ParaGard and Spotting: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Sma...
• August 27, 2015

For Birth Control "I have had ParaGard for 3 weeks. Insertion was not that bad, people, come on now. The doctor made me very comfortable and she had the cutest, most open face ever. So, after the procedure - first two days spotting, then period, which lasted quite long (but I haven't had a period in about 6 years, so ja). Due for my 6-week update in a few weeks, but I love my ParaGard. My husband and I have no problems with anything... and people, seriously, the longer periods are something that can be dealt with way better than an unwanted pregnancy. Ok, so update after 6-week checkup. Oh yeah!! Everything is 100%, IUD still perfectly in place. No worries about anything. Just get over the first 4-6 weeks, then you will be okay."

• Kas...
• August 5, 2015

For Birth Control "It is about 10 pm, and I had my IUD insertion at 4 today. The night before, I inserted a misoprostol tab to ripen/dilate my cervix. I agree with most of the reviews that insertion isn't painful, but very uncomfortable. There was some pressure and cramping that didn't feel like a menstrual cramp, but close. After insertion, I just had light cramping. I went out to dinner quickly after, and during my dinner, I felt weak and flushed. I didn't feel like eating or talking. I started to feel better, but I just felt like I was having a hot flash. Now I'm feeling fine, and there's some light spotting and clots. My doctor told me to have nothing in the vagina for a week and will get my strings checked next month. I would definitely do this again!"

• Mrs...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 16, 2015

For Birth Control "I'm 32, and I've had the ParaGard for 6 years now. I got it after having my daughter at 26. It was recommended to me due to blood clotting issues and hormones. I went in to see my GYN, and it took about 5 minutes. It was inserted 6 weeks after having my baby. It didn't hurt, it just felt like a pinch. It works GREAT! My husband and I love it! The heavy periods and spotting occasionally are worth it. Recently, I have experienced some back pains, but it goes away, and it doesn't happen often. I totally recommend it. #ThumbsUp"

• Kay...
• May 26, 2015

For Birth Control "So I just got my IUD inserted a few hours ago. I'm 17 with no children. So about a week after consultation, the day arrived. I took naproxen about 8 hours ahead of time and even took some before I went in so the cramps wouldn't hit me immediately afterwards. So the procedure itself wasn't terrible. I've had period cramps worse than that. The worst part was the clamps that opened my cervix, but I was fine. I was just finishing my period, so I recommend getting this procedure done when you're either on your period or just after it. Honestly, it wasn't terrible. I've taken more naproxen and am chilling with a heating pad. There is a bit of spotting, but nothing too bad. I'll update when I get my period."

• Car...
• May 21, 2015

For Birth Control "As an aspiring nurse, I did my research on every type of birth control and chose ParaGard based on the longevity of protection and the lack of hormones, which are more natural to the body's environment. The procedure was simple: lay back, take deep breaths through the cramping, and you're done. The hardest part for me was that my cervix had to be dilated because I am 23, have no kids, and didn't have the misoprostol to soften, which some providers use. It was painful, but no more than a typical period. I forgot to premedicate, but naproxen is a miracle drug for me! On my drive home, I was worried because I felt extremely nauseous and faint. I took naproxen when I got home and felt great. Some spotting, but no babies for 10 years! Good luck!"

• Bir...
• April 13, 2021

For Birth Control "I got the ParaGard late August 2020. I had an ibuprofen 800 mg beforehand since I had some at home. The pain was INTENSE. I tried laughing it off during our conversation. It’s like they’re cranking you open. I had spotting & severe cramps for a month. I took hormonal BC pills for 10 years before giving it up to try this. I got over the first month. And I would have occasional waves of pain where I’d want to get down on the ground. Those came every couple of days. Some weeks worse. I was told it could be worse up to 6 months in, and I haven’t had any cramps in over a month BUT I also haven’t had my period in 31 days! I’ve taken multiple tests and all were negative. Now I feel nothing, so I’m not sure if it’s coincidence, but after 6 months it did get better. There is light at the end of the tunnel. I have no symptoms. No weight gain. No irritation. The first months are bad, but if you’re willing to push through it, it’s worth it afterwards."

