Mirena Birth Control

M.,

Good morning. I do not have the Mirena, however, I went with the Paraguard. The Mirena is a 5yr IUD with hormones. The Paraguard is a 10yr IUD with no hormones. I chose the Paraguard because I, at that time, was going through an ugly divorce and the last thing I needed on my plate was to be pregnant again. My body does not adjust well to hormones and like most women, I don't like to gain weight, especially uncontrolled weight. My life is pretty steady right now and in the future if I feel the need to have another, I can. The Mirena could stop your periods after the first 3-6 months. This is another reason I didn't go with it. The Paraguard put me on the most accurate schedule i have ever experienced. For me, I think we get our periods for a reason, which is to cleanse. If we didn't get it, it just doesn't seem good. Talk to your doctor about both and see what's best for your body. I got my IUD in Feb of 07. I have no problems and I love it. Good luck with everything.
H.

Hi M.,

First off, congratulations on your second baby!

I opted for the Mirena IUD. LOVE IT!!! I did feel a little uncomfortable at first like I had a twist tie wedged in my va-jay-jay. But, I don't feel a thing now. I've had mine for two years & don't regret it a bit. I don't even get a period. I did spot for the first month of so & had a random period here & there after. But, at this point, don't even remember when I got my last period. Bonus: savings on tampons and/or pads! =) I had no weight gain. In fact, I'm at my pre-baby weight. No acne, except chocolate & stress related. No moodiness. I highly recommend the Mirena IUD for everything I mentioned above, the fact that you don't have to worry about taking it every day like a pill, the cost pays for itself over time, the extremely low amount of hormones in it won't effect you like the pill or Depo-Provera could, & it is extremely effective 99.99%!!! Hope this helps. (No, I am not a paid spokesperson for the Mirena IUD, although I should look into it. LOL)

~A.

I have had a Mirena for about 9 months now and I absolutely love it. I have 2 kids and am pretty sure I don't want any more so it is really nice not having to think about it at all - once it is in you can forget about it for 5 years.
I had problems with heavy periods and the Mirena has really helped this - I still get a regular cycle but much lighter. ALso I had problems with pre menstrual moods and really bad headaches, and these have just completely gone which is wonderful. So I am LESS moody not more!
I have had problems with both acne and weight gain in the past (pre Mirena) and the mirena has not made these any worse - I have actually been able to lose 8 lb pretty easily since I have had it in.
It is a little sore when it is put in, but this was over in a matter of seconds, then I was crampy for the first 24 hours, but no problems with cramping ever since then.
Having tried a number of methods of birth control this is far and away the best ever! I would definitely recommend it.

I've had the mirena for three and a half years now, and am fairly pleased. Insertion wasn't a big deal, but I had to go back in and have the string trimmed as it was poking my husband! It took a little while for it to "settle" into my utereus, little twinges here and there. My period is very slight, but have some breast tenderness for a while mid-cycle. Compared to the pill, it is definately better! I like not having to think about birth control and the fact that it is very effective. I must admit that I'm happy that my husband got a vasectomy and am looking forward to no birth control whatsoever!

I have had it for about 8 months now. The first three months were terrible - cramping & constant spotting. I was just about to go to my doctor and ask to have it removed, then it suddenly stopped. I've loved it ever since! I don't even know it's there and my periods are so light and short (about a day and a half), I love it. I do have acne but I've had that since I first got pregnant. I know The Pill can help with acne but Mirena's literature states it neither helps nor causes acne.

Hi M.,

I was just like you. I took the mini-pill while nursing my first and then went on a full pill until wanting my second. After my second I did not want to worry about a pill and was preferring to avoid hormones, especially while I nurse again. I went with the Paragard IUD which is similar to the Mirena but without any hormones. Also, Mirena is good for 5 years, while this one is good for 10 years. I also have a friend who used it and was happy, too. I have had mine in since August and with the exception of time it had to be repositioned, I have had no problems. I love that it has no hormones and that I don't have to worry about remembering to take a pill all the time! Ask your doctor and see what he/she says.

good morning!

now as for your request DONT DO IT!!!!!!!!!

sorry for the all caps, but once i explain i think you will understand.

there are several class action law suits trying to get mirena off the market. i tell you this as my mirena punched a hole through the side of my uterus and was free floating in my pelvis. i had to have surgery to remove it. i also became pregnant and miscarried in the same month.

i am not alone in this experience, at my husbands work alone, 3 other women have had this problem. we all have different doctors so that isnt the cause.

think long and hard about this before you decide, i was lucky, my uterus healed, and i am now pregnant again with our second child.

Hi M.!

I decided to go on Mirena after my second was born. And I don't regret it one bit! It's been about a year and a half or so, and I'm completely satisfied! I've had no major effects such as weight gain, acne or anything like that. Moodiness and hunger are a given during around the time I would usually get my period...and sometimes I spot a little, but other then that, no complaints. Well worth the peace of mind of not having to take the pill every day and knowing your protected!

Good luck!

Best,

A.

