ParaGard and Cramps: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Cry...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 13, 2019

For Birth Control "I had many symptoms that are not mentioned. I first started having heavier bleeding and horrible cramping during periods. The other problems I had gradually became unbearable, and some I didn't link to the IUD instantly. I started having hip pain that I couldn't link to an injury and odd ankle pain when beginning to run. I began having severe tailbone pain over a month into having it. The stomach cramping started my last period after the period was done. I also had bacterial vaginosis. I became very emotional. The worst was the tailbone pain. The doctor said it probably wasn't my IUD. I had it removed. Within 1 hour, the tailbone pain was gone. I have an appointment tomorrow with the OBGYN to discuss all of this. I am not sure at this point how the ParaGard caused this, but I am researching it. Doctors constantly said the IUD is most likely not causing all my symptoms, but they all went away promptly when it was removed."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 28, 2016

For Birth Control "I have had the ParaGard for six years, and I don't regret my decision for getting it inserted. I absolutely love it! No hormones... it hasn't caused me any side effects that I'm aware of. It did kind of hurt when it was inserted, and I cramped the day of. I spotted for about two to three days, but after that, I was fine. I took birth control pills for years, and after having the ParaGard for six years, I will never go back to the pills. I have a normal menstrual cycle... it isn't too heavy... and I don't cramp every month; however, some months I do. Unfortunately, I have heard of women getting pregnant while on the ParaGard, but not everything is 100%. Most of the time... the ParaGard does prevent pregnancy, and I would definitely recommend!"

• Ash...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 10, 2019

For Birth Control "I just had ParaGard inserted 5 days ago. The insertion process was only upper painful and uncomfortable (mainly during dilation and when my doc tried to match up my uterus with some device). Since insertion, I’ve been spotting, well - bleeding a lot. I know spotting is normal, but this has not stopped since insertion. Not to mention, there’s a constant feeling of needing to poop once the IUD was placed in. Not sure if it’s up against my bowel, but that’s the primary feeling I always have with this thing. Oh, and one last thing, I experienced cramps so sharp and painful, it felt like I was being suddenly stabbed. I’m talking so sharp that I gasped, stopped what I was doing, and curled into a ball. Mind you, these aren’t constant - they just pop up every now and then. It will knock the wind out of you. Or at least I hope it doesn’t for anyone else. I will update as more time goes with my ParaGard experience."

• Sti...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 25, 2019

For Birth Control "I had this inserted 6 days ago. Insertion was much more painful than I expected (and this is from a mom who had a drug-free birth nine years ago!), perhaps because I had not taken any painkillers in advance. I literally cried out at a certain moment. I am trying to be optimistic about the benefits, but the last two nights I’ve had severe cramps - like labor contraction cramps that leave you doubled over. I’ve also felt extremely bloated and hyper-conscious of a weight/pressure/presence in my lower abdomen. There has also been constant discharge and spotting. Will see if these symptoms get better in the next months and curious to see how my period will be. Will then decide whether it’s worth keeping it in."

• SLB...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 30, 2015

For Birth Control "Getting the ParaGard was the best decision I have ever made for myself. For the first 3 months, I bled much heavier than normal and experienced some severe cramps. However, by the 4th month, my bleeding and cramps significantly reduced. I have a moderate flow, heavier than I had before ParaGard, but it is very manageable. I cramp still, maybe once every four months. I do not like taking hormonal birth control. With ParaGard, your period does not disappear (something that worried me to no end), and you don't have to worry about missing pills or dealing with weird side effects like becoming emotionally unstable (pills made me suicidal) or gaining weight. Not to mention, ParaGard is probably the most cost-effective birth control available."

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

For Birth Control "I have had the ParaGard in for 3 weeks now. I got it inserted 8 weeks after my 4th baby and 1st C-section. I've had the Mirena and didn't like the mood swings, hormones, and crazy periods. ParaGard caught my attention when I heard it was a non-hormonal BC. I am breastfeeding, but I still had a period for 7 days after the insertion. Since I got it put in, I've had mild cramps occasionally and feel slightly bloated, but I'm assuming my uterus is still adjusting. So far, I love it! I haven't had sex with it in yet, so I can’t comment on that. The insertion was uncomfortable but not painful. I had 3/4 of my kids natural and no epidural, so my pain tolerance is very high. I'd still say it's not painful, though. I say 'yaaaay.'"

