Love my mirena! Had it inserted after kid #2. we're done having kids, but i wasn't ready for a more permanent solution. lighter and sometimes no periods. no need to think about bc (am in a monogamous relationship) with the "one second" interruptus of barrier methods. it is coming up on two years now!

i really think about getting paragard but don't know a lot about the side effects. i'm also always a little freaked out about something in my body that i can't take out myself. i wish i'd get over that! i hate taking Trinessa.

I got a Mirena about a year ago and I've never had a problem with it. I've never had kids, and while it wasn't the most pleasant experience, I was fine after a day. Consequently, my periods are few and far between and usually very light.

I had a friend who has had 2 kids who opted for the Mirena and they could not get it in at all - her cervix was so strong it bent the sound they used to try to open it up. So, as most things... everyone is different.

There's an immensely supportive and comprehensive community on Livejournal called IUD_divas. If you're considering one, their database of well-informed Q&A's are a great place to start.
( http://community.livejournal.com/iud_divas/ )

I'm considering Paragard as well, because it seems to be the birth control option (other than the rhythm method, I suppose) with the fewest environmental ramifications. When I read about the hormones legions of pill-taking women pee out into the water system that are taking their toll on already-unstable fish and bird populations and I knew I wanted out. I've been off the pill for some time, and I can't wait to get an IUD.

Regarding the point about the use of IUDs in non-parous women, at least one manufacturer's prescribing information specifically states that the IUD is recommended for parous women only. If a doctor inserts one against the manufacturer's guidelines (which are approved by the FDA and can only be modified after submission of documentation that the modification is accurate), s/he runs a huge risk of being sued should something go wrong. As an example:

http://www.mirena-us.com/mirena_right/index.jsp

IIRC, this recommendation was due to the increased chance of perforation due to the fact that the uterus and cervix hadn't been expanded through childbirth. Paragard doesn't include this in their PI (and in fact, they do recommend it for non-parous women).

The IUD (hormonal-mirena) was the best decision I made.

I have a friend, who is parous, who had her IUD perforate her uterus a year or so ago. I haven't asked if she can still carry another child to term. I don't know which one she had.

I was looking into getting one, and her experience totally turned me off to it. I don't mean to spread panic, but anyone thinking of getting an IUD should read the literature on them and weigh the risks.

(Granted, I haven't read the literature. My friend's experience just freaked me out too much for now.)

I got the essure procedure done almost a year ago. I did it in the doctors office and it was quite painful. I took some ibuprofen and they gave me two shots of toredol. That did not really help very much. I only had to pay my co-pay so it was really cheap. Most insurance consider it an IUD. You can choose to have it done as outpatient in the OR but of course you are charged for that. You have to go back 3 months later to have a test to make sure it worked. There was a little cramping with that. Go to www.essure.com to read all about the procedure. Also google it to read reviews. There are just as many pros and there are cons. The bad reviews did not scare me from having it done.

I got the essure procedure done almost a year ago. I did it in the doctors office and it was quite painful. I took some ibuprofen and they gave me two shots of toredol. That did not really help very much. I only had to pay my co-pay so it was really cheap. Most insurance consider it an IUD. You can choose to have it done as outpatient in the OR but of course you are charged for that. You have to go back 3 months later to have a test to make sure it worked. There was a little cramping with that. Go to www.essure.com to read all about the procedure. Also google it to read reviews. There are just as many pros and there are cons. The bad reviews did not scare me from having it done.

I had my first baby in January and am breast feeding so I needed effective birth control that wouldn't interfere with lactation. I got the mirena 8 weeks post partum and it was the best thing I've ever done.

I have not had a "true" period yet. I have no hormonal mood swings like I had on the pill. (of which my husband is very grateful) And I know that the IUD is even more effective that bcp. For me it's a win/win/win.

There are definitely safety concerns (IUD becoming imbedded, perforation of uterine wall, etc.) to consider so talk those over with your doctor. My doctor was very open and honest with me about the risks and the probability of it happening.

The actual procedure was like a pap smear with a tiny bit of cramping afterwards. Since then, nothing but good things (I certainly don't know it's there).

I would really like to see more and more women using IUD's like mirena (with the tiny bit of hormones that the mirena has) because I feel it is one of the more "liberating" birth control options out there. I talk it up to ALL of my friends.

I'm glad to hear so many positive things about IUDs. I'll be needing some form of birth control in a couple years (once my guy and I tie the knot!), and it will have to be a long-term thing since we won't be having children for another 5 years or so. I'm hesitant to pump my body full of hormones, and I'm forgetful enough that I wouldn't trust myself to take the Pill everyday. An IUD sounds like a great solution...can anyone here tell me what the insertion procedure was like for them? And does the IUD have any effect on your ability to conceive after it is removed?

I got paraguard in January of 2008. I wanted it because I was tired of the pill - it wrecked my libido and was inconvenient to take every day. I was told that the side effects would be heavier periods for about 3 months, and then it would start to get better.

It was easy going in - I had moderate cramping during the insertion and a few days after. I only had to pay the co-pay for a doctor's visit to get it.

However, my periods raged after I had it inserted. They were longer than ever (approx. 12 days), heavier than ever (some days bleeding through the thickest and most absorbent tampons in 45 minutes), and more painful than ever (cramps that could not be tamed).

I waited 3 months, 4 months, 5 months, and my periods were only getting worse, not starting to improve. After 7 months, I finally had to have it removed. I used nothing for a couple of months, and then I started using Nuva ring. I have been using that for about 6 months now and I am really happy with it. It is much easier to use than the pill, and it hasn't hurt my libido yet either. And my periods are back to normal.

I would say that if your insurance covers paraguard, it is definitely worth a try to see if you will have a better experience with it than I did. But, I also want you know what you might be in for!

I've had a Paragard for about a year, and I love it! I do have some side effects (increased bleeding and more painful cramps, but not the same intensity every month). They're far better than what I experienced with hormonal birth control pills, though: constant headaches, even after trying several different varieties.

I didn't really have any trouble convincing a doctor to give me an IUD - I'm 25, never had kids, in a long-term monogamous relationship (we're married now, but weren't when I got the IUD). Although my partner came with me when I had the IUD inserted, and the doctor gave him a speech about how he'd better not cheat on me, because sexually transmitted infections are far more serious with the IUD.

Glad to see Feministing tackling this topic - IUDs seem to be discussed\considered so rarely, but they really are a wonderful (and effective!) BC option, esp. if you don't react well to hormonal contraceptives.

If you're looking for a non-hormonal form of BC, I recommend diaphragms. I've been using them for a few months now, and I love them. I wanted an IUD, but it's too expensive and insurance wouldn't cover it...

