mirena experiences - Birth Control Message Board

anonymoose · 10-13-2005, 07:49 PM

i am considering mirena (hormonal IUD) and would like to know about everyones experiences. In particular I wonder:
1. how long have you had the IUD
2. Have you experienced reduced sex drive at all (the reason i quit the pill)
3. Have you had any other side effects
4. How badly did it hurt to have put in? If possible compare the level of pain to something else so I can know what to expect.
5. Have you ever had kids? (I guess not having kids can be a factor in if the doc will let you get a IUD or not)

If there's anything else you care to add please do! I'm just fed up with the pill and nothing else seems to be near 100% reliable with typical use. I don't think I'll ever want kids so it's very important that I not get pregnant!

thanks in advance to anyone who cares to respond!

Pesh · 10-14-2005, 05:39 AM

My best friend has had it for almost a year. She loves it. When she first got it, she had break through bleeding for a few weeks (maybe 4 or so) and then it stopped and now she barely, if ever, gets her period. You should know, however, that some, not all, GYNs are reluctant to give them to women who haven't had children yet. Something about your uterus being tighter.

mickih · 10-14-2005, 07:17 AM

[QUOTE=anonymoose]i am considering mirena (hormonal IUD) and would like to know about everyones experiences. In particular I wonder:
1. how long have you had the IUD
2. Have you experienced reduced sex drive at all (the reason i quit the pill)
3. Have you had any other side effects
4. How badly did it hurt to have put in? If possible compare the level of pain to something else so I can know what to expect.
5. Have you ever had kids? (I guess not having kids can be a factor in if the doc will let you get a IUD or not)

If there's anything else you care to add please do! I'm just fed up with the pill and nothing else seems to be near 100% reliable with typical use. I don't think I'll ever want kids so it's very important that I not get pregnant!

thanks in advance to anyone who cares to respond![/QUOTE

I have had mine sine the end of May. It did not hurt at all to have it put in, but I have had two children, and I had it put in right after my second child so I am sure that helped.

I also had spotting for the first month or so. Now I get a very light period about every 6 weeks or so. The month of July I didn't have a period at all.

I haven't noticed any other side effects and it hasn't affected my sex drive one way or the other.

You might have trouble finding a doctor that will put one in if you haven't had any kids but they will do it. I have a fried that has one. She doesn't have any kids. She did experience pain at the time of inserition and for a couple of days afterwards. She only described the pain as cramping. Hope this helps.

anonymoose · 10-14-2005, 03:52 PM

i think i can handle cramping. before i started the pill I had cramps o' death. all i could do teh first day or 2 of my period was lay there and try not to throw up. If i was lucky the pain would subside enough for me to try to sleep through it. This is even with taking midol. Now that i'm off the pills I'm afraid the cramps will come back. If the pain from IUD insertion is only as bad as normal cramping then I'll be fine. Do you know if Minera eventually lessens cramping since it lightens periods?

mickih · 10-14-2005, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anonymoose

i think i can handle cramping. before i started the pill I had cramps o' death. all i could do teh first day or 2 of my period was lay there and try not to throw up. If i was lucky the pain would subside enough for me to try to sleep through it. This is even with taking midol. Now that i'm off the pills I'm afraid the cramps will come back. If the pain from IUD insertion is only as bad as normal cramping then I'll be fine. Do you know if Minera eventually lessens cramping since it lightens periods?

It definatley lessens cramping. In fact, it's difficult for me to tell when I am about to get my period since I have been on Mirena because I don't get the cramping that I use to. The cramping is very mild. Supposedly, your period eventually stops after about a year of being on Mirena. I can't wait for that. Good luck if you decide to try it. I also hated the pill and am happy I switched.