Heavy painful periods symptoms and conditions

Hi everyone ~ I am so glad I have found all of you. I have an appt today to have the Mirena placed. I highly considering canceling the appt now. I have read probably 98% bad and only 2% good. can anyone help me decide what I should do? I was having it placed for my heavy, painful menses, the birth control is/was a bonus feature. really? I shouldn't do this eh? someone please respond.

I got Mirena after my second baby and thought it was FANTASTIC! I never even started my period back and there seemed to be no side effects and no weight gain. I was worried about side effects because my libido plummeted with BC pills but the Dr. told me that it is such a tiny amount of hormones and it is delivered so locally that I shouldn't have any problems.
I've always had about two to three Migraines with aura a year tops. But about three months with Mirena I started having one, two, or three a month with no meds helping. I tried everything and finally I got my Mirena out. The following month I had three migraines and thought I was back to square one. But then they went away. I haven't had one in four months! I think that the hormones took a while to get into my system and then took a while to get out. I'm now using Paraguard and although I have heavy painful periods at least I can take meds for it and there are no hormones!

What a MISTAKE! I had my dreadful Mirena INSTALLED September 2. My doctor had me convinced this was the answer to my prayers. It was suppose to control my heavy painful periods. I was not using it for birth control. Unfortunately the effects were exactly the opposite. I have a very high pain tolerance, but when I got home from the dr. office the pain was more like labor pains than menstrual cramps. When the excessive bleeding, cramping, bloating, lower back pain persisted I started to look for answers. I was so grateful to find this site! It has been pure torture trying to live with this thing in me. I am happy to share I just had it removed. I only lasted 15 days! My husband came with me because he has never seen me so weak, in pain, dizzy and light headed. All symptoms from the excessive amount of blood loss. I am confident that the women who shared their stories truly helped me to make the right decision today. Thank you

I am booked in next month to have a mirena inserted due to heavy bleeding having fibroids, causing anemia but I don't think i can go through with it after reading all you stories
thanks for sharing them with us, you think the doctors and nursed would

I am aged 42 and I have never had children.
I had my first Mirena inserted in November 2002. I had heavy and painful periods plus I wanted birth control, so Mirena was recommended by my GP. The insertion procedure was sort of painful, but not too bad. I had random cramping and spotting for about 2 years, but after that my periods were barely there. If you had asked me then how I felt I would have said 'fine'. But looking back over the years I can see that I also was suffering from some weight gain, headaches, anxiety and depression. It was mild enough though that I didn't really think it was the Mirena. At that time I was doing a degree at uni plus I was in an unhealthy relationship, so I thought it was down to that. Regardless, I would say that my experience of Mirena (the first time around) was ok.

Then in September 2008 I had the Mirena removed because the 5 year removal date was here. I was feeling fatigued and 'out of balance' anyway so I decided to NOT have another one put in straight away. I wanted try to get 'back in balance' first. When I first had it out I had a mild period that lasted about 2 months. Then after that my periods were regular (and normal), on a 30 day cycle and I am certain that I was ovulating (I was using condoms as contraception). Then after about 9 months of not having the Mirena in, my periods suddenly became heavy and painful. I endured two more heavy painful periods again. It was then that I decided to have a new Mirena put in.

In May 2009, I had a new coil fitted. The insertion procedure was painful and it popped back out almost immediately while I was still on the GP's table. I was told that, although rare, this occasionally happens. So GP discarded that first coil, then had the pharmacy deliver another one. So I waited and waited on the table, then when coil #2 arrived it was inserted with quite a lot of pain. I had mild spotting for about 3 days which then increased more and more until I was bleeding semi heavily. This went on for almost two months. GP told me to 'ride it out' or 'let it settle'. So I waited. During this time (and almost immediatly after it was put in) my hair started falling out...a lot...in clumps. My hair is so thin now! I also have been experiencing weight gain, very bad anxiety, depression and rage/anger/irritability. I am fatigued, can't sleep, have restless legs, back pain, joint pain...and even dizziness, nausea and vomiting! I feel like a train wreck. I also had a blood test and came back that I am now anaemic. My thyroid levels normal.

Ten days ago I had the Mirena taken out. I have been experiencing very heavy bleeding with very large clots ever since...and there has been NO changes so far in any of my symptoms. GP says its normal process when getting 'back in balance' and didn't seem too concerned. I'm still bleeding and still miserable.

I'm just wondering why it was so easy the first time and not so easy this time. What has changed? I was mid 30's when I had the first one put in. I am 42 now...maybe I'm perimenopause or something and my hormones are different. Who knows. I can say though...it really sucks and I totally empathize with everyone else who is in the same boat. Hugs everybody.

