Anyone Use ParaGard?

i agree with Leshi--things normalized after a few months with Paraguard. There's no reason why you can't have it removed after 2 years, rather than 5--there's no difference really. It's not something you'd want to do every few months, but a couple of years is totally fine. I've heard good things about Mirena too, if you don't mind having hormones.

Hi A.,

I've had a Paraguard for over a year, and love it. I tried the pill (mini-pill, plus regular pill) and Nuvaring in the past, with poor results (irregular bleeding, worry about remembering the pill, etc).

I really like the maintenance free aspect of an IUD, and prefer to not use hormones. I also plan to have mine removed in the next year or so to have another child.

As for painful/long periods, I really haven't experienced that. I will say my cycle went from about 5 days before Paraguard to 7 days now. However, I'm not sure if that was due to the Paraguard, or just to changes in my body after having a baby 2 years ago. Even though my period is 2 days longer, for me at least, the first day or so of my period is very light, followed by 3 or 4 "normal" days, and one day or so of light again.

Please write me with any questions you have - I'd be happy to chat more about Paraguard.

Good luck with your decision!
A.

Hi, A.:

Contact your local breastfeeding consultant at La Leche League.

www.llli.org

Hope this helps. D.

I do not have the ParaGard IUD, but I do have the Mirena IUD--very low progesterone only. I got it when my daughter was 4 mo and exclusively nursing. My OB, pediatrician and lactation consultant all said it would not affect milk production or in any other way change my ability to nurse. I've had a great experience with it. A little cramping and irregular bleeding at first. 4 weeks later I felt like I was getting my period...bad skin, slight cramping, bloat, some discharge, but no bleeding. It went away in a few days. I did not get my period back after my last child, so I still haven't had any bleeding, just the other symptoms that seem like a cycle. My milk and feeding abilities were not compromised at all and at 6 mo my daughter is growing and gaining weight as expected. Hope this info helped!

I do not remember what kind of birth control I used, but it was an oral one and I did not have any problems. It did not reduce my milk supply at all and I nursed until my son was a year old as well. I did not menstruate while I was nursing, however. I do have a normal menstrual cycle now that my son is fully weaned. I think it is perfectly fine to use a contraceptive while nursing.

I don't have an ID but when I was researching them my OB said she never puts in Paragard anymore b/c it makes your periods so much heavier. She suggested Mirena and explained that the hormone dose was very low and it was localized, so less hormones than taking a pill.

However, the thing that may apply to you is that they wanted to make sure I didn't want kids again anytime soon, as in 5 years or so. If you want to have kids again in 2 years it might not be the best option for you.

I, too, wanted ParaGard because I was nursing and didn't want hormones. I spoke to two OB/GYNs who said that they won't even put ParaGuard in anymore because so many women were asking to have it removed due to the very heavy bleeding. So I had Mirena "installed" and I nursed until the baby was 11 months. No effect on my breastfeeding, and I haven't had a period now in 3 years.

Hi A.,
It is a little tricky in the beginning since it increases your flow. But after a couple of months it gets OK.
Good luck.
L..
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