When to Question or How to Know If Pregnant with IUD ?

Hi M.,
I am on my second Mirena IUD...the first I had for 5 years and now am in the 3rd year of the second. I remember getting off to a rough start with the first with cramping and spotting for a similiar length of time. THen the spotting and regular periods stretched longer until I barely have a period at all every 2-3 months! No cramping and a "period" is more like 2 days of spotting. My moodiness is the same if not less then it used to be. I would say to hang in there because you got through the worst part of having an IUD. I remember being nervous about being pregnant when I wasn't on time but you may only have a few periods a year with the Mirena. (I like that side affect). AS you know, it has one of the highest effective rates so you are probably not pregnant but it may give you peace of mind to take a test.
Hopefully your OB can answer any other questions. I just wanted to share my experience b/c after the first few months, it has been a form of birth control that I don't even have to think about.
L.

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No, it is not likely for you to get pregnant on the IUD, but it is possible. Take a test, it can't hurt. I was on the Mirena IUD also for around 8 months and I hated it. I was bleeding half the time and had many of the same issues you mentioned; breast tenderness, moodiness, headaches... etc. Unfortunately, I also got a cyst while on it and two vaginal bacteriosis infections. I had never had a cyst or V.B. infection before. It was a nightmare for me!

Obviously this in not the case for many women who use the Mirena IUD. The whole reason I tried it was because I had a co-worker who adored hers and said it was the best birth control she had ever used. But its not for everyone.

Definitely take a pregnancy test, at least to ease your mind (I took 2 while I had my Mirena) and if see if your reaction to the Mirena improves before your annual exam. It may get better by then. If not, so be it. Do what feels right to you.

Good luck!
S.

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I have an IUD and I've experienced the same thing. During the course of having this monstrosity I have taken two pregnancy tests because of suspicious symptoms and no period. Both were negative and about a week after taking them I had some bleeding though not enough to call a period. Happily I'm having my IUD removed this Saturday. YAY!!

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Hi!
I'm sorry the Mirena didn't work for you. I had one and had such a great experience with it. Literally within 2 months of having it inserted I stopped getting my period completely. My doctor had told me this would possibly be a side affect and I was not sad one bit when it came true! For me, the hormone release from it was easier on my body than the pill. I did have some breast tenderness and mild cramping when I ovulated and it would every now and then make me wonder if I was pregnant, but I never was. Two things that my doctor was very clear about were 1) limiting caffeine would help minimize breast tenderness and cramping and 2)that maintaining a healthy weight for my body frame would eliminate my period.
I had my Merina IUD for almost 3 years before I had my hysterectomy and I don't regret it one bit....
Bottom line.....take the pregnancy test and talk to your doctor. Perhaps you are pregnant or maybe this form of birth control just doesn't agree with your body.
Good Luck!
L.

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yes just like you, i had an IUD insert-mirena at my postmartum appt. at 8 weeks. i had my second child late july and feel like i've been on my period since. after the insert i was on my period for 3 months and now again 3 weeks since the 1st of january. i am very frustrated with this and thought getting it taken out also. sorry i have no advice to give but just wanted to let you know that i am feeling the same as you!

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I have never had an IUD, but I had a friend who got pregnant while using one. So yes, take a pregnancy test to find out what's going on. Good luck.

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I have read everything that all of the other mammas posted and I agree, but I do suggest you give it a little more time. I have an IUD and I have had it for 3 years and I love it. I had all of the same side effects that you are mentioning, but with in one year they were ALL gone and I have not had my period or any bad side effects sense. You may be correct in thinking that your IUD does not agree with your body, but I would give it a little more time and see if things get better. Good luck

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Just an FYI I read all the Advice it is very unlikley to get pregant with an IUD HOWEVER my 1st son who was born on 11/22/2007 then I got the IUD 2/28/2008 and found out I was pregant on 8/1/2008 and I am 30 weeks pregant now!!! WE are very excited for another baby boy 16 months apart. But I had all messed up periods and the spotting and I spotted until I was 11 weeks pregant. So when it doubt check it out :)

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If you even suspect you may be pregnant, I would call your doctor. Don't wait a couple of months. Go get a pregnancy test.

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Can_you_get_pregnant_with_an_IUD

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basically, you dont sound pregnant to me. you sound like the iud is working. i had really random spotting for 2-3 months. i wouldnt call any of them a period, but i would say that it was like i was spotting all the time, would stop, and start again at any time. that part was frustrating.
this sounds all normal. dont you have a flier that your doctor gave you describing what the iud does? if not try getting ahold of one.

check out the website. the effects you are having are not only normal, but they are temporary. i was worried for a long time that i might be pregnant too... and im not. so dont worry so much. i would give it a chance. my doc told me that the thing pays for itself after a year of use, so any time you use it after that is going to be free :P
just give it time. unless you are having extreme side effects, i would just leave it alone and be patient. from here on out its going to be better. :D
http://www.mirena-us.com/index.jsp

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Hi M.-

I had the Mirena for almost two years. I started to have severe pain, so I went into the doctor. I wasn't pregnant, but my Mirena did shift out of place and had to be removed with the help of an internal ultrasound. They also did a pregnancy test. So I guess what I'm saying is that yes, you could be pregnant. I would take a test asap. I will not get another IUD as it didn't work well with my body.

Good luck!

-L.

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When in doubt take a pregancy test. You can get pregnant on the IUD but not commonly. If you are go see your Dr. or go see him any way.

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I have the Mirena too and I love it even though I still (2 years later) have some irregular spotting, however its nothing that a mini pad or pantyliner cant handle. just the peice of mind of it and not having to really worry. I would take a test. If you alled your doctor they would tell you the same.and the possiblity of you getting pregnant is very, very, VERY low.

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It is unlikely but not impossible that you could get pregnant with a IUD. I know a lady who had one for a couple years and got pregnant while still having it. You should go to the doctor and have him check with a blood test because if you are, you will want to get it removed as soon as possible.

M...

you might want to talk to a doctor because i'm not saying your pregnant or not,, i'm saying i was pregnant with an IUD and they had to remove it ASAP. but they didn't do a blood pregnancy test before they put it in, they only did a urine pregnancy test and i was only 5 days pregnant.

did a doctor do a blood pregnancy test before the IUD?? or did you think it might of happen after???