Info on Iud's

I have had the Mirenia(sp?) IUD for 5yrs now, in fact I go next month to have it replaced. I have been very happy with it. At first, I had very light periods lasting maybe 3 days. After maybe a year, I went to just spotting every now and then. It's been pretty nice to not have to worry about all that. Not to say I don't still get hormonal every now & then!I am very happy with it (like I said I am having a new one put in).

I had a non-hormonal IUD put in last summer. The first few periods were VERY heavy (super plus tampon and a pad that I had to change frequently). By the third period, things were much better. I would have a very light period for a few days, one or two heavy days and then a few light days. My period seems to last a bit longer than it did before. Before the IUD I always had a very predictable and normal period. I am still predictable from a number of days stand point, but the flow is just odd.

I have not experienced any increased cramping or PMS symptoms. I think I tolerate this better than the pill because that made me very moody and it is so nice not to have to think about anything!

If you do get one, be sure to bring a pad with you to the office and take some ibuprofen before you get there. It pinched a bit for me and I had some spotting for a few days after.

Good luck with the new baby!

I second what Bobbi A said. I got the Mirena 3 years ago and love it!! Just some spotting now and then but otherwise, I totally forget it is even there!

I got my IUD put in at the 6 week check and have nothing go wrong. I ask for the Non-Hormonals on because I have heard nothing but bad thing with the 5 yr with hormonals. I love it and all you have to to do is check it every now and than and have it check by the doctor every few months

I have an IUD, the non-hormonal kind. Overall I think it's great. For a few months I had heavier than normal periods, but the heaviness only lasted a day or so.

It's great because you don't have to think about it, it's already there! Plus, it was quick to put in with only minor discomfort.

I recommend it!

I had the iud for a year before I decided to have children. After a year it was the same price as if I had purchased birth control every month. I liked it because after one or two normal periods my endometriosis started to clear up. I didn't have to worry about taking something everyday. My acne started clearing a little. I felt more regular. And I do believe me PMS became less severe. I've had little or no problems with PMS since I stopped taking the pill.

So I liked it. The doctor told me the problems with it. Small chance of tubal pregnancy. Big chance of infections if you or your partner were not monogomous. I am sure my husband is faithful so I didn't worry about that.

Again I liked it and would never go back to the pill. Though I did use condoms as birth control between each of my children.

you are probably getting this right before you go in, but i give you my input anyway. I do not have either IUD, but this is what i know. The nonhormonal one last about 10years and can be removed at anytime by your doctor, the Mirena has a little progesterone in it and i have friends that love it. In the beginning your bleeding is a bit heavy, but within a few months it tapers off and some don't have any bleeding. this one last for 5 years. it can be placed at your eight week check up. good luck
T.

i had this iud before my second child was born..i liked it..i had no problems..it is a good choice..i tried for it after my 2nd child.but the doctor couldn't get it in right..so now i take a pill everyday..will try again..though..

I have had the Mirena for the last two years. It started out rough for the first six months--periods for extended time & spotting in between. It did get gradually better, then ultimately to where I am now, which is barely spotting if I get my period at all. It's a great, worry-free birth control. However, I did notice I was more irritable for awhile. My friend that also had one put in noticed the same thing. But now that I realize this, I try to keep my emotions in check--not always easy during stressful times.

Good luck!

Hi J.,
I also responded to Selena question today about Mirena. It didn't work for me (what I wrote to here I will copy below). I would suggest using the 10 year non-hormonal version if I were to do it again. But I don't think I will try.
Good luck with the baby!
N. B.

Hi Selena,
I don't know if I am the one odd person out there, but Mirena did not work well for me at all. I am assuming that the other post today about airborn is also from you and that you are breast feeding. If this is incorrect, you may want to disregard what I have to say. Some background on me: I breast feed my son (now 3 1/2) for just over 2 years and had no supply issues with my breastmilk. Now with my daughter (now 6 months) I got the Mirena put in about 7-8 weeks after I had her and I have had some major supply issues. She is a great eater but my supply has greatly suffered throughout the 6 months. I have been working with a lactation consultant and the only thing that we can figure is different between my son and daughter while breastfeeding is the mirena. My diet is the same. A few weeks ago I started to feel like I was getting my period and my milk supply almost went completely away. I have had to give my daughter anywhere from 1-4 bottles of formula each day. I had the Mirena taken out about 3 weeks ago because of my supply issues and I am still having problems with my supply. I really don't have any idea if the mirena was the cause of my problems but I can not figure out what else it might have been. My OBGYN claims up and down that the mirena should not have made a difference. Also, sex became very uncomfortable after my daughter was born, it hurt. I didn't know what the issue was, but since I have had the mirena removed sex is back to normal and does not hurt like it was. So, I don't know if I am the abnormal person out there with a reaction, but it sure didn't work for me. I would suggest that if you want to go the IUD route try the non-hormone 10 year version and I wish I had. Or wait until you are no longer breastfeeding.
I hope this helps and whatever you decide works for you!
N. B.

J.,

I have had a Paragard IUD in place for almost 3 years now. It was put in place about 6 weeks after the birth of our daughter. I have been very happy with it. It is the non-hormonal IUD. My periods were heavier for awhile and I was pretty crampy at first, but other than that I haven't had any problems.

Good luck!

That is a question I was curious about too. Good luck with the baby.

I've never had one, but I remember learning about them in health class. The pros are they don't involve any sort of hormone so there's no side effects from that, and it's no-fuss; you don't really have to think about it once it's in. The cons are I believe it is a slight health risk because the threads on it are a direct line for bacteria to travel into your body. Also, it doesn't prevent fertilization; it just keeps a fertilized egg from implanting, so if you have any moral issues about when life begins, you'll want to take that into consideration.

I had an IUD inserted after my 2nd child was born. I read all the information and even watched a handy little DVD my doctor gave me. It sounded like the best option. Then- my body spent the next 6 months trying to reject it. I had all the opposite things happen for side effect- none of them positive. I had hair loss, weight gain(after I had just lost my baby weight), heavy periods.
My doctor said it could take up to 6 months for my body to adjust- and after spending the $ on it, I did not want to have it removed. He also spoke to the drug rep 2 times about my side effects. They said I was in a 2% range for side effects. So, I started looking up on the web and found out I was not the only one who had issues. They removed it and I went back on the pill after 3 months. After they removed it I stopped losing my hair and my periods returned to normal.
I do have some friends that it worked for, but just be aware that your body might not accept a foriegn object.
Good Luck.
Katie