Anyone have firsthand experience with a copper IUD?

March 3, 2009 8:52 AM

Are copper IUD's more comfortable than the mini-pill?

I just found out that I can get a copper IUD for free. I would love to stop taking pills every day but I've heard they may cause severe cramping and heavy periods. I've done the research. Has anybody out there ever had one?

Backstory: I was on ortho for many years. When I stopped taking it I started feeling better than I knew I could feel. I lost 20 lbs, and my PMS went from a week to a few days. Three years later, I am now breastfeeding my 8 month old and taking the mini-pill. I'm afraid that when I stop nursing the mini-pill will make me gain weight again, and I've noticed some mildly unpleasant hormonal issues. A ten year non-hormonal birth control device sounds perfect on paper. Is it too good to be true? Will I just be trading one list of side effects for another?

posted by debbie_ann to health & fitness (22 comments total)

Have you considered the 5 year Mirena IUD? I have heard the same things of the copper IUD and though a ten year contraceptive sounds good, the side effects do not.
posted by wocka wocka wocka at 8:56 AM on March 3

There have been a few threads that touch on this. Search askme for Paragard (or Paraguard, a common misspelling).

How were your periods before you ever took the pill? I love my copper IUD and my periods are NOT more painful, crampy, or uncomfortable than they were before. However, my "natural" periods (while not on any form of birth control) were fairly painful, so I may be a bad judge.

Regardless, I love this thing. The one real effect I notice is longer periods (2 days heavy, then 5 days light) but for me, it's a small price to pay for no hormones, no condoms, and no more babies.
posted by peep at 9:04 AM on March 3

Have you considered the 5 year Mirena IUD?

I'm only covered for the copper type. It sounds great but I'd have to pay retail.
posted by debbie_ann at 9:09 AM on March 3

I really think it depends on the person, but I had a copper IUD for about 5 or 6 months and the severity of cramping was the reason I had it taken out. Before the IUD I did get cramps, but I would just take an Advil, maybe have a nap if they were particularly bad, and be fine. While I had the IUD in, there were about 2 or so days during my period where all I could do for hours on end was curl up in a ball and cry.

I really really really wanted to like the IUD since it was so convenient and had no hormones, but I guess it just wasn't meant to be for me. I also had heavier periods, but not much heavier and if that was the only problem, I'd still have it in.

I hope it works out better for you!
posted by legendarygirlfriend at 9:16 AM on March 3

legendary, have you had any kids? Reading the paraguard post, it seems to be much more painful for ladies who haven't given birth. I'm guessing this has to do with the size of the cervical opening.
posted by debbie_ann at 9:23 AM on March 3

I had one and it didn't make my periods horrible. It's different for everyone, but if it is covered, what do you have to lose? I say go for it. Especially if you have had issues with hormones.
posted by Gor-ella at 9:23 AM on March 3

I'm on my second copper IUD, just had the first replaced after seven years. I absolutely love it - I did cramp more at first and had heavier periods initially (maybe first six-12 months?) but not so much heavier that it was a problem. I couldn't tolerate hormone-based contraceptives (and I tried for a good three years before my doctor let me have the IUD!) so this seems pretty miraculous a solution to me.

I have to say that the insertion is not much fun, and why it's not generally recommended for women who haven't given birth in the standard fashion - my cervix protested like hell both times and it was pretty uncomfortable but once it was in I was fine. Took about ten minutes, and there was cramping afterwards for half a day or so. Taking Ibuprofen beforehand helps a lot though.

I actually have shorter periods now (4-5 days, heavy for 3 of them) but, for me it's worth it for fret-free contraception.
posted by freya_lamb at 9:24 AM on March 3

I've done both (mini-pill and copper IUD). I hated both. I can't do hormonal contraceptives because they make me crazy, depressed, overweight and I'm constantly having migraines. I also hated the copper IUD. I ached for about two weeks out of every month (not on my cycle) and the week that I DID have my period was horrific. I had to mega-dose on the ibuprofen just to not want to claw my innards out. Also, insanely heavy periods. And, finally, my BF could feel it inside me with, you know, his man part, and so any sort of truly raucous activity either came with accompanying discomfort/pain, or, it was avoided altogether.

