ParaGard and Cramps: What Users Say (Page 5)

• Spa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 9, 2019

For Birth Control "I went on ParaGard after failed birth control. Non-hormonal IUD is definitely a plus. The first 2 months, my periods sucked like 11 days of 'The Shining' - (movie reference). Not gonna lie, cramps are worse. I was feeling wonky until I read other users were taking zinc to counteract the copper. That is 1000% the way to go. Also, take probiotics to keep the good bacteria and help prevent BV, which is a higher risk with an IUD. At first, I regretted this, but I said give it 3 months, see how it goes. My period is going back to normal. Cramps still suck, but that’s why I have ibuprofen. I would honestly do this again."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 4, 2017

For Birth Control "Yes, ParaGard hurt like hell when it went in four years ago, and the first few days left me achy. I occasionally have some cramping during my periods. But I will say, it was so worth it. No issues with pregnancy at all and none of the side effects from the high hormone pills I used to be on. These people who experienced crazy changes shouldn't be so harsh since the negative experiences are so rare. Also, I don't know if some of these side effects people are mentioning are directly related to the IUD... it is easy to blame something when it could be something else. Be informed and make the choice based on sound scientific research, not some review."

• GMa...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 14, 2017

For Birth Control "I got my ParaGard in May of 2014, and I love it! I don't remember much pain during the insertion process, but I did have a child 6 months prior to getting it. During the first 6 or so months, my periods were extremely heavy, to the point I was lightheaded for the first few days due to the extreme blood loss. I also had extremely bad cramping along with it; I never got cramps with my period before getting this. Because of this, I was at the point where I was about to get it removed, but I wanted to give it another month before doing so. I am glad I waited! Once my body got used to it, I was completely fine! I haven't had any problems since then. I don't even know it's there anymore! I recommend it to anyone who can't take the pill."

• sil...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 16, 2017

For Birth Control "My 1st ParaGard had to be removed within a few months because of a painful endometriotic infection. I had a 2nd IUD put in 2 years later, at which point I started getting low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) pap results, which have continued for the 10 years that I have had the device: I think the chronic inflammation caused by the IUD prevents my body from healing this. In the last 3 years, breast cysts began proliferating, some infected, which baffle the doctors because they associate them with taking hormones: copper toxicity can cause hormonal imbalance. I have had regular, off-colored discharge & frequent spotting. I have had an extra period (2 in 1 month) 3 times a year, & my periods last for 7 days (once 4 weeks). My migraines have intensified, & I often have cramping."

• Aho...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 6, 2015

For Birth Control "I have had the ParaGard in for 3 years now. I had it put in at 21, no kids. The insertion was not that bad, I went back to work afterwards and was fine. Some cramping, but it was manageable. My first 4-6 months with ParaGard were a nightmare. I had previously been on a 365-day cycle birth control pill, so my body was used to having a ton of artificial hormones pumped into it 24/7. To go from that to zero hormones took a toll on me. I had severe anxiety, managed by anti-depressants. Once I got through the first 6 months, my body finally regulated. I no longer had to take anti-depressants. My weight actually leveled out nicely. I get awful cramps about every other month, but I still think it's worth it. I love my ParaGard now!"

• Liz...
• January 28, 2016

For Birth Control "I'm currently 22, and I've had my IUD for close to four years (March). I love it. I do have to warn, though. It does cause heavier periods for the first few months. Mine went from three days to about a week long. There will be cramping. It is painful some days. But I've never had cramps to begin with, so this was new. If you can get through the first 4-6 months of this, it is the best form of birth control. I always recommend it to my lady friends."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 29, 2017

For Birth Control "I was hesitant to get the ParaGard after seeing some of these reviews, and I know everybody is different - so I'm here to share a positive one. I made the switch from being on the NuvaRing for 4 years. My gyno prescribed me painkillers to take for the insertion, so the procedure was absolutely painless. Afterwards, there was cramping and bleeding, but that was expected. I spotted and cramped until my next period, which was about 2 weeks. Yes, there was more blood and more cramping than I was used to, but nothing some Advil can't fix. After my first period, no cramping or spotting in between cycles, and my cycle is completely regular. With every period, the cramps and bleeding seem to get more tolerable. I'm very happy I made the switch!"

