Mirena IUD - Plano,TX

Hi M.,
I've had the Mirena IUD since August and I love it. There are no hormones, no weight gain, no mood swings, nothing. You don't have to remember a pill or anything. I have no negatives about it.

L.

You might want to consider the "old school" copper IUD if you want to be completely hormone free. I had lots of problems on the pill but have had none with the copper IUD.

M.-

I have had the IUD for more than 3 years now and LOVE it!!! No side effects thus far and my periods are gone. I just get the cramps once in a while when it is that time of the month. The Mirena gets replaced every 5 years. I have a lot of friends who have it, too and I have never heard anything on the negative side. All positive.

I was kind of in the same boat about three years ago when I was working for an OBGYN. I asked him about it and he told me what it was but that he did not implant them. I asked what the skinny was. He told me this. "An IUD causes a sterile infection in the uterus every month and, if there is an egg that has been fertilized, it is miscarried due to the sterile infection." He said that he did not offer them to his patients because he was prolife and as far as he was concerned that it was an abortion. I don't know what your stance on abortion is, so I hope that I am not offencive in telling you that but as the daughter of a Southern Baptist preacher, a Christian and as a prolifer I felt I should say something. All of the research that I have done on IUD's supports what that dr. told me. All of the women that I have know who had them just rave about how wonderful they are. A few of the patient we had had rejected them. Well, that's what I know. Hope it helps!!

I have one and I absolutly love it... a way not to have to take a pill everyday and it lasts for FIVE years!!! My doctor said that the one for ten years has more side effects... bad cramps, longer periods... not for me. With the five year one I have no cramps and 3 day periods... no pain what so ever. My insurance covered it all too!

I had this after my son was born. the most discomfort I felt was right after it was put in I had about 2 or 3 days of cramping and a little spotting, but after that nothing else. The procedure to put it in is basically like an uncomfortable pap smear not too bad, i was told by my doctor to take a pain killer before coming and it helped. It was really comforting to know that my birth control was working and I didn't have to remember anything. a friend of mine also got one and she had spotting and cramping for 2 weeks but thats all she felt.

I don't have the Mirena, I have the Paragard (old school, no hormone copper), which is good for 10 years instead of five. In June I will have had it for 5 years. I love it! It hurt when it was put in, but I had it done at my 6 week post-natal check up. My first period several months later was pretty intense, but it evened out pretty quickly. It's been great not having to worry about birth control, and also knowing that if we did decide to get pregnant again it would still be possible.

Love Love Love it!!! I've had the IUD for over a year now and have had no problems. No periods are a plus too! But the best part is that I feel at ease about not getting pregnant. Sure, nothing is 100%, but 99% effective is ok with me.

Hello,

Just a question, Have you thought of getting him fixed? Its alot easyer. My housband is thinking of doing it. and its alot cheaper. and you can just get off the pill. Iv been on the pill for a long time and im ready to get off it. I dont have the headaches butt I get so up one day and down the other. Crazy. Anyways, something to ask your housband. I dont know if I was much help. Sorry =). Good luck on everything.

I had the Mirena inserted over 2 years ago, I love it and have not had any problems. I decided that I could not take the pill because it made me mentally imbalanced and bitchy. I also read the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility, which I do recommend (but wasn't disciplined enough to take my temperature and chart everyday). Both of my sons were concieved when I thought it was a "Safe" time of the month. I was very anti-hormone and worried that the Mirena, since it still had hormones would be a problem, but it really hasn't been. In fact I think I am less moody than when I wasn't taking anything at all. It's a steady hormone release so you don't have the ups and downs all the time. I love not having much if any period, or having to worry about BC anymore.

As with any BC meathod there will be some oopses, but this I think is more effective than the pill because you don't have to worry about forgetting. I'm a busy mom of 2 very active boys and I don't have time to think about this kind of stuff. I have so little time when my husband I can actually be intimate, I enjoy the flexibility of being spontaneous.

Hope that helps!

I had the IUD in between kids and it was great. Not having to worry about anything. I had a second one placed after my last child was born and I had back cramps during that time of the month and my husband could feel the strings. I went ahead and had it removed, but I'm willing to try it again. Also, you have to make sure your insurance company will cover it some don't.

M.,
I also have headaches around my cycle. Migranes around your cycle are very common I'm learning. I have the Mirena IUD. My GYN and Neurologist confirmed the small amount of progesterone in the Mirena won't effect my migranes one way or the other. I suffered more when I was on the pill which I believe contributed to them. Switching to the Mirena didn't solve the headache problem but I think being off the pill reduced it. What has helped with the headaches is seeing a good neurologist and developing a plan with him. I see Dr. Herzog at the Headache Clinic at Texas Neurology. He specializes in headaches. It's a drive to Dallas but worth it! Now back to the Mirena . . . For the first few(or was it 6?) months I had spotting but that has stopped now I barely have a period. My periods are just spots handled by a panty shield for a few days. I really like the freedom of not having to deal with a daily birth control pill. The procedure to put it in was like a bad cramp. Painful but you could bare it. I have no regrets. Good luck with your decision.

Hi M.,

I have this also & LOVE IT!!! I got it after my second son was born & have had it for almost 2 years now. I looked into it so much before I finally decided to get it & have been nothing but happy with it since. I have not had a period since I got it except for the first 2 months & they were very light & only lasted about 2 days. Even when I know I am supposed to have a normal cycle & should be cramping & moody, I'm not. My insurance covered the cost of having it put in & all I had to pay was my co-pay & will also only have to pay the co-pay to have it removed in 8 more years. I do not have to worry about taking a pill every morning & wondering what it will do to my body. I have had no side effects from the IUD either. I myself, would have to highly recommend it. I had to get used to it for the first few days & then didn't even know it was there. I hope that everyone's response to your question helps you out.