• Amy...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 25, 2016

For Birth Control "I've had the ParaGard 3 separate times. The first time was after the birth of my two oldest. Had it for about 4 years before removing it to try to conceive. Miscarried in '06 but don't blame the ParaGard. Cancer in '07 then had 3 more healthy children. After my 5th, I had my second one put in. Had it for over a year but then had weight loss surgery and lost about 80 pounds and removed the IUD myself to try to conceive. Pregnant within 2 months of removing it! Had 2 more babies (7 total) and just today had my 3rd ParaGard inserted until at least 2 years from now. Minimal cramping with insertion, took less than a minute, very effective and allows pregnancy immediately after removal. I need a non-hormonal birth control due to the cancer, so this is perfect for me!"

• Bil...
• October 21, 2016

For Birth Control "This is my 2nd month on ParaGard. I'm 28 years old, with one 3-year-old child. I posted my experience getting it inserted, which wasn't bad at all. Weight has been so much easier to control due to no hormones. I've lost a significant amount already. Overall, I feel fantastic. But today, boy, have these cramps been hell. This is the 4th day of my period. It seems as though they're at their strongest when having a bowel movement, so beware. My flow has always been heavy, so it's nothing of a shock, but the cramps have been significantly stronger. Exercise and heating pads WORK. Highly recommend Always Infinity pads for heavy flow. I'm now lasting around 7-8 days bleeding."

• Mon...
• December 13, 2020

For Birth Control "Recently got the ParaGard put in after avoiding birth control for 10+ years. I didn’t want anything with hormones and was terrified of birth control altogether. I did a ton of research and asked my OBGYN a million questions before finally deciding on ParaGard. The insertion was WAY less painful/uncomfortable than I was led to believe. Minor cramping for about 30 seconds and that’s it. She warned me about a “pinch,” but I didn’t even feel it. Other than the first few days of bleeding/spotting, I barely remember it’s in there. No changes to my skin/mood/etc. I consider myself very lucky after reading all the reviews, but everybody is different. It’s worth a try to see if it works for you because at the end of the day, they can just take it out if it doesn’t work for you. The first few periods weren’t exactly pleasant, but what period is? I’ve read over time the additional pain/added days go away, which IMO makes this no-hormone option well worth it."

• Hap...
• June 9, 2019

For Birth Control "I love being on the ParaGard. I was initially scared after reading all the bad experiences with heavy bleeding and cramping, but I had a good experience. Details about me: I’m in my late 20s, gave birth twice. Before any type of birth control, I had normal periods, with average bleeding and almost no cramping. After ParaGard, the first month, I bled A LOT for 9 days straight. 2nd month, bleeding normalized and I bled for exactly 3 days. Since then, this has continued. I rarely have any cramping, and when I do, it’s bearable. I would not change a thing. I’m guessing since I’m lucky to have had almost no cramping during my periods since I started menstruating at 13, that rolled over to the ParaGard. My uterus reacts very well to changes in my body. After ParaGard insertion, I had some cramping for about 48 hours, but it was nothing that kept me from functioning."

• Vic...
• February 8, 2020

For Birth Control "I had a copper IUD inserted after breast cancer rendered hormonal birth control no longer an option for me. I would not recommend it to anyone. Insertion was painful. I was on bedrest for about two days. I have a very high pain tolerance, and I was miserable for the first six months. I got my period twice a month, for 7-15 days, and I would get cramps so painful that I couldn't stand up straight, and I was bleeding so heavily that my menstrual cup was overflowing every few hours. Usually, I have to empty it once a day. Since then, things have only gotten moderately better. The bleeding has eased up, but my cycle is still very irregular, and the cramps have not gotten any better. I was in fantastic shape when I got my IUD. Since then, I have put on a considerable amount of weight because the pain I am in for what amounts to about two weeks out of each month is preventing me from keeping as active as I would like. I'm considering getting it removed."

• ash...
• February 15, 2020

For Birth Control "I can say if you've given birth vaginally, for me it doesn't hurt as much as what people seem to make it out to be. I got maybe a mild cramp when the device was put in for the IUD, and when he took it out, I had no cramping. Over the past week, I had mild cramping, nothing that Tylenol couldn't fix. I did get spotting here and there, but when it comes to my cycle, I do not notice a difference. I too was skeptical about the reviews, but it's definitely been worth it for me. I do recommend it, but when it comes down to it, it's how your body will react to it."

