Mirena users

flyingsaucer · April 2011

I am considering using Mirena for BC... can you share your experience with it? Was it painful to have put in? Have you had a lot of side effects? Overall, are you pleased?

Thanks

polkadotsock · April 2011

I had one put in around 2 months PP. I had some cramping while they inserted it and for maybe a half hour afterwards but that's it. I never had any spotting like some people have had.

I'm very happy with it! Half hour of uncomfortableness (is that a word?) for 5 years of birth control, yes please!

quidditchcapn1120 · April 2011

I actually think it's an awesome form of birth control! I almost never have to think about it. Once a month or so, I check to make sure the strings are in place and as long as they are, you are good to go. I did not think it hurt when it was put in. However, I had a vaginal delivery (therefore my cervix dilated all the way- my doctor told me this makes a big difference) and my doctor is one that uses lidocaine to numb the area beforehand. I actually was way nervous before I had it put in and I really shouldn't have been.

The bad: I spot every now and then. When I first had it put in, I had some bleeding that was lighter than a period but heavier than spotting and it lasted two weeks. That amount hasn't happened since, but every once in a while I have a day where I need to wear a pad- it's not heavy enough for a tampon. I also had a humungo headache that lasted one weekend. My doctor thought it was coincidence but it didn't go away with anything I took that normally helps my headaches.

If you look on the internet, you will find all sorts of horror stories about it. Just remember this, if you have a problem with something you are WAY more likely to share it on the internet. All the women that have no problems have no reason to go searching about it on the internet. There are definitely some risks but I am sure you already know that: a higher incidence of ectopic pregnancies, uterine/abdominal perforations, etc. But these are all pretty rare.

Overall, I would highly suggest it if you won't be ready for another baby really soon.

sawyerthedestroyer · April 2011

I love it. I had it put in about 2 months postpartum. I had a c-section and never fully dilated. I took a percocet left from the c-section recovery just before the appointment and the insertion wasn't anymore uncomfortable than a pap is to me.

Five months pp and I still haven't had a period *knock on wood* which I am so happy about since my periods have always been horrible. I love not having to remember to take a pill every day, and honestly DH and I don't trust the pill anymore because I got pg while on it. And my co-pay was only $50, which is well worth it for five years of BC, instead of the $10 a month I was paying before for the pill.

To me the benefits outweigh the risks. And I agree with PP above that said people are much quicker to write a bad review than they are a good one.

ETA for clarity

LifeRemarkable · April 2011

our problem with it?

....tmi...

the strings poke H in the peen while we have sex.

Rangergal9 · April 2011

I had it put in about 3 weeks ago so I don't have a lot of experience. The insertion was uncomfortable, but was only really painful when it was inserted. The pain went away right after. I took ibuprofen an hour before my appt. The cramping I experienced wasn't anything more than what I get during my period. Plus they insert it during your period anyway. So far I haven't had any problems and don't even realize its there.

trombagn · April 2011

polkadotsock:

I had one put in around 2 months PP. I had some cramping while they inserted it and for maybe a half hour afterwards but that's it. I never had any spotting like some people have had.

I'm very happy with it! Half hour of uncomfortableness (is that a word?) for 5 years of birth control, yes please!

this

only thing is i had high hopes it would get rid of my period but no such luck, i've had 3 in the 2 months it has been in

TheDreamingTree · April 2011

I had one put in two years ago, and I am planning on getting another one put in during my next cycle. I have been putting it off because it hurt a lot being put in the first time, but my midwife said that it shouldn't hurt as much this time around since I had a baby recently, whereas two years ago I had not recently had a baby.

I ended up spotting for 2-3 weeks out of every month for about 10 months when I had one, and then I hardly got a period after that, but I had it removed because my husband and I were ready to start trying to conceive DD.

Even with my not-so-ideal experience with it, I am willing to go through it again because I know eventually I probably won't get a period, and the fact that it lasts 5 years and I don't have to remember to take a pill makes it so worth it!