Mirena or No??

yes, Mirena!!
I was breastfeeding my second child and had the Mirena "installed" and I love it. It is going on 5 years and will go back soon to have it replaced. No side effects and no bleeding. A little spotting at first. I highly recommend this over any other contraceptive. The US is the only nation in the world where the IUD is not the leading contraceptive.
Love life!

I've had Mirena for 3 years now and it is awesome!! It slowed my periods way down to the point that I can't remember my last one. The first year I had 'periods' about every 3 months and even then they were really light and only lasted a day. I used to have pms but now I feel the same every day. I do get a little pms the day before of of my period, but it only lasts a day at most. You have no idea it is there and it is no big deal going in - I love it!! Hope that helps - J.

Please understand that I know that I am in the minority; but I also know with absolute certainty that I am not the only one - probably closer to the 10% mark.

I had Mirena inserted at my 6 week checkup and removed just before my son was a year old. I cramped and bled - sometimes for days in a row, sometimes I would have a day or two off, sometimes every other day - from two weeks after placement until four weeks after it was removed. Sex was so physically painful (I went through labor with no drugs) that my husband and I only did it twice in that time period. He couldn't bear to see me cry.

I had to have another doctor remove the IUD because my doctor's office kept saying, "mirena doesn't cause those symptoms". That may or may not be the case - but when it was removed, it was a sharp pain and a foul odor, and I had purulent (pus) bloody drainage for a couple of weeks on antibiotics. It cleared up, I had a hsg (fluid filled ultrasound) to ensure there was no long term structural damage to my uterus. I was diagnosed with an auto immune disease (which results from your body being in a constant state of inflammation - what the IUD is designed to do), which is under control thanks to medication and have since had another child.

I would not recommend Mirena to anyone. Well - maybe my husband's ex. But I really don't hate her enough to wish that kind of pain on her.

Just My Experience.

S.

when I had my mirena i had no period for years, between my kids. my husband had a vasectomy and I still wish I had no period! i'm 29, mom of 2 and we're done with our family.

We've considered going back to Mirena, but it just doesn't seem necessary for us -except for regulation. Haven't decided yet...... but would do it again, given the great history!

There are a lot of different birth control methods out there now that are supposed to be able to help with frequent/excessive bleeding. I am surprised though that your OBGYN does not think a uterine ablation would be effective. That was the very first thing mine suggested for bleeding issues. I am having a hyst in 10 days but I have a very problematic history, am almost 35 and done having kids. Unless you just really love and trust your doc I would suggest getting a second opinion. Mainly because why should you have to deal with the probable side effects of hormone birth control when you don't even need it for that reason thanks to your husbands vasectomy. I really think uterine ablation sounds like the best solution for you but that's just my opinion. Good luck with whatever you decide!

I have it. At first it was really rough and I almost had it taken it. For a few months I bleed more often, my skin was horribly broken out and I had a lot of hair loss. Just wanted to be honest. After about 4-6 months it evened off and I could not be happier. My face cleared up, my hair grew back, and I have not had a period in over a year. So if you do get it, try to stick out the side effects. It is just your body adapting to a forgein object in it.

My experience with the Mirena has been great. I've had it nearly 2 years with no problems. I have no period--haven't for over a year. Once a month, I have a day or two of very light spotting. I love it.

I love my Mirena - love? yes, love! You must note that there are 2 kinds one that last 5 years and contains hormones like the pill and one that lasts 10 years that doesn't use hormones. I chose the 5 years since I never had issues when I took the pill and haven't had a period since - it's fantastic. I'm going on year 4 of use so I'll have to get it changed out next year - not sure what that experience will be like but, with no period, it's so worth it!

I had the Mirena iud put in a few months after my daughter was born and it was a very simple (in office) proceedure. Within a few months my periods all but disappeared. Periods about every 7-8 weeks with 1-2 days of light periods. I had no side effects over the course of the 5 years I had it. When they remove it, I had several days of extremely heavy bleeding, then everything went back to the way it was before the implant. My experience was 100% positive.

