Mirena IUD

Meredith wrote asking for experiences with the Mirena IUD:

"I've been reading all the stuff the Mirena people put out about it, and I know the listed side effects, etc. I guess I'm just looking for experiences from women who have gotten one. Was it uncomfortable to have in all the time? Does it affect your periods? What about mood swings? And I think it's a dealbreaker for me if it lowers my sex drive or makes my skin worse."

So if you've had or have the Mirena IUD in, can you give your experience with all those aspects? Thanks.

Comments

[wix]

Secondhand report: Hurts like the dickens upon removal (and can 'get lost', whatever that means except extra ouch), kills sex drive.

[Carrie Anne]

After experiencing a month long nightmare with Yaz (raging mood swings, headaches, palpitations…) and reading online about other women’s similar experiences with Mirena, I've decided to go with the non-hormonal (copper) IUD. I've always struggled with acne and a low sex drive so I don't want to take the chance of finding out Mirena is not for me. In regards to the heavier flow, my cycle went from light before my two kids to HEAVY so I don’t think I have much to lose there.

In addition to the side effects, I also read horror stories about the IUD actually perforating the uterus and traveling through the body. I discussed this concern with my midwife and she put my mind at ease by saying that is only possible during insertion if the provider does not have experience in putting one in.

As far as the pain, my midwife is directing me to schedule insertion for the first day or two of my period (any day now). She says your cervix is open during your menstrual cycle, therefore minimizing the pain during insertion. She gave me a prescription for an antibiotic to take before hand and told me to take ibuprofen before I come in.

BTW-I was on different BCPs for years without any (real) problems….until Yaz.

[Allison]

Couldn't get it out fast enough. If you are sensitive to any other forms of hormonal birth control, just don't even consider it. Supposedly the hormones "act locally," but that was not the case for me.

Within 4 to 5 days, I started to experience increasing mood swings. At 10-11 days, I experienced a full-blown panic attack. Once I had it out, I started to feel better almost immediately, but at the 2-week point experienced what I've heard called the "Mirena Crash" -- worsening depressive/anxiety sypmtoms. Supposedly if you wait it out, your system will return to normal. Since I had a 3-month old, we couldn't afford to wait, and my husband literally begged me to go to the doctor.

I'm still on Effexor. All of this happened in June. It was horrendous.

Now, I know many people use Mirena with fabulous success. But, if you're someone who has had sensistivity in the past to hormonal forms of b/c (the pill, etc.), be warned. The "this stays local" line is utter bullsh*t. We actually even found a (Canadian) doctor insert for Mirena that said that patients with past depressive episodes will be at much increased risk for a repeat. Wish I'd known that before I put it in.

[naomi]

Another happy Paragard-user here. Periods were heavy the first several months but returned to normal-for-me thereafter. Minor discomfort during insertion, none during removal, got pregnant again the month after. Definitely getting another one after kid #2. I never thought I'd be openly enthusiastic about a contraceptive method, but I love the reversibility, the lack of hormones, and the ease of it.

[Allison]

Reading all of the Paragard comments, I'm half-tempted to go that route. It's been long enough since my Mirena nightmare, I *might* actually be willing to consider doing something again.

Then again, I'm almost 100% sure I'm done, and am also seriously considering tubal ligation. Not to threadjack, but anyone have experience with how difficult recovery is from a tubal?

[caramama]

I have never considered an IUD before, mainly because I was fine on BCPs prior to kids and just never thought about what else was out there.

Now, I'm so intrigued! I'm sure I'm done after this pregnancy (which will be child #2), but hubby says I shouldn't decide for sure until it's been a few years (like 4 or 5 years) after this one is born just in case, since prior to this pregnancy I always wanted 3.

This sounds like a great solution! At least worth a try. I'll look into the different IUDs. Thanks everyone for putting your knowledge out there!

[Jess]

I have a Paraguard (non-hormonal IUD) and love it! Having been on the pill for 12 years, I had no idea what it was doing to my sex drive until I went off it to get pregnant. After that, I said "never again" to hormonal birth control. With the Paraguard, my periods are about the same as they were before I went on the pill-- heavier and longer than with the pill. My skin was a little pimply, but I've been able to clear it up with diet and herbs.

I love that I don't have to think about bc. I love that it's non-hormonal. I will definitely get another IUD after the next kid.

