Changing pills ... thinking about Mirena

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Changing pills ... thinking about Mirena
10
Sat, 04-29-2006 - 7:19pm

Hi everyone!

At the ripe old age of 23 I have been told I "technically" have epilepsy - not severe, but I've now had two tonic-clonic seizures with no apparent cause. So now I'm trying to find an anticonvulsant that works for me, and quite a few of them seem to interfere with oral contraceptives. Because Alesse is of lower hormones than other pills, anticonvulsant use for me did not just mean going back to condoms again (woohoo, right?) but it also caused me to start bleeding at the beginning of my third week of active pills, and sometimes bleed for 2 weeks instead of just one (although right now, in my off week, I haven't bled at all. I guess it all came out last week, but it's a little disconcerting). I've since switched anticonvulsants, and am waiting to see how this new one affects my cycles. But I hate all this bleeding, I hate carrying tampons around with me "just in case," I don't like using condoms at all because they tend to hurt me, and given how many other awful side effects I have from these drugs, dealing with bleeding for 14 days a month is just not what i want to be doing right now.

My gyne, who is fairly liberal and holistic, actually suggested Mirena to me even though I am young and have not had children - apparently he doesn't mind inserting it in younger women who have not carried children, and he considers me a good candidate because I have never had an STD, I'm in a stable, long-term relationship, and the likelihood of me coming off the interfering drugs is slim for at least a few years. I am leaning towards doing it, but my insurance will not cover it and I've already paid a whole lot of money out of pocket due to the seizures and subsequent hospital/doctor visits and need to have the money to do it, first. In the meantime, he's given me several months worth of Yasmin to use to try to solve the irregular bleeding problem. I used Yasmin for a few months several years ago, to see if it would increase my libido. It didn't. But that had more to do with the fact that I wasn't with a very good partner. Anyway, I didn't mind Yasmin, it seemed okay - but after being on Alesse for almost five years, with just that one exception, I'm quite sad to say goodbye to it!! Has anyone else ever been sad to change Pills, or am I crazy?

Here are my questions about Mirena:

1) Did your insurance cover Mirena and insertion?
2) Anyone else with epilepsy here? How did it affect your birth control plans?
3) Did anyone here with Mirena or who has used Mirena have it inserted without having first had children?

I've read quite a lot of the posts about Mirena, and have learned a lot. If anyone has any other "you wouldn't know this unless you've tried it" advice before I decide to do it, let me know!

As I am starting to make more decisions about my birth control, and also to have more free time, I am here to visit the board again. Jill and Judie, I'm so glad you both are still here!

Sorry for the novel ... thanks to anyone who responds!

Caitlin

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Sat, 04-29-2006 - 8:46pm

Hi Caitlin,


      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-02-2004
Sat, 04-29-2006 - 9:45pm

Hey Caitlin,

I'm 22, have no children, and have a Mirena. I was on the pill for 7 years before I switched, and at the time I was kind of wary going off of them. I really do think it was the best decision I have made in terms of birth control, and I wish I had gotten it sooner. The insertion was quite painful for me, I had very bad cramps (just like really awful period cramps), but that only lasted a day.

Thankfully my insurance covered it 100%.

Good luck with whatever decision you make.

Allison

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-12-2002
Sun, 04-30-2006 - 9:10am

>>>1) Did your insurance cover Mirena and insertion?
>>>2) Anyone else with epilepsy here? How did it affect your birth control plans?
>>>3) Did anyone here with Mirena or who has used Mirena have it inserted without having first had children?

1) I live in New Zealand, so things are different here. I got my Mirena for free, because the bleeding problems I had on Depo made me a special case - that and every other bc pill I'd tried, combined and progesterone, didn't agree with me for one reason or another, so this was my last option.

2) Sorry, I don't have epilepsy, so i can't help you there.

3) I don't have any children. I was under a light general for a hysteroscopy when they inserted my Mirena, so I didn't feel the procedure. I just had the general cramping for a couple of days that most people experience, and after that no issues. Most doctors don't like to insert IUDs into women that haven't had children because the cervix hasn't been stretched from childbirth, and because the uterus has never had a foreign object (i.e. foetus), there is a slightly higher risk of expulsion.

I hope you can get some more help from other people about birth control and epilepsy.

Good luck

Janet

 


 


iVillage Member
Registered: 01-26-2005
Sun, 04-30-2006 - 11:48am

1) Did your insurance cover Mirena and insertion?
The insertion "fee" was just the copay I pay for an office visit $10--I had to pay for the IUD first $400 and file papers to be paid back by my insurance company

I've had it for about 3 years now.I haven't had a period in about 2 years now.The first year I had heavier/longer periods that got shorter and shorter each month.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-21-2005
Mon, 05-01-2006 - 9:00am

I just wanted to throw out there that planned parenthood can insert IUDs and charges on a sliding scale based on your income, so it might be a way to go as far as lowering the cost is concerned.

Also, I'm 24 and childless and have used minera. So, I don't think it is really a big deal that you don't have any kids yet.

Just my two cents, good luck with whatever you choose!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Mon, 05-01-2006 - 8:17pm

Thanks everyone ... it's good to know other people (even my age!) without kids have used Mirena successfully.

I also didn't know Mirena had a payment plan, Jill, that was helpful. I'm going to call my insurance company on Wednesday (my day off) and see if/how it's covered and go from there.

Thanks to all!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Tue, 05-02-2006 - 7:40am

I'm glad to see you too!

Judie Cl for Birth Control 
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Tue, 05-02-2006 - 7:48pm

Hey Judie!

What a great suggestion! It'd be sooo much easier to deal with the irregular bleeding! I actually didn't know there was a different type of cup other than Instead ... I'd LOVE to try Diva, I really like the idea of these kinds of things being "recyclable." (I'm a nut, I know.) Diva's website actually says it can be worn with an IUD, because it's worn lower in the vaginal canal, but I know you can't use Instead with an IUD, because it's closer to the cervix. Knowing this, even with Diva rather than Instead, I don't know how comfortable I'd feel using Mirena *and* the cup ... I guess if I do try Mirena, I'll just take a few months to get used to it before I try Diva (of course, if my periods stop with Mirena like I'm hoping, the whole issue wouldn't be a problem). And if I don't get Mirena, I'll definitely try Diva, probably a lot sooner. ... thanks for the tip! It honestly hadn't even crossed my mind ...

Caitlin

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Wed, 05-03-2006 - 7:20am

Jill suggested it to me when I was worrying about the return of heavier periods (from coming off of Nuvaring), I hadn't done more than just casually think about menstrual cups before, since my periods have been so light for the past several years, but all of the stuff going to the landfill makes me think too. ;)


One of the cool things about the Diva (besides that you can insert it before work and not mess with it again until you come home) is that it's graduated on the inside so that you can see how heavy your flow is.

Judie Cl for Birth Control 
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-20-2000
Fri, 05-05-2006 - 5:37pm

HI Caitlyn,


I'm 26 and had the Mirena IUD inserted in December of last year. I have never had children, but because I'm married and monogamous and do not want children for about five years, my doctor suggested that Mirena may be the way to go for me.


The insertion was very painful for me, but it only lasts for a couple minutes. I felt woozy for a bit afterwards, but the next day I was back to normal feeling.


The Mirena has helped to lighten up my periods. They are so easy and so light now.


My insurance covered the Mirena but only because I had met my deductible for the year. If I had not met my deductible, it would not have been covered. So I'm thankful for that!


So far, I love the Mirena! It is so great. I don't feel it. I have lighter periods. I don't have to take a pill every day. And it's saved me money in the long run.


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