Lack of libido symptoms and conditions

I am SO glad I found this site. I have had Mirena for 7.5 years and have had these side effects mentioned here by everyone. At first the Mirena was the wonder birth control method, no periods, no cramping- I thought it was the greatest, but then I had strange things happening. I asked my doctor about these on numerous occasions,and he kept saying "the hormone level in Mirena is so low it is not detectable by a blood test" and therefore could not be causing symptoms.

I've experienced a lack of libido, headaches, weight gain, hair thinning, sadness, fatigue, sleeplessness....an overall change I was attributing to getting older and going through my 30's.

OK- so why is my story like every woman's on here if there an no side effects as explained by my doctor?

After finding this site and countless others, I made an appt to have Mirena removed.

I cannot wait to feel like myself again.
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I have experienced prolonged bleeding years after insertion. My mirena was inserted in May 2007 with no negative side effects. I ceased to have a period for almost two years. Then in February of 2008, I started bleeding continuously. My "average" period now lasts for 20 days out of a month. I am searching to see if others have had this problem.

I have been very happy with my mirena until this started happening. No other symptoms, just bleeding all the time years after insertion.

I've been on Yasmin for the past 2 years and the first 6-8 months were like hell for me. I've experienced hair loss, depression, lack of motivation, terrible migraines which wouldn't go away with one dose of paracetamol. All these symptoms have abated by time but the symptom which is constant is: lack of libido, I feel that I've been robbed and don't know when and if I'll ever get it back!

I have had the Mirena IUD removed Feb 14, 2009 after discovering, from this website, that it was the cause of all my problems. I had it in from March 2006 to March 2007, then again from Dec 2007 to Feb this year. My symptoms were:
depression
irritability
weight gain & binge eating
lack of energy
insomnia
lack of libido, zero sex drive
joint and muscle pain (especially wrists, knees, ankles)
My question is, my biggest problem that has been lingering since removal is the pain. It has gotten worse these past few weeks, and i have just noticed a weird crinkling of the skin on the inside of my wrists and forearms. This is where most of my pain and weakness is. I understand that it can take up to 18 months for progesterone to leave your system, but I am curious if this symptom is caused by the Mirena or if i have another underlying condition. All bloodwork has come back clear.

I had Mirena inserted almost 2 years ago, at 21, after having my first child. I'm now 23 and my husband and I are ready to have it taken out. While researching how long it can take to get pregnant, I found several blogs with women complaining about their mood swings, libido loss, and overall irritability. I have been a completely different person (in a bad way) since having my son. I never thought to attribute my mood swings, irritability, energy loss, and EXTREME lack of libido to Mirena. I always thought it was stress of a new baby, school, and a new marriage. Also, I stay completely dry down there. If I wipe too hard, I frequently cause tears that are similar to thick paper cuts. It happens at least once a week which makes my sex drive decrease even more. I am having this darn thing removed this week. I used to swear by Mirena because I cannot remember to take pills. I would highly suggest to do a lot of research before having it put in. There are far more side effects than what is listed on the package.

If you are considering getting the Mirena don't read this site it will scare the hell out of you....lol I believe every person is different. I would say about 95% of the comments on here are negative so I decided to give my experience. I had my IUD inserted about a 1.5 month ago. Really the insertion process to me hurt like hell, but it was worth a try if I would not have a period for years at a time. The day after insertion cramping was barable. I still continue to have sharp cramps every now and then, but from my understanding my doctor said this may occur up to 6 months. I had a very light 2 week cycle after insertion. I have not experience much spotting since then. I have NOT had many of the symptoms like hair loss, lack of libido, acne. I did experience a bit of depression due the transition from the pill I believe.