Vanessa, I posted on this last year, and got some great responses from the community. Check out what they had to say here: http://community.feministing.com/2008/10/iud-alternative-or-better.html (Not pointing it out to imply that you should have read it then, just wanted you and your readers to have the opportunity to read more thoughts on the topic; this is, of course, an important decision for anyone.)

For the record I haven't gotten it yet but I've decided I will and I think I've changed my mind and am inclined to want the mirena. Just need to book the appointment--and thanks for the heads-up on doctor hesitancy! Luckily my doc is generally awesome though and very supportive of patient autonomy so I think it'll be ok with her. (As a side note, thanks for being awesome Dr. Bihun! Good doctors, especially up here in health-care-deficient Canada, are immensely hard to find.)

I was shocked when folks I knew started talking about IUDs at a bachelorette party less than a year ago - I had no idea what they were, and since I'd done the shot and far too many different types of pills looking for the right kind of birth control, I was kind of pissed that no one had ever told me about these things before.

My libido had almost completely stalled on me, and as an active college student with a job and a hefty commute, the pill was really taking inconvenience to a level I couldn't deal with. So after talking with my two friends, I decided to get a mirena. Another friend and my sister shortly followed my decision.

The insertion was the worst thing I have ever felt, and I ended up almost throwing up & hooked up to an oxygen tank until I was sure I wouldn't pass out. My cramps have been a little worse than they were on the pill, and the spotty periods are a bit annoying, but beyond that the thing has been great (thinking about it still gives me the heebie jeebies and I'm not looking forward to getting it taken out and a new one put in at. all. but I'll deal with that when I get there!)

I tried to have a Mirena inserted after I had my baby last fall. It's a long and stupid story but due to how my doctor's office was set up, I would have had to pay for the Mirena and then try to get the money back, which I didn't want to do. I went to another gyn I had seen in the past, but she wanted me to jump through so many hoops to get the Mirena: an exam, lots of tests & a face-to-face sit down meeting with the gyn, that I gave up. I was a new mom who had just gone back to work, I didn't have time for both an exam and a separate meeting to discuss the IUD before even scheduling the insertion. I've had much more involved procedures and surgeries where we discussed the pros and cons during the exam--I didn't need a sit down meeting to tell the gyn that, yes, I knew that IUDs don't protect against STDs. So I've gone back on the NuvaRing and I'm pretty happy with it. One of the reasons I wanted the Mirena was that it often causes your periods to stop, but for now I leave the Ring in for four weeks at a time to suppress my periods. I did that before I got pregnant and it was great.

I had serious problems with hormonal birth control, so I got a non-hormonal IUD three years ago and love it. I've never had children and it was slightly tricky to insert, but only because my uterus apparently tilts to the side and we didn't know that, but once we figured it out it was super easy. It's been great.

Sometimes I have more heavy periods, but they're never too bad. I have a chronic headache condition and between that and the medicine I'm already on, hormonal birth control was just a nightmare for me. This has been perfect.

I really want to, but i'm having trouble processing the info. Even planned parenthood says the IUD isnt for you if your 'high risk' for STDs, high risk defined as 'non-monogamous'. Hell yeah im non-monogamous! But if it just means put a sock on it unless yr in a long term thing, I'm ok with that. But if it means STDs are such a huge risk with an IUD its not worth it unless yr def in a monogamous relationship, then its not worth it for me. I'm young and need to get my game on. help?

i had my iud fitted a couple of months ago, and while it's early days yet i'm pleased with the decision. i don't know the brand name, but it's a non-hormonal one - wanting to come off hormonal contraception after 7 years was why i went for the iud. i'm 23 and have never had children, but that wasn't a problem - before booking the fitting, my doctor examined me to check that one would fit. as for the insertion procedure... i'd be lying if i said it was the most comfortable thing i'd ever done. but my nurse and gp were both super and talked me through everything. i took 2 ibuprofen before and it was uncomfortable rather than painful.
later that day though, i was in a lot of pain, with really severe cramps. i took ibuprofen and paracetomol, and could still feel them. if i were doing it again i'd have made my bf take the afternoon off work to look after me, so i'd recommend making sure you can go straight home afterwards, take painkillers, and a hot-water bottle, and ensure you have a sympathetic friend/bf/family member to hand.
the next few days i had cramps but they were less severe, though still painful.
when i got my first period after, it was very painful for the first day. i've never had bad period pain before, so i guess maybe that's what it's normally like for a lot of women. but again, paracetomol and ibuprofen meant i could function, but still feel it. when i had my next period, it was still painful, but much less so that for the first one. my periods have also been heavier than i'm used to. heavier, more painful periods can be a side-effect of the iud, but i'm hoping that they'll settle down a bit as my body gets used to it. the doctor warned me i'd probably have cramps every now and then for the first few months, so i guess it makes sense that my first few periods would be worse too.
my only other problem was with checking it was in place. you're supposed to do this by feeling for the strings hanging down from your cervix, and it's a good idea to do after each period, just to make sure it hasn't become dislodged or whatnot.
i had real trouble finding mine, though, and ended up using condoms anyway to be on the safe side, until my 6-week check-up. it turns out that a) i have a long vagina and b) the strings had kind of tucked up in my cervix. but the doctor straightened the strings out, and i've since been able to find them myself.
sorry for the essay! in summary, yes it's been painful, but i think it'll be worth it in the long run, as i'm not planning to have kids for at least another 6 or 7 years, and i really did want to come off hormonal contraceptives. i don't know anyone my age that's had it done but i think i would recommend it to friends in a similar situation to me. hope that's helpful!

also reading everyone's comments reminds me how lucky i am to live in the uk so that cost was not an issue for me. i feel so sorry for you guys - trying different forms of contraception and changing around til you find one that (hopefully) suits you is annoying enough without having to take the cost into consideration. thankyou nhs!

Count me in as another woman completely in love with her IUD. I'm on Mirena because I do better ON hormones than off. Insertion wasn't fun, but it was so worth it. I'm 30 and haven't had children. I think that the Mirena ads say that you should have already had children because that's the testing that they've done for it. It's not that it's worse for NP women, it's just that they're not sure.

My periods have stopped after the first one. I don't need to set my alarm clock on the weekend to remember to take my pill. It's hella effective.

I think that perforation during insertion really is going to depend on the skill of the doctor DOING the insertion. My advice to anyone interested in having an IUD is to find an experienced gyn. Seriously. My doctor was really good. He said that he's inserted hundreds and that the chance of perforation upon insertion is 1/2000.

Also, it's recommended for women who are monogamous because it's not a barrier method of birth control, therefore it doesn't protect against diseases. There is a lot of issue because of the Dalkon Shield from the '70s because the strings on that product allowed for bacteria to climb up and into the uterus. The strings on today's IUDs are made differently and don't have this problem.

