I have a Mirena IUD and every month right before my period starts I get HORRIBLE cramps. My period has become extremely light (only wearing panty liners now) and will come and go away for about a week. About 2 weeks before and during I have horrible lower cramping. Is this normal? I do not have pain during intercourse or pain any other times during the month. Just when it's close to time to starting my period. I do not have health insurance and my OBGYN want $180 just to see me and do a yearly exam. So I have not had my IUD checked since it was put in 2 years ago.......I know that sounds terrible but I just cannot afford to pay this on my own right now. So I haven't gone. But I am thinking I may have to because my cramping is getting pretty bad every month.
Ladies, please any advice or comments?
Also, if anyone would be willing to tell me what they experience with theirs every month would be helpful too. Just to give me an idea of what i should be expecting. Thanks!
I had mine put in December 2008. I have not had any cramping or any periods whatsoever. It has been a blessing.
Since you don't have insurance you can go to a JPS dr office. I want to say it's 15 or 20 for the gyno dr. I can't remember. My friend is hairdresser with no insurance so this is what she does. She says the dr she has seen has been great. I am not sure where you are located but there is one in watauga off rufe snow.
HTH
I have not had that problem with mine. You probably do need to have it checked. Are there any clinics in your area that you could go to? You could call & explain that you just need your IUD checked, and ask how much they would charge. I'm sure you could find one less than $180.
You really need to see a doctor. Go to planned parenthood or a similar clinic, even though they might be best known for abortion services, they actually specialize in prevention and are actually usually quite knowledgeable with IUD's (many regular doctors are not!). They operate on a sliding scale and you should be able to get seen very fast.
Don't risk your health.
BTW I have a mirena and I am very pleased with it (2 years now). I still get very light periods and I do occasionally have some cramping during my period, but much less than before Mirena.
I feel your pain about not having insurance... do you have a clinic you can go to? This sounds horrible, but you could always go to the ER and have them bill you, then you can make payments on the visit. I had my IUD taken out about 2 1/2 years after it was put in... I had every side effect in the book, it was awful. Once it was out, I felt 600% better within a week... thing I didn't think were related to it went away too. I lost the rest of my baby weight within a month, my face cleared up, I stopped having crazy mood swings, I had NO cramping or bloating, I went from having 4-6 migraines a week to ZERO, my BP went back to normal... That thing was hell. I think it's a fantastic form of BC... but only for select women, and unfortunately, you don't know how you're going to react to it until way after it's put in. Go get that thing taken out before things get worse! If you're having a hard time with it now, it probably won't be getting any better. Good luck!
Hi K.! I'm sorry you are having problems with your IUD. I have had mine since August 2008 and it has been wonderful, except never really knowing when my period is coming! I only experienced cramping right after getting it and spotting for a few months off and on. Other than that, my periods are very light most months and some months I don't even get one. I am very glad that I got the Mirena.
If I were you, I would go to the doctor as soon as you can. You cannot put a price tag on your health. Do you have to pay the $180 all up front? The cramping you are experiencing doesn't sound like a normal side effect, especially since you have had it for a few years. I would definately go check it out......
Best of luck to you.
I had the Mirena IUD. I was fine for a while, but then had horrible cramping as well. I found out I had a huge ovarian cyst which was causing a lot of the pain. I then find out that Mirena has more of a risk for developing ovarian cysts. I had so many problems with ovarian cysts that I had it removed after two years. Also, I know when I didn't have insurance, I went to Planned Parenthood for my annuals for a fraction of the cost of an office visit to my regular doc.
I hope you get some relief soon!
I also have a Mirena. I love mine. I do not have any cramping ever. Don't have a period every month anymore and when I do they are very light. However.... i know it is coming because a few days before and the entire time I am on my period I am wore out tired! I feel like I am recovering from have the flu or something. Just completely wiped out!
I don't think that the cramping getting worse is normal so you should probably have it checked out. Is there another womens health center (like planned parent hood) or something that can do your yearly exam and check that out for alot less money. I understand your issue. I also haven't had mine checked out because my insurance changed and I can't get into my regular ob until it changes again (husband military so that is often).
Hope this helps Good luck :)
I had the Mirena in for just over a year. Had no period at all with it but suffered having pain every time I had sex, and I could always feel that it was in. I thought it would be the right choice for me but it didn't work with my body. Now I did have all intentions to keep it in long term even with the side effects but... After an auto accident just two months past a year the IUD was misplaced (not centered) and I became pregnant with it in. I did end up miscarrying and having it taken out. I personally will not go back just too risky for me. Remember it is a foreign object in your body and if not maintained it can cause problems. Mine perforated my uterus after the accident and then it was just one thing after another.
you need to find a way to get checked out. ANY foreign object implanted in your body needs to be checked from time to time... could planned parenthood or someplace like that check you out? if you are having that much pain, i'd suggest getting the thing removed, i am not a fan of IUDs at all - i know more than one person that has had EXTREME difficulty having children after the mirena. one in particular had a terrible staph infection in the uterus due to the mirena. please find a way to get yourself checked and good luck!
