"i quit the pill five years ago after years of gross side effects, and just followed a fertility chart up until end of 2014, when i got pregnant.  we decided to use condoms after my child&#039;s birth, but i&#039;ve never cared for them.  my doctor encouraged me to get an iud, but the very thought of it horrified me.  after a year of mulling it over and dealing with very heavy periods, i decided to go for it and try mirena.  i had it placed today, and i feel great.  absolutely no part of it hurt until the doctor had to stabilize my cervix.  that part was awful - it felt like dilation during labor.  i breathed through it and stayed as relaxed as i could.  that part was about a minute long, and as soon as she unclamped the cervix, i felt completely fine."