There are two IUDs on the market today: the Mirena, which works for five years and releases a small, targeted dose of the hormone progesterone, and the ParaGard Copper T, which is nonhormonal and lasts 10 years. For our full story, click here to see what our staffers and readers have to say about IUDs, keep reading.
What IUD did you choose and why?
"I chose the Mirena because it regulates menstrual flow, and flow gets heavier with age (sigh)."
—mother of two; Brooklyn, NY
"I chose the ParaGard for the lack of hormones. I had some neuroses about the long-term effects hormones could potentially have on my body, especially since I had used hormonal methods for numerous years prior to the IUD."
—no kids; New York, NY
"I went with the Mirena because I liked the idea that my periods would get lighter. And they did—so light that I don't get my period at all. My sister opted to get the ParaGard, which stays in twice as long, because she doesn't like the idea of the Mirena emitting low doses of progesterone. But her periods have gotten really heavy. She's only had it a few months, so hopefully it will get better."
—mother of two; Riverside, CT
"I wanted a long-term, extremely effective, nonhormonal contraceptive. While I've used oral contraceptives in the past, I haven't for the past five or six years (I've used the 'fertility awareness' method and condoms). A ParaGard IUD seemed like a great option for me given my aversion to hormonal contraceptives."
—mother of two; New York, NY
What did the insertion process feel like? Was it at all painful?
"A pinch of pain—nothing compared to childbirth! A little subsequent discomfort, but nothing major. It was like period cramps."
—Mirena user; mother of two; Brooklyn, NY
"The process was not painful—just some mild pressure, but I was also three months postpartum, which my doctor said was a plus. He kept asking if I was in any pain, and after about the third time I said, 'No, should I be?'"
—Mirena user; mother of two; Independence, KY
"The insertion was pretty painful. And I think the pain caused the reaction that I had (I felt dizzy, and my pulse went down to like 45). I also experienced some bad cramping for about two weeks after the insertion."
—ParaGard user; no kids; New York, NY
"Insertion was a breeze. I didn't even know my doctor had finished the insertion because it was so quick and painless; it really only involved a moment of mild discomfort. I did experience some cramping later that day and some spotting the following day. To women who are nervous about insertion, I would say that for me, it felt a little like an aggressive pap test—more pressure than pain."
—ParaGard user; mother of two; New York, NY
What would you tell other women who want to get an IUD but are nervous about the process?
"Do it! You will never have that 'Did I take the pill?' panic again. There is no reason not to do it. All myths were debunked for me after talking to my ob-gyn."
—Mirena user; mother of two; Brooklyn, NY
"I would advise any woman thinking about having an IUD inserted to ensure that the provider inserting it answers all her questions about what to expect. I didn't really think to ask any questions because I thought it was a pretty simple, straightforward procedure—which it is, but it would have been nice to know ahead of time about the possibility of two weeks of residual cramping, or how painful the insertion could be for some women (like it was for me)."
—ParaGard user; no kids; New York, NY
What do you like about having an IUD?
"I never have to worry about taking the pill. On a side note, my husband's insurance did not cover the device, so we had to pay for it. Since Mirena is good for five years, I compared that to the price of the pill and it was about the same. I felt that over the course of five years, insurance costs would rise and that this made the most sense financially."
—Mirena user; Mother of two; Independence, KY
"I was terribly noncompliant with oral contraceptives, the patch, the NuvaRing. So the IUD for me is great because I don't ever think about it. I love, love, love that aspect of it."
—ParaGard user; no kids; New York, NY
"I liked that it worked; it didn't have side effects; I didn't have to think about it; and it had very low hormone levels—a fraction of the pill. Also, I stopped getting my period. When I had it taken out, my fertility came back immediately and I was able to conceive within six weeks."
—Former Mirena user; expecting first child; Corte Madera, CA
Did you experience any downsides like heavy bleeding, irregular bleeding, cramping, or mild acne?
"No side effects. And my regular cycle is a thing of the past."
—Mirena user; Mother of two; Independence, KY
"I had it removed because I experienced all of these downsides. The cramping the first night was pretty bad. It got better for about three weeks. After about a month, I had constant bleeding and acne. It was driving me crazy, so I complained to my doctor. She convinced me to keep it in, but the side effects never got better. I felt like I had constant PMS. I was moody, spotting every single day, and the breaking out just got worse. So, after three and a half months, I had it removed."
—Former Mirena user; mother of two; Fort Worth, TX
"I didn't experience increased or irregular bleeding at the start (except for some breakthrough bleeding, which happens at the initiation of most contraceptive methods, I think). The only thing that changed about my periods is the cramping. I never had cramps that were bad enough to require medication before, and now I can't go through any period without popping several Advils throughout the day over the course of four or five days."
—Paragard user; no kids; New York, NY
"My Paragard dislikes: bleeding, bleeding, bleeding. I'm in the midst of my first postinsertion period, and I'm bleeding more than I have ever bled during a period. I'm a stay-at-home mom with two little kids (one is 3 and one is almost 2) and I don't have time to change tampons constantly. It's like I have another child in diapers! I sincerely hope my body adjusts and the flood subsides, because I don't think I can deal with bleeding this much for the next 10 years."
—Paragard user; mother of two; New York, NY
Can you or your partner feel the IUD strings during sex?
"My doctor cut the string so that I can feel it if I reach up inside. She said that if my husband could feel it during sex, she could cut it shorter. I can't remember if I had her do that or not! I'm supposed to check to make sure it's still in place by feeling for the string every month, but since I don't get my period anymore, I never remember to do it!"
—Mirena user; mother of two; Riverside, CT
"My husband says that sometimes he can feel them, and sometimes he can't. But when he does feel them, he says it doesn't hurt or bother him during sex. I never feel them."
—Paragard user, no kids, New York, New York
