Mirena IUD?

Dachlostar - if there's one thing i like about the mirena its the freedom it gives you, both mentally and physically. Just a tiny thought - have you taken a HPT just incase you are PG? Seeing as though you havent had AF since the initial bleed (and youre seeing EWCM) Id do a test just to make sure.

I still have a low libido, though not as bad i must admit. I guess caring for 3 children, running a business and trying to run the household would all contribute to it aswell ;) so i shouldnt completely blame the Mirena.

Brooke - i got AF every month for the 1st 5/6months, but nothing ever since. How are things going for you?

Thats excellent Brooke! Good thing you have found something that suits you better. I will probably still have a chat to my GP as im not entirely happy with the mirena in, im only keeping it for now because me and DH havent yet decided on what to do. Like you, i dont want to risk anything at the moment so am putting up with it hehe.

Good to hear that your libido has improved too...30% is better than before!

Ghada, I might POAS but i don't think that I'm likely to be preggers. I think the no AF is because I'm still breastfeeding. It took a while to come back after I had Yasin too although not as long as this.
So far I'm loving the Mirena. I haven't noticed a single side effect other than the bleed and a bit of cramping and nausea when they inserted it and I really like the freedom not having to remember pills or find condoms.

Hi,

I haven't been around for a while now. I had my IUD in now for 10 months now and I had only minor problems with it. I still get my periods each month, some months it is heavier than others but generally speaking it is lighter but lasts up to 10 days each month. I think my libido is down as well but it could be that I have 5 kids and not to do with the IUD. Occasionally I still have the cramps but it has settled down from when I got the IUD in.

The one problem is that the week before my period is due I get PMS really bad. I am really irritable or very emotional which was not a problem before the IUD. I am not sure whether I have a bit of PND or it is because I am sleep deprived. My youngest who is nearly 12 months old is still waking up a few times a night. I find it tougher the week prior to my periods up to the time I get them, than any other time of the month. I also find that my irritable bowel plays up at that time of the month as well as feeling very nauseated , but that is no different to when I was on the pill and that is why I went for the IUD because then I did not have to worry about falling pregnant every time I lost the pill.

I am going back in March to see my Gyno and considering having it taken out to have another baby. I have been told that if I don't have any more children because I have a prolapse than he is considering a hysterectomy, which could mean no more contraception. I rather keep the IUD in then have a hysterectomy.

Michele
Mother of Christopher, Luke, Melissa, Jayden and Ashleigh(nearly 12 months old)

I have a Mirena IUCD in at the moment, i have had it for 7 months now and have only just looked into it a bit more on the net. Since i got it put in my periods are non existent (yay) but i have no libido at all. My doctor even did blood tests to see if i was going through early menopause at 27 years old. I also just found out that you are not supposed to have the Mirena if you have had breast cancer and some other cancers recently, and if you have not had kids yet it can make you sterile.
I am going to get my Mirena IUCD taken out but can anyone help me with ideas for contraception. Im allergic to latex or diaphragms and i cant take the pill or have depo provera due to sensitivities. I also used to have a non hormone IUD and that expelled itself after a month. If anyone has ideas i would really appreciate your input

Liam 2/12/97
Aiden 27/1/06

Hi there Alice, Welcome to BB :).
Have you ever looked into charting and the billings method? Most BB members who use it do so to get pregnant but you can also use it for contraceptive purposes. We have a forum dedicated to charting here and you could google billings to find out more.
Once you understand the billings method it has high rates of sucess for contraception but its important that you have areally good understanding of it or it can fail. I geuss its like most contraception in that way - if you don't use it properly its effiacy is lowered.

BTW - if you want to add your kids in you can put them in your signature. Just go to user profile and then click on the siganture option.

HTH.

I have my 6 week check up soon and I am considering getting the Mirena IUD inserted. I have been doing some research and was told you have to wait to get your period before they implant it what about if you are BF sometimes you don't get a period. Also I read somewhere if you have had a c-section you have to wait 12 weeks has anyone else heard of this. Any information would be helpful.

Hi,

It is true that you do have to wait until you have your period, the reason is that your cervix is slightly open during that time and it will be easier for your gyno/gp to put it in. I am not sure about after a C/S because I delivered normally but I also read somewhere that it is 12 weeks. The best thing is for you to contact your GP or Gyno and ask them.

Michele
Mother of Christopher, Luke, Melissa, Jayden and Ashleigh

I think that Jennifer got hers put in at her 6 week check-up. I hadn't had my period yet when I had mine inserted.

