I have been on hormonal birth control of one form or another for 12 years now. I can't take the crying and mood swings, anxiety etc anymore. I made an appt to get the Paragard in two days. I have never had children.

After reading about women without children getting them inserted and how painful it is, I am terrified. I have not been sleeping and I have full blown panic attacks. Am I building it up too much in my head? Or is it really worth a life of condoms to avoid the pain?

Thanks! : (

I have been on hormonal birth control of one form or another for 12 years now. I can't take the crying and mood swings, anxiety etc anymore. I made an appt to get the Paragard in two days. I have never had children.

After reading about women without children getting them inserted and how painful it is, I am terrified. I have not been sleeping and I have full blown panic attacks. Am I building it up too much in my head? Or is it really worth a life of condoms to avoid the pain?

Thanks! : (

Dear lbycus:

I won't lie to you; it is a little more uncomfortable than other IUDs. I just had A Paragard inserted last week. No fun for sure, but I'd definitely agree the pain is worth avoiding a life of condoms. It only hurts for a minute. As soon as it's done, the pain subsides. If you're really anxious about it, ask your doctor if you can have some sort of anesthetic. I've actually had doctors offer lidocaine (or some sort of numbing injection) before having IUDs inserted, but I refused figuring the injection itself will sting a bit, and by the time it takes effect the whole procedure would be over. All in all, it's quicker and FAR less painful than a visit to the dentist.

Like you, I couldn't take the nasty side-effects of synthetic hormones used in other contraceptives - i.e., birth control pills, Mirena. I had a Mirena for five years, and the ONLY thing good about it was no periods. In exchange, I had to live with severe PMS-like symptoms every single day - horrible moodiness, hypothyroid, chronic headaches, fatigue, nasty zits, and a mustache. I had the Mirena removed a month ago, and am finally beginning to feel like my old self again. Almost like waking up from a five-year sleepwalk with nightmares. I hope my thyroid isn't permanently fried, but we'll see.

Anyway, good luck with the Paragard. You'll do just fine.

Thank you so much beth for your encouraging post. I am now 3 hours past my insertion and slowly feeling better. You were right, it was pretty damn unpleasant, but I am so happy it's over more than anything else. I thought about your kind post to help me get through it. Thanks, again.

im getting my paragard inserted later today, and im really nervous as well. i do have a pretty good pain tolerance, but im still nervous. its good to hear that you got through it ok.. i cant wait to be writing that i got done as well. i took some advil, hopefully that will help/

I am so happy I went and got it. Even happier it's all over. Its day two now and motrin is keeping the cramps down to a dull roar. Good luck! It is over fast.

well its over for me as well! yay! it actually wasnt that bad at all. as the doc put it "pinch, cramp cramp and done" hehe. and now i just have a slight cramp. :) now we dont have to worry about anything for 12 years! YAY US!

Well I am going to do it also. I chickened out twice before because I heard about the things that can go wrong but I have been hearing more say they are happy with it. I can not afford a tubal and this is a good option if it stays in place.

Hopefully my insurance will cover it.

It's almost been two weeks now. I didn't have any cramps or spotting for a bit and now it is happening again. Hope that's normal. I have an ultra sound in a couple weeks to make sure it's in place, so I will find out then. Everything else is better already though! I haven't cried or had an anxiety attack in two weeks!

It's almost been two weeks now. I didn't have any cramps or spotting for a bit and now it is happening again. Hope that's normal. I have an ultra sound in a couple weeks to make sure it's in place, so I will find out then. Everything else is better already though! I haven't cried or had an anxiety attack in two weeks!


thats good to hear! I havent had any problems with mine either. I had some cramping the first 2 days or so, but other than that nothing else. just waiting for the period to come and see how that goes. and glad to hear no anxiety attacks! good to be horomone free isnt it? :)

My fiance really appreciates me not crying and not blowing up at him for no reason too!