IUD -- What did it do to your period?

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-24-2003
IUD -- What did it do to your period?
4
Sat, 10-09-2004 - 4:07pm
Baby #2 is 3 days old and I'm already starting to think about birth control. I really don't want anything hormonal but am considering the Mirena IUD anyway.

I'm just wondering how getting an IUD affected your period...did it make it heavier, lighter, non-existent?

I'd love to hear IUD experiences...

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Sat, 10-09-2004 - 4:33pm
I've had the mirena for a little over a year now and all in all I'm very happy with this choice.It was pricey-I had to pay $400 out of pocket and file for my insurance to pay me back(100%-but still a hassle) so you might want to see how and what your insurance will pay for the mirena-if you have that option....the first 3 months of having the IUD my periods were heavier and lasted 16+ days and came 2 weeks apart....after that they settled down to just once a month.Each month they got lighter and lighter to at about 8-9 months I just basicly spotted for a week.Now at over a year it's like 1-2 days of spotting.I went from using a double pack of kotex overnights pads to using a few pantiliners each month.I recently went 10 weeks w/o having a period-but then spotted 16 days to make up for it....not too bad just annoying.good luck
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-11-2004
Sat, 10-09-2004 - 4:51pm
I've had a Mirena IUD for over two months now. My first period was so light I didn't need anything more than pantiliners. I used to go through several tampons a day. My second period was even lighter, so I'm hopeful that in time they may go away completely.

Mirena has only progesterone in it, no estrogen, and the amount of hormones in Mirena is very low. They are released directly into the uterus so very little of gets into your bloodstream. I had serious problems with side effects on birth control pills, but no problems with Mirena at all.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-14-2004
Sat, 10-09-2004 - 7:45pm
I've had Mirena since 8/30 and haven't had a period since. I was ending mine when I got it inserted. I am also coming off bcp's after 11yrs so I'm not sure if that has anything to do with it but I pray for it to stay like this. I love my mirena. So far so good with no problems. Insertion was painful but I don't have children. 15 mins of cramps afterward & nothing since. I better go find some wood to knock on! LOL! Good luck with your decision......B
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-04-2003
Sun, 10-10-2004 - 1:48pm
I just got my non-hormonal copper IUD just over a month ago and just has my first period with it. The first 3 days were very heavy flow for me and I needed to use the super tampons. (I usually only need the regular size for a few days and then mini for the rest.) But after those first 3 days, I switched to mini's and all was fine. And it has even ended on time. It was quite normal.


I hope that with over time it will get a bit ligher, but I am not sure if it will stop all together because I don't have any hormones in me like the Mirena does.


But I am really happy with my IUD!