ParaGard and Heavy Periods: What Users Say (Page 5)

• emi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 23, 2016

For Birth Control "The insertion was crampy, but it only took a few minutes. I've been on the Copper IUD (ParaGard) for almost 2 months now, and it has been great so far! I was a bit crampy the week after I got it inserted, then I started my period, which I had bad cramps for the first day or so, but it was fine after the beginning of my period. My period was also heavier than it normally was, but it lightened up for me after a few days of being on my period. After my period was over, I only got cramps every so often about a week or so after, but it's been great. My next period was better, less crampy, and it wasn't as heavy as before. I'm just overall happy about getting ParaGard. I was nervous at first because of the bad reviews, but this is a good review!"

• yan...
• April 13, 2016

For Birth Control "I've had the Paragard in for 3 months, and so far, I love it. I was on the Implanon prior to this, and I didn't have a good experience with it. After a year and a half, I took it out and switched to the Paragard. I had stopped getting periods, and with the Paragard, I'm getting my period regularly again. They're heavier than I'm used to, but nothing too bad. Another side effect is the cramps, they're occasional, but nothing I can't tolerate. It does not interfere at all with mine and my partner's sex life. So far, I have nothing bad to say. I would choose this non-hormonal method without a doubt."

• S M...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 28, 2016

For Birth Control "I am a 21-year-old, no children. The insertion was mildly uncomfortable, but with labor breathing techniques, bearable. I had spotting for a week after the insertion. My period for the first year was very heavy, up to 15 days. Cramping was mild throughout. After one year, my period has calmed down and is now back to the 7 days as before I had the IUD. No other side effects. I would definitely recommend the ParaGard to anyone who wants a hormone-free IUD. But be prepared for the heavy periods, as it takes time for the IUD to settle in your uterus. I was close to giving up, but finally, my period has returned to normal, and boy, am I happy."

• Que...
• January 11, 2016

For Birth Control "Had it for 2 months (had to get it removed because it was sitting too low). Loved it while I was in. Insertion was very painful, but it did not hurt the week after. Period was heavy for the first 3 days, and I had to use a super jumbo tampon and pad. However, my once serious menstrual cramps were completely gone (no Midol needed). Would recommend to a friend. Wish it didn't sit low, would have kept it in forever. Don't be discouraged by the negative reviews."

• Nic...
• January 9, 2016

For Birth Control "I've now had ParaGard for about 9 1/2 months, and I love it! Insertion was a bit painful, and I have had a child, however, it's quick and brief, so it's something worth overlooking. I cramped for about 3-4 days after insertion, but nothing that was debilitating. Fast forward 9 1/2 months, and the ONLY pitfall has been the monthly cramping during ovulation and the day before my period begins. I never had cramps before ParaGard, but I still think the product is worth it. Also, my periods definitely extended from 5 days to 7-8 days and were MUCH heavier, to the point where I've bled through my jeans after changing a tampon just an hour beforehand. With that said, though, the last 2 months my periods have been lighter and not so crazy."

• jen...
• January 2, 2016

For Birth Control "I had ParaGard for over 5 years now, and I'm pretty pleased with it. You do get heavier and longer periods and slight cramping that I used to never get. Another side effect that I have noticed, but I'm still not 100% sure, is the birth control is hair shedding."

• Ang...
• December 30, 2015

For Birth Control "I've had my ParaGard for 5 months. I experienced spotting the following 2 days. So far, I haven't had any major problems. My periods are heavier on days 2 and 3. I don't feel the ParaGard at all, not even during sex. I am bipolar, so I needed a non-hormonal birth control. Hormones decrease the effectiveness of my medication."

• Zyn...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 29, 2015

For Birth Control "Honestly, this is the best birth control ever, and I had heavy periods and cramps, but heavy bleeding can come from having low iron. I had it for 9 months, and I forget I have it sometimes. The first few periods are heavy, but who cares? I'll recommend this to anyone."

