Mirena Questions

You will feel that way for a few weeks and may spot on and off for 6 months. When I wanted to get it my doctor told me many people are put off because of this for the first few months but if you weather the storm you will eventually love it. I've had it since Oct. 2005 and only get one period a year if I can even call it a period. It's the best thing I ever did. Hold on for a little while.

Your gut instinct of removing it is good. Please read this information (that probably was never given) for you to have a fully "informed consent" regarding this potentially deadly product. No woman should be given synthetic hormones with the associated risks especially when natural/biocompatable are available when needed. It's only a matter of time before it too will face forced removal from the market as did Wyeth's Norplant with the identical progestin side-effects.
Mirena is still an IUD with with possibilities of becoming embedded, causing perforation, accidental expulsion, and the list goes on. When the synthetic hormone release fails to prevent pregnancy, you will risk spontaneous abortion or damage to the developement of your unborn child.
Stay healthy and enjoy life with your children and grandchildren!

http://www.virginiahopkinstestkits.com/mirenareport.html
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2006/0...

About me: I am a complimentary medicine healthcare worker with two healthy teenage daughters.

Hi T., you will spot for a while. All women are different. I spotted for about 10 months. Now there is light spotting and discharge. The only side effect that I incur is headaches. Not too often, but often enough. You will have cramps the first few months, but they will subside. I've had mine for a year. Scale of 1-10, I'd give it a 8. Only because of the headaches.

The symptoms you're feeling are normal, and will go away. I had the mirena inserted in Oct. 06, and still love it. I had the bloating feeling for a little less than 2 weeks. Cramping for me only lasted a day. Spotting lasted about 2 months. (Nothing heavy, just enough to wear a pantiliner). I haven't had an actual period since insertion. Once in awhile I have what's called breathrough bleeding, but it's never heavy and only lasts 1-2 days. Give it a little more time for your body to adjust before making a decision on whether ot keep it or not and good luck!

Hi T.,
Holy cow! It's only been a week! Don't do anything that drastic! I've had Mirena for 11 months. I love it, but it took a while before the bloating and discomfort went away. Give it a couple of months... it will get better every day and then you won't even know it's there! You should have a follow up appointment with your doctor in about five weeks (if I remember correctly). At least wait until then and the two of you can determine if Mirena is going to work for you. Best of luck! Hang in there!

I was feeling the same way when I had mine put in. I had some pretty uncomfortable carmping the first day, but that didn't last too long. The spotting was very frustrating because it just seemed to go on and on. However, after about 2 months it stopped and I have loved having it. Just give it time and I am sure you will b glad you did.

I don't hae the Mirena (hate hormones) but I just love my Paraguard IUD. No hormones, it's good for up to 10 years, and I feel better with it than I did without it. I've had it for almost four years now, and it's the best birth control I've ever tried.

Hi T.~
I have had the mirena twice now. The first was for a year and then we decided to have another baby (#3) and then the second I had put in at my 6 week check up following his birth. I LOVE IT!!!!! The first time I had it I spotted a lot - almost to the point that it was very frustrating. The spotting was usually when I was supposed to have my period and would last about 4 days and was not enough to wear a tampon, but just enough to have to wear a liner. Other than that no problems at all. The second time around has been wonderful. The first three months no spotting and then all of a sudden I am spotting, but nothing major. You have to remember, although it was designed to be placed in the uterus it is still a foreign object and your body needs time to adapt to it. Give your body time to adjust. I know it is frustrating, but given the cost of the IUD and the fact that it lasts 5 years, I would hold out on having it removed. It will be worth it in the long run!!! Weigh the benefits and the not so good benefits - for me it is the fact that the birth control concentrates only within the uterus and is not absorbed into the blood stream, thus you do not have all the side effects that you would see with the pill. For me that is wonderful b/c I would get migraines, blurred vision and all kinds of stuff to the point that I had to stop taking the pill. So... All in all you need to do what is best for you. Just thought I would share my experiences!!! Good Luck!

Just that it took my body 3 months at least to get used to it!

I had mine put in the very beginning of Oct...I spotted for what seemed like forever...I think it was 32 days. And now I get light spotting for about a week once a month. I have no cramping and no other problems. Before I got it put in my Midwife told me to make sure I give it six months before deciding if I don't like it, because she said it takes a good six months to settle in and adjust. I'm yet still hoping my period totally stops...but not such luck yet.

I got mine about a year and half ago. It took maybe two months or so before things were really leveled out. If you can, just stick with it. I've been really happy since then. I don't have to think about it, my periods haev been much lighter and WAY less cramps than before.
Good luck... hope this helps a little
C.

I got the Mirena in October of 07. I had one period after and not another since!!! I have no PMS, although I do get moody sometimes. I think the moodiness comes with trying to lose that extra baby weight I gained while prego though. Give it a month or two. It gets so much better! :-)

Hi T.

Well I guess I have to be the negative in the all the positives, I was the 1% that didnt take to Mirena. I had my inserted in Feb 06 about 3 months after I had my last kid. I didnt have much discomfort with getting it inserted and yes a little cramping afterwards and some spotting but all seemed fine, then about 3 weeks after I started spotting all the time and if i exercised or exherted myself at all I bled for the next 4 days constant, then back to spotting, my body just wasnt accepting this in my body, I went back to my OB who told me to give it 6 months for my body to adjust so I did, after 5 months I went in and had a ultrasound to make sure it was in place correctly and it was then he put me on birth control to help my body with the inflamation and bleeding and it helped a bit but still spotting every few days. so at the 6 months I had it yanked and hubby got a vasectomy instead.
my OB said my symptoms were rare but wanted to let you know it can happen, its just not for everyone, but stick with it for at least 6 months before you talk to your OB about it

Hi T.,

My name is M. and I have had the Mirena for over a year now. I felt the same way you did at first. They told me that my periods would get lighter and maybe stop all together. It seemed like I was constantly spotting or having a period in the beginning and then they slowed down. But the problem I was having was not knowing when I would have my next period because they were irregular. I talked to my doctor when I had my yearly about another method of birth control because I didn't like not knowing. She recommed I stay with it and try some Loestrin at the same time to regulate them. After about a week or so on that my periods stopped so I haven't had a period since last October. My recommendation would be to stick with it for a little while and see what happens. I am so glad I did not have it removed now. I think she told me it takes about 6 months for them to lighten or stop.

I am also a mother of two kids, a daughter that is 4 and another daughter that will be 2 in August. I too am starting school in the fall in the nursing field. This will be totally different than what I do now so it will be a little challenging especially with 2 young kids:) But I keep telling myself it will really payoff when I'm finished.

Good luck!

My Mirena was put in place in February of 08. I felt some bloating afterwards- however my doctor told me spotting was COMPLETLEY normal although I did not have any. Have you tried calling your doctors and speaking with a nurse before you have it removed. Now that I have it I have the lightest periods, I could not be happier with this form of BC.

The first couple of weeks are the roughest since your body is still getting used to it. I've had mine since January and I love it! I don't get a period anymore (I don't even spot!) and I don't really have any PMS symptoms, except that I'm a grumpier. I hope that your body gets used to it and that you can enjoy it as much as I do!

i love my mirena!! i have had it for about 10 months or so. your body is getting used to haveing something new inside of it. maybe its not in all the way? i know i spotted just after it for maybe a day or two then just spotting maybe 2 times since then. i would call your doc and see what they say. the only problem i have had with mine is when i first had it in and the strings were too long but after she trimed them i have had no problems. stick with it for a bit longer things will get better.