Mirena IUD? Any One on It ?

Like you I'm a FT working mom but I have 2 boys, 5 & 3 yr old, I've got the IUD when my little one was bor three years ago and I LOVE IT ! ! ! The only side effects that I have are very light periods or none at all for a few months. When I got it done it was a little painful but you should take some advil or tylenol before you go. After its all done you will have some cramping and some bleeding but besides that I really recommend it. I have recommended it to all my friends and family and the people that did actually get it love it also. I hope my advise helped. Good luck at the doctor :)

I prefer non hormonal intervention, so I chose the paragard IUD--I have had it for 5 years and no problems at all-and none of the health concerns involved with hormones. It also lasts longer and prevents you from having to have it changed every 5 years.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!! Ive had mine since Oct 2007. I too have had bad luck/bad side effects with other birth controls but this is so different. You have no idea its there. No weight gain,no mood swings-nothing. I have extremely light & very few periods now. Aside from a little cramping after placement (nothing some ibuprofen cant take care of) Ive had no issues & would HIGHLY recommend it. Good luck & I hope this helps!! :)

I am an RN and a student nurse-midwife. I just finished becoming qualified to insert IUDs.

To be clear, IUDs do not cause abortions. They have several mechanisms of action but that is not one of them. Here's a link to some actual FACTS about the IUD: http://www.fhi.org/en/RH/Pubs/Network/v20_1/NWvol20-1IUDs...

If you decide to have it inserted, take 600 mg ibuprofen about an hour before. That will help with the cramping. Tylenol probably won't be as helpful.

To the comment about the tipped uterus, everyone has a tipped uterus. The majority are tipped slightly forward but there are many normal variations and IUD can be inserted in all of them unless there is a major diversion from normal. So don't worry about that.

All that said- I had a bad experience with Mirena- tons of spotting/bleeding/cramping for about 4 months until I had it removed. Usually any side effects such as irregular bleeding resolve themselves after about three months. Most of my patients I follow up with 1 month after insertion are extremely happy with it.

The first week is uncomfortable, but after that you don't even know it's there. I don't even know when I have my period sometimes. I haven't needed a tampon in a few years now. I'm not sure if it's the hormones, my age (36) or my kids and husband, but I seem a little moodier in the last two years. Could just be coincidental, I had Mirena since after my second child was born and it could just be that 2 kids make me moodier than when I had 1. My OB/Gyn uses Mirena herself, that's what made my decision easier. AND insurance covers it unlike the pill!

I've had the Mirena for almost 3 years and I love it. My monthly period is next to nothing and lasts a day or so. I haven't had to buy tampons or pads in 3 years because thats how light it is!

On the down side, my neighbor had the Mirena and got pregnant on it. She had a lot of problems during the pregnancy and then lost the baby at 25 weeks. She had to deliver it vaginally.

I have it - for almsot 10 months. Haven't had any issues, I am also still nursing, so I don't know what it will be like when that is over, but so far, so good!

I have been on the Mirena for almost 3 years and I love it!! Nothing to think about and haven't had a period in almost two years!!! I do have to agree with the other women, though, it is a little uncmfortable when it is inserted.
Good Luck

Love it and had no problems really. Only side effect was after 14 years on the pill I forgot what a real period was like. I had very heavy, normal periods. Turns out my endometriosis started clearing up which makes me think the pill caused it in the first place by inhibiting my periods....but that's my experience and a different topic.

I just got Mirena placed about 2 1/2 months ago. I love it so far. The insertion was a little bit painful but once it was in I could barely feel anything. I do get occasional cramping, but it is very short lived. The cramps are a little sharper than those that come with a normal period. I am breastfeeding a 14 month old and I have not gotten my period back. I am not sure if I will or not as I was told that in some women they barely even have a period after getting it. I did have some light bleeding/spotting probably about a month/month and a half after but that's been it. I can't feel it now and it makes things so much simpler. I've been on the pill, used a diaphragm, condoms, used natural family planning.....and although I like the natural route, this just simplifies everything so much. I got lazy with the natural route and ended up with my 14 mo old. Not entirely bad, but we just can't have another oops. Good luck with your decision.

The mirena does have hormones but they are emitted locally, not through your bloodstream, so the hormonal effects are much less. If you opt for the Paraguard (non hormonal) you can have heavier periods instead of lighter ones. Also it is made of copper so you can't have any sensitivities to it (which I do).

I love my IUD! I have the Paraguard, it's a copper one that is hormone free. I was still nursing when I had it inserted and I really wanted a hormone free route because of side effects from other hormone treatments.

The insertion was not to much more painful then a pap (I had mine done during my period) and other then a few months (may 3 ) of heavy periods my periods are now regular, and shorter and I don't have to think about it at all. It's great!