• Spr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 19, 2015

For Birth Control "I've had my ParaGard in for about 3 months. I'd definitely recommend it. I was on the pill before, it's such a relief to not have to worry about birth control anymore! The initial placement was uncomfortable, I would describe it like bad cramping: totally bearable and worth it. I had bad cramping, a lot of fatigue, and a very heavy flow for the first 3 periods where I'd have to change my pad every hour, and even so, I had a lot of leakage. It gets lighter each time now, though, my period seems to be returning to normal. I was afraid at first but am back to using my DivaCup, just being very careful to be gentle and always breaking suction before moving it. I'd describe all side effects as minor and very worth it. Team IUD! Pregnancy-free until 2027!"

• Kan...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 20, 2019

For Birth Control "I’ve never commented on things like these, but seeing all the terrible comments also made me want to share my experience. I had this inserted after I went in for a Plan B to Planned Parenthood, as it works as an emergency contraceptive. They offered it for free at the time, so I took a day to do research and decided to go for it (you have 120 hours after the event to use it as an emergency contraceptive). I received it when I was 20 and have had it for 5 years. It has worked well. I have had no issues with it. I felt like I had become more moody, but the doctor said it is not related to this. The insertion was uncomfortable, but nothing too painful. You just feel heavy cramping for a bit, and then with the ibuprofen, I was fine. I did bleed for 1 month on and off, but my periods have been steady now. Last about 4 days. Normal to no cramping. And still not pregnant!!"

• Ano...
• November 5, 2019

For Birth Control "I've used ParaGard for about 4 months. It was very painful to have inserted, and my first period following was painful as well. My other periods after that have not been painful. A few cramps the first couple of days, but nothing ibuprofen can’t fix! My periods have been super regular. I have a period tracking app, and usually, my period falls 1 or 2 days near the estimated time. My periods are 7-11 days, it just depends on the month, but I don’t mind the longer periods. IDK if the copper has increased my anxiety and insomnia or not because I had these issues prior to the ParaGard. I have tried lots of hormonal birth controls and suffered lots of side effects from them, but with ParaGard, I've had very few side effects. I haven’t gotten pregnant, so it's doing a good job. I do notice, though, after being ejaculated in, I tend to get yeast infections, but it’s a small price to pay! I know you probably read plenty of horror stories (I sure did), but I thought I would share a positive experience."

• Anonymous
• March 16, 2019

For Birth Control "Effective for not getting pregnant! BUT really bad side effects. I’m 24 years old, and I was the most happiest person ever! Always so energetic, laughing, etc. Got this thing put in and started having really bad cramping and EXTREME anxiety and depression! I’m now even on antidepressants. Always in a bad mood, crying, not wanting to do things. I just got this thing removed!"

• Kri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 8, 2016

For Birth Control "I had the ParaGard inserted two weeks ago. I'm 38 and have had two children. The insertion hurt, not really painful though. It took only a few moments. They gave me a pad to wear home, but I never even spotted. But the cramps were pretty strong. But nothing I couldn't bear. The next day I spotted a little, just wore a panty liner. Cramps lasted three days and the spotting a week. Then I started my period. No cramps, medium to heavy flow. I wore a super tampon for about two hours between changes. Period lasted a week. Finally stopped bleeding and had sex for the first time since insertion. No pain or cramps. My boyfriend didn't even feel the strings. So far, loving it."

• Syd...
• June 20, 2017

For Birth Control "Getting it put in was not painful! Just uncomfortable... After the insertion, the cramps were painful, but everyone is different. Don't go by reviews, whether to get it or not. Most people only write reviews when they are hating something. It is not as bad as everyone makes it seem. It is worth a try."

• Jen...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 15, 2019

For Birth Control "After my second child, I wanted a birth control I did not have to worry about. I decided to go with a 'no hormone birth control,' as I felt I was moody on the pills. I was on the ParaGard for approx. 2 years. The first year, my period lasted longer than usual. The doctor informed me throughout the first year my body has to adjust. My periods lasted 2 weeks max., with really bad cramping. Going into the 2nd year, my periods never went away. I literally had my period for months. It really took a toll on my life. I became upset, moody, and angry. My doctor checked the IUD and said it looks fine, she does not understand why my period is lasting so long. I decided to remove the IUD as the doctor tried to convince me to get a new one put in. I refused. My period went back to normal right away, and I became my happy self again. My husband and I use condoms. We both agreed birth control has its pros but many cons that can harm the woman's body."

