Readers Respond: What Is Your IUD Removal or IUD Insertion Experience?

Responses: 134

Never try to remove your IUD by yourself or ask an unqualified person to do so as this could cause serious damage.

Are you wondering what to expect during your IUD removal or insertion? Be prepared. Learn about possible complications. See what other women have experienced during their IUD removals and IUD insertions. Share your IUD story.

• Also, feel free to Share Your Reason: What Led You to Choose an IUD?

What was I thinking??

I had the paragard in June 2009 and here it is November 2009 and I have never been more miserable in my life and I have had two kids one natural birth! Just got back from the doctor because of heavy bleeding and clots the size of golf balls one right after another. I have actually been on my period for over a month with severe bleeding; worse lastnight which made me ready for a doctors visit today. They give me pills for the bleeding and want to hear from me in a couple of days. I WILL have this removed ASAP! It's just not worth bleeding this much and cramping this bad! The insertion was pretty painful after 6 weeks postpartum. But I can honestly say Im ready for the removal!! I want this to be over with. I don't know what I was thinking getting this put in. I have never had any problems with heavy bleeding or clots until I got the paragard. I always had normal periods which is why I thought it would be okay. I was wrong and if I had it to do over I WOULD NOT DO THIS AGAIN!

—Guest guest

Had iud for almost 3 years

I had an iud for almost 3 years. I had it taken out recently. When it was inserted and removed it was very painful. Didn't havesny periods the entire time I had it. I did experiece pain during sex quite often. I got married 3 months ago and decided to have it removed because we want to have a baby soon. I think the marena was great even though it had a few side effects it was worth it.

—Guest Sabby

So Awful

I've had IUD for almost two years. At the placement of the IUD it wasnt bad.No worse than a pap. I spotted a lil but at first that was it. I had no cycle for 6 weeks then all of a sudden started bleeding for 4 1/2 months straight going from spotting to heavy blood clot bleeding and the worst cramping in my life.Worst than my labor pains. Went to doctor after i couldnt stand it anymore and they found out that i had ovarian cysts caused by the IUD. Doctor wouldnt remove the iud and placed me on BC pills on top of the iud for 2 months. Bleeding stopped and cysts went away and havent had a cycle since. A year went by and I started having cramps to the point i couldnt move. They stopped after a few days and another half year went by. Just recently miscarried with an IUD in place. Did not know i was pregnant(no cycles)til I started bleeding real bad and passing blood clots and tissue. Gettin it removed but ins. won't pay."Not medically necessary".Costing $200. Will never get it ever again.

—Guest Kris

Getting it Out ASAP

I have had ParaGard for almost 3 months now and it is so painful. Insertion hurt and I bled for 3 weeks (and I'm still spotting). If I sit too long it feels like contractions but 10x worse.

—Guest Jama

Getting Mirena Out!

I decided to get the Mirena IUD after having my second child because I didn't want to have to worry about taking the pill every day. I'm also not sure if we'll have another child or not and my doctor thought this would be a good option for me. One caviat is that I tend to have problems with ovarian cysts so I was already unsure if this would be a good thing or not. The insertion was completely painless, but the side effects have been awful. I am dizzy all the time, cramping continuously, haven't stopped spotting since it was inserted, stabbing pain in my lower back and legs, and I started leaking again in my breasts. I would gladly take the pill and have a period every 3 months versus putting up with this pain every day. I can't wait to take it out! It may work for some women, but definitely not for me. I'm 35 and I feel like I'm 70 with arthritis in my back. Thanks, but no thanks.

—Guest Karen

Most Painful Procedure of MY LIFE.

I had Paragard inserted Thursday, today is Saturday. I took 2 Valium and 4 Motrin 1 hr before the procedure and had my fiance with me the whole time. I cried, cramped, squirmed and wanted to DIE. Zach had to keep telling me to breathe bc I kept stopping from the amount of pain I was in. It only took a few minutes, but I ALMOST told my doctor to stop. I tool a Lortab 7.5 as soon as we got in the car and a Flexeril 10 mg when we got to my parents house. The cramping was so unbearable. I cried for 3 straight hours and wouldn't put my pants on b/c I couldn't stand up straight. I was crawling through the house. I took a Lortab 10 EXACTLY 4 hours after the first one and I STILL had no relief. A friend told me to use heating pads, which helped tremendously. I've been sleeping on the couch b/c I'm afraid my fiance may knee me in the stomach in his sleep. This may be TMI, but the stomach cramping eases when I poop. Don't ask. The pain has made me extremely nauseaus. I've eaten nothing but...