I am having the Mirena IUD fitted next wednesday and my OB is going to give me an local anaesthetic. He said it is injected into the cervix? Has anyone had this fitted and done with the local if so did the local anaesthetic hurt? Bit nervous.

Hi allley,

I haven't got a t IUD - i'm TTC but i i had abnormal cells on my cervix and had to get them lasered off- so i needed a local.

It was pretty painless - My gyno told me to cough and aas i did it gave me the local.- so it's okay. it hurt a bit after it wore off- just like a period pain so i took the rest of the day off.

HTH

Well after all the problems with the pill, mini pill, Implanon, IUD's and IUCD's I have been given a cervical ring to try out. Novaring is on trial through family planning at the moment and is apparently getting favourable reviews from women who have had lots of problems with contraceptives like myself. My doctor said that 85% of those who tried it wanted to continue with it. Its a plastic ring that settles around the cervix and is left there for 3 weeks to exude hormones and is removed for one week to bleed etc before another is put in to start the cycle over again. Its a combined hormone thing but apparently at 1/2 the dose of the lowest dose pill on the market. If anybody out there is having lots of troubles then maybe this is worth a try. Fingers crossed it works for me, im allergic to or get nauseated from everything else.

Theresa, so sorry you've had troubles hon. That doesn't sound like a normal amount of pain, when you had it put in. I had a small amount of stinging and a few cramps, but nothing very much. Have you had it checked to see that it is in properly? My ob mentioned that one of the risks of having it inserted is that incorrectly done it can perforate the uterus. I'm sure that's not the case with you, but there's obviously some risk that if it's not positioned properly I guess it would cause pain? Not an expert, so I'd have it checked! He also said my GP could remove it, so if it's that simple I'm guessing it doesn't require the local anaesthetic he used when he put it in.

Brookey, giving in to the temptation to have another baby b4 we're ready is probably the main reason I went with the Mirena too!! Although thankfully I've had no trouble from it and no period either, making it well and truly worthwhile. Must get off the my gyn to have a pap smear and I might ask him how long I should have it out for b4 TTC#2.

Let us know how you go Theresa.

Ah Theresa, that sounds logical! Ouchies, don't like to think what it would have felt like without the local!!! My gyn was telling me how brave I was not making too much fuss even with the local! I'm sure you'll have no troubles having it removed.

What! You guys got anasthetic? Man I missed out!! LOL

Ahh, don't get excited, it was only on the cervix. Or so I believe, I wasn't actually 'watching' him!

Cathy, great name for your little girl!!

I went thru the Marie Stopes clinic and they also put in a local.... Boy did that sting!

didn't hurt at all removing it.... But I too had the constant cramping and irregular bleeding (every 2wks for approx 10days)... Ob at their clinic said it just didn't agree with me, however he never checked position of it....

Hi Girls,

I havent been in here for a while also, but thought id give a little update since this thread has been re-hashed ;)

I still have the mirena in, though for the last 6/7weeks or so (after a really long time with no AF) Ive been experiencing irregular spotting here and there. About 5 days will pass with the normal heavy discharge (sorry TMI!!!) and then about 2 days of spotting in addition to strong cramps.

At first i thought it was unusual as it happened all-of-a-sudden, but now this has been happening for a while, im not sure if this is normal??? Probably a good idea if i head off to the docs for a checkup i guess.

I really dont know what alternative contraception method would be best in my situation...and yes i completely agree with the "accidental" ttc being a problem...its way too tempting - so condoms are probably out. I cant really risk getting preg again right now as im going back to uni fulltime for 3 more years (yayy me...i got into b.midwifery :D sorry just had to let that out, im so excited!!!) ahhhh...to think ive been tossing and turning over this for over 6 months...lol.

Re: insertion of the mirena, i too had a local anaesthetic injected in the cervix prior. Yup that stings alright! But i guess the pain during insertion wasnt as bad as some of you that didnt have the injection have described. When i had the mirena removed before falling preg with DS2, like many have already mentioned it didnt hurt a bit for me at all.

Goodluck with your choices everyone, hopefully ill be back with a good update ;)

Congratulations on getting into midwifery Ghada!! You will certainly have your hands full for the next few years but what a great career path to choose!

I'm glad i saw this thread before i posted and asked about it all.
My doctor last week said that i can have it put in but at the time i wasn't sure as it's not something that i had thought about.
After reading all this i think i will give it a miss and stick to taking the pill as i know i can do that okay.

