Mirena IUD Vs. the Pill

I have had my IUD for 20 months and I love it.....I agree with you doc that it might be something else..... I was on the pill for a long time it is hard to remember and I thought it did thing funky to me... Good luck but I love to IUD!!!!

Yes! I recommend "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" by Toni Weschler, an excellent book!

Hi L.,

Sorry I do not have any advice regarding the iud or bcp's but I wanted to extend some support regarding motherhood, mood swings, depression and the demands of being a loving nurturer. I'm over 35, infact, over 40 and noticed my reserves started to get depleted in my late 30's with the demands of giving. I believe our society does not truly support the role of motherhood ( aside from fluffy lip service) and after a while hardworking moms can get used-up and feel unsupported. In addition, modern American lifestyles and nutrition contribute to hormone imbalances that also catch up with us as we get a little older. I just want you to know that you are not alone, not crazy, not bad and very normal given the circumstances. I'm working on bringing back the peace and support I need to offset the hormone imbalances. So far this is what has helped me:
yoga, meditation
quality nutrition and supplements
sleep, rest
long walks
reading Christine Northrup M.D., "The Wisdom of Menopause", even though you are young and menopause seems decades away the hormonal imbalances can begin younger due to stress, lifestyle and lack of support,,, Diana Schwarzbein, M.D., "The Scwhwarzbein Principle",,,,The Suzanne Sommers Books (I know Suzanne Sommers! but The Sexy Years helped me) and Eckhart Tolle, "The Power of Now" and "A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose".

Good Luck and Be Well and Be Loved

J.

There is such thing as birth control without hormones to complicate your emotional and nervous systems. I would consider an IUD that does not have a hormone component. I just recently began comparing IUDS and decided I definitely wanted to go the non-hormonal route. It sounds like hormones could be causing your irritability and the pill is not going to make that any better. Talk to your doctor about the other IUD, (Paragard) BEFORE you make that switch. Don't underestimate the power of a synthetic hormonal drug on your mind, your mood and your emotions.
I can empathize with the irritability. I am nursing my second child right now, a son, and my 2YO has had that crazy effect on me too at times. There are times I have no patience for her and I feel SO GUILTY about it after I resort to harsh tones or elevated voice levels (nice way to say "screaming"). But every day with our children is a blessing and an opportunity for us to be more effective parents.
As for other coping mechanisms, you just have to keep reminding yourself that toddlerhood is full of tedious behaviors that test us greatly. These are challenging but precious and terribly short times in our lives where we learn to rise above petty squabbles, nuisances, and irritants. Simplify and give yourself much more time to get anywhere. I've found that when I leave with more time on hand that I need, I can actually turn the preparation and the journey into a form of quality time for my child. dressing to go outside offers an opportunity for closeness and hugs, while riding in the car really gives you a captive audience (they are strapped in one spot afterall). This is a great time for explaining things to them - like, why it's important to cooperate when getting ready to go somewhere. Good luck with your decision and yes, all those things you mentioned like lack of exercise, tendency towards depression, and little time for yourself make anyone extremely irritable so vow to give yourself some time off soon.

i have 2 kids, and i had a mirena after my daughter was born (my first child) i also experienced severe mood swings after i stopped nursing her, they eventually passed and i loved the mirena, i cannot take the pill because those hormones mess me up and im not a nice person ever! but i also had one put back in recently after having a second baby and it did not do this this time, so i think alot is gonna depend on environment and stress levels too???? i dont know for sure but i know i love not having to remember a stupid pill everyday because id surely end up pregnant again! good luck

Hi L.,
I am so interested to read your posting. I would also love to hear what other replies you receive. I too switched to the Mirena after being on the pill. I too have these absolutely unfounded periods of freak out irritability. Is this a side effect of the IUD?? For me it cycles about once every three months. Last month I ruined my husband's birthday dinner. I notice I am super susceptible to stress only during these "periods" of irritability. It's hard to track them because of having no periods. I am really trying hard not to blame myself and have super compassion for myself during these times, because I truly believe they are due to hormonal swings. They feel so irrational. I can't link them to exercise or sadness or any particular life event. At this point, I am trying to recognize when they are coming, avoid all commitments and stress for the three days that I am sensitive and warn my family to give me space. I have noticed that I am even sensitive to sound and light during this time. I know for me that the pill is way worse. I experienced 9 days a month of this irritability on that. Too much of life being wasted. I am 44 with two boys 3 and 5 and a very understanding husband. Good luck to you in finding what works! And thanks for posting this. I feel so much gratitude in hearing someone else voice what is true for my experience!
Thanks for sharing! G.

