ParaGard and Bleeding: What Users Say (Page 5)

• Sta...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 20, 2016

For Birth Control "I have a 2-year-old and a 4-month-old. I received the ParaGard on Nov 22, 16. The insertion wasn't painful at all. Just a very uncomfortable feeling. When the insertion was finished, the nurse provided a pad to put in my underwear and stated that I will spot for about 2-3 days. But before getting the IUD put in, I had taken 4 200 MG of ibuprofen 1 hour before. 3 days after the insertion, I started my period. The cramps were TERRIBLE. The cramps lasted for about 1 1/2 weeks. I had to continue taking the ibuprofen for that long. The bleeding is not that bad. It's the same amount as it was before. I've had a heavy flow before the IUD and it's still the same. I use the overnight protection pads. Overall, I'll give it a 7."

• Mad...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 11, 2019

For Birth Control "I'm 22, never had children. When seeking birth control, I wanted something non-hormonal as I struggle with an eating disorder and was deathly afraid of weight gain or worsened depression. ParaGard was the only option. Insertion was quick and painful, but bearable (no pain meds or anything). An hour later, I was fading in and out of consciousness in the worst pain I'd experienced yet. I have put up with severe, drop-you-to-the-ground crying cramps increasingly over the last 4 years. I have pain and spotting throughout the month. About three-quarters of my life revolves around when I will be bloated, bleeding profusely, and in ER-level pain. Sex is painful, and my fiancé and I are struggling with that. The bleeding is so heavy I have become severely anemic and have finally had enough. It was nice not having to take a pill, but my experience was awful. I'm done missing classes and work and swimsuits and intimacy."

• sus...
• May 31, 2016

For Birth Control "I am writing this for girls who have Crohn's disease and a low immune system due to the medications for Crohn's. I was on a very low dose of birth control, and it simply was not for me! I became very depressed, I bled during sex, as well as experienced a lot of discomfort and had spotting for the entire 8 months I was on it. I got the Paragard inserted two months ago. I really have to say I love it, and I am glad I made the decision to get one! I only had periods that lasted 3 days with no cramps, and so far, I have only experienced cramps one week before and after my period and have not required any ibuprofen. If you think you are a good candidate, try it out. It's been great."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 2, 2016

For Birth Control "Had ParaGard inserted one month ago today. I'm 44 and gave birth twice. Only a pinch was felt, and the whole process took about 10 minutes. I did have my period. I took 2 Advil before the procedure. No cramping or pain at all after. The first period after the insertion was 3 days of intense bleeding. Then 3-4 days of light bleeding. Some light spotting in between periods. Boyfriend hasn't complained he feels it, but I have had light bleeding after sex. Hoping that and the heavy periods diminish after a few months. I would definitely recommend."

• ade...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 28, 2017

For Birth Control "I had the ParaGard IUD inserted Dec 18th, 2015. I followed up to make sure it was inserted properly and would check my strings every month after my cycle. On August 13, 2017, I discovered I was pregnant. When I went to the doctor, not only did I discover I was 6 weeks pregnant, but I also discovered my IUD is still in the proper position and the doctors are unable to remove it because it is right next to the pregnancy. I also have a cyst on my ovaries that's bleeding. To top it all off, I will never be using an IUD again because not only did it not work, but now I have an at-risk pregnancy all because my IUD is still in the right position but failed."

• Mon...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 16, 2019

For Birth Control "I got the copper IUD a month ago, I had no pain and barely any spotting. After 2 days, I had some days of bleeding. I didn't get my period and had 3 negative pregnancy tests. After 2.5 weeks (with no complaints), I experienced the worst pain and started bleeding extremely. I thought my IUD was expelling. I went to the provider 2 days later, and I was told that I was pregnant, the screen showed something in my uterus that looked like a baby. The doctor removed my IUD, and I had to go to radiology for a better ultrasound of the baby to see what is going on, I went straight away. They sent me to the hospital by ambulance because that thing in my womb, that they thought was a baby, might not be a baby after all, and the excessive fluid buildup in my pelvic area was very concerning. Turned out I was okay and that 'baby' in my womb was a side effect of the copper IUD. I am not pregnant, it is the lining of my uterus that formed a sack with blood and huge clots in my uterus. It still has to come out."

