Experience with Mirena And/or Depo?

I'm on my second Mirena and I love it. I think they are great and love not having periods! But it doesn't work smoothly for everyone…I truly feel that Mirena users either love it or hate it and get it removed within the first 3 months.

That being said, it's time to get my second one removed and I'm going to go off the hormones completely (even though it's a low dose). I'm pushing 40 and I think it's time after so many years on birth control. At 44, I honestly think you should consider the same.

I agree that an ablation would be something to consider. I know a few people who have had them and have said it wasn't a big deal, pretty easy recovery, and they are very happy.

I was on Depo for several years and cannot recommend it to anyone. It wrecked my health.
I had no periods at all, but still had PMS symptoms. I also developed fibromyalgia and had migraines and mood swings while on it.
When I got off it, all that went away.
I found out later that, for women predisposed to fibromyalgia, Depo can trigger it.
If you're done having kids, I recommend the ablation. I had it done almost ten years ago to stop periods from hell (cycling every two weeks, flooding through my clothes, even using two tampons at a time and a panty liner backup, cramps that made me double over and vomit), and my only regret is that I didn't have it done sooner. No periods at all, not even spotting, and no PMS symptoms.

At 44, and considering the trouble you have with periods, I would also suggest the ablation.
Unless you seriously plan to try for a child, there's no reason at all not to. Then you can just forget about taking or scheduling anything.

Honestly, I'm 37 and done with kids. I've had Essure, and I can't wait to have an ablation. It's like the last step for me. Just be rid of this monthly junk for good! My doc just won't do it yet.... I'm still working on him!

I'd do an ablation before putting drugs in my body... Every person I know that has had depo or mirena has had issues and wishes they had not used them. Some issues were minor, others were major! Two people ended up with uterine infections that caused fertility issues in relation to mirena, and I know two people that gained well over 100 lbs on depo and neither was able to have more children or lose the weight, and these were normal healthy women before.... Do your homework on the depo, it is a scary drug... I had an ablation years ago due to issues similar to yours, best thing I ever did!

Did your doctor suggest adjusting the hormone dosage of your pills? If not, discuss this with him/her and see if they think increasing the dosage or type would help with the breakthrough bleeding.
I also had the Mirena. I liked it at first (no periods), but after about 6 mos it was persistent PMS. I constantly had sore boobs, bloating, and horrible acne. It never went away. I finally had it removed because I felt pregnant all the time. The discomfort outweighed the benefits of the device.

I just got my second mirena last.month. completely love it. Haven't had a period at all since 2008, a little spotting like others mentioned, I had period symptoms like swollen knotty boobs and bloating, last go round, but nothing so far this time.
Good luck. I'm 34 btw, one 5 yr old boy.

I have a Mirena IUD. I've had it for a couple of years now. The first 4-5 months sucked because I had spotting but once that part was over I haven't had a period since! I love it! I used to get bad cramps and periods. I was considering an ablation but decided to try this first. I've been very happy with it. I will get another one in 5 years when I have to get a new one. I am 47 so I'm hoping this will take me through menopause.

I had the depo the first time 6 weeks after the birth of my child and had bleeding off and on still. Doctor gave me the depo shot. I never read up on it. 2 months later my weight loss stop. I was bloated, had spotting, break though bleeding and bleeding from october til February. It was the worst. Body is still screwed up from the shot.

I was on depo for about a year. I did not have my period during that time, just occasional light break through bleeding. I also gained 60+ pounds without changing my lifestyle at all. I have heard of similar weight gain from many other woman I know. I would avoid it if I was you and just stick to the pill or try the ring or something. I decided I was done with BC and had my husband get a vasectomy, and I don't regret that at all, it has been so nice having my body off all those hormones after 20 years.

As for periods, or stopping them, you can skip your inactive pills and not have your period. My doctor just prescribed me extra packs to make up for the untaken pills. He did encourage me to let myself have one every 3 or 4 months though, not sure why.

I'm on my 3rd Mirena. I have not had a period in 11+ years. I spotted the first few months, enough for a liner, then none at all. I have had no side effects at all. Love it! However, I think the ablation would be better for you for more a permanent fix.

I had a constant back ache with the Mirena. It was debilitating and I had no idea the Mirena was causing it until I started doing some quick research before I planned to get a new one put in. I found a few forums that talked about back pain being a side effect. I told the doc to remove it immediately and she said she would, but that it wasn't causing my pain. I experienced immediate relief when it was removed and the pain eased up after 4-6 months completely. I've been pain free for two years and can't believe I had to deal with that day in and day out for so long. I know it works for most women just fine, but I like to write about my experience just in case someone else is suffering like I was.

I have used both.
Depo - no periods, not even spotting, but I gained 30 lbs (I'm 4'10" so 30 extra pounds is A LOT) I went from a size 3/5 to 10/12. (Oh NO!!!) other than the weight gain, I had no other issues. (I stopped the shot because that was just too much extra weight on me, and no matter diet or exercise I could NOT lose It! I dropped most of the weight 6 months after my last shot.

Mirena - LOVED IT some slight spotting once or twice a year enough for a liner and lasted 3 days. then the 4th year came along! I had yeast infection after yeast infection then I got BV I had that 4 times in 5 months, I told the doc to take it out I cant shake these infections he said it had NOTHING to do with the mirena and I was over reacting, I told him to "POP IT OUT" he did, no more BV infections and the YI were cut dramatically!! SO I still don't know if it caused it or just "helped" the infections grow who knows

I would not do either ever again. but I was most happy with the mirena.

I love my mirena. I've had it 4 years, and plan to get another next year.
I had random spotting for the 1st 4-5 months - this was longer than I expected, but I also had it put in immediately after childbirth, so I'm not sure how much was childbirth related, and how much was the mirena.

Since then, I do get periods, unlike many other women. My period are very predictable, no surprises. The big difference is that with Mirena, is that all I ever need during my period is a pantyliner because my periods are so light. It's great.

I have had the Mirena in for about 1 1/2 year. I love it ! I have had no cramping, no periods after the first 2 months (which is normal). I have had a very very slight spotting every once in awhile but mainly it's on the toilet paper. Not enough for even a panty liner. I would completely recommend the Mirena. I don't have any idea on the Depo. If those are the shots I have heard alot of issues with those - mainly your hormones are up and down.

I love my Depo. I have lost a ton of weight, been on depo for 2 years now. and I have some breakthrough bleeding maybe every other shot? so every 6 months or so, but by that i mean i notice when I wipe and may use a liner just in case, but nothing more than that. I know a lot of women have bad luck with Depo, but that isn't the case for everyone (obviously) I'm actually smaller now than I was before my last pregnancy, although not as thin as before the pregnancy before that :) but that's ok, I'm also over 30 which makes weight loss a different story and I may never be a size 6 again (but i'm not a 16 anymore, and I'm happy with my size 10)

When I had mirena my periods were completely random. Sometimes I would spot randomly as well but not often.