You're going to hear a lot of horror stories about IUDs on the internet because people are more likely to spread the word about bad experiences rather than good ones.

It's not for everyone. But it has given me so much peace of mind that I feel like I'm IUD's unoffical cheerleader.

I had the Paraguaud IUD inserted about 6 months ago and I could not be happier with my decision! Not only is it economical (higher upfront cost but since it lasts 10 years, it works out to about $3 a month and is even less if you have a partner who splits the cost with you-luckily my partner offered.), its also a very effective form of birth control at around 99% effectiveness without the risk of forgetting to take the pill or the condom breaking etc..., and I don't have to worry about the side effects of hormones on my body or the environment. Its also the preferred method of women worldwide.The US has one the lowest usage rates...impact of pharmaceutical companies maybe?

The first provider I went to refused to insert it because I had not had children and said that there was a higher rate of expulsion and PID among non-parous women. After doing some research and going to a feminist health care provider I found out that the information was dated, misleading, and not a reason to refuse a woman an IUD. So, be prepared for that result and the possibility of having to find another doctor to perform it.

In my experience, the insertion was only slightly painful, most of the discomfort was from the speculum in my opinion! I did have some nausea and cramping afterward but nothing too severe. For about two months afterward, my periods were longer, heavier, and more cramping but those symptoms have tapered off and my cycle is back to normal now. I feel like the IUD was really the best decision in regards to pregnancy prevention.

I've had a Paragard [non-hormonal] IUD for four years now and it's the best thing I've ever done. The NP at my GYN's office and I went round-and-round a few times when I first asked for it (her: IUD doesn't protect against STDs, me: duh, neither does the pill, but you'll give that to any 12 year old who comes in. her: we only like to insert them in married women in monogamous relationships, me: just because you're married doesn't guarantee a monogamous relationship. her: IUDs only recommended for parous women, me: Paragard documentation says no such thing, you might want to check that.)

Anyway, I got mine :-D and couldn't be happier. I have not had any problems with heavier or longer periods but my body is way happier being off the pill....

I've had my paragard for a little over a year now, and am very glad I did it. My insurance did not cover the device nor the doctor's visit to insert it (although it would have been cheaper for them to cover it, as the cost came out to be about $2.40 a month over 10 years, which is MUCH cheaper than the pill...) My body cannot tolerate hormonal BC of any kind.

Side effects - more cramping, heavier periods, and more plentiful discharge throughout my cycle (takes some getting used to). The insertion process hurt for a few minutes, but nothing too bad, and I just took advil for a day or so afterwards.

I don't have children, and got the IUD when I was 29. The paragard company is great...they let me finance the payments at $40 a month for 1 year, NO finance charge. Very good customer service.

So I read all the same info you had, and after being completely frustrated I asked my doctor about an IUD, and she balked. I too thought she was behind on the times, or just being judgmental, and so I pushed her to implant it anyways (I'm a young woman who has never had a child).

Thankfully, my insurance covered the entire cost of it and I was excited about the prospect of 5 years of birth control. However, after she implanted it (btw, some of the worst pain I've experienced) it was a miserable six months until I had it removed (also painful). With the IUD, I had a three-month long period (in addition to periodic bleeding at every other time). I never stopped bleeding for more than a day and I cramped like crazy.

I had Mirena, and my mom had Paraguard, and we both experienced the same issues and absolutely hated having IUDs. I went back to Ocella (generic for Yasmin) and couldn't be happier now. The reality is that every woman is different, and every form of birth control won't work for every woman, so give your physician a chance to explain WHY she thinks it wouldn't work for you, and you may find she knows what she's talking about.

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my ParaGard! I have no children, but the Planned Parenthood of Golden Gate didn't even second guess my decision to opt for it. They had a nurse sit down with me in a private room to discuss it and explain the benefits and potential hazards (minimal as they may be), I agreed and had a second appointment scheduled for a month ahead.

Insertion was a bit painful for me, I assume this is because I've not endured labor (but I am not sure), and I was so crampy I couldn't really walk for three days. After that, no pain. I went back in for the insertion thereof to be checked - A-OK - and was on my way. It's been 26 months since I had it inserted and am gladly free of having to take pills which I've dropped on the floor and need to dust off before eating. (Ew!) And I no longer have all those uncomfortable side effects from the oral contraceptives I was taking before. It's so freeing to not have to worry one iota about my education being disrupted by an unplanned pregnancy and I'd totally recommend it to anyone looking for the same experience.

I've been a proponent of IUDs even though mine didn't work out (it came out spontaneously over the course of a week, which, let me tell you, was not fun; turned out I have a fibroid). If you're considering it, ask your doctor about a topical anesthetic for insertion. My doctor used one, and it still wasn't fun, but it was nothing like as bad as I've heard from others. Of course, I've been pregnant and had an HSG, so YMMV.

I'm NP and so far, I love my Paragard.

Insertion wasn't a huge deal - about like an orthodontist visit but much much shorter. There were about twelve hours of cramping afterwards, but they were pretty manageable with 400mg of ibuprofen every 4 hours. My two periods post insertion have so far been actually a little lighter and shorter than before (though I gather that's not common and could change).

If you have the luxury to pick and choose, it may be worth shopping around for providers. The research I did beforehand suggests that the risk of perforation (and the discomfort of insertion) go way down with an experienced practitioner.

No one has mentioned this yet, so I thought I'd put it out there for anyone who's interested. Part of the reason doctors are still so worried about prescribing IUD's is the Dalkon Shield fiasco. It was a brand of IUD prescribed in the past that is now alleged to have caused (or helped cause) infertility. This is one of the biggest reasons why a lot of docs are still very reluctant to prescribe IUD's to women who have never had kids. You can read about it here:
http://www.nytimes.com/1987/12/06/magazine/the-sad-legacy-of-the-dalkon-shield.html
I certainly don't mean to excuse doctors who won't prescribe a newer, safer IUD to a woman who, for example, doesn't ever want to have kids. I also don't want to scare anybody- I love my Mirena. But history is important, and useful to know when making your own decisions and finding a doc who supports you.

I have a Paraguard, and I love, love, love it. I've written about it a million times on Feministing, so the short story is: regular gyno refused to give me one, for the reasons listed above. I didn't want to go back on hormones (which made me gain about 60 lbs.), so I just used condoms. One broke, went to PPNYC for morning after pill, was lamenting about my situation to the nurse who told me that PPNYC would give me an IUD no problem, booked my appointment for IUD insertion. I've had my IUD for about 3 years now, and it was the best decision I've ever made, but not without its downsides.

