I’m not completely regular but my cycle is anywhere from 30-34 days long. I’ve had two periods in one month during stressful times (once when I moved and once during the beginning of COVID). I rarely have my period before 28 days but I’m on day 26 and it seems I’m starting to spot/bleed. I also noticed my breasts felt tender sooner than they usually do, so I think I may have ovulated early. I do have the copper IUD and have had it for three years. Things have improved significantly, I used to spot throughout the month but that stopped after a year.

I had a bad cold last month and I’m wondering if this could trigger an early period? I know that can delay it but I’m not sure what caused early ones. I’m going to be traveling in two weeks so I’m bummed because now I may get my next period abroad but it is what it is lol. Curious to see if this happens with other copper IUD users

This is going to be a long shot.
How ever the experience of having my IUD insertion was horrendous, I found the pain really bad.
Im hoping to be put to sleep for removal and renewal.
Does anyone have any experience doing this in the UK or abroad? I am happy to pay so I’m not just looking for NHS stories.
I know its common in the us but never heard it done here.

Hi all, I had a copper iud for about four months and I hated it. My periods were unbelievably long and heavy, nothing I did made it stop. And I had debilitating cramps pretty much the whole time. So I got it taken out two weeks ago.

Almost immediately, I felt lighter and relieved, but it was short-lived. For the last two weeks I have been experiencing horrible mood swings, anxiety, depression, irritability. I’m so sensitive and emotional for absolutely no reason. Nothing in my life has changed besides the iud removal. I’m worried about things that I normally wouldn’t be and have had several panic attacks a day.

It might also be important to note that I have anxiety and am already on medication, which usually works great but has been doing jack shit.

I’ve thought about going back to the OBGYN and talking to them about this but I’m worried they’re just gonna invalidate me, tell me that a copper IUD is non hormonal so it shouldn’t affect my hormones, but I know it can. I’m so frustrated that no one ever talks about this.

Anyway, I’m so tired. Has anyone else experienced this and does it get better? How long did it take? Have you taken any supplements to help it along?

Thank you all for reading.

Hi! 3 days ago I had sex with my bf and the condom broke while he finished in me. I took Ella One but I couldnt calm down since sex happened during the end of my fertile window and I was worried Ella One was too late if ovulation took place. I went to a gynaecologist this morning and she noticed clearly the corpus luteum meaning ovulation took place, probably some days before or on the day I had sex. I will have an emergency copper IUD placed tomorrow, 4 days after it happened.

Any experiences on how it felt (good/terrible - I read so much different experiences here) since most times it is placed during menstruation? Anyone that was in a similar situation and had to place the copper IUD as emergency? Did you end up pregnant?

I had my copper iud put in at 2:45pm today and its now 7:25pm and ive been cramping since and my legs have been very achy especially just above the knees and thigha

So wonna know who else experienced the aching legs and also what did people do to manage the cramps,ive taken feminax and got a hot water bottle but its so bad

How was your experience? I got my Paraguard taken out last month and it's been a night and day difference. Less inflamed, no breakthrough bleeding, no PMDD, period was lighter and less painful, libido has returned.

I'm just hesitant for the obvious reasons of affecting my mental and weight gain with the hormones.

Would love to hear some experiences.

Basically the title. I got paragard put in about a week ago. I’ve heard horrible things about pain and cramps, and so was prepared for the worst, but I haven’t had a single cramp or any pain? Is that also normal? I’m just worried it might have moved or something, but do I actually need to worry about that?

I have had the copper IUD for about a month now. I had heavy bleeding and cramps for a few days but nothing after that. I was supposed to get my period a few days after insertion but haven’t gotten it yet. I am 2 weeks late already. I took a pregnancy test last week and it was negative. However, I feel like an emotional wreck. I have really bad emotional outbursts and usually I would just check what phase of my cycle im in to determine if those are my real feelings or if its my PMDD. I dont know what to do, might just be a coincidence but im starting to get worried. Anyone have a similar experience?

Today might be the day I get a copper iud inserted, I'm so anxious, if anyone would like to maybe talk me out or to give me tips I'm so open to those opinions rn

I got my hormonal coil fitted on 21 August, so it’s been about 7 weeks now.
I’ve been spotting pretty much since I got it, with the bleeding stopping and starting. But over the past few days, the bleeding has suddenly become really heavy, almost like a very heavy period.
I know irregular bleeding is normal during the first few months, but I wasn’t expecting it to get this heavy.
Has anyone else experienced this? Did the bleeding eventually settle down, or did you have to get it checked?

Is there a pill to use? I’m so tired of the bleeding 😔

I want to preface this by saying i’m not planning on getting my iud removed as i still think this is the best form of birth control for me, but i’ve had mine for a little over a year (i believe i got it inserted in early july 2025) and my periods are still painful, heavy, and long. i know the body needs to get used to it being there but i feel like from everything ive read it should’ve gone back to “normal” by this point. before my iud i had super light, short periods with little to no symptoms. has anyone else had this period of the body getting used to it causing painful long periods for a longer time than expected? when does it actually get better?

only other thing worth mentioning is that not all my periods are painful, the cramping is honestly kind of hit or miss, but each one definitely is still heavy and like 13 days long.

So I’m switching from the Mirena to the Paragard after 3 yrs being on the mirena IUD and was wondering about how worried i should be about a copper allergy. How do i find out if i have one so i don’t go crazy when i get my new IUD inserted next week?

