Mirena - Villa Ridge,MO

Hi S., I am on Mirena and I love it. I've been on it for almost 2 years now and have had no complications. At first, I had regular periods, then they just start getting lighter and lighter. I think it's a great birth control. Now, I did have a friend try it but had to get off it because of cramping. I dont know, I like it. But everyone's body it different.
K.

I am probably going to be a one-off response...(I didn't read through the responses). I LOVE IT! I had it put in 6 weeks after my son was born so I've had it in for just over a year. My doc said to take Tylenol 30 mins before my app. No cramping for me, I only spot once a month, I love not worrying about using birth control, and the option to have it taken out whenever I want is nice.

No complaints here.

Hi S.,

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Mirena! I have had it for about two and a half years and couldn't be happier with it. I can't take the pill because of health issues in the past and after my son I wasn't ready to get my tubes tied so my doctor suggested Mirena. I blead for about 3 weeks after it was inserted and I haven't blead since then. Every once in a while I get the feeling that you get when you think you are going to start your period but it only lasts about a day and then it is gone. I haven't had any side effects with it. I did discuss it with my doctor and he said if you are going to get them then it will be within the first 6 mths of having it put in. When it was put in it didn't really hurt. My doctor gave me a shot so that I wouldn't feel it. I believe the shot hurt worse but that was just a pinch feeling. I was in and out of his office in a matter of 20 minutes of so. It was fast and easy and has been the best birth control I have ever had. I guess I am a lucky one that didn't have any side effects at all. Good Luck to you!

I've had the Minera for 2 1/2 years after having twins. No period, no pill popping, no worries about missing a pill, no tampons, no cramps, no "copay" (save 30 bucks a month times 60 months!!). I weigh less than I did before I got pregnant. Periods took about a year to level off.

I read up a lot before I got it, and there were some individual experiences I read about that sounded scary, but ultimately you have to try for yourself. Hey, ask all the women in your OB's office what they have. I bet they say Minera...

Also with the moodiness complaint, how can people tell what is causing moodiness? For me, it seemed the lack of sleep and stress of a new baby were enough to cause the moodiness.

Hi S.,
I have had the Mirena for a little over a year. I had it put in 8 weeks after my last daughter was born because we knew we had enough kiddos. I didn't want my hubby to get snipped so this sounded like the perfect answer. It cramped a little to have it put in but in my case not bad. I bled for almost a year sometimes heavy sometimes not, I had really bad mood swings which was very abnormal for me, my sex drive disapeared and I got this strange bad odor. My husband also said in certain positions it would poke him(TMI). I was going to have it removed until I read another mama on here say that it takes about a year to level out and that if you take it out too early it could have similar or worse side effects besides I don't want to go on the pill. I have leveled out alot in the last 8 weeks and have started feeling more like me. I don't know if I would recomend it or not but I did want to tell you about my experience in case it happens to you so you aren't suprised. Good Luck!

I would NOT reccommend that you use it! I had mine for 10 months, and while the no period aspect was very nice, the other side effects were not worth it! Mirena is marketed as something that won't interfere with your body, but it still releases a small amount of hormones that WILL get into your bloodstream. I had horrible headaches, insomnia and mood swings which my Dr couldn't rule out that the Mirena was causing - although once it was removed all the side effects stopped.

My oncologist also urged me to have it removed - she had another patient who was using it and it caused that woman horrible side effects. My Dr (oncologist, not OB/GYN) said the Mirena still has enough hormones that can adversely affect you - she will NOT reccommend anyone use it!

Please be careful about your choice - if you do decide to use it, pay careful attention to your body and any changes that may occur.

