Hello ladies-
Here I am bringing you an update after my second cycle with the Paragard IUD. Please read my insertion story by clicking HERE. Andddd if you haven't checked it out please click HERE to read about my first period with the IUD.
OK! So- if you couldn't tell I am slightly over-dramatic (read my last IUD post). YES- my first period with the IUD SUCKED. It was so bad- so heavy, so crampy, so terrible. I was in tears- in pain- and confused about what I should do. Keep it or not? There were so many questions- would it get better? How long would it take? Will this be forever? And honestly, the only thing I could do was wait and see. Which sucked- because if I waited, and things didn't get better, I would have just wasted my time and been in pain.
BUT I waited... and let me tell you, things DO get better. My second cycle was easy! From the time my last period stoped to the time the second one started, I had no spotting! I had some mild cramping 3 days leading up to my period (compared to 3-4 days of mild cramping and light spotting before my period last time). My period was super heavy for 24 hours, other than that it was a pretty "normal" flow for me. Compared to the first period with the IUD, I'd say my blood decreased about 50% (yes, that's how terrible my first period was lol).
I figured out that last cycle, I was using my menstrual cup wrong, which is why it was leaking so much. I had no issues with my cup this time- and once again, it felt like I wasn't even on my period. The trick to using the cup is to put it in, run your finger around the outside of the cup to ensure it expanded, then pinch the bottom of the cup HARD. You should then feel it suction onto your vaginal walls. Ta-da, it's in place and shouldn't budge. Yay for no leaking!
My period lasted 6 days, which is amaze-balls (that's what it was before the IUD). The last day was spotting only. The only weird thing is, ever since my period ended I've been having cramps nearly every night for the past 5 days (only during the night, it's weird). Cramps with an IUD feel strange- they almost feel like they're in your vaginal/cervical area VS your uterus. It's very strange and painful. For cramps this time, ibuprofen did the trick. I took it whenever I needed it, which was pretty much every day on my period (yes, I took it every day but still my cramps were much better off meds). I don't like taking medications, but I am doing what I gotta do. Compared to last period, I could definitely go to work with how easy this one was.
So ladies, my advice to you is to do what you want. If you're coming here in hopes to find a reason to keep your IUD and give it another chance, I hope I helped answer some of your questions. In my experience it does get better. Having said that, my next period could be horrible again, we won't know until it happens. Hopefully things just keep getting easier. Best of luck to you and your uterus.
Follow me on Instagram- kaylarphelps.
Thanks for reading!
-K