Mirena Pros and Cons - Birmingham,AL

I didn't like it. l gained weight on it and couldn't loss any weight. I recently had it removed so I could have another baby and the doctor told me that if I don't start my period in two months and am not pregnant I would have to be put on medicine because the mirena thinned out my uterus. It upsets me that I might have to be put on medicine in order to help get pregnant. Between my two children I used paragard iud and loved it. There are no hormones with it and after having it removed I got pregnant a month later.

I am getting mine removed on Wednesday, thank God! After losing almost all of the baby weight, I just got stuck....and have actually gained 10 pounds, even though I excercise, eat right, etc. I also have been having horrible headaches, my hair is so dry and shedding, I can't remember anything anymore, and am extremely moody. On the other hand, I have several friends who LOVE it and have had no problems at all! I have had mine almost two years, and all of these problems crept up slowly.

Mirena works by giving your body progestin (fake progesterone) to stop you from ovulating. The BIG PROBLEM is that taking fake progesterone stops your ovaries from making real progesterone. Studies have shown that this increases your chances of breast cancer by 540%! No, that was not a typo! Not only that but it also increases your chances of death from all types of cancer by 1,000%! Definitely not worth the risk!

Some of the effects of low progesterone: (Migraines, low libido, fluid retention and weight gain, mood swings, ovarian cysts, severe cramps, irregular cycles, etc. The list goes on and on)
Low progesterone is very dangerous to women, extremely low progesterone caused by taking progestin is a HUGE risk no woman should take!
I recommend Dr. Hotze's book, Hormones, Health, and Happiness for more information.

Lilpiggietoes is right - you should search for Mirena and read all the questions posted. There are MANY!

With that said, I will share my personal experience with you.
Pros:
No period
No pill popping (forgetting) or shots
Doesn't hurt going in (or coming out)

Cons:
Bleeding & spotting for first two months after insertion
Weight gain
Loss of libido
Mood swings

I only had mine for about a year and I had it removed. I should have gotten the Paraguard with no hormones - but I'm done with birth control (it was eating at my conscience anyway b/c I'm catholic).
If you have bad reactions to other birth control with hormones then this will probably be no different. Have you thought about NFP (natural family planning)?

I can't speak for anyone else but when i had it in I lost big chunks of hair and could NOT lose any weight - not even an ounce (no exaggeration) - but on the plus side - no periods at all.

I couldn't stand the balding and weight issues so I had it removed - within a week or so i had lost a pound w/out even trying - this was after 4 months of dieting/exercising like a crazy person.

If you've ever been on Depo-Provera it's the same hormone...I didn't know this so heads up.

Good luck!

I had Mirena and loved it. Pros- I had no periods after a few months and no worries about taking anything. Cons- change in odor, but wasn't a bad odor.
When I was ready to try for another, it was removed easily and I got pregnant quicker than usual (11 eleven years between 1 and 2).

First of all it doesn't contain a lot of hormone and it doesn't stop all women from ovulating. It was a very small percentage that stopped ovulating. I have had my mirena for almost 3 years and I love it. I don't have a period but I do still get the mood swings that come along with PMS. I love not having to worry about birth control and taking pills or doing the shots. I had a lot of problems with both of them. Good luck in making your decision!!

This question about the use of Mirena is asked weekly,go to the "search bar type in Mirena" & search all those posts maybe you can decide to get it or not after reviewing them.