• Pla...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 23, 2015

For Birth Control "I am 23 and have had ParaGard in for 6 months. I got it because I was going to be working abroad without access to daily BC options. The insertion was almost painless, just a pinch feeling. About an hour after, I began to feel cramps and some pain. The next day, it was mild and then gone by nighttime. My first period was way heavier than I was used to! I also had terrible cramps and pains. I wanted to get ParaGard removed, but I couldn't since I was abroad. The next few periods were also painfully crampy with heavy bleeding, but I noticed the pain decreased with each period. Now I have had seven periods, and it is back to normal with just very minor cramps. The bleeding is not as heavy either. I am happy I never had it removed!"

• Pla...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 23, 2015

For Birth Control "I am 23 and have had ParaGard in for 6 months. I got it because I was going to be working abroad without access to daily BC options. The insertion was almost painless, just a pinch feeling. About an hour after, I began to feel cramps and some pain. The next day, it was mild and then gone by nighttime. My first period was way heavier than I was used to! I also had terrible cramps and pains. I wanted to get ParaGard removed, but I couldn't since I was abroad. The next few periods were also painfully crampy with heavy bleeding, but I noticed the pain decreased with each period. Now I have had seven periods, and it is back to normal with just very minor cramps. The bleeding is not as heavy either. I am happy I never had it removed!"

• Wen...
• January 31, 2019

For Birth Control "POSITIVE REVIEW! So I have had ParaGard for just about 7 months now. First time having an IUD. The insertion process I will say was very uncomfortable. I had mild cramping afterward, and my cycle did get a lot heavier just during that particular time. I will say that having it, I don't get any of the symptoms that I have read in a lot of these reviews outside of my cycle went from being 4 days to now being 5 days. Some cycles are a little heavier than others, but not drastic of a change such as the insertion while I was on. I have had no negative side effects to this IUD since having it. Even during intercourse, it's not painful, and my partner only complained once of him feeling it, but I think that was more of his fault (adult humor)... outside of that, he doesn't feel it. I can honestly say that I am glad that I have it. Prior to this, I was really considering a permanent sterilization (I only have one child), but I feel this has been great for me so far."

• M M...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 19, 2016

For Birth Control "I got my ParaGard IUD inserted this past January. I am 21, with no children, and I have never been on birth control before this. I was diagnosed with manic depression back in 2010, and although I am no longer taking prescription meds, I will always be manic, moody, and very temperamental. Because of this, the idea of a birth control with hormones really scared me! I knew it would affect my emotional and mental health in a severe way where everyone around me would suffer, lol. ParaGard is hormone-free, which is what initially caught my attention. It's been almost 8 months, and I'm loving my IUD. Minor cramps during menstruation, whereas before I never experienced cramping. My period is also slightly heavier, but it's manageable!"

• Sta...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 15, 2019

For Birth Control "Got the ParaGard put in spring of 2019. I was terrified of the side effects I read about and not sure if I am lucky - but this made my period shorter! I was having 8-10 day periods before I got the IUD placed, and always had very heavy periods, so I was prepared. Now they're 5 days, heavy at the start, spots by day 5. Cramping. Bad 2-3 days before my period. Like really bad, but I'm used to cramping leaving me bedridden on my period. So having pain before my period, then a dull ache during it, is really incredible and life-changing. Also noticed, used to get very tired and lethargic during my period, now the opposite. Some nausea and stomach upset. Insertion: solid 7/10 pain level. Never had a vaginal birth, so my virgin cervix was unprepared. During sex, it can cause some pain. Last thing: you will never forget this thing is inside of you. I feel it just sitting in me. Not moving. I know it's in there and that annoys me most out of everything. I was supposed to have it placed and then forget it, nope. I know it's there and I can't forget."

• Tha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 11, 2018

For Birth Control "I got my ParaGard inserted on Dec 22, 2017, after being on birth control pills for 5 years. I had read the good and the bad reviews, and although I was scared to get it since I have never had any kids, I got it anyway. Went to my appointment expecting to be in a lot of pain. Getting it inserted was honestly very uncomfortable, but I took it, and after, I was cramping a bit on and off and began to spot. To not make this story longer than what it is, I pretty much started to bleed heavily for 15 days, which was apparently normal according to the nurses, and now it has completely stopped along with the cramps. I am super happy about not bleeding, and I have high hopes in this working for me and my partner. Will try and update soon!"