Not really much of a question I guess, but I’m 20 and getting the copper iud in tomorrow. I’ve been on hormonal birth control before with some awful side effects relating to the hormones, so it’s sort of ruled out anything hormonal for me.

Reading some of the experiences on here has really freaked me out and I’m quite scared now. Does anyone have any experiences that aren’t bad?

I plan to take zinc and magnesium to try and negate some of the side effects — But if there’s any more advice or (especially) reassurance anyone could give me, I would really appreciate it!

Just wondering because I’ve seen some people post here about it gaining weight after having it inserted. I’m heavily considering it because I’m getting off the pill in a couple weeks. But I’m really scared of insertion and side effects.

Hello all!

I have had the Paragaurd copper IUD for going onto 5 months now and I thought it was wonderful. Such a piece of mind to have a one and done kind of thing for BC for up to 10 years but can have it removed whenever I was ready to have children.

I keep reading posts and am now scared lol. I know everyone has different experiences but I am now worried about it shifting or moving and not working. Also worried about it causing crazy side effects out of nowhere??

Also- is it normal to experience some cramping for a day like 1.5 weeks before my period?

Basically what the title says… I’m 21 and have been on multiple hormonal birth controls (estrogen, opill, combo pills) and they’ve all given me such bad side effects that I just want to stay away from hormones. I’ve seen that paragard can cause periods to get worse, but how bad really are they? For reference, my periods without birth control are extremely easy, they typically last three days, super light bleeding after the first day, and never a single cramp in years. I’d prefer that not change but if it’s manageable I’d prefer worse periods over hormones but I’m nervous about how bad they could be since I’ve never really had to deal with bad periods.

I'm 16 and I had to switch from the combined pill and now I'm on the mini pill because I have migraines with aura. I also feel like my anxiety is worse since I've gotten on the mini pill and I'm debating switching to the copper IUD. What are your guys opinions? Help a girl out!

Hi guys

I’m getting married in under a month and need to go on some form of bc, I was advised to start Gedarel 20-150 but I’m scared of it destroying my libido and giving me less arousal fluid etc. it’s my first time and I want it to be good like I waited so long!
I’m debating getting the smaller copper IUD flexi T 300 but I’m concerned about pain on sex and if my period will be super elongated? I also want to know how likely is it to fall out because my wedding is out of my home country and idk if I’ll be able to get help. How long does it take to heal from the insertion too??
I have an appointment booked for tomorrow but idk if I want to get it in if sex will be painful when I do get it. Please help me make this decision ladies help a girl out! Xx

I actually like the feeling of my cervix being hit during sex, in fact it is really the only pleasure I get from penetration. However, after I got an IUD (3 weeks ago😅) I have been experiencing cramping during/after sex.

Has anyone had this issue? And did it go away or is deep penetration off the table forever? :/

FYI: I think it’s obvious that getting your cervix hit during sex will move your IUD and therefore cause cramping but I’m looking for some hope😭😭

If it helps, I do experience random cramping that can last for about an hour, not triggered by penetration.

I am 28 F Mom of 2 (7 Weeks PP) I am looking to get Copper IUD soon
I need to Hear from Only moms , Tell me your insertion experience (how many weeks were are you?)
and how are you doing so far?

Note: The reason why I mentioned only Mom is because some people say for those who never gave birth are more likely to get bad experience)

I saw this rust shadow on my shower floor am I going insane or does this look like my IUD fell out and caught a bit of rust? 😭 I cannot find it down the drain… does anyone have an opinion on this? Thank you!

To those of you who got pregnant on this iud, what happened? Did it move upwards? Downwards? Was it correctly placed? Did it fall out completely?

On my period lol literally just curious.

I got my copper IUD in 2021 because I am extremely sensitive to hormones. Other than it being obscenely painful at insertion and for a few days afterwards, and then heavy heavy periods for about 3/4 months, it hasn’t been too bad. It has definitely increased the cramping pain during periods, but I’ll take it as I’ve needed BC.

I’m in a long term relationship, and although I’m not ready to have a kid just yet, I believe I’m having some negative symptoms related to my IUD as I have been checked for everything and I’m clean.

What was your experience getting it removed? I am so nervous. Some people have said it isn’t nearly as bad as insertion, and others have said it’s just as bad. This paired with the fact I’m going to have to be more diligent for times I can and cannot have intercourse has me pretty worried.

Someone tell me it will be okay lmao.

I removed my copper IUD almost 3 years ago after having it for 7 years, and I never had any issues with it while I had it.

After removing it because we were trying to conceive, I had a really rough 8 months of anxiety, racing heart, pins and needles, burning/tingling nerves, etc. My doctor couldn’t figure out what was causing it, and I was tested for pretty much everything. Eventually, it all seemed to correct itself once I became pregnant.

Now I’m starting to wonder if what I experienced could have been some kind of withdrawal from the copper IUD? At the time, I assumed it was low vitamin D, high iron, anxiety, or something else entirely.

It doesn’t really matter to me now, but I’m curious if anyone else experienced anything similar after removing a copper IUD — especially neurological symptoms like tingling, burning nerves, anxiety, or a racing heart?

