calling all women with the MIRENA IUD

[squirrely4]

I have been thinking about getting this. I have done alot of reading and think this will work for me.

I hate having to take the pill every day and forget some times, and when i do take it i have NO sex drive. I mean I was a "wild women" before the pills, but now NOTHING.

I wanted to know how people that have it alread like or dislike it. I know there will be some pain, cramping and bleeding when it gets "installed" but dont know what to expect after that point.

Any info would be good, but positive info would be great. Thanks so much ladies.

[cjbw]

Just got mine a week ago. Installation was horrible and I cramped like crazy the first day. After that, I could barely feel it the second day and now can't feel it at all. My dr. told me to go ahead and quit taking my pills about four days before I got the IUD. That's when I had most of my spotting. I barely spotted at all with the IUD and only for a couple of days. My sex drive is back and I love it! I go next Tuesday for an ultrasound just to make sure it's still in the right place.(a good idea imo since I can't feel it anymore). After that, it's no maintenance except for yearly paps. No more pills everyday and all the side effects that go with. If you search the web long enough you will find plenty of people who have terrible things to say about the Mirena, but I love mine.

[Mely]

Ha!I thought the same thing until i had it 4 a couple of months!Then it gave me every terrible symptom everyone had been talking about.I have viscious mood swings, loss of sex drive,heart pap,chest pains,weight gain(25,lbs),cramps,headache,p anic attacks,swelling in my hands and feet,tenderness of breast,tiredness,severe back pains,and am depressed at times!I have never every had any of these side effects til i had this inserted.I am only 19 and this has turned me into an old women who is always cranky and it is not worth it.The docs will tell u this is not the cause of the side effects but don't be stupid and let them tear up ur body til its 2 late.Get it removed or don't get it put in.It is extremely damaging 2 urself and if u ever want kids in the future this can screw up ur chances and thats not worth this risk.Good luck=D

[Tiffany]

I had the IUD inserted 4 days ago. I have to say it was very painful when it was inserted. After the doctor finished, I could not feel it. I have been having brown blood for the past 4 days and cramping. I have taken 600 mg Ibuprofen, and I still have the cramping. I am going to give it a good 6 months and see what happens.

[danni_girl]

Ok, I had mine for over 2 years. The over all experience...NOT THAT GREAT for me. I had no sex drive. Really BAD mood swings. Horrible cramps after the few times I felt like having sex. Bleeding for up to 2 days after sex. Oily skin and break outs, oily hair. You can find the manufacturing information about the Mirena on the internet, it's the package that was sent to the doctors and it tells you all the side effects...none of which I was told about before I got it.

A good thing was that insertion was a breeze...at least for me. The hell started about 2 days after it was inserted...heavy bleeding and cramping for about a week. Then it stopped. My cycle was NEVER right, but my period was very light [only needed a light tampon or a pantie liner] so that was the best part of it all. Now removal was also a breeze, until about the second day after it was taken out. I was bleeding so heavily that I was going through a super tampon and an overnight pad about every 1.5hrs. I was on bed rest for a week trying to get it slow down. I was passing blood clots the size of small potatoes. It wasn't pleasant AT ALL! But I was put on a higher dose BCP and all is better now.

Ok so not everyone responds the same way to everything. And you are doing the right thing. Ask questions and do research. That is so important. You will just have to see how YOU react to it. GOOD LUCK!

[Tiffany]

I have had the IUD for 14 days now. The cramping is gone, but I have a lot of brown/light red blood on a daily basis. The spotting is different from a period. I can not even feel anything. I am always surprised when I go to the bathroom and see the brown/light red blood. I will keep you posted on my progress.

[Beth]

I had the Mirena inserted 6 months ago. It was very painful and I nearly fainted. I bleed for a good 6 weeks afterward. My periods have been easier with less cramping. They have gone from heavy, to light and now I haven't had one in over 8 weeks. But boy, are my breast sore and swollen. Has anyone had this experience? I feel weird not having a period. And I can't stand my breast hurting all the time.

[Lindsey]

I have had mine for 8 weeks, although no periods are great, i have NO sex drive and continuous pms. Although everyone reacts differently, good luck!