I am 28 year old mother of one and have been on the Mirena birth control for two years. I have had no extreme side effects outside of shortened periods. I love that it is virtually maintenance free and is something I don't have to concern myself about until I am ready to think about having more children. No everyday dosage, no invasive/bothersome side effects, one time insertion, and a no fuss method ! I love it!

I got my Mirena about 4 years ago after our third was born. My husband really wanted to get a vasectomy but it just seemed so final so we opted for the Mirena instead. There was some cramping after they inserted it but it only lasted a day or so and I love, love, love that I don't get a period anymore. I will probably get anyother one when my five years are up. Both my sister and my sister-in-law (the latter is an ob-gyn) have a Mirena also, with no complaints. Good luck!

D.

The Mirena was very easy. No weight gain, acne, or moodiness- unlike the pill! There is some cramping, but it's just for the first week. After that, your period peters out until you barely get it at all!

It's very expensive though, and many insurance companies don't cover it. Only make the investment if you're not planning on getting pregnant for at least a couple of years!

But if that's the case, then I think it's definitely worth it! And so nice, not to have to remember birth control.

I am about to have mine removed after 5 years. I had some minor cramping on insertion that didn't last very long at all. I got my first period 10 days after insertion which lasted 10 days, but it also started the very same day I left my beloved San Francisco to move cross country to CT in January. What I have had since then can hardly be called a period at all, needing maybe a single pantyliner per month. I haven't had any of the side effects the pill gave me at all and I have been very happy with it.

Hi,

I have been usinng the mirena IUD for about 9 months now and have had absolutely no problems. Because there is a very small amount of hormone that possibly can secrete into your system, you may find that you have shorter periods, fewer PMS symptoms, etc. There is another kind that has NO hormones at all, lasts 10 years, but PMS symptoms and side effects can be more severe from what I have been told. Generally, your gynecologist will prescribe and IUD if you feel pretty sure you are done having kids. The Mirena IUD will last 5 years. Insertion is uncomfortable, though not painful. The decision to use any birth control method is very personal, so you have to consider your health, lifestyle and future family plans.

Good luck!

Hi M.,

I have a few close friends that have done the Mirena. I opted not to because my husband got a vasectomy. I chose to go on the NuvaRing until we know that my husband is clear with the vasectomy. Anyway, i have had lengthy, detailed conversations with my girlfriends, and they love it...but they did say that it was VERY painful to have inserted. The pain did not last long, but it was pretty severe. The only thing that freaked me out a little about the Mirena was my doc said that you could not get your period at all, which I would personally be a little uncomfortable with for 2 reasons, 1. i would be worried that I was pregnant all the time (LOL), and 2. there is just something very un-natural to me about NOT getting your period. Well good luck! And congrats! Hope the baby is sleeping through the night! Mine just started (she's 12 weeks).
J.

I have it and love it! I will admit that I am probably a bit moodier than usual around that time of month. I would recommend it to anyone thinking about it.

The things I wish they would have told me:
--insertion is a lot like labor pain. They pretended to be surprised that it hurt, but every woman I've talked to said it hurt in the extreme! (But it is only for 1-2 minutes.)
-- the initial cramping was so bad I couldn't walk upright for 2 days, and it didn't let up much for 2 weeks.
-- Then I bled, heavily, for over 2 months.
-- now sex is sometimes painful

-- BUT I won't get pregnant, periods are down by about 66%, and did I mention I won't get pregnant? I think that this was the best option for me, but there was a lot my doctor only mentioned after the insertion. He's in a different practice now, or I'd go yell at him.

Good luck, whatever you do.

I heard good things about Mirena. I know my ob prescibe it to me but I am over the birth control pill.

I want to write to you about raising your children bilingual. I am trying it with our 7 month old son. Any suggestions?

I am Peruvian-American and my husband is Jewish. I read to him in English, Spanish, and French and talk to him in English and Spanish, my hubby only knows English but my mom can only talk Spanish and she talks to our sone all the time and she lives close by therefore we see her everyday.

I've had the Mirena for just over two years. I love that after a few months, I essentially stopped getting my period. Although I can't be sure it's the Mirena, I have experienced depression and anxiety (as well as weight gain) this past year. I'm planning on having it removed to make sure that the Mirena is not the cause.

I have the Mirena too, I got it at my 6 week check up after my second baby (we were a little paranoid since we had gotten pregnant while I was exclusively nursing our son who was 5 months old, after having sex only one time). It was simple to insert, a little cramping that first day, and then voila! no worries about birth control, no side effects, normal cycles but little to no bleeding (so if you're moody right before your period, still expect that). I know 4 other people with it, and one of them had hers taken out because she was cramping. Everyone's uterus is different though and she is a very tiny person, so maybe that had something to do with it. Anyway, I love mine! Great invention! Congrats on your new baby.

I have it and I really like that I do not have to think about BC ever and also do not ever get a visit from AF! Go on the mirena.com website for lots of info. From my understanding, the hormones are all in your uterus so the "side effects" like moodiness and acne are usually just your body doing its normal thing without the changes that the pill or being pregnant causes your body. That would be my only argument for the pill instead- keeps your hormones balanced so keeps moodiness and acne away! As far as the insertion, it just felt liek a pap smear and a little mild cramping for a day which went away with ibuprofen. HTH