Mirena or Tubal Ligation

I had the Mirena put in two years ago. I haven't had any problems with it. My dr. recommended it, and I got a second opinion from a friend who is an OB. So far, so good.

I've had a Mirena since 2004. I haven't had any problems with it at all, and get very rare, very light spotting.

Good luck whatever you choose!

J.

DO NOT GET THE IUD!!!! I got the Mirena 6 weeks after having my son, so I had it close to 11 months. I am currently at home after having emergency surgery this past Sunday due to a tubal pregancy in which my right fallopian tube ruptured causing 3 liters of blood to leak into my abdominal cavity causing my blood pressure to drop to 47/25. All of this said, I nearly lef this world and would have left behind my 2 beautiful children and dear husband! As for the Mirena, it had imbedded itself deep inside my uterus and had to be surgicaly removed with forceps and a coil I am told. I know this is just one bad experience and I'm sure others have really good ones. I did my research before I got it and knew of the risks BUT after going through all of this and almost losing EVERYTHING!!!! It's soooooo not worth it! Sure not having periods was great (when it actually occurred that way). Also, I asked the OB what were the chances that this would NOT happen again and he said that due to my only having one tube and it already happening once, that I am at a much higher risk. When I asked about tubal ligation, he said that there would still be the risk as well as another suregery/procedure, etc. He then said the only NUMBER 1 way of prevention (which is reversible if need be) is for HUbby to have a Vasectomy! Hubby is not too happy BUT after discussing what all of this has done to my body as well as 2 csections, etc. My body couldn't handle much more. All of this has brought on so many emotions (as you can probably tell) about losing a 3rd child, my body now thinks its pregnant and in a couple of days that will all change and I will be going throught the "after birth" stuff, like lactating, etc. not to mention the bleeding!! I haven' bled like this with either of my 2 children (totally different I know, just throwing it all out there). Now I feel guilty, how could I have not known - there's no way I could have! I can feel my mind drifting into places that are very sad and I am trying to stay positive. Hopefully, my telling you this story will help! I know that my writing all of this down has helped me and I'm sorry for the long venting!!! You will make the best decision there is for you! At the time I thought I was and it almost cost me everything so I want to make sure that someone else is aware of what ALL exactly could go wrong! Sorry for going overboard! Good Luck!

I had my tubes tied when I had my 3rd child by c-section. I have not regretted it at all! I haven't had any complications due to it either. If you are certain that you don't want more children, I'd go for the tubal or ask your husband to do the vasectomy. Best of Luck!

I am a 28 year old mother of a beautiful baby girl. I am certain I do not want any more children! I am to young to have my tubes tied but I decided Mirena was the right choice for me, it sounded almost fool proof and that is what I wanted. I have been on the IUD for 3 years now and I will never do any other type of birth control...I love it! I do not have a period (which is great)I have not gained weight and I have had accidents shall I say in the sack...and nothing. It has never moved nore have I thought it would fall out..it is very stable.

I am very comfortable with the IUD and I would suggest it to anyone who is not ready to get their insides surgically tied but who is not wanting any children for at least 5 years. The choice is yours, maybe this will help a bit.

I am a 31year old mother of 2. I didn't want any more kids so I had the ESSURE procedure done. No incision and pain free. It basically is a nickel-titanium coil that is placed inside your tubes 6 weeks after delivery and it begins to grow up with scar tissue and then 3 months later they do an ultrasound and inject a dye to make sure there is no leakage! Hence your tubes are blocked off! No more babies!!!

Hey V., I had the ParaGuard IUD for 4 years. It was a wonderful, carefree method of birthcontrol for me that insurance paid for, something that weighted our decision considerably. This kind of IUD stays in place for 10 years. Visit www.paraguard.com for more info.

Good luck with your decision.

A.

hello V.,
after I had amy second child,I knew I didn't want anymore children.I had my tubes tied.it was the best thing for me.I never have any fear about pregancy.my periods are the same as they were before the surgery.I would recommend it to anyone!!!!!good luck with your choice!!!!
oh,I had my tubes tied at age 32,I am now 45.

I had a tubal ligation after my last child. It wasn't that bad, really, and at my age at that time was really the best choice. Of course, it IS surgery and discomfort is to be expected.