I've been using it for 3 1/2 years I think. It was fast to have it put in, but it was a little uncomfortable. I didn't have a shot. My doctor said if my husband could feel the "wires" (they're very, very thin) then he would trim them. I don't check the wires, ever. I just go to my annual OB visit and he checks it. I don't have any side effects. I just wanted something I didn't have to think about. My husband didn't want to have a vasectomy. I was using the Nuvaring, but even having to think about that every month was too much for me. I think my periods became pretty light and now I just spot for maybe a day and that's it! No cramps, and I never use anything more than a pantyliner. I don't even keep track of these "periods" because they're so light or nonexistent. Only a vasectomy would be easier. I recommend it. Good luck.

I have had Mirena since Aug 08 after my son was born.
I have had no problems with it at all. I do still have occasional periods but other than that no side effects...although I wish I could blame this extra weight left over from baby on it...but I cant!

I can not rave enough about Mirena, I love it! In the very beginning, it took a little while to get used to, and the actual placement was very painful, but other than that, I love it. I am a VERY fertile person and did a lot of research on Mirena before I went for it. My husband and I are done having children, but we don't want a permanent fix just in case we did change our minds, and I am scared to death of surgery so it was going to be him that got "fixed", but Mirena is even more effective than sterilization. This is how fertile I am, I had just gone off the highest dose pill and got pregnant with my daughter less than 2 months later. Then, I was breast feeding my daughter and on a lower dose pill that wasn't supposed to cross over into my milk and I got pregnant with my son before I even had my first period after having my daughter. Plus, on the pill, I had REALLY bad cramps, heavy blood flow, big blood clots, and mood swings out of this world. I now have little to no period (if I do have one it is more of a pink tinge when I wipe than anything), I don't have the mood swings like I used to, no cramping, it's great. The actual insertion though, I did have quite a bit of cramping and soreness, but someone told me that was because I had it done 8 weeks after my son was born and my body was still sore and bloated from giving birth. I guess that would be a valid argument. If you have issues with the pill that cause hormonal stuff, Mirena is supposed to be less because the hormone is very low and it is released directly into the uterus rather than having to circulate through your blood stream so it will probably work out for you.

I have had the mirena twice - placed at my 6 week checkup after each of our girls were born. I LOVED it the first time... no complaints or side effects at all. I had it in about 2 years and we decided to have our second so I got it taken out. I got pregnant within 2 months of removing it. The second one was a little different. I had a slightly brown discharge almost the entire time. I needed to wear a pantiliner every day "just in case" and I hated that. It was never odorous or anything like that, but annoying. I had it in for two years as well, but we decided again to have a baby and I had it removed. Pregnant my first cycle after removal! LOL

Having it put in causes some slight cramping - just like getting a pap test, and then there is some spotting for the first week or two. My periods stopped all together while I had mine. Removal was just as easy, a little cramping followed by a period and then back into the swing of my monthly cycle.

Hope that is helpful... it is different for everyone, several of my friends have had different experiences with theirs. Some cycle with it in place etc.

Hi S.,

I have Mirena in since November 2006. I had cramps for a little while the day I had it put in. By a week later I was bleeding very heavy. The heavy bleeding lasted about 2 weeks. But by the third month of having it in my periods were just spotting. There are 2 complaints I have with Mirena. I do cramp alot, and I have had the most horrible yeast infection I have ever had and will be on boric acid taken vaginally for up to 3 months even more. I believe the yeast infection is caused by Mirena from what I pulled from the internet (I googled yeast infection and Mirena). I am considering taking out Mirena because I have on;y had one yeast infection before Mirena.

Good Luck,
L.

Hi S.,

I want to urge you NOT to do it! I had one put in shortly after I had my second child. It was the most PAINFUL thing I have EVER experienced... FYI I had my children naturally without any meds.... I about jumped off the table. After the insertion it hurt for me to sit. It felt like the thing was jabbing into me... little did I know it was. At my 3 week check my doctor couldn't find the wires and tried to remove it in office.... again OUCH! He couldn't remove it in office so I was scheduled to have it removed surgically. When they went in vaginally to remove it with a scope it was gone. The Mirena had gone completely through my uterus. Needless to say, this was a nightmare for me. I am not saying this will happen to you but you wanted my experience with it. After all this happened I did a lot of research (too bad I didn't before)and found that this is common. In the end I guess my advice to you is that you should do all the research possible on this and keep in mind that you are putting something foreign in your body. Your body's natural reaction to a foreign object is to reject it. I hope that this was helpful!

