Anyone on/ tried the Mirena IUD

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Anyone on/ tried the Mirena IUD
2
Thu, 07-08-2004 - 8:37pm
I am pregnant with my second baby and due in Novemeber and am looking for a type of birth control that will work for me. Neither one of my children were "planned".
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iVillage Member
Registered: 11-25-2003
Fri, 07-09-2004 - 7:20am
I am using Mirena, and have been for 2 weeks. Normally I react badly to progesterones, but so far after a couple of days of being a little tearful (which was due to PMT anyway!) I've not had any symptoms that are a problem for me. My PMT was a couple of days instead of a week or two. I've been a bit spottier but that's due to my PCOS mainly anyway, and after a week my skin is calming down a great deal and it's almost back to normal again (still a bit spotty but nothing a bit of makeup can't hide!).

My period at the moment is lighter than usual and the pains stopped after CD4 (on CD8 now and it's heaven, I can't believe I have a period that is actually light and doesn't hurt!). My periods used to be so so heavy and so incredibly painful that for a minimum of a week, usually 2 weeks and sometimes more every month, I was unable to lead a proper life.

Insertion was incredibly uncomfortable, though the pain wasn't any worse than my normal period pain (although that in itself used to be really quite bad!). I've no idea if my pains were as bad as labour pain (I was warned they might be) as I've never been pregnant. I didn't have any anaesthetic at all, insertion was relatively quick. About as bad as a pap smear to be honest.

The hormones in Mirena make your periods lighter, and because they're lighter the pain chemicals (prostaglandins) don't build up (they normally do as the womb lining builds up), so the pain is reduced too. Your first couple of periods might be heavier than normal, or you might be one of the women who just has lots of spotting for a couple of months following insertion.

To be honest I think of my Mirena as a life saver, my periods stopped me living a proper life before and it isn't just birth control to me.

Good luck with your pregnancy and birth.

~Lys~


Edited 7/9/2004 7:22 am ET ET by nemo01
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Fri, 07-09-2004 - 12:09pm
HI! I've had the MIRENA for about 11 months and absolutely love it.The first few months after I had it my periods were heavier than normal and lasted 2 weeks and came 2 weeks apart (somewhat normal).But each month after that they got lighter and lighter-up until this month I would just spot for a few days and that was it-this month I haven't had a period at all.I went from using a double pack of kotex overnights pads to using a few pantiliners each month.WOW-I love that part.It wasn't too painful being put it but it did hurt a little-I felt LOTS of pressure.I cramped for that day and a few days after but ibuprofen helped that part.For some women the mirena can stop periods after you've had it in for a while.This is the first month that I haven't had a period at all....After a little worry I took a test just to be sure and it came back negative.So I'm happy about that.The mirena's good for 5 years and when it's time to replace I plan on getting another one.It's a little costly ($400+) and I had to pay upfront and let my insurance pay me back...but it was worth it.Have your dr cut the strings short.My dh can't feel it.GOOD LUCK!!!

www.mirena.com/