I have had the mirena for over a year now and had no problems. At first, I spotted, but after that I have had no problems. My husband and I both love it. I am 35 myself and have 4 boys. So we do not want to have anymore, but I did not want tubal ligation either. Talk with your doctor in detail about both. You will know what the right decision will be. My friend who is a registered nurse has had hers in for 3 years with no issues.

Hi. I had a mirena device inserted last April after my first child. (We will be having more) I have been happy with it. I spotted for the first 3 months, which is pretty normal (nothing major at all). I haven't had a period since before I got pregnant. The worst part about it for me is that about 2 days a month, I have SEVERE cramping on my right side. I figure this is just part of my cycle. Overall, I'm very pleased and will have it replaced after my next child is born. Hope that helps.

M.

I do not think there is really any way to know until you try which ever one you pick. I have known people who have had problems with tubals and IUDs. I also know people who have had successes with both. As you can see from the answers there are many stories, but everyone is different. Good Luck with your decision!

I have a cousin whose had the tubal ligation. She said her periods are hevier and she cramps a lot harder than she use to. She has three children also. She said if she could do it again she would have just got on some type of birth control.

I say go for the IUD!! I had one and loved it. I had very similar concerns about it falling out, but the chances of that happening are slim. If it is going to occur, it will most often fall out within a month to six weeks of it being inserted...as a result of the body rejecting it as a foreign object...so an additional form of birth control is recommended for a short time. And you are able to check for the strings to ensure that is always in place. I would suggest doing some research online to find out more. That way you can weigh the pros and cons of each method. It may put your concerns to rest or help you make the choice between the IUD and Tubal Ligation. Good luck!!

V.,
Before you make your decision I would suggest that you research, research, research! I had the IUD placed secondary to very difficult periods. I was told it was very safe, the hormones did not cross the blood barrier and that it was the next best thing to white bread. I called myself being very informed, I went to the web site and read all the info and testimonials, many of the women in my OBGYN's office swore by it. I thought I was making the right decision. After 10 months of very heavy bleeding and a emotional roller coaster that I could not get off of, the doctor tried birth control pills to stop the bleeding...it didn't and I continued through this emotional storm. I never knew if I would be able to get through the day or not. Thank God for my very understanding husband who would take over if I just could not hold it together. One day I did a Google search for 'continuous bleeding with an IUD' and found a plethora of information. Blogs...women from all over the country that had problems like me!! I was going crazy...it was the IUD!! I scheduled to have it removed and 3 days afterward I felt a calm I had not felt in almost 1 year. During my GYN follow up visit we talked about what could of happened. He said he had done some research and had found that indeed it had been noted that the hormones DID cross into the blood stream which would account for my emotional instability.
I know there are a lot of women that the IUD has helped, but there are a lot of women that it has not helped. Inform yourself, talk with your husband and pray for the right answer.
Good Luck to you and God Bless you in your decision.

Hi! I am the 38 yr.old mother of a 2 yr.old and 12 yr. old. Since the birth of my 2 yr.old I have had the Mirena. Love it!!!!!!!! I have not had a period since June 2006. No mood swings, no anything!!!! My husband's cousin is a obgyn in another area and I questioned him greatly before making that choice. He said that he recommends Mirena over tubal lig. for various reasons.
2 weeks ago I had it removed to plan a 3rd child. Started period within 3 days. As soon as the 3rd is gets here (hopefully) I will again get Mirena.
Also, be aware, that not all IUD's are the same. My dr. strongly emphasized that she did not recommend the copper kind or anything other than the Mirena.
Oh, my dr. has Mirena herself.

If your husband is willing, go vasectomy!!! I had a tubal after my daughter was born and I regret it. My periods became much more painful after the tubal and I have had to have a D&C and will probably be scheduling another soon because my body is no longer shedding completely during my period. My dr said this can all be because of the tubal. I know a few men who have gone with the vasectomy and the recovery is fast and easy and there are no long term issues.