It's interesting to hear this from you. My sister-in-law had the same thing happen and ended up taking out the IUD and going back to the pill. I don't have the answer becuase I had my tubes tied after my third child was born but I have heard this from more than just you and my sister-in-law. Good luck in whatever you decide to do!

You might try the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler. It has a lot about menstruation, hormones, etc. As for the mood swings, did you know that you still ovulate on the IUD? You may be PMSing even though you aren't having a physical period. Best of luck.

Hi L.,
I am a famiy nurse practitioner and very frequently see women in ther mid-late 30s who experience irritability, agitation, short tempers, anxiety and stress (including myself, and I'm 44 y.o with 2 daughters ages 12 and 9). I would consider Nuva-Ring. It looks like a ponytail holder that you insert in your vagina for 3 weeks and remove for 1 week. But you can replace every month and just get your period every 3-4 months. Benefits: you don't have to remember to take a pill every day, it provides the lowest amount of estrogen and prgesterne and it's at a consisitent level since it is absorbed through you vaginal mucosa. It has evened my moods and significantly improved the quality of my life by taking away my painful periods related to endometriosis. Of course a balanced diet and exercise always help. Ask your health care provider for several samples.

What makes you think the pill will elleviate these problems?!?! I think the pill could make things worse. I stopped taking the pill because I felt like my hormones were out of wack. My IUD doesn't have hormones. But I'm still cranky and have little patience, etc. like the symptoms you mentioned. I think it's staying home, having 2 kids, working part-time, husband, lack of exercise, depression, lack of mom time for self, etc. You've been taking care of everyone else. It's time you start taking care of yourself. (1) Set some time aside for you each day. For example, I take a bath and read a book each night. (2) Exercise. Even if it's just for 15 minutes. Yoga, walking, whatever is your thing. I'm still working on making it a priority. (3) Take care of your health. Check out this website... www.realpeople-realhealth.com or email ____@____.com is a natural health consultant. Don't be so hard on yourself. Your human -not- superwoman.

Before you switch back,you may wish to have your thyroid checked. You may have hypothyroidism. Throws everything out of whack. Just a thought. I went a long time undiagnosed because everything just looked like I was a tired mom of 2 young children, etc., etc. Bottom line - you know your body, follow your instincts.

I think not having time for yourself and not excercising can have a lot to do with it. but if your hormones are off that could be a problem also. I am a mother of five and am a stay home mom and my oldest is 15 and my youngest is 6. take time for yourself, feed your spirit, stop and smell the roses, and remember how precious your children are.

With the Mirena IUD you still ovulate and have cycles just fewer and less severe. Sometimes to the point of just spotting for a day or two. Or not at all. If you had it put in a few weeks after your child was born the lining of the uterus was very thin and the Mirena IUD has kept it that way. If you go back on the pill you are still likely to have cyclic mood swings just more regular and possibly more often. Your cycles may have been stopped because you were nursing. Now that you are not nursing they are just reseting. If you remove the IUD and then decide in a year that that wasn't the problem you may not get as good of results if you decide to try and IUD again at least not initially because the lining of you uterus will be normal and it will take a few months for it to thin out and your periods to become light and further between, this could cause a small to moderate amount of bleeding for several months ongoing(plus they are quite expensive unless insurance covers it). This is just the information I gathered when I got mine after baby number six.

After weaning my experience is babies can be a little cranky and have trouble finding ways to sooth themselves. It may not be all you with the problem. She may be weaned but still trying to find the skills she needs to be happy.