• Lch...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 14, 2017

For Birth Control "I've had ParaGard for over 14 months now. 26 years old, never been pregnant, but have major mental health issues, which didn't sit well with the pill or Depo. Was excited to get ParaGard because of hormone-free, long-term protection. (My boyfriend and I do not want children.) Insertion was EXTREMELY painful (I have a pretty high pain tolerance) and needed muscle relaxers and naproxen for the next month. Cramps are worse than I have EVER experienced in my life, and bleeding is heavy (and I mean heavy!) and constant. I spot and cramp literally all month long. I am constantly nauseous and exhausted. It's sometimes hard to get out of bed (or wake up) at all. Was fired from my job due to nausea and fatigue affecting the quality of work and being on time in the AM."

• Anonymous
• January 20, 2019

For Birth Control "10 it’s effective, that’s not the issue. I can’t begin to explain the cramping I get a week before my period and then in the beginning of my cycle. I never experienced bad cramps before until having this IUD. It feels like someone is taking my ovaries and twisting them. It makes me lose my breath, and I find myself huddling over the floor. Then when I get my period, it’s the heaviest I have ever had in my 26 years. Having this for a couple of months was the worst thing I could have ever done to my body. Putting the IUD in was the most painful thing, and it made me bleed for days. Needless to say, I wouldn’t recommend this for anyone unless they want to feel unbearable cramps and bleeding for weeks."

• Bea...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 16, 2019

For Birth Control "Had copper coil inserted after the second childbirth. I was aware of the side effects associated with the copper coil, so I went along with cramps and heavy bleeding as they came on every month. As the months progressed, the periods got more and more painful. I experienced excruciating stabbing pains every month, and when the period was due, there was heavy bleeding, bloating, and a sore tummy, IBS, unpleasant vaginal odors, and regular infections when the period was over. It’s unrelenting for some. I suppose it can work well for some women. For me, it was awful, I carried on in the hope it would settle, but after nearly 4 years, I’m going to have it removed. Don’t trivialize it if it’s not working for you."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 30, 2019

For Birth Control "I was really nervous to get the ParaGard IUD inserted after reading a bunch of scary reviews online. But I decided to go through with it anyway because I wanted a birth control with no hormones. The insertion was not nearly as bad as I thought it would be, just minimal cramping. I bled lightly for about a week after, and now I feel totally back to normal."

• Frf...
• September 26, 2018

For Birth Control "I am 34 years old. I'm actually on my last 6 months of the 10 years you can use it for. I will not recommend this to you if you are not a person that enjoys going to the doctor every 2 months for BV, acne, weight gain, mixed emotions, bad cramps, heavy bleeding, unexpected bleeding. If you are very fertile (go ahead). I am getting it taken out and getting my tubes tied."

• Frf...
• September 26, 2018

For Birth Control "I am 34 years old. I'm actually on my last 6 months of the 10 years you can use it for. I will not recommend this to you if you are not a person that enjoys going to the doctor every 2 months for BV, acne, weight gain, mixed emotions, bad cramps, heavy bleeding, unexpected bleeding. If you are very fertile (go ahead). I am getting it taken out and getting my tubes tied."

• Cyn...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 23, 2020

For Birth Control "I had nothing but constant complications, pain, terrible menstrual cramps, pelvic infections, and yeast infections from this IUD! Why any female would want to put a foreign object up into her uterus that's made of copper is beyond me! If you like pain, infections, heavy bleeding, and then a possible hysterectomy, then go for it!"

• KEM...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 5, 2018

For Birth Control "I had used so many other birth controls before this one. The Depo shot made me incredibly irritable and gain a lot of weight, Nexplanon made me bleed like crazy, and so did the Skyla. So I chose ParaGard because it was non-hormonal. Ever since, regular periods, no weight gain, no mood change, and happier than ever. Plus it lasts 10 years. I’m so glad I finally found something that works for me. The only thing I noticed was that my cramps were a little worse. Not the intensity necessarily, just the frequency."

