Mirena IUD Side Effects

I've had Mirena for more than two years now and I have to say that I haven't had any side effects like that at all. And I know a couple of other people who have it and they have all had a good experience with it so... it might be something else ... I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing... ;-)

I have had the mirena for almost 4 years now, when i first got it there was a little bit of cramping, and it also took three months for my period to get back to normal. So far the mirena has been working for me, no babies yet, going to want another one soon. :)

Wow, I'm sorry you're having such horrible symptoms. I had that problem when I was on the depo shot right after my son. I got the Mirena IUD last November, and I was worried about having a similar experience. I didn't though, my periods are lighter, if I actually have one, I do have some extremely mild cramps once every blue moon, but nothing bothersome or that I've even had to take a pain reliever for. I haven't noticed a change in my sex drive, but I can honestly say that I have not had the mood swings that I usually did around my period. I have to add to this that it's been the roughest year of my life, I lost my mom, moved here, found out my brother had a brain tumor, nearly lost one Grandmother and did lose the other! It's been CRAZY! So believe me I've had a reason to be moody. I wonder if you're reacting to the IUD this way because of having had a baby so recently. I think that's why the depo didn't work for me, I was still dealing with the hormone issues you have after having a baby and I'm convinced that's why I had such an adverse reaction. I went to the pill that you can take when you're nursing and my periods stabilized. My daughter was almost two when I had the Mirena put in and so I think my body was back to normal. At any rate, I wanted to put a positive vote in for Mirena, because it's been the best birth control method I've personally used. I hope you find a method that works well for you, and I hope you feel better!

Any birth control than includes hormones can have these side effects. i can't take any birth control with hormones, they make me absolutely crazy. I use the IUD that doesn't release hormones, it's just the IUD. it does increase cramping the first few months, and it can increase your flow during your period for the first year or so, but if you're looking for a long-term birth control, it's great.

i have the mirena too!! very bad cramps as well, and dr told me that would happen. the mirena can cause cists to appear then burst. and that is very painful. used to happen to me before i even got the mirena. so thats where your cramps might be comin from. and the sex drive for me is still livin strong!!! ha ha and i find my self to be emotional as if i were pregnant. so maybe you might want to talk to the dr and ask to get an ultrasound to see if any cists have developed on your overies

hope i help some,
A.

As an alternative, we like natural family planning - no drugs, no cost, no side effects.

These side effects are from the Mirena Official FAD informaiton packet. I have had most, plus the longer I go without a period I become lactose and Gluten intollerant. I have even been tested and do not show an allergy to either. It is just when I go months without the period.

Adverse Reactions
The most serious adverse reactions associated with the use of Mirena are discussed above in the WARNINGS and PRECAUTIONS sections. Very common adverse reactions (>1/10) include uterine/vaginal bleeding (including spotting, irregular bleeding, heavy bleeding, oligomenorrhea and amenorrhea) and ovarian cysts. Other adverse events are listed below using MedDRA (9.0) terms. Adverse reactions reported by 5% or more subjects include:

Abdominal/pelvic pain

Vaginal discharge

Nausea

Headache

Nervousness

Vulvovaginitis

Dysmenorrhea

Back pain

Weight increase

Breast pain/tenderness

Acne

Decreased libido

Depressed mood

Cervicitis/Papanicolaou smear normal, class II

Hypertension

Other relevant reported adverse reactions occurring in less than 5% of subjects include:

migraine

vomiting

anemia

dyspareunia

alopecia

eczema

pruritis

rash

urticaria

abdominal distension

altered mood

hirsutism

edema

I told my husband that I had 2 kids for him and been on birthcontrol for so long that it is time for him to take as he says "Long term solution"

good luck.

Barrier methods such as diaphragms, cervical caps and condoms work well and have no side effects! Once you are having a regular period, you can consider natural family planning, which research shows is actually the most effective method. Seriously! Look at the different contraceptive charts that show percent effectiveness.

I've had my IUD since May, I got it inserted about 7 weeks after I had my baby. I had a bit of bleeding at first but then my periods have been extremely light since then. I have had cramping, but it's not too bothersome. I think I would suffer through some cramps then be pregnant again right now.

I have the Mirena IUD and have the same symptoms. My doctor told me after I got it that it just happens to some women. I used to have a VERY light period (2-3 days, 3-4 tampons a day) and never had any signs of PMS. When I got my first period, I literally called the doctors office in a panic because I thought I was hemmoraging!! I have to used Super Plus Tampons + a Super Maxi Pad and I go through them about every 1 to 1 1/2 hours!! It also lasts 7 -10 days now. UGH!! I hope you don't have it that bad. I also have the moodiness!! I cried and told my doctor that I feel like I should be locked in a closet because I am afraid of what might come out of my mouth!! She also laughed that off and said it shouldn't be from the Mirena and "we can put you back on the pill." It has been almost 3 years now, and my periods are starting to get a LITTLE better. Still 5-7 days long. Sorry I don't have any advice, just wanted to let you know that those side effects are VERY REAL!!!
M.