I have a little almost two year old that I am gradually weaning right now and he is so crazy and hard to divert when he gets it into his mind that the only thing that will make him feel better is nursing. Your baby may just seem crankier because she hasn't figured out alternate ways to sooth and be soothed.

I let the baby be in charge of weaning with a little (sometimes a lot of) encouragement from me they have nursed anywhere from 9 to 22 months. This last little guy is particularly attached to nursing so not to pull the emotional rug out from under his little feet we are taking the slow route. Sometimes I wonder how I am ever going to get him completely weaned.

It can be crazy trying to manage, the first two and then the third were so hard I felt like I was loosing my mind sometimes, make sure you get enough sleep, nap and let a few things go if you can. I have a hard time coping with chaos when I haven't had enough sleep. My husband is often up until midnight and then I have to get up with a high school aged child at six so if the little ones are still asleep I will go back to bed as soon as I get my husband up at eight and try to get those last two hours. Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't sometimes I have to find them when the baby is napping. Sometimes when my husband comes home from work, sometimes I don't find them at all but I seem to be able to manage my moods a little better when I have had enough sleep.

Keeping my blood sugar stable seems to help as well. When I start to feel like my mind is coming unglued I will grab a bite of something preferably protein but sometimes it is a candy bar or a handful of cold cereal I have to admit.

Good luck, I know how it feels to grasp for anything that can make it better but the amount of the hormone in the Mirena IUD is so small compared to the pill that it seems like it is an unlikely cause. If your doctor thinks that they hormones in the pill would help you feel better it might be worth a try but probably the hormones in the Mirena are not causing the problem. It is such a small amount because it is localized. The hormones in the pill have to go through your whole body so it is a much larger dose.

Anyway sorry about the rambling... I hope you find some relief.

-D.

I would suggest talking to a midwife or chiropractor. They tend to be a bit less inclined to give medicine that you don't need and find the real issue of the problem. If you want to go the birth control rout, I would suggest that you keep the iud and get the mini pill. This would give you just enough of the hormones without over loading your body and you wouldn't need to necessarily remember to take it at the same time every day because you are using Mirena for birth control and the pill for hormone fluxuation. If you use this method, it wouldn't even matter if you missed a day.

Good luck!

Christine Northrup is a well-known writer regarding women's health. One of her books is Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom although I don't know how well she covers your topic of interest. I'm afraid I can't help you with any personal experience but wish you all the best.

M.

Though I don't have experience with the pill or IUD, exercize even just a walk around the block really is a mood booster. I'm a mom of 3 boys 8, 5, and 2 and I find myself going nuts many a time, but you just gotta pick your self up and move about and find an excuse to go out.
Parenting Place in Boulder is a great place to be with other parents and kids. Check it out! We just need to get past this crazy spring weather....

Check into the copper IUD. It's the best IUD option with no hormones. Most pills will cause hormonal imbalance as well. Good luck!

Natalie

I have an IUD, but it doens't have any hormones. I have loved it. It is actually my third one. The first worked great until I had it out so I could have another baby. The second one worked great until I got pregnant! (What are the odds!?!)And the third one is great, so far. My youngest is almost 2 now. I love the IUD's without hormones because I don't wonder what they might be doing to my emotions. But...I tend to be plenty frazzled with my kids and life on a regular basis even without the extra hormones.

I have been reading up on natural hormone therapy as treatment for the very symptoms you are describing. I am tired enough of having those extremely frustrating days and am willing to try something new if it might help. Try reading about the effects of having too little progesterone in your body. There are some over the counter products(natural progesterone) that claim to help those mood swings and irritability. You use them two weeks out of the month to help regulate the low points. I'm not expert and tend to shy away from "natural" remedies, but who knows? Maybe they really work.

