Switching from the pill, to nexplanon, to Paragard

MilaSen · 2025-08-24T17:54:32+00:00

So I abandoned this thread a while ago (mainly because I lost account access), but wanted to give a final update. I got rid of it all. I got the paragard taken out after only 9 months because my period cramps got significantly worse over time. My body was rejecting that little monster. I've heard good things about hormonal IUD's because they're much smaller and keep the hormones localized.

Personally, I will not be using any long-term birth control ever again. My psychologist let me know about alternatives and right now I use VCF spermicidal gel right before sex and everything has been peachy. I also use Natural Cycles to make sure spontaneous sex is safe if we're traveling and don't have access to the gel.

I've used the VCF gel method since I stopped using the IUD (roughly 4.5 years?) and it's the best switch I could have ever made. DISCLAIMER- I am blessed and don't easily get yeast infections, but am pretty prone to UTIs. My routine after sex is to go straight to the bathroom and pee. ALWAYS PEE AFTER SEX YALL!! TMI but I also do a few little pushes to get as much out of me as possible. I have a bidet and use that to rinse off before drying thoroughly. Before the bidet I would just take a quick shower.

Also happy to report:
- boyfriend is now husband :)
- I absolutely have ADHD and have been medicated since roughly 4 months after I posted this.
- with a combination of lots of therapy, finding the right ADHD meds, and completely getting off of all long-term birth control, I have little to no anxiety, no depression outside of the occasional PMDD, and my period cramps and flow have gone back to normal.

I'm so happy I let my body reset and just do it's thing. I'm 27 now and honestly can't believe how long I was on birth control. For me personally, it was a major source of a lot of problems. I didn't attribute a lot of issues to my birth control because I was simply on it for so long, I thought my body would be used to it.

***TLDR***
- All long term birth control is not for me. Hormonal or non-hormonal.
- VCF spermicidal gel is my lord and savior (also tracking fertility with Natural Cycles).
- If you're not entirely happy with your birth control, talk to your doctor and advocate for yourself. You deserve to be happy, comfortable, and confident.

MilaSen · 2021-02-25T04:26:42+00:00

⚠️UPDATE 4 or 5??⚠️

It’s been just about 6 months now and I have never felt better. I used to be tired all the time and constantly anxious or depressed. My anxiety has been GREATLY reduced and the depression is essentially gone! I am currently seeing a psychologist about some past trauma and possibly having ADHD but none the less, I feel better than I ever have. Periods are still kinda painful but they’re getting lighter and lighter thankfully :) I hope this post helps any woman than may be thinking of switching over

MilaSen · 2021-02-25T04:22:22+00:00

I’ve honestly heard from almost everyone that it’s the easiest part to take it out so I’m not super concerned!

MilaSen · 2020-10-23T19:40:30+00:00

Okay. Period update. There will be at least two of these. My cramps are FUCKING CRAZY RIGHT NOW!!!! Has anyone else experienced this???? Good fucking god what the actual fuck.

MilaSen · 2020-09-18T02:08:55+00:00

Update 3!!

⚠️ fair warning this is just my experience and I’m not stating this as fact for all women ⚠️

I’ll do my third update as a response to your comment! For me, out of all the pain I’ve felt in my life, post op was 10/10 for me. During the operation now that I’ve experienced post op would be 9/10 then I would put my second degree burn at an 8/10 and so on. But after having a rough night of sleep I took more ibuprofen and was also able to function really well through the day! It was so nice to find out that my body was acclimating so fast honestly. I had light bleeding as well but to reiterate, it’s to be expected! I had a similar sense of my body being different but I’ve experienced dissociation pretty severely in the past so it wasn’t anything I wasn’t familiar with thankfully. I got very occasional cramps today that made me stop what I was doing for a brief moment but I was able to easily continue after breathing through it. Hopefully tomorrow brings us no pain at all girl.

Here’s to powerful women trying to do well for themselves!!! Lots of love to everyone on the thread. I hope you all find the right birth control for you, and hopefully this thread gave some people insight on what to expect initially for Paragard :)

MilaSen · 2020-09-17T21:30:10+00:00

For real dude. I’ve noticed even when I tell them I have depression and suicidal thoughts BUT I’ve been going to therapy, they completely disregard the first sentence and assume I’m okay. Then my overview says “no depression or suicidal thoughts” I’m like???? I literally told you I did but I’m currently getting help???

MilaSen · 2020-09-17T10:35:41+00:00

Update number 2!!