Hi V.,
I have had a Mirena for at least 6 months now. I love it. I also have 3 kids and am finished with having babies. I refuse to have a tubal though. So this seemed like the perfect choice for me. I did have spotting for a few weeks after the Mirena was put in. That was the first "period" I had had since becoming pregnant. So that was a pain. I don't have a regular period now, just some spotting once in awhile. My advice is that you do some research about tubal ligation. I have a friend who had it done and has some pretty serious side effects, like very heqavy and long periods and bad cramping. Look up Tubal Ligation Syndrom online before you make a decision. I have no complaints about the Mirena.
D.

I am 38 and have one child a 2 year old and decided I do not want anymore children because I am just too old (ha ha)I decided to go with the Mirena after reading over lot's of information on the web. Since Tubal ligation is a surgery...I just did not and do not have time to be recovering from surgery with a small child, and working full-time and all my motherly & wifely duties. After talking to my MD and another person that actually has one I decided it was the best for me. I have had mine a year and I have not had any problems so far. It is nice not having to worry about taking a pill everyday and my periods have gotten so light I barely know that I am having one. The only downfall is I do spot bleed every now and then. Hope this helps.

I actually have the Mirena IUD. I love it you don't even know it's there. I have two boys but because of a blood disorder I can't take certain birth control. My options were tubal or IUD. I'm glad I went with the IUD. I have had mine for almost a year now. My periods are almost gone and when I do have one it's light for four days at the most. They told me that after a year you really stop having a period. So I can't wait for that. I haven't had any problems with it.

I have a friend that had her tubes tied and is now having problems. Her doctor is leading a research group to check the connection between tubals and uterine and cervical cancer.

I would definetly check into all possibilities before getting your tubes tied.

Hi V.,

I had a tubal ligation back in 1992. I for one am glad I did. After having the operation done, it was just a few days before I was able to return to work, with some limitations of course. The only thing that was different after having this done was that I had severe cramps for the first couple of years. But I am know back to normal as far as my cycles and there is little or no pain.

V., I am on my 2nd Mirena- love it. Our youngest child is almost 6. I am only 30, so I feel very apprehansive about doing anything perminent. When it was time last Dec to take out the 1st Mirena, and discuss nore permenatn options, I cried through the whole appointment. I am just not ready to totally give up the idea of more children. My husband and I have 3 (12 yo boy, 10 yo boy and 5 yo girl), and he feels our family is complete. I would like one more. My doc suggested doing another mirena, said it would prevent some of the menstruation problems I had before the mirena and it would keep the option open in the future. So I have not had a period in 6 years and am looking forward to the next 4 1/2! I thought it was very painful to have the mirena placed the first time, so my doc perscribed some xanax and loritab for me to take before hand. It was much better!

At first with the mirena, I was nervous about the placement also and worried about getting preg. Twice actually my doc ordered an ultrasound to check placement, but it was fine both times.

Good luck with your descision!

I had my tube tied after our last child was born and it was painful, no joke. The worst part was having all the gas or air inside of my abdomen and no way to get it back out. However, I knew I didn't want to even think about getting pregnant again and wanted the sterilization procedure done on ME.

An IUD would not have been an ideal situation for me since it would always be in the back of my mind that it could be removed. Also, as a person who avoids unneccessary medicine or hormones, that was another reason to not get one.

It's not coming out. No way, no how. You may have some cramping off and on for a few months and some wierd bleeding or discharge, but the discomfort is minor and short-lived. I got Mirena last year and I really don't even know it's there. We aren't planning on having anymore children-we weren't 'planning' the one we have either, but we didn't want the finality of either of us getting 'fixed'permanantly. Your doctor can give you some great information on any risk factors you might need to know about and can help guide you in this decision. Just don't let any worry about it coming out be the reason you decide against it!

Your story sounds much like mine. I am 37 and had a tubal 3 years ago. I had mine because of age and the fact that my two youngest have disabilities. God decided that he wanted me to have another baby even though I had my tubes tied. I am 5 months pregnant with #4. If you really don't want to have any more children I would suggest that you get your tubes tied as well as have your husband get sniped. That is our plan when this baby comes. Well at least I hope my husband will not change his mind. You know how they can be with the thought about anything sharp around there manhood lol.

