Your oppinions on the mirena..loads of Q's

I've been using the depo provera injections 3 monthly for the past 7 years. (Obviously not keeping up to it last year, lol. BFing seemed too convenient...but doesn't work!)

Anyway, wanting something more long term, but a bit scared of the unknown.
I love the depo. I'm very tempted to stick at it, but keeping up with the 3 monthly appointments got harder as I had more kids. I never take myself to the gp...

So, does it affect BFing? What side effects are there? I've heard alot of bad things... How different is it to depo? I have no AF with the depo & no other side effects at all. Thats why I liked it so much.

Whats it feel like to have it put in/removed?

What happens when DTD? I'm a bit worried that when its removed it'd take the doc hours to find the ends to get it out! Specially after 5 years!

Someone posted about their DH feeling it... is the only way to fix that removal?

I've heard so many stories about the uterus being perferated (sp?) & the iud not sitting in the right spot. Something about size of the uterus affecting it. Which makes me think that after 4 kids it mightn't be so great in there...

So other than the long term fix, what other reasons would you get the mirena over the depo? I love the depo & know it works, so I'm a bit worried about trying something else...

I have only just gotten the Mirena put in as for me i felt it was one of the easiest options.
Not having to remember to take a pill, was safe for BFing and not havign to regularly go to the Dr or have something inserted.

It was uncomfortable when he did it but now you can't feel a thing, don't even realise it's there.
I spotted for a couple of days afterwards but that was it.
DP and i have DTD and he couldn't feel anything, TBH as gross as it is i have had a feel around and i can't feel anything.

If your OH does manage to feel it they have said they can trim the wires.

I can't answer most of the other questions but i am HOPING that nothing goes wrong and that this is right for me, maybe have a chat with your OBGYN and see what they say, voice your concerns and ask for stats?

i found it very uncomfy to have it inserted but they again it was about 14 months after DD was born and cervix wll and truely closed!
DH could feel the strings but cant any more.
first AF after was heavy, but now if im unlucky i get a smear of pink blood and tahts it. you wont get any bleeding or know if you get AF if you get it in at your 6 week check!
so far im liking having it!

I've posted several times on here about how bad it was for me, and I had to eventually have it removed under a GA because the entire thing was inside my uterus, pushing against the uterine wall and I did have some scar tissue forming around it. This could have been due to the fact that I had had 4 children and my uterus was slightly larger. But if you have had a good response with the depo, then it shouldn't be a problem for you in theory, but it's one of those things where you can hear what it was like for 100 women, but it still might be different for you kwim? So you really have to get it and see how it goes. If you are looking at long, long term, it still might not be the best option either. Good luck deciding!

Thanks to all of you. I'm considering something more permanent, but no matter how I look at it, every option scares me.
I love the depo, so will be starting with it til I decide what to do. Might go ask google about a few different things. I've never had surgery, so not too keen on something like that iykwim... But still considering all options.

I had the Mirena in for four years with only a minor problem with some cramping after a couple of years, which I had an u/s for. The lining on my uterine wall was very thin and this was probably the cause. It resolved itself. Was a bit ouchy to have put in by my ob, but nothing much. Provided excellent birth control for the time and didn't interfere with bfing at all. Never bothered DP. ;)

I did find it took about three months for my cycles to get back on track after having it removed, so I'm not sure I'll have it if we want more children, only because I'm worried it might affect me more as I get older. But once we are done and before DP gets the permanent snip, it'll be the way we go.

My understanding is that the mirena delivers a much lesser does of progesterone than depo or similar. So if you are concerned with hormonal load on the body, then mirena could be a better option.

I had the Mirena in for 3 years. I am a sook and had it inserted under a light GA! Initially I bled for about 10 weeks, then had a couple of light periods, then nothing at all. Everything was OK for a couple of years, DH couldn't feel the strings and not having a period was fantastic. The last 12 months the Mirena was in, I gained about 10 kilos despite exercising and watching my diet. Worse than that, I was MOODY... really, really moody! My temper was terrible, I would cry at the drop of a hat, then I would be flying high. It literally felt like riding a roller coaster, I could feel my mood plummeting and rising, changing by the hour. Stupidly, I didn't consider for 6 months or so whether the Mirena might be the cause, I guess because I had had it in for a couple of years with no problem. Ultimately, I went to the GP to ask her to check my hormones to try to figure out what was going on with me. As soon as I told her I had a Mirena she said she removes at least a couple a week for exactly the reasons I was describing. I had the Mirena removed and within a few weeks my moods stabilised and I lost the 10 kilos within a few months. Honestly, I think the Mirena almost cost me my marriage as I was impossible to live with. I was a moody, unstable mother and I hated myself for it. I would NOT personally recommend the Mirena, although I do know others who have one without any problem.

Oh, taking it out was no worse than a pap smear. Uncomfortable, but OK even for a sook!

The Mirena IUD is very different to the old copper ones that use to be quiet large and you ran the risk of puncturing your uterus.

The mirena is tiny, T shaped, the body its self is maybe the length of two tic tacs and not any wider, the top part of the T is much thinner. The box it comes in is about as long as the lower part of your arm but that's just because the applicator is in the box.

Mine was put in under GA because I was having a DnC done at the same time but from other girls I know they have said it was just a little more uncomfortable than having a pap smear.

The guide lines/wires that pass through the cervix to keep the IUD in place move slightly during your cycle. Some times I could feel them and other times I couldn't, but only when looking/feeling for them.

If you've had success with the injections I would think the IUD would be worth a shot because it's also used to help women with heavy periods manage better and in my case as well as everyone else I know with one they have stopped completely.

I did have a problem with mine and I'll apologise now if this is TMI but mine did come out but that was because I had a fibroid that produced a large clot which ended up dragging out the IUD. Other than that it's the best contraception I've ever used and would recommend it highly to anyone thinking about it.