Discussions

There are a lot of experiences out there regarding the Mirena IUD.. scary ones and then the ones that people mention they love it.  
I am considering it and waiting to discuss with my gyn at my appointment in a couple weeks...  
What are some of the questions I should be asking my gyn and what are your experiences?  
Thanks!

Had it for a month and it's all I could handle. As soon as I had it removed it was like night and day.  
 
Constant sporadic bleeding-maybe a day off then back 3 heavy days then off for 2 then back 1 etc so constantly had to wear something or be checking and going to the bathroom I felt I lived in there.  
Mood swings/irritable/depressed/zero energy-didn't care about anyone or anything had to fight to go to work or interact with ppl even family and my kids, didn't want to get out of bed  
Zero sex Drive (likely didn't help I was bleeding all the time)  
I could feel it and the string in there  
Some cramping- was mild one day then excurtating others,  
Bloated feeling  
 
Those are a few I can think of off the top of my head

Was this your experience with just this type of birth control or did you have reactions like this with others?  
So far I have done birth control pills-no reaction but HATE having to remember to take it at the exact time every single day... two kids now-more tired than ever will forget one of these days  
I have recently started the birth control patch... spotting for over two weeks now and just too paranoid about how it wrinkles a little bit ... other than that no other reaction. Just don't feel safe to go condom free with my husband right now. Really need to go condom free here soon if you know what I mean!

Had severe pain. It ook a lot of checking aND 3 ultrasounds. The top of the t went through one side of cervix. With no pain meds or anything the Dr. (He never put it in and was horrified it was left like this.) Yanked with all his might to get it out. It was very scary. If there is anot her option. Choose that one.

I was on Depo for 4.5 years previous to getting Mirena. I was told that I should have minimal side effects as it was the same hormone in both types of birth control. Boy was my doctor and OBGYN wrong! After about a month of having my IUD inserted, I began to have horrible breast pain - I could not stand up or walk without feeling like someone was taking a knife to my breasts. Concerned, I went to my doctor and she told me that the side effects should subside once my body got used to the IUD. I persisted through the pain for another two months when I finally decided that enough was enough - the pain never got any better. After only having the IUD in for 3 months, I had it removed. My OBGYN assumes that the amount of hormone that was getting or into my body was too much for my body to tolerate.  
Along with the breast tenderness, I had zero interest in sex, my body constantly felt super sensitive to touch, and was overly emotional.  
I was put on a birth control pill after my period came back (didn't have one for almost 5 years... the best thing ever IMO). Not even a full month into taking the pill - my breast pain returned. I made the decision to return to Depo as I have never had any negative side effect from it - within 3 weeks of being back on the shot, my breast pain has completely vanished.  
It's different for everyone, but I strongly recommend Depo - 1 shot every 12 weeks - no need to remember to take a pill every day, not noticeable to others. Honestly the best decision I have ever made!

I have had mine in for a year now... every lady is different. I had or felt like non stop bleeding. The first 6 months a good doctor will tell you to hang in there as your body adjusts to it as I was under the impression the minute I had it in I felt my period would go a way. Not every lady that happens to!! I now after having it in for a year I'm so glad I pushed through the rough time of it as I may spot for a day every month and that's it.! Best choice I ever made!

You have to go into it understanding that it is not a quick fix. The first six weeks (at a minimum) you will wonder why on earth anybody would ever use it. Constant bleeding, cramping...and then after that goes away, you might get a few months of boob pain.  
 
Don't put yourself through it unless you can commit to keeping it in for 6 months. At the six month mark, you will think it is the best thing you have ever done.

used it for five years. A little cramping at first and that was it. No problems at all.

I had the Mirena IUD for 3.5 years and i had zero complications other than it really affecting my moods. I learned that hormonal birth controls are not for me and if you have a history of depression, it might not be for you either. I didnt get a period at all for the time i had it in which was nice and you basically almost forget its there. Removal was done in seconds also and no complications. I had mine removed last month to try for baby #2. If i were to seek birth control again i would personally recommend to copper IUD(paraguard) as its hormone-free and wouldnt effect my mood.

I have had it for almost 5 years. It is to be removed this year.  
 
I was very skeptical at first because of the horror stories out there but I didn't have much choice at the time.  
 
At first there was a bit of cramping but it went away and I haven't had any adverse side effects since.  
 