Pros:
Lasts for 10 years, one-time payment, cheap, extremely effective, no hormones, no sex interruption, easily removable, don't even have to think about it.

Cons:
Heavier periods + cramping. I've always had heavy and long periods, and the IUD made them worse. Now they're at 7 full days, with some pretty heavy flow for about 1/3 of that time. (Now's as good a time as any to mention: thank Jesus for the Diva Cup). I was lucky enough to have never experienced cramping before my IUD, but I definitely do now. First 3 months were pretty excruciating, but it's settled now and while I still get cramps, they're not debilitating and totally manageable with some Advil. The IUD will always make your cramps worse and your period heavier, but the results for everyone are different because the periods we have without IUDs are different - so what might be a nightmare for one woman (who started with a crampy and heavy period) might be not such a big deal for another (who started with a light and easy period). The important thing to remember is, the first three months are almost always way worse than it ever will be again, so unless you truly can't handle it, try to stick it out and give your body a chance to get used to it.

I've also started to experience some phantom, middle-of-my-cycle cramps, which my gyno thinks is attributed to my IUD sitting a little too low (probably due to those heavy periods), but she says there's no cause for concern and I'm just sticking it out right now.

If you don't have an issue with using hormones, I'd suggest the Mirena IUD instead. It lasts for 6 years, but pretty much stops your period. If the no-hormone thing is your deal, I really do love my Paraguard and I think it's worth a shot. Even with the minor problems I'm having, I'm holding onto it for dear life.

Thank you so much for starting a dialogue about IUDs. I'm 20 years old and in a monogamous relationship, and hate hate hate oral birth control. It wrecks my libido, my mood, everything! Something that I am worried about, which hasn't been brought up, is possibility of perforation of the uterus during rough sex. Is that completely illogical to think that it will move around a bit with some..uh..thrusts and poke through my uterus?

Yes, SociologicalMe, the Dalkon Shield debacle was a terrible thing, it left hundreds of thousands of women infertile. But it has nothing to do with modern IUDs, which is probably why no one mentioned it. The Dalkon Shield was only on the market for four years back in the early 70s, almost forty years ago. That article you linked was written over twenty years ago, when it was still up in the air whether other IUDs caused pelvic inflammatory disease. The answer is no, if they are correctly inserted. One telling fact--not a twenty year old fact, but a current one--is that the IUD is the contraceptive of choice for female gynecologists. I'd read that several times while doing research into IUDs, and it turned out that several of my doctors--and the PA--all use IUDs.

bbbf---I'm not a gyn or anything like that, but I seriously doubt that any sort of rough sex (leaving out actual violence), no matter how enthusiastic, could cause a perforation. But if you hate oral birth control, have you thought about the NuvaRing? I love it, many of my friends have it and love it. Some women and/or their partners can feel it, but I can't and neither can my husband (who is a, um, "big" guy.) You only put it in once a month and then forget about it. It came out accidentally exactly once, in Disneyworld, and I was very happy I found it in the bed myself instead of having the maid find it. (Eeek, embarrassing!) But that was not long after I started using it, so it's very possible I just didn't insert it properly. Since then, I've never lost it or had it fall out, and I've had a lot of sex during that time. :)

The point is, discuss this with your gyn or go to PP. They are there to help you make the best decision for you.

I'm on Mirena. My experience getting it in was less than stellar, but now that I've had it for two years I'm pleased with it.

This comment gets pretty gross, so if bodily functions bother you, I advice you to stop reading now. Also if talk about abortions or miscarriages is triggering for you somehow, please stop reading.

--------

I was nulliparous when I had it put in, so the doctor gave me some medication to dilate my cervix the morning of the appointment. I was given some pills and told to put them in my vagina and lie down for 10 minutes so that they could dissolve. I wish that I had looked up the medication, as the doctor hadn't really said anything about it, but I assumed it was some kind of numbing agent or muscle relaxant.

Wrong! The medication was Misoprostol, which is also used to trigger abortions. I've researched it since, and I think my experience with it was highly unusual, given that I was definitely not pregnant. I was a virgin at the time, and meticulously careful (paranoid) about semen.

Just about 10 minutes after I put the pills in place, I started to get cramps and feel a little nauseous. Surprised, I got up and started for the computer, and found that I was a bit dizzy as well. I had enough attention span to figure out that the medication was used to treat ulcers (orally) and stimulate miscarriage (vaginally) before I was too sick to deal with the internet. I called my boyfriend and asked him to come over, and then I went into the bathroom and locked the door (I was living in a dorm).

By that time I was sweating furiously. The cramps had progressed into diarrhea, and I started to menstruate. The nausea got worse, and I remember being curled up in the bathroom, blood running down my legs, unsure of whether to sit on the toilet, kneel over the toilet, or call an ambulance. I was afraid I would pass out in the bathroom with the door locked.

Looking back I think that I certainly should have called the hospital immediately (duh?) but I really didn't want to. I thought that what I was experiencing might be normal, given that I had apparently taken an abortion medication. I pretty much had the feeling that everything in my body wanted to expel itself at once, and as unpleasant as that sensation was, it made sense. I decided to hold out until my afternoon appointment.

The vomiting started after the diarrhea was done, and for that I am grateful. My boyfriend showed up and knocked on the door, and I went back into my room and curled up in bed while he prepped a wastebasket for me and brought me some water. He tried to talk me into going to the hospital at that time, but I refused, so he waited with me until the vomiting and the chills had subsided. It was a bad couple of hours, but eventually I was back to just having nausea and cramping. At that point we talked about it again and I agreed to go in a few hours early, so that I would be at the hospital in case anything else happened.

Nothing else happened. By 3:00, I felt a lot better. I thought about canceling the insertion, but I realized that if I did that, I would either have to give up on the IUD or go through the whole ordeal a second time. I cleaned up in the bathroom and talked to the doctor about what had happened. I was angry that she hadn't explained the side effects when she gave me the prescription. She told me that my reaction was very rare, but not unheard of, and that I was safe getting it put in that day if I wanted to. I did.

I felt ill well into the evening, and then I felt fine for the next day or two. A few days after the insertion, I started getting cramping from the IUD. The hormones in the mirena cause you to eject a lot of the lining in the uterus, so it's common to have heavy bleeding for a long time once you've put it in. I had a heavy, crampy period for about 3 weeks, and during that time I seriously considered going back to the doctor and having the damn thing taken back out, but I knew for sure this time that what I was experiencing was normal and healthy, so that was mostly residual dissatisfaction over my experience with the misoprostol. I had an appointment for a month after it went in, to make sure it was still situated correctly, and I told myself that if I still wanted it out after 4 weeks, then I would have it taken out. However, by that time, the extended period had stopped, and the doctor said it looked fine, so I kept it in.