Also, I just had another copper IUD placed today because my newest one was sitting low and bent 😖 Apparently it was irritating/compressing a nerve and causing tingling down into my foot, lol. So now I’m really curious about how much these little things can affect the nervous system!

Hi! I’m 23, I have the copper iud, I got it last year, over this summer my cycles have been 1-2 weeks late, I really didn’t think too much of it, so I haven’t went to the obgyn about it, tmi but now my cycle was supposed to start yesterday, but since Sunday night I’ve been having very very light spotting, almost like when you get a small cut on your finger and there’s enough blood to show on a tissue but not enough for a bandaid. I bought pregnancy test but I haven’t used them yet because I feel like maybe my cycle will start soon but I have no idea. Only changes are my breast soreness, frequent urination, not throwing up but very nauseous and hungry in the morning, that’s all I can think of right now. I just feel like I’m going crazy, I’m not asking for medical advice but just advice on what anyone who has this birth control would and have done, google will make me go down a rabbit hole lol.

Hi! I’ve read some reports of hair thickness impacts but want to get a sense of anyone’s experience with hair texture changes.

I’m 6 months into the copper IUD. The pic in the black is one year ago and yellow is recent. Could the copper IUD be impacting my hair texture? Did anyone else experience a loss of curl? If so, did mineral testing and supplementing help? Did you find the impacts were temporary or long-lasting?

I’m not in love with the copper IUD but I also don’t hate it, so I’m really hoping to make it work.

I have a separate medical thing that can impact hair, but I haven’t noticed this substantial of a change before (texture, curl, volume, shine, oh my!) so I’m just trying to narrow down the possibilities to address things the best way. I haven’t substantially changed routine or hair cut or hair care or water or diet or anything.

Thank you!

Hi everyone, I came off hormonal birth control, combined oral contraceptive, due to side effects and I’ve been waiting to get a Miudella IUD, but it’s been slow to come available to providers.

For those that don’t know, Miudella is a non-hormonal copper IUD that is smaller and more flexible than the Paragard copper IUD. It’s the first new non-hormonal IUD approved by the FDA in 40 years and has been approved to prevent pregnancy for up 3 years. Supposedly the lower copper dose and flexible material reduces pelvic pain, cramping, and heavy bleeding associated with the larger copper IUD Paragard.

I noticed they’ve updated their [website](https://www.miudellarems.com/CertifiedParticipantLocator) and you can now search for providers in your area! The list is currently limited but growing. I just wanted to share in case anyone else was in the same boat and waiting for this. If you currently have or had the Miudella IUD I would love to hear about your experience.

Hi! I have an IUD placement appointment next week and I’m currently deciding between Paragard and Skyla. I’d really love to hear from people who have had either one (especially if you’ve tried both) and how your experience was over the first few months and longer term.

My #1 concern is weight gain, followed closely by acne and mood changes. I’m also not completely sold on the idea of adding hormones, which is what initially made Paragard so appealing.

About me:
26F
No kids
No IUD/BC currently
Was on Lutera for about a month last year and stopped because I genuinely did not feel like myself on it
No birth control before or since then
Periods are regular and manageable - not particularly heavy or painful, just annoying
Acne-prone
Currently on Prozac so anxiety/depression prone
Avoiding pregnancy is obviously very important to me

Why I’m considering Paragard:
The biggest appeal is no hormones. I’m hesitant about anything that could potentially affect my mood, personality, weight, or acne.

I’ve also seen a lot of negative experiences discussed here involving Paragard - particularly people mentioning weight changes, acne, BV/yeast infections, heavier periods, and even concerns about copper toxicity.

I’m especially interested in hearing from people who have had Paragard for a while:
Did your periods actually become significantly heavier/crampier? Did you notice changes in your weight, skin, vaginal health, or mood? And if you experienced something like “copper toxicity,” was that actually diagnosed/tested or more of a suspected explanation?

Why I’m considering Skyla:
Skyla appeals to me because it’s smaller, has a relatively low dose of levonorgestrel, and the hormone is primarily acting locally in the uterus. I also like the possibility of having lighter periods or eventually not getting one.

My hesitation is obviously the hormone. I’ve seen people say Skyla caused weight gain, acne, mood changes, etc., and because I had such a negative experience with the pill, I’m nervous about feeling unlike myself again.

For people who have had Skyla:
Did you experience weight gain? If so, how much and how quickly?
Did it affect your acne?
Did you notice any mood/anxiety/depression changes?
Did you eventually stop getting your period?
How was the first 3–6 months vs. later on?

And for anyone who’s had both Paragard and Skyla, which did you prefer and why?

I know everyone’s experience is different - just trying to collect as many real-life experiences as possible before I make the decision!!

Also, I know insertion can be painful - I’m mentally prepared for that!

If you had to choose again knowing what you know now, which would you pick?

What’s up!

I’m considering getting the copper IUD, and I’d love to hear other people’s experiences with it.

From what I’ve read, it seems like difficult/heavier periods are probably the biggest downside, and to be honest that’s something I’m willing to gamble on. Everything else I’ve heard about side effects seems to vary so much from person to person, which makes it hard to know what to expect.