I had been taking Femcon since March 2008 when my doctor switched me because of my girly issues. I actually started taking BC about 8 years ago because of very very heavy painful periods that lasted 20 days and would make me bed rest for 2-3 days. (I took Yasmin for 6 years and looooved it until i got use to it and my periods started returning to their old self about 5 years in). Femcon seemed like a great thing to take and actually worked wonders until December 2008. At that point my doctor recommended me taking the pills nonstop to see if that would help control my bleeding and regulate my hormones. About January... lets say 12th, i started having SEVER diarrhea... im talking like 4-10 times a day. I became severely dehydrated and i, on a normal day drink at least 3 liters of water and no other fluids. This continued until about 2 weeks ago i stopped taking my pills and have now switched to the DEPO shot.. ALL DIARRHEA has stopped... the stomach cramps and everything... before i was living on Imodium when i had plans or was out of town and now... i have a huge bottle and have not used any in a while....

OMG!!! This is crazy! I was put on Yaz continuously to help with my heavy painful periods. About 3 days after starting it I went for some allergy testing. That night I started itching like crazy...all over my body. The next day I called the allergist to ask if this was a normal response and he told me that it wasn't from the testing and to take some Benadryl. The next day I started having these massive heart palpitations and feeling like I was going to pass out...still itching non-stop. This went on for a week until I finally called my GYN's office to see if it was possible that the pill could be causing this. They told me to stop it immediately as I could be having an allergic reaction. Within days of stopping the pill I was symptom free! Out of curiosity and desperation for relief of some of my period symptoms...I waited a cycle and started YAZ again. I have now been on it about a month. 2 weeks into it...the itching started again...but not as bad,..but now the heart palpitations are back...and worse! Yesterday my heart rate was 138 and lasted for a good 10 minutes. I have an appt, to see my primary in 2 days to just get checked and make sure that nothing else is going on. I can't believe that you all are experiencing this...I'm opting for the IUD now. Good Luck to all of you!

I am 26 and started taking this pill last month on the first day of my period per Docs orders. I bled through the whole pack of pills so basically for a month straight!! I was very very tired, moody, zero sex dive and had a shooting pain down the front of my right calf that would happen on and off. I started FEMCON FE for heavy painful periods but took myself right off after these horrible side effects. After a week or so off of them I had a horrible anxiety attack that lasted days. I literally thought I was going crazy. Scared me so bad I am going to see a therapist this week. I have had minor anxiety in the past but nothing like this. I DO NOT like this BC and am staying away from it all.

I had my Mirena IUD inserted in 2005, age 41, and was extremely happy with it at first. I'd begun to have heavy, painful periods for the first time in my life -- they immediately lightened up and the cramps went away.

I have a LOT of hair, so it took me more than 6 months to notice that it was falling out. The first time I noticed, I thought my hairdresser had thinned my hair out too much. Then I noticed fuzz growing out of the crown of my head which I'd never seen before. My hairdresser said, "Use more product." I went to a more expensive salon and consulted the owner, who said, "You're over 40. It's the menopause."

A year later, still losing hair, I got bloodwork done. My hormone profile was normal (no menopause). My thyroid was normal. I blamed the hair loss on stress.

I have now lost HALF of my hair, and finally decided to Google "Mirena hair loss". It was a nasty shock. My IUD will be removed in 10 days, and I will be changing to a different gynecologist.

I've read that as many as 1 in 20 women (5 percent) experience severe hair loss with Mirena; a poster on another website says she found this information on the manufacturer's own website, but it was soon taken down and replaced with anodyne language about "changes in hair growth".

I had Mirena placed in August 2007. My daughter was born in February of '07 but I waited a while before deciding on what type of bc I would use. I never imagined all the crap I've been through was because of this IUD. I've wondered why after taking a shower, there's still an odor down there. I've wondered why the stupid little things most husbands do really enrages me. I've wondered why I have felt depressed...and now I know. Those are only just a few things that I haven't been able to explain since our daughter was born. I honestly don't know if I can blame the weight gain on the Mirena, but it's worth taking it out to see if a diet will actually work for me. I'm glad this forum is here and I wish I had found something like this before having the Mirena placed. I've also had a lot of yeast infections for no good reason which is why I decided to look up side effects of the Mirena and found that so many women have had all the issues that I've been having. I guess I just shouldn't have messed with mother nature. My husband and I still don't know if we're going to have anymore kids so I don't want to do anything permanent and I can not, for the life of me, remember to take a pill. So I guess it's going to have to be condoms for us until we decide no more and then we'll decide on something permanent. I'm sorry all of you ladies experienced these problems but I'm glad you have shared them because it definitely sheds some light on things for me. I will be making an appointment very soon to have mine removed. Thank you, ladies.