24 yrs old, 3 kids
MY SYMPTOMS: Stabbing pains in butt & sides, BAD cramps, WORSE crotch drop, spotting, light frequent periods, normal but slightly longer periods, constant dull headache that won't go away, mood swings (extremely irritable toward my kids), hot flashes (I don't really know what those are but I'm assuming that's what it is), tiredness, ACNE, little discharge, yellowish discharge w/ odor, when I hadn't spotted for a while we got brave & my husband noted a "sour" taste that was never there before, "sweet scent" & normal discharge absent, some lack of libido, pain w/ deep penetration & me on top positions (WHY?), lower back pain (recently worse), uneasy emotional feeling, pressure & bloating in abdomen, slight weight gain, pain & cramping after sex, feeling that something is "stuck" in my uterus (that might just be in my head. :) ), food cravings, increased appetite & thirst.
MY STORY or most of it:
I AM SO EXCITED to have found this website! Of course I feel so bad for all the women who have had such nightmares to live with, but I thank you for sharing! Now I know it's not "just me". I had mirena placed in Dec '07 (bout 2 mos after having my 3rd baby. Placement didn't really hurt, it felt like a pap smear. Well after having a baby naturally I thought how bad could it be? Right away I started having these sharp stabbing pains (u're supposed to have cramps for a few days) but I thought it was weird because the pains were like in my butt. It hurt more when I sat down. I continued to have pretty bad cramps, enough for me to take something which I never like to do. I was scared about the cramps not letting up so I called the nurse & she said that it was normal. ALSO I couldn't feel the strings, had my husband check (his fingers are longer & w/out long nails) & he couldn't feel them either.. When I went back to have the strings trimmed my ob said that they are just even w/ my uterus."they'll probably just have to go into your uterus a little bit when they remove it," she said. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? I have been scared about that this whole time. So it's been about a yr & 1/2 now since insertion & my husband has never felt the strings. I breastfed my son for 11 mos & he SUDDENLY weaned himself. During those first 11 I never had a period or even spotting (after the initial bleeding was over). A few months before I stopped nursing I started getting acne pretty bad, enough to order PRO-Activ. But this acne is not how it was as a teen, It's not in the T-zone, but on the sides of my face (cheeks) and mostly on my forehead.I didn't understand why the proactiv wasn't working because it worked miracles for me as a teen, but now I know. So after CRYING because of my baby's rejecting my sore, engorged boobs for a few days I started bleeding. I couldn't understand WHY I was sooooo upset over my baby stopping nursing. I've heard that it is natural to feel like that because of the close bond that is there and I think that is true. But now I am thinking that the mirena made it much worse because when I stopped nursing my first baby when she was about the same age, I didn't even care. I wanted to stop. So it is hard to remember if I had a real period or not that first month (I soon started writing down my bleeding days so that I could keep track.) But I know that after that I would have a LIGHT period for about 7-8 days which is long for me, then in a few days I would spot for 2 - 3 days, then maybe a week later I would have another light period for about 6 days. It's hard to remember exactly, but I have it written down somewhere and it was about like that for 3 mos. Then in December I had 2 light, long periods with one normal (finally!) and spotting in between. I remember trying to shop the day before Christmas Eve with THE WORST cramps & "crotch drop" I have ever had, only to SPOT the next day. In January I had a normal period (a bit shorter but with spotting for 2 days after) then a week later spotting for 4 days, followed by a light period. I've had mild achy -like cramping pretty much constantly since I stopped nursing. I think I just kind of got used to it. I find this cramping weird because with my pre-mirena periods I didn't really have cramps, just "crotch drop" for the first 2 days. The thing that drew me to look up side effects w/ mirena was the weight gain. I am pretty pissed off because I was down to 125 lbs from nursing (pre-preg weight 130 lbs) and I haven't weighed myself (I don't have a scale for some reason) but I CAN TELL that I have put on a few lbs, maybe 5 - 10 in the past few mos. PLUS there is the bloating and this uncomfortable pressure in my abdomen. I seem to only be fatter in my belly, which has always been pretty flat about a yr after each baby's birth.I would like to gain some in my boobs. I'm barely an A cup - after breastfeeding and saggy! But that hasn't happened. So I was wondering how long does this spotting, cramping, weight gain go on? For the whole 5 yrs? I went to the official mirena site which gives a few study numbers (Whatever the heck those mean). The site is supposed to allow u to log in & chat w/ new mirena users like yourself but I tried that & it didn't work. So then I found a site with like 400 posts from women whose lives were so messed up from merena, but its newest post was from 3 mos ago and most were from 4 or more yrs ago. I wish I had found that site before I got mirena. I didn't really research before getting it. I just trusted my ob & saw the poster on the wall, and read the little misleading pamphlet. Then I googled "Mirena bad side effects" and found this site. After reading these posts I know I am going to have my mirena removed. I'd do it myself but can't find the strings. I wonder what exactly they will have to do to get it out? I said I would give it 6 mos (after stopping breastfeeding) for my body to adjust or whatever and the end of Feb will be 6 mos. I don't want to live w/ these symptoms for 3 more yrs and I am afraid that worse things will happen, Anyway what is the point of having birth control if u don't really need it because u're always bleeding? My symptoms are not severely bad but they are there and are not worth it. I want to feel like me again.