Good luck!
Jess

[Anon]

I had the Mirena inserted at 8 weeks postpartum. Until that time, I had been enjoying my newborn daughter and my new life as a mother immensely. Pretty shortly after I had the Mirena put in, I started to experience awful anxiety and depression. I also never gained back my sex drive from after the birth. I felt like I was losing my mind! I also bled non stop and never knew if I was having a period or just bleeding from the IUD. I had it removed at around 8 months and saw a marked change in my mood and sex drive. I have decided that I just can't take hormonal BC. Condoms work well for us right now.

[Julie]

snip snip honey. I've had my turn. Now it's yours.

[hush]

@Allison - My friend just had a tubal ligation done at the same time as she delivered her 3rd baby via (planned) C-section. Her recovery SUCKED, but it was hard to tell if that was due to the c-section, or to the tubal ligation, or to having it done all at once - who knows. Her stitches came open (dr did not use Dermabond), she wasn't given antibiotics soon enough after the surgery, she had to be re-admitted to the hospital... in short, it was awful. I've heard about tubal implants as an alternative to tubal ligation, but I don't know what they entail. Hopefully a trusted dr can advise you.

Is there any reason why your DH couldn't get a vasectomy? It's cheaper, more effective, less painful, and a MUCH easier recovery. It costs only a few hundred bucks (vs. thousands for tubal ligation), & it's a local anesthetic (vs. general anesthesia). My friend's hubby's vasectomy took all of 20 minutes, and they gave him local anesthetic that didn't involve any needles! Definitely worth checking out.

[peanut]

I know everyone's experience is different, and I really honestly wish mine was as good as a lot of the commentors' on here! Alas, here's what it did for me:

I got the Mirena IUD over 5 years ago before I had any children because my partner and I were moving to the 2nd/3rd world and access to oral contraception was limited and getting pregnant was certainly not an option.

The good:
- Insertion was uncomfortable, though now that I can compare it with childbirth, it was really nothing! Removal was a breeeeze.

- I had some prolonged spotting at first and then had absolutely NO periods. For years.

The bad:

- ACNE. I have NEVER had acne. Ever in my life, even in my teens and after a month or so on Mirena my back, butt and sometimes face were covered in spots.

- weight gain! I put on a good 10 pounds in the first few months of Mirena and I felt like I was just going to keep on gaining until I doubled in size. After some lifestyle changes I was able to lose some of it, but I was definitely at least 5-7 pounds heavier the entire time and after it was removed, the weight came off immediately.

- irritability, moodiness whatever. I just didn't feel or look like myself and it made me miserable.

No notable effects on sex drive, though being fat and pimply certainly didn't make me feel like a sex kitten and my husband finally put his foot down and insisted we remove the thing because he was tired of listening to me whine about being a porker.

Do note that I have never been happy with any pill or patch due to nausea, mood swings, bloating, irritability, etc. So I might just be cursed.

Good luck!

[suzanna]

I also have Paraguard, and chose it because it's hormone-free. Mine HURT HURT HURT going in- I required some 'special' procedure to open up my cervix and it was brutal. Since then periods are a little longer, but absolutely no cramping, so on balance I love the thing.

[Dawn]

My best friend had the Mirena and had a terrible time having it removed (they had to ultrasound to find it because the string was missing, and then the removal nearly sent her to the emergency room).

My midwife, who is one of my mother's closest friends and has many many years of experience with ob/gyn care, says that she hates the Mirena. She says that unless a patient has unusually heavy periods every month, she strongly prefers the Paraguard, which is much easier to insert and remove, for starters.

[chapmanchick]

After my so was born I opted for the regular no-hormone IUD. I didn't want to mess around with my hormones. The insertion was no fun whatsoever, and my periods were noticeably heavier for a few months after, but now its great.

[slydog]

I had it for about a year after my having my son. I wanted birth control I didn't have to think about and was okay to nurse while using. Plus my sister had it and liked it. I thought it was awesome, until I had it taken out (not becaue I didn't like it, but because I wanted to get pregnant again) and realized it was making me moody, have hot flashes and night sweats. I've heard of others having these same symptoms. As for flow, I had an annoyingly light period for about 6 months and then almost none.

[Michelle]

I have my Mirena for about one year now and I love it...I have had no real problems or side effects (I would love to blame my low libido and weight gain on this, but I also have to be honest...I am pretty sure those are MY problems!).

I do have more discharge and while my periods are lighter they do tend to be longer, which can be annoying.

