Which is better: Mirena or Paraguard?

Janice - posted on 01/13/2012

I had BV during my pregnancy, not fun! I am scheduled to have Mirena put in 6 weeks from now (not sure why my doctor waits 12 weeks after delivery for IUD) but I might cancel and ask for the mini-pill. IDK

Shante' - posted on 01/13/2012

I had the Paraguard for 5 years. It worked great although I frequently got B.V.(Baterial vaginosis). This infection can be caused by either because it's your bodies way of fighting off the foreign object. I did not get pregnant while on it but immediately after it was removed I did. A good friend of mine just recently found out she is pregnant and she has the Mirena :(... She is devastated!

Holly Janelle - posted on 01/13/2012

O Janice btw went to the doctor today for a pap because I have to get one every 6 months due to an abnormal one I had before, and the "smell" I was referring to I found out was vaginosis that caused by mirena and the strings because it caused bad bacteria to form. We were hoping it would go away on it's own once I got it taken out but it didn't so now I'm on a vaginal anti-biotic...arg. Talk about embarassing :/

Lori - posted on 01/13/2012

In response to your question about bleeding... yes you will start bleeding after getting it inserted. I waited till my baby was 4 months old before getting mine, and after I got it in I bled for 2 months straight. I was sooooo annoyed especially since with my first baby I didn't have a period until she was 13 months old. And since then I have random spotting on and off constantly. Like I said, it was quite annoying... but since hubby and I really really don't want more kids this seemed like a good option. I wanted to wait till my LO was at least 2 years old before either of us does something permanent.

Holly Janelle - posted on 01/13/2012

To be honest we were frustrated with our BC options also so my SO and I are just using the pull out method and it working just fine. I haven't had a period since I had the mirena put in and when they took it out I didn't bleed. I'm not pregnant and don't have a period don't know if this helps, but I hope it does. I'm going to the gyno today because 1) had an abnormal pap and have to be checked every 6 months and 2) I have a horrible smell caused by the strings of mirena(like so many women who I have talked to that have had mirena and have the same symptoms) and it just hasn't gone away hoping my doc can help.... Sadly I believe the mini pill is no different than mirena :(

Janice - posted on 01/12/2012

Holly I did read the linked article, but it was late last night and I missed some things. Thank you. The mini-pill has hormones too, have there been studies that it has the same effect? I took that almost the whole time I breastfed my daughter.

To be truthful, I am not willing to have a month long period when I shouldn't have one at all and I've already been abstinent for longer than hubby and I would like. So maybe I wont get it. Starting to get really frustrated with my BC options.

Holly Janelle - posted on 01/12/2012

You may want to read this Janice.



Mirena marketed to Breastfeeding Women:

My other big beef is that these devices are being intentionally and consciously marketed to pregnant women for use postpartum. There is even an implication in the literature that it could be inserted during a C-section. There is very little research about the effects of progestins on nursing infants, and most of what there is was done for one year in third world countries such as Egypt, Bombay and Chile, which is always a red flag to me because it’s so easy to get away with shoddy research in those settings. (If you’ve ever been to a hospital in Egypt you know what I’m talking about—primitive would be a polite description of the one I visited.) A study done in Mexico with breastfeeding Norplant users found that their infants had significantly modified thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels.



The one six-year followup study I could find that followed breastfeeding infants exposed to levonorgestrel was done in Norway and found that they had higher incidence rates of respiratory infections, skin conditions and eye infections than the control group, and later were found to have a higher proportion of “neurological conditions.”



To me it’s unthinkable to even consider exposing a nursing infant to any type of progestin. I would call this a form of corporate sociopathy—marketing without a conscience to unwitting, under-informed women who are just trying to responsibly avoid an unwanted pregnancy. Since the FDA is unlikely to take action against this practice it’s up to the rest of us to spread the word.

Amy - posted on 01/12/2012

Yes you're going to bleed for 4-6 weeks after getting it put I'm as your body adjusts. After that though you won't get your period back just because you're using birth control, if that's what you mean.

Janice - posted on 01/12/2012

Thanks for the input everyone. I think I am going to try the Mirena since it is what my doctor claims will cause less bleeding. But if I'm breastfeeding and haven't gotten my cycle back will I still bleed? I will be real annoyed if so.

Ania - posted on 01/12/2012

I did a little research on this and I read different experiences of different women. Mirena can lower your supply, but the other one without hormones might too. It depends how your body will react to an object that is permanently inserted in you. I didn't do it. We used natural methods. It worked for us. After my second baby maybe I will think about one of those, but the idea of something metal or plastic in me....just doesn't agree with me. Maybe you should wait until 6 month check up and then do it? until then condoms...

Lori - posted on 01/11/2012

I also have mirena and it hasn't affected breastfeeding at all. When I got mine I had bleeding for almost 2 months straight. Since then I've had random spotting and a few days of what might be a light period. But mostly just random spotting throughout the month. I've had it now for about 10 months. Overall though I'm pretty happy with it. I can tell the strings are there, but DH can't. And I don't have to worry about remembering to take a pill or remember to use any other form go contraception.



I grilled my Dr. about the hormones in Mirena before I got it. I didn't want there to be any effect on my milk. And I know that the mini pill is recommended by many Dr's. but I've also read that it too can have effects on nursing... though not as many as the regular pill. What he told me is that yes there is progesterone in it, but it stays localized. When you take a pill, the hormone gets in your bloodstream and goes everywhere, but with the IUD, very very little - if any - actually reaches the blood stream.

Holly Janelle - posted on 01/11/2012

Whoops sorry here is the link: http://www.virginiahopkinstestkits.com/m...



It's the infants we have to worry about not the women who use it.

Amy - posted on 01/11/2012

Holly you didn't actually post the link. I also would like to add that this is my second time around with the mirena I used it between my pregnancies and had no problem conceiving after I had it removed the first time.

Amy - posted on 01/11/2012

I have the mirena it didn't have any effect on my milk supply. My daughter is 21 months old and still breastfeeding. I've also only had my period no more then 5 times in the last 2 years!

Holly Janelle - posted on 01/11/2012

I had mirena it worked I didn't get pregnant, but the strings were painful for my SO and they caused me to have an embarassing foul smell so I had it taken out. Luckily my SO can't smell but I can and I couldn't take it. Mirena had no effect on my milk supply either. Just as an FYI it's not very pleasant getting it put in, it's rough but it's over quick. I thought I would warn you because no one told me and it sucked!