• Ano...
• February 23, 2020

For Birth Control "Halloween of 2019, persuaded into an IUD even though I wasn’t big on it. I was tired of the weight gain (roughly 80 lbs between Depo and Nexplanon over 5 years). I couldn’t lose the weight, was told the IUD was amazing and helped with weight loss. Insertion was the most painful thing I have ever experienced. Six hours after it was put in, I started feeling nauseous from the pain, developed cold sweats, and eventually started vomiting, diarrhea, the works. It was awful, the cramps were so bad it felt like something sharp was slowly stabbing my uterus over and over, almost like torture. I developed a fever and didn’t sleep at all, eventually, I sat in a tub while the hubby kept boiling hot pans of water to put in the tub (I used all of the hot water) and sat in a tub for about 3 hours. I called the nurse line, advised to go to the local ER because it wasn’t normal. I waited it out and went to Planned Parenthood and had it removed, and all of the symptoms were instantly gone. I will NEVER recommend IUDs."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 21, 2017

For Birth Control "I had this placed when my third child was 2 or 3 months old. Some background: I had my first kid at 18 and immediately started pills after I had him, but managed to get pregnant when he was 5 months old. After baby #2, I did the shot and NuvaRing and got pregnant when #2 was 2 (the NuvaRing had fallen out prematurely)! I heard horror stories about ParaGard but decided to give it a shot, and it is amazing. Honestly, the insertion pain wasn't that bad. The speculum part hurt much more than insertion. I had cramps for a few days and super heavy periods for about a year and spotting in between periods for 3 years. I'm at 4 years now, and my period is super consistent and normal flow. Husband doesn't feel it at all, and neither do I."

• Anonymous
• June 14, 2016

For Birth Control "So I just got my ParaGard inserted today. I'm 18, only had sex three times, and have never had any children. About an hour before my appointment, I took 3 Aleve (as instructed by my doctor), and it helped so much. I highly recommend this before any IUD insertion. The insertion of the IUD did not hurt that badly, just felt like a ton of pressure. When my OB had to measure my uterus, that is the only part that hurt due to the cramping it caused. Within 10 minutes after having it inserted, I was able to stand up and drive home. I did not feel any different than before it was inserted. I read so many horror stories before going in and was about to change my mind about the ParaGard. It may not be for everyone, but if you can, try it!"

• Yaz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 14, 2019

For Birth Control "Wanted to share my experience with ParaGard being inserted. It took maybe 2 minutes for the entire process. My doctor let me know what she was doing during the entire process. She warned me of a pinch that might happen (right before she did what she did). I didn’t feel much of anything. Then she told me, “Now here come the cramps,” a few seconds later, which I’m assuming was her actually putting the IUD in place. I did feel menstrual-type cramps. It lasted a few seconds, but taking deep, slow breaths helped a lot. I cramped for about 2 days, and I’ve been having spotting to low flow since. No complaints so far! Hoping this actually works well, considering I haven’t been on any form of birth control since I was a teen because my body and hormones do not mix! She also had me lay there for a few minutes after she was done to prevent me from feeling dizzy, and she told me to sit up slowly. I didn’t feel dizzy when I did get up. So far, I would definitely recommend this birth control!"

• Maj...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 7, 2019

For Birth Control "I’ve had ParaGard for almost 7 years. I had this inserted after a sexual assault, as my doctor was concerned that Plan B may not be as effective as possible because of my weight. I took the doctor's advice and took Advil prior to the procedure. The insertion was rather quick, and except for the pinch, relatively painless. I had slight cramping for a few hours, but was back to normal by the end of the day. I’ve always experienced heavy periods and cramping with irregular days in between. There has been no worsening of my symptoms. In fact, my periods have become lighter and shorter, with only 1-2 heavy days instead of the five + in my younger years. Although maybe that’s just a part of aging (I’m 44 now). Although I didn’t seek this out as regular birth control in the beginning, I’m glad I got it. I can’t feel it, I’ve not experienced painful intercourse, or incapacitating cramping. This is the best BC I’ve ever used."

