I had a Mirena fitted in December 2006. I'm probably having it removed to TTC this summer, though we're not certain yet.
I had bleeding for about a week after it was fitted (had it fitted on day 6 of my cycle, but my period had stopped the day before), then intermittent spotting for almost a year. That was annoying, i'm not going to lie, but it WAS getting a tiny bit better every month (started off having spotting for 18-23 days when AF was due, it slowly got less and less with every month) and by December 2007 i was having 2 days of spotting when i ovulated and 7 days of spotting as AF. I am on my heaviest AF day today and i'm wearing a 3-thickness homemade cotton liner which is barely marked. We DTD last night with no mess.
I LOVE my Mirena, and i am so glad i got it. I don't know what i'll do after #2 because we think we want #3 quite quickly afterwards, but we shall see. I'll certainly be having Mirena fitted continuously rather than being sterilised once i'm finished having babies.
I have been on Levlen ED and later Microgynon 20, and my doctor wants me to try the Mirena or try a different pill, one that is on PBS, as I was paying something like $35 for each prescription. I don't mind taking the pill. I went off it recently because I tried skipping a period as I was moving and I didn't want the moodiness or cramps, but I ended up getting AF anyway. I was afraid to rely on it in case I got pregnant. Perhaps I can give the Mirena a go. If its not working out, I can get it removed. What do you think?
If you do get Mirena, unless you have terrible symptoms (depression etc.) DO try to give it a go for at least a good few months. There were several occasions in the first year when i got so sick of the endless spotting i seriously considered getting it taken out, but in the absence of anything else that is as effective we ended up waiting it out and i'm SO SO glad i stuck with it. It might feel like a rip to spend a whole year with the annoying bleeding going on, but for me the following year of normality without ever having to worry about pregnancy made it more than worthwhile.
I have been on Microgynon (was fine, but i had high BP due to weight gain and came off it), the minipill (VERY irregular on it - first period was 27 days late and i was PETRIFIED i was PG - DD was only 5 months old!), depo (had two shots (so 6 months officially "on" it, bled constantly for nearly 9 months, terribly depressed, no sex drive, gained nearly 6kgs) and Mirena. I have gained weight since having it fitted but it is 6kg over 2 years and i KNOW that my diet and exercise of late has been far more of a factor because the first year i was training for a half marathon and only gained 1.8kg which was probably muscle. And i'm able to lose weight too, so it's not having a massive impact in that way.
I recently saw my doctor and asked about contraception. Because I have a history of depression, Implanon is out for me, and she is reluctant to put me on the pill for the same reason. I have a retroverted uterus and she said that I cannot have an IUD, because the insertion could mean the IUD could break through my uterine wall. She suggested the Depo injection, but I am reluctant, as I don't want any secondary infertility from it, and I don't want any depression side effect, that could take quite a lot of effort to tackle. I am going to research more now.
Have you considered Billings ovulation method echidna? No hormones or pills and about 94-96% effective if done properly. Google "Billings Method" for more info.
Currently I am on antidepressants for depression, so I would find a natural method to be more unreliable. I just don't have enough patience or trust in it to work. I am terrified that if I rely on it, and it fails, that I and my DF might not be able to cope with a new baby. My two year old is hard enough. Thanks for the suggestion. I am going to google more about Depo, to see if it might be ok for me.
I have depression (I'm on moclobemide aka Aurorix 600mg/day) and have been on the pill (it made me throw up for 10hours straight a day, took ages for the doctor to figure that one out, and ended up getting pregnant and miscarriaging), I have been on Depo, the first time it didn't seem to effect me too much, but then I was on 1200mg then so maybe it didn't have the chance. I went off it and got pregnant with DS within 6 months. Unfortunately taking it for 5 years caused some bone density loss, which is reversable after the injection wears off, but the dentist thinks it may have affected my teeth that were already damaged when I was sick from the pill. I didn't know this at the time, but would explain why I just just spent a lot of time at the dentist lately and him saying that it wasn't a recent problem, but something that had happened a while ago and I was too scared to see anyone about. I was put on the mini pill after DS was born, and was fine with that. I just had to remember to take it which was harder to remember some days than others. I tried going back on Depo, but it caused huge mood swings and I felt like a psycho for a while last year lol. So now I am on Yaz, as it is a low dose pill. I don't know that I want to try implanon even though it is cheaper, I'm worried how it will affect me. So far I have been on yaz for 2 months and haven't noticed any sicknes, migraines or mood problems, my libido has even remained the same as before I started taking it (I wasn't on anything for a while).
Sorry, just thought I would share.. I hope you find something that works for you.
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