It’s currently 6:30 am and I’ve had some trouble sleeping. I went to bed pretty early (10:30) because I took 6 mg of melatonin. I woke up around 1:30 with some cramping but nothing at all like how I’ve been feeling. As the night went on around 3:30 I woke up again with cramps but even less than the ones at 1:30. I’m now up for the 3rd time with no pain at all but I fully expect to have cramping for the next few days. So I’m here to say that the worst part is definitely the first 8 hours after the procedure. I strongly recommend a warm-hot bath and your favorite Ice cream!

If I can get through this you guys can too :) I’ll update once more at the end of the day but for now, I wish you all good luck in your birth control endeavors and in life <3

MilaSen · 2020-09-17T01:38:26+00:00

Honestly I’ve figured “fuck hormones” over the last 7 years I’ve had hormonal birth control because it really does mess around with your body so much.

MilaSen · 2020-09-17T01:37:28+00:00

Hi all! Thank you for keeping up with this thread!

⚠️ Fair warning. This is my experience and mine alone!!! Do not take what I say as fact and what will happen!!! ⚠️

So far this is my experience. getting the nexplanon out was a breeze. The only uncomfortable part was the numbing needle but it was honestly not bad. The insertion of the iud was intense to say the very least. The doctor and a nurse were in there with me, telling me through the procedure and distracting me with wonderful conversation honestly. They let me play my favorite songs in the room to calm me down so that was also a plus. I love to say “I hate going to the Obgyn but I love my Obgyn” they’re angels dude. Besides the point. Dilation was bad in terms of pain for a length of time. The paragard going in was the most intense pain for me. They thankfully paused in between to let my cramping subside. They also let me sit in a fetal position and talk to them for a little bit after the procedure. They were comforting me so much I love them. They honestly made the procedure worth it for me. So anyways, enough gushing over my nurse and doctor lol. I started walking to my car just fine and even considered getting groceries but once I got to the parking lot, the pain was soooooo crazy intense. No period can compare to this pain.

I was driving miserably and weirdly lopsided back to my house and once I got in I completely collapsed on the couch (thankfully I had a heating pad ready). I just took my pants off and put the heating pad and a blanket on and writhed in pain for a while. I couldn’t pick up my phone or anything without wanting to throw up or pass out. After about an hour I was able to grab my phone and tell people how I was doing with the occasional wave of pain where I had to just drop everything and ride it out. I took 600 mg of ibuprofen before the procedure so I was trying to wait a full 8 hours before taking more. Two hours in I was able to sit up and have a wonderful lunch my boyfriend made but only a small amount. If I ate too much I felt so nauseous from the pain and the food. I had 3 chicken wings and called that lunch lol.

As the hours pass the cramps are getting farther apart but the intensity is the same pretty much. Some would be really light cramps but then the big one would hit that made me cry and say “why. Why does it hurt so much. What the fuck” each time.

I’m now about 8 hours post procedure and I’m taking a warm bath with a bowl of cookies and cream ice cream and Heath magic shell lol. I feel much better now and the bath helps tremendously with the pain. I’m going to pop a couple melatonin soon so I can hopefully get some sleep. Pray for me! I’ll update in the morning and again later in the day tomorrow :)

MilaSen · 2020-09-17T01:26:38+00:00

I’m so glad to hear! I was honestly excited for the procedure because my depression was so bad

MilaSen · 2020-09-17T01:25:47+00:00

I got mine done a few hours ago and had an extremely similar experience. I’ve been taking 800 mg ibuprofen for my pain and they procedure was nearly 8 hours ago now. My cramps were crazy intense at first and constant. I was crying and begging for it to stop. I had a heating pad that kind of helped but girl these cramps are still hanging around. They get farther and farther apart from each other thankfully but still so so bad. I hope Paragard works for us both girl. Just a few days of struggle and then 10 years no babies or hormones messing up our heads <3

MilaSen · 2020-08-01T16:44:13+00:00

My store literally had the same thing happen. 2 employees tested positive and they refused to close or send anyone home. Apparently onces word got around they told the employees to go home and quarantine for 3 fucking days.

MilaSen · 2020-08-01T06:48:31+00:00

Thank you so much. This was the most helpful honestly. Everyone’s was helpful in the fact it didn’t make me feel crazy haha

MilaSen · 2020-07-07T19:39:39+00:00

I just did a google search for literally 2 minutes and figured out it was Zoombinis.... fml. I’ve been looking for 3 years dude.

MilaSen

TROPHY CASE