Hello ladies, I cannot tell you how relieved I was to read all of your stories. I had my Paragard IUD put in mar 2008, the Dr said it should be good for 10 years. I had no really bad problems except excessive cramping and far heavier cycles than ever before. I was 41 when I got it and have 5 kids. I didn't have any discharge issues until about a year ago and I noticed it was worse during and just before my period started. Two days ago I was checking the string, mine had only one and I check it regularly as my Dr. showed me to. I could feel the string was longer than usual, it has been a little longer for about 3 months. The last time dh and I were intimate he said he could feel something. When it was first inserted the string end was somehow caught in my cervical opening so it was a bit sharp and pointy. That was easily fixed and until just recently that was the only issue. The smell has driven me crazy since I first noticed it. I too have never had any type of problems 'down there' no infections or anything of the sort. Sorry this is so long, it is just such a relief to find this forum and thread. I have been looking for information for months and found nothing until the last couple days. The day I felt the tip of the end of the iud itself I was a little freaked out and couldn't decide what to do. Go to emergency and wait to have them take it out.. go to my regular clinic and have it done there. I was leary of emergency because I have terrible anxiety when it comes to strange Dr's examining me. So I did a bit more reading and found a thread at another mothering website. The ladies in that thread spoke about taking their iud's out themselves as the cost of removal was about $100 and it was a less than 15 second procedure. There were a number of clear directions and instructions on what to do so I read it to my husband and told him I was going to give it a go. I am a trained doula and childbirth attendant, I have assisted with many births in clinical manners at delivery and the Dr's I have worked with believe I am competent and educated. I figured we are less than 5 mins from the hosp and I would know something was wrong if there was any pain or excessive bleeding. I am nowhere near my period, well about 8 days away at the time. So I washed my hands and sterilized them then sat on the toilet. Some ladies said the bed aas easier, but the toilet was good for easier access. They said your weight or size might be an obstacle but could be overcome by finding the position which worked best for them. I got a good grip on the string, then used my other hand which was dry and wrapped the end around my finger and gently but firmly pulled down. Just like a tampon. I could not believe how quick and easy it was. I had never been told about removal or what to expect so was relieve that it slipped out easy peasy lemon squeezy. I washed it off and put it in a little baggy to take to my Dr. The copper was no longer coppery rather it was dark blackish green. I have read that is normal but I want to make sure there was no infection or w.h.y. going on in my uterus. So far a tiny bit of cramping, wee bit of spotting the first day and today I feel great. No more discharge or smell, just waiting for one regular cycle before discussing having another put in. I think it's time was up, and perhaps the copper once corroded enough was the cause of the smell and discoloured discharge. So any of you ladies interested in how to do it yourself and not be afraid, and feel like you know what you are doing can email me
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and I will give you ***edited by moderator*** web addresses not allowed I found the information at. It is a credible site and well moderated so there are no posts permitted which might endanger the health or well being of their members. I am not a Dr. I do have some gynecological experience but am by no means an expert. But I do believe that not everything need be done by a Dr. especially if it is a simple quick procedure and you are not suffering from any infection of any sort.
I did want to add for those ladies who experienced losing a clot or clot type mass, check the mass to ensure it is not your iud. It can come out during a bm or at any other time, especially if you do not want to conceive. I am 49 and do not want another baby. Thanks for reading this and for the reassurance you have all provided. Cheers Vivian
Im going on two weeks with my paraguard and I love it , I have alil bit of cramps the next day after sex, and alot of discharge but the doctor says its normal , I was terrified to get it cuz what I read on google ut it was bad at all , I love it personally I forget its even there