I think most people take to IUDs really well. The additional danger for nulliparous women is that the cervix hasn't been stretched out during childbirth, and so it's harder for a doctor to get it in. The biggest risk from the IUD is if the doctor screws up insertion, which is why doctors are sometimes afraid to do it. I would say that if your doctor doesn't want to do it, don't try and change their mind. Respect that and take the time to find somebody experienced and confident, and if the doctor gives you a cervical dilator such as misoprostol, it's probably better to take it. As terrible as the experience was for me, I'm glad that the insertion was done with additional safety precautions.

But if you do take misoprostol and have the reaction I did, don't be stoic. Stoic is stupid. Go to the hospital.

I had never been on birth control, never had sex, and obviously never had kids, so when it wad time to have sex I looked at what was most effective and easy, and chose Mirena.
The insertion was WAY painful, one if the worst experiences ever, but it went away in a day and now two years later I could not be happier. I don't notice any hormone changes (I can't get the nonhormone one for medical reasons) and only get light spotting. No heavy periods!
I hate that it is only marketed to married couples with children, especially having too many teenage friends who forgot to take their pill for a few days and then get pregnant. It should be an option for anyone who wants it, as long as they are educated about STI risks too.

I am a 26 year-old woman who has never been pregnant. I had a Paragard IUD for 2.5 years and loved it--this is one method of BC that virtually removes the possibility of failure due to human error! Since it is the non-hormonal option, I continued taking Ortho to manage the sometimes unpleasant side effects (heavy flow, painful cramps, etc) of the IUD. This is an option for women who have severe cramping/bleeding with the non-hormonal IUD, but you will probably have to ask your doctor.

Unfortunately, as time went on the IUD did not work as well for me and I removed it earlier this year. The Paragard is wrapped in copper wire, which mildly irritates your uterus and creates an inhospitable environment for implantation. The irritation results in copious, blood-tinged discharge, which I became unwilling to deal with. Additionally, as time went on, the IUD shifted and my uterus began painfully contracting as a response. This could be due to incorrect placement or because I have never given birth, but it was painful.

I simply think this is a case of this method not working for my body. The IUD is a wonderful and safe method of BC and it is a shame it is so under-used in the US. Insertion is painful, but only briefly and it is totally worth the resulting peace of mind! Removal is not painful at all.

If you are interested in getting an IUD, do your research and call around to women's health providers. Like others have pointed out, some providers are hesitant to insert one into a nulliparous woman, but if it's what you want, it's YOUR choice, and you should be able to find a doctor who will respect your choice.

I've had both the Paragard and the Mirena. I'm nulliparous and the first time of insertion, was in a non-monogamous relationship.

The main issue, from what I understand, is that having an active chlamydia infection during insertion can cause a problem, but that's about it.

At first, I loved my Paragard. Then I just started bleeding heavily, whenever. Three years later, an MRI on hip showed possible uterine problems. My OBGYN attributed it to my Paragard, and recommended I switch to the Mirena. I did, and a year later, I am so, so happy.

I did have a LEEP procedure with my Paragard in and it was fine.

Though I don't need the IUD for pregnancy prevention, I haven't had a period since it was inserted, which I absolutely love.

I have had a Paraguard IUD for about a year now, and I absolutely love it! I was 22 at the time, never had kids, and Planned Parenthood did not have any objections to inserting it. The doctor who did it usually does 1-2 every day, so she was quite skilled.

Insertion does hurt like a bitch. But the pain doesn't last long, and it's nothing I couldn't handle. It's like a really sharp cramp with a pinching sensation. As I said, it ends quickly and then you might have some bad cramps for the next 12 hours (mine weren't THAT bad), and a dull ache after that for a day or two.

Periods for me were much heavier at first, and cramps were also pretty bad. Each period got a little better, and after month 4 I was pretty much back to normal.

I was told that I need to be extra careful about STD's with the Paraguard, because the string leaves the cervix a bit more 'open', and std's can affect your body quicker and more severely.

Highly recommended!

I had a paraguard put in when I was 18 and having an abortion. I had gotten pregnant while using a diaphragm and spermicide combo, a choice I made because I cannot take hormones. After a depressing experience with the diaphragm, I wasn't willing to take any more chances, and that's what an IUD is. It's as fool-proof a method as there is, with the efficacy in clinical trials nearing the efficacy in the field. There's no human error in this!

As for comfort, my early experiences of it happened while my body was recovering from the abortion, so I can't speak to that for the average user. But I will caution you to prepare for much heavier bleeding during menstruation. I was warned but didn't pay attention well enough and the first couple periods caught me very off guard in their volume. This has lessened over the nearly four years I've had the IUD, but I still sometimes spot after sex and my cramps are worse than they used to be.

Overall, however, I consider this all inconsequential compared to the piece of mind that comes from not getting pregnant again.

I am so excited about this post -- I'll take any chance I can to praise the IUD! I have had the Para Guard Copper T IUD for over ten years, and I love, love, LOVE my IUD! I got it when I was 22 years old, and I really had to fight for it. I had the same experience mentioned in the post -- my regular doctor wouldn't do it for me because I hadn't had any kids. She said that it would be impossible to insert because my cervix wouldn't be stretched out enough. In retrospect, I think she may have been morally opposed to inserting the IUD in a young, unmarried woman. (She ended up denying me Plan B on another occasion...)

Anyway, I had done a lot of research and I knew that it was possible for non-childbearing women to get IUDs, so I went to Planned Parenthood and there was an awesome doctor there who was willing to do it for me. She gave me all the facts, and was totally positive and totally supportive of my decision. She was also very compassionate through the insertion process which, in all honesty, was pretty painful. However, it is not painful for all women, and in my case, that half hour of pain was well worth it. For over ten years I have not worried about an unintended pregnancy, and the only side effect has been that my cramps have been slightly worse since I got the IUD. But the cramps have never been something that Ibuprofen couldn't take care of. And, I don't have to be on hormones, which is a huge relief!

IUD's are such a great option for women, and they are still largely under-utilized. I think that they got a bad rap in the 1970s that was never fully remedied. Now, opposition from paternalistic doctors, moralistic sex educators and right-wingers who believe that IUD's perform mini-abortions (for real!) results in women not getting correct information about IUDs as an effective, safe form of birth control. Just one more example of our society controlling women's bodies.