• Cat...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 28, 2020

For Birth Control "I have had mine for 5 years now. I do have heavier periods and cramping, but mine were light in the first place, so now they're average. I check my strings once a month on my period. I know that if there's ever a problem, my body will let me know. When I initially had it placed, the first one didn't sit right, needed to be removed and replaced after a month. Since then, I have had no problems. I could tell that first month that something was off. I was cramping, dizzy, spotting. What I should have done was call my gyn and tell her right away. There should be no pain, even right after. Once it's in and your cervix gets over its little shock, you shouldn't be aware of it. I have not had children, I have a small uterus. I haven't had to worry about pregnancy for 5 years now. I'm in a monogamous relationship, and it lets me feel protected. I'm not looking forward to getting it removed 5 years from now, but it's not something I'm going to worry about. If you have questions, call your doctor."

• 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."

• Dan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 31, 2020

For Birth Control "I wanted to write an experience because I looked at multiple reviews right after I got ParaGard inserted, and it freaked me out. The insertion is very painful (I have never had a child before), so that pain was terrible. The first 2 weeks, I had really bad cramps, and my period was SO HEAVY. After my period ended, the cramping went away, no side effects, I hardly know it’s there. It’s way better than having multiple side effects from the pill, and I have had no spotting in between periods, which is common in hormonal IUDs. I had the Liletta for almost 2 years and spotted the whole time. I would recommend it for those who hate side effects from hormones. The cramping sucks at first, but it goes away! Every body is different, so trust your instincts, and if you think you’ll be happy with the ParaGard, I would try it out!"

• Bla...
• January 28, 2020

For Birth Control "Got IUD inserted on 01/22/20. In June 2018, I had been pregnant and just had a miscarriage. After that, I got on the pills, Norethindrone to be exact, suffer from migraines, so this pill was recommended as it is less hormonal - IT WAS A HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE. Gained over 40 lbs, relationship was bad due to mood swings and crying. I heard about the IUD, never knew ParaGard existed. I did research and also spoke to a few friends that have it, they got mixed reviews and reading here kind of scared me still went for it. Day of appointment, took 800 mg Ibuprofen. I was on my last day of menstrual cycle so cervix was open. A bit uncomfortable felt like a contraction for a second while she measured me, then after, didn't feel anything. Overall, I had small cramps the same day and spotted until Friday. Friday I stopped my pills and I guess because of that, I started heavy bleeding Saturday night which went on until Monday morning. I'm now spotting again on and off. No cramps as of yet. Tomorrow will make 1 week since I had it placed. I just been suffering from the changes of stopping pills. I will update in 2 months."

• Ale...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 24, 2019

For Birth Control "I have had this ParaGard IUD for 9 months now. I am 29 years old and have never had a baby. I am very happy with this IUD overall. Insertion was painful, but nothing ibuprofen couldn't handle. My periods increased by 1-2 days, and the bleeding is heavier. Cramps are slightly more painful, but again, nothing medicine can't control. I love being hormone-free and that this will last ten years if I want it. I do have some random spotting here and there, but it never lasts more than a day at a time, and it is so slight sometimes I don't even notice it. I know there are a lot of bad reviews, and it seems scary, but I am so happy I did it, and I would recommend it to my friends."

• Tay...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 17, 2019

For Birth Control "So the ParaGard IUD gets a 9/10 rating because it kept me baby-free for 6 and a half years after easily getting pregnant twice with two children and not wanting a third. I cannot take hormonal contraceptives due to high blood pressure, heart palpitations, and mood disorder. So the reason it loses one star is because all of a sudden - after more than 6 years of minimal side effects - I developed BV and constant spotting between periods - for 2 months! The BV wouldn’t go away despite multiple antibiotic treatments. So I listened to my body and had it taken out, and my symptoms cleared up within 24-36 hours. No more spotting after 2 months of it. I would definitely say the ParaGard is worth a shot - but listen to your body. I loved it while it lasted and may get it replaced after I give my body a break."

