Lack of interest in sex symptoms and conditions

I've had the Mirena since Aug. 2006 - three years now. I considered having it removed because of intense irritability, depression, suicidal thoughts, and lack of interest in sex the past 5 months. I went to my doctor's office this morning to have it removed, but kept an open mind to alternatives. I'm 39 years old, and the doctor indicated that at my age, some of these issues are normal. I found a list of Menopause side effects, and many are similar to Mirena's side effects! At any rate, I asked if there is a way to offset these side effects so that I can keep the Mirena. She gave me an estrogen patch called "Vivelle", and I'm hoping that will help. Has anyone else tried estrogen therapy to offset Mirena's side effects? I still have the Mirena and will follow up in a few weeks.

I just started my second pack of Loestrin 24 Fe two days ago. I have not had any nausea, weight gain, unusual acne, loss of libido, or crazy mood swings. I have, however, had non-stop breakthrough bleeding. In the past month, there has only been one day where I was not bleeding. I take it at the same time every morning and have not missed a day. I'm really trying to be patient and give it a couple more months...but it has gotten very annoying. I got on the pill because I recently decided to become sexually active. Having my period 24/7, though, has kept me from actually wanting to start. I was on Ortho (the original) back in high school for regularity, and it made me gain 15 pounds and have intense mood swings. Beyond the btb, I love the lack of weird side effects....has anybody made it past the first 3 months to find more regularity with no side effects?

After being on NR for about 2 years, 2 weeks ago I stopped using it because I lost my job/insurance and didn't have means to get another Rx at the time. I was pleased with it until I stopped using it. I had been in a 3 year relationship that ended about a year ago for many reasons but, a large one being my lack of interest in sex or even having him touch me. I didn't think anything of it other than I must not have been attracted to him anymore. I am in a new relationship with someone I adore and still... really had no desire to have sex. Seemed I had to have a few cocktails before anything would ever happen and even then I would never orgasm and it would be painful due to lack of lubrication. I began to think I just wasn't meant to enjoy or want sex (even questioned my sexuality) Low and behold its been about 2 weeks since I stopped NR and I can't keep my hands off him. I've had an orgasm every time since and we are having or at least I'm wanting sex daily if not more. It seems my mind is in the gutter all day and it feels wonderful to know that I am not destined for a life without great sex and that the whole time it was just my stupid birth control.

There have also been other things I've noticed and am relating after reading everyone elses problems. I would get frequent headaches (3-5 weekly) they have seemed to subside. I would get painful cramping but, just assumed it was due to PMS. I have a small patch of hair missing on the side of my head... I had no idea why that was missing and now I am hoping that it will grow back. I too was also "down in the dumps" wouldn't say depressed but the last year or so I have frequent mood swings... those have also seemed to subside. All of these things were tolerable except my non-existent sex drive THAT IS NOT OK!!

I will not be refilling my Rx for NR and will try something else hopefully with a greater success story. It is worth a try if you haven't had it but, BEWARE and BE CONSCIENCE of your body. If I would have put 2 and 2 together I would have been off it long ago.

Thanks for this site and thanks for reading.

I had my Mirena inserted in April. The first visit to the doctor, she was unable to insert it, she gave me a prescription for something to dilate me so it could be inserted easily (she said perhaps the fact that I had never had children, made it harder to insert). I went back the next day, and although it was still difficult, she managed to get it inserted. I was fine the first five months, after this I started having headaches (some lasting days at a time), very sharp shooting pains down my buttocks, moodiness, lack of interest in sex, depression, some acne, and bloating. I too was told that this would be the perfect birth control for me, my doctor said she even uses it and loves it. After years of birth control pills taking a toll on my body, I decided to switch to Mirena, now I'm wondering if I made a huge mistake. My fiance swears that he can sometime feel the device while we're having sex, he says it feels like it's "poking" him. I went back to have the string cut shorter thinking this would help, but apparently it has not. I also think I have a UTI now from the Mirena, I have never had one ever in my life until now. I'm very disappointed. I figured it was the "perfect" birth control, and now, I am second guessing my decision. Please...if you are considering Mirena, think about all of your options first!

