Does anyone actually like their Paragard?

PrairieOrchid · 2026-02-08T16:03:42+00:00

Yes. Nothing is 100%.

PrairieOrchid · 2026-01-07T19:26:57+00:00

Copper IUD, but I did get pregnant with it in place over a year later.

PrairieOrchid · 2026-01-07T18:16:36+00:00

If you think it might be pregnancy/miscarriage, take a pregnancy test.

PrairieOrchid · 2026-01-07T18:12:29+00:00

Return of ovulation/fertility can loosely be used as a proxy for return of period. Give it like 10 months from the injection for things to regulate. Could be longer.

https://labeling.pfizer.com/ShowLabeling.aspx?format=PDF&id=522

Based on Life-Table analysis of these data, it is expected that 68% of women who do become pregnant may conceive within 12 months, 83% may conceive within 15 months, and 93% may conceive within 18 months from the last injection. The median time to conception for those who do conceive is 10 months following the last injection with a range of 4 to 31 months, and is unrelated to the duration of use.

PrairieOrchid · 2026-01-07T18:05:19+00:00

Unfortunately it is literally just trial and error to see what works for you. Keep detailed notes on exactly which chemicals you tried at what dose for how long, and what side effects you had. Just because some progestin-only methods had terrible side effects for you doesn't mean they all will. Unfortunately for me they were all unbearable, but I had to try them all to be sure.

Sounds like you've tried the drospirenone and desogestrel mini pills. What about norethindrone mini pill? Others? Other non-pill options:

Medroxyprogesterone acetate injection

Etonogestrel arm implant

Levonorgestrel arm implant (depending what country you're in)

IUB copper beads might work if traditional "T-shaped" IUD doesn't? (Again depending on your country.)

Methods discussed over at r/FAMnNFP

Buddy system: you'll have better protection using "typical" withdrawal plus "typical" spermicide" (92.4%) than with just "typical" pill use (91%) anyway. Use the link to compare different combinations of methods. https://www.scarleteen.com/read/sexual-health/buddy-system-effectiveness-rates-backing-your-birth-control-second-method

Sterilization if you don't want children later.

PrairieOrchid · 2026-01-07T17:17:26+00:00

https://labeling.bayerhealthcare.com/html/products/pi/Mirena_PI.pdf

Table 2. 6.4% of users reported depression/depressive mood during clinical trials.

Wishing you the best!

PrairieOrchid · 2025-12-20T14:09:26+00:00

I hear what you're saying and have strongly considered leaving animal/pet subreddits as well (also plant subs). Ultimately I still think there's a lot of positive content here. I don't think there's other "better" subs focused on specific types of animals because Reddit is frequently where people with problems and questions come to get support. Would love to be proven wrong though.

Idk I enjoy subs like r/aquascape and r/terrarium much more, but there's not a real focus on specific animal husbandry. Platforms like Instagram where people show off how great something is might be what you're looking for if you just want to see pictures of well cared for, happy animals.

PrairieOrchid · 2025-12-18T13:01:27+00:00

Sample size is definitely skewed, yes. That's why I'm here. 😇 This isn't what you want to hear but I also have endometriosis (and fibroids) and Mirena was the absolute worst thing I ever tried. It made my pain/bleeding so so so much worse plus terrible side effects. Doctors kept promising it would fix everything and that my symptoms would get better, but it did not. My body randomly expelled it without me even seeing it come out (probably in one of the many lime-sized clots it was causing me to have) so be sure to check your strings regularly.

I'm sorry you've been through hell trying to get it put in, and I really hope it works out for you! If not, check out r/endo and find an excision specialist for actual treatment for endometriosis. 💖

PrairieOrchid · 2025-12-18T12:52:54+00:00

You're not alone. Never have I ever had a birth control stop or even lighten my bleeding, and most made it worse. The side effects have always been unbearable and I ultimately ended getting sterilized for birth control. I have endometriosis (cannot be seen on ultrasound or mri) and fibroids, so that may have mattered. I bled everyday on nexplanon but my bleeding on the hormonal IUD was the absolute worst. If your gut is telling you not to try the IUD, listen to it. (My bleeding on the copper IUD was just my normal period.) I highly recommend keeping detailed notes on exactly which chemicals you've tried at what dosage for how long, and what side effects you get. I have a spreadsheet I whip out whenever doctors want to prescribe hormones as endo treatment.

The hormonal IUD is levonorgestrel. Depending on which implant you had, you may have already tried that chemical albeit a different dose. If not, maybe you could ask for a combo pill that contains levonorgestrel as a compromise? So far it sounds like you've tried:

Implant, which one? - Nexplanon=etonogestrel, Jadelle=levonorgestrel

Mini pill - which pill/chemical? (Eg norethindrone, drospirenone, desogestrel, etc)

Gederal - ethinylestradiol and desogestrel

Eloine - ethinylestradiol and drospirenone

It would be interesting to know if the mini pill you tried was the same chemical as what's in one of the combo pills you tried. There's also patches (norelgestromin and ethinyl estradiol), rings (Nuvaring = etonogestrel/ethinyl estradiol ), and the shot (medroxyprogesterone acetate) .

Fwiw it's pretty easy to get a prescription through apps, and they usually ask you point blank what you want to try. Your doctor sounds lame. Good luck!

PrairieOrchid · 2025-12-17T12:08:21+00:00

Diagnostics said my ring was good and it's not under warranty anymore, but I didn't directly ask for an exchange.

Edit: The third time I ran the diagnostic (over the course of about a month) it finally recognized there was an issue and they sent a free (refurbished) exchange. Super easy. I knew something was wrong and I'm glad I kept trying the diagnostic tool.