Regardless of what you do...good luck! This whole hormone thing is just so much fun, isn't it? :)

I have the IUD and I also have those days where you just want to run away!!!! I think mine is because of lack of connection with the outside world, when I was working I got upset alot less often but I only took a job for the holiday season and now I am stuck at home again and those moood swings happen once again... maybe you need some down time... with no children within ear shot

Hi, I just had them take out my IUD because I was so moody. I had it put in right after my daughter, I was moody depressed and ready to divorce, and I was tired(especially tired of feeling crazy all the time)...I went in to the doctor for a check up with another UNRELATED situation, and the doctor couldn't do what he needed to...we began to talk and I told him how I was angry all the time, and crying, and the weight gain.That could also be the reason he couldn't do what he needed to do. He thought that I think about taking it out. I had it for 7 months. I researched the side effects and I had all of them with the exception of hair loss. Anger and Moodiness are two of the most common complaints. If you like the IUD there is another one that ISN'T the Mirena. Talk to your provider about it. Make sure they REALLY listen about your concerns(the womens clinic that I had my baby with brushed me off when i started asking questions) I'm not against them (my sister LOVES hers and doesn't have a problem)I just know it wasn't working for me. I do know it took me a week to feel better, and a month to be back to my normal state, even my best friend and husband said it was nice to have me back.

As I understand it, the IUD actually releases less hormones than does the pill. So, if you are having any type of hormone imbalance, I don't think making the switch with help things....but I don't know. Good luck!

Your mood swings might actually get worse if you go back on the pill. I also have Mirena and was told by my OB that it was really my only option since I have trouble with my hormones. Mirena has hormones, but they are not released into your bloodstream, which is what would cause mood swings. The pill, however, would release those hormones into your bloodstream. You could try a low dose hormone pill, if that's what you want to do. But I would look in other directions in controlling your mood swings. Tell your doctor, by all means, that you are having trouble. What really helped me was talking to a councelor. She helped me develop coping techniques and helped me come up with ways to deal with my moods and things like low motivation and things like that. But I would stick with the IUD. My opinion, anyway. But talk with your doctor about different options.

Dear L.,

Look up Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler. I have used this book for fertility and women's health issues and have not needed to take any extra medication or use any other fertility measures. I am so grateful for this information! I hope you find it useful.

Best wishes,
H. Hendricks

i haven't used Mirena, but i do have a tendency toward depression and in trying different birth control pills i have realized that hormones, either my own or those from birth control, definitely have a link to my depression and mood swings. so don't ignore this, thinking it is just lack of exercise and time for yourself. especially be careful not to take a progestin-only pill if you do switch to a pill. it is a depressant and the mental effects can take a long time to recover from. i have had some luck reducing my yelling and mood swings by taking st. john's wort.

The "pill" has been known to be a possible cause of vaginal cancer..doctors' seem to not either know or care about your health...they are pill poppers. I would suggest things that are natural...if you have a hormone balance (sounds like it)
get an encapsulated herb called VITEX (chaste tree berry)...
excercise can create a natural "high"...also, take fish oil
for omega 3 which is good for brain function, internal health

Find a Health Store in your area...get a book by L. Page
called "you can heal your life"

Much success to you. SG.

I really don't think it has anything to do with the IUD. Unlike the pill, the hormones in the Mirena do not get in your system. They are there only to thin out the lining of the uterus, and they do not escape the uterus to get into your blood stream. With the pill, the hormones are in your system. So unless you think that the hormones in the pill will even you out, I would stick with the IUD.

Hi L.,

I have to say that is how my moods are also. I am not taking any birth control. I think your body and mine are still adjusting to hormone levels fluctuating. I don't think that stops as soon as you stop nursing. I am pretty sure it takes awhile.

However, it is very important to find time for yourself. 10minutes a day as long it is something. It's the little things for me. Sitting in the bathroom for a few minutes to read helps me. :) I also make sure that I workout at least one time per week.

As for the Iud or the pill- I don't know.

J. (SAHM 4 kids ages 8,7,4,2)

Everyone is different and how hormones affect us will most likely be different as well. I know for me the pill had a much higher dosage of hormones and they made me crazy, but on the IUD it is such a small amount seeing as there is enough hormone on the Mirena to last you an entire 5 years! Honestly I would think it could be your lack of "alone" time. My Doc suggested to me that I get at least an hour to myself every evening unintterupted and that has helped me a great deal with my own moodiness. Maybe try that first or just take a little time out when you feel somthing like that coming on.

