Mirena, your experiences
 

So I'm currently on NuvaRing and have been for 4 years when I started using BC. I'm contemplating getting Mirena because it is less of a hassle than any other birth control and it is good for five years. I know I don't want to have children before that time.

What have been your experiences with Mirena, if you have or currently use it? Did you like it? Did you gain weight? How were the periods? Was insertion painful? If you discontinued use for a negative reason, why?

I'm just trying to decide if it's for me

Note: I just realized I posted this in the incorrect forum, sorry about that

Hi, I have had a Mirena for the last four years and I LOVE it! Hubby and I are done having kids (three :dizzy::dizzy::dizzy: blessings). Hubby had a vasectomy but I was experiencing very heavy periods and my Dr. suggested the Mirena. Hurt just a bit, more like a pinch and heavy cramping for a couple days afterward. Spotty periods for a couple months and now, not a thing. My moods are much better and oh the joy of not having a period :carrot:. My sister has one also and agrees...why didn't I do this sooner?! I haven't figured out the weight gain/loss as I've just started really tracking my weight. Mirena’s are suppose to last for five years and Dr. said they just pull out (you can feel the strings to make sure it’s still in place). I will definitely be getting another one.

I have had one for about a year and a half. I have never been pregnant and the insertion hurt like bad cramps, but it was totally worth it. They have changed the prescribing guidelines so now you can get it if you haven't had children.

I have saved so much money on BC pills since my insurance covered it. I still have light periods but no cramps and my PMS is much better. My only negative has been that my skin hasn't been as clear as it was on the pill, but it's worth it to me. I haven't noticed a weight difference from the pill. I 100% recommend it.

I have used Mirena for years as well and I love it. I don't know if there is a weight gain association with it. I have had no problems with it and I love having very light periods. It's the best form of birth control I have ever had.

I've had Mirena and Paragard so I'll give you my experience with both.

With Mirena, I experienced a month of bleeding after insertion (um... suck!) but afterwards it tapered off and I didn't get another (mostly due to PCOS) but it does cause lighter more infrequent periods. What I disliked was the hormones, which, although light, still affected me. I'm very sensitive to them and have to be very selective which I use and can tolerate. Insertion hurt much like a menstral cramp but nothing intolerable.

I prefer Paragard because it lasts 10 years and is hormone free. I didn't experience the same post-insertion bleeding however, I had it placed at my 6 week post partum check up so that means squat. It works in a similar fashion to Mirena but has copper instead of hormones. I'm no expert how exactly how this all works but there's tons of info out there. Most can use Paragard unless you have an uncommon allergy to copper. The lack of hormones in this particular IUD allows me to take birth control pills with the exact type and amount of hormones I can tolerate to regulate my period as needed for my PCOS.

I use both because I'm not always the best when it comes to remembering a pill, have issue with other forms of BC (shot, patches, rings, etc.) and sure as heck don't want a 3rd child in our current situation! :dizzy:

I've been able to lose weight on both Mirena and Paragard. Mirena I lost around 20 pounds in 2 months before getting pregnant again and then my current weight loss is with Paragard.

So just remember, if you think an IUD is the way you'd like to go, you might want to consider both forms and discuss your options with your doctor. Good luck!

I have the paraguard IUD and love it. I have given birth though and a friend of mine who had mirena without having any kids first said she regularly felt hers and was not comfortable. I considered getting mirena, but I don't like hormones and and I'm WAY too paranoid that I'm pregnant all the time so not having periods would freak me out.

Has anyone had issues with the strings being too long?

I've talked to my doctor about getting it, I just have to decide about wanting to pay for it or not since my insurance does not cover it :-(

I got my first Mirena five years ago after my second child was born. I love it! I just had it replaced a few weeks ago and couldn't be happier. The insertion of the second one was more uncomfortable than the first, probably having to do with the first one being done at my post-partum visit. As far as periods, a couple of months of spotting then just occasional spotting a couple of times a year is all I've experienced.

I had Mirena inserted 3.5 years ago -no bleeding at all until now. I've been checked, and everything's fine - just some breakthrough.

I love it - and after this one expires, I'm getting another!

My strings were too long in the beginning (not only could my husband feel them, I could feel them while just walking around) but I went back in and they trimmed them down for me. She said she leaves them longer because they can always be trimmed, and the longer the strings, the easier removing it is later on.