Mirena didn't work out too well for me. I got it about 2 1/2 years ago and it was removed about 3 months ago. My periods were sporatic and abnormal. Moodiness was WAY worse and I got terrible acne. When I got it removed, they couldn't FIND IT! So, I had to go back and have them remove it with a specially ordered "tool". Within a month of having it removed I already felt better physically & mentally and my acne began to improve. Mirena doesn't offer the same hormones as Yaz - which is why I think Yaz was a better option for me. I know two others who have taken Mirena. One had terrible mood swings but no acne. One had terrible periods. I think it just depends on how your body responds to the particular hormone set up of it.

Hi V.- Not sure where you live but, my doctor shared with me about Essure. More Info on Essure: www.Essure.com. However, it is permanent and I would love to give you the contact person of sommeone who has had it done and can share with you about it.

I've had the Mirena for about 4 years now and LOVE it! I highly recommend it! You can feel for the little wires to make sure it's still in place. Mine has never slipped. Kinda hurts to have it put in (like a pap smear) but wonderful after that.

Go with the laproscopic tubal. You won't even be out of commission 48 hours. Easy and very little pain involved. Same day surgery procedure.

If you are definatley sure you want no more kids, i would go with a tubal ligation,( i had the laproscopic tubal) i had mine at 31 and it was done in the late morning and i was up & around driving that afternoon when i got home, i had no problems at all, you can't even see where they done the surgery at on me anymore. Just my opinion.

V., I had my tubes tied after my 3rd child. And when she was four months old, my husband left me. We are now divorced and I am remarried. We have been together 6 years married for one. He had never been married and never had any children. I now long to give him a child and can't. Think about your decision long and hard. You never know what your future holds.

I've had the IUD for 3 years now and I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!!!! After a SUPER difficult pregnancy and an 11 lb baby girl (I'm 5'3 and 120) my doctors say NO MORE KIDS. Surgery is permenant and invasive, so please at least give it a try. My terrible periods are gone, and light spotting occurs about once every three months. The IUD has VERY LOW hormones better for your body (stroke) and they don't really know if it is the device or the hormones that makes it work so well. The only problem I've had with it is when I get constipated from stress (rarely) I can get cramps from the you know what poking the IUD! Hey I'm being thorough! Went to the Doc, they did ultrasounds and confirmed my problem. So if you have this problem often it might be something to think about. It dosen't bother me too much! The insertion takes only two mins and lasts for 5 years. The wire threads are new and will not cause infection. My husband never complains about feeling them, but you may have to have them shortened if they leave them too long. PLEASE find an RN or Doc who has inserted HUNDREDS of them. My RN has done over 350 and thats about all she does at my doctors office. She has never had a perferation so make sure your inserter has never had a woman have a problem.

Good Luck and God Bless!

I will be 34 in March and have 2 girls - 14yrs and 10yrs. I had 2 misscarriages between the two girls. Because I had my first at 19yrs old and was only 23yrs old when I had my second girl my doctor really didn't want me to have the tubal right away...but with the complications that I have had I felt it was best. I gave birth to my youngest on a Thursday night(early Friday morning) and went back and had the tubal ligation that following Monday. It was a very simple procedure, in which they went in through the belly button, requiring only 2 stitches. I personally had no complications whatsoever. It has been 10yrs now and have not had to worry about pregnancy. The only thing I noticed after the tubal is that before, I never had cramps, since then I do. I feel that if you are definitely sure you are done having children, that is the way to go. Plus I hear it is a reversable procedure in case you do change your mind later. Hope I was able to help by sharing my experience with you. Good luck on finding the answer that is best for you and your family!!

I have the mirena and love it. This is the second one I've had. I like that, for me, it greatly reduces my periods and is b.c. with no adverse side effects, like mood-swings and blood clot/stroke risk. That said, getting your tubes tied doesn't have any side effects either. It's just more permanent. I have heard the IUD can fall out, but it is VERY rare. I think an experienced MD would correctly insert it. For me, at the follow up appointment after the insertion, my doctor was able to tell how secure it looked. If there had been a question, she would have checked it again in a month. Good luck with your decision!