Good Luck,
M.

The Mirena IUD still contains hormones. It is just more convenient since you don't have to remember to take a pill. I have had a few friends that have used it. Most like it, others have had to have it reinserted. Still none of them seem to have issues with the hormones that it contains.

I would suggest you review the risks. Since you have already had kids, it is a better fit for you than someone that does not. It can cause infertility or tubal pregnancies in rare cases.

I was on the pill for 12 years of my life. The pill made me paranoid and bitchy. Not a nice person to live with. I finally realized after going through several types that I just couldn't do it anymore. I personally do not use anything that contains hormones for fertility management. I use the Taking Charge of Your Fertility method by Toni Wheschler (www.tcoyf.com). I highly suggest this book if you are having hormonal issues. It is a great resource to allow you to understand your cycles better and allow you to control when you conceive. I have used this for at least 7 years with great results.

If you have any questions feel free to contact me. I hope you get the best solution for you! Good luck!

Jodi

I looked into this because I'm very sensitive to hormones, and would be EXTREMELY moody when on the pill. My doctor told me that it was likely that my symptoms would be the same with Mirena, because the hormones are the same. She said it wasn't worth the risk because you have to pay all that money and have to come into the office to have it put in and taken out.

If your symptoms aren't too bad, and you just don't want to deal with taking the pill anymore, then give it a shot.

There are a lot of people that have gotten pregnant on IUDs... not sure if any of these were on the Mirena... you might want to check out some of the past posts on IUDs.

Good Luck!

I am laughing at most of these posts thinking that I wish the IUD would do for me what the Doctor said it would and has for these other women. My body did not handle birth control pills very well. Irregular periods and headaches and I think I tried every one out there. So, I got off of them and my hubby and I played Russian Roulette for 4 years till we got pregnant with our first. Then after that for another year until we got pregnant with our second. My Doctor talked me into the Mirena. Sounded great and I have had it since August of 2006. Cramping is tollerable, I had a period for almost 5 months straight, and now since January my cycle is back to once a month, with spotting in between. Every morning I spot about 15 minutes after I get out of bed till about noon, then nothing after that. Unless I have sex and then I know I will spot after that for several hours. I like not having to remember to take a pill, but then you have to remember to check your strings. My doctor and I have been trying to way options because I don't want anything permanent and irreversible. He says this is rare but normal with what I have been dealing with. So, I am giving it till August hoping it will get better.

I am sorry I had to post a bad story about it because it sounds so great and should be. But, no every woman is the same and I wanted you to hear a rare story of what could possibly happen.

Good Luck with your decision!

I have it and I love it. No problems at all.

I was on it just after my youngest was born and had to have it removed just 2 months later due to the Severe Pain and discomfort.

I know it just depends on the person.
Good Luck
M.

Hi M.,
I had the Mirena IUD put in me about 9 months ago and have had no problems. At first my periods were very light but they have returned to a normal flow now. They are also consistent because of the IUD. I reccommend it.
Hope this helps.
J.

I too am considering getting a Mirena IUD, as I have horrible headaches around my cycle also and . I called and found out that my insurance covers it 100% and I just have to pay the office co-pay. I read the advise you have been give and this has helped seal the deal for me.

I have had it for over 2 years and LOVE it! I have no periods, no PMS. It's awesome! Every now and then I have a little spotting, but that's it. I was warned that it would hurt when it was placed, but it really didn't, I've had PAP smears that were way worse. Good luck with your decision.

I saw this in a magazine ad and asked my doctor about it during my post-natal check-up. The way he decribed it made it sound like an implanted abortion (my words, not his). It doesn't keep the egg from being fertilized, it only keeps the fertilized egg from attaching to the uterus lining, causing it to be expelled from the body. He also said that there were the same number of miscarriages with the IUD than without. After discussing this with my doctor, I decided against the IUD and continue to take the Pill everyday.

hi M.. i have the mirena iud. i got it in october after my son was born in august. i love it! it is so wonderful not to have to think about birth control. since i got mine my SIL and a friend have opted for the mirena as well and they both love it too. it does take a little while for your body to get used to the hormones...you might have some spotting/bleeding in between periods. but its been 6 months since i got mine and now i just have spotting a couple of days a month and no full period at all. i only have good things to say about the mirena. please feel free to email me or send me a personal message if you want to chat more about it!

I have had mine for almost 3 years and NO problems at all, I have endometriosis really bad and before periods were unbearable and now I don't even have one and if I do not many cramps and a little spotting is a GREAT thing! You will love it and my Dr even has one she assures it is safe!

i am on mirena and i will tell you what its the best thing that has ever happened to me!! its worry free, hassle free and has no side effects such as weight gain or mood swings!! i love it!!

I have it and I like it I have only had it since November of last year so about 5 months now and I only have random spotting after about a month of consistant spotting. I had a little bit of pain/cramping but not until a few hours after; the actual insertion did not bother me. The cramping for me was easy to get through nothing major. I have thus far had a good experience and should you choose to proceed I hope you do as well.

I will however tell you my girlfriend did not enjoy it and had hers removed 2 months later. Her body had a hard time getting used to the implant and she had a light period the entire time and she said it "just hurt". To each thier own.

P.S. My boyfriend doesnt feel the string or is bothered by it at all, my doctor said some men feel the string during intercourse and are bothered by it.

I'm on my 3rd year of having the Mirena & it's no big deal compared to the pill. With the pill I was gaining 10 pounds a year & always had headaches. With the Mirena it's just there -can't feel a thing - doesn't effect the rest of my body.

The longer you have it the less period you get. My OB tells me I'm one of the lucky ones who rarely gets her period anymore. That's the best thing!!

It's just one less thing to worry about in your normal day to day life!