Anyhow, I had several months of spotting after the insertion. It really wasn't too much of a hassle. I get my period once a month now, while I only got it every 3-4 months before Mirena. However, my periods were wicked pre-Mirena - like stay at home bleeding through pads and curled up in a fetal position for days bad. Now I get minimal cramps and maybe one day of what normal women consider heavy bleeding (it seems light compared to what I had before!) It has not affected my weight loss negatively. I've lost 120 lbs, th bulk of which was after the Mirena insertion.

I got the mirena and it did not hurt at all my dr numbed me =) but I bled almost 6 months straight they say its norrmal the first year I maybe had a week or 2 off each month I didn't tbleed lol but now its starting to be normall I gained no weight. Its hoonestly got to be the best birth control there is.

i have implannon. it's like an iud, but in my arm. i almost never notice it, unless i lay on my inner arm alone. no possible sensitive irritation like the iud. i don't get periods with depo shot or implannon. good for 3 years.

I currently have a copper IUD. I chose it over Mirena because it lasts 10 years instead of 5 and does not have hormones. I did not have health insurance at the time and I do not good with taking pills every day. I have had this one for about 8 years. I did have some bad cramping when I had it put in. I did have a heavy flow for about the first few years. I would consider it normal right now. But my cycle since it's been in has been very regular. I have never had a preggy scare or any infections due to the IUD. The string never bothered me or my BF. I don't know right now for sure if I would get another one. I am thinking about getting Essure, because I don't think I will have more children, but if I don't get Essure, I'll get this IUD again just because it lasts so long and has worked so well for me.

I got Mirena in August 2009, about 2 months after my son was born. I had zero pain with it during or after! I had myself worried because I had read where some people said it caused pain, but was pleasantly surprised. During the time I had it, I really never had problems. Didn't know it was there, but I did get my periods (was hoping to not get them). I had a slight bit of weight gain but nothing serious (maybe 5 lbs).

The worst thing about my situation was that I started having severe pains with it in October 09, was brought into the gyn office to be checked and it turns out it was in the wrong spot and had to be removed. And about 2 weeks later, I found out I was about 4 weeks pregnant! So for me, my Mirena had moved out of place AND I got pregnant (I'm not sure if one caused the other, but it would make sense). Also, it seems that the chances of miscarrying if you get preg on Mirena are increased and I did indeed miscarry that baby...

Good luck with whatever you decide! :)

Have had Mirena for almost a Year
 

I'm 25 years old and no kids. I got Mirena to keep my fiance and I free for the next five years. The insertion was a drag. I had to go back twice. The first device was defective and the insertion piece broke after my cervix was pinched, I hated my doctor for those minutes. Despite all that, it has been great. I did have really painful cramps for the first few months and those lasted a few days each month. They were painful and I'm not a sucker for pain. Every now and then I get one or two but they go away with Aleve. My fiance can feel the strings sometimes in intercourse but we both hated condoms and this has given us a few more guaranteed years of freedom. So, pick and choose. I personally get really irritated from condoms and I was on Nuva too. The Nuva was so powerful I lost my libido. So, Mirena for me was a must or it was a baby.

One of my best friends gained 15lbs on that. She's very active but she also eats whatever she wants (mostly fastfood) however, she had been doing that all along. Once she tried to lose a few lbs she was working hard and saw no results. She took Mirena out and BAM she lost 5lbs in two weeks with a regular diet and moderate excercise.

Just got my IUd (paraguard) and insertion was ****. Ask for a local if you can, I was in tears the first attempt. I have a narrow cervix, so insertion was almost imposssible. Uther than that, I havent had pronlems with it at all.

I love mine. Best. Thing. Ever. Uncomfortable during insertion. Very light blood for a couple of weeks. But I love it. I've never had kids (they say this can make it hurt more when they put it in). I couldn't be happier.
Side note: I used to have serious migraines related to the pill. I was reluctant to get Mirena because of the possibility of migraines (related to the hormones). I have not had one since on this (over six months). My Dr. said it was possible to get 'em, but the hormone level is very low it was unlikely.
Also, heard periods are a lot heavier with paraguard...that is why I decided to go with Mirena.
Only bad thing: cramps are a bit worse and period is unpredictable, but it is so light I only wear tampons for one day....