Now, I am grappling with another IUD issue. I have had it for over ten years, and most doctors say that it needs to be replaced after 10-12 years (the information varies depending on the source). However, no one can fully answer my questions about whether the IUD actually becomes ineffective after that time period, or if they just haven't studied the effects of the IUD after 10-12 years. I've been looking for good information on this for a long time, and no one has been able to point me in the right direction (not even Planned Parenthood). I'm thinking of contacting Para Guard directly, but if anyone has any information on this, it would be greatly appreciated!

I know the IUD isn't right for everyone, but it has been beyond wonderful for me! If you believe that it is right for you, I emphatically recommend it!!!

I love reading about everyone's story, but am kind of concerned about the issues that women are having during the first 3-6 months after insertion. The OBGYN putting in Mirena should of given information in regards to what happens during the first couple of months after. During this time many, if not MOST women have spotting or a very long period and cramping. This is in the pamphlets, on the website, I'm just not sure why they weren't told that was a side effect at the time.

I so wish that I could of gotten an IUD such as Mirena. 16 years on pills, horrible periods, headaches- I opted to try something new while going to a far more understanding and caring OBGYN for insertion. My insurance sucked- over $400 out of pocket and they couldn't even get the IUD IN ME. I haven't had children and had taken medication for dilation and pain, but nothing worked. My cervix said to hell with it so in turn, so did I. I am jealous of those who had no problem and I'm stuck back on pills after the Ring froze up my libido and never stopped my periods like the dr. claimed it would if I used a new one and didn't skip a week with it out.

I know each method will work differently for each woman, but I still think Mirena is pretty cool and would jump to get it in painfree and easily in a heartbeat.

nulliparous! I learned a new word today. Thanks all.

I have had a couple if IUDs during my lifetime. I've never given birth. I also had a history of endometriosis with surgery three times, and still I opted for an IUD because I disliked the pill.

I had a copper IUD implanted both times. The second time, my gyn didn't want to insert one, because of my endometriosis surgery history, but I had been asymptomatic for a few years since the last surgery and felt I wanted to give the IUD another try. Because he would not insert one, I went to the local Planned Parenthood and a very nice NP inserted it for me. It was less expensive anyway, and I was footing the whole bill as my insurance would not pay for birth control.

I didn't find the insertion terribly painful. The first time (I was 20 and a virgin), it was a strong cramp that dissipated quickly. Then cramps for a few hours afterward that were relieved with Motrin. My periods were slightly heavier with the IUD, but not outrageously so. I had a few more cramps with my periods, too, but again, Motrin took care of those.

The second time, I actually had the "Is it in?" experience. I was waiting for the cramp with the insertion, and the NP had to tell me "We're finished." I didn't feel it at all! But typically, you do feel something, though it isn't unbearable. I have been a gyn medical assistant and have assisted in IUD insertions dozens of times and the vast majority of women have said, "It wasn't as bad as I thought."

However, with the second IUD I had, I got pregnant and had to have it removed at the time I had an abortion. There is a small percentage of failures, and I was one of them.

Also, with the second IUD I had, my partner complained of being able to feel the thread of the IUD. It is a monofilament nylon and some men find it uncomfortable; my boyfriend did, and because of that, I would either insert a diaphragm or he would use a condom.

Despite the problems and the failure I had with the second IUD, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. I feel I had a good experience overall with this method.

I'm not married, never been pregnant, have had the Mirena for 3yrs and love it. My provider didn't initially suggest it as an option, but as soon as I brought it up she was right on board and thought it was a great choice.

On the day of the insertion there was a student around, and they were both *so* excited because it isn't a very common procedure there. It was a great observation opportunity for the student, and I was happy to oblige.

Insertion was very uncomfortable but went smoothly. My doctor handled it like a pro, and it took very little time unlike some of the horror stories you might read.

I still get some cramps and period symptoms during my cycle but I'm hard pressed to call it a 'period' because I have *very* little actual bleeding.

I'm definitely planning to get another Mirena when my time on this one is up!

Re the hormones in Mirena:

You still might want to talk to your OB about Mirena even if you're not fond of hormonal BC. My OB said that with Mirena, the hormones stay and act a little more locally, since they don't have to go the oral/bloodstream/organ route like pills, so the levels are lower.

ALSO, there is no estrogen, only progesterone, so you might find that it bothers you less than the pill. If you're not sure if it's the estrogen or progesterone that bothers you personally, ask your doctor to prescribe the progesterone-only pill for a month or two before you make the commitment.

For me, the combo pills and the mini pills were like night and day (no headaches, weight gain, Endo flares, or sexual side effects), so I knew the Mirena would be right for me.

Re the Mirena and Endometriosis:

Holy shit, awesome. AWESOME. No estrogen to stimulate the Endo, fewer periods to leave you curled up into a miserable ball. Also, hey, if you have Endo already, your pain tolerance is probably high enough to make insertion feel like a mere tickle.

Mirena has been around in Europe for much longer, and you should read the research on long-term regular exposure to progesterone. Sure you don't take it orally but it affects your body profoundly nonetheless.

I'm forty. I got the Mirena at 31 after my third child and all menstruation ceased. For good, as it turns out. It catapulted me into early menopause, marring my thirties with hot flashes, mood changes, and weight gain...

There are many forums and inofficial sites where women recount the side effects they suffered - the doctors' and pharmaceutical industries' party line is of course, that there are none (right, a healthy young woman's menstruation ceases, but there are no hormonal influences on her body?!).

Please, inform yourselves, and I would say: Try to go for a non-hormonal solution.

Cautious story: I had the Mirena for 2 years. I loved it - insertion was as minor as an ear piercing, my periods stopped, I didn't have the daily pill regimen to worry about. Then I had a major pelvic infection followed by explosive, painful ovarian cysts. 8 months of my life with chronic pelvic pain, going through numerous medical tests, etc. Scary. IUD was removed (not painful at all, by the way) - and my excellent gyno, not the same one at the student health center who gave me mirena, said my problems were likely because of the IUD. WHY? 1. It increases complications of a pelvic infection. 2. Because I had been on hormonal birth control since I was 17 - for 8 years. Suddenly going off hormones really changed my body chemistry. And it allowed any hormonal condition being masked by the birth control to emerge. I'm now back on birth control, 100% better. I'm using Seasonique - three months on, 1 week off. I like it.

I've got the paraguard, and I am very happy with it.

Unfortunately, even though I have what most people would consider excellent insurance coverage, the device itself was not covered by my insurance. This seems crazy to me, since it's by far the most cost effective method of bc, and since a maternity leave would be very costly to my employer.

And it costs $500, so I couldn't afford the whole cost upfront---I'm on a monthly payment plan. It felt a little weird to have it inserted and realize I only owned 1/12 of it! (And yeah, my insurance plan does cover vasectomies and viagra in full.)