• Vio...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 25, 2018

For Birth Control "My experience with ParaGard has been great. I had it inserted about 9 months ago, 6 weeks after giving birth to my first child. I felt no pain whatsoever (my cervix was still soft from giving birth, and I took a prescription-strength ibuprofen an hour before insertion). I had cramps that day and bled heavily for about a week. Since then, my periods have been very heavy, which has been my only negative side effect. I never used to need more than regular tampons, but now I use pads because I bleed through super tampons so quickly. I have cramps for the first couple of days of my period, but they aren't very painful (actually less painful than they were before I had it inserted - one of the benefits of having a baby). I never feel any pain or discomfort during sex, and my partner never complains about being able to feel the string. Don't let all of the negative reviews scare you. If you do your research and know what to expect, it can be a really great option."

• Juj...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 23, 2020

For Birth Control "I've had ParaGard 3 times after having babies, and all 3 times I had the same side effects: horrible bleeding for 3 weeks after it was put in place and cramps. It caused me severe anxiety, depression, hair loss, weight gain, rage, and brain fogginess. When I had it removed the 2nd time to try to get pregnant, I wasn't able to get pregnant for 5 months, and this is abnormal for me. Every month, I got a positive pregnancy test, and then within a couple of days, it was gone. For some reason, they were not implanting correctly, and this was due to ParaGard. Copper increases estrogens and does impact your hormones."

• not...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 22, 2020

For Birth Control "I had a great experience with ParaGard until I didn’t. It was a good contraceptive for four years, but suddenly I started bleeding a lot. Something had caused my ParaGard to yank out of position. Yes, probably sex. I had the device removed two days later only to find that a piece had embedded in my uterus upon removal. After an ultrasound, we actually found the piece had broken in two and were now located in two different places in my uterine wall. This resulted in an expensive hysteroscopy to “scrape” these pieces out of me, as my doctor so lovingly put it. This, quite honestly, has scarred and scared me from ANY IUD. They said it was likely the IUD actually embedded upon insertion over four years ago."

• Jen...
• May 23, 2016

For Birth Control "I've had ParaGard since March of 2015 (it's now May 2016) and am looking to have it removed. Pros: It's hormone-free (huge plus if you're a breastfeeding mom and don't want your milk supply to decrease). And the insertion process wasn't so bad. Some cramping afterward and bleeding for quite a few days after. Cons: I constantly have discharge and have to wear pantiliners on a regular basis. And I'm not talking light discharge. It's thick, gooey, and mucousy. I have gone to two different OBGYNs regarding this (to make sure I didn't have an infection) and both said it's a normal side effect. It seriously grosses me out and this is the main reason I am getting it taken out. My periods are also heavy and last 7-10 days. It's awful! Time for a new BC."

• Gin...
• August 13, 2019

For Birth Control "The insertion of ParaGard was not painful at all. I was expecting it to be very painful based on the online comments, but it felt like a regular Pap smear. I was a bit nauseous afterward, but it went away. It’s great “forget about it” birth control. It’s in, I can have sex, and that’s it. My partner can’t feel it at all. Zero added discomfort during sex. It’s not hormonal, so I have zero of those types of side effects. Zero weight gain, mood swings, cravings. Only 8/10 because it’s not perfect! There are some side effects that are bearable for me, such as extremely heavy period, longer lasting period, and slightly worse cramps. My period now lasts 7-8 days instead of 4. On one of the days, I do usually have bad cramps, but I’m able to manage them with ibuprofen. As far as the heavy bleeding, I manage it with a Diva cup! So much easier than going through tampons. One of my friends uses the Flex Disc with her ParaGard, and that manages the bleeding better as well."

