Mini Pill vs Mirena IUD

Updated on April 02, 2011
A.R. asks from Madison, WI
10 answers

I just had my second son and am planning to go on birth control. Since I'm nursing my doctor gave me two options, the mini pill or IUD Mirena. My husband and I are pretty sure we are done having children. I have not been on birth control since before having children over 4 yrs ago. My doctor mentioned a possible side effect with both types of birth control as changes in your mood. So we decided to do a trial of one month of the mini pill. If it goes well I may consider getting IUD although the thought of having foreign object placed inside of me sounds weird. I'm also just not that excited about being back birth control. My husband talks about wanting to get vasectomy but I'm not ready for that yet.
I'm just curious what your experience has been with these forms of birth control. Side effects??
Thanks!!

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M.S.

answers from Minneapolis on

I did use the mini pill while I was bf my first, and I don't know what I would say was side effects from the pill or just hormones from bf, but now I have the Mirena and I really like it. I had been on a normal pill for years, and the biggest difference for me is I don't feel like the hormones affect my libido as much-the hormones don't affect you like a pill would. I would recommend it, and I agree with the other post--the insertion is uncomfortable but not a big deal, and it might feel odd for a couple days but then be ok. I have several friends who have the Mirena and they all like it, too.

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T.V.

answers from San Francisco on

NO to IUD.....they can actually attach to your uterus and cause some serious side effects. If you and your husband are serious about no more children, get your tubes tied or he can have a vasectomy (when your both are ready). In the mean time there are other methods of birth control that both of you could use.

Congratulations on your baby!

Blessings....

1 mom found this helpful
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M.I.

answers from Duluth on

i have the mirena, and its really not that bad.

i had random and frequent spotting the first couple of months, which could be annoying, but no major issues, even if i didnt have a pad with me it wouldnt leak through or anything. then basically, i dont get much of a period at all, and not very frequently. its pretty comfortable, and i have no worries. ;)

so anyway, i would recommend it. everyone is different, and im sure you might react different than me. but mostly, i havent had any major issues, and its not bothered me. ;) i thought it was wierd at first too, but its really comfortable.
besides, the pill doesnt work as often as most people think! my brother 11 years younger is alive today because the pill doesnt work unless you are a perfect weight, and use it perfectly. LOL!

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J.B.

answers from Boston on

I used the Mirena IUD with no side effects. The amount of hormone in the IUD is a fraction of what's in the pill, so if you can handle the pill, you can handle the IUD.

The side effect of the mini pill for me was our fourth child. If you really don't want more children, don't plan on using this for long. That whole take it at the same time every day thing is no joke. I would take mine at the same time in the morning every day then on Wednesday I took it after work, same thing on Thursday, back to AM on Friday...hubby and I hooked up that Friday night and 2.5 weeks later I was staring at a positive pregnancy test. Ironically, he had a vasectomy scheduled for that Friday that was postponed because they had double-booked! Our last little guy was meant to be I guess. So don't plan on that as your only means of BC if you really don't want to be pregnant right now.

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A.T.

answers from Omaha on

I had a terrible experience with my IUD. It poked through my uterus and lodged itself in the uterine wall. First surgery to remove it, the strings broke and weren't able to remove it. By the second surgery, the IUD had moved up by my fallopian tube. Doctors had to remove it by doing a laparotomy (like a c-section). Not worth the risks in my opinion.

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J.L.

answers from Milwaukee on

I felt great on the mini-pill, and I usually have trouble with birth control pills. I took them for about a year because, like you, I was nursing. However, even though I took them faithfully at the same time each day and I was still nursing, I did get pregnant while taking them. I don't know how common that is but you might want to discuss it with your doctor! My sister has Mirena and loves it and another friend of mine as well. Unfortunately our insurane didnt cover it and it's quite expensive out-of-pocket.

Good luck with your choice!
J.

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S.W.

answers from Minneapolis on

I have several friends who have the Mirena and love it. I've been on the regular pill for most of my adult life, and have not had any side effects. I understand your hesitation for the vasectomy, but that is the easiest method once you've decided you are done.

The mini-pill is dangerous, as another responder noted, because it is the minimum amount of hormones, and for me, it was too minimum and I had breakthrough bleeding every month (which means I could've gotten pregnant) and for my friend (who now has twins conceived while on it).

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S.C.

answers from Des Moines on

Love my Mirena-- no periods, no side effects, and if anything my milk supply INCREASED when I got it (when my son was 8 months old)

Vasectomies-- I had to laugh, there's a local urology office that was advertising a special, and the fact that you could schedule so your two day recovery just happened to coincide with March Madness

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V.E.

answers from Minneapolis on

I have the Mirena iud in and have had it for a little over two years now and love it. I hated remembering to take a pill every day and after our second child was born decided to get the iud. I have had no real side effects from it. One thing that I love is basicly having non periods or only light spotting for a day or two.

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S.A.

answers from Washington DC on

I used the mini pill after my first child with no problems at all. When you are both ready I suggest your hubby's idea of a vasectomy.

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