[april 3]

squirrely4 wrote:

I have been thinking about getting this. I have done alot of reading and think this will work for me.
I hate having to take the pill every day and forget some times, and when i do take it i have NO sex drive. I mean I was a "wild women" before the pills, but now NOTHING.
I wanted to know how people that have it alread like or dislike it. I know there will be some pain, cramping and bleeding when it gets "installed" but dont know what to expect after that point.
Any info would be good, but positive info would be great. Thanks so much ladies.

I had the "installation" hehehe about a week ago and even after having two kids it hurt like hell-thought I was going to vomit..felt faint. However the next day I felt fine, but did have some spotting. I did feel really nauseasated the other day, which reminded me of being prego--nausea out of nowhere --however that is it- and so far so good- hope it works out for me!

[malinda]

ok my five years will be up in november 2009. all i have to say is that i have not had very very light periods if not none... but this cant be good we need to have our periods so we can flush out our system dont we????? i get constant cramps and i am very moody all the time. related to mirena i dont know. but all i do know is that i didnt have them before. it comes down to whats right for you. hope this information has been helpful.

[Noellie]

I have had mine for almost 4 years now. It took about 4 to 5 months for the spotting to go away. My periods are very light with I love. I never worry about birth control. I never had mood swings. The side effects I had are large ovarian cysts, HUGE cysts. I also had some shedding of hair in the first year. At first the doctors had no clue why I keep getting huge cysts. Then I went to a new doctor and she said a rare side effect of the Mirena is ovairan cysts. If you look on the Mirena website it also confirms ovarian cysts are a side effect. I can not tolerate any pills or the BC patch. I have gain weight but I do not know if it the IUD or my lack of excercise. After my last large cyst I think I am going to remove the Mirena and try a copper IUD. all birth control has side effects I just trying to fine the side effects I can live with painfree.

[missy]

i got my iud inserted about 6 days ago. I was really nervous. But it was so easy. All it feels like when the iud is going thru the cervix is like your getting a bad cramp thats about it. They do have t measure the uterus it has to be between 6-10cm. So if its in that measurement its all a breeze from there. I did have slight cramping for the next 3 days and she said that was normal. She also said it would be normal to bleed/spot for a little bit. but i hardly think the pain was the worst thing ever. I didnt come close to fainting or vomiting at all. Its not that bad. Especially if you have had kids the dr. said that makes it easier. I would definatly recomend it. Think about it lets say you have bad cramps and bleeding for the 1st 6 months isnt that worth it for 5 years? never having to worry about taking a pill again? I think it isl.

[danni_girl]

malinda wrote:

ok my five years will be up in november 2009. all i have to say is that i have not had very very light periods if not none... but this cant be good we need to have our periods so we can flush out our system dont we????? i get constant cramps and i am very moody all the time. related to mirena i dont know. but all i do know is that i didnt have them before. it comes down to whats right for you. hope this information has been helpful.

Not true...the reason that we bleed each month is to get the uterus ready for another baby. So it's "fresh" so to speak. Back in the good ol' days women bleed A LOT less...mainly because they had many more children then most woman today have. So no it's not necessary to have a period each month. It's just apart of being a woman...and about the moodiness and cramps I had them as well. I wanted to try some hormone creams but I never got around to it...The Mirena is putting progesterone into your system, so it maybe the lack of estrogen that causes the mood swings and what not. I can't test this out now...seeing as how I have had my Mirena removed, but maybe one of you can try and see if it makes a difference. But I can tell that since I have been on BCP [estrogen] that my sex drive is back and that I'm not as moody. Of course I will have to give it a bit more time, but hell after 2 yrs of not wanting sex this is GREAT!

[amaterasu]

I had a Mirena placed two years ago and I have become its biggest advocate! No periods, no pills, and a logical birth control method that doesn't make me a psycho bitch! I hated the systemic nature of the Pill and how I lacked a sex drive and was having mood swings that made me EVIL. I researched every type of contraceptive and this one makes the most sense chemically and mechanically. Granted, everyone's reaction to discomfort is different (apparently everyone here is super sensitive), but I took a vicodin before my appointment and read a book of poetry while she inserted it. Light cramping/irritation followed for a couple of days, a certain "awareness" of that area, then i felt nothing. I haven't had a period in two years and I certainly don't miss it. My sex drive has returned with great vigor! At least try it, you might really love the Mirena.