I'm in your exact same situation I think the Marina has made me crazy!! I'm irritable and tend to pick fights with my husband over the smallest things. My mood swings are unbearable and have even thought about medication to help and that’s not like me. My husband doesn’t understand what out of control hormones are like and it's hard to explain to some one you are so irritable with. I think the marina could be causing both our problems THANKS for posting this. I thought I was going crazy, now I’m going to do more research on marina.

First, how much over 35 are you? Even low dose OCPs may not be a good idea for a woman over 35, and the more "over" you are, the greater risk. It's easy for a doc to say it's ok to take the pill after 35, buy it's your life, your risk and your choice. (I worked with an OB-GYN who absolutely changed her opinion about this after one of her patients suffered a severe stroke at the age of 38...she also had no risk factors). Secondly, you are entering the 'perimenopausal' faze of your reproductive life. After 35 and as we approach 40, our hormones begin to waver and change ever so slightly, but enough to result in minute changes that can be very noticible. A very good book is "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Perimenopause" by John R. Lee, MD. Finally, progesterone/progestin is notorious for the side effects of increased irritibility and moodiness, especially if you're prone to PMS symptoms during your monthly cycle. Add that to lifestyle stresses like two small children, working from home, probably somewhat sleep deprived and more than likely financially stressed and voilla! Increased irritibility and decreased patience..your child more than likely senses this, thus is more clingy and needy. My advice is get the book and read it; consider condoms for birth control until you get back on track, then think about a tubal ligation if you are sure you want no more children. Most importantly, look at your lifestyle and make positive changes in your nutrition (cut sugars and junk foods), exercise every day, even if it's just a short walk, and try to get some good sleep. Your body will do it's job better if it's in optimal condition. Good Luck!

I had a Mirena for 6 months. I had it taken out due to gaining 25 pounds, feeling symptoms of PMS about 25 out of 30 days and having a light period every 2 weeks. Life is back to normal now. I wish I had never done it. If you like the IUD convenience, look at a regular IUD WITHOUT hormones. Good luck.

I also had the Mirena IUD and experienced the exact same problems. However, I also have the same problems with the pill. HUM, maybe that's why I have 6 chilren LOL. Some of it is just the pressure of having 2 children as apposed to only one! But, messed up hormomnes are a real problem and I highly suggest you talk to your doctor about checking your thyroid, hypothalamas SP? etc... Just make sure your hormones are working correctly it really can cause emotional irritablity even very extreme mood swings. It's not your fault if your body is messed up. Give yourself some you time! And, if you are into natural health at all go talk to the health food store about some alternative hormone balancing things. I take Red Clover Blossoms, it really helps and also there is a cream by Arbonne (not I DON'T sell it) But, it's called prolief and it has truly saved me and all my hormone issues. I feel like me again, my husband isn't complaining either. But, don't take my word for anything, every womans body is different. Do your research first and find out what is right for you! Hope this helps.

L.-

I have not had experience with an IUD, but birthcontrol was terrible for me and mood swings.... Once I went off of it (Doctors Orders because of headaches) my mood swings started to level out some.

However, I still "lash" out or have a major crisis type mood swing once in awhile and I have found it to be stressed caused not as much hormone caused... Time for myself has been a key and just doing something I enjoy once in awhile really has helped me level out.

Exercise could be a big factor if you used to exercise alot motre then you do now and lack of exercise could also cause some depression... Take time for yourself... I have gotten to the point that I pay a teenage babysitter $5 to come and take my kids to the park for an hour or play with them outside, just take them off my hands for a little bit once in awhile- It has helped me to regroup personally and get somethings done that I just can't seem to get done. I am know pregnant with my 3rd child and sometimes take a nap when they go out... It is what I need to do and my husband has agreed to it also because he knows he need the same kind of time for himself and with his work schedual he can't really provide me with the breaks I need with out his getting taken away.