• kt1...
• November 16, 2015

For Birth Control "I read tons and tons of reviews and was terrified to try ParaGard, but my gyno told me that one of the causes of my frequent yeast infections was my NuvaRing. I am terrible with pills and loved the idea of having something inserted once and never having to worry about it again. My gyno gave me a pill that dilated/softened my cervix that I took before along with 3 Advil. To be honest, it was very painful. I do, however, have a very, very small pain tolerance, and it was super quick, literally, the entire process was done in under 2 minutes. I felt a little achy after that, but that was it. It has been 5 months, and I love it. To be honest, my periods are much heavier and the first two were kind of rough, but they are still very consistent-5 days, no more."

• Dre...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 16, 2015

For Birth Control "I've had the ParaGard in for a month. I read the reviews and was royally freaked out about insertion. In real life, the procedure was quick, mildly uncomfortable, and as soon as the IUD was in, I got a dull, period-like cramp that stuck around 'til that night. That's it! The next week: light spotting. I was also freaked out about my period being horrific, BUT I've always had heavy/painful periods, and I suspect most of the reviewers complaining about this side effect had easy-peasy periods pre-ParaGard. On the IUD, mine lasted a few extra (light flow) days, and only on one of them did I need painkillers for cramps -- normal for me! The IUD affects every body differently; so far I'm really happy with it as an effective, non-hormonal method."

• Ell...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 7, 2015

For Birth Control "After reading some of the scary reviews in this forum, I almost talked myself out of getting the ParaGard. I think that people are more likely to post if they've had a bad experience, so I wanted to add my own story to the mix. I've had a ParaGard for about a month now, and opted for ParaGard over birth control pills or a hormonal IUD because I liked the idea of a hormone-free option. Previously, I'd been on birth control pills for several years, and although my experience with the pill was generally positive, it took my body a while to regulate after I discontinued use the first time. After doing some research, I decided to have the ParaGard inserted at Planned Parenthood as opposed to my regular OBGYN because the providers there insert dozens of these a day and have more experience with them. I've never had a baby, and the insertion was uncomfortable but bearable. It basically felt like a very intense cramp, but was over in a few minutes. I'm sure that it helps to have an experienced provider. Following the insertion, I felt like I had mild to moderate menstrual cramps, but was able to return to work for the rest of the afternoon with minimal discomfort. In the week following the insertion, you will need to wear panty liners because you leak a clearish brownish fluid, which feels a bit strange. The feeling freaked me out at first, but it went away pretty quickly and stopped altogether within a week. In the weeks that followed, I had intermittent menstrual cramps as my body adjusted. My biggest fear was that my cramps during my period would be unbearable (they are usually very bad), but I was happy to find out that they weren't any worse than usual, although my period was heavier. If you are looking for a hormone-free option, I'd recommend ParaGard. The key is just knowing what to expect early on."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 7, 2015

For Birth Control "I have had the ParaGard IUD for 6 years now, and I love it. I have had no big issues with it. I got it 6 weeks postpartum and didn't feel anything when inserted, but I did have some spotting. Changes I've noticed since I have it: heavier periods and heavy cramping. I have spotting up to a week before my period and cramps that are really strong. I have had more vaginal discharge, like every day almost. And the vaginal odors are more noticeable, but not horrible. BUT all this is worth it because there are no hormones, and you don't have to worry about forgetting to take a pill."

• Sam...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 18, 2015

For Birth Control "1st off: this is my 4th time with an IUD. The 1st ParaGard I got while lactating and not having periods... clinician couldn't get the IUD in, and the 2nd time trying, she forced it in. Perforated my uterus... had to have 2 surgeries to have it removed. Then, years later, had ParaGard again... this time they did a paracervical block, and the insertion was painless. My periods were so heavy, though, and without realizing it, I think I became severely anemic. I had it removed, and within 2 weeks, I started to feel alive and normal again. That is when I realized I must have been anemic. Years later, I had Mirena put in due to my long spotting periods. Couldn't tolerate the hormones. Have another ParaGard now for 2 years, and I am exhausted all the time."

