https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 01 May 2026 16:41:32 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mirena-or-paraguard#post-768326 Wed, 08 May 2013 16:02:07 +0000 JessKas 768326@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had Paraguard for over a year. Prior to getting it I didn't have bad cramps and have a pretty light to moderate period. The first period with it I was a little more crampy, but nothing an advil couldn't fix. My flow didn't really change that much, although it was maybe half a day longer. I loved the Paraguard, and plan on getting another after I give birth. </p> <p>I got pregnant the week or two after it came out, and I like that it had no hormones and my cycle was regulated on its own. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mirena-or-paraguard#post-767728 Wed, 08 May 2013 12:59:41 +0000 ladyfingers 767728@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Revel: Not at all -- I had it put in at 10 weeks PP. I think they have to wait until 8 weeks? But I had to wait an extra couple of weeks because I had to have a little procedure down there at 6 weeks PP and they had to make sure the incision had healed. </p> <p>I haven't yet had my cycle, so I can't attest to its efficacy, though I can tell you IUDs have the highest rate of success of most any other birth control. I love that I don't have to worry about taking a pill or anything, and it's good for 10 years. You can start DTD right after getting it, and you can get pregnant right after getting it removed. You don't even know it's there. I had some minor spotting and cramping for a couple of days after placement, but otherwise, after giving birth vaginally, it wasn't at all painful to have it placed and it took about a couple of minutes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mirena-or-paraguard#post-767685 Wed, 08 May 2013 12:45:37 +0000 Revel 767685@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cole: Thanks for chiming in about your Mirena experience. It sounds like it's working really well for you.</p> <p>@ladyfingers: This was my thought about Paraguard - that I don't usually have heavy bleeding or bad cramps, so it might be a good choice for me. If you don't mind my asking, how long have you had it, and has it worked well so far? I'm 3 weeks out from my EDD and then imagine I'd get it put in around 6 weeks PP, so I still have some time to decide. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mirena-or-paraguard#post-767677 Wed, 08 May 2013 12:42:23 +0000 ladyfingers 767677@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have Paragard. I don't have my period yet but I chose it over Mirena because I didn't want any hormones for several reasons, one of which is that I'm breastfeeding. According to my midwife, your cycles would behave exactly as if you were not on anything. Because I didn't have particularly heavy cycles or bad cramping previously, Paragard was a good choice for me. </p> <p>I will say that I know a lot of people who have Mirena and love it. The hormones are more localized than the pill so people tend not to have the same side effects, if any. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mirena-or-paraguard#post-767540 Wed, 08 May 2013 11:42:45 +0000 Cole 767540@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a lot of side effects from the pill and other hormonal types of bc although spotting wasn't an issue. I have a mirena and I did spot for a few months in the beginning but since then I have had no issues at all. I spot for about a day and a half each month but that's it.</p> <p>My understanding is that people tend to have heavier periods on paraguard, mine were quite heavy to begin with so I didn't want to risk then getting heavier. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mirena-or-paraguard#post-767439 Wed, 08 May 2013 11:11:47 +0000 Revel 767439@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mamabolt: Thanks for replying! That's exactly the type of spotting issue I had on the pill and that I was concerned about with Mirena. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mirena-or-paraguard#post-767387 Wed, 08 May 2013 10:54:01 +0000 mamabolt 767387@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had tons of issues with spotting on the pill previously. I went though so many different pills trying to find one that would work. I've had a Mirena for 8 months now and had spotting the first two months or so, but since then no bleeding at all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mirena-or-paraguard#post-767134 Wed, 08 May 2013 09:05:08 +0000 Revel 767134@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know there have been numerous threads on this topic, but I'm looking for some thoughts on my specific situation as I am planning for post partum birth control.</p> <p>I had long regular cycles previously (45 days) and some unpleasant side effects from hormonal BC (mid cycle spotting, diminished sex drive etc.), so this has me considering the Paraguard. I'm wondering if the fact that my cycles are longer would mean that even if the cramps were uncomfortable on Paraguard, I would still only be having ~8 cycles a year if they are the same after baby. I know there's no guarantee.</p> <p>Did anyone do well with Mirena, despite a history of hormonal BC side effects on the pill? </p> <p>Any experience with Paraguard (it seems to be the much less popular choice)? </p>