I had a tubal about 6 years ago and I have had nothign but problems since then. I dont suggest getting one unless you absolutely have to...its not good for you. The surgeon that did mine told me that 8 out of 10 women end up having to have a hysterectomy after a tubal because it effects you and I wish I would have listened! I'm 27 and I suspect when I go for my check up this year that will be suggested by my GYN just because of the problems I'm having. Its not like its in my family history to have that done either...my grandmother is 90 years old and still has all of her female organs!

Hi My name is D., I have 3 kids I was supposed to stop after my daughter was born, Needless to say I didn't listen, I had my second child and didn't stop then either,then I had my son he was supposed to be a twin, wasn't meant to be, so I had my tubes cut tied and burned and its much easier to deal with.Hope this advice helps.not being able to get pregnant again.

V.,
Hi. I had a tubal ligation after my third child 11 years ago. I had a hard labor and delivery so my doctor waited till the next morning to do my tubal. I had no problems with it. It hurt when I walked at first but that is with any surgery. I don't know anything about the IUD but I am glad I had the tubal.

Congratulations on your bundle of joy!!!
I hope the little one is doing well. I had the Mirena IUD placed after my 3 and a half year old was born. Personally I love it! To be honest most of the time I forget it is there. Mostly because I haven't had a real period in about 2 1/2 years. Every once in a will I get light spotting for a day or so, but everyone is different. I am told this happens to about 5% of women that get Mirena. For the first 2-3 days it was a little uncomfortable, I could feel the wire that hangs out of for future removel. But that was only because it was something new and once it found it's "place" all was fine. My partner of 13 years has never had any problem with feeling it. I think he has forgotten about it, but has complete peace of mind knowing that we are "covered".
I chose this because I was only 95% sure I was done having children. But I had, and still have, that nagging feeling of... what if?
Good Luck with your decission!

Hi V.,

I was in your same situation and felt a lot of the same ways, but I was given another option. A new implant in your arm called implanon. It's not like the norplant and not dangerous. It is about the size of a match and fits uder your skin in a very quick procedure in the office. It is good for three years. I had it done because I had heard horro stories about IUDs and was too scared to do it. Of course,everyone has their own story :) Anyway, just wanted to let you know about another option that you might want to research. I have had great success with it and no side effects. Good luck!

I have had a Mirena IUD for about 3 yrs now. I have not had any problems. It is a wonderful contraceptive. I do not have periods. I have not gained weight. That was a problem I had with the shot. I can not feel the device, nor can my husband. It has never even moved, nor fallen out. The best part for me is that I do plan on having one more child. As soon as I have it removed, I can get pregnant very shortly after. At least that is what the doctor told me. They have a 5 year or 10 year IUD. I recomend either one.

I got pregnant with an IUD in place, then lost (our 1st) baby at 3 months because of the IUD. After our 3rd child, I had a tubal ligation. The procedure wasn't that difficult to have done or to recover from. If you're sure you are done, I would recommend the tubal anytime.
Also, any IUD puts you at risk of having a tubal pregnancy (very dangerous. All of them simply make it hard for an embryo (alredy started baby) to implant in the uterus. I wasn't aware of this, and wonder now how many of our babies I flushed away.

I had a tubal ligation after my son was born, and it was the best decision I ever made. (As far as birth control was concerned). I had also heard of the Mirena, but my husband and I decided that tubal ligation has been successful for women for a LONG time, so it was the choice for us. We did not have to speculate whether or not the IUD would fall out, etc.
As for the surgery, it took me a few weeks to recover, but I had no traumatic side effects. I felt like I had done a bunch of sit ups,and had sore stomach muscles. Good Luck on whatever decision you make!

I have had my Mirena IUD for 4 1/2 years and I love it. I have no periods and no side effects. I don't even know it is there. When I had it inserted it was just maybe 10 seconds of pain then I did have some spotting for the first 2 or 3 months, but after it has been perfect. I would highly recommend it.

I just had my second son in December. I am pretty sure I do not want any more children, but like you was also intimidated by the thought of having a tubal. I just had the Mirena inserted a few weeks ago and so far love it! I know this is not very long to have had it and give good advice about it, but my point is that if you feel intimidated by the tubal, Mirena seems to be a great choice....