But in general I am happy with it and plan to keep it in another year or so...then hopefully have it removed so we can have another baby!

[Ali]

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Mirena. I had two - one about eight weeks postpartum, and then another one a year ago.

Insertion was not bad - taking ibuprofen beforehand will help a lot. I did have some skin issues for the first month after insertion, but it settled down pretty quickly and was never a problem again. No mood swings. If properly inserted, you won't feel it all. (In fact, if you are feeling it, that's a sign that something isn't right) As for periods, yes, it affects them - I didn't have any the entire time I had my Mirena in, and it was bliss.

Now in the interest of full disclosure, I had my inserted to control symptoms of endometriosis and adenomyosis. My body freaked out after 18 months with the first IUD, and I had it removed; had the second one inserted in August of last year but because of my health issues were spiraling out of control my body rejected the IUD after a year. Now, this won't apply to most people, as my case was pretty extreme, but I did want to explain why I had two and for such short times.

I loved this IUD!

[Nella]

@CarrieAnne; I'm glad to know I"m not the only one with horrid side effects from Yaz.

Mirena was really pushed on me after the birth of my son, but I didn't do it because I was afraid of the hormonal side effects. I don't react well to BC pills, and I often feel like I"m the only one. Are there any good resources out there for people like me who want some sort of good birth control but when they take the pill they become severely depressed and have the acne of a 17 year old?

[Babs]

I had a copper IUD for 5 years that gave me bad cramps and increased bleeding and a longer period every month. I switched to a Mirena for a year and the cramping stopped and the bleeding decreased to almost nothing for a couple of days during my periods. No in-between bleeding for me and no other side effects that I really noticed. I couldn't use the pill (past stroke/TIA. OB/GYN said that the localized hormones and the type of hormone used would be fine) and condoms kept breaking (!) or falling off (!) so we needed a stress-free alternative. The Mirena worked better for me than the copper IUD. I had it removed and had a baby a year and a half ago and I asked my OB to have another one inserted at my 6 week appt, but she suggested against it claiming it may disrupt breastfeeding. Previous posters say otherwise, though.
Insertion was painful, crampy, like a pap smear with a hefty kick, removal was a bit less painful, but I'm a weiner with a very low pain tolerance. We conceived the next month after it was removed--hello fertile myrtle!
We snipped the strings short so they wouldn't poke my husband (ow!) and all was good.
We're pregnant again but I think I will probably get the Mirena again after baby #2...just in case we want to go for a baby #3!
Good luck with your decision...it looks like there are a lot of good and bad experiences out there to sift through.

[EM]

Btw, in response to one comment above--it's not true that the IUD isn't medically indicated unless you are done having children. That was always my vague impression as well; I thought that it posed fairly significant threats to your fertility. But that's not right. The reason that many don't recommend it until after you have had a child is because insertion is significantly more difficult prior to that, not because you might never have a chance to have another one. Although my understanding is that in other countries, lots of childless women get IUDs. I just felt the need to chime in because, as I said in my earlier comment, it actually makes me sort of angry how underused the IUD is in this country. And again, my experience is all with the Paraguard, which I am very high on. Hormonal birth control is contraindicated for me because I have a genetic tendency toward blood clots, but even if it weren't, I really don't see why someone would pick Mirena over the nonhormonal option (though no periods at all is somewhat attractive, I admit).

[Anyabeth]

I love mine! I've had it about ten months. Like many others have said, insertion was no big deal (this may have been because I had recently given birth) and I have had very few side effects. Some spotting and now I have very easy (and short) periods. Best birth control ever.

[FF]

I too have been struggling with this decision. My children are both in middle school and although we talk about it occasionally, I think we are finished having children. I am 36 years old and I have been on the BC pill for about 17 years (except during pregnacy & nursing). I have dealt with weight gain, headaches, low libido and anxiety/depression.

Hubby & I have talked about the V (he is willing), but my periods have always been very heavy, even on BC they are 5-7 days. I'd hate to go back to how they were before the pill if I'm not on any hormones. I'd maybe try Mirena, but I'm concerned I'll be worse with that than the Pill. Maybe the copper IUD would be better and the heavy bleeding would be a trade-off for the other symptoms.

Does anyone have any knowledge of side effects of going off hormonal BC after many years? I ALWAYS get a headache for the first 3 days of my period & I attribute it to hormone withdrawal. Would Mirena be better? Any advice? Thanks!!