I had Mirena for 1 year. Suffered from lack of libido, weight gain, bloating, depression, moodiness, extreme tiredness, anxiety, lowered immune system (seem to get every virus doing the rounds and take forever to get well), sugar cravings & occasional abdominal cramping like ovulation pain.

2 weeks after Mirena removal: mild breakthrough bleed, dry eyes, feel less bloated, loss of 2lbs but SEVERE ACNE on my chin which I didn't have before! Most people get acne while the Mirena is in, did anyone else get it after it was removed?????

How long does it take to be free of the side effects from taking Flomax? After being on 2 Flomax pills daily for over a year, I was still up 3x in the night. I stopped taking Flomax a month ago after reading here the side effects and realizing I suffered from many of them. Trouble sleeping, sinus headaches, almost zero libido etc. Question...when will the libido return?
R. (Ontario)

Hi ladies,

I just finished my last pack of Yasmin on Thursday because I felt I was pumped with hormones. I googled "coming off the pill Yasmin" and came across your comments.
I was originally put on Yasmin by my Doctor as I had put on a few pounds. I lost that weight with exercise (can't diet) but I have never lost my DD breasts (I was a C cup before Yasmin) and I've a tummy which when I bloat the week before my period, I look pregnant!
I've been experiencing a lot of the negative side effects of Yasmin over the last year and I was beginning to think I was going mad.
I suffer from very bad headaches, water retention, bloating and loss of sex drive.
In the last 2 or 3 months I'm now suffering with nausea, leg cramps, sore breasts, anxiety and feeling down.
As most of these symptoms have occurred in the last year, I just got fed up. I've been on the pill for 14 years (on and off), and on Yasmin for at least 6 years. I'm now 32, I'm married and would love a child.
I feel by coming off this pill, my body will settling into a routine before I hopefully conceive.
So glad I found your comments and I'm not alone in how my body feels.
Thank You.

I suffered with pre-menopausal symptoms for 2 years before having the Mirena inserted in May 2007. My symptoms included bad menstrual cramping, heaving bleeding, hot flashes, night sweats, moodiness and lack of libido. But since having the Mirena all those symptoms have gone away. My OBGYN is using it for Hormone Replacement because I am too young (34 yrs old) to have menopause. I felt a lot better after about 3 months, I still have some side effects like hand numbness (mostly when I wake up in the morning or at night). Every couple of months I have some mild break through bleeding and I have PMS symptoms before it happens. I would have gone crazy without Mirena. I do have 1 symptom that I haven't heard anyone mention. Increased bladder infections, I don't know if this is caused by the Mirena or maybe its something else. If anyone has had this symptom can you post it?