I'd recommend this to anyone.

Hahahahaha that is exactly how I felt.

I have had Mirena since July. I've never had kids and it hurt badly when I got it put in. After a few days it got better. I had break though bleeding for the first two weeks and then I had a 14 day period (no fun and really screwed up my sex life). However, for the next 4 months I had like 3 day super light periods with a little bit of spotting. I had a lot of spotting in month 5 but no period since the 4th month.

The doctor told me that I would probably stop having periods because I was on yaz and loestrine before and my periods stopped. I'm very much looking forward to that.

I will occasionally have craps that feel like a sharp stabbing pain but they go away very quickly.

I have not had a problem with the strings being too long. I can feel them when I “check” them but my partners have not been able to feel them.

Depending on your income situation if you go to planned parent or a local health department you can get it for a discount. Well worth the money if you don't plan on having children for the next five years when you calculate how much you spend on the pill every month and not having to worry about taking it or interference because of things like antibiotics.

I've had my Mirena IUD since February of 2009. I was a little worried about it, since I did some research and read a lot of horror stories about women with wacky mood swings, weight gain, implantations, etc. I talked with my Dr and decided to go forth with it.

The insertion was painful - keep in mind, I've never had kids. I had severe cramping for the next couple days. A week after, I had an ultrasound done to confirm that it was in correctly and that there were no problems.

I haven't had a period since my insertion. I have noticed my mood can become severely unstable tho (probably within the last 5-6 months), which worries me since it's uncharacteristic. I didn't have any weight gain from the IUD directly, although I did gain 15lbs over the last 13-14months.

Would I recommend it? Yes.

I'm ready to have mine taken out tho (because of the mood swings) and get my tubes tied.

I have the Paraguard. Insertion sucked (supposedly it's worse if you haven't had kids before), and I'm still waiting for my cycle to even out (last month went two weeks long...). My periods are definitely heavier and I have a lot more cramping, still, almost 6 months later.

But even with that? Still my favorite form of birth control so far! I can't do hormones and DH hated condoms, so here we are :)

I've had the Mirena for 3 years. I haven't had kids, so it was painful upon insertion, and I had cramps for a couple days, but it is worth it overall. I wasn't the best at remembering to take the pill and the pill killed my libido. The only problem I've had is that occasionally I get a "period," which is like a day long, but my cramps are much worse than before I had it. I know some people are worried about the strings, but I've never noticed them and my fiance has never complained. Mirena has also been a money saver for me. I paid 60 dollars for it under my insurance, compared to 25 dollars a month for the pill. I would recommend it to anyone!

I have the Paragard. I got it 5 months after my second child was born and insertion didn't bother me at all. I didn't cramp and I only spotted for a day from the irritation of my cervix. I am currently nursing so haven't had a period yet, so can't speak to that. I chose Paragard instead of Mirena because it's hormone free, the copper acts as a spermicide (the hormones in Mirena do that too), it lasts 12 years if I want and it's easy. I think before insurance it was less than $400. MUCH cheaper than years of BC pills.

I looked into Mirena but decided against it. I currently use the Nuvaring, and I'm happy with it for the most part. But, I was thinking that I'd go for even more convenience and try an IUD. My gyno explained the pros and cons, especially since I haven't had children. She did a more thorough exam than normal and told me that I have a very small uterus- while it was unlikely to be painful for me, I would probably always be able to tell that it was there. That was enough for me to change my mind.

My sister ended up getting Mirena. (same situation, no kids) insertion was painful, and the IUD itself was excessively painful. After two weeks, she had it removed because the pain was unbearable. (she's a pretty tough cookie, btw) Her gyno hadn't done as thorough of a job and the MD on call who removed it said, surprise, she has a small uterus as well, and probably never should have tried an IUD before kids.

So, there were definitely a lot of benefits, but it was not the right choice for me based on individual conditions. Talk it over with your MD, and make sure they give you a thorough and honest assessment of how it will fit in to your health and your lifestyle. Good luck!

Ive had mirena since november and I really do like it..Ive had a couple problems but theyre just minor, like cramping but my periods became lighter by the 3rd month and now its like it isnt even there! Currently I have no children, at least till Im finished with my BScN but its working!