Mirena Causing Mood Swings?

Updated on February 23, 2009
L.W. asks from Chesapeake, VA
13 answers

Hi Moms, I have a 4 month old, a 3 year old, and had the Mirena IUD inserted 2 1/2 weeks ago. Since then, though maybe before, I have been having severe mood swings. I literally feel like I am on a roller coaster throughout the day. I notice the swings all day, with nothing particular setting them off. I can be going along, feeling great, and BOOM! everything is falling apart. I'm wondering if anyone else has had these side effects from Mirena, or if maybe it has something to do with hormones from the baby and nursing? Could postpartum depression be setting in now? I feel so lost and confused and out of control - please help.

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M.M.

answers from Washington DC on

by OB recommend that I take the mirena but both of my sisters felt the same exact way that you are feeling. They eventually both took them out and were 100 normal again. good luck i know this does not help but i send you love and light to get thru this.
M.

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J.A.

answers from Norfolk on

I had mood swings so bad on the Mirena I had them remove it the first month! I couldn't take it. I literally felt like I had an alien inside!!
I would be fine, then screaming, then crying, the screaming, then fine ... I had no sex drive, I couldn't sleep, I got pimples ... it was worse than pregnancy at its worst!!
NEVER again - I'm using the Paraguard (hormone free) and I LOVE it!!!

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S.C.

answers from Washington DC on

I had all kinds of problems with Mirena when I first had it put in (EXTREME pain like being in labor, mood swings, cramping). My OBGYN said I should give it a few weeks to let everything get settled. I did, and now it is great except for a lot of spotting (but hardly any period).

As for postpartum, I developed it late with my second child (this is 6 years ago and I was having the birth control shot with progestin which is also used in Mirena at the time). He was probably 6 months old when I went to my doctor about it and she said it was late but certainly possible to have ppd develop then.

Good luck!

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D.R.

answers from Washington DC on

I have had my Mirena for a little over a year and have not had any problems with mood swings but everyones body is different. You should really make an appointment and see your doctor.

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A.F.

answers from Washington DC on

Nursign only gives you happy hormones. It is a bit late for postpartum blues. there must be something else going on. Are you getting enough sleep? You might need more rest. Did you ask your doctor.? AF

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E.S.

answers from Richmond on

L.,
I would say post partum maybe setting in. I went through this after I had my now almost 4 yr old, I did talk to my ob/gyn and went on daily meds and it helped greatly. I started out taking them everyday and now I take them like every 3 days and they are still keeping me from feeling like I was losing my mind and had absolutly no patience with my kids. I do have days, especially around my monthly that my patience level is tested but I can get through them and move on to the next day. Good luck, this can be extremely stressful and overwhelming.

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K.C.

answers from Washington DC on

I had mood swings for a couple weeks as well. They are gone now. I'm sure my husband and three children(4mn,4yr,8yr) are relieved! I do suggest you call your doctor and tell her your symptoms if you think it is really out of control just to be careful.

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T.W.

answers from Washington DC on

WOW, that sounds crazy. First and formost if these mood swings are effecting your parenting, marriage, or job, I would remove it right away. I have never heard of this. I have had the Mirena for almost 3 years now. I have not had this problem or heard of anyone that has. My first concern is the toll on your kids and family. My second would be a concern that the hormones are interacting with something else. Either way, talk to your doctor.
T.

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W.F.

answers from Washington DC on

Your post is sound WAY too familiar.....been there....done that!! Have you had your thyroid checked? Also, you didn't mention your age but.....after I went through this time that you are describing, I found out that other moms went through similar feelings and a doctor of one of the ladies said that it is common between the ages of 34 and 37. I know that isn't much of a comfort but know that you are not alone. No one really talks about it because it seems like the rest of the moms are doing fine and they can handle it.....how come I can't? It was a lonely time for me and the fact that my husband worked all the time didn't help. I often felt that I never had time "off" or with much of a change of scenery. ANYWAY, I saw a doctor, I am hypothyroid and I was put on paxil. One day I woke up and and I was like "WOW, this must be what the rest of the world feels like". More like myself again, more rested, more even keeled, more energy to get things done and interact with the kids...just all around happier. It is exhausting with 2 young kids, sleep was/is a huge factor with me. I hope you find the solution you are looking for and some rest. You aren't alone, women don't like to admit that they are having a hard time......I found others when I started to reach out......

