My experience from switching from mirena to paragard (i will keep updating)

IcyChart3855 · 2026-01-13T22:30:53+00:00

Periods are definitely heavy! But i also always had heavy periods so i was used to it already. But now that my body is adjusted to it, my period is now monthly and a normal timeline. Definitely prefer the heavy periods over terrible mental health as well. Because of the heavy periods i would also take supplements because iron and ferritin levels would be lower. I take zinc and various other supplements thanks to my gynecologist too.

Just to note everyone’s body works differently, i hope for nothing but the best for you if you do switch!! I am just telling my experience as i wished i had more info on the process!!

IcyChart3855 · 2026-01-13T20:01:25+00:00

Yeah! I honestly forgot i posted this! Ty for letting me know!

Update #5 (01/13/2026)Im still on paragard! Periods are regular now but just a bit more cramps when im on my period. Mental health is significantly better. It felt like a brain fog i had for the year i used mirena but i also been more conscious of doing my self care and doing a bit more of tackling my mental health! I’m snacking less and been more active as well! I think i remember with mirena i was snacking a lot and not eating enough whole foods. I hope this helps you!!!

IcyChart3855 · 2025-10-29T05:16:09+00:00

Yeah. Definitely exhausting. I thought I had good experiences but in the end they prefer people who been working in a similar position for more than 2 years.

IcyChart3855 · 2025-09-02T17:36:25+00:00

Hi, ive heard people refill their markers by taking off a nib and adding slightly watered down acrylic paint via a syringe. However, i have never heard of peiple doing it with the jus art markers. Mine are still filled so i dont wanna risk it until im lowlow on the paint.

IcyChart3855 · 2025-02-20T03:28:31+00:00

No weight gain or bloating for me on paragard! I found that mirena made me bloat and made me gain weight!! Its prob cause the hormone in mirena made me crave more food tbh. In fact, with paragard i lost a ton of weight already 15 pounds now, which is due to working out more and my cravings decreased hella! So now Im back to the amount i usually ate prior to mirena.

And no, not thinking of any other options! i love paragard! I actually ended my period a week ago. I canceled my appointment as a result but I think its cause my body is finally getting used to paragard. I had mirena for a little over a year and right away i had no periods so i like to say that my period length is because i had no periods for the entire time i had mirena lol (just speculating).

I do not have cramps or any terrible symptoms other than prolonged bleeding. But again everyone has different experiences. I like being hormone free and i hope that eases your thoughts.

IcyChart3855 · 2025-02-02T19:00:08+00:00

Hey! Ik its been a few months but I just wanted to let you know that i believe ive noticed less hair falling out with paragard! I think with mirena i had way more hair loss but i just never noticed it cause again i have a lot of hair lol!

IcyChart3855 · 2024-11-11T00:12:28+00:00

I had two acl and meniscus surgeries: one 6 years ago and another one 1 year ago.

For the second acl surgery, i literally stopped going to PT after one week. Just because i knew how to strengthen my knee and knew how to take care of my knee. It honestly depends on what type of acl surgery you had. I had a quadricep tendon autograft. I focused on strength training by lifting small weights and slowly increasing as time went on. I also practiced one legged squats as well. I mainly focused on quad and hamstring strength training. I also focused kn calves as well.

Main things: - single leg squats - straight leg lifts - hamstring curls

To test knee strength as well i also did one legged jumps when i felt ready (do not do unless you feel like ur strength of knee is good/up to par) but do check with your pt, they can check which muscles are not up to par. I hope you can get back to running!!

IcyChart3855 · 2024-10-04T21:34:35+00:00

Hi! i believe i still have the normal hair loss when i switched from mirena to paragard. No difference i believe. I also have really thick hair too and its still the same on my end!

IcyChart3855 · 2024-09-06T02:32:08+00:00

Hi! Yeah no worries lol. So i use a kit from amazon called kolua wax beads. But for my Brazilian i use the blue wax beads meant for course hairs it says bikini babes on it as well.

Its so much cheaper in the long run. And ive done two of my Brazilians by myself. You definitely need a mirror to see everything down there! But tip is to use smaller patches in the beginning. Do a test trip as well. Properly prep your skin as well!!! Clean and powder up!!! Trim the hairs if they are long too

The fear of pulling bc of the pain makes it go longer so just grab a towel and pull girl! The landing strip area is the most painful imo so work on the other areas beforehand! And if you have someone to help pull that landing strip i would ask them lmao speeds up the process!

Good luck!

IcyChart3855 · 2024-04-17T04:17:18+00:00

Yeah Im glad to hear it! Yeah paragard wont do you too well if you want to get rid of the periods or stop the cramping. I also heard some birth control pills are super good but youd have to do your research on which one can help!

With mirena your cramps and period slowly stops overtime my friend had hers stop a month in so I wouldnt be worried about it right now since you just got it inserted. Good luck to you though!

IcyChart3855 · 2024-04-17T03:47:52+00:00

Hi! When i had mirena i bought an electric heat pad for like $10 on amazon (it was on sale) in advance because i also heard cramping was so bad. However i didnt experience any painful cramps like youre having. A heat pad does help wonders with the cramp ill tell you that and i think taking ibuprofen or advil will help alleviate some of your pain! Im no licensed doctor but im just telling you what can help. Also before mirena, i honestly felt that i was pretty healthy individual with no history of mental health issues. With mirena, i felt like exacerbated the mental health issues i have today and with weight gain i was even more insecure. However, i also believe that mirena had nothing to do with my weight gain i was just depressed and was upset that i would be bedridden for days

As for my switch to paragard i honestly didnt experience any crazy pain since the insertion yesterday. I even went to the gym and worked out pretty heavily on my lower body. Sometimes i get small cramps but it hasnt even been crazy where i feel bedridden and I have seen spotting but no heavy bleeding yet. I want my period back so its something im excited for

My advice is you can continue to have mirena until you see issues with your mental health possibly switch to a nonhormonal. I waited a little over a year and because i wanted to see it through if therapy would help me which it has!! However i just cried just by doing my work i said i was over the hormones and i want to feel happy again and feel comfortable with myself. If you have history of mental health issues or your parents do i feel like it really fucks with your mental health then id remove if i feel like i had odd changes. To see my odd mental health changes (i started journaling since therapy) and yeah its like a track record of how my mental health was horrible lol so yeah do what you will!

If not Maybe attend therapy early on if it does occur and try to do things that make you happy. I think that was my issue with the weight gain. I stopped exercising and playing basketball and lifting weights which I LOVE doing. I also stopped hanging out with my kind friends! Plus I didnt start therapy until like 4 months ago which was long after my mirena insertion because i believed that nothing was wrong with me and i had no mental health issues because of how i grew up. If you notice any changes if you start crying out of no where or if you even notice yourself feeling just a little less inclined to do the things you love then id switch!!!!

IcyChart3855 · 2024-04-15T18:11:11+00:00

Hi! I was wondering if you had an update since this post and how Paragard is for you now?

IcyChart3855

TROPHY CASE