I'm 2 rows into my 2nd pack of Yaz. It's my first birth control and was told by my doctor to give it a try a couple months and let my body try to adjust. Toward the end of the first month I got very moody, much unlike myself, annoyed with small things, and really upset my boyfriend and snapped at him unjustly. Off the pill, I had max 3 day periods, my first one on Yaz started the morning after my last pink pill of the month and lasted 7 days steady. My mood was the worst toward the end of that, and I was crying over things I normally wouldn't tear up about. Now, 2 weeks into the 2nd month, I'm cramping up already & have a noticeable lack of libido. I am thinking about switching, but feel like 3 months would be appropriate to try to adjust. Nice to know I'm not the only one with these symptoms. It's also nice to know it could be much worse, for example, I've never had a migraine, and haven't noticed any additional headaches since I started. Just hoping I adjust soon, because I'd hate to change and go through another readjusting phase.

They can't get my Mirena out. I'm a 43 year old mother of two. I had a Mirena inserted in April 2003. I was a sleep-deprived new mum at the time so wasn't in the mood for sex anyway. Five years on and I was very happy with getting no periods, and reported to the GP to see about getting a new one inserted. She couldn't find it, and the examination was damn painful too. She said that I would probably need a general anesthetic to take it out. I started researching Mirena and suddenly made the connection - perhaps my lack of libido was due to this? I could hardly blame lack of sleep anymore and I hate having my breasts touched and never feel like having sex. I knew the Mirena was still there but she insisted I had to have an ultrasound scan t prove this. Sure enough, it's there, in the right place. I think the doctor who inserted it cut the threads too short. Anyway, I now want it out, and a tubal ligation to stop me getting pregnant again - still waiting to hear if they'll do both under the same anesthetic. My husband was prepared to have a vasectomy, but guess what, he had a botched hernia ten years ago which caused one of his testicles to atrophy so they aren't certain that a vasectomy will be successful - seems ridiculous for us both to be undergoing medical procedures so it's down to me again. Never got on with the pill - mood swings, weight gain, etc. I'm sure they never mentioned that it might need an operation to get the damn thing out when I had it inserted.

I'm so glad I stumbled upon this site, and even happier to see that the posts are recent. I have been using the Nuvaring since July of 2007. Please keep in mind that prior to this I really had no health problems other than an appendectomy, additionally I have a 3yr. old (normal vaginal birth). I have been to NUMEROUS (and I truly mean it) doctors within the past 8 months due to many of the so called "side affects" everyone has mentioned and not one doctor found a single thing to be wrong with me after an MRI, multiple sonograms (breast, abdominal), chest X-ray (will explain) and your run of the mill blood tests. Now I think I've found the answer.
I went to see an acupuncturist yesterday for the first time, she took a very detailed health history from me. I told her of how I've been experiencing anxiety attacks, severe bloating, short term memory loss, heart palpatations, headaches, exhaustion, total lack of libido, and pain/ discomfort of the abdomen on the right side as well as terrible muscle tension as well as vaginal issues. We went through everything, my diet, stress triggers etc. then she asked me about birth control and i told her I had been using the Nuvaring. It was only then when she noted my problems had all began shortly after starting the Nuvaring. I'm not blaming Nuvaring for each and every issue I have, but the one problem I will definitely pin on this product is the fact that I feel like I have a yeast infection or UTI most of the month. The itching, vaginal dryness, pain in my lower abdomen SUCKS!!!! This cannot be described as a side affect but torture!
I know this is due to this stupid ring because I actually didn't use the ring for one month (I forgot to pick up my prescription in time) and had to go without. For that month the vaginal "issues" as I like to call them went completely away. I should have stayed away from it. Luckily, I'm "due to remove" Sunday, and will never touch a Nuvaring again. Maybe I'll go back on the pill or just do something else. After all Today Sponge is back on the market.
We as a society need to be more skeptical of the pharmaceutical industry as well as of our doctors, after all they do not know everything.

I have been on Yas for about 4 years i was originally put on it for acne which cleared up slightly i still have it not as bad but recently i am that moody i feel depressed again ( had it 5 years ago post natal), real lack of libido to the point where my partner thinks I'm not attracted to him anymore, headaches, monthly aching legs, hungry i lost a heap of weight then recently started to gain it again, IBS, I also get my period the week before it says i should my doctor said it would fix up but it hasn't and it's not as if I've just started taking it. Also it is one of the most expensive pills so I'm a bit undecided whether to stick to it or to change.I don't know if any of this is related to Yas but after reading what is on this site I'm starting to wonder!!