Good Luck
M.

I've had the Mirena for about the last 18 mos. There was only a little discomfort when I had it inserted, but I had it inserted after my six week check up after having my last child, so there was some discomfort anyways. Since then I had what I considered a slower transition than what many others experienced. It took almost a whole year before my periods became very light, but I have always been one to have regular, like clockwork, periods, so I wasn't surprised when my body didn't want to give this up LOL! I guess in hindsight I was a little more moody and emotional in the first six months after having it, but I put it off to life stress and having four children under the age of six, which could have been the reason for the moodiness too. In the end, I would have to say that it has been good for me. I have three more years to go and am already considering having a new one inserted then. I really like the very light periods and not having to worry about it. My doctor also commented on the wires. She told me to not say anything about them to my husband, but to wait and see if he mentioned feeling anything. If he did feel them, I would have had to come back in and have them cut shorter, but we didn't have any problems with that. I eventually did mention it to my husband and he said he never felt anything. Good luck with your decision either way.

Hello,
I have the Mirena, and I am often torn about it. It was VERY simple procedure and didn't hurt a bit to get in. It WAS a PAIN the first 6 mo's I spotted and bled with it, and then had periods to boot. I was about ready to get rid of it, then at 7 mo's the bleeding and spotting just stopped. I have had little to no periods since and have had none of the side effects that I had with the pill. You don't mention WHAT kind of side effect you had w the pill, but I got to the point where it affected my sex life, my mood and I had migraines. I tried several different types of pills...I will NEVER be on the pill again LOL!! Overall it's definitely bc that you have to think about very little.

There is a wire that you must check monthly. My husband doesn't like that wire that hangs out...he says he can feel it during sex...so I just ask him if its still there and never bother to check myself LOL!

I don't like that if you do accidentally get pregnant...and its possible... then the Mirena may cause a miscarriage, and cannot be removed or could cause a miscarriage.

Good luck with your choice...

I got Mirena placed last summer and love it! I had some major cramping the first day or so. I don't remember what the side effects are...but, I've gained some weight, but that is probably not related to Mirena, but who knows. I also stopped having my cycle 2 months after it being placed....benefits of being pregnant without being pregnant...I love it. My hormones seem to be more balanced. I don't have to remember to take a pill, or have the monthly copay for them either. And if my husband and I decide to have more children in the near future, I can get the Mirena IUD taken out. So, I believe it is an all around wonderful thing. I personally have not experienced any problems. But, if you do not have insurance or your insurance does not cover it, it is quite expensive. So, either way...good luck and do what is right for you.

I have to say my experience with it has been wonderful. Of course, everyone is different.
Yes, a little discomfort (cramps) after having it inserted, but once everything adjusted, I have not one complaint. (last period 9/07 :)
I'm surprised when I read about anyone having adverse reactions to it, but again...ever body is different.
Listen to your body and your instincts!

I have had the Mirena for 10 months now, after the birth of my son 15 months ago. I LOVE the Mirena. It has worked wonderful for me and my husband. I haven't had any BAD side effects. The only side effects I have had is my period is not as heavy, actually it is very light and it only lasts a few days. Another reason why I like the Mirena, is because I don't have to think about it. Unlike the PILL, where you have to remember to take it every single day, I don't have to. I can not feel it inside me. Also, when I was taking the PILL, it made me gain weight, where MIRENA, I have not had the weight gain that the PILL gave me. When the doctor put it in, it didn't hurt a bit and it was quick and easy. I think he might have given me a shot to help numb things a bit, but I don't really remember that, so it must not have been that bad. I WILL do it again in FIVE years and again in TEN!! It's GREAT!!