IUD Question: Heavy Bleeding?

I got my IUD about two years ago. I experience light spotting and then about two days of heavy flow (like a stuck pig! lol) and then 2-3 light days. I think this is normal. I agree with you I haven't bled like that since I was a teenager.

I have had my IUD for 2 years and like you, my bleeding is really light. It is more like spotting for about 4 days. Anyway, I have had a month or two where the bleeding is heavier than normal. My best guess is that I was ovulating at some point when my husband and I had sex. An egg was fertilized, but since it had no place to implant (due to the IUD), it dissolved and caused the heavier bleeding. I hope this helps!

Wow, I guess this is different for everyone but here's my experience with the IUD. I do not have any children by the way. I got my first Mirena IUD in 2002 and had it for 5 years and had almost no periods toward the last couple of years and I loved it. When the 5 years was up, I had it removed and tried the Depro Vera shot cause it was cheaper. I hated it, I had very heavy periods and was constantly on my period every day for the 8 months I had it. Maybe a day or 2 here and there that I'd go without one. But most of the time they were heavier than ever in my life, having to wear extra super tampons with a pad. And I gained weight. So I went back and got a Mirena IUD (5 year one) a few months ago and have been so much happier. But I have to say I've still had my period off and on alot lately. Not as bad as with the shot, but I have had it pretty much every few days for the last 2 months. Not heavy at all though. I think it takes time for your body to adjust to the changing hormones. I still don't have any kids and I've had no problems with the IUD. I'm 34 years old and don't know if I want to have any. But I'm a future step mom to 3 beautiful girls.

I don't know much about that, but you should call your gyn just to make sure nothing has happened. It's better to be safe.

You need to go in to your doctor for a check up. Anytime something unusual happens when you have an IUD you should always be checked to rule anything out.

I have always had heavy bleeding with the IUD. Much heavier than without it (and it sucks). I usually start with very light spotting for about 2 days then very heavy bleeding for about 4 days and then back to light for a few more days.

I was warned that this would happen.

I am 57 years old and have had several IUD's ever since I was in my early 20's & still have one now. My periods were light before I had one put in so I never noticed a difference...but yes, they were like you described. And yes, I did experience some times where they were heavy - usually the second day. I would sometimes have a period lasting more than my normal 3-5 days. Sometimes I would have a blood mass show up too. My GYN didnt see any problems. You can ask your GYN though - just so you know if it is an issue with you or not. I also think everyone is different but as for me, I experienced the same things you have. Hopefully this helps you. Just to let you know, I have two grown daughters & never got pregnant while using the IUD.

Hi T., my name is J.. The only advice I can give you is be prepared for changes in you periods. From how often you get them to the flow to the duration. Everyone that I know who have had IUD's have differents stories. Mine is a little like yours. My period started out light, I was so happy I thought I would never go back to heavy periods, but about a year later I started having heavy bleeding, back aches, pms, all symptoms I never had even before I had the IUD inserted. The IUD was supposed to protect me for 10 years, but guess what, 4 years later I got pregnant with my son. Because I became pregnant while I had the IUD, it caused a lot of complications during pregnancy, even after they took it out, and I was one of the lucky ones, becuase my doctor was able to take it out. Sometime the IUD is positioned where the doctor can't get to it. My strongest advice to you, is just to follow up with your Gyn, and have her/him check your IUD every year.

Go to your doctor! It isn't worth taking a chance and worrying. Just do it, make the appointment and go.
I have never had one. Hope all is fine.

T.,

I'm a grandmother who had an IUD thousands of years ago and ended up delivering my son after agoing through only a couple of months with the IUD. What you've experienced sounds somewhat like I experienced.

I'd say go see you doctor...better safe than sorry.

My point to you is if you no longer want children you'd better find another mode of birth control! I don't trust those things.