[suzanna]

Just wanted to add, all of the OB-GYNs at the clinic I go to (6 or so) use the copper paragard IUD by choice. I wish I'd considered it earlier (pre-baby) rather than use BC pills, which really messed with my moods.

[Shelby Shankland]

I had the Mirena inserted about 6 months after the birth of my daughter (she's 21 months now), and I think it's been good. Hard to tell, though, because I am still breastfeeding. I don't really have a regular period, just some spotting from time to time. My sex drive isn't what it was when I was pregnant (yeehaw!) but it's not what it was when I was on Prozac back in the day either (nonexistent). I had severe difficulties with birth control pills because of the mood swings and depression, but I haven't noticed either (that weren't obviously circumstantial) with the Mirena. I will say this, though...

Progestin gives me heart palpitations. It runs in my family. I had mild palpitations for about a year, and was at the end of the year before I talked with my sister and realized that we had the same problem. My docs just kept saying it was nothing, not to worry about it, so I let it go. Now that I've had it for a while, the palpitations have stopped. Weird, huh?

[Shelby Shankland]

Oh, and the reason why OBs generally don't advise IUDs for women who haven't given birth is because the insertion can hurt if you haven't ever had your cervix soften and ripen before. It didn't hurt me at all when I had it done. It was no more uncomfortable than a speculum. Blech.

[NannyLady]

Hey, just wanted to pop in about IUDs being contraindicated for women who want more children - not true! hasn't been true for more than twenty years!
it is definitely true that women with an existing STD at the time of insertion _may_ have a greater risk of PID (which is why it's not ideal for women in nonmonogamous relationships in general), and why they recommend having a full STD panel done before insertion.
Here's a nice little IUD overview from the Canadian Medical Association:
http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/content/full/169/6/585

[Schwa de Vivre]

I got Mirena about 10 weeks after my son was born. It's not at all uncomfortable, but the insertion itself was a little uncomfortable -- in line with a pap for me. I'm still breastfeeding a year later, and between that and Mirena, I don't have a real period, though I do have something of a cycle. It is a *lot* less intense than it used to be, which I am pleased about because I used to have a b8tch of a cycle. I haven't had any problems with migraines since I've been on it, either, and that was the main thing keeping me away from hormonal birth control for about ten years.

It is, however, expensive. I mean, if your insurance actually steps up to the plate, it shouldn't be an issue -- and if you average it out over five years, it's not really expensive. But if, like AETNA, your insurance decides to lead you along and screw you over, it's very unpleasant.

I have to admit I'm intrigued that so many people love paragaurd. I had wanted to try that at first, but heard from my midwife that it was awful and she had to remove most of the ones she inserted. Hm. I'm wondering if that was exaggerated now.

[Bobbie]

I have had two Mirenas -- both before trying to conceive and then a couple of months after having my son. I would never hesitate to recommend it to anyone, as it has been wonderful! The insertion both times was a little uncomfortable, but definitely worth it. Both times I've had them, I rarely had a period, and if I did it was extremely light, sometimes no more than spotting. I am still breastfeeding my 23 month old son, so I don't know if things will eventually be different once he weans.

Definitely no change to my sex drive, and no problems with mood issues. I've had some periods of bad skin while on the Mirena, but I can not be certain that it is related because I also have had breakouts while using other methods of birth control.

I know several other women who have the Mirena and love it. I know there are some horror stories out there, but I haven't met anyone yet who has had a problem.

[becky]

I had a copper iud in between my first child and second pregnancy and also loved it. I have never got on with the pill so wasn't desperate about trying the mirena and was happy to take heavier peiods over hormones so the copper iud seemed like the best option. i really loved it, slightly painful insertion and slightly heavier periods but no pains and no other side effects whatosever. I was concerned it might effect my fertility but i had it taken out in July and was pregnant a month later. I will definitely be having another one fitted after this baby prior to hopefully having another. I don't know whether there is a cost difference as here in the UK they are both free. I think if i hadn't had such bad experiences with the pill i would consider the mirena as the no period thing seems very attractive. i have 2 friends who have mirenas and they love them.

[dot]

Just had to put in another good word for the Mirena. I had mine inserted a year postpartum (around the time I stopped breastfeeding) and so I haven't had a period in 4+ yrs! love that so much. Haven't noticed any weird side effects. It's so nice not to worry at all about birth control. One weird thing for me was that the strings completely disappeared (I freaked and went back in, and they did an ultrasound and everything was perfectly in place).