The only complain I can make is about the insertion. It's uncomfortable and slightly painful....but it doesn't last long. I wouldn't make any plans for that day or the following...but after that it's been free sailing for me! Love it...and it's actually reduced the painful cramps I would get during my period. I use the Paragard iud which doesn't have any hormones so I still get periods but the cramps are gone. One of the best decisions I've ever made!

L.,
I am on the Mirena and have suffered no side effects. My monthly periods are very light so sometimes it's a guessing game as to whether I actually had a period. I used to be very regular and now my period is irregular. Since it is so light not lasting more than 1-1/2 days, I view the irregularity as a minor inconvenience. I don't suffer from monthly cramps either.
Best of luck with your decision.

Yes - I am and have had NO problem with it. I think you will have no problems with it as well. P.S. - helps with my hot flashes as well - as I am 48.

I love it! I have the Paragard, non-hormone releasing. I agree with other responses, take Tylenol, etc. insertion is crapmie. I cramp more across the board and bleed in between periods. I did expell my first one, which is SUPER unusual, but the second one stayed in great!

I love the Mirena because my periods went from being almost unbearable to almost unnoticeable. I did gain weight in the first few months, but it came off again on its own over the rest of the first year. I'm a little nervous about the long-term hormonal effects (and other unconfirmed side effects you hear about online) but it seemed like the best choice for quality of life for me. (I can't take the pill, side effects.)

Have had it for a year. Love it. No problems at all. A little pain having it put in. But come on, I've had two kids and pain is a whole new meaning. Lol.

Good thing, I have almost NO period anymore.

Bad - I can't say 100%, but I've gained a little weight since being on it (like 10 pounds) and my sex drive has gone down. I've talked to the DR and he said it shouldn't be related to the IUD. I'm raising an almost 4 y/o and a 20M old - that's more of a factor than the IUD. Lol.

Hi Lisa,
I got Mirena 8 weeks postpartum after my 3rd child. I had been on the pill for years. I had a little cramping...but the worst of it I was bleeding more often than not...it was like a continued time of the month. There was only a 1% chance of irregular bleeding. I had it removed after 6 months. It also messed up my breatfeeding. I also had a girl friend that lost it with out knowing it. She checked one day and it was gone. They had to do ultrasounds and x-rays and didn't find it. I know mirena also has hormones it like the pill. Hope this helps...maybe ask your doctor the ratio of people who loved it or didn't.

Just wanted to make sure you knew that IUD's can keep a fertilized egg from implanting in the wall of the uterus. Thus if you believe that life starts at conception, this may not be the best thing for you.

I have never had Mirena or any other IUD, but I'm currently getting my PharmD and have some considerations for you regarding it. I'm not sure which pill you were on, but Mirena does have levonorgestrel (a progestin), which is also in several birth control pill brands (such as Alesse, Nordette, Lybrel, Seasonale, and Seasonique). Mirena has been found to cause less cramping and bleeding with your period, so that is a possible benefit. Another thing to consider is that once the doctor puts it in, Mirena lasts for 5 years, but if you do decide to have another child, fertility returns more quickly than with the pill. Hope some of that info is helpful!

I LOVE the IUD... I also have 3 other friends on it with no complints either! Hope this helped :)

I had the mirena iud after my son was born. They put it in and you go back to have it checked. When I went to have it checked they said that the strings were short but not to worry. I should have. My husband and I were talking about number two because our first is 2 so we wanted the IUD out. They could not find it. X-rays and ultra sounds later they found it outside by my left ovary. So, I underwent surgery to have it out. Come to find out that I have a slightly tipped uterus which means that I should not have had one in the first place. I don't know what we are going to do this time around after baby two is born but it won't be another IUD.

hello, first off, i dont have the mirena but ive done a ton of research on it. so far, besides getn a tubligation, its the best thing going. all womens bodies are different and they react differently to birth control. this bc has a hormone in it that will diminish ur mensrual cycle(yippeeeee). that to me is what would have sold me. i honestly had to pray on my decision bc i know that getn the mirena meant that i would be makn a conscious decision to have a fertilized egg deliberately die. i opted not to choose that as my method of birth control...only for that reason. but remember to take a pain pill before u go bc that lil pinch will cause just a lil discomfort. many blessings....

I had the Mirena put in, back in September on a Wednesday. It was the most painful experience, I almost fainted on the table!!! I told my doctor this is worse than childbirth! From the moment my doctor (who I think is awesome) started, I had second thoughts. I was in pain and just mentally did not feel right about this thing being in my body. By Friday I googled it. Wow, did I wish I did that before I went in. There are so many women who have had terrible problems while on it! One women described it best for me, she said, it was like having a little demon inside me. I had it removed that Monday and my doctor said that my body was literally rejecting it. She says she is a big fan of Mirena for most. I am sure someone will email you that it's great. If you do go on it, just remember you can always have it removed. Good luck!