I started with Ortho-Tri-Cyclen in college….was on it for about 5 years before realizing that it was making me crazy – lots of crying and anger. I switched to Yasmin and I had better control of my emotions, but zero sex-drive and after about three years started experiencing break-through bleeding. I then switched to NuvaRing (about the same time I started thinking about stopping taking any hormones – it was pretty much my last try with HBC's). The NuvaRing was fine….but still didn't help with the libido problem. So I decided to get a copper IUD (Paraguard). It wasn't covered by insurance, but I decided that given what I was paying for BC anyway ($40-$50.month) it would pay for itself in a couple of years. I had it put in just under a year ago.

Since I have not had children, insertion was insanely painful (like a REALLY long, REALLY bad menstrual cramp). My periods are pretty heavy, and last a full week (very heavy on second day with a fair amount of cramping, heavy for several days, then slowly taper to nothing). I have had some problems with breaking out every month, but that finally seems to be getting under control (it seemed pretty bad at first – or maybe I was just used to never having any because of the hormones).

But best of all, I feel like a different person. I'm happier. I don't get angry or upset as easily. I can have an emotional/heated conversation with my husband without crying. And most importantly (for both myself and my marriage), I have an interest in sex again )

So for me, it's all been worth it. And it's good for 10 years if I choose to keep it that long, or can have it removed (not really looking forward to that to be honest) if we decide we might like to start thinking about maybe having kids someday.

Sorry for the long comment. I noticed there weren't many experiences with IUDs posted, so I thought I'd share my thoughts…

I've actually been on BCP since I was ten years old. I started my period when I was nine for reasons unbeknownst to me, my family and my gyno since the rest of the women in my family were all "late bloomers." I never got a regular period which wasn't really a problem in my opinion at the time, but when I did get my period it would be for a month to a month at a time! I would get anemic and worst of all I was overly emotional All. THE. TIME. it was awful, and all that on top of being the only girl in the 4th grade with tampons in her backpack.

I had been on Kavara (the generic of Mircette) which is a midlevel steady dose style pill for years with no side effects until last spring. I was living in a new city and switched gyno's to stay with my insurance and while the Doctor was great she really pushed LoEstra24 and switched me to it. I gained weight, was nauseous and had the worst back spasms ever (and I'm typically not a big cramper). I called her after doing a three month trail and begged the nurse to switch me back and am now happily back with my Kavara.

I have never really considered the effects of adding the hormones to my body since I started BCP for medical reasons but I think it is important to consider them, so thank you to everyone who posted and opened my eyes tonight.
I am interested in the IUD's since my mum has had success with them, and am going to discuss them with my Doctor at my next visit. I know some of them want to you have had a baby, which isn't me so we'll see.

Great topic Linds!

I am also a NuvaRing user and LOVE IT! I don't have to worry about a pill every day, my periods last 2 days at the most, my PMS is much better and I haven't had a lot of the side effects I had with the pill because it's a constant low level of hormones circulating right where they need to be, instead of having to be absorbed and metabolized through my whole body. It is more expensive than the pill, but it's totally worth it.

My doctor has suggested the IUD as well but the insertion is much more uncomfortable if you've never had children. My friends who have an IUD said having it put in was crazy painful, but that it's worth it now. Just make sure they don't cut the strings too short so you can confirm it's in the right place.