So you are deciding between the Mirena IUD vs Paragard IUD? In follow up to my post 6 IUD symptoms that they don’t tell you about, I thought I’d share the difference between the Mirena IUD vs Paragard IUD – facts and personal experience.
Background – I had the Mirena IUD put in when I first got married. I took it out after 10 months of having it in. After my second baby, I had the Paragard IUD put in. Still have it, and have no plans to take it out any time soon!
Here are the facts between the Mirena IUD vs Paragard IUD:
- IUD 101 – an IUD (Intrauterine Device) is a method of birth control aka contraceptive. When inserted it looks like the picture below.
- The Paragard IUD is also known as the T-380A. The Mirena IUD is also known as the Levonorgestral
- The Paragard is 100% copper and lasts for 10 years. The Mirena is plastic and has a low dose of hormone (progesterone), and this one lasts for 5 years.
- Both types of IUD prevent fertilization of the egg by damaging or killing sperm. The IUD also affects the uterine lining (where a fertilized egg would implant and grow).
- The low dose of progesterone in the Mirena IUD makes your body think you are pregnant. Which is prevents you from getting pregnant.
- The Paragard IUD is made of copper. The experts are not sure why the copper stops implantation of the egg, but it interferes with sperm movement and egg fertilization preventing implantation.
My experience with the Mirena IUD vs Paragard IUD:
- The number one difference I have noticed between the Mirena IUD vs Paragard IUD is the nausea. With the Mirena IUD I felt what I would soon to find as morning sickness. I felt that for the entire time I had the Mirena IUD in. With the Paragard IUD, I don’t feel any nausea at all. LOVE LOVE LOVE that. I don’t know about you, but I don’t like feeling morning sick every day. Especially if I’m not pregnant.
- The cramping in the Mirena IUD vs Paragard IUD was different. I cramped way, way bad with the Mirena IUD. I definitely felt a few cramps with the Paragard IUD, especially while the doc was putting it in, however I didn’t feel like I was going to die after. Now, this could definitely be a factor of timing. With the Mirena IUD, I hadn’t had a baby yet so my uterus was smaller. I recently had the Paragard inserted and have had two babies at this point. Granted, I have never dilated (even after 30 hours of labor with baby #1, and three days of contractions with baby #2…not even dilated to a 1). With that, the insertion was difficult because my cervix was “pinpoint” in the doctors words. But my guess is the difference in cramping (less with the Paragard IUD) could be the effect of the babies…
- Natural lubrication decreased with both the Mirena IUD and the Paragard IUD. I was hoping that wouldn’t be the case this second time around – but unfortunately they both dry you up.
Benefits:
When comparing the Mirena IUD vs Paragard IUD there are a lot of benefits to both.
- The most obvious is the convenience, no condoms or withdrawl or remembering to take the pill everyday. That is a beauty to me right there!
- The cost is only a one time fee. You don’t have to worry about monthly oral pill fee, or buying condoms continually (which adds up quickly).
Disadvantages:
With everything, there are a few disadvantages to consider with either Mirena or Paragard.
- The biggest disadvantage with the Mirena IUD and the Paragard IUD that I’ve noticed personally is the menstrual bleeding. It has increased with both.
- They don’t prevent against STDs
- There is a possibility with both (a slim possibility) where the IUD can attach or even perforate the uterine wall. This actually happened to a dear friend of mine. She got pregnant after having the Paragard IUD inserted. They found it in her small intestine. They had to do surgery (while she was 17 weeks pregnant) to remove it. Read more about that HERE
- Removal is required by a doctor. Stopping this type of contraceptive isn’t as easy as just not using a condom.
I’d love to hear your experience in a comment below
and be sure to read more!