HOWEVER - I have never had children/been pregnant, and was told by my doctor before I had the IUD inserted that women who've given birth do much better with a copper IUD than women who haven't. (I didn't want the Mirena IUD because it secretes hormones and I am afraid of what even small doses do to me mentally/emotionally.) I chose to get one anyway because I was going off to live in the African jungle for a year and didn't want to have to deal with thinking about contraception at all. I got it taken out the minute I stepped back on US soil.
posted by hapax_legomenon at 9:26 AM on March 3

Sorry, that last sentence doesn't make sense! I mean't to say that although my periods are shorter, they are heavier.

Also, as a datapoint, I haven't had kids.
posted by freya_lamb at 9:29 AM on March 3

Nope, no kids. You're right, that can definitely be a factor in how painful it is.
posted by legendarygirlfriend at 9:30 AM on March 3

I have had a child. I never paid attention to WHY it makes a difference - is it the expansion of the uterus or the cervical opening? Just FYI, my kid didn't come out through my cervix, although I did dilate some before I had my c-section! Insertion was no big deal for me.
posted by peep at 9:44 AM on March 3

I have had a child and I hated my copper IUD. Very painful cramping and heavier flow. My boyfriend at the time could feel it during sex and said that was uncomfortable. I had mine for more than a year and finally couldn't take it anymore and had it removed which was also very painful. My periods went back to normal right away. Also, and this may be TMI, the boyfriend said I tasted coppery all the time.
posted by shmurley at 9:50 AM on March 3

I have 2 kids and the copper IUD. I decided on the Paragard after trying birth control pills (made me crazy) and the nuva ring (bled for a month straight).
I haven't had any issues with it other than my periods lasting a couple days longer and being a bit heavier. Insertion wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. It hurt like hell for about 5 seconds, then subsided in to a low dull ache for the rest of the afternoon. I went shopping afterward.
posted by PossumCupCake at 10:14 AM on March 3

I have never been pregnant. I have never taken the mini pill specifically, though i have taken birth control pills. I do have a copper IUD currently. I found that only my first period after insertion was heavier. After that it was totally normal. I cramped before I got the IUD and I continue to cramp, though for some reason the time the cramping occurs is reversed--I cramp on the last day of my period instead of on the first. But this is not always consistent. Sometimes I experience zero cramping throughout. It is one of the best decisions I have ever made for myself.
posted by hecho de la basura at 10:21 AM on March 3

I'm 24, I've never been pregnant, and I love my Paragard IUD. The insertion was no worse than an ordinary menstrual cramp for me. My periods were heavier for a few months after insertion but quickly returned to normal.

The iud_divas community at LiveJournal has a lot of good information, despite its somewhat silly name.
posted by homuncula at 10:34 AM on March 3

I've had my copper IUD (Paraguard) for about 18 months now. I'm 40 and have three kids, never had Mirena so can't compare there.

Insertion was no big deal. Felt like an early labor contraction or two, no big deal. I frontloaded with 800 mg of Advil before the appt (dr's orders) and that was that.

Before the IUD, my periods were normal flow and very minimal cramping, if any. After insertion, and to this very day, my cramps are so bad that all I can do is sit and cry. I can't breathe, I can't think, I can't speak. Let me put this in perspective for you: I had all three of my kids at home and my unmedicated home births were a picnic compared to the cramps I get now. They've definitely lessened in intensity and length over time but they're still a real bitch that I don't look forward to each month.

My flow is stupid-heavy and I go through almost two full boxes of super-plus tampons each month, and I get a boatload of discharge (clear, not an infection) in between periods as an extra bonus. My boyfriend can feel the strings on occasion, but not enough that they bother him.

Now for the good news: I appear to be an anomaly. My experience has been vastly different than most everyone else I've encountered on the Internet. Plenty of people complain of cramps the first few months, or heavy flow for a while, but not the consistent issues I have. I had the IUD checked for placement via ultrasound so no one really knows why my cramps are still as bad as they are. Really, most people I've talked to love their copper IUD and have very few issues with it.

