Mirena IUD Stories ? (Not the Copper One)

I love my Mirena, but can tell you that you need to be very patient. I had spotting pretty much every day for 5 - yes 5 - months after it was inserted. But think of it this way - spotting for those 5 months, but then very effective birth control and almost no periods at all for the next 4.5 years. It's worth the patience.

(Also a side note - you probably know this, but just in case - mirena prevents pregnancy, but not STDs, so if you have mirena, just like the patch or pill, you still need to use condoms to prevent STDs)

I had off and on bleeding/spotting for about 3-4 months after I got the Mirena. Since then it's been no problems (almost no periods) and I've had it about 4 years. I've been very happy with it.

I'm surprised though that your aunt and doctor recommended the Mirena. Was the Patch not working for you? Giving you side effects? Based on your profile it sounds like you don't have sex on a regular basis. Maybe go back and talk to your doctor. The Patch didn't work for me because it gave me awful headaches, but if you didn't have side effects then maybe that is a better option for you.

I'm not going to lecture you like some other posters have, but high school and ultimately college will be easier and less traumatic if you don't have to worry about unintended pregnancy and STDs. Sex is really a much better experience when you have an emotional attachment to someone and a trusted relationship with them. It sounds like you are a smart girl with a bright future.

ETA: PLEASE don't listen to the poster who suggested natural family planning and no birth control if you plan to have sex. That is fine for married or committed couples who can handle the responsibility of an unexpected pregnancy. I don't believe it's true that it is as effective as other methods. In fact, I can't remember the joke now, but there is a joke out there about women who practice natural family plan. The punch line is something to the effect of "they call them moms." Also, as a teenager your cycle might not be regular enough for natural family planning and you could ovulate at unexpected times.

I've had 3 Mirena's in my life (with breaks to have kids). I've also worked in women's reproductive health care for many years. The irregular (or sometimes all the time) bleeding at the start can be very frustrating, no question. It doesn't happen to everyone, but it sure sounds like it's happening to you. So sorry you have to deal with it. I haven't always had to deal with it (worst with #2 which I got 6 wks after my son was born) but it does go away, within a few weeks or months. For me, it was spotting/light bleeding every day for a couple months. Then, it went away and my periods (which can be quite heavy) were almost nothing. Hang in there - that's the best advice I can give you. I KNOW that it's annoying but it will go away, eventually, and in most other respects this sounds like a great birth control method for you. I'm so proud of you for getting an IUD at your age, and understanding that it's not the same as the old ones that everyone was so afraid of. This one may help protect you from nasty pelvic infections and will certainly be long term birth control you can count on and not have to worry about for many years to come. It's also a huge $ savings. Good luck, and dream of the day when you barely have to think about bleeding at all!

I loved my Mirena. My first one came out with my first period. The second one was perfect and stayed til I had it removed. If I hadn't chosen a tubal with our second c section, I would have gotten another. Good luck!
Also, these birth control options are great for regulating/minimizing your periods, which could be the whole point, as it is YOUR business. You haven't told us if you're married or not (none of out business.) People are making a lot of judgements about you based entirely on your age. Shame on THEM.

Hi Vonna,

I'm a big believer in listening to what my body says. Maybe that's the sort of approach you can take for yourself. It sounds to me like your body is saying "no bueno" about the Mirena.

I have not used it myself but I have two sisters-in-law that have. One had no problems and none of the side effects. The other experienced headaches, cramps, nausea and what you had with the bleeding/spotting. None of her symptoms truly went away. She opted to have it removed and is taking oral contraceptives.

I have to say that I'm a little disappointed by the folks who chose to lecture and not inform. As women we should be trying to share information and not make assumptions.

Incidentally, when I was 17 I was put on the pill to regulate my period and was not sexually active for many years afterward.

Using birth control isn't always about sex.

Good luck, Vonna. :-)

I have heard of too many problems with any IUD and would suggest that you choose another route. I have a family member who had a tragically fatal end due to an IUD. There were a few others admitted to the hospital with the same symptoms the family member had one other did not make it and the others are OK, just cannot have any children due to the severe infection.
I know not everyone is the same...But go to the doctor and be checked out before it is too lare and too serious, please. And, please, rethink the IUD...You are too young and precious to have health issues.
Thank you for hearing me out. :)

I tried Mirena on my sister's advice. After a few months of her body adjusting, she had the great results women could expect. My experience, however, was not good. I had the device inserted and had spotting and heavy periods for several months. I should have had it removed at that point but waited a full year just to see if things might improve (I wanted it to work for me). Things did not, so I had it removed and went back to birth control pills.

I would stop taking any artificial birth control if I were you. Too many risks to your health is just the start of it! It is NOT normal (natural) to bleed for that long. I would recommend something called Natural Family Planning. In that you learn about your bodily signals that tell you when you're fertile and when you're not. Not only is it natural - meaning you're not putting anything foreign into your body - but many women have also been able to solve problems of other issues they're having just from becoming familiar with what they're body is telling them. Not only is it a good way to detect problem, control fertility but it's also mostly free. I say mostly b/c the initial education requires cost (and many insurances will pay for this). This could range anyway from $50-$150 probably depending on your area. This is a skill you learn that lasts a LIFETIME and you will never have to rely on or pay for a chemical or foreign object again. You can go online to look at effective rates but I can tell you right new they're exactly the same if not better than the pill, condom, IUD, etc. Check it out!!

I've never used the Mirena or other IUD, but I have used the Nuvaring for many years, and that works well for me. That might be something to ask your doctor about.

Google. There are TONS of awful experiences out there with Mirena. One of my friends had awful migraines. I'd go with the Copper T IUD, which is hormone free.

I never had any bleeding on it but unfortunately, it just didn't work for me. I kept it in for 14 months but in the end I was told I had a really bad uterine infection from it so my Dr. removed it. I was nauseaus the whole time, stomach cramps, sore boobs. If it had worked it would have been cheap, effective birth control. But I'm back on the pill now.

On my third one. Love it! It's normal to have spotting up to a few months after insertion. But I have to doubt your story. Mirena is not for minors...

So... you switched birth control options from one you liked and knew worked for you because someone else told you to? Your aunt's experience should have nothing to do with your own, and she has no say in whether or not you "should" change birth controls.

Secondly, you shouldn't still be bleeding after a month from the Mirena. I love mine and only had minor, minimal spotting from it the first time for no longer than 48 hours. I spot maybe twice a year or so. When the first one wore off (5 years) I had it replaced and spotted maybe three days. It's been two years and again spotting only a couple of times a year.

I've always been told each time that I bled longer than was normal for a regular period, I should go back in to be seen. So go back in to be seen.