Yuk!! I thought I was the only one...I had the Mirena placed a couple months ago after my on was born. I have had cramping and spotting ever since. I also seem to have major PMS, and lack of libido. I also gained weight. I have a sudden HUGE appetite. Which for me is unusual. I am now going to see my doctor as soon as possible to take it OUT!!! I started worrying that something more serious was wrong..I am glad I found this site,

I was taking 1-2 tablets of a generic brand of Sudafed for the past year to control sinus headaches. It seemed to be the only product that worked! My outcome was a severe lack of libido. Zilch..nil. I didn't even want to be hugged or touched. At 45 yrs old, my husband thought our marriage was over and began surfing the internet until he found what he wanted. I have not taken even 1 tablet since Oct. and all the libido issues are gone. I just control the headaches now with ibuprofen and rest. The marriage is in repairs now that he knows it wasn't him!

I've had my Mirena for about 15 and a half months and I am having it removed today at 2 o'clock. At first I had sharp pains when I would sit down and I felt like the cords were poking me and irritating me. My OB/GYN requires patients to come back one month after having it put in so he can check it and make sure it is still in place. At this visit he also trimmed the cords although he acted like he didn't believe me when I told him that I could feel them poking me when I sat down and that it hurt. At first I didn't notice any bad side effects, but I did have one good one: my periods stopped, but I still had occasional and sporadic spotting. I didn't think to look for any bad side effects because I got the device under the impression that it had no bad side effects. I thought it only had a rare complication of perforating the uterus, but since mine was in place at the one month check, I didn't think about anymore until I started thinking about having another baby recently. I went online to see if I had to have a doctor remove the Mirena or if I could do it myself, and I found out that it's best done by a professional because bad things can happen and then you'd have to go to the doctor anyway. Plus, I didn't want to hurt my chances of having another baby. While online I discovered this whole world of message boards where women were having a lot of the same problems I'd been having in recent months and they all blamed their Mirenas. Some claimed that their problems had gone away since having it removed. I never thought to link my circumstances to the Mirena, but when I saw how many women are having the exact same problems as me I knew that I needed to go ahead and get mine out ASAP. Here is a list of my side effects, and I've found other women have had them as well with Mirena: weight gain, bloated stomach, depression, short temper with husband and daughter, acne, low sex drive, spotting, cramps, constipation, and back pain. There may be more, but I can't remember them all right now. Some of them may not even be related to the device, but I've read of so many women with Mirena who are having or have had the same issues, so I suspect a link between my problems and Mirena. I hope this helps someone out there looking for answers. God Bless!

Haven't seen anyone mention any sexual SE's but I know I'm not imagining this. It's not a lack of libido but, it's as if my wiring has been disconnected.
A lack of sensation. Major bummer. I can live without sodas but not this!
That was my major reason for getting off the Topamax. My doctor was very incredulous about this being a SE of the Topamax but he didn't argue with me. I came across this site just looking to see if anyone else had experienced this. After getting here I can not believe all the things I have been brushing aside as due to something else. Stomach pain and diarrhea, severe GERD, depression and morbid thinking, oh and my gosh the trouble searching for words and connecting thoughts--I thought I was loosing it, shortness of breath and weakness that I was attributing to weight gain! I have only been on 25 mg a day for 6 months. The migraines did improve and the paresthesia in my hands subsided over time. But all this other crap that has slipped in and I have been passing off as aging or just wondering what else was up with my body and mind. Sheese! Thank goodness for this site! I am tapering off this crap-- and I feel like crap. Weakness and fatigue and a weird pain in the side of my head that is not a headache exactly. I hope I'm back to normal soon, this is awful!