• Sea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 8, 2015

For Birth Control "I wanted to leave a review because I feel that naturally, people with bad experiences are more likely to post than people who had positive experiences. For me, the copper IUD has been the best form of birth control I've used. Insertion was extremely painful, but the potential to have 10 years of hormone-free birth control is worth it. The 1st month, there was a lot of light bleeding and occasional cramping while the IUD 'settled' in. The cramping at the start of my 1st period was hell, the 2nd period less so, and now the 3rd period is almost pre-insertion levels. Periods are heavier and longer, but I am so relieved to 1) have a sex drive (bad experiences with hormones) and 2) 10 years of no pills in my future! I don't notice my IUD anymore, 3 months in."

• Kik...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 12, 2014

For Birth Control "I had the ParaGard inserted in less than 5 min, pain-free. After my doctor did a vaginal and stomach sonogram to make sure it was in the correct position, I was done. The only complication is my periods are longer, heavier, and more crampy, but no biggie. I love the ParaGard. I have no complaints."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 10, 2022

For Birth Control "Unfortunately, mine expelled after 6 months. My periods were heavier and longer, at least 10 days long per menstrual cycle. I liked that there was no weight gain with this birth control, I managed to be able to lose weight. However, I did break out in bad acne, I am not sure if this was related or not, as there are no hormones in it. The cramping was worse initially, however, at the 3-month mark, the cramps weren’t as bad. One day, I was going to the bathroom, and I saw the strings sticking out. I had to get it removed for expulsion. Even though my periods were longer and heavier, I wanted to get another ParaGard put back in, as I love the concept of no hormones, however, my OB-GYN said because I have not been pregnant or had childbirth, my uterus is smaller and it would more than likely come out again. I was switched to Kyleena. With all that being said, I would still prefer ParaGard, however, it was not an option, and my insurance would not cover it, unfortunately."

• CBa...
• December 20, 2020

For Birth Control "I’ve had the ParaGard for 2 years now. The insertion for me personally wasn’t a big deal. It wasn’t comfortable by any means, but I was expecting it to be a lot worse. There was major cramping, and I bled for the next 4 days, but it wasn’t anything unmanageable. My periods post-ParaGard were a little sporadic, and then I got back on track. They returned to normal about 4-6 months later with no trouble. About a year after the ParaGard, my periods became extremely heavy and unmanageable to a point where I was having to wake up during the night to change tampons and Diva Cups. I’m not sure if anyone else has these issues, but I’m still continuing to experience them... where I’m having extremely heavy periods after them going back to normal for a while. This experience is not the same for everyone, as I have overall had a great experience and do not want to change just because of this issue."

• Cam...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 8, 2020

For Birth Control "Pros: Long-term birth control, low maintenance, did not have to remember to take birth control, no hormones, no weight gain. I had mine inserted for 4 years, and I didn’t experience any physical issues in terms of the IUD. I was worried about being able to conceive after I took out ParaGard, but I was able to get pregnant with no issues when we decided the time was right. Cons: Insertion was painful! I did not take pain meds prior, like my doctor recommended, because I forgot, and I regretted it big time. It hurt to walk/move immediately after, but pain went away after a few hours (payoff is worth it since you don’t have to think about BC for up to 10 years). Periods became heavier than usual. I never had cramps prior to ParaGard, but after insertion, I would get cramps every cycle, and they were pretty painful. When having sex with my partner, they can sometimes feel the IUD, and from what they told me, it is pokey! Overall, I recommend. Cons are worth the pros!"

