Come in if you have Mirena

WYEngTeacher

My question is: If you previously used other hormonal birth control, i.e. the pill, and didn't like its side effects, do you have any of the same complaints about Mirena?

I currently have the other IUD called Paragard, but I'm not loving how long and heavy it has made my periods. My obgyn has suggested I switch to Mirena. Originally I chose Paragard over Mirena because I hated the pill (and Nuvaring) and swore I'd never again use hormonal birth control. My primary complaints were greatly reduced libido, and certain pills really messed with my emotions and made me super short-tempered. My doctor says I shouldn't experience any of these side effects with Mirena, but I'm just curious what any of your experiences are. Thanks! 

SuperCuteBenz

I had the mirena for about year or so. I HATED it with a passion, but I seem to be the minority.

I had major mood swings, reduced libido, and bled for weeks straight. I called to have it removed after having it for only 5 weeks. They convinced me to give it another week or two, and finally the bleeding stopped.

I just didn't feel like myself, and I felt much better after having it removed.

C.squared

I had previously used hormonal BC and hated it.  Got the Mirena after DD and just had it removed b/c I HATED it.  No libido whatsoever, terrible, painful acne, felt bloated all the time, gained weight (despite having lost it all before Mirena and eating well and exercising a lot), mood swings.  I just didn't feel like myself.  I don't know if that's going to get better now or not, but I'm glad it's out.  I bled for a long time after insertion - didn't get my period back till DD was 15 months (but I was nursing).  Since then I get one every 3 weeks.  They're light, but annoying that it's so frequent.  I had one gyn tell me I was crazy to think the Mirena was causing those things.  The last doctor I saw (who removed it) said she had heard the same complaints from a lot of women.  I'll probably try Paragard after we have another child (not for a while) and who knows what if that's terrible.  GL! 

Jerayskin

I had my mirena removed after about a year, bc of decreased libido. It also made my vagina go on "lock down" and made sex extremely uncomfortable for me. We tried using lube, but it still felt like I was getting an indian burn every time we had sex. 

I never noticed decrease libido on the pill, but I was on that before I got pregnant with my daughter. I don't know if things have changed since I had her or what, but I have been having weird periods and cramping/ heavy bleeding on the pill now. I recently stopped taking it bc of all the trouble I have been having.  

Brewtowngrl

I have an increase in libido, but I also weaned right before I got it so my libido couldn't go any more south then when I was BFing.  I just got over the non-stop spotting and seam to be doing good with it.  We will see in a few weeks if my period gets lighter.  Before I got it I was up to 9 days so again I don't think it could get too much worse. 

 

y&j

I had mine removed after it gave me acne like I've never had before in my life!  I bled for over 3 months straight and finally the bleeding stopped.  The only thing I liked about it was not having a period at all after that.  My husband said he felt the threads a little during intercourse, & it felt different to me as well.  It wasn't uncomfortable or painful on my end, but definitely, not as good.  

What angers me the most is that when I mentioned the horrible acne I suddenly had to my dr., he dismissed it & said it couldn't possibly be due to my IUD.  It simply wasn't a side effect of Mirena so he claimed.  He said it was probably due to me getting off Yasmin (um..at that time had been off BC for over a year).  Uh hello...I was 29 at the time and never had an acne problem in my life...not before I was pregnant, not during, nor after!  I googled it "Mirena & acne" and came across several forums with many women sharing my same experience.  I called Bayer to report this side effect, and low and behold...they told me although uncommon, yes, it can be a side effect and that it had already been reported.  I was so angry at my OB!  I spent months and months racking my brain trying to figure out why I had all this acne that would never go away because I trusted what my dr. had to say.  When I found out, I immediately called my dr.'s office and scheduled to have it removed.  It took several months for the acne to go away, & today I'm left with scars on my left cheek.  My best friend also got bad acne after getting Mirena.  And another friend of mine gained 50 lbs. (even though she lost all her baby weight).  Everybody is different and sorry this sort of turned into a rant/vent, but just wanted to share my personal experience with Mirena.

kate081206

I got mine out after ten months because I had gained 20 lbs.  Sorry you are getting all these horror stories, but unfortunately, I couldn't stand mine.

katlizabeth

This is really interesting!  I chose not to have Mirena after ds, even though my ob kind of pushed for it.  I just wasn't comfortable. 