All things considered, I'd still get one again. Birth control pills mess with me terribly, as do all the other hormone options. I'm willing to put up with some cramps and heavy flow in exchange for no hormones, spontaneous sex, and an infinitesimally low risk of pregnancy.

Feel free to MeMail me if you want to know more. And, yes, totally check out IUD Divas.
posted by _Mona_ at 11:47 AM on March 3

I've never been pregnant and haven't tried the mini-pill, but I had a plethora of hormone-based problems on the regular pill. I had a copper IUD put in a year ago and couldn't be happier with it. It's like not using any birth control at all, yet comes with all the benefits.

The first couple months I had heavier periods, but they've returned to normal since then, albeit a couple days longer. I didn't experience cramps before and still don't. Insertion was uncomfortable but only lasted about two minutes, and it was tolerable with a bunch of ibuprofen taken beforehand. I wish I'd done it years ago.
posted by anderjen at 12:01 PM on March 3

23, never had kids.

I had my copper IUD of nine months removed for reasons of cramping and heavy bleeding. However, I had VERY easy periods before my IUD and had only 1-2 days of cramping/month with the IUD. I'm just a whiner about cramping.

I had a Mirena inserted the same day I had the Paragard removed (the pain isn't bad if you ask to be numbed-- I didn't even know they'd inserted the Mirena until the Dr. told me it was in!). I'm never going back.

I know you're hesitant, but I really suggest you pay for the Mirena. It is a truly worthwhile investment; the hormones have had no side effects on me (I'm very sensitive to hormones), my periods are lighter and less frequent, and I don't have to worry about the pill.

Think about it: Over the course of the next five years, how much will you spend on birth control? And how much would you spend on the Mirena? And how much heartache, hassle, and annoyance would you save by not taking the pill? Great stuff, IUDs.

That said, try the paragard if you're feeling poor. The worst that could happen is you hate it after 3 months. It really only hurts a bit the day you get it put in, and it barely hurts to have it taken out at all.
posted by samthemander at 12:44 PM on March 3

Am on my second Mirena coil (IUD). The first period after insertion can be a bit rough, as can the period you're on when they do the insertion. After that, nothing. I absolutely love not having to take a pill every day.

If your partner says that he can feel it, he's either Jeff Stryker or he's meaning that he can feel the thread. Your doc can shorten it without any real hassle.
posted by Grrlscout at 1:51 PM on March 3 [1 favorite]

Well, I've never had kids, but I've had my Paragard for about 3 weeks now (I went off of low-dose oral bc when I had it inserted) and I can't believe how much better I feel already.
Insertion was downright hellish, but mercifully quick. I was pretty uncomfortable for a few days; all bloats, cramps and blood, but I'm feeling just dandy now. Echoing others, I only wish I got one sooner.
(also nthing IUD_Divas, there's a boatload of information over there.)
posted by metricfuture at 3:53 PM on March 3

My experience with a copper IUD is very similar to _Mona_'s. I'm 21, no kids, and I've had mine for about almost 2 years now. Insertion was godawful, and I was cramping 3 weeks a month for the first 8-9 months. I didn't even really have cramps before I got the IUD, so it was extra hellish. These days I get cramps 2-3 days before my period, and then the first day of my period I'm doubled over with terrible cramps. Every month I resolve to take it out, but I haven't done it yet. I probably won't, either.

Then again, a friend of mine just got a Mirena and is having absolutely no problems whatsoever. The stories you're getting here seem to be the same. I think the bottom line is that your mileage will vary, so if you can get a paragard for free I'd suggest you try it. If it works, great. IUDs are totally awesome. If it doesn't work you can take it out and go back to the pill. You'll know after a few months whether it works for you. It might totally suck for a few months, but at least you'll know.
posted by lilac girl at 9:19 PM on March 4

I got one today! It hurt a lot less than I was scared.
posted by debbie_ann at 5:06 PM on March 17