Hi, I'm 34yrs old with 2 children. I have had the Mirena IUD for about 1 year. In the beginning after getting it placed I had bleeding for about a full month. It was awful!!! I checked with my doctor and he said everything was fine. Then I continued to get pretty normal flow periods each month but for how many days was very irregular, often longer then before. I'm happy to say that they have now finally gotten lighter but I'm still hoping for the shorter or really light like so many others. I would recommend contacting your doctor just to confirm that nothing else is going on but I know I was told that it would be normal to have heavier bleeding sometimes but that most people experience the lighter or non existent periods. Good luck and I hope it doesn't continue for you!
M. - www.workathomeunited.com/freedom

I had an IUD for 9 years before I decided to have my last child. The only issue I had was a heavier period. I think what you describe is normal but just to be safe, I'd suggest calling your doctor. Also, be sure to check if the string is still where it should be.

Call your Doctor. 18 months of light flow and now heavy does not sound right.

Wow, the varying experiences and pro- and con-IUD people on here amazes me.

I can tell you my personal experience... I am all for the Mirena IUD, which is a fairly new one (not at all like the previous ones) and hormone-based instead of copper-based. This changes the entire way the IUD functions.

I would definitely ask your doctor if it scares you, I follow the better-safe-than-sorry people. Most likely, nothing's wrong. But you just never know.

I love the ease of the Mirena. I've had mine for 3 years, never with any problems. The shot causes you to gain weight, doesn't control your periods, and you can't safely have a child for a year after the year it's good for. Yuck! And I wasn't consistent enough in taking the Pill in any form to make it a truly effective method of birth control. The Mirena was the best option for my family.

So, my whole point is that you should ask your doctor, and maybe get it checked for any problems. Just to be on the safe side.

:)

And poor Tara! I wish your doctor had told you that IUDs are mainly for women who have already had children!!!! I was told that there was a chance the uterus would "reject" the IUD if I had not had children already.

I will have had mine 2 years in May so just about the same as you, and I haven't experienced that. I rarely have some show when I wipe during times when I should be having a period, but that is it and that is the way it has been since about the 3rd month of having mine.

I assume you have the Mirena? I looked over their site quickly and didn't see anything about having a heavy flow after the first initial 3-6 months. Are you having any pain?

You might call your ob's nurse and ask them, they might want to check placement to make sure it is still where it is suppose to be just to be safe.

Good luck!

The exact thing happened to me and I ignored it for awhile. However, once I let my doctor know she got me in and it turned out that I had an infection! I would give the office a call and at least be safe rather than sorry!

I suggest making an appointment with your OB/GYN to make sure there is no infection or problems.

I have had an IUD for about 3 years now and my periods start out very light spotting for a few days, then one day of HEAVY bleeding, and then one more day of spotting and then I am done. That is normally how it is, but lately I have noticed that my day of HEAVY bleeding is not as bad as is has been. I just think that everyone responds differntly to IUD. I asked my doctor if my periods would maybe ever go away and he told me that in some people they had and others their periods were just like before they had the IUD.

I have been going thru the same scenario, however, I spot if my husband and I have sex and if I work out hard.....I just finished follow up with obgyn and ultrsound....This is just one of the side effects of the IUD. The only solution is removal?

T.,

Please go see your dr immediately. I'm not you, but I know abnormalities when I see them and you've admited that this is not 'normal' for you.

It could be a variety of things like a hormonal imbalance, preforated tissue, uterine prolapse, or you could have adenomeiosis. Whatever the reason for the heavy bleeding, you need to have it checked out.

Please go get checked, if for no other reason, just to see if you are OK!!!

God Bless and please feel free to let me know how you are doing. I've bled heavily since giving birth to my 1st child at 20. I am fixed and I've taken birth control to control it, but now more female issues have cropped up at 44 and a hysterectomy is my only solution at this point in my life, but I held on to my female parts as long as I could because of the hormonal benefits for my aging body.

P.

I have had a couple of IUD's and from time to time I would have heavy bleeding. I am 49 now. I had one when I was 20 for 6 years and again when I was in my 30s. I was told it was just like your body cleansing itself. If the bleeding last more that five days the length of a normal period I would then see a Dr. I hope this relieves you a little.