But I recommend it to everyone i know who's looking for birth control options.

-dot

[hush]

@EM & NannyLady - I stand corrected! If you're certain you're in a monogamous relationship, everything should be fine. Thanks for clearing that up for me.

[L.]

I had the Paragard (non-hormonal copper IUD) and hated, hated, hated it. I had it taken out within six or eight months. My periods were crampier and I bled a lot more. And they don't really seem to know how it works, but I didn't really like what I heard (IIRC it has to do with release of copper).

I am more picky than most people, I think. I don't want to take hormonal birth control because 1) it kills my libido and 2) I am suspicious of altering my body chemistry to do something it didn't evolve to do over the long term. So looks like it's condoms and maybe other barrier methods for us until we're at the point where we're ready to do something more permanent.

I was looking up info on the Paragard as I wrote this response and read that it can be used as emergency contraception if it is inserted within 5 days of unprotected sex. Interesting! (http://contraception.about.com/od/iud/a/paragard.htm)

[ms.tee]

My experience was similar to Summer's. I had the Mirena inserted 8 weeks post partum. No problems initially. No periods at all - probably due to nursing - and worry free sex. My hair started to fall out about one year after Mirena was inserted but it took a long time for me to connect it to the IUD. After weaning my dd at 27 months I began to experience radical, intense mood swings and was a bit anxious. I didn't really have these symptoms while I was nursing and they started to surface once I started the weaning process. I also had NO sex drive but I thought that was due to nursing and running around after a 2 year old all day. My OB and general practioner both thought it was all in my head but I insisted that the IUD be removed b/c I suspected my issues were due to the hormones being released. I was correct (the IUD was the only "alien" thing in my body - I'm not on any medication.)

In addition, I started to spot bleed for days before and after my period. The day after the IUD was removed I felt as if a 10 ton weight had been lifted off of my brain. I no longer experience spot bleeding and my hair has stopped falling out. And yes, my libido is returning. I feel like a totally different person.

IMO, if you have any issues with hormones at all and the pill has been a problem for you, don't get the Mirena. For me it wasn't really worth it.

[Kharma]

I asked my SIL about Mirena, who is both a well-respected OB/GYN and a feminist. Her response was an analogy of the Opthomologist who does hundreds of LASIK surgeries a week, yet still wears glasses. She'd recommend Mirena to her patients but would never encourage anyone in her family to get it because she doesn't feel there is sufficient data as to its long term safety. I think these comments also bear that out.

[SarcastiCarrie]

got it last week at 7 wks post-partum. $870 cash in advance since Anthem-BC/BS pays zilch on it.
no pain & w/ PCOS wanted something to thin the lining.

if looking for long-term permanent BC, check ouy ESSURE procedure. It's less-invasive than a tubal ligation.

[cheesefairy]

my understanding re: STIs is that the infection risk is at the time of insertion. bacteria can not "travel" up the string into your uterus. old design dalkon shield yes. string was bacteria friendly. new designs no.

no cite for this but I trained at planned parenthood years ago and that's what I recall.

also, you should be able to feel your strings after each period, as a way of making sure the IUD hasn't shifted. your sexual partner will not probably feel them (unless he or she is waaaaay up in your business)

have not yet had my own inserted but am intending on copper because my body doesn't like hormonal bc. and a vasectomy too, for good measure.

[Gillian]

I have had mine for several months. I'm still BF my 16 month old son. I like the IUD- no side effects. I had one period shortly after getting the IUD and then six weeks of spotting. The initial insertion sucked so, so, so much ass I don't even want to talk about it. I was uncomfortable- to say the least- for the next several hours. Lots of cramping. I never mind the gyn, so this was a surprise.

I wish I would have chosen the Nova T.. I still don't know how my doctor convinced me to go with hormonal bc. Next time!

[Sarah]

I've had Mirena for going on 8 months now. I was experiencing unpleasant side effects with the pill (even after trying several) and thought it'd be a good alternative.

My periods have pretty much vanished, though it took 6 months for that to happen. I still get a little crampy and experience break outs once a month but there is no bleeding.

The insertion for me was extremely painful. The first try wasn't successful due to two things...I have a tilted uterus and an my cervix isn't straight. A second attempt was successful but I was given something to relax the cervix. In spite of that the pain was so bad I thought I was going to pass out. I sucked it up for the possibility of not having to deal with a period!