I had it and I loved it, and will do it again after I have my baby. I had such severe periods that when they put it in, I got right up and was ready to leave. The nurse was stunned. I was told it would hurt, but compared to the pain I was in two weeks of every month it was nothing! I did start to have regular periods (for the first time in my life)but they were very light. I know a lot of women don't have monthly bleeding with it, but I did. After we started trying and I had it removed, I continued to have them on time (you could set a watch to it)for a year until we conceived.

I had the Mirena for about 10 months. It was ok for the first 6 months, after that I bled at least 2-3 times a month. When I went to have it removed, they could not find it. It took two visits and an ultrasound, they finally found it. They where worried that it had penetrated through the uterus and were talking surgery, I do not recommend this.

I had Mirena after my son was born and I never had a period while I was on it, only light spotting on/off for about 5 weeks. It didn't hurt to get it inserted (mild menstral-like cramps) or removed (couldn't even feel it). I will definitely get it again after I have my next one (due in November)!

I have had Mirena for 2 years now and I LOVE IT!! I have no periods, no side-effects and no pregnancies. It's better than I expected!! I highly recommend it. Now, some people do have side effects and others don't like it, but that's for each to decide. I personally, LOVE IT! Oh, and one mommy said Mirena isn't covered on insurance, it was on mine, 100%, so it was a great choice for me.

Good Luck!
A.

Since having (my second one) placed, I have had spotting, versus a period, and pms symptoms that were so bad I stayed away from people, have gone to grumpy once a month. I love this thing, and I highly recommend it. I hope it works for you the way it does for me. Good Luck!

Why does your ob/gyn not think endometrial ablation will have the desired effect? I know several women who have had that done for the same reason and it worked wonders for them. I used Mirena and basically didn't have a period at all but I don't have bad periods either.

Have you had a second opinion?? Just seems like somethings not quite right for every other week. I know this costs money, etc. just a suggestion. And you might get on the internet with the question, and see what come us also.

I was in your boat--needed it strictly for regulation as my husband has had a vasectomy. I discussed the ablation with my doctor, and his reasoning for recommending Mirena over ablation was that they have the same end result, so why go with ablation (which is permanent and more invasive) if Mirena is a perfectly viable and safe option? I read up on it and did enough research to know that Mirena was the choice for me.
I had it inserted last July, and I saw an immediate change in my flow level. Since then, things haven't really changed much. I keep waiting for the day that my periods go away completely, but until then, I'm just happy having them be light since before I could hardly leave the house they were so heavy.
There was some slight pain with the insertion, but it wasn't much worse than a regular pap for me. Other than that, there have been no negative side effects.
FYI, it's too late for this year, but if you can hold out until next year, you can add the cost of the Mirena to your flex spending account (if one is available through your or your husband's job benefits). Insurance doesn't cover the cost. I think the product itself was $500, and then you pay your doctor for the insertion.

I received my Mirena going on 2 years ago due to heavy, extremely frequent periods that were causing extreme anemia. My doctor also felt that I would be in the 25% failure rate for ablation. So far, I have loved it. My doctor warned me that I would spot for several weeks. It ended up being about 2 1/2 months of regular spotting followed by 3 1/2 months of periodic spotting. However, since then I have had very few periods and when they do occur, they are so light that I can get by with a pantyliner. My period is basically non existent. The only side effects that I have experienced are an occasional "pinch" where the Mirena is placed, usually around the time of the month that I would have a period and a some weight gain around my middle. My bust size has also increased a bit. I do exercise 5 to 6 times a week and have started to really watch my diet, so am seeing an improvement in the weight gain. It could also be that I just hit 40. Overall, I am very pleased with my decision.

Hello I havent had any problems with my IUD, every month my period got lighter and after 1 year it stopeed altogether :)

I"ve had mine for 3 1/2 yrs and love it. I haven't had a period in 3 years with no side effects.
It's been perfect for me.