The insertion hurt significantly more than I expected--though it was fast---and cramping hung around for a couple of days. I left the office feeling a little wobbly, which was either from the procedure or from having to make small talk (about Shakespeare--I'm an English teacher, and it seems every dentist/gyno/doctor wants to chit chat about Shakespeare) with a gyno I didn't know, since mine had been called to a birth.

I have high blood pressure and wanted to get off hormones (which can elevate bp) so paraguard has been great for me---it's only been six months, and I'm going off one of two bp meds in a week or two.

Hi guys -- Vanessa thanks for linking to the piece! I asked some of our PPNYC health team about some of the questions coming up in comments (although since I've gotten responses a lot more have come up), mainly about Mirena, and here's what they told me:

1)Every woman’s experience with birth control is different, but the main side effect of the Mirena is irregular bleeding. As for any other potential side effects, you should speak with your health care provider to weigh the risks and benefits and see if this is the right method for you.

2)Mirena’s informational website states that Mirena is recommended for women who’ve had at least one child. Their reasoning is that “most of the medical research conducted on Mirena for FDA approval was among women who had at least one child.” The manufacturer is always going to be more stringent with their labeling especially when obtaining FDA approval but the medical community usually follows a safe course of action based on the most recent evidence, which explains the “off label” use of prescribing the Mirena for women who’ve had no children.

3)While it is true that the hormone progesterone may increase appetite and therefore cause weight gain if a woman begins to eat more, the Mirena only emits Progesterone locally on the reproductive system and should not result in an increase appetite.

4)Having an IUD does not increase your risk of contracting an STD. However, IUDs also do not prevent STD transmission – because of this you should also always use a barrier method of protection to make sure you’re safe.

I got Mirena about 2 weeks ago, and I was so excited about this option. I'm 24, never had kids, and non-monogamous. I got mine via the "Family PACT" program in California, which was wonderful because I'm low-income these days.

The insertion was way more painful than they said it would be. I got very dizzy, chilled, nauseous, and spend the rest of the day in a lot of pain at home. Vicodin helped. And the following week had moderate cramps.

I have yet to see how my periods will be on this (light so far). My primary reason for choosing an IUD is that I adamantly do NOT want to get pregnant anytime soon (or ever), and the Pill has really messed up my emotions (increasing depression, mood swings, changes to my personality, to the detriment of my relationships).

The most recent pill I was on (Loestrin FE 24) was amazing. But an IUD sounded even more low-maintenance, long-term, and VERY little effects on my body and mind overall. As an environmentalist and someone who is very concerned about her health, minimal hormones sounds fantastic.

Best of luck to everyone else who tries an IUD, I have been talking about it quite a bit to my friends.

I have lots of friends who have IUDs and love love love them...but they creep me out. I just can't get over the "little thing inside me" factor. my own issue, totally.

so happy my husband is getting "the CHOP!" (his words, I swear!) in two months. we have two kids and we're done.

I have the Mirena, and I'm really happy about my decision. I live in a liberal city in CA, and had no problem getting it from Planned Parenthood. A very patient nurse sat down and answered all my questions and concerns and told me about side effects. One of the huge draws was the possiblity of my period tapering off, which unfortunately never happened for me. My periods now are quite light (they last for about a day and a half), but still like clockwork.

I was on the Pill for a year prior and absolutely hated it. I gained a little weight (not as much as some of the horror stories I've heard!) and my periods were ridiculously heavy. I looked into a bunch of alternative options and an IUD seemed like the best one. I don't plan on having kids at all and didn't want to be faced with an unwanted pregnancy. The IUD is the most effective method outside of abstinence, so I went for it.

The insertion itself was one of the most painful things I've ever experienced, but was over rather quickly. They hadn't told me prior that they'd be clamping my cervix, and I'm oddly relieved. I think my nerves would have gone through the roof. The whole thing was over in about 7 minutes and went so smoothly, they decided to skip the ultrasound that makes sure it's in straight. I had some pretty bad cramping for the next day or two, and spent some medicated time on the couch.

The only complaint I have was some severe cramping around my period. Nothing over-the-counter stood a chance. I finally, two years later, spoke with my current gyno and she said that because I essentially had a virgin uterus, when my uterus contracted to shed the lining, it was also contracting around this foreign object, thus causing the pain. She prescribed me 550mg of Naproxen and it has been a miracle. I used to not be able to stand up because the pain was so bad! Naproxen is an anti-pitocin and keeps my uterus from contracting so badly. If you're having those cramps, ask about it.

I've had mine for 2 years, and even with the cramps, never considered removing it. When my 5 years is up, I have a feeling I'll just get another.

I'm telling you, guys, check out "mirena side effects" or "levornogestrel side effects" before you have go through misery and sustain possibly debilitating effects on your body, health, and relationships.

Don't trust your doctors too much: If someone makes a lot of money on selling you a device, and then stands to make more money in case you have problems with it - would you take that person's word for it?

www.drugs.com, not a "pro-consumer" or "conspiracy" website by any means, lists the following:

Levonorgestrel IUD

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Levonorgestrel IUD:
Acne; back pain; breast pain; breast tenderness; changes in sex drive; cramps; depression; hair loss; headache; irregular bleeding; lack of menstrual bleeding; nausea; nervousness; skin problems; stomach pain; vomiting; weight gain.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur when using Levonorgestrel IUD:
Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); breast lumps; changes in vision; chills; dizziness; fever; genital sores; lack of menstrual period; mental or mood changes; numbness of an arm or leg; painful sexual intercourse; prolonged heavy menstrual bleeding; severe headache or dizziness; severe pain or tenderness in the abdomen or pelvis; sharp or crushing chest pain; spotting instead of your usual period; sudden leg pain; sudden severe headache, vomiting, dizziness, or fainting; sudden shortness of breath; unusual or odorous vaginal discharge; unusual vaginal swelling or bleeding; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

I've had both the Mirena and the Paragard IUDs (still have the latter), and I've never been pregnant at all. I've loved them both; I only had to have the Mirena removed due to a very rare reaction my body had (so rare the manufacturer had absolutely no information on it :P). Both insertions went smoothly for me as well. As far as there being an increased risk for expulsion or perforation if you haven't had a kid, yes, that is true. But expulsion isn't horribly common and perforation is even more rare. I will advocate IUDs onto the ends of the earth. They're fantastic.

