I'm 24, and have been off hormonal birth control of various sorts for four years. I agree that young women are pressured into taking hormones as birth control in spite of harmful long-lasting side effects. Plus, insulin's effects are far-reaching!

A year ago, I got the ParaGard copper IUD when I got married because I didn't want any extra hormones in my system. My period went from heavy and irregular with some cramping to regular and very very heavy with cramping severe enough to keep me home in bed for a day. At the time, I was a raw foodist with fish occasionally, so lots of fruit, juicing, agave, dates, nuts, and sprouted grains = high insulin levels.

Since last Octoberish, I've been Paleo, and have seen great changes in my period, though this may partially be due to my uterus getting used to the IUD!

•Anyway, my period lasts 3-4 days instead of 7-8 and is lighter than pre-IUD days.

•Cramping is also much less severe, which may be significant since I have not read any accounts of it diminishing, but something that must be planned for each month indefinitely.