Anonymous wrote:I think most of us did do our research about it, but didn't expect the side effects to be THIS severe. And it's beyond just discomfort or inconvenience: I'm at the point of being very concerned.

I've had mine for about 5 years now and while I've loved having no hormones, my period is significantly impacting my daily life. I only go about 16 or 17 days in between, and it usually lasts 7-9 days with heavy flow. The cramps are so bad I often feel as though I'll be sick. Honestly, I spend almost all of my "off time" feeling like I'm recovering from my period, and once I start to feel alright again here comes the next one. I'm highly considering getting Mirena because the hormones supposedly stay in your uterus & don't effect your mood like the pill can, and a lot of my friends say their periods are practically non-existent.

How could you possibly put up with that for five years?! Surely, you have other birth control options. I got Paragard 8 months ago, but I've only had my period back for 2 months. It is so heavy, but sounds nothing like what you're dealing with. I ended up getting a diva cup and that fills up multiple times a day for five days. I'm hoping it gets better, but if it's still like this a year out, there is no way I'm keeping it.

I think most of us did do our research about it, but didn't expect the side effects to be THIS severe. And it's beyond just discomfort or inconvenience: I'm at the point of being very concerned.

I've had mine for about 5 years now and while I've loved having no hormones, my period is significantly impacting my daily life. I only go about 16 or 17 days in between, and it usually lasts 7-9 days with heavy flow. The cramps are so bad I often feel as though I'll be sick. Honestly, I spend almost all of my "off time" feeling like I'm recovering from my period, and once I start to feel alright again here comes the next one. I'm highly considering getting Mirena because the hormones supposedly stay in your uterus & don't effect your mood like the pill can, and a lot of my friends say their periods are practically non-existent.

Did none of these people do any research before getting an IUD? It's not a secret that paraguard causes heavier periods. They're pretty explicit about it.

I got this paragard 2 years ago at first it was fine. But for the past 4 months its been a struggle my period has been so heavy and lasting 7-9 days when the norm for me is usually 3 days. I am considering having it removed but I have 4 kids and cant afford to have another one.

New poster - I've had mine a year and LOVE it. Period is heavy (not unmanageably so, but more so than before it) for about 36 hours and that's it. Love no hormones and not thinking about it. Best decision ever.

Anonymous wrote:I had the IUD inserted in August 2015. I spotted on and off until a few days ago when my uterus opened and blood started spraying out. It's been a hectic 5 days of bleeding and it is still heavy as I type this. I emailed my doctor and she says this is pretty normal and to schedule an appointment if I am concerned. I have also read that I could take some ibuprofen to help with the cramping (which is crazy painful along with the back ache) and bleeding. I really love it and would like to stick it out at least until the 1 year mark so I can make a decision if it doesn't get better. I am just confused as to why I didn't have a heavy cycle in the beginning and it waited until now to go all crazy on me.

Anyone else out there who is glad they waited it out?

I am now (about 14 months later) glad I waited it out, as things are back to more or less normal. It's not for everyone, and I'm glad to see this thread revived.

I've had mine for almost two years. The cramping is terrible and the periods are heavy. It's like a war is raging in my uterus! I'm having it removed this week and getting a tubal ligation. I've had issues my last pregnancy and I have three kids now. I'm done! Paragard is great birth control, but the side effects suck!

I got the paragard put in 4 weeks ago today. I bled a normal period the week of insertion. Then about a week and a half ago I started spotting and now I have been bleeding for 10 straight days, and it is heavy. The cramps come and go, but have gotten better over time. I'm just worried about the bleeding.

I had the IUD inserted in August 2015. I spotted on and off until a few days ago when my uterus opened and blood started spraying out. It's been a hectic 5 days of bleeding and it is still heavy as I type this. I emailed my doctor and she says this is pretty normal and to schedule an appointment if I am concerned. I have also read that I could take some ibuprofen to help with the cramping (which is crazy painful along with the back ache) and bleeding. I really love it and would like to stick it out at least until the 1 year mark so I can make a decision if it doesn't get better. I am just confused as to why I didn't have a heavy cycle in the beginning and it waited until now to go all crazy on me.

Anyone else out there who is glad they waited it out?

I've had my paraguard for almost 8 months now and my periods are still very heavy. 3-5 days of 30-45ml+ of blood loss( I use a menstural cup so I know the actual amount) with a few more lighter days at the end. Granted I have always had heavier periods but this is starting to seem a bit much. I'm giving it another few months and if it doesn't get better I'm either switching to a different iud or just getting pregnant again. Other than the heavier periods I do love it though. I don't do well with hormones and the freedom and peace of mind that it brings are amazing.

I had paragard inserted the day I delivered my 2nd daughter in June of 2014 all was fine while I was consistently nursing her until February of 2015. That is when I started having extremely heavy periods, soaking a super tampon in 1.5 hrs with spill over to the pad. I've never experienced anything like this before, since my periods were always light, short and irregular. I was seriously considering having it removed but after reading everyone's posts and seeing that I may eventually get some relief I will give try it out for a few more months.

Yeah, this happened to me as well. Before Paragard, my periods were light and 4 days long. After insertion, they were much much heavier, more painful, and at least for the first 4 months they were 7 days. 5 months in they're back to 4 days long and not as painful (though I still get ovulation pains), but I still have a much heavier flow than I ever did without it.

Spotting and an upset feeling stomach started yesterday. Am bloated and my tummy hurts, especially if I press on my stomach around my belly button and below.. Thought maybe my upset stomach was something else wrong, but pretty sure its the Paragard and my period coming on.. Time will tell.

I had the Paragard IUD put in 3 weeks ago. The cramping that day and the following 2 days was the worst pain/cramping I've ever experienced in my life. Which i've never had kids, and am a petite person also - so.. I already have bad cramps - but these are extremely excruciating cramps, doubled over, stop me in my tracks bad. And I had to work, am a room service attendant - push a heavy cart and carry trays which I think made it worse, but I can't afford to call off. After insertion i bled for 4 days, a constant light flow, and had slightly painful bloating. They said spotting & bloating are normal, it was more than spotting. I had to take prescription strenght ibuprofen doses to function, but even with that - the breakthrough pain was like experiencing bad period cramps that i'd normally have to take ibuprofen for.. Beyond the hellacious insertion, and making it through those following 4 days, then I just had a tender lower belly to deal with. This is around when I'd normally get my period, and am now experiencing excruciating cramps again. Now it remains to be seen how heavy my flow is and how long it lasts.. I am hanging in there. If the bleeding lasts too long and/or the cramps don't improve over the next few months - I will definitely have it removed. But am trying to get through it in hopes it improves and is ultimately worth going through all this.. But oh my god these cramps!?! Oh. My. God. And am refraining from reading too many horror stories and freaking myself out. Will give it time and if I sense it's bad news will have it removed.