Mirena - what to expect?

WinesNot Whines

I am finally getting Mirena. (Why did it take me this long to get around to it? I have no clue.) Anyway, I remember hearing some people on here complain about cramping and spotting afterwards. How bad is it and what should I expect?

walteroliver3

I thought getting the Mirena put in wasn't so bad.  I had some cramping the day of, I think, but it went away with some Midol.  I had mine in for about three years, and for the most part I liked it.  I stopped having a period, which isn't uncommon, so I liked not having to deal with that. I also liked that it wasn't something I had to remember everyday, which I had to do while taking the pill.

 The downsides for me with the Mirena were that the doctor who inserted mine cut the strings VERY short, so I was not able to check it myself.  The midwife who performed my annual Pap couldn't find it either, so I at one point had to have an u/s to check that it was still there (it was). Also, for me, getting the Mirena out was quite painful. I think I may be atypical in that regard, because I have heard others say that the removal was easy for them.  But, my experience was that I bled for five days after having it removed, was put on an antibiotic, and was told to wait a week to have sex. Not fun...

However, I would consider using the Mirena again.  The only bad part for me personally was removal.  I think if I do ever get one again, I'll request that the strings be left long enough for me to check it myself and hope that it doesn't implant as high in my uterus as the last one did (which is why I suspect having it out was such an issue for me).

Good luck with everything, I hope it goes well for you! 

preissless1

I had mine put in about 10 weeks pp, andit wasn't bad.  I had a prescription for a cervix softener that I inserted the morning of the insertion.  I also took some ibuprophen a half hour before the insertion, and it wasn't bad at all.  I was still having some pp spotting, but I didn't notice anything more than that.  My doc kept the strings too long, and they were poking me, so I went back two days later to have them cut shorter.  Since then I've had no complaints.  I get very very mild spotting here and there. 

 

hollace

I didn't have any issues, mild cramping right after insertion, no real pain.  A little spotting in the weeks after. Never took any tylenol/advil for it.  I had a c-section and my cervix never dilated (breech) I would think if you had a vaginal delivery it shouldn't bother you too much insertion wise.

tomandcourt

I had some spotting and cramping that day, maybe a little spotting the next day? And that was it. Not sure if you've gotten AF back yet, but I got mine in when J was 8 weeks and never really got one until he was a year. And ever since, it's barely been anything--a day or two of heavy spotting at most.

I like it (although I'm getting it out pretty soon )

Karenbird

I'll be the Bad News Betty and say that mine hurt a lot going in.  It wasn't long lasting pain, but....Ouch!

Artslvr

I literally felt nothing when they inserted mine.  Then again, I've had three kids.  They did it, it was over, and I said "will you let me know when you put it in?" and dr. was all "it's already in!"  I had spotting for a few days after insertion.

I will say it took several months for my period to get back to normal-ish.  The first period I had after insertion was two weeks long.  No cramps, no heavy bleeding, just really annoying (that's a lot of tampons/pads!)  The next period after that came like 30-something days after - usually my cycle is about 26-28 days.  I was getting nervous that I was pg!  The next cycles after that came in about 28 days - give or take, but again, the period lasts an annoyingly long time - like a week to ten days. 

So far, I think the pros outweigh the cons.  Light periods, no cramps whatsoever - my periods were unusally heavy with major pain before Mirena, so it counts for a lot that I'm not popping Aleve every four hours.  But, long periods, lots of $$ spent on feminine products.   I don't particularly like having the long periods because I'm not really into getting intimate with DH while that is going on.

Maybe my body is still evening out.  I had it put inserted in May.  I'm on period number 5 after insertion.

BTW it did nothing for my PMS.  I get really, really annoyed and impatient right before and in the first few days of my cycle and Mirena doesn't help that.  The dr. told me that if I wanted to take hormones to help that, it would be separate from Mirena because Mirena does not typically help solve mood swings.

umdbride

Not to be a naysayer, but just wanted to share the experience my good friend had so you can be watchful - just in case.  She had mirena put in after her second child and said it went really well.  She got her period normally the first month or so, and then it stopped - she thought her body was adjusting.  Then a month or so later she got heavy cramps that she said felt like labor and bleeding. It turned out she got pregnant even with the IUD, and both the IUD and fetus were expelled with the cramping. Fortunately, she didn't have to have any follow up procedures, but emotionally it was pretty hard on her.  I think she was surprised at how hard it was considering they weren't planning on a third child. 

I'm sure this isn't the norm, and her doctors said she must be very fertile (she got PG both times super fast) but my advice would be just be conscious of any cramping, etc. and don't wait to get it checked out.

****AWS****

LOVE my mirena! It was painless going in, had a little bit of cramping and spotting for a few days after and a few mini periods each month but now nothing, no periods, no issues.