I think if you have had trouble with oral contraceptives you will want to have that discussion with your doctor. I didn't have trouble with taking the pill with the exception of one and even my husband told me that I should get off it. I believe it was Diane 35 and I was taking it more to help regulate hormones and for acne at the time. I thought I was going crazy literally.  
 
Mireya definitely helped me but I understand it is not for everyone.

I've had mine for a year. I don't get any bleeding just a little cramping in what would be my PMS time and that's it. It's really a god sent to me, I don't think I could live without it!

I am on my second one and I love it. I agree with the post above in that it takes about 6 months for your body to adjust but then it's 5 years of bliss. A friend of mine got one recently and HATED IT. I convinced her to hang in there and about 3 months later she was great. It's the same as any other birth control in that everyone reacts differently. Some people get bad reactions from the pill and some don't. Mirena is the same.....it may be a great thing for you, it may not

Don't let the horror stories scare you. There are more success stories than bad.

Thanks for all the replies! I will try to stick with it for as much as I can, hopefully hubby will help/understand along the way!  
My biggest fear would be if it moved out of place.  
Does it depends on the ob/gyn or a body?

ThatsNotMyName said "Thanks for all the replies! I will try to stick with it for as much as I can, hopefully hubby will help/understand along the way!   My biggest fear would be if it moved out of place.   Does it depends on the ob/gyn or a body? "

Every BODY is different!!  
I have also had mine for almost 5 years. Initially I spotted on and off and had a few hormone issues (headaches, sensitivities, mood swings, etc), but like everyone has been saying, your body needs to adjust! After a few months it was smooth sailing. I stopped spotting completely after a year.  
I would definitely suggest that you get the OB/GYN to insert it and you should be checking the placement of your mirena once a month (usually during ovulation time). You should be able to feel the strings. If you don't, then see the doc. I have had this happen a few times and it was always fine once I got it checked by the doc.

What I I went through, I had it for 1 year. Ended up in emergency 13 time for pain. finally had it removed. After I had it for 1 month I told my my Dr. about the pain but he said that it wasn't it. I ha bleeding and that was the issue I had it for. I later read that it was preferably recommended for women who have had children before. All I can say is that I remember that I was in so much pain that I would lose the use of my legs.

I exercise, and run daily and mine has never moved. They did warn me that if the strings are too long and in rare cases a man may feel them during sex. Never been an issue for us.

Good to know, I'm pretty active too so was wondering about that.  
Also good for my husband to know about whether or not he can feel it too

I can't do Mirena because reactions. But there is a hormone-free IUD called Nova-T. Yes, it is just as effective.  
The Nova-T uses copper and silver core in a tiny plastic casing. Stays in place very well. Very few side effects (I had none). No mood swings, breast sensitivity, acne, weight fluxuation. Possible side effects would be cramping and possibly a heavier period. Super painless extraction. First time I got it, it pinched slighty for a few days because I wasn't used to the fit. My Gyno warned me about that. When it was replaced, there was no pain, no pinching...about as troublesome as replacing a tampon. (Except done by Gyno or family doctor.)  
Unless you are metal sensitive, definitely ask your Gynecologist about this option.

ThatsNotMyName said "Thanks for all the replies! I will try to stick with it for as much as I can, hopefully hubby will help/understand along the way!   My biggest fear would be if it moved out of place.   Does it depends on the ob/gyn or a body? "

very much depends on your own body & shape. If you have a short or curved cervix you are more likely to have problems with it moving- which doc's don't tell you, and I only found out after my own awful experience.  
 
Had mine about a year, no real complications or complaints at first- had an easy time compared to what I was expecting. Checked my wires like I was supposed to, one day LOTS of pain- 3 days of e/r trips later they finally did an ultrasound. I must have moved in just the wrong way, turns out it punctured through the wall of my uterus as it had shifted (though wires were still out & in place), I ended up on IV antibiotics, 4 day hospital stay, had to be surgically removed. Uterus now permanently damaged because of scar tissue & hormone issues due to it being actually in the tissue and therefore releasing way too much hormone into my body.  
 
Very slim chance I realize, but just know there is a chance or really bad lifelong complications! Works great for some people, but certainly not for everyone.

I was told it could happen to anyone. Any pain that feels wrong report it asap.

I had a great experience, and in fact because I don't need it for birth control I am keeping it 2 more years. It has been a total lifesaver for me.