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B.M.

answers from Washington DC on

L.,

It is different for every woman, but if your symptoms are severe enough to be disruptive and concerning, I would urge you to talk to your doctor. There may be a better option for you, or it may get better as you body adjusts to the hormones. Here's my experience:

I had my Mirena put in on Dec 3rd & I had HORRIBLE mood swings the first 6 weeks (I am also nursing my son). I would cry at the drop if a hat, feel depressed and snap at the kids for no reason - my 5-year-old actually asked me what was wrong one day while I was folding laundry & when I told her nothing, she asked me why I looked mad! When I talked to my OB/GYN, he said it is unusual, but not unheard of for women to have this severe of a reaction. Apparently my body was just super-sensitive to the Progesterone.

He gave me the option of removal, but since we were using it not only for BC, but to control heavy, irregular (no longer than 10 days between, lasting for 12-20 days) cycles, we decided to give it until April before we made that call. He also told me that if it got any worse to call him immediately and we would remove it and try a different route. (My husband was also supportive of this decision and he just gently points out when I am getting irritable with the kids and offers to take over when he thinks I need a break - this has helped a lot.) Also, just be aware that this is not your fault, it is your body adjusting to the new hormone levels and it will improve as your body adjusts. It helped me to just realize it was happening and make a conscious effort to not let it effect me - it still did, but not as severely.

2 months later, I am happy to say that the mood swings have gotten much less severe - I am back to my normal monthly irritability (that's a whole other issue that was there before the Mirena). Now if I can only get the breakthru bleeding (spotting) under control, it would be great - but they only way for that to subside is time or BC pills & since I am still nursing, the BC pills are not an option, so I just have to hang in there until my son weans.

Good-Luck & hang in there!
~ B.
Mommy to Michaela (7), Sarah (5), & Mickey (17 mos)

S.T.

answers from Washington DC on

well, there are lots of things it COULD be, but you start with the obvious, and that's the mirena. please try a hormone-free birth control method that's no so h*** o* your still-adjusting system.
khairete
S.

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P.F.

answers from Washington DC on

L., I feel you confusion. I had severe mood swings after my first. I was diagnosed as having severe postpartum depression. I knew my mood swings were bad but really didn't know the full extent of it. Several years later, I found out my family would call my husband daily to reassure him we could get through this and I would return to normal. The only way I can describe it is that I would feel fine then all of a sudden it was like someone hit a button that triggered all of my emotions at once and I couldn't figure out which one to respond to. I tried talking to therapists but it didn't make that big of a difference. I did go on anti-depressants for a while and that really helped my mood swings but it left me feeling like a zombie. With my second daughter, I started taking fish oil tablets and folic acid as soon as I felt the mood swings coming. It made a HUGE difference. I also have the Mirena IUD and haven't experienced any mood swings. I have had mine for 4 1/2 years with no issues. I love it. Good luck and God bless.

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D.P.

answers from Norfolk on

Hi. Don't fear, the same thing happened to me. I thought I was going nuts. My doctor said that the extreme horomonal changes are not the normal side effect, but can happen and especially if you have the IUD inserted soon after (within 3 motnhs) of giving birth. Your body is still trying to adjust to not having a baby being carried and the addition of all those horomones into your system after having been off BC for at least 9 months... Yeah, it's a big difference. All I can say is that you should talk with your doctor if you are really feeling unaturally "low" and think it's more sever depression. But I eventually stabilized, I'm sure you will too unless it's something else going on.

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