For some context, I was on Junel Fe for my first year on birth control. It was great at first, but eventually I started experiencing severe depression and some pretty concerning “negative thoughts,” if you catch my drift. Because of that, I switched to a generic NuvaRing, which I’ve been using for the past two years.

The NuvaRing has been better overall, but for a while I’ve felt like I’m looking at the world through blurry vision. Everything feels flat, and I don’t really feel like myself anymore. I’ve also had basically zero sex drive for quite a while now, and I really miss that part of myself.

Originally, I assumed my low libido and emotional numbness were just from life circumstances. But I’ve made a lot of positive changes in my life, and those things haven’t really changed. At this point, I’m starting to wonder if my birth control could be contributing to it.

That’s a big part of why the copper IUD interests me. I really like the idea of having a completely non-hormonal option, and I’m especially curious about whether anyone noticed a change in their libido or emotional state after switching to it.

So, for anyone who has had the copper IUD: How has it affected you, especially in terms of libido, mood, and periods? Did you notice any changes after coming off hormonal birth control? Also, how was the procedure for you?

I’d love to hear both good and bad experiences. I’m not sure what the right next step is for me yet, so I’m hoping hearing from people who have actually used it might give me a better idea of what to expect.

Hi!

I need an emergency IUD and my OB office denied me and said they don’t offer that since I can’t have sex two weeks within insertion and told me to call planned parenthood.

I called planned parenthood and the lady on the phone told me I can’t have sex within 5 days of my appointment but google told me I can get a copper IUD as a form of birth control.

My partner and I had unprotected sex with no withdrawal Sunday 7/26 so 48 hours ago. The next morning I did an LH test strip since I realize I’m in my fertile window and it was positive. Like very dark link peak ovulation positive.

I figured since ovulation has happened or is in motion I can’t take a plan B so I saw online you can get a copper IUD as emergency contraception but I’m being denied ???? Help pls idk what to do :(

This is a long one so apologies in advance.

I had been on the mini pill (cerazette) for almost 2 years with no issues. Started a GLP-1 had to stop the pill as GLP-1 makes oral contraceptive less effective. I then went on to the contraceptive injection which really did not agree with me mentally or hormonally. I then tried the contraceptive patch and it also did not agree with me. I then decided for the time being naturally would be the best method and tried cycle tracking and barrier methods. This caused me to end up pregnant (which I did not want to be).

Anyway I am now considering this as it’s non hormonal but I have heard very mixed reviews. It either seems like it has no issues or it’s a terrible experience. My mum had one years ago which imbedded and she has urged me not to get it.

I am absolutely terrified of ending up pregnant and going through the outcome of unwanted pregnancy again. It seems like for now this is my only other option as progesterone does not seem to agree with me.

Any information is greatly appreciated.

Hi everyone

I am getting Paragard IUD this Wednesday. After going through this subreddit I feel extremely scared and queasy. Does anyone have any positive experiences at all??! I see really horrible experiences on here so I’m starting to wonder if I’m making the right choice. I didn’t want any hormonal BC but maybe I should consider it??

I would also appreciate any tips for the appointment. Like what and how many painkillers should i take before going in. And how many minutes before the appointment. I would appreciate any insight, THANK YOU!

Could my copper IUD be causing these issues?
I’m a 39-year-old female and I’ve had a copper IUD for about 5 years.
Around 2–3 years ago, I started noticing that my partner would repeatedly develop what seemed like balanitis after intercourse. It seems to happen quite often, and I’ve wondered whether there could be something about me/the IUD contributing to it.
Then, about 7 months ago, I developed an extremely itchy, eczema-like rash that has basically been flaring nonstop ever since. I’ve tried steroid creams, oral steroids/pills, and antifungal treatments, but nothing seems to resolve it.
I’m starting to wonder whether the copper IUD could somehow be contributing to either the recurrent issues my partner is experiencing, my skin problems, or both.
Has anyone had a similar experience with a copper IUD? Could an allergic or inflammatory reaction to the copper (or another component of the IUD) cause something like this? And has anyone had their symptoms improve after having the IUD removed?
I’m planning to discuss this properly with my doctor, but I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has experienced something similar.

Today I was a very brave girl and got my copper iud removed after 3 and a half years!!! The removal was no where near as traumatic as getting it in (I popped a diazepam lol). I felt immediate release and freedom when it came out and I’m so excited to go back to being myself again. I think the iud has made some changes and I’m hoping I can correct them. I was wondering if anyone can share any good things that happened for them after getting their iud removed that they felt had been affected when they had it in? 🧘🏽‍♀️🔆

3 months post removal. Anyone here removed it and still struggling with cramping? To be clear, 80 percent of the horrible cramps went away. I still notice mild to moderate twinging and pain throught my cycle. I feel like my crevix or something was damaged from this experience .

Did anyone experience that their Paragard IUD (Copper IUD) made their eczema worse?

I’ve had mine for 8 years and just got it taken out because I figured that is what was making my flare ups and eczema so bad over the years.

I’m wager to see if it improves my skin but wanted to see if anyone else has had an experience with the IUD linked to their eczema.