• Car...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 23, 2019

For Birth Control "I've had my ParaGard for about 2 months now. I have had 2 children, and my 2nd child was 5 months old when I had it inserted. Insertion was no big deal to me, it was painless, and I had no problems. Took about 2 minutes! I do understand that is largely due to the fact that I've given birth twice and within the last year. I had light spotting for about 3 days, which was expected. I had some mild cramping the day after, but nothing that bothered me. When my period came, it was heavier than normal, which is the only reason I rated ParaGard lower than 10. After the first week, I basically forgot I even have it. It's been a blessing for me. Birth control pills and any other form of birth control that uses hormones affects my emotions A LOT, as well as some severe and long-term spotting. I highly recommend this IUD for anyone who has experienced similar reactions to birth control. (Also, take into account that satisfied users are less likely to leave a review than ones that have had a problem!)"

• Suz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 2, 2019

For Birth Control "I had my ParaGard inserted last Wednesday, so it hasn't even been in a full week. I'm 26, and I've never had kids. The insertion process, to me, wasn't painful at all. Maybe some pressure and cramping, but it was very underwhelming compared to what I was reading online. I have some slight cramping and spotting, but nothing I can't handle. Haven't had my first period yet, so I can't say what is going to happen."

• New...
• July 26, 2019

For Birth Control "This cannot be a full review of ParaGard because I just got it yesterday, but as soon as I got it done, I thought that I needed to come online to share my insertion experience because I was TERRIFIED to get it done based on what I was reading online. I know everyone has a different experience, but for me, insertion was not NEARLY as bad as I expected based on what I'd read. I have given birth before to one child, and my doctor offered an injection 'blocker,' which I'm sure helped - I got it placed in one area (she said they could do up to three injections). The pain was very bearable - I would say a 2 out of 10 at worst. Since then, I have had extremely minor cramping and barely there spotting. If you are concerned about pain, talk to your doctor, but I was nothing short of relieved and felt obligated to put a different narrative out there online!"

• Liz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 1, 2019

For Birth Control "Just wanted to add my experience on here since I almost decided against the ParaGard after reading the negative reviews here. Thankfully, I’ve actually had a pretty good experience with the ParaGard so far. I had it inserted a month and a half ago and have had 2 cycles of my period so far. I haven’t had any children, so insertion was a bit uncomfortable for me, but it lasted a total of 5 minutes. My periods have remained normal, and cramping has been minimal. The only negative side effect I’ve experienced so far is spotting a few days before my period and a few days after (I never had this issue pre-insertion). I’m hoping that diminishes after a few months, however. Overall, I’m very pleased with the ParaGard and would recommend it."

• Kit...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 25, 2019

For Birth Control "Positive review! I had ParaGard inserted four days ago. I read way too many reviews online before my insertion and was nervous. I tried not to let those sway me from trying this contraceptive. All bodies react differently. I would say the insertion was a breeze. Sure, it was uncomfortable at moments, but pain scale maybe a 4 of 10. I took ibuprofen before and after. I did feel slightly crampy the next two days, but a heating pad and ibuprofen helped. I still was able to go to work, and day two I was back in the gym for a mostly light workout. I’m still slightly tender and achy in the morning, but overall, very manageable. I have not had too much spotting yet, so we’ll see how my first period goes next month as far as heavier and worse cramps. Hope this helps!"

• Jus...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 16, 2018

For Birth Control "I have utilized ParaGard 3 times now. I absolutely love it. The first time was after my first child in 2005. I had it recommended by my OB. It was a bit uncomfortable going in (each time) and I did have spotting a few days after each. But I had it removed prior to conception each time and now I have 3 beautiful children. One time it did slip out and had to be replaced, but no other issues. After my most recent child in 2015, my now OB recommended Mirena. It was the worst 6 months of my life. I had horrible headaches, bleeding on and off all month every month, cramping all the time. I went in and had it swapped back to ParaGard and have now gone almost 3 years without further incident. I love that it has no hormones. I have not gotten pregnant while it was in. I was able to conceive almost immediately after taking it out each time. I never had any side effects and liked that my cycle was not affected, as awful as it can be sometimes, because of the absence of hormones."

