IUD Or Mirena Help

Hi C.,
I had Mirena for about 4yrs before taking it out. I really loved not having my period, I did have a few symptoms (cramping, bloating) when I would have gotten it but other than that it was ok. My biggest problem was the weight gain. I've had it out for about a year now and still am struggling to lose the weight. My Ob said that it has the same hormone that Depo uses and the hormone tends to make you feel hungry. My boyfriend loved it because it allowed us to be intimate without worrying if I took the pill. Also, he said he couldn't feel it. My only regret is not knowing about the hormone because I gained A LOT of weight on Depo and may have not gotten the Mirena if I knew.

I was just like you, used to the pill for years. I had a hard time deciding between the copper and the Mirena IUD, too. I ended up finding a few testimonies on the internet for both. The biggest "con" against the Mirena was that if you are prone to acne, the hormone in it will enhance acne problems. I haven't had acne in decades, but it was really bad in my teens. So, I went for the copper IUD. I had it inserted 10 weeks after my son was born last year, and I experienced some mild bleeding and discharge for a few weeks. Now, I don't even notice I have it at all.

Hello C....I switched to the Mirena in January from 16yrs of birth control pills. I did because of fibroids and non stop bleeding. It has been OK. I have noticed my chronic headaches have decreased a lot. My periods have gone to every 31 days and for 2-3 days only. There is a lot out there on IUDs, some scary and some very good info. The cool thing with the Mirena is it can be taken out at any time. If you have problems with it, it is reversible. Some women do not even have a period with the Mirena. It is also great not to have to buy the pills and take them every day. I did not realize how cool that would be as well as saving money. Everyone's body reacts differently. Talk to your OB and see what options you have. I do not remember that the Mirena has copper. I know it is very flexible and has a hormone release. I am writing without refreshing my memory on the info I had before placement.Good Luck with your decision.

Hi C.,
I've had the Mirena for 5 years now and I love it. I had a little break thru bleeding for the first few months, but after that it was great!

C.,

I have had a Mirena IUD since Feb. of 2007. I had mine placed six weeks after my son was born. It is the best type of birth control I have ever had.

I did have a bit if discomfort the first week after it was placed and spoting on and off the first three months but after about 7 months I have no period and it is just fantastic. You don;t have to remember to take a pill, you can be intimate anytime and you forget it is there. Also, in case you were wondering...my husband can not tell it there.

I would highly reccomend it.

Hi C.,

I too have been tossing around using Mirena as birth control. Since you seemed concerned about copper in your body, I just wanted to say that Mirena is not copper. The IUD is copper, but Mirena is an IUC. It is plastic and actually uses hormones that are released right into the uterus. If you go online to www.mirena-us.com, it has all the information.

Hope this helps a little with your decision.

I had a Mirena for about a year, just had it removed so we can work on getting pregnant again. Overall, I loved it. The insertion was no big deal. I bled a lot for the first month and then stopped. The following month I had a light period and after that no period at all, just a little spotting here and there. I really enjoyed not having my period and I liked the protection factor without the fuss. I would definitely use it again. As for your concern about the copper, the Mirena is not made of copper.

This subject has come up a few times over the past year, and I will probably be the only one you hear from that has had a bad, (terrible actually) experience with the Mirena IUC. While it seems most people are happy with it, I however, had horrible side effects. I had tried the pill before, and had only minor and typical side effects- i.ie., mood swings, weight gain, etc., but with the Mirena, I immediately began to have dibilitating Migraine headaches. It started out that I'd have maybe 1 or 2 a week, but by the 6 month mark I was having them every other day. These were the kind of headahces that left me mostly bedridden and unable to care for my family. On top of the headaches, I also began to have severe lower back pain. My back would sieze up whenever I laid down. It would take me 15 minutes just to get up. I had acne issues (which I really never had before), and I gained some weight. My OB and Neurologist both said that the IUC was not related to my pain, but the timing just was too coincidental for me. Finally, after a year, I had to have it removed regardless of what that doctors keep saying. Well, with in a week or 2, my symptoms all but dissappeared. My last migraine occured the day after I had it taken out, and my back pain left shortly there after. I just could not tolerate the foriegn object in my body, nor the hormones it was coated with. If you do go for it, please just be mindful of your body. And if you do begin to experience unusual symptoms, don't just assume they will go away. Mine never did.

Hi C.,

I too have been on the pill forever. I had the Mirena inserted after my baby was born. The receptionist at the doc office said I had to wait until my first period. I was breastfeeding and didn't know when that would happen. My Doctor actually said that was not true and inserted it at about two months after she was born.

I had cramping and bleeding at first. I actually had spotting for about three months. Now I barely get a period.

The only problem I had with it was that my husband could actually feel the wires. My doctor trimmed them and when that didn't work she removed them entirely. It's made out of plastic (other than the wires) so no copper.

I feel so much better not being on the pill. My migrane headaches actually went away!

I've had the Mirena since March, I think. I'm happy with it. It is VERY nice not to have to remember to take the pill everyday. I have had spotting on & off, however I had that with all the different hormonal BC's I've tried. Also, the periods that I've had are very light & I have less cramps than ever (I have endometriosis, which it is great for). The placement of it was totally quick, easy & I barely felt a thing. I had some cramping for a day or so, but that went away quickly. All the women I know who have had it loved it as well.

Hope that helps a bit!