birth control
"I just got my Paragard removed after having it in for about 8 months. I wanted Paragard because I'm sensitive to hormonal birth control and right now Paragard seems to be the only hormone-free option. Unfortunately, the side effects were just too much for me, and only seemed to be getting worse as time went on, instead of better. Some of the lovely things I had to deal with on Paragard:

- Painful cramps--not just around my period, but also whenever I would exercise
- Long periods--they lasted about 2 weeks. Seriously.
- Heavy periods--the jokes about the elevator scene in The Shining are completely accurate
- Constant nausea, dizziness and headaches
- Weight gain

My body just didn't want Paragard inside of me and made my life miserable."