• Sti...
• May 5, 2017

For Birth Control "I'm so glad I got ParaGard. But at the beginning, I almost took it out. Not going to lie, it really hurt for me. It felt like some of the worst cramps I'd ever experienced. I didn't take painkillers afterwards, and the 40-minute bus ride home felt like it was pulling apart my body. Take a good dose of Advil/Ibuprofen. Afterwards: horrible cramps, felt pretty sick for 5 days. My vagina felt like it had lost feeling. I tried to test it, and an orgasm really hurt. I thought something had gone wrong. After a week, things returned to normal, and sex felt good again. First two periods: they were the literal worst I've had in my life. I was totally out of work. Periods since: I don't have cramps anymore! It's so amazing. Period. Worth it."

• Ker...
• January 2, 2017

For Birth Control "The ParaGard is hands down the best method of birth control! I had a lot of trial and error finding the right kind of birth control for me. I've tried pills, the Depo shot, and the Implanon. They always had some kind of bad side effect on me, from weight gain to acne to migraines. I just wanted something all-natural that would get the job done. I decided to give the ParaGard a try even though I didn't like the fact of something being inserted in my uterus. It's done an amazing job. Insertion and removal were quick and almost painless, with some mild cramping. Periods were light and maintainable. I couldn't 'feel' it either. Now I'm ready to have my first baby, but it's going right back in afterwards!"

• Mis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 23, 2022

For Birth Control "I lost a baby last July. In August, I needed a DNC because there were remaining tissues, and I had already loved the idea of ParaGard being non-hormonal. I decided to have it put in right after the DNC, extremely painful experience, it took my breath away. Maybe due to my situation, I was extra tender. I felt great knowing I could basically have carefree sex with my partner. However, within a month, I started experiencing strange anxiety, like I just had to get outta wherever I was. Now, here we are 6 to 7 months into having the ParaGard, and I'm suffering overwhelming anxiety, fast heart rate, panic attacks, inability to accomplish something alone like an adult should, wretched acne, bad crampy periods, bad bleeding, iron deficient. Removed today, and I feel a sigh of relief! Copper toxicity was beginning, I do believe. I don't recommend this. I'm crampy upon removal. Research!! I discovered my symptoms were similar to those on here after I read into this. You're not crazy."

• Jen...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 7, 2019

For Birth Control "I got my ParaGard in 2017, and I was nervous because I had not taken any painkillers beforehand, but it ended up only hurting as much as a bad menstrual cramp (for reference, pap smears don't tend to hurt me). They gave some ibuprofen, and I went back to work the rest of the day. I had cramps the following two days, but nothing worse than my normal period cramps. The first 3 months, my flow became a little heavier, and I had some spotting after periods. Also, slightly stronger cramps. I also got a yeast infection and a UTI, but that might have been because I had started having unprotected sex with my monogamous partner, and I was not as careful about hygiene after sex (go pee and wash up every time!!). Since then, I haven't had any problems. Periods are still a little heavier, but not monstrous, and totally worth the benefits of carefree birth control. If you are experiencing problems, talk to a health care professional, but I would suggest waiting a year to see if symptoms level out."

• Eri...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 5, 2017

For Birth Control "I got this in about February, it's now May. This birth control is by far the best! No weight gain! Like I've had with Implanon or the shot. The cramps hurt at first, but nothing ibuprofen can't take care of. And it's non-hormonal, and I'm a crazy lady when hormones are added to my body. Best birth control yet!!!!! You must try!!!"

• KSa...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 19, 2019

For Birth Control "I had the ParaGard for 14 months, and I give it five stars because it did prevent me from getting pregnant, but the side effects were awful. First six months, it was just random spotting and heavier, longer periods, but after that, I got recurrent UTIs and BV. I had a period that lasted a whole month, which resulted in anemia. The amount of blood during my period was truly alarming. I would take all the precautions and still have “accidents” because the flow would increase out of nowhere. I always had to carry extra clothes during my time of the month. Also, cramps got worse with each cycle. I also had constant bloating. All of this ended when I finally had it removed, and I am so happy I did."