OP: I obviously don't have it, but I've read on here lots of people who love it, so maybe you'll hear from some of those!

LLB430

I had it for two years and loved it. After the initial spotting stopped my periods became regular.  I always spotted on the pill but didn't on the mirena.  Only got it out so that we can ttc.  It will be my first choice for bc in the future.

WYEngTeacher

Wow! I definitely did not expect to hear such strongly adverse responses! After hearing what so many of you have to say, I think I'll stick with my Paragard. My libido is great with it, and I definitely don't want to go down that road again (not to mention the other effects so many of you suffered). My only "complaint" with the Paragard is the heavier and slightly longer periods, but they really aren't even that bad.

It's funny, I just vaguely mentioned the period thing to my OB at my annual, and he immediately started pushing the Mirena. He said they have a person who works at the practice whose job is JUST to check with insurance companies about covering IUDs. He said that if they find out my insurance won't cover the switch, I should "fight it", and he even greatly exaggerated my bleeding in order to "make a case" for the change. 

I like my OB a lot. But... it really makes ya wonder, huh? 

aforst

I had it placed in December of '10 after I had DS2.  I spotted for a few days and then nothing.  I still haven't had a period.  (I did BF until about 4 weeks ago).  I have not noticed any major side effects.  I like it b/c I don't have to think about it and I enjoy not having a period!! 

Shayna0182

I had Mirena put in after having an emergency csection with major blood loss in May of 2010.  I knew it would be majorly risky to my health if I got pregnant, so I opted for an iud.  I have a love/hate relationship with it.   I did bleed for about 3 months straight, but after having it for 13 months, now all I have is an annoying light period every month.  

I did have some weight gain, but not enough to make me take it out.   I also think that it may be due to my craptastic eating habits lately. 

transcriber87

I JUST had mine removed last month...I got it inserted after Cadance was 2 months old...I wanted to use the nuvaring again but within hours it cut my milk production in half...They said the same thing would happen with BC pills and the doc said that Mirena is great, its good for 5 years, you don't have a period and it does not affect breastfeeding...YAY! Sounded really great at the time...so I had it inserted and bled for about 4 months straight..Called the doc and they said that it was normal...I must be one of those that has the opposite happen..Well, my face started breaking out (I had never had acne) and then a few months later that stopped.  Well last summer, which would have been 1 year post insertion, I started having HORRIFIC pains in my stomach, so bad my mom took me to the ER...Lo and behold, I had cysts on AND around both ovaries...That is a side effect of the Mirena.. I started bleeding after sex, sex hurt, I was having weird discharge, every time going to the doc and being diagnosed with yeast infections...doc said it COULD be the mirena.  The last straw was in July when I was at work, I had been feeling sooo sick that day, I had gone to the bathroom and when I stood up, blood was gushing out of me, felt like I was hemorrhaging! My back hurt so bad! Later that night, I had to call my mom to come and get me and take me to the hospital, I was doubled over in pain so bad and bleeding so heavy! The ER doc advised I get that thing out of me! So I made an appt with my OB and they did an ultrasound, said it was in place but there were cysts again, which at that time, I said I wanted it out! So I had it taken out, and now I am back on the Nuvaring...I was using the Nuvaring when I got preggo BUT was also on an antibiotic!  Good luck

 

deltagirl79

I had it for 14 months then got it removed. I did not do well with it and I have never had a problem with hormonal BC before. That said, I have 4 friends IRL with it and I am the only one who did not love it. If you only have longer periods with the Paraguard then I'd just stick with what's working.

hott2trott

I have had mirena for almost 3 years. I don't love it, but I love not worrying about bc. I did go through about 6 months having some acne problems. Finally it went away. My periods are longer than normal and my PMS symptoms are worse.