—Guest elmo443

Mirena, so far, so good

Hi. I've had 4 natural births with no pain meds(would highly recommend that you all at least consider it, God made your body to birth, so don't be afraid). I'm a labor & delivery nurse and just had Mirena placed. Insertion was barely a pinch, spotting for only 2 days, then no issues whatsoever. I am loving it. I have had no problems with it. Good luck to you all.

—Guest Mom of Four

its getting better after 2 months

I had mirena inserted 2 months ago I had no problems with insertion and very light cramping.bleeding on an off for 6 weeks bad mood swings,but now every thing seems to be going alot better.no more heavy periods,sex is better cause we dont have to use condoms.so i say give it a try.

—Guest michelle

Wish I had seen this before

If I had seen this website before having my IUD put in I never would have done it. I had it put in 3 weeks ago. It was the most excrutiating pain I have ever felt. No, I do not have children. For the past 3 weeks I have been bleeding (expected) but also I have had cramps on and off. I was living with it up until this morning. I woke with a pain that felt like a knife was inside me twisting and turning, or tiny razor blades cutting me. I immediately called and got into the docs office to have the IUD removed. I was so afraid it was going to hurt like it did when I had it put in but really it was painless. Besides the pain I was already feeling the only thing I felt was a quick pinch and it was out in less than 30 seconds. The knife stabbing pain I was having has reduced and the doc said I should be feeling completely better by tomorrow. Fingers crossed. Nobody could ever pay me enough to go through that again. If you haven't had children yet I don't recommend ever doing it.

—Guest Pamela

GETTING IUD OUT ASAP

Insert date 7-24-09.Calling Monday for IUD REMOVAL. Insertion was painful. Had little spotting on insertion day then nothing for about 4 days, since then nothing but bad news. Cramping that felt like labor pains, bleeding and passing clots lasting 10 days straight. It stated up again, worse than last month with terrible cramps, the ones that want to make you stay in bed and feel like you can not bleed anymore without something being wrong. My husband figured out that all of my RECENT health changes like: 5lb weight gain, moodiness, irritability, exhaustion but can not sleep, breast tenderness, crying for no reason, headaches, backaches and general not feeling well may be from my newly inserted copper IUD. The insertion is the ONLY thing that has changed in my life since I stated feeling like my body was taken over by someone other than me. Just not for us. Good luck to those who have one or get one.

—Guest Jill

still trying to figure this out

II got my IUD put it 2 days ago. They numbed my cervix before, so I didn't really feel anything. The most painful part of the insertion was the 4 little shots they gave me for numbing. But right after I got it put it, I became lightheaded and very dizzy. I almost passed out on the way home (Take someone with you). I ended up sitting in the parking lot for half an hour waiting for the dizziness to go away. After that, I've had bad cramps. Today I don't feel anything bad. I've had little cramping episodes but nothing too bad. Spotting for me only lasted for a day and a half. I know its to soon to tell if I'm going to like it, but I just wanted to update everyone on my expierence. I got the Mirena IUD by the way. But so far so good!

—Guest sabrina

So painful!

I'm 19 years old, never had a child, but my Gyn suggested/pressured me into the Mirena on Monday when I went in for my lap to look for endo (found none). I'm in SO much pain. I have cramps in my back, tummy and down to my legs. I'm in tears all the time and nothing i take even touches it! I'm getting it removed ASAP! (hopefully it wont be too sore, I was under anesthetic when I had it put in!)

—Guest Sarah

IUD Insertion/Expulsion

Well, I got my Paraguard inserted 7 weeks after giving birth to my first child. It was as uncomfortable as any pap, but not as painful as I'd heard it been described as. Labor wasn't the terrible thing I had been told it was, either, though, so I guess it's different for everyone. Anyway, I've almost had the IUD for 2 years now, and I began getting a pain in my gut. The strings feel much, much longer, and I think it has slipped entirely out of place. I don't have insurance, so I'm hoping to find a way to pay for its removal before I get punctured. Supposedly, there was only a "10%" chance of that happening... it hasn't been too fun, though. Good luck to anyone who tries it, though. [And to the girl with no insurance who is 23.. my IUD was about $800 to buy and have inserted.. ]

—Guest Brittany

Not too bad

I just got ParaGard put in... not very prepared and a little nervous because I didn't know what to expect. A little painful but not unbearing. I guess we will see how it goes in the next few months.

—Guest melissa