I've heard some crazy stories of women trying to remove them themselves or having their husbands do it. I've also heard of the Mirena causing scarring from it moving or rubbing against the cervix. Anyone else heard anything similar? It was second-hand info and I couldn't find anything concrete to substantiate it.

[Hall]

I realize the question was about Mirena, but I wonder why no one has brought up the NuvaRing. It seems to me to have some of the same (mostly) mild side effects listed with the Mirena, but without any of the pain of insertion or extra bleeding. For me there is some loss of libido, though that has ameliorated somewhat in the 3 months I've used it, some increased intensity in moods, but it's really easy to deal with. It is damned expensive at $60/month and you do have to remember to take it out after 3 weeks and replace it a week, but that's pretty easy. I'm not totally sure I'm pleased with it (I'm 47 and this is the first hormonal BC I've used), but reading all these accounts of the Mirena, I'd have to say try the NuvaRing first. No painful insertion, no months of bleeding.

[bridget]

I have the Mirena and have been relatively happy with it. I had it inserted 12 weeks postpartum so insertion wasn't too bad- slightly more uncomfortable than a pap but that's about it. I will note that mine was inserted by a midwife that inserts them frequently. I'm also still nursing and haven't had supply issues. I've been on plenty of other bc methods- the pill, mini pill, nuva ring, diaphragm, condoms none without one issue or another and this one is by far the easiest. It did take a little while for the strings to soften up for me and so occasionally I would feel it but now it's fine. I haven't had a real period yet (could also be due to nursing) but have had some spotting and mucus discharge off and on for several weeks after insertion. It seems to have leveled off now and only the occasional day of spotting. My biggest problem was with the cost as my insurance didn't cover it or the insertion fee from my midwife. I guess it works out to be about the same cost as other forms of bc over the same period of time but paying it all at once was tough.

[Melissa]

I had the copper T IUD for 8 years. I really, really liked it. Insertion was uncomfortable, but after that I never really thought about it. My periods (normally very light) were slightly heavier. During the first couple of years, my partner thought he might have felt the string, but never mentioned it after that.

I see no reason to complicate the perfection of the IUD by adding hormones. My experience with barrier and hormone-based contraception was unsatisfying, but the IUD was awesome.

Notable mention: if you are *at all* at risk of STDs, use barriers--especially if you have an IUD.

One interesting statistic is how many healthcare providers use the Paraguard. I was a midwife for 10 years, and every midwife, nurse, nurse practitioner and MD I knew who was using contraception had an IUD.

[Debra]

I had the Paraguard for a year after the birth of my son. I loved not thinking about BC and don't think it affected by weight, sex drive, etc.

However, I HATED the heavy periods as I'd always been blessed with a light, short period. And even after seeing my OB/GYN again to "trim" the strings, my DH could still feel them during sex. So, we opted to take it out.

[Catherine]

LOVE the Mirena. I got one at 8 weeks postpartum and still am breastfeeding with it. I have a history of serious depression and past experiences with hormonal birth control have been disastrous, so I figured the Mirena was not an option. But my doctor told me that the Mirena does not release hormones into your bloodstream, so I went for it. I see and certainly believe that others have had terrible side effects that seem to be from the hormones, but I will tell you that I haven't had a moment of it, thank goodness. It took 30 seconds to insert, no discomfort after the dizziness that others have reported, I never feel it, I have had no cramping, no sexual side effects. Best of all, I now have not had my period for almost 18 months. The only side effect is slightly increased vaginal lubrication, which is not exactly a bad thing. Although reading these comments, I am wondering if I have had related weight gain. I think it is more likely that the weight gain is due to having had a hard time giving up the eat-anything-you-want-and-gain-just-the-right-amount-of-weight experience I had during pregnancy. Bliss.

[Katie]

I've got mine about 6 wks postpartum so I've had it going on 9 months. It was a little uncomfortable when it was inserted but no more than a typical exam. I had a light spotting the 1st few days. I am still breastfeeding and haven't really had a period, just the occasionally spotting. I love it so far, it's great for no think BC. No problems with cramping, weight gain or skin issues.

[SMDNY]

I'm so glad to hear so many have had good experiences with Mirena. It was my number once choice for BC, but my doc refused because I'm under 35 and have not had children yet. I begged her for a year before I would be leaving for a 7 year PhD program and she still refused. Good lord I wish I would have gone and found another doctor. I had it timed to get an IUD a full year before leaving my cushy job with full health insurance in case of complications or bad side effects. Now I'm back in school, I had to switch my BC pill brand to one that is covered by my student health ins., but it gives me really bad PMS, and now I have 7 years of this hormonal hell to look forward to!