I know how everyone of you feel, every side effect you have mentioned I have had. My Mirena was put in Dec 2007, was my last effort to stop the many years of heavy, painful periods and of course birth control. I have recently learned I have a cyst on each ovary 2.7 left side & 4.2 right side. March 05 I was tested for endometris, was negative, saw the results from this test recently there was a cyst on each ovary in the 2's. Any of you that read the small print on the articles for advertisement you will see it states cyst can develop with use but will go away after removal. In my case they were already there but my doctor still put it in without ever considering the cyst already there and what could happen. Did the Mirena cause it to grow? Will probably never know the answer. Either way I have to have the cysts removed, and maybe if I am lucky I won't lose the right one, they are concerned with the size. This is the OB/Gyn office that I have been with for 14 years and delivered both of my kids that suggested I get the Mirena. With everything that has happened I can not trust them and I have seeked other doctors to fix my now bigger problem.

It was such a relief to read side effects experienced by so many ladies, i was begining to believe i was loosing the plot!!! what with mood swings, nausia,headaches,stabbing pains,and much more.... I had the mirena fitted about 8 months ago for heavy painful periods which i have had for as long as i can remember so the thought of normality and freedom was heaven. also not having to go through anymore trial and error medication taking seemed to good to be true. I really thought mirena was my answer...(Oh How Wrong)..... Iv had enough of all these horrible feelings and was about to go to my GP for a prescription for something to treat depression, im normally quite a level headed person but i couldn't explain the feelings i was having. I decided to look on the internet for side effects of mirena and hey presto here i am!!!! what a relief i actually did because instead of taking another prescription away with me i hope to be getting this foriegn body removed ASAP... before Mirena my specialist told me my other option was a hysterectomy im not sure what this procedure involves for me but at this moment my priority is getting this thing out!.

Hi everyone.Ive been on Yasmin now for 10months due to really bad heavy painful periods.I wasn't at all happy about going on it as i have tried different ones in the past and gained a lot of weight, but as this was my last chance in trying something to stop the bad periods or get pregnant as I wasn't in the right place to do that I had to give in and try it.I was told that I wouldn't gain that much weight,just a couple of pounds.But i have put so much weight on.About a stone in weight.And i work out 3/5days a week.And it doesn't matter how hard I try I cant seem to shift the weight which is really upsetting.I decided today that i would do some research on it as i know somethings not right with my body.My boobs have grown so much bigger and are so very much painful.My legs are swollen,my calf muscles really hurt when i exercise.As I use to be a dancer I have always had good legs muscles and ive always exercises so I knew it wasn't because of that.I became very moody,tired,insomnia,dizzy,head aches which I hardly ever got before and very snappish.I didn't want 2 do anything.I became very depressed about my body and life in general.Crying all the time.My doctor put me on anti-depressants and even though ive chilled out a lot more,everything else remains the same.You just know your own body,and ive known for sometime that taking this pill wasn't doing me any good.It may have stopped the painful heavy periods but at what cost!!! To have even more problems then you had before.I was reashured by my doctor who may I add was a gynecologist for 18years,told me it was the best one and hardly any side effects.Yeah right what a frigging joke.Im so unhappy about my self,and my life.Oh and you guest it,no sex drive.This pill has to be taken off the market.They haven't a clue how bad this is and what effect and long term damages its doing to us women.As im going to see my G.P tomorrow im going to be taken off it.Im so happy I found this web site.I thought I was going mad,and had a weird body.I just hope that when I do come off it that I don't go back to the bad heavy painful periods as it got to the point that i was on the floor and couldn't get up I was in that much pain that I couldn't take it anymore.I think thats why i have stayed on it for so long as im afraid of going threw all that pain again.So if anybody else out there reading this knows if theres any other way to stop it from happening again without taking the pill or having the injection or coil put in, please write back to me and let me know.
Samantha Blake from Blackpool.aged 24.

I had this fitted 4 months ago now. I have two boys 6 and 3 since my periods started I suffered heavy painful periods which has been found to be endometriosis! once this was fitted its been like heaven on one part, as my periods are very light and I don't get that awful dragging feeling , but the other part I'm very, very irritated (I'm picking arguments for stupid things and want to kick my boyfriend out) feel very lazy can't be bothered a lot of the time but I used to being up and out all the time doing things! feel some what depressed had really painful breasts the other day for about 4 days they ended up rock hard and huge like i'd not long given birth! or had a boob job!
I've had headaches which my doctor told me to go for an eye test but that was fine my mum has noticed this and has said all this is to do with mirena I'm willing to persist a couple more weeks myself but I think by then I'll of had more suicidal thoughts

Just an update about the class action suit discussed previously, and Aamaya had provided us with the Florida attorney, Justin Wikin: I got a letter in the mail yesterday stating that they would not be pursuing suit against them. They said that they deal mainly with wrongful death cases and it does not mean that the case does not have merit, just that it is not their specialty. I will be doing some research here locally in Ohio to see if I can locate a practice to pursue this. If anyone comes up with something, please let us all know.