I got Mirena in Nov of 2007 and so far it has been great. I plan to still have more kids, but forget to take the pill everyday. This works great. It is a lot cheaper on insurance too. You still have your period monthly, but over time it is suppose to get lighter and possably go away. I have had no problems with mine. It stays in place well, It is inserted by your docoter and it so far in the uterus that it is hard for it to get out of palce or fall out. I can not ever tell i have it in. It beats the pill and other BC methods.

I hope this helps

I agree with the vasectomy suggestions. I know several men that have had the procedure and it's really nothing that a valium or two plus a day laying on the couch or in bed with the remote and pain pills won't make better.
I have the Mirena and it is just fine. I have the unfortunate side effect of recurrent bacterial infections down there. Doc said that some women get it and some don't. But anytime you put a foreign body in your body, the immune system does what it is suppose to do and tries to fight it. There is always that risk of getting a undesireable side effect. Usually there are no side effects with Mirena. But, some women (including those that have posted here) have effects that are not good. My hubby is only 25 and I know that life and situations change so I wouldn't even consider asking him to get snipped. Maybe in 5 years we will discuss that option. I just deal with my side effect and sleep well at night not worrying about being prego - I adore my 2 kids but know for sure that 2 is enough for me! Mirena is like 99% effective.

I have had the Mirena for about 18 months and have loved it. It took a few months for my body to adjust, but I haven't had a period in 12 months (which is wonderful!). I am having it removed soon, so I can have my second child, but plan on getting it again after that. My experience is , nothing is guaranteed (I got pregnant last time when I was on the pill), so get what you are most comfortable with.

Well my best friend lives in Coweta and she uses the Mirena and swears by it. She 34 yrs old has one son the age of 6 and doesnt want any more childres either. She loves it because he rarely ever has a period and you only have to change it every 5 years. She loves not having to worry about it and she said that when they put it in it feels like a cramp so when she goes to have it changed she takes like 4 motrin. She has had it for 6 yrs now and it has never fallen out and believe me their "personal life is great." While this is not my personal experience I hope it helped you in some way. If you have any more questions or would like to talk to her yourself let me know.

You haven't considered all the options here. I have had a Tubal and the air they inflate you with is rather uncomfortable for several days. It's not that bad though. Your husband could have a vasectomy and it is much less complicated and less uncomfortable. My brother-in-law had this done. It is just as effective. I would not do the IUD.

I got the Mirena IUD after my third. I love it. I don't handle hormones very well, but I have had no problems with it. I don't even have a period. It is supposed to work as effective as the tubal and for 5 years. I chose this because we may still want one more, but after the next one, I am going to do the IUD again and then again until menopause. I have heard some ugly stories from my friends who have had tubals, I think I'll stear clear.

K.

V.,
I had a Tubal about 6 1/2 years ago. I have two children. I had my tubal done about 7 hrs aftering having my son. I have had no trouble. My periods are longer now. But if you are 100 % sure that you don't want any more children then i would have a tubal done.

I personally think the Mirena is wonderful. I had my first child 3 years ago and my obgyn suggested the Mirena in place of other forms of birth control because there are no hormones (so NO weight gain!) and it is as effective (or better) than having your tubes tied! Also, one awesome side effect in my case was, NO MORE PERIODS! I quit having periods about 3 months after I got it and was worried initially buy my doctor assured me that happened with some women and was perfectly ok. So my advice is GO FOR IT if you are unsure about a tubal ligation. You can always have one done later if you change your mind. Also, it is highly unlikely that it will fall out of place and the risk of pregnancy is a bit lower that it is with having your tubes tied.

I've had a Mirena IUD since January of last year, so a little over a year now. If you're looking for something permanent, I'd say have your husband get a vasectomy. If you're looking for a temporary solution (5 years), I would go with the Mirena IUD. I haven't had any problems with it. And, best of all, I don't have any periods. Sometimes I do get light spotting, but that's all.

I have had the Mirena IUD in place for about 2 1/2 years. It is absolutely the best birth control I have ever used, I took the pill for many years and I wanted a more reliable method after my daughter was born. The insertion was really easy (it felt like a rough Pap) and I only have light spotting instead of a period. My husband nor I can feel the guide wires. There is really no way that it can "move" and you not know it. The only thing it could do is fall out and you would definitely notice, and that only happens very rarely. Go for the IUD you won't be sorry.