I know many of you commentors are moms - have non-moms had any issues getting an IUD?

[Monica]

Glad to hear it's worked well for so many! I'm a bit jealous, actually.

I was all set to love the Mirena, but apparently I'm a less-than ideal candidate for an IUD.

At 6wks post-partum, my OB (after consulting the directions multiple times- red flag much?) completed the insertion and warned me of spotting and cramping for a few days. I was unconcerned when I had both symptoms, but the cramps felt more muscular than menstrual. Three days later, I was supposed to fly with my newborn to visit family, but the cramps had gotten worse and a call to my OB resulted in a "come on in and we'll check it out."

Here's where it gets weird: No one can find that little IUD anywhere in the right vicinity. "Did it fall out?" Um, no. Two or three OBs come in to try to find it. They mention the possibility of "wandering," which is pretty freaky on its own, but when their ultrasound can't find it either, they packed me off to the hospital for x-rays.

The x-rays show that cute little IUD is just hanging out by my liver, loitering like a surly teenager. Surgery it is! No further damage done.

In the end, my OB says she must have *punctured* my uterus during insertion. (The same insertion during which she had the nurse hold the directions so she could read them while operating the apparatus with both hands.) She told me my uterus must be upside-down and congratulated me on my "high pain threshold." Aw, gee...

[coop]

Its like having sex with a porcupine. My wife went back and the doc even 'trimmed' the strings. Guess what, it hurts even worse. It is coming out tomorrow. What a waste of money.

[amanda jensen]

aj. I just got my miren out last weak and the doctor said that he reccomended to have at least one to two normal periods before trying for another baby. Well i have not had a period at all for the whole 2 1/2 yrs. that i had my iud in and still nothing. im wondering if we ended up getting pregnant before a period if that would be bad, if their would be problems with the pregnancy? Help i am getting allready a little nervouse and inpatient!!

[superlicious]

Didn't work for me -OR- my Husband!

It's been a little over a month since I've had it in and now it has to come out tomorrow. (Not looking forward to it)!

My Husband gets poked constantly during intercourse. The strings are not the problem, it's the end of the strings. They are like a sharp thick needle. (I think it is the angle the strings are cut after insertion, but I could be wrong).

At my IUD one month post procedure last week, my doctor cut the strings shorter......BIG Mistake! The strings (wire) are now flush with my cervix so I'm sure you can imagine the pain during intercourse when hitting this 'sharp stick'.

As for me, orgasm is out of the question! I'm almost there and then have to stop because of the pain in my uterus when contracting....No fun and not worth it!

Insertion was the worst pain ever AND the first attempt was unsuccessful!
FYI - Having two kids (w/ epidural) was a breeze.

My doctor gave me four locals in my cervix. Each shot felt like a bee sting. After that, she tried to put the instrument in to measure my uterus but couldn't get past the back door. Even though I was on my period, (which is recommended) the back door of my cervix was closed tight. (The 'front door' of the cervix being in the back of the vagina and the 'back door' being the opening to the uterus). I could not help but to let out a few screams...it hurt so bad!

She took the bloody tool out and showed me how much further she needed to go in order to insert, but my cervix was not cooperating. So....I was to come back in a month for a second try.

Insertion appointment:
Prescribed Valium and Darvocet...1 hour before procedure.

Another round of bee-stings...Ouch! Insertion went quickly but EXTREMELY painful! I was doubled over and the tears were flowing. It took me about 1/2 hour to collect myself. Cramps for a few days afterward. Spotting since insertion.

For tomorrow.....I have my pain killers but still very nervous.

.......After a ton of money thrown out the window and many painful experiences, its back to 'THE PILL'. I tried to talk my Husband into getting snipped, but no chance. Lucky me! :-)

[Samantha]

I just got my mirena taken out today.. omg i wish it worked like so many of you.. i was the devil with it in.. my boyfriend is SO amazing and if it wasn't for his loyalty and love for me, we wouldn't be together.. i was a total C-Word... Anxiety attacks, foggy, bloated, cranky, started getting really tired lately, lethargic.. omg.. so horrible.. i gained 4 pounds and had craving for nasty greasy food that i never eat.. EW!!! i'm so happy to be myself again!! :)