I started using the NuvaRing close to two months ago. About a week after I inserted the Ring, I developed a cough that has not gone away. I have never before had allergies, but also now have either constant nasal stuffiness or drainage and a hard time taking a deep breath. I live in Tennessee, so it is possible that I have developed allergies, but it is quite a coincidence that this has all happened after beginning the NuvaRing. I have also had weight gain which is unusual for me. I am a petite person, eat healthy and exercise at least five days a week. Needless to say, I have hit a number on the scale that I have never seen before. This is only in about 7 weeks!! This is frustrating as is the lack of interest in sex. I could actually care less which is very unusual for me. Other side effects that I have noticed are headaches, softened bowel movements and my husband has felt the insert during sex. I will say that my mood swings have gotten a little better, so at least I am not dealing with that. I return to my doctor next month and am unsure right now what I am going to do. I hope there is a better option for me.

I had my Mirena implanted after my son was born in May 2006 and at first it was okay but now I am ready to get rid of this thing. My hair started falling out really bad and it is not as bad now but I still have spells where I think I might go bald if it doesn't stop. I am always tired, always bloated, and I cant seem to get the scale to get below 160 no matter how hard I try. But the biggest problem with the side effects is the low sex drive, it is affecting my marriage. There is no way for my husband to understand what I am going through mentally and he has been very patient but if things don't get better after I get the Mirena taken out, Im afraid he might leave me.
We had a disagreement this morning and of course I was in tears most of the morning and could cry now.
Can anyone tell me how soon they got back to "normal" after having the IUD removed, especially with regards to the sex drive problem.

I had my Mirena IUD removed on Monday, May 5, 2008. I had it inserted on November 10, 2005. I was having major side effects from the birth control, and every doc I went to said that there is no way that Mirena would cause the side effects I was having because the "progesterone amounts are too low to cause these side effects". I have had the following side effects:
WEIGHT GAIN
JOINT PAIN
LUMPS IN BREASTS
BREAST TENDERNESS
HUNGER (as if i were pregnant)
DEPRESSION
LOSS OF SEX DRIVE
HAIR LOSS
SWOLLEN ABDOMEN (BLOATED?)
HEADACHES
GROUCHY/ON EDGE
ACNE
CYST (had a couple weeks ago... i was on vacation in Vegas and had a cyst burst.. never had these issues... this was the last straw)
STABBING PAINS IN ABDOMEN AND IN AREA OF OVARIES
PMS SYMPTOMS EVERY OTHER WEEK FOR TWO YEARS
BREAST GROWTH D TO DD
VAGINAL BLEEDING AFTER INTERCOURSE
FATIGUE
TENDERNESS OF ABDOMEN
BACK PAIN
HIP PAIN

As of today, Friday, May 9, 2008 (4 days after Mirena has been removed) I have lost 9 pounds. I am sure this is probably water weight? I am feeling a little better every day. The night I got home from having it removed, I had major mood swings... would be happy one minute and crying my eyes out the next!!! I would not recommend this IUD to ANYONE.. not even on my worst enemy (if I had one). This needs to be taken off the market. It is not safe! I have spent thousands of dollars on ultrasounds on my breasts (thinking i could have cancer because the lumps i had in my breast) and on other doctors bills to figure out what was wrong with me.. only to find out that "Mirena is not the cause"!!!!

First let me say that I am glad that this just isn't in my mind! I thought that I was going crazy!!
My doctor put me on Loestrin 24 at the end of last month after I had a miscarriage. Since I have been on this pill, I have noticed my mood swings and I am more emotional. I noticed the vaginal dryness and my lack of interest in sex. I was on Yasmin for about a year prior to this...missed a few days and got pregnant. But I never experienced any of this side effects before. I don't see my doctor again until May, but I am definitely going to ask about changing my pills. He told me to take this pill two months straight without a break in between. I am now having my period and it is slightly brown. I am afraid of infection or something....this is really starting to freak me out...

I have been on Loestrin 24Fe for a month and a half now and so far, I hate it! I have gained about 5 pounds and I feel bloated constantly. I stopped weighing myself because it's obvious every time I get dressed that I'm bigger. My breasts have gotten much larger as well and they're so sore. I have gotten several migraines which I haven't had a problem with for years and I too am having cramping issues. My period was nothing more than the brown clot-like discharge that others have reported, but I would much rather just have a period. The discharge made me feel dirty and itchy. I'm also having problems with vaginal dryness and a lack of interest in sex. I do feel like my emotions are under control now though (which my husband loves)..but I don't know if I can continue to take this. I see my doctor next week...good luck to you all.