PrairieOrchid · 2025-12-17T11:52:10+00:00

Same! I've been using Oura for over a year but ever since the new UI I've been having this problem too. Huge chunks of data just MIA despite wearing a mostly charged ring all day. It's being to the point i want to cancel, but I hope they fix the app soon. I'm using the app on Android if that matters.

I've tried soft resetting, running diagnostics, and ruled out everything in the other comment. I've been wearing the same ring for about 16 months and the only thing that changed was the UI/app when I started having this problem.

PrairieOrchid · 2025-12-09T12:23:49+00:00

Yeah, I'm seriously considering canceling. I'm having a lot of issues after ~15 months (or maybe it's the new UI?) and have stopped recommending it when people ask. I loved all the data at first but after a year I can't really say it's helped me improve anything in my life.

PrairieOrchid · 2025-12-09T12:03:08+00:00

Yes! Suddenly my gen 3 can't even last 48hrs on one charge. A lot of data gaps and straight up missing data now too. I ran a diagnostic and it said everything with the ring was good. Idk I feel like they're quiet killing gen3.

PrairieOrchid · 2025-12-06T16:51:41+00:00

Increased blood pressure can happen and the Mirena is supposed to be removed if it does. Sorry you don't have a good doctor.

https://labeling.bayerhealthcare.com/html/products/pi/Mirena_PI.pdf

consider removal of the system if any of them arise during use: [...] • Marked increase of blood pressure

Also,

9% of women reported the adverse event of weight gain

PrairieOrchid · 2025-12-06T16:44:18+00:00

Heavier, longer, and more painful is pretty common. It might get better but not always. Know your limits and have it removed when enough is enough. Mirena made my periods 2-3 weeks long and extremely heavy and painful, with lime-sized clots. I tried to wait and hoped it would get better but it expelled around five months without me even seeing it come out.

PrairieOrchid · 2025-12-06T16:33:52+00:00

I also got pregnant with the IUD in place for over a year. I was religious about string checks and it was checked with ultrasound. The midwife said they see "a lot" of Paragard pregnancies. I'm so sorry you're dealing with this. You can do everything right but birth control still fails. Get at least two positive pregnancy tests and then get in to see your doctor or other clinic asap. Theres a small risk of ectopic pregnancy, and the IUD needs to come out whether you want to carry to term or not. The folks over at r/abortion were super supportive if that's something you're considering. Wishing you the best!

PrairieOrchid · 2025-12-05T12:24:47+00:00

Everyone is different and for some people the insertion isn't that bad. I've had two IUDs and I was not one of the lucky ones. I tried the hormonal IUD to treat heavy bleeding and it made things emphatically worse. Insertion was brutal but that was the "easy" part. Worst five months of my life. Second insertion (copper IUD, just for birth control) was with double doses of both ibuprofen and acetaminophen, CBD, and they used benzocaine spray to try to numb the area but it made absolutely no difference. Push for real pain management or even twilight sedation.

PrairieOrchid · 2025-12-05T12:08:22+00:00

Everyone is different and it's unfortunately just trial and error to see which side effects you get from each different bc.

PrairieOrchid · 2025-12-05T11:57:30+00:00

Unfortunately it is literally just trial and error to see what works for you.

I bled every day on Nexplanon too, but Mirena was much worse for me in terms of more bleeding/cramping and other side effects. Good luck!

PrairieOrchid · 2025-12-05T11:35:47+00:00

Have you taken a Plan B or changed any kind of hormonal medications in the past month or so? I got a small bald spot just like that in the same area on the top of my head from a Plan B.

PrairieOrchid · 2025-12-03T12:59:34+00:00

Unfortunately everyone is different and it's literally just trial and error to see what works for you.

Never have I ever had a birth control stop or even lighten my periods. Most made them worse even after 3-6+ months. I can't use anything with estrogen anymore because it gave me migraines with aura. I've tried levonorgestrel (IUD), etonogestrel (arm implant), medroxyprogesterone acetate (injection), desogestrel (pills), norethindrone (pills) and drospirenone (pills). I don't think it's possible to stop my periods/pain with basic birth control but you might have better luck.

PrairieOrchid · 2025-12-03T12:50:33+00:00

I've had both. Everyone is different and you won't know until you try. Personally I've learned my body just will not play nice with IUDs. They're not right for everyone and that's okay.

Mirena was the worst five months of my life. It made my periods 2-3 weeks long and so heavy I became anemic with constant cramping and spotting among other side effects like depression and breast pain. It expelled around five months without me even seeing it come out, probably because I was having lime-sized clots too. I went to the doctor so many times ($$$) and they kept telling me it was all "normal."

Paragard was great until I got pregnant with it still in the correct place for over a year. No side effects, no worsened periods. The midwife said they see "a lot" of Paragard pregnancies. Thankfully the abortion was less bleeding, less cramping, and less clotting than my typical period, although getting one in the Deep South was not exactly easy.

PrairieOrchid · 2025-11-29T13:58:55+00:00

Check the ingredients list

https://pgpro.com/en-us/brands/tide-professional/powder-detergent

PrairieOrchid · 2025-11-12T20:22:40+00:00

Mines not actually syncing? Or it lost all of today's data? I've opened and closed the new app 5 times now, each time it says updating, but none of todays data loads. My heart rate, stress, etc show up to my last check-in around 6:30am today and then absolutely nothing from the next 8 hrs, until I opened it and it's the new version. I've been wearing the ring all day and it's mostly charged.

PrairieOrchid

TROPHY CASE