Hello M.,
I too have the Mirena IUD. I was not aware of some of the side effects in the beginning either. I too have the longer than normal periods, which really irritate me. I too seem to be more moody. I was really hoping to be one of the lucky ones that go on to have no period at all or a very light one at the least. The cramping isnt constant, but when I do have a cramp on and off again, they are severe almost brings tears to your eyes or brings your to your knees. I dont know what "advice" to offer you. Good luck, I plan to wait a bit longer before I make a different decision. C.

I don't know much about the Mirena, but I will tell you that if it does not work for you and you get to a point where you can go back to Progesterone based birth controle, I am on the nuva ring and absolutely love it. I have had it for almost 2 years and have not had many problems. Once I think I put it in wrong and it slipped out, but that was the second month.

I have the non-hermonal IUD. I've had it for a little over a year now. I don't know what it is called but is copper and can stay in for twice as long. I've always had issues with sex drive when I was taking hermonal birth control. I was so happy that my doctor offered the IUD that I have. I have not had any problems with sex drive...in fact my drive has been better than ever;) I do experience heavier cramps around the time of my period but they have been getting better. You might want to ask your doctor about switching you.

I love my Mirena and have not had any side effects like that (I'm still nursing so no periods at all). But, I just wanted to see that when you see your OB, encourage him/her to report these to the FDA. I think there's also a hotline for you to call.
Reader's Digest or some other mag had an article recently about side effects and how they are so hard to monitor because people don't report them. They should be tracking these so there can be warnings for people.

Hi M.,

I do not know from first hand experience because I had an IUD but it 'fell out"! I know! Never happens...BUT anyway, all of my other sisters have the Mirena, and said they did the same thing for almost a year, and now each one of them hardly has a period at all anymore! I know it is discouraging, but hang in, and it should get better! My sisters DR told her to give it a year before she changed, and it was right around that time, that her periods almost stopped! Good luck!

I have had mine in for about 2 years. I too had weird cramping, and at times still do. I was just checked and she said everything looked good. After every appointment I get really crampy, I took a couple days off work, because of the way and how bad I felt. I too have ABSOLUTELY NO SEX DRIVE. My poor husband is lucky if he gets it once a month. I didnt think it was due to the IUD either, but its got to the only thing it could be. The DR did tell me that if the cramping and spotting didnt stop that they do have something they could put me on (meds) to stop it. I did not enquire about the sex drive (I should've, but just wanted out of there because of the pain it caused), and the occasional "snap" I have. Other than those 2 side effects, I have loved it. I am now without a period (except in some instances where I spot which is very rare), I dont have to worry about a pill, or shot or removing anything. My next appt if the sex drive issue hasnt "fixed" itself, I am going to ask about it. But you are not alone, I have felt all the same things.

I am glad that you told us because I was thinking of getting that inserted soon. There is a website for Mirena where you can report side effects. I use the Nuvaring and I like it. I think I have had less moodiness and weight gain than the pill.

I have had the Mirena IUD for about 7 months now & I am doing perfectly fine w/it. I don't have cramping & if I do, it is only a little bit. But I don't have a loss of sex drive or my hormones don't feel any different then before. I feel ok with the IUD & so far I am happy with.

Do you think maybe the lack of sex drive & moodiness might just be from after having your baby boy? They say it takes @ least a year for your hormones to get back to normal after having a baby. I know w/my first child, I definitely had a lack of sex drive! And I was very moody. I would go from happy to emotional or happy to irritated/mad very easily. But after that year passed, I felt a lot better w/my hormones.

I wish you the best w/figuring out which birth control works the best for you. W/IUD, I think it just depends on the person's body if they want accept the IUD or not. From what I have read about it & comments from others, there are women that works out great for & there are others that have the complications like u. So i guess its up to our body if they want to accept or reject it.

Best wishes! =)

Wow, this must be a semi common side effect of Mirena because I just answered a question last month very similar to yours and I also had mine removed due to cramps. That was 2 or 3 months ago and I'm back to normal now. It took a while for the cramping to leave.

I can't take the pill because it makes me very sick. I also don't want implants or shots. So we're using the trusty old spermicide things plus the pull out method plus we're following my cycle. So far, it seems to be keeping the babies away. :) And I feel better not putting hormones in my body...my body just doesn't react well.

But then again, if we got pregnant now or soon-ish, it wouldn't be a huge deal because we might want more within the next 2 years anyhow.

Good luck!