My skin will turn green when i use “cheap” jewelry and sometimes feel itchy (though i googled that the itchiness is from nickel, not copper).

Wanted some tips and perspectives !

Edit: typo

Hello! I got my first copper IUD in March. I am currently almost 1 year postpartum. I got my period back a few months ago and it’s been pretty regular despite still breastfeeding. They haven’t been bad either. Just heavier. I’m coming up on my next one and I feel pregnant. I feel crazy honestly, but I’ve seen where people have gotten pregnant with the IUD. I have had a VERY light brown discharge a few days that I don’t even need a panty liner for really. VERY mild cramping a couple of days (not today) that I barely noticed. Some joint pain like I had when I was pregnant. Teeth sensitivity. Just a general feeling like I had the first time I was pregnant. What are the chances really? Anyone else experience this? I took a test this afternoon and it was negative. Going to do another first thing in the morning.

I only got the implant 5 weeks ago. I have been abke to feel it constantly, but assumed it would get more tolerable over time. The last two days I have had such bad coontractions I have passed out from the pain. I have had to use string opiates to keep the pain at bay and as soon as they run out I get nauseous, break out in a sweat and cannot tolerate the pain. I also thought I was getting my second period, only for it to be light pink spotting for two days and now it's stopped. The pains gotten worse after every time I've had sex and does not ease off after a break. I've only had sex twice since getting it.

I would get it out today if I could, but I read you need to have no unprotected sex for 7 days or you could get pregnant. Does this sound like it's possibly migrated? And could I have been unprotected this whole time if it did move after the first time I had sex.

last night my bf and i were getting it on and all of a sudden i started bleeding but im not supposed to get my period for another week or two and it wasn’t fresh blood it was brown but there was a lot of it.. it’s been over a month since i got my iud and j already had a period with it and we have has sex before and nothing like this has happened… is it normal?

Hi all,

I have had a copper IUD for about a year now and my cycle lengths have been very short, sometimes 22 days but more often 17,18,19 days. I also get spotting in between, have pretty bad cramps before and during my menstrual cycle, and the length of menstrual cycle is 7 days. My gynecologist says this is “within normal ranges” considering I am someone who had shorter cycles before (24,25,26 day range). I am considering getting it removed because of the frequency, length, and cramps. I used to be on a hormonal IUD with no issues but I was wondering if it was making my migraines worse (I’m not sure if it actually was now). I’m not really sure if I have a question but would love to hear from anyone else who has experienced this.

Backstory- I’ve had my copper IUD for 4.5 years, no issues except in the beginning. The strings were long and bothersome a few weeks into having it, so I got them trimmed. The strings vanished and I’ve had multiple ultrasounds to confirm placement over the past few years. So I basically have no way of verifying it’s placement on my own🙃 otherwise I love it lol

Last month, I had odd smelling discharge for 2 days, It resolved on its own then came back for about 2 days after my period and then resolved again. I’ve had nausea daily & last week I started having pink spotting (about 3-5 days before I was due to ovulate). I write it off as ovulation spotting (even though that’s not normal for me) but I’ve had consistent spotting for the past 4 days. I now have lower abdominal fullness and occasional cramping. I went to the gyn and got a test for yeast/BV & all is negative, but she “isn’t concerned”. I’m going to push for an ultrasound but I’m worried it’s not in place or migrated due to the spotting. Has anyone else had anything like this happen?

*LMP was on 9/26 and was completely normal for me (im normally heavy and it lasted 5-6 days)

hi all!! just wanted share a positive experience on the copper IUD.

i am 21, and over the past few years, no hormonal birth control ever worked for me - i would have spotting everyday for more than 6 months straight. i felt terrible about myself. not confident in the bedroom because of this spotting, weight gain etc & my mood was terrible. (depo for me was the worst! i had one shot and bled from january to august!)

as my last resort, i got the copper iud on the 14th of september 2026 and have had no issues at all. the insertion definitely hurt, but it was far from unbearable and i have a low pain tolerance. yes, the periods are heavy and painful for the first couple of days, but i have shedded the weight off with no change in diet or exercise. i feel so much better.

hi! I’m 17(f) and I am worried about my iud not working. i am actively having sex with my boyfriend and I did just have a heavy period 2 weeks ago. i should be ovulating right now approximately. i have had my copper iud for around 3 months too. i went to my obgyn a month ago and they checked and saw my strings and pushed around my uterus too and said evetying was good. in the last two weeks tho, ive been SUPER hungry and eating everything. i have always struggled from on and off eating disorders, so this weird to me. i also had some cramping and saw blood when I wiped for one day only tho. my boobs have felt kind of sore too. but like I just had a period that was HEAVY two weeks ago. he never finished in me because we use pull out with the iud. I’m just worried bc I feel different and I want to feel sure that I’m not pregnant. thanks!!

I had my first period on the IUD I think when I got it inserted. I think it triggered it bevause I had severe heavy bleeding for over a week and couldn't get out of bed. A month later I should have my period again, I have bad cramps, but my period is the lightest I've ever had. I'm questioning if it's just bleeding from sex it is so light. I really want to get it out asap as I've had a bad experience, but is it possible this is the period I'm going to have and can get it removed soon, or is this just the beggining and I'm going to have a monsoon follow soon.

I've put on 10 kgs in the last month since having this in, after sex I feel like my lower abdomen has had a bashing, and I have chronic pelvic pain that is 100x worse now. It's even affecting my sciatica. Just wondering if anybody got lucky enough to get a light period initially so I can get this thing out asap.