost of the procedure.

I've been perfectly happy with the ring for years, but wanted to switch to an iud before we moved with our plans for lots of travel (one less thing to worry about is my reasoning). I plan on looking into it here.

[poodah.livejournal.com]

My anatomy is on the small side, so it took two tries and medication to dilate my cervix to get it in. Here was my experience of the insertion process. Despite the inital pain and discomfort, as well as the hassle of my older doctor telling me he didn't want to put one in as I'd never been pregnant--I have had coming on 4 worry free years of sex. Not one pregnancy scare, decreased menstual flow, and no cramps. It's been great. I worry a little about the 5 year mark as I have no idea how they are going to get this thing out--the little bugger floated away after 3 months and the 'string' (or piece of plastic) that use to stick out of my cervix is no longer feelable. It's been free, floating in my uterus with no punctures or problems. Having a tiny cervix, I doubt I have a cavernous uterus.