I got the Mirena three weeks ago and so far so good. I am 37, never pregnant. The doctors at my women's clinic are righteous, there was no questioning of my BC choice. They just wanted to make sure I was completely aware of all the risks. And I was...I believe it was my, not solely my doctor's, responsibility to research this option and make sure I knew what I was getting myself into before taking the plunge. Insertion was *rough*, but since I had read many insertion stories, I didn't freak out, I knew what was happening. I had taken the day off and had a friend drive me to and from the appointment. Felt kind of lousy for a day but since then, just some really minor cramps and random spotting. Keeping my fingers crossed that this will work out, so far I am really happy with the experience. I find it amazing that something like 40% of sexually active women using BC in Asia use the IUD, but in the US it is 2%! I think that is due to a lot of factors, including leftover fear from the Dalkon Shield mess and I suspect heavy lobbying on doctors from pharma reps (drug companies make a lot of money from the pill, practically none from the IUD). It's definitely a feminist issue...so I've become kind of a cheerleader..all women should at least be encouraged to *consider* the IUD as an option so they can make an informed decision about what birth control method they prefer to use.

I've had ParaGuard for the past two years now. Two doctors refused to prescribe it to me after I asked them to. Third time was a charm. My insurance at the time covered it 100% so it didn't end up costing anything!

About an hour before my insertion appointment I took two ibproufen. They didn't work at all- it still hurt quite a bit. (I was shouting out, "oh my gosh!" during the insertion while the doctor kept apologizing profusely for him causing the pain.) I felt quite a bit of cramping for the rest of the day, especially when bending over. The cramps got less painful after the second day and I felt fine by the third.

My first period was longer and heavier than usual. Cramping was about the same but it was a bit of a nuisance still! During the fourth month my period was especially heavy and lasted six weeks. After the sixth week I scheduled an appointment with the local women's health clinic. The nurse practitioner didn't see anything wrong with the IUD but thought that I might have had a miscarriage. I agreed to take a pregnancy test which came out negative. The nurse practitioner didn't seem too concerned about it so I paid and went home. (Still can't help but wonder to this day if I was actually pregnant and miscarried a while prior to my appointment giving time for the pregnancy hormones to flush out of my body, a possibility that the nurse mentioned but didn't seem too concerned about.) A few days later my period finally stopped.

That was about a year and a half ago. After that my periods returned to normal and it's been going great since then! I love my IUD and the fact that I don't have to think about birth control!

I had a painful insertion experience for the paragard, which I posted on the IUD divas group at LiveJournal. I cannot recommend that group enough. There are a wide variety of experiences posted- expulsions, horror stories, raves, and everything in between.

Btw, I used the Ann Arbor PP, and the NPs there weren't very good about answering my questions. However, the wonderful state of Michigan covers birth control for low income women under Plan First. I didn't pay for the IUD, the insertion, or the follow up appt.

I had a painful insertion experience for the paragard, which I posted on the IUD divas group at LiveJournal. I cannot recommend that group enough. There are a wide variety of experiences posted- expulsions, horror stories, raves, and everything in between.

Btw, I used the Ann Arbor PP, and the NPs there weren't very good about answering my questions. However, the wonderful state of Michigan covers birth control for low income women under Plan First. I didn't pay for the IUD, the insertion, or the follow up appt.

I have a Mirena IUD-- four years this month. It hurt horribly going in (I remember squealing and telling my gyno if I ever said I wanted to birth children to shoot me) despite taking an Ativan and a bunch of ibuprofen beforehand. I had some cramping for a while, and spotting-- but now I spot every couple of months, and that's it. I love it.

I love my Mirena!

I've had it 6 months now. My gyn was really awesome and was more than willing to insert one despite my not having ever had kids. PLUS, Blue Cross Blue Shield (NC) paid for it COMPLETELY!

While it did insanely hurt for about 3 seconds during insertion and my face promptly turned a distinctive green color for a while... it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be! I had some pretty heavy non-stop bleeding for about a month... but now I don't get a period at all. Best choice I ever made, for sure!

I am onto Mirena #2 and for me it has been the easiest thing in the world. I initially had one implanted when I was 21 when I was having laproscopic surgery for endemetriosis (the gyno figured is was easier just to put it in while I was under general). Once that one had run out, I got another implanted by my GP. Luckily, here in NZ they are almost fully funded for medical preconditions so I was able to get it on prescription for a whole $3. While I have it for medical reasons, the birth control aspect has been incredibly convenient, especially as I was in a long term relationship at the time.

The only downside of the process was the second insertion - the weird feeling of having my cervix dilated. The doctor saying 'you ok? how about now? now are you still ok? good! that's when people usually faint' was a little off-putting.

Would getting a (non-hormonal) IUD while being on oral contraceptives be overkill? I also use condoms but I really don't want a kid anytime soon.

I hated hormones! I tried several different formulations of the pill, and they all affected me way too much.
So, I switched to Paragard. Nobody recommended it to me, I just took the initiative, researched it, and asked for it. The practitioners at my student health center were all for it. I was prescribed Tylenol #3 and Valium to take before the procedure.
I haven't had kids, so I was nervous about the insertion. It hurt, yes, but it wasn't awful. I was a little crampy for a few days afterward-- nothing major. My periods are heavier now, but again, nothing major. I love my IUD! It's so wonderful not to have to think about birth control. I would recommend it to anybody.

Wow, there are a ton of comments here, and I can only claim to have gotten halfway through... but I wanted to offer my story as well.

I've found that every birth control method affects people differently. Like other women on this thread, hormones killed my libido (Depo-Provera was the worst, even low dose pills were pretty bad), and I just wanted off of them. I got the non-hormonal IUD at my university's women's health clinic, at my request. Everyone else I talked to said "I thought you had to have a baby to get that!" but no, clearly not, really the only requirement was that I was in a monogamous, long-term relationship, though I don't really think that should be a requirement (it's not for the pill, after all).

My insertion procedure was honestly fine - apparently, I have an extremely cooperative cervix (best compliment ever). Before the insertion, the doctor does have to insert an instrument which measures the size of your uterus, and that was definitely very uncomfortable, but it did not last long. At first my periods were veeeerrry heavy, now after almost a year they are just really heavy for one of the days.

My student health insurance covered the full cost of the insertion and half the cost of the actual IUD. I don't remember what I paid, but I think it was about $200 out of my pocket, for birth control for the next 5+ years. After paying $50/month for pills before I had health insurance, I was jumping for joy!!!

This was seriously one of my best decisions ever. Way cheaper and way easier and just as if not more effective than any other type of birth control. I know other people have "horror stories" but I would not let those turn you off from giving it a try.

I love love LOVE my IUD! I try to preach the wonders of the "Magic T" as I call it to anyone who will listen. No pills, no worrying if I don't take it at exactly the same time every day, and much cheaper than a monthly scrip (my insurance covered the IUD, so I only had to pay a $20 copay). The insertion is very uncomfortable, and I was nauseous for a day, but I'll take a day of nausea in exchange for five years of worry-free, nearly 100% effective birth control!!!