Mirena/Birth Control Decision Help with Anxiety

My husband and I used VCF (vaginal contraceptive film - a spermicide) after we had our first, and before we wanted to get pregnant with #2 (due in Jan). We used it for about a year, and never got pregnant, however we always used birth control. My cycle wasn't regular enough to be able to trust the calendar at all, and we also seem to be able to get pregnant easily. It took some time getting used to using it because it had to be put in place 10-15 minutes before intercourse (depending on brand and type) and stays "good" for 3 - 24 hours (again depending on brand) or until you have sex.
I think you're making a wise decision to consider a vasectomy, but wait for a year to make the final decision. Who knows how you'll feel in a year, and even though you're young I'm sure you'll know either way if you're sure enough to go ahead and do it or not.

T.,

Keep in mind that everyone is different and reacts to the hormones in their own way. Here is my experience...

I have not had anxiety on the pill (I take Loestrin 24 now) byt I had HORRIBLE mood swings and depression when I had the Mirena put in last December (I had it taken out in June). The Mirena also was not able to control my bleeding - I had MAYBE 20-30 days between December & June where I had no bleeding! I have heard of many women who LOVE the Mirena & others who have had issues. Tere was a post on here a while back that I (and many others) responded to (http://www.mamasource.com/request/3275715322232963073).

As for NFP - just educate yourself and it can work. We used that for 12 years and had no surprise pregnancies (we have 3 kids - 7, 5, and 23 months). I have only tried the Mirena and then switched to the pill because of bleeding issues now, not failed NFP.

Good Luck with your decision!
~ B.

I also experienced bad side effects to every pill I tried (and I tried a lot!). For a year now, I'm been using the Nuvaring and really like it. Very few side effects and easy to use. I am planning to ask the doctor about the IUD next though.

Hormonal contraception hasn't worked for you, so why not give something else without side effects or risks a try instead of assuming the success rate will be worse? It could be for you that hormonal contraception for whatever reasons is not very effective, but that doesn't mean that natural family planning will not be effective. Here is some more info about natural family planning, including success rates. If you breastfeed frequently, rates are extremely effective (but to totally rely on the lactation amenorrhea method, you can't be using pacifiers or bottles. . .if you are, just use another type of natural method). There are special classes and/or things to know for breastfeeding moms and women coming off the pill. I have used these methods with success for the past five years. I have two kids, 4 and 16 months and when we wanted to get pregnant, I have gotten pregnant on the 2nd cycle.

http://www.irh.org/nfp.htm

http://www.ccli.org/

It is empowering to learn how your wonderful body works and to work with it rather than try to disrupt it. These methods also involve the husband in a positive way.

I do not have personal experience with IUDs, but have read alot about them, and I second the person who mentioned the copper IUD. Good for birth control and no hormones.

As for pills and mood swings/anxiety, this happens due to the type of progesterone in the pill. All the pills have so many different kinds, and levels of each - it really can have an effect on your moods. When I first started the pill in my 20's, I couldn't use the tricyclic pills (e.g. ortho tri-cyclen) because they would make me very moody, and also crampy. So I was switched to a one-level, all-month type. Due to insurance and a doctor change, I was switched to a tricyclic in my 30's, and everything is fine. So I guess it depends on life stage too. But you and your doc can tell what type of progesterone was in the pills that you weren't good with, and maybe there is a pill that you can use that has a different progesterone, or a lower level. Hope this helps!

I have a Mirena - the physical side effects I had were cramps and irregular bleeding- no big deal really. I have had it for about 7 months, and I still get occasional weird little cramp and a little spotting once in awhile, although things have evened out a little with that.
Emotionally, though, I'm finally beginning to even out and return to myself. I had the Mirena implanted about 2 months after I had my son. I don't know if I had a little post-partum depression or it was the Mirena, or both, but I was pretty depressed with very high anxiety up until about a month ago - a lot of it could have been situational (first-time-mom, moving a lot, changing jobs, relationship stress, etc...) and I do have a history, but I just felt so irrational and like I had no control over my emotions. I definitely think the Mirena had something to do with it, but everyone's reactions are so different...
The ParaGuard IUD contains no hormones like the Mirena; emotionally/hormonally, it might be the better choice for you. However, I don't have one or know anyone that does but I've heard it could make your periods heavier (great.). Ask your OB...

T.,

If you want to go the IUD route, I'd steer clear of the Mirena and go with the copper-T, if you are concerned with mood swings. I had the Mirena installed after my first and replaced it with the copper-T after six weeks because of the effects of the hormones. The copper-T was wonderful until I had it removed for our second.

The Mirena has no hormones in it at all so it should not have those types of side effects. It truly is just basically a piece of plastic that looks like a fishing hook!!!

Not trying to be flip, but what about a vasectomy? Seriously, if you are done iwht your family, why not?

I would see your GYN or Family Practitioner, and ask them if they can monitor your hormone levels and see if they can detect wha tis affecting your moods so severely. Also, is there any chance of this being post-partum depression??

