[quote='Anastasia916' pid='65667' dateline='1357446942']
I was actually considering an IUD, so the Mirena is better than Paraguard in your ladies opinions? My insurance covers IUDs
and I don't plan on having a baby for some time, 2 years or more, so thought it would be my best option as I always forget to take the pill at the right time of day and I was using Nuva Ring but it's pricey and my insurance doesn't cover it.
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IUDs are good if you:
Don't want to remember to take a pill;
Don't want babies for a while (they're effective for 5-10 years);
Are in a monogamous relationship and aren't too concerned about STDs.
Most insurers will happily cover IUDs because they're the next best thing to tying your tubes. Their failure rate is literally less than 1 percent.
As far as Paraguard vs. Mirena, I chose Mirena, for several reasons:
Paraguard makes your periods heavier as a side effect; Mirena does the opposite. In most cases, your period will stop sometime in the first year.
Mirena slowly releases progesterone into your system over a 5-year period, which I saw as a plus, since I'm estrogen dominant. Mirena actually lists breast enlargement as a possible side effect (whoo hoo!).
When you want to get pregnant, just have it removed. It doesn't affect ovulation, so you won't have to wait too long to try and conceive.
Paraguard is a metal IUD with copper wire wrapped around it (the copper kills sperm). It's effective for 10 years, but I decided against it because it causes heavier periods. That totally did not interest me! lol
Full disclosure: if you get an IUD, you will likely have some spotting for the first couple of months. After that, you'll be okay. Insertion can be painful if you haven't been pregnant before. I have, so I took two Tylenol before and I was fine. A doctor who's not a newbie at insertions is worth his/her weight in gold. Just remember to relax and breathe deeply.
I think that's everything.