Iud - Winter Haven,FL

I have Mirena too...going on 3 years. I've had all kinds of crazy flow schedules since I've had it...from no period for months to bleeding/spotting for several weeks. My doc said the bleeding/spotting is okay for up to 4 - 5 weeks. If you continue into the 6th week, you should be concerned and call the doc's office for an appt. Unless the bleeding is very heavy, then call after 2 weeks.

Hi, A.. Your doctor should have told you that any IUD causes extra bleeding and cramping at first, but then your body gets used to it and your periods go back to normal (maybe a little heavier than before).

However, this does not sound like the normal reaction to an IUD. At first, you will bleed more heavily and cramp more, and your period may last longer than usual, but this doesn't sound right. Please go back and find out if something is wrong. You don't want to keep bleeding like that. The IUD may be positioned wrong, or it may have hurt you somehow. Please, please get it checked.

Peace,
Syl

A. -- I would DEFINITELY get to a doctor -- that much bleeding sounds dangerous. I had an IUD in for almost 4 years up until a few weeks ago and I remember experiencing mild cramps the day it was put in and that's it. My flow might have gotten slightly heavier but nothing of major significance. I hope you make a call to your doctor ASAP! :)

Hi A.,

I had the Mirena put in almost a year and a half ago and it took a good year,(they said 6months) for the bleeding to diminish. I kept going back to my gyno and she said that it was fine. I got the odd day of cramping but that did improve a lot. Now 18 months later and I still bleed longer that I always did but have no cramps and the blood after the first 2 days is more like spotting, annoying as it lasts a while but not heavy or cramping.
I got the Mirena as my periods were unbarable and now this last period I didn't know I even had it, no cramps at all.
Hang in there, it gets better!!
Good luck,
E. G

Dear A.,
Yes, my dear, run, don't walk to your Dr. An IUD is not for everyone. This happened to me and at the risk of scaring you half to death, I was diagnosed with Cervical Cancer within 2 years of it's removal. Needless to say, we caught it in time, and I am not saying it was the IUD, but, it was obviously a weak point in my body that caused me to bleed for more than a month with it. I had mine removed and went back on birth control pills until my
cancer diagnosis. Consider it, there are lots of options out there now...check each of them carefully and get something in place before our new government manadated healthcare kicks in. When that happens your options will no doubt be limited. Good Luck!
J.
J

Sorry to say but you may be at the tip of the iceberg. I had the same kind of IUD put in about 3 months after my son was born and my Gyno told me to expect heavy periods for 3 months. Well, six months later I was STILL having my period 3 wks out of 4 and was terribly anemic. I went through BOXES of tampons and was at the point of having them take it out but they kept saying it wasn't abnormal, that the bleeding could last for 6 months. Finally, after half a year of horrible, heavy, 3 wk periods the bleeding slowed down and stopped. I started taking iron supplements and now the only symptom I have that the IUD is still there is that my periods are a little heavier than they used to be and I have cramps all the way through instead of just on my first day.
I dont want to scare you--I have a friend who got the same kind of IUD put in and she was fine within a month. But if someone would have told me the experience I would have, I would have found a diff method of birth control. So I wanted to let you know it can go either way. Sorry and good luck, I hope you have the experience my friend had and and not the one I had. Keep an eye on it and keep your doctor informed of what's going on.
Hugs, F.

My periods were crazy- heavy for a couple of weeks and then light for a couple of weeks. This happened for about 4 months and then my periods disappeared. I have not had a period in almost 22 months and have had the iud for 26 months. Occasionally ( a couple of times a year), I have had some cramping. Went to the doctor and it was gas pain and not related to the iud.

For me, it was worth the 4 months of misery to not have a period. Remember that every body is different.

Good luck.

Hi A.! Don't worry about a thing! I also got a Mirena this year. I got mine on July 14th and have to admit I bled for almost 3 months. Although it wasn't heavy at all. The first week was still my regular period, but then it tapered off just to spotting. I was beginning to think it would never end and that I'd have the same results I did with the Depo shot, but ALAS! The bleeding stopped last month! I've had some spotting this week actually but thats it. I'm assuming this is my period. And from what I understand it will eventually just go away all together.
I think the key is patience. It may take anywhere from 3 to 6 months to adjust to it my doctor said. Just hang in there and hopefully you'll soon be enjoying the benefits! I'm so glad I stuck with mine.

yea i had the same problem my doc gave me some estrogen pills for a while but its normal!!

I had my Mirena in for a year. If I wasn't bleeding, I was spotting. I called my GYN twice in the three months, but I was told that it takes a few months for some people. After 6 months without noticeable "lightening" of the period process, my husband and I discussed what the next 4 1/2 yrs. would look like while I kept it in. I made sure I took a multivitamin everyday so that I wouldn't have low iron from the spotting.
Everyone is different, but we decided to give it a year. At one year, and still spotting every week, I had it removed. After all, the point for us was to be intimate without the possibility of #3 coming along...except that it was hard for me to feel sexy while spotting most of the time.
It has to work for you. I wish you the best of luck.

Hi. I had an IUD put in recently, too. My first few weeks were agonizing. Felt like I was in high school with back cramps, ab cramps, etc. Bled after 2 weeks, too, like I was being slaughtered! Big clots, blood pouring out of me. going thru a super tampon in one hour or less. Yeesh. Second month lots of cramping, lots of clotting. Now on about my 5th month and it is heaven. No cramping, period lighter, although still clotty but not as long like the first few months where it was an entire week straight of massive bleeding. I am very happy to be over the hump. I feel nothing. Love having it. Keep going. There is a silver lining to your story!!!
S.

I had the same issue and gave it almost 11 months. My periods were still incredibly long and heavy, so I had mine removed. I hope you have better luck with yours, because its a great concept in theory!
K.

I had a "regular" iud put in three years ago and have not had any problems whatsoever but my sister had a mirena device put in a couple of months ago but its not agreeing with her - she has pretty much the same problems that you do! If you're worried about it, go back to your doctor and see what he/she tells you and take it from there. An iud is probably one of the best devices to use if you're in a committed relationship and don't want the hassle of using condoms or taking the pill.
Don't lose all hope. I did hear that it takes a little more time for your body to adjust to the mirena iud.