• mim...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 1, 2018

For Birth Control "I had ParaGard for 2+ years. So, for 2+ years, I had horrible, I-can't-move-level cramps, periods that lasted about 10 days, and repeated yeast infections. I also had a lot of pain with sex. I went to the doctor constantly to be tested for various problems, and my tests always came back normal (except for the yeast infections). My doctor assured me that the IUD was fine. I tried all kinds of other cures, but my symptoms wouldn't go away. Finally, I got fed up and went to a new doctor. She immediately suggested I get rid of the IUD. And I'm so thankful I did! I switched back to the pill, and all my symptoms have gone away. My periods last ~3 days, I rarely have cramps (mostly minor when I do), I haven't had another yeast infection, and the pain with sex has decreased. Despite what my first doctor said, I am sure that my IUD was the culprit. The differences are night and day since I got rid of it. It was nice to not worry about pregnancy, but in the end, the side effects were not worth it."

• dem...
• October 20, 2015

For Birth Control "I just got my ParaGard removed after having it in for about 8 months. I wanted ParaGard because I'm sensitive to hormonal birth control, and right now, ParaGard seems to be the only hormone-free option. Unfortunately, the side effects were just too much for me and only seemed to be getting worse as time went on, instead of better. Some of the lovely things I had to deal with on ParaGard: - Painful cramps-not just around my period, but also whenever I would exercise - Long periods-they lasted about 2 weeks. Seriously. - Heavy periods-the jokes about the elevator scene in The Shining are completely accurate - Constant nausea, dizziness, and headaches - Weight gain. My body just didn't want ParaGard inside of me and made my life miserable."

• Mis...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 6, 2015

For Birth Control "I had my ParaGard placed in October of 2011. I remember it being a quick process and just slight cramping when it was inserted. I've had it for 4 years now and am about to have it replaced with a new one because I love it so much! The only negative thing I have found is that I get cramps monthly. I NEVER experienced menstrual cramps before I got the ParaGard; I now know what my friends always complained about. It has also been 100% effective for my husband and me since I've had it ;)"

• Mis...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 6, 2015

For Birth Control "I had my ParaGard placed in October of 2011. I remember it being a quick process and just slight cramping when it was inserted. I've had it for 4 years now and am about to have it replaced with a new one because I love it so much! The only negative thing I have found is that I get cramps monthly. I NEVER experienced menstrual cramps before I got the ParaGard; I now know what my friends always complained about. It has also been 100% effective for my husband and me since I've had it ;)"

• Nin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 19, 2016

For Birth Control "Had the IUD inserted on 08/01/2016 in August, no cramps initially, but about 2 hours after the insertion I started feeling cramping, but nothing Advil and a warm towel didn't help with. My periods before the IUD were a maximum of 2 days and very light. With the IUD, my periods are 4 days long with heavy bleeding on days 2 and 3, but a super tampon and a pad could help you with that. Overall I am satisfied with the product, but everyone's body is different! Do not let others' reviews turn you away from giving this product a shot. If it doesn't work for you, you could always have it removed."

• TLa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 7, 2017

For Birth Control "After almost being scared away from this IUD, I realize that each individual was in different age groups and may or may not have had children. I am 45, 4 kids, the last one is 2. I cannot take regular birth control as it is a depressant for me. After reading several blogs, reviews, and Facebook, I almost canceled. My final research from a natural doctor explained a lot. So I suggest that you find a naturalist and read articles based on their findings about this specific IUD. My appointment was done with my doctor and a sonogram technician, she was able to implant the IUD while fully being able to see inside of the cervix. I had mild cramping and went home and had a mild. There have been no side effects, I couldn't be happier, highly suggest 10 years, 99% guarantee. Know your body and what you do to it, you should be fully satisfied!"

• Lrr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 2, 2015

For Birth Control "I just got it inserted, so I wanted to come to share my experience. I obviously can't attest to the product's effectiveness or whether I really like it. I'm here to discuss insertion because I read these reviews, and they scared the hell out of me. I was scared for no reason. I guess everyone has a different experience, and mine was great. First, my doctor opened my cervix. This didn't hurt. There was just a little pressure. Then he inserted it. I felt very slight cramping, and that was it. I'm having minor cramps now. The procedure was done two hours ago. I feel great and am very happy that I won't have to worry about taking hormone pills to prevent pregnancy now."