Hi ladies... thank you for your information... i am new here and
I've read all of your posts and i still can't decide... my doc. didn't tell me any of the side effects that you girls are mentioning... but i've seen the same comments on other sites. low libido, mood changes, weight gain, etc.. My problem is not with contraception as many of you are dealing with... i have had my tubes tied. but i am considering mirena because i have very heavy periods even while using a strong bcp and if i don't take it at exactly the same time every day i will spot for 1-3 days after. my doc. acted like this was the miracle that i needed, but after researching it i'm not so sure... taking the pill and having heavy periods and spotting when i forget seems better than having this iud inserted and having the problems that i've heard about... what would you do... would you get it again, knowing what you know , or would you stay away from it ??? I am so confused... i am sick of the heavy periods(7-10days, sometimes not being able to leave the house for 2 days) and i'm sick of the spotting, but what's worse?? UGH!!! I AM SO CONFUSED!!!:help: any information that you may have or advise would be greatly appreciated. thank you ~tara (mommy of 3)

Thank you for your advise. it's just so frustrating... i feel soo broken. my husband and i were planning a weekend get away and i was 20 minutes late taking my bcp and i spotted all weekend... valentines day was the same. and who wants to do anything fun with that going on UGH! It wasn't even like i missed the whole dose.. it was just 20 minutes late. but it's starting to sound like the bleeding is worse for some with the mirena. I don't know. :wall: if anyone else has any advise I'd love to hear it. thanks again ~tara

Hi Tara

Hope you get some relief from your probs. You can always try having the Mirena inserted and if it doesn't work it's easy enough to have taken out. (My gyn/ob said my GP can take it out if I want to). For me, it's completely stopped my period, no bleeding at all after the first month of having it in. But then, my period would also stop after taking the pill for long enough, so I might not be the best guage on this one.

I've had no complications at all, and I know there are others who are like me. Like I said, you don't really have anything to lose, as long as the gyn uses a local anaesthetic it's only a little uncomfortable having it inserted (but from the sounds of it, nowhere near as bad as your period pain has been!) and it's a bit crampy for a couple of days. You can always have it taken out if it doesn't work!

Hi,

I am thinking about having an iud put in after this baby. I have read this thread and can see that it doesnt necessarily agree with everyone. My husband says he cant live with me when I am on the pill and anything that you can use while breastfeeding is progesterone only. I cant take the mini pill because I have constant break through bleeding and the mood swings are so bad I notice it and just cant do anything about it. I am assuming an implanon or depo provera injections would have the same results as they too are progesterone only so I am considering an iud. I dont want to have my tubes done or get dh to have the snip as we will most likely try for another one in a couple of years. Does anyone know how the progesterone in the mirena works? Would it have the same effect as the mini pill? How common and sucessful are iuds without any progesterone? If anyone knows the answers to these questions or opinions I'd really appreciate it.

Hi Peta

I think you'd be best off asking your ob exactly how the progesterone works in the IUS. From what I remember being told, it's more of a local effect than what you would get with the pill, so the dose is much lower (which is one reason it's okay to have while bf). I am going back to my ob/gyn in the next few weeks so I might remember to ask!

Hey all, Well after all that time wondering and considering my options, the mirena decided to "fall out" ... lol! Very weird considering ive had it in for about 1 year...so now weve had our contraception issues sorted out for us without even having to do anything...its condoms in this household.

How is everyone else faring?

Hi Ghada

Mine is fine still, loving the no period thing. Went to my ob/gyn for a pap smear a couple of months ago and talked about it with him. I'm still ovulating, everything looks good so no changes here. For a while longer yet, anyway!

Hi I have just had a Mirena put in on Monday and I just wanted to ask how otehrs have found it.

How would you rate it overall?

How long did you spot for?

Did your preiods stop completely and if so when?

Any other side effects?

I dont know if this is in my imagination but I feel like I am going to the loo more (wee) since havign it put in! I feel like Im pg again!!! Does it push on ur bladder or something?

Im also really paraniod about it falling out. I dont want to 'push' in that area and kinda 'hold it in' with my pelvic muscles. Is this crazy!!??

A friend of mine had one in for the whole 5 years.

She had a light regular period the whole time it was in. As far as I know she didn't feel it. You may be having a bit of bloating while you get used to it. I'm sure it has progesterone in it which is the same as implanon and the mini pill.

I've considered getting it also because DH keeps wussing out of getting the snip ;)

Eta I found this on the mirena website:

:

---

Side effects with Mirena are most common during the first three months after insertion and decrease over time.