I would bet it has nothing to do with the IUD. I am not on any form of hormone birth control, and I respond that way sometimes with my kids. More often than I'd like to admit, actually. I think the worst is the bickering and whining--sometimes I feel like my head will explode! I feel so guilty afterward if I raise my voice, so when I find myself having days where I feel like I am "on the edge", I try to walk away when I feel myself getting angry. I usually go into my bedroom and close the door for a couple minutes and try to relax. This doesn't always work, but at least I have removed myself from the situation. I know that kids are a challenge, and I have tried to tell mine that sometimes "Mommy needs a time out". My behavior and tolerance seems to be directly linked to how tired and stressed I am. I know it is hard to do, but try getting a little time for yourself, try to do some relaxation exercizes.

L. - I have friends who have had great success with the Mirena. I, however, did not. I had it in for only six weeks and within five days of having it in I really struggled with extreme mood swings. I really experienced lows that I hadn't felt before. Things seemed like such a big deal to me and I couldn't figure out what was wrong. I decided to google Mirena IUD and found that there are many others out there. My Dr. thought that it couldn't really be the IUD because the amount of hormones released is really low. I had her take it out anyway and within two days I was feeling a lot better. I think it's great for those who it works for but for me it did not. One thing that really helps me too is exercise. I just try to fit it in when I can, even a little helps me. Best wishes!

I am on the Mirena as well. The same thing happened to me, as soon as I was done breast feeding...I thought I was loosing my mind. He husband didn't know what to do. I was forgetful, moody, stressed all the time. I talked to my OB and he had me start to take Super B-Complex Supplement. I bought the "Nature Made" brand and that was about a year ago.
I still have my Mirena, I feel great and I am me again. I think that it is a combo of the hormones from the Mirena AND the hormone change form not breast feeding anymore. If you like the Mirena and don't want to worry about having to remember to take the pill every day, ask your Dr about the B-Complex. I really think that is what helped me be me again.
Good Luck!

i had Mirena for almost exactly a year before I started having problems with it. I had horrible mood swings, cramps (that hurt so bad I couldn't be intimate), bloating, irregular periods, etc.I even had months where I felt pregnant--I wasn't and knew I wasn't but it was like my body felt like it-- I know weird..but either way It was awful. I had it removed and now feel a ton better. My problem was that it had either been put in sideways or somehow it had been moved and was causing irritation within my uterus (I know T.M.I) but you could possibly have a similar problem. Either it is not the birth control for you or it just moved... either way I hope this helped a little! God bless!

I got the Mirena put in 3 months ago and noticed some mood swings. I asked my doctor about them and she said that Mirena doesn't couse mood swings. I am glad to hear from you and the others who have responded that you are experiencing the same things I am. I found out yesterday that I have to get it removed due to some other medical reasons, I am really questioning if I want it put back in or not.

I don't take birth control, but I felt really cranky really often after weaning my son... I started taking my daily vitamin again and it seems to have evened out my moods a little. I think it may just be hormones. Give your body time to adjust to the weaning and start taking your vitamin.

Hello!
I had the Mirena for about the same time you did and I found myself being a lot more moody and irritable. Just didn't quite feel like myself. Anyway. I finally did go on the pill and things felt better. It was great to not have to worry about the pill or a period, but I don't know if the trade off was any better. Anyway. My doctor said about the same things. I think it affects different women differently. But I am right there with you. I'm pregnant now and I don't think I'll go back to using the IUD. I don't have much advice, but I just wanted to let you know that you weren't the only one! Good luck!

I'm on the low dose pill and thinking of switching to an IUD- because I still have the mood swings, etc. But I also have to remember the pill! Anxious to see what response you get so I can make my decision!

Absolutely, your mood swings could be related to a number of things. As you've mentioned, exercise and also sunshine are two of the best things to add to your routine if you are feeling down. However, in homeopathy we have seen that suppression of menstruation like you are describing can really throw some women for a loop. Also, Mirena seems to be a particularly strong birth control option, and mood swings are a known side effect.

You do have a variety of other birth control options to consider. There are progesterone-only birth control pills. There's the patch. There are traditional IUDs. If your OB/Gyn is not talking to you about other options besides the pill, then go see another one who will speak more freely about your choices. In the meantime, here's a link to some reading on the topic from the Mayo Clinic. Be sure to read about the side effects, because they all have them. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/birth-control/BI99999/PA...

Best of luck to you.