If you are experiencing bleeding with an IUD, and it's not time for your regular period, you need to consult your physician. I can't tell you a lot about your particular IUD since you didn't mention the type it is. But I do know that an IUD can become embedded and cause you to bleed. It's a possibility. Then you're talking about a problem should that happen, that it become embedded. Please see your doctor to have your IUD checked, and make sure you're okay. If it's close to time for a check-up, please have that done as well to make sure there's nothing seriously wrong.

I have had an IUD for 4 years. I have never experienced heavy bleeding. Call your doctor maybe something is wrong.

About me: I am 39 years old mother of 2.

Well, I have an IUD but it is as old as my youngest child (15 Yrs.) Anyway, that was a big side effect for me. One day of Katy bar the doors, heavy bleeding and a full 8 day period. I never had that before the IUD. It started the very first period I had with the IUD. I would think they are different now but maybe the side effects are the same. Anyway, at this point it is a part of me. I'm slightly afraid to have it removed. My doctor says it is fine to keep it in there until I am menapausal. It is still nice not having to woryy about taking a pill.

Hi there T.:

I would suggest getting rid of the IUD and going with the Depo Provera Shot. It's much more effective and chances are you won't have a period at all. My mother had an IUD when I was a teenager, it slipped slightly and well now I have a 22 year old brother and I'm 38.

M. In Houston

I strongly discourage the use of any birth control.
I have far more proof than what most doctors are willing to tell you that all forms of birth control are very comprimising on your system. I know a lady that was on your form and she was so sick from it she ended up with an infection and had to have major surgery.
Let God be in control. He will have you to have babies whether your on something or not if they are meant to be.
I have not used any birth control and I have 3 children 16, 2, and 3. I know a lot of people who have had some major issues and difficulties on many different forms of birth control. It's not worth it.
steph

That is normal according to a webiste that i looked at. I was interested in getting the IUD but. i read this website. Take a look....

http://www.pamf.org/teen/sex/birthcontrol/iud.html

let me know
S.

I had the Paraguard IUD after my 1st child was born. It was supposed to work for 10 years. About a year and a half later I stopped having periods and after about three months I went in to be checked. I was 3 months pregnant. They sent me to the hospital to have it removed and the student couldn't get out and on the 4th try the Dr got it. It was very painful. A week later I started hemmoraging and went to an ER near my home. I lost a lot of blood and tissue but the OB said the heartbeat was fine. I think my poor Niklas was a twin but we cannot be sure. Niklas is now a year and a half and wonderfully healthy. He's bright and loving but most of all we're thankful he made it. I wouldn't recommend the COpper IUDs to anyone.

I would call your doctor and have them look at placement and be sure no infection is present.

Well it has been a very long time but I did have a similiar experience with an IUD, but34 years ago. & I am sure they have changed a lot. but I did same aas you described & went back to the doctor who had inserted it for me. at that time he decided I hadf had a miscarriage.& I did same thing the next month & after 2 months of that heavy bleeding I went back to very light periods but soon had to have it taken out as I started & continued to have severe cramping. but I thought I would just pass you my experience along

I had Mirena for about 15 months and I never had any problem like that. My periods were very light after the first few months - maybe not very predictable, but still very light. I agree that you should check with your doctor. My first thought was that there was something wrong with the placement.

Good luck!

T.-

I had the IUD for almost 7 months. I have not had any children yet but my doctor felt it would be a good fit for me. That was not the case however.

At first I did experience lighter periods, both in flow and amount of days. Then around month 6 I had my period and it literally did not stop for about 28 days!

I do not have the IUD anymore, obviously. I did not experience a sudden change in my flow getting heavier, but I would definately talk to your doctor about this. There are so many things it could be.

T.

You are not alone :) I have had the Mirena IUD for about 3 years and for the most part I have had the light to non-existent periods but I have had a few that were very heavy and lasted quite a while. I guess it is normal, I never did much investigating - I am so thankful for the level of protection and the possibility for spontaneity!