October 4th
2008
10:04 AM
I have had the Mirena implant for over two years now and I was so happy at first to find a way to have sex with my boyfriend without a condom or the risk of pregnancy. How many times and in how many ways must we realize that we cannot have our cake and eat it too? Sex was once something that almost always resulted in pregnancy. Now that we have the technology to have sex any time anywhere without the consequence of guaranteed pregnancy we forget what a striking contradiction this behavior is to the biological purpose of sex. Of course sex is incredibly enjoyable but, despite the theme of excess encouraged in our modern life, we must really consider the cost of employing these methods that allow us to have it irresponsibly. I speak from experience that my motivation to get the Mirena was not to have sex with anyone anytime anywhere but to have the freedom to do so, within the relationship that I was in, was something I found liberating. Now, two years later, I'm looking down at rapidly shedding hair on the keyboard as I write this. I have always had thin hair but in much more abundance. This, however, was not my first concern, nor was the acne, or itchy scalp. My first concern was that I stopped having my period completely within months of getting the implant. I made an appointment to see a Gynecologist at Planned Parenthood, where I had the IUD implanted for free, to discuss my apprehension that this was an unnatural side effect. She proceeded to define for me what "natural" was by retracing the history of woman and childbirth and how before birth control woman spent most of their childbearing and sexually active years in some state of pregnancy and so suffered this rather than regular periods. Surely I was thankful that this was not the case with my life and readily accepted her definition of "natural' as one who does not experience monthly periods. She went on to say that the body is exhausted by the duty of expelling unused egg after unused egg month after month. I left feeling that much more convinced I was doing the right thing for my body and my sex life.
Of course I was skeptical of her ulterior motives, working at a free clinic, her social responsibility is to get every woman that walks through her door on some form of birth control. Like every other pleasure we have the opportunity to enjoy in excess, condom free sex can become addicting. I do not look forward to using prophylactics in the future, what I do look forward to is having the drive to seek a mate. My sexual motivation has become as paper thin as my hair after two years with the device. I must admit that these side effects, along with acne, dry scalp, and depression, have not asserted themselves until now. One year ago I was in a very sexually satisfying relationship and cannot say that at the time I was lacking sex drive due to the implant. However, I was also not losing hair by the handful at that time. Is it my fear of going bald that is expediting the process of my IUD removal or is it that I truly believe the hormonal repercussion of suppressing my ability to become pregnant is directly related to my loss of sexual/romantic ambition? Surely it’s both since my chances of finding a mate as an asexual bald woman are highly unlikely, regardless of my ability to offer condom free sex. If my theory is correct and my drive to seek a mate with whom I can share the great human gift of physical and emotional intimacy returns along with my hair, after removing the Mirena device I will have to explore the alternatives to birth control. There is the cycle method where you map out the times of the month you are most and least likely to become pregnant. I hear there’s a male birth control out there, though I wouldn’t wish the side effects, such as woman experience, on them. The suppression of male sexual ambition might lead to the very collapse of civilization. And of course I will have to embrace the condom and I’m sure they’re getting thinner and more effective every day, or at least I hope so.
November 10th
2008
11:12 PM
I just recently had the mirena iud inserted. Oct 30 2008. 3 months after having my first child under a normal vaginal delivery. When I have asked my doctor regarding any side affects he stated that women may have heavy bleeding the first 6 months/ and that after those 6 months that your periods will actually disappear.
The first week that I had the mirena in, I began bleeding almost instantly. Blood clots the size of my closed fist came out of my body from the uterine wall I suppose. I went through a super tampon/ and a pad in an hour and a half. ( I am one of those women who normally use a super tampon maybe once in a while/ normally a reg. size does the job) This bleeding has not stopped since the mirena was inserted.
Looking at a computer screen is part of my daily routine at work. It seems as though my eyes feel blurry through out the day as I am working. Towards the end of the day I can barely stand to look at it. This has never happened to me before. It is almost like I want to turn all lights off and sit in the dark, with no noise(headaches).
Of course sex drive is at the all time low. Who is in the mood to go for it when you are bleeding with a terrible headache?
The first few nights I had a horrible time falling asleep and staying asleep.
Well... at this point I have had headaches... all day for a week now. My head hurts like someone is pounding it against a wall. I have not had a headache in years. My stomach has been upset/ feeling as though I may have to throw up.
I am afraid that I may start seeing the other symptoms that ladies have talked about.
-- By melis657 | Reply | (9) replies | Private Message meWhen you had the symptoms did they all happen at once or one at a time over different time periods?