• M20...
• February 17, 2018

For Birth Control "The pain was awful when I got it inserted and a day after, and after that, my period cramps worsened noticeably. However, I'd had pretty light to non-existent cramps before, so this isn't too much of a nuisance. I now have some spotting for a week before my period. But, honestly, it's worth the small nuisances to not have to worry about taking any other hormonal birth control. Neither I nor my partners have felt the strings during intercourse either, so aside from the week of my period, I don't even know it's there."

• Sky...
• September 2, 2017

For Birth Control "After reading dozens of horror stories about IUDs, you have to realize that the majority of people do perfectly fine on them. After 6 mo. on ParaGard, I absolutely love it. Pros: Stress-free, full protection for 10 years, no maintenance, no hormonal changes, and NO WEIGHT GAIN. Cons: intermittent spotting for 5 mo. (avg is 4-6 mo.), heavy periods during that time, some chance of UTI or BV in between periods, my pharmacist recommended daily Acidophilus, which worked great. Definitely worth the small inconveniences. Don't listen to the small fraction of people who are very vocal on the internet. I gained 16 lbs on hormonal birth control and lost it all within 2 mo. with ParaGard."

• meg...
• May 5, 2017

For Birth Control "I wanted to write a review because so many people have skewed the idea of this insertion process and how miserable it is. It's not miserable, you won't pass out, and it's super effective. I went to Planned Parenthood in NC and got this inserted on 5/4, and the process took less than ten minutes. They explain before you get it inserted its side effects/possible complications. Weigh them out, is it worth it? The process consists of feeling how far back the cervix is, and then dilating it (feels like a pinch) and holding it open (pressure), and then bam, he/she puts it in and you're done. You'll experience spotting, no vaginal insertions for 3 days, but if you're like me and hormones ruin how you feel, the 10 minutes of uncomfortably is worth it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 1, 2017

For Birth Control "I got my ParaGard about two months ago now. I love it! The only negatives I've encountered because of it are very intense cramps during the first four days of my period and occasional spotting while I'm not on my period, both of which I've never had to deal with before getting it inserted. As for the cramps, they're terrible (and I would describe myself as having a high pain tolerance), and can leave me short of breath if I don't keep up to date with Midol and Pamprin for the first 4-5 days of my cycle. If I do, it's completely manageable!"

• Ash...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 13, 2017

For Birth Control "New to ParaGard, love it. Never had kids, want to eventually. Insertion was not terrible, a pinch to measure then another pinch to insert & done. I was prescribed 3 pills to soften the lining of my uterus & I guess they worked. I took Aleve before & continued through the next 2 days. I had my SO come with me for insertion & I'm glad I did. I could have driven home but it was nice to be able to relax with my cramping & not worry about driving. I'm very glad I took a half day at work! Thermacare heat pads were my BFF for the first 2 days. I spotted on and off for 8 days but since have had regular bleeding & some cramps. My body adjusted well to hormone-free BC & not having to remember a pill is liberating!"

• ray...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 28, 2017

For Birth Control "I am 21 years old and have never been pregnant. I've had my ParaGard for about 4 months now. I did an immense amount of research on IUDs. Therefore, I felt I was completely prepared for the insertion as well as the effects thereafter. I was probably more anxious for the insertion process than I needed to be. It did not hurt as much as the horror stories stated online. It hurt for about 10 seconds as my doctor was measuring, then about 2 seconds for the insertion. After that, there was a mild cramp for the rest of the day and some spotting. Tada, 99%+ efficacy. I'd say the worst part would be the longer/heavier periods and random spotting. But I'd honestly rather have that than a child I'm not ready for. Do your research and know your options!"

• ray...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 28, 2017

For Birth Control "I am 21 years old and have never been pregnant. I've had my ParaGard for about 4 months now. I did an immense amount of research on IUDs. Therefore, I felt I was completely prepared for the insertion as well as the effects thereafter. I was probably more anxious for the insertion process than I needed to be. It did not hurt as much as the horror stories stated online. It hurt for about 10 seconds as my doctor was measuring, then about 2 seconds for the insertion. After that, there was a mild cramp for the rest of the day and some spotting. Tada, 99%+ efficacy. I'd say the worst part would be the longer/heavier periods and random spotting. But I'd honestly rather have that than a child I'm not ready for. Do your research and know your options!"