mirena, seasonique, periods

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-10-2007
mirena, seasonique, periods
5
Tue, 04-24-2007 - 12:57am

My gyn told me that Mirena will make my periods much lighter, and might even eliminate them over time. Have any of you found this to be true? I read that there can be lots of spotting in the first 3 - 6 months with Mirena.

I also read, on the seasonique website, that periods will not be reduced in the first year of use, and that spotting and irregular bleeding can occur. Have any of you found this to be true?

I'm currently on Ovcon 35, a traditional monophasic (21 active, 7 inactive) pill. If I'm more interested in having predictable periods, is this the best option to stay with, especially since I can just take extra weeks of it to delay my period when I need to?

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-18-2006
Tue, 04-24-2007 - 7:48am

I had Mirena placed on Feb 2, 07. I had spotting off and on for about 6 weeks. I only started my first period 2 days ago and it's super light. Barely enough to be called a period. I do know some women who spotted longer then I did. Some days it was only once or twice when I wiped and some days I had to wear a panty liner. It wasn't enough to interfere with my sex life except at the beginning.

-Mel


iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Tue, 04-24-2007 - 10:07pm

Are your periods not predictable with Ovcon? Or do you just want to have fewer periods? If it's just that you've got irregular bleeding, you can try a different pill with less estrogen or a stronger progestin potency, that often helps with irregular bleeding.

Many women who start extended-cycle pills (Seasonale and Seasonique) will have irregular bleeding for the first several months to a year. when you lengthen the time that you take active pills, you are developing more and more of the lining of your uterus. You need a certain amount of progestin to maintain what you have (so that you don't have bleeding), and once you get more lining than you're providing the progestin to support, you'll have bleeding.

I believe the statistic for women who stop having periods with Mirena might be around 50%, but I don't recall exactly. Some women have bleeding, some don't, you'd have to see how things went for you after you had one inserted.

I hope that helps, if we can help please let us know!

Judie
Co-cl for Birth Control
Judie Cl for Birth Control 
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-20-2000
Tue, 04-24-2007 - 11:02pm

Hi there,


Here's been my experience with the Mirena. After I had it inserted, I went on to have normal periods and no issues with spotting beyond the first week following insertion. I've had my normal (but lighter periods) for the last year and a half - that's how long I've had the Mirena - but THIS very month, I just had a little spotting for literally two days, and I'm pretty sure that was my period. I think I'm finally coming to the point where I'm going to stop having periods... any month now.


I've loved the Mirena!


Photobucket
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-10-2007
Wed, 04-25-2007 - 2:47pm

Thank you for the info, everyone! I love iVillage!

Dear Judie,

I like the Ovcon (monophasic) pills because it provides very predictable menstruation, but I want fewer periods. That's what led me, initially, to look at Seasonique/Seasonale, but then my gyn said the Mirena could do the same thing.

If I've been on the monophasic pills for several years without problems (no spotting, no irregular periods), would I have an easier time switching to either the seasonale-type pills or the mirena--in other words, would I have a better chance at skipping the irregularity/spotting phase?

Thanks so much for any advice!

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Wed, 04-25-2007 - 5:41pm

Hi goddess_luvitall,


      Jill