I took Yasmin for about 8 months until I realized it was the cause of severe migraine headaches, nausea, dizziness, and other terrible side effects. I also had terrible lethargy as well as lack of libido. It is awful and now I realize how many women are experiencing the same problem. My Dr. took me off of it and all of the terrible side effects have gone away.

I was on yasmin for nearly 6 months, the first 3 were fine, then after that I experienced terrible anxiety and panic attacks. I have never had anything like this before and nothing really bad was going on in my life, it was completely out of character. Also aftter finding this site, reaslise that perhaps my severe lack of libido and several water infections could also be related.
I have been off it now for 2 and a bit months......and do feel better. I am 99% sure that it was this pill that triggered these feelings, however I have read on a few of the comments that it does take a while to get back to normal. I am still suffering some anxiety and my libido has not returned. Can anyone who has been off the pill for longer than this encourage those of us who have recently come off that we will return to ourselves!!
Thanks

I started getting panic, palpitations, anxiety, bouts of crying, no sex drive, odd taste in my mouth. I only had the taste and lack of libido since early on but felt fine and than whammo the crying and palpitations and anxiety hit. I asked the doctor if it could be the Yasmin even tho id been on it for a while, i got the royal fob off and some lame comment about 'us girls doing funny things sometimes' whatever that means!!!!! It got worst, i couldnt stand to be in the college where id gotten the palpitations to start with so dropped out and i couldnt understand why, but i was cool to still work nearby the college, I had some odd behaviour tho, like i suddenly couldnt park on the ground level for fear of the levels collapsing, i was scared of dying, of freak events, of flying and i LOVED flying, the syptoms waxed and waned and then a few months lather while still having intermittent anxiety a stressful period popped up and that was it i was gone, worst time of my life, allergies, nauseus, paranoia, depression, nightmares, horrific mental images and distressing thoughts, suicidal thoughts. Crux of it was it sucked big time!!!! That was 3 years ago and im still trying to put myself back together! The original syptoms did get better with time but ive never been quite the same.

38y.o F taking toprol 100mg once a day for hypertension x 15mths History of Hypothyroidism which is controlled w/ synthroid and closley monitored w/ lab work.
Experience weight gain, unable to lose weight w/ diet and exercise including w/ a nutrionist and personal trainer. Hairloss, lack of libido, chronic joint pain, swelling in hands and ankles/feet, back pain and/or muscle aches, lack of interest in everything, no energy. Major swelling after high sodium intake. Ear drainage, tingling of extremities especially in feet and fingers, visual disturbances. Blood Pressure is okay.
Has anyone experienced an improvement since they've stopped using toprol?

Thank god I'm normal! I plan to call the doctor TOMORROW to come off of this medication.

I'm breastfeeding my son, so it's difficult to find a "safe" pill to use. I tried the mini-pill with lots of side effects. Have been on Yaz for 10 days, and as I read through all of the posts I realize I've had side effects I didn't even know were side effects!

The most troubling has been the anxiety. To have a panic attack while nursing an infant in the middle of the night is not a good thing. Especially the loss of control knowing that if I pull him off for my own comfort, he will probably become frantic. My anxiety level during the day has been ok, but I've been on Prozac for depression all along, which may be keeping me somewhat even.

Other side effects: insomnia (last 3 nights I've been up till 3 in the morning), extreme muscle aches, nausea in the morning (feels like morning sickness, but def. not preg!), dry, itchy skin, lack of libido and aversive to touch, even in a non-sexual way.

Oh, well...time to try another. Hopefully my OB/Gyn will not give me a hard time.

I have been on Yasmin for 2 cycles now and have just recently figured out the cause of my mood and lack of libido- Yasmin! I am very short tempered with everyone, get irritated quickly, I'm very unhappy and not my normal 'bubbly self' - and my fiance has noticed that I have an incredibly decreased libido (poor guy!). I've decided to go off the stuff - any suggestions for another BC pill that isn't so nasty w/ these sorts of side effects?? email me at ******
Thanks and good luck to all the women out there.