[danni_girl]

As for me being "super sensitive" that would be a huge negative. The insertion was a breeze...I felt nothing. It was the cramps and bleeding after sex every time that put me off. I mean cramps to where I was doubling over and crying. I'm not wimp...but they were killer. The moodiness was also a big issue for me. Who wants to be a grouch 24/7...not much fun.

So for you the Mirena was a great choice, but for me it wasn't...but you wont see me making a personal stab against you for that...if anything rock on sister and I hope it continues to work out well for you!

[Beth_P_86]

I just had a baby 3 months ago. and I got th Merina IUD inserted 3 weeks ago and I'm STILL Bleeding VERY heavy.... MY Doc said it was normal. but I'm already tired with having a newborn and I Feel like I'm prego again but I'm not! hmmmm My sister had it done a year ago and Loves it and had NO Side affects. I'm MOODY and TIRED all the time. If I stop bleeding soon then maybe I'll grow to like it. AND I LOVE the thought of not having a period each month.... That's one of the reasons why I LOVED beig Prego.... I'll Keep updating my progress....

[danni_girl]

Beth_P_86 wrote:

I just had a baby 3 months ago. and I got th Merina IUD inserted 3 weeks ago and I'm STILL Bleeding VERY heavy.... MY Doc said it was normal. but I'm already tired with having a newborn and I Feel like I'm prego again but I'm not! hmmmm My sister had it done a year ago and Loves it and had NO Side affects. I'm MOODY and TIRED all the time. If I stop bleeding soon then maybe I'll grow to like it. AND I LOVE the thought of not having a period each month.... That's one of the reasons why I LOVED beig Prego.... I'll Keep updating my progress....

So are you doing any better yet? The waiting for the bleeding to stop is a sucky thing. Seeing as how you just had a baby when you had it inserted. When I got mine done I was just finished up with all the bleeding from the birth, then it starts all over again. BLAH!

[Beth_P_86]

danni_girl wrote:

<quoted text>
So are you doing any better yet? The waiting for the bleeding to stop is a sucky thing. Seeing as how you just had a baby when you had it inserted. When I got mine done I was just finished up with all the bleeding from the birth, then it starts all over again. BLAH!

Well I've not stopped bleeding yet. I went to see my OBGYN yesterday and she said that Most women bleed up to 6 to 8 weeks after getting the IUD placed.... I'll give it one more month I guess... It's just like I've bee bleeding for the past 3 months with only like a 2 week break after having my son.... ERRR I thought getting the IUD done after having him would be a great Idea. Maybe not.... I prob. should have given my body a break.. But i didn't realize that It would be like this... SO WORD OF THE WISE TO ANYONE INTERESTED IN GETTING THE UD AFTER HAVING YOUR BABY; WAIT A FEW MONTHS (LIKE MAYBE 4 to 6) AFTER HAVING YOUR BABY BEFORE GETTING IT DONE..... I'll still update my progress nex week. Thanks Danni_Girl for your reply... I makes me feel like I"m not the only one!

[danni_girl]

I also learned to never leave the house without a pad and/or tampon. I would just start bleeding out of no where...

I hope things get better for you soon Beth...it's so annoying to have to deal with the bleeding and take care of a new baby and all the other things to go along with it.

And I'm not sure if you read the other topics or even all of this one...but for me mood swings were killer and being bitchy all the time really got to be not that enjoyable. So just be on the look out...I hope you are one of the lucky ones and it works perfect of you...well after this set back..lol

[Chelsea]

I have always had issues with taking the pill.(In general ..I suck at it.) For those that are having IUD issues, Nuva Ring was a great BC method as far as minimal side effects, it just freaked out my partner and was expensive (Not covered by health insurance).

As far as side effects from the Mirena after 2 months, I spot daily, cramp daily, carry a large bottle of Advil. Not to mention the fact that I was a nympho (3+times a day was ADEQUATE for me), and now I feel like it's a chare to be touched. This loss of sex drive is sending me back to the GYN for advice.