Women's Health Community

Dear sonjanoel: There are several POSSIBLE explanations for your abnormal bleeding pattern. Once pregnancy is ruled out, the most common reason for a menstrual pattern like you have described is not having an ovulation in the last month or so.

In a normal cycle, estrogen is produced all month. Estrogen is responsible for building up the lining of your uterus so you have something to shed each month.

In a normal cycle, progesterone production increases following ovulation and release of an egg.. Progesterone "stabilizes" the uterine lining in preparation for a possible implantation of a new pregnancy. If you are not pregnant that month the levels of estrogen and progesterone fall, triggering the release of the uterine lining—your period.

So, if you do not ovulate, the estrogen build up of the lining continues, but without the usual ovulation associated progesterone. Thus, the hormone levels don't decline, and the lining stays up inside the uterus—as either a missed period or prolonged, erratic bleeding as the lining is shed irregularly.

There can be many triggers for not ovulating: thyroid problems, pituitary problems, ovarian cysts, physical stressors (eg sudden increases in exercise, crash dieting), emotional stressors (problems with family or money), increased body weight, anorexia, rotating shifts at work, etc.

Some other causes can be a pelvic infection (doubt this if you are monogamous) or a polyp of the lining of the uterus (possible given that you had erratic bleeding problems on the hormonal birth control as well).

PLEASE get back in to see the GYN or clinic that inserted your Paragard IUD. They can do a pregnancy test and check for an ovarian cyst. They MIGHT try empirical treatment with antibiotics if an inflamed uterine lining is suspected. Occasionally even ibuprofen has been tried for IUD caused breakthrough bleeding. Checking for a problem with a polyp requires more invasive testing so you may be treated with medications initially.

Dang, I hope this resolves as abruptly as it appeared.

Yours,
Jane

Hi there!

I'm definitely no expert, but I've had a gynefix IUD (all copper from belgium) for a little over 3 months now and my periods have been different every time.

Here's what I saw:
1st period - normal length but insanely heavy 2-3 of the days
2nd period - cycle MUCH shorter than normal (24 days), and essentially just had spotting for 14 days with one or two days of actually bleeding.
3rd period - about the same as #2, but less bleeding - just heavy spotting for the most part.
4th period - still waiting on it...with my "shorter" cycle of late, I'm actually a week late, which is, of course, scaring me.


So, all that to say, from all the studies I've read on my IUD, the periods can be really strange and unpredictable, more heavy/less heavy, longer/shorter, more painful, etc especially in the first year after IUD insertion, but then it's supposed to start settling down. Hopefully that's the case for you (and me).

Good Luck,
K

Dear katielou: Thank you so much for taking the time to write about your experience. Classically we tell women getting copper IUDs to expect longer, heavier, and more crampy periods. I have not seen many women shift to lighter flows, so I am assuming that the lighter flows had a hormonal etiology (eg temporary ovulation change). Someone should do a study!

Yours,
Jane

hello I also am not an expert of any kind but about 9 years ago I had the copper iud inserted and my cycle was completly different. So after about 6 months I stopped having a period all together. so I went to the gyno and I was pregnant. The doctor said my cycle was messed up because my body was rejecting the copper and it wasnt protecting me. So 8 years later I have a wonderful little boy. Point to the story it could be many different things but if you dont want a child right now go have your doctor check it out. Hope this helps.

Hello! I just have come to conclusion that IUD's are for some and not for others. I used the Depo shots after the birth of my son and LOVED them! However they came with weight gain plus I was getting older so we switched to the Copper IUD.

After insertion, I had lots of cramping and my periods were most definitely longer-but regular. My cramps during my period were now just horrible! However, it was an acceptable trade off for me at the time with freedom the Copper IUD offered-non hormonal, minimal effort birth control. After about 4.5 yrs, I started having trouble however.

I started a period one day and it did not end for six months! I became anemic it was aweful. Now I never really knew if the Copper IUD was the actual culprit or not, but it was removed and the bleeding did stop so...maybe??

After six months and a green light from the doc, I got the Mirena IUD. OMG that thing right there...sheese! The first few months of that thing I was sick to my tummy all of the time but cramps were not as bad. Girl, I had this icky, nasty break through bleeding...it was dark sometimes and clotty and it would happen at any given moment for like a year - just nasty and not romantic girlfriend let me tell you! LOL. I almost removed the nasty thing but then that stopped. My periods - if I had one- were only four days. It was great....until this month when it tried to very painfully expell OMG. I've now learned I have uterine Fibroids so not sure if that has a role or not so talk to your Gyno. Keep journals of your periods start to end and you both make sure you are doing the best thing for YOUR body.

Women's Health has lots of options these days...so check out other options like the Depo Shot and the Nuva Ring they look interresting.

Well wishes!