• Nic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 1, 2017

For Birth Control "I'm a 34-year-old with no children and thought ParaGard was a good choice because of the no hormones. The instant my doctor inserted the IUD, I had the most uncomfortable pain in my life (and I've had kidney stones and have a high pain tolerance). I felt like I was having the worst period of my life with stabbing pains from my pelvis shooting through my vagina. The pain and bleeding lasted 2 weeks. I had to miss work some days it was so intense. My doctor assured me it would get better in 3 months, that my body had to adjust to it. But every period lasted 2 weeks or longer! The pains were sharp and literally took my breath away at times. THIS WAS THE WORST PAIN IN MY LIFE!!!!"

• Dre...
• February 10, 2019

For Birth Control "Immediately after the placement of ParaGard, I felt tingling on my left side. I had very strong all the side effects described for ParaGard: bleeding, stop bleeding, dizzy, nausea, cramps, physical weakness, exhausted, not able to function. I felt burning and cold inside. The IUD felt like a weight inside of me. I felt like I had been poisoned, but instead of it, I now have non-stop tingling. At nights, I am sweating. It seems that the ParaGard unlocked or provoked my menopause to begin. In less than a week, from 105 lbs, I got 97 lbs. My ParaGard was inserted on January 23rd. It was extracted on January 28th. I had burning in my urethra as well. The test showed that I had an infection in my urethra. I started antibiotics. My monthly period did not occur this month. I have non-stop tingling. You could confirm all my words on my medical records."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 19, 2016

For Birth Control "After my 2nd child, we were pretty sure we were done. But getting fixed was too permanent! I've had ParaGard for six years, and overall, I'm happy with it. I've tried every kind of BC pills from low to high hormones. I also used NuvaRing and the Depo shot. My body can't handle any kind of hormones! For me, the insertion was not painful. The first two years were heavy bleeding, spotting all the time, and bad cramps with a period of 10 to 14 days. It's a little better now, but I still have 7 to 10-day periods, and 4 to 6 days of heavy bleeding. But for me, the cons are worth not getting pregnant!!"

• Dre...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 14, 2019

For Birth Control "If you're willing to experiment with your body and if you want to try to find the limit of your body, take IUD ParaGard-Non-Hormonal-the Copper one!!!! I had it only for a couple of days-the worst time for my health. Even after removing it, I have tingling on my left side-it started at the moment when ParaGard was inserted in my body. Doctors say that this tingling is coming from the brain-I have to make an MRI and full body scanning. I was in perfect health condition before I put in ParaGard!!!! Vomiting, bleeding, dizziness, cramps, losing weight in a short time, sweating at night, and in addition-moving tingling in my left side for maybe the rest of my life. Please, think!"

• Noe...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 3, 2019

For Birth Control "I'm sharing my experience with the full understanding that everyone will have different reactions, pertaining to their body, from any medications. I used the Mirena for 10 years (2 separate devices) between my son and daughter. I loved it, but I thought the last 2 years it was causing hair loss. So, after my daughter was born in 2018, I chose to use the ParaGard instead and see if the hormones made a difference. This was a big mistake for me. It has been placed for over 13 months and I have been bleeding heavily, every day, for the entire time. My doctor put me on the Depo injection to try to help, which it did. But then I gained 60 pounds in 6 months and was still bleeding every day, just much lighter. Now it is a new year, my insurance has covered the switch, and today I went back to the hormonal IUD! I'm hoping that soon things will go back to normal and I won't be bleeding anymore. I know the ParaGard works well for some people... but not for me!"

• Lau...
• January 10, 2019

For Birth Control "My periods have been 400 times worse over the past 6 months (after the insertion) than I've ever had in my life. The amount of blood coming out of me is horrible, and my period now lasts twice as long. It used to take 4 months to use up a box of tampons, I'm now at one box every 2 months. The cramps are horrendous. It's almost debilitating. I would say 50% of the time it hurts for me to have sex after the insertion of the IUD. I've actually cried from the pain of having sex. It's caused me to be scared of sex. And last but not least, I'm having constant aching pain radiating from my lower right abdomen and into my lower back. Subconsciously, I do not suck my gut in because it would cause more pain. And now that I've had such a bad experience having it inserted, I'm scared out of my mind to have it removed. I hate it, it has caused more harm in my life than good."