"after years of different birth controls messing me up, i didn&#039;t want anything with hormones.  i had paragard put in 2 weeks ago &amp; i didn&#039;t take anything before insertion. got cramps within a few hours. a few days of spotting &amp; then my period started. my first period lasted about 6 days, with severe cramps so i had to use a heating pad (didn&#039;t have to use one before paragard). i also had lower back pain like i had while in labor with my only child (back labor). after reading comments, i&#039;m hoping my cycles will be back to normal in a few months. don&#039;t want to spend my last years before menopause worrying about longer periods or birth control &amp; didn&#039;t want to get tubes tied unless it&#039;s the only other option, so i&#039;ll give it some time."