hi, I am a just turned 40 year old woman in the UK. Had the Mirena coil fitted in March 2006 and, yes, it was incredibly painful! Had it inserted due to heavy painful periods and it worked a treat for 18 months. Already have two children and now with a new partner, thinking I would like to at least try for another baby. Had the mirena removed at the beginning of Jan '08 and though I suffered cramps etc. for about a week, still to this day have not had a period. Worrying that I may be menopausal :-( Has anyone else had a menstrual delay like this through having the mirena coil removed? Thanks - Downhearted

I'm so glad I have decided to look into Mirena side effects. I had mine fitted 13 months ago due to heavy, painful periods. I've tried many types of pill but have had reactions to most and my Gynie thought that Mirena would be the best way to go. To start off with I would agree. All my menstrual problems have gone. However I have traded them for a list of other symptoms. I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease four years ago. For the past 9 months I have had fatigue, joint pain, weight gain, mood swings, irrational irritability, headaches, feeling light headed (now I written this all down it seems obvious that it is hormonal anyway...) and I thought I had been miss diagnosed and that I had chron's disease. I have had lengthy investigations (blood work, colonoscopy) which have produced nothing and I still feel terrible. I hadn't thought about my Mirena until talking it through with a friend and putting two and two together. I'm going to make an appointment with my Gynie on Monday to get it removed. Thank you everyone for your posts. i wish I had figured it out sooner. Good luck to you all.

Many strange things have been happening to me for the last year and a half, that I did not ever experience before. I just turned 38 years old. I am now suspecting these are side effects from the MIRENA. I want to get opinions about what I'm experiencing and what happens when it's removed.

The most profound thing is the feeling of being in a mental bubble. Even though I'm aware of it and I try to be alert, I feel cloudy minded and can't even rely on myself to remember things or commit to things because I never know how I will feel when I wake up each day. Some days are okay while others are completely LOST because I may have struggled to sleep the night before, sweating and soaking my pillow case and waking up with a rapid heart beat, panicking for no apparent reason right out of sleeping. Or, I'm irritable due to discomfort which takes several forms like these:
- major moodiness, like feeling totally peaceful one minute and then something small triggers me and I'm angry for hours, later realizing that I was overreacting
- visibly shaking hands, especially when I drink just 1/2 cup coffee.
- increased oily skin and acne on face, back, shoulders and even in ears, along with thinning hair around face
- fatigue and stiffness in the morning, so it takes me forever to get out of bed
- off and on fatigue that has me uncontrollably dozing off during the day
- bloated tummy (visible), gas and menstrual cramps in no predicable pattern, but I never go more than a week without these things
- strange libido, one day I wouldn't care if I ever had sex again, the next night wake up horny as heck at 2 am
- ears ringing, jaw pain, mystery pains in back and joints regularly

All along I've been assuming these odd things were stress and age related but the more I think about it, there's just too many things, and these things don't necessarily represent the stress of a typical stay at home mom.
Sure, I have had stress and anxiety in the past, but they could always be connected to something large going on in my life. Now, the anxiety and moodiness hit unpredictably and indiscriminately, it seems. For a long time now I feel like I'm a total mess physically and mentally, even more so because I realize something is wrong
I am pretty sure as of right now that I should get this removed. If the symptoms go away I'll then know what caused them in the first place.
I am wondering what happens upon removal, will it also be a roller coaster of physical and mental anguish???????? How long will it last?

Hello everyone. I am here to add my "two cents" about Yasmin. I have been off of it for about 2 months now, and I am feeling much better. I originally was put on birth control pills to control horrible cramps during both ovulation and my period. I am a 47-year old female who has been getting worse and worse pms and periods. I tried a couple other birth control pills, but my blood pressure was on the high side, so my OB/GYN explained that it might be worth trying Yasmin, since it has a diruetic in it. Like most of the other posts I have read, I don't know if I am "crazy" or not, but all I can attribute my symptoms to is Yasmin. I started taking Yasmin in the end of February, and by day two, I was nauseous and was constantly in the bathroom. Within a week, my entire lower abdomin was tender to the touch. By this past Easter (the end of March), I began running a fever and went to the Dr. I was put on Cipro, as they thought I had either a lower abdominal infection or diverticulitis. I was sent for a lower GI and they did see some small kidney stones and a 4 mm cyst on my right ovary. The cyst eventually went away and I continued to experience nausea and tenderness in my lower abdomin. After my period in the end of March/beginning of April, I went off Yasmin. ALL IS NOW FINE. Am I crazy? I don't know if this is a coincidence, or if these symptoms were caused by the Yasmin. I have never been so sick in my life. I am now hormone free - I will put up with the heavy painful periods for awhile longer!
Good luck to all!