Finally, a therapist might also be a good source of information about the effects of birth control on anxiety. The pill affects me too, but not in terms of anxiety. That seems unusual, and maybe a therapist could provide some insight if s/he has seen this sort of thing before.

Hi, I also had terrible anxiety on the pill, was having panic attacks, too. I never realized it was the pill until I really thought about how every time I started a pill the anxiety/panic started, too. I've never met anyone else w/this problem! I'm a nurse, I believe it's the hormones in the pill that throws your body chemistry off somehow. I feel much better when I'm not taking the pills.

That being said, my gyno suggested taking large amounts of Vitamin B which helps with stress. I did that and found it to help slightly, and now that I'm off the pill I still take it and find it helps with overall stress (get a good quality vitamin like the ones at Whole Foods--I take a Stress B complex with Vitamin C).

My husband had a vasectomy and now we don't worry. However, condoms are pretty reliable if you can get used to them. I have never tried any other method. My life is so much better off the pill that I didn't mind the condom hassle. Good luck!

Hi

Like you I was unable to take any birth control pill after I had kids , I had terrible mood swings within an hour of taking a pill , I was either snapping at everyone or bursting into tears! So I stopped after baby number 2 (we have 3) , aged 6 , 3 1/2 & 14 months , we also have no problems when it comes to getting pregnant , so I always make sure that I mark on my calendar the first day of my period so that I know exactly when I am ovulating , then we either avoid sex at those times or use condoms , I am by no means saying that this is a safe form of birth control but it has worked for us and we have been using this for getting on for 4 yrs now & we have had no surprises!

As for a vasectomy , if you feel that this is what you want then go ahead , I think your right to wait a year just incase you do change your mind and baby is still young at the moment.

Good luck

K.

I wished I had held off longer in getting a Mirena, because of spotting and getting my period again. Breastfeeding and the pill had been pretty effective in eliminating that particular problem until then! A Mirena is pretty uncomfortable for the first couple of days, and the spotting can last long enough to be a bit annoying, but I guess it's worth it for me because it will last a few years. If you're going to go the vasectomy route in only a year, maybe look into something else.

Mirena DOES have hormones, however it is a lower does than any BC pill. Paragard is the copper hormone-free IUD. I am on Paraguard and have not had any moodiness, though it does give heavier periods and more cramping at ovulation for me. It is worth it not to have to think about BC at all!

I too had some issues with feeling bad on birth control. Mirena also contains hormones but Paraguard does not and it can stay in up to 10 years. I have had it for a year now and have not had any negative side effects. My period does last a couple of days longer than it did on the pill but I feel like myself now and thats worth of couple of extra days.

I had some anxiety issues with the pill, but not with the mirena, but you're systems seem more severe. There is an IUD that is cooper and not hormonal, it's like the generic one, but it may be the best option for us, since it is hormone free and SO effective. I use NFP, but unless your hardcore into it, you'll end up with more anxiety that you'll make a mistake in your charting and get pregnant, it takes a lot of discipline and some amount of time before it's reliable. The other option is just condoms, which if you get an iud you should use until you have your follow-up appt to verify placement (so it's working). I will warn you, at least with the mirena, there tends to be a lot of bleeding, in fact my doctor told me before he put it in, they wouldn't take it out just for bleeding until 4 months after it was in, wouldn't you know, just as I was going to call, it stopped (around 3.5 months), then my only period was a little pink discharge for one day. It was well worth the wait (oh and some cramping upon insertion and removal).

Hi T.,
Not sure if the pill actually casuses anxiety, more likely the hard job of being a mother and wife. I would try yasmin (pill). Get on Cymbalta (30 mg)for depression (it works wonders) and xanax (.50 mg)(split in half on regular days and then the whole pill on days you just cannot take another minute)for anxiety which also works wonders and if you are not one prone to addiction, you should do great. You have to take the xanax only when needed or regulary at half the pill,and take only the amount needed. Don't feel ashamed about asking for these medications, it is there and available. Not sure what others will say, but if you want results now try these, the other stuff that takes weeks to kick in don't even compare to the immediate results that these will give you and I'm am postive you will feel much happier and in control. Good luck, L.

T., with a two month old, you are probably going through some post partum depression, which can happen for after a year of the babys birth. I noticed feeling a lot lessed depressed after one pill, taken at bedtime, can make you a little drowsy, but nothing that will leave you unfunctional to care for the little one. Try it.

The yasmin I felt helps keep the weight control down too and food cravings down, something not really heard of when taking Bc. Take care of yourself and just try it, what do you have to lose.

What causes the mood swings and the anxiety are the hormones in the pills. I have a similar problem in that BCPs make me so pissy my DH won't come anywhere near me, which kind of defeats the purpose of taking the pills to begin with.

After I give birth, I have talked to my Dr. about getting an IUD at my 6 week checkup. No hormones, so it shouldn't have the same effect as the BCPs did. Perhaps you should look into the same.

~J.

I used an IUD for almost 3 years. I used the one with no hormones. The only problem I had with it is that it made my periods much heavier than normal, and I had cramps (which I don't normally have). I was only moody when I had my period, not the other 3 weeks out of the month. Those weeks I felt great.