Percentage of Women Reporting Side Effects During the First Three Months and Fifth Year of Use

SIDE EFFECTS AT 3 MONTHS AT 5 YEARS
Lower abdominal pain (cramping) 10.5% 2.0%
Acne or other skin problems 3.5% 1.8%
Back pain 3.1% 1.0%
Breast tenderness 3.1% 1.0%
Headache 2.8% 1.6%
Mood changes 2.5% Less than 1.0%

---

So going by those stats hopefully things will settle for you after a couple of months. When I had implanon put in I was convinced I was PG for a couple of weeks!

Cheers for that :)

I have had one for 5 weeks now. I am really happy with it so far. I too felt the urge to wee a bit more for the first few days, and I was sure I could feel the strings in my cervix, TMI alert - sort of like when a tampon isn't quite in properly. But not anymore. I had AF when it was put in, then had no spotting for 3 days, then daily spotting for 2 weeks, but only really small amounts. Then spotting every second day, only very small amounts and now no spotting. My ob/gyn said that some women bleed every day for the first 6 weeks but that it usually settles after that. I hope you are one who doesn't have much spotting or bleeding. But to my mind I can live with spotting for 6 weeks if I have lighter AF or no AF after that. And as it's the only contraception that is suitable for me while bfing (due to a variety of reasons) so that's a big plus.

There are some other threads around here on this topic if you do a search.

Ta for that. Sounds like Im NORMAL!!! :D I agree - I dont mind having spotting if it means lighter or no AF!

Hi, i've had mine in since December 2006.

How would you rate it overall?

I love it. It's been the most worry-free, least hassle contraception i've ever used.

How long did you spot for?

After insertion i spotted for 3 weeks, until AF came. BUT i was on the mini-Pill (came off it 7 days AFTER insertion to make sure i was covered contraceptively) and that was making me spot anyway. I had random light spotting on and off for the first 5 or 6 months it was in (usually mid-cycle and AF-time as AF is now down to the level of spotting), but i don't usually do well on progesterone (bled continuously for 9 months on depo) so this was something i was expecting.

Did your periods stop completely and if so when?

No, i still have a light AF (light enough that the thnnest type of pantyliner is enough, too light for a tampon) every 29 or so days and occasionally i get mid-cycle spotting for 1 day.

Any other side effects?

A bit emotional at AF time, PMT style, but daily EPO has stopped that.

I dont know if this is in my imagination but I feel like I am going to the loo more (wee) since havign it put in! I feel like Im pg again!!! Does it push on ur bladder or something?

It doesn't but having it put in made my bladder a bit irritated as the speculum presses on it, and coughing tightens you up (dunno if they made you cough, they made me cough, no idea why) and i was a bit sort of bruised afterwards for a few days which gave me that need-to-wee feeling. Drink lots of water and you should be fine.

Im also really paraniod about it falling out. I dont want to 'push' in that area and kinda 'hold it in' with my pelvic muscles. Is this crazy!!??

The feeling isn't crazy but the worry is needless. Your cervix, which is an involuntary sphincter (you have no conscious control over it) is holding it in. Nothing, not the biggest bowel movement or the most powerful orgasm, will expel it from you. Only grabbing the cords and giving it a yank will pull it out so worry not.

HTH

Bx

Thanks you have made me feel alot better about it! :D

Hmmm.

I've just had mine inserted, and (TMI WARNING!) have had bleeding for 2 weeks since a week after the insertion. But no cramping/back ache with the bleeding? hmmm.

Kazbah, I had some unpredictable spotting (but not bleeding) for the first few weeks but since then nothing.
Maybe if it doesn't settle down soon you should check it with your Dr.
I love it but it doesn't agree with everyone.

I love mine too, but did have spotting most days in the first 6 weeks. My gynae told me to expect this so I wasn't phased and it stopped right on the 6 week mark.

sorry if TMI - i was going to post something about this myself today - i had my mirena put in on sept21 a week after had bleeding for 3 days then pale spotting for about 10 days then nothing till the sunday before last & ive been bleeding since so 9 days now & it is nothing like my normal period which was only 3days & mostly brownish - this is bright red all the time - im trying to hang in there to see if it gets better as my dr said it can take 6 months to get used to it!

Wow, so many with this side effect! I'm seeing the doc for my 6-weeks-after-insertion checkup in about 3 weeks, so I'm going to wait until at least then before making up my mind on it. The "no pain" part of the bleeding is good though. And I'm making sure I take my iron supps!