• CNa...
• June 16, 2020

"I got my ParaGard a little over a year ago, and getting it inserted was not comfortable, but it was fast, so the pain wasn't too bad. I didn't have any cramping after it was inserted, but I did start my period the next day, and it didn't stop for 6 weeks. I've also had very painful cramps and super heavy periods ever since then, and had frequent UTIs for the first 6 months. My OB said they occur from bacteria climbing the IUD string, so I'm not sure if this is a normal thing for IUDs, but it's not fun. I would suggest having your OB check the length of the string a month after getting it because mine shifted down and was too long for my cervix, which caused pain during sex. Getting it trimmed was fast, but again not fun. Positives with the ParaGard are that it works, you don't have to think about it, and once it's in, you're good for 10 years. But consider the side effects before committing because it's a lot to go through if you're just going to take it out a couple of months after getting it placed."

• Alo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 1, 2019

For Birth Control "The first three months I experienced a heavier flow and had one bad day of cramping on period weeks. Five months in now, and periods and cramping have leveled out and are quite normal now. I have had a really great experience so far and prefer ParaGard to both the Pill and NuvaRing. I would certainly recommend it to anyone trying to get off hormonal BC."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 3, 2019

For Birth Control "I recently got ParaGard placed about a month ago. The whole insertion process was a 5 out of 10 on the pain scale and only took around 5-10 minutes. I read multiple terrible painful reviews that discouraged me, but everyone’s body is different. The first period after placement came early and was 8 days rather than 4 days but not too unusually heavy. The second period came about a week early as well, and I’m on day 3 bleeding through regular tampons within an hour (which has never happened to me in my entire life). It’s worth it for the long-term effect, but be prepared for heavier periods and longer cramps."

• Dap...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 16, 2019

For Birth Control "I got ParaGard inserted when my 2nd baby was 5 months old. This was 7 months ago. We knew we were done having kids, and hormonal birth control makes me incredibly anxious, so I didn't want to go that route again. I have mostly been happy with it. The biggest side effect has been heavier periods with more painful cramping. Nothing I can't handle, though. I do stain my underwear and bed sheets quite often due to the increased volume of bleeding, which was never an issue before, but I can live with that. No emotional or mental side effects from what I can tell. Insertion was completely painless, but I do have a high pain tolerance. The biggest bummer has been that my husband can feel the strings during sex, which makes it worse for him. That is not really ParaGard's fault, though, I have a prolapsed uterus from having kids, which means that my cervix is only about 2 inches away from the vaginal opening. So I would not recommend any IUD if you have a prolapsed uterus and can do something else."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 30, 2019

For Birth Control "This IUD has been perfect for me. I had clear-cut expectations, and ParaGard has met them. The two expectations I had were to keep my period and for an IUD to be truly 'forget-proof.' My gynecologist strongly recommended Mirena over ParaGard because women often don’t want to deal with ParaGard’s normal side effects. But Mirena only lasts 3-5 years, and it lessens period flow, often stopping flow altogether. Neither of those are qualities I’m comfortable with. ParaGard causes some knock-out, dragged-out cramps; it also causes heavy flow. But that’s part of how the IUD is *supposed* to work. The cramps and flow come with the IUD as a package deal. Plus, if you’re used to hormonal birth control and then go to this non-hormonal option, you’ll get to meet your true naturally occurring hormones for better or for worse. All of these things which other women call 'problems' are acceptable for me because of the 10-year effectiveness and retention of my period flow."

• Sam...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 12, 2019

For Birth Control "The only bad part about ParaGard as a birth control is the 2 days of really heavy periods paired with cramps that I’ve never experienced with other birth control methods, but it is still well worth it, though. I love not having to be concerned about hormones at all, and it lasts such a long time. Been on it about 7 months now."

• onq...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 9, 2019

For Birth Control "I really like the copper IUD. It hurt like absolute hell to get it put in, and the cramps after getting it were horrible for about a week. My only other complaint is my periods have become more frequent (although that is starting to change the longer I have it) and slightly heavier. I occasionally feel a little bit more bloated, even when I'm not on my period. That is why it doesn't get a 10/10. Otherwise, this thing is amazing. I don't even know it's there. I love that it has no hormones. I also like still getting a period because it makes it easier for me to know everything is a-okay in there. I recommend this, especially if you are like me and have a genetic predisposition to hormone problems."