IUD Side Effects?

Updated on April 02, 2012
K.C. asks from Irvine, CA
8 answers

I am thinking about getting an IUD. I plan to ask my doctor lots of questions, but thought I'd ask some ladies who actually have them to give me their input as well.

1. Do you have any side effects with it?
2. Any weight gain?
3. Do you get regular periods every 28 days?
4. Is there a maximum number of years you can keep it in?

Any other advice about whether to get or not get one?

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L.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

I have a progesterone IUD that is used for controlling the symptoms of menopause and not for pregnancy prevention but I think most of the answers would be the same. I had no weight gain. Mine is a Marena which lasts 5 years. It was uncomfortable to have inserted and I did have a day of cramping and pain but literally nothing after the 3rd day after insertion. I don't even know it is there. I cannot answer you about the menstrual cycle as I am too old to have periods.....It is an easy and safe method of birth control and the nice ting is that you don't have to think about it!

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K.M.

answers from Kansas City on

I have had the Mirena for 1 year.

1. I did "spot" for almost 3 months (very annoying!).
2. No weight gain
3. No period at all
4. I think this one is good for 5 years

For me, the Mirena has been effective and problem free (once I stopped spotting)...now I have 4 more years to convince my husband to get a vasectomy:)

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R.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

I had an Mirena IUD after my third baby and I did not notice any weight gain or bad side effects. My periods were regular but they were every 45 days instead of 28 and that was just fine with me. The only problem I had with the IUD itself...I got pregnant! Obviously that was not a side effect that I was expecting but my son is a true blessing but the IUD obviously was not a success for me. I know lots of ladies who have one and they love them. When they asked me after baby #4 if I wanted an IUD put in, I said "No Thanks!" ;)

K.L.

answers from Sacramento on

I absolutely hated the Mirena! I got it at my six weeks post partum appt after having my second son. I had it for nine months, and couldn't handle it anymore! Here are my issues I had:

Spotted every single day for nine months.
Gained 20lb, that I just couldn't get off.
Acne was horrible on my jawline.
Zero sex drive, and intercourse was uncomfortable, if not painful at times.
Emotions from Hell! Highs, lows, and all around craziness :/

I got it out, and within two weeks, I felt back to normal emotionally, I had stopped spotting, and returned to my normal cycle, my skin cleared, and I lost the excess weight quickly.

After I have this baby, in October, my husband is getting a vasectomy, so I don't have to worry about hormonal bc anymore!

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D.D.

answers from Detroit on

I had the Mirena put in in November 2011. The first day I had some cramping, a headache and nausea that went away after a few hours. I had lite spotting for weeks, then after about a month and and half nothing- no periods no spotting. I didn't put on any weight, but I do notice that about once a month I get moody!! I also have noticed that about once a week I get a bad headache nothing that an excedrin can't cure. So far I have been happy with it. Good luck.

K.M.

answers from Chicago on

My choice - Mirena - time duration - 5yrs
Cycle - after a few months I only had spotting fairly regularly - nothing needed - soooo light.
Weight Gain? Yes - and I had a very difficult time getting it off.
Plus - all the hormones straightened my hair - so missed my curls, I only did not know it until after it was out. Mostly only petty side effects that I am sure of but I had a friend who had it removed only a few weeks after having it in she cramped terribly for weeks!

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E.V.

answers from Phoenix on

I used IUD few years ago. It was made in Germany, but I forgot the brand name.
What I had: pain during sex, painful for my hubby, too. I had lots of whitish fluid came out from vagina. I thought it was my body adjusting to strange object so I stand the pain. But after 2 months, I had an obgyn checked it and he said that inside my vagina tunnel, there are lots of ulcers. So he took it off. Never use IUD again.
Just use condoms.

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T.S.

answers from Washington DC on

I have a Mirena.

1. The only side effects I've had are the LACK of estrogen side effects, both positive and negative. I don't get migraines anymore (well maybe one a year), but my acne came back.
2. No weight gain and I've been able to easily lose weight on it. I got it when my son was 1. I lost the rest of my baby weight and more recently have lost another bit of weight cutting out red meat.
3. No. For the first year (after a few weeks of spotting) I got ONE day of light spotting each month. Honestly, by the time I noticed and got a tampon it was over. Now I get a couple of days of spotting every few months. Nothing regular, but nothing heavy either, so it isn't terrible to be unpredictable.
4. When I had it put in, it was 5 years, but now it's approved for up to 7 years.

I really like mine. The other thing I like about it is that it requires a real decision to remove. Like, if we decide to have another child it has to be a real CHOICE with a doctors visit etc... not just "I'm feeling hormonal and that baby down the street is so cute, let's try!"

HTH
T.

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