Levonorgestrel symptoms and conditions

I'm so glad I found this site, I only wish I'd found it 2 weeks ago before I had this wretched thing fitted. I had my Mirena put in 10 weeks after my little girl was born as I was told it was safe to use whilst breastfeeding. That was on Friday 28th August '09, it's now Tuesday 8th September and so far I've experienced:
head aches, I don't normally get headaches
fuzzy vision and tension right across the front of my head, eyes and upper face,
severe cramping
constant bleeding, not particularly heavy but still
extreme fatigue when I was getting back to stage after a difficult birth where I felt like I had enough energy to resume my otherwise vigorous exercise regime
constant lower back pain
swelling in my hands and feet so I cannot remove my rings, they were loose before.
bloating in my stomach so I can't even get my maternity trousers fastened!
feeling of anxiety and can't be bothered to do anything which is very uncharacteristic
depression to the point of crying ALL DAY yesterday, I never cry, not even when Bambi's mum got shot!
no libido whatsoever, what's the point in this thing if you don't want to have sex anyway?!?
falling hair and bleeding, sensitive gums
a dull ache over my whole body
and last but not least I've put on 9lbs in 10 days, I'm supposed to be trying wedding dresses on in just over a week, that wont be happening now!!!
If I can't get this thing out myself this afternoon I'm going to the doctors to have it taken out tomorrow!!!
I feel like I'm going mad, I've felt like this before (though never to this extreme) on the pill and the depo injection all of which contain levonorgestrel, coincidence, I don't think so! how on earth did this drug get licensed?!?
My fiance is a chemist and works for a big pharmaceutical company and said that although the dosage of the drug is much smaller, because it's absorbed locally it has a much more potent effect on the body than the pill because a great deal of the hormone in the pill will be broken down in the stomach before it's absorbed into your system, they don't tell you that on the leaflet do they! I'll be switching to condoms until I'm no longer breastfeeding and then back to a non levonorgestrel pill. I CAN'T WAIT TO BE BACK TO NORMAL and it's only been in there for 10 days!!!

I've posted my side effects in July and I'm scheduled to have it removed next week. I"ve had mood swings, cramps, no periods except some spotting, weight gain, extreme fatigue, dizziness etc.
Does anyone else have "good" days - days that you that you have no cramping, you're in good mood, no fatigue? I wonder if the Mirena releases the (progesterone) levonorgestrel unevenly throughout the month? Some days I feel really good and think the side effects must be in my head and then a few days later I feel like crap again! (The Mirena website says it releases 20ug of levonorgestrel a day). I felt good the past few days, I had more energy. Actually got some stuff done around the house. Today I woke up and I feel dizzy and sharp pains in my abdomen.

I got Mirena inserted back in April 2009 after my son was born. I have been feeling tired and have had back aches as well as some increased vaginal discharge. However, no foul odor and my sex drive is just fine. I'm wondering if the effects get worse the longer you have it in? It seems that most of you are experiencing these horrible side effects after 6months or so.
I'm going to keep my Mirena in and see how things go. It is a convenient form of birth control, but since I no longer have a period I get very paranoid that I could be pregnant again! :\

First of all, a big thanks to all of you who have shared your experiences. I am a biochemist, with a background in pharmaceutical research...I chose the Mirena IUD after careful consideration of it's active ingredient, Levonorgestrel. The side effect profile seemed pretty acceptable...until I started to experience nearly ALL of them...I am 33 years old and had the Mirena IUD placed in October of 2008 after the birth of my second child in June of 2008. The initial reaction was to be expected...cramping, a little spotting etc...nothing to be alarmed about. I still have yet to have a period (which I really don't miss so no problem there) I never gave a second thought to this until now...for the past month or so (coinciding with the weening process, since I have been nursing the entire time, I believe the side effects were not as noticeable) I have been experiencing the following (that may or may not be related to Mirena as my OBGYN has so adamantly pointed out, but after reviewing your posts I'm willing to bet they're connected) and are in order of occurrence: Major, but temporary, hair loss after 2 months or so; Major respiratory infection lingering over a month with difficulty breathing, tightness and pain in the chest at around 6 mos; And in the past month, several instances of motion-like sickness/ nausea, dizziness, blurred vision, major impatience/ mood swings, loss of appetite (pregnancy-like symptoms...yep, I was thinking man I'd be pretty pissed if I was that 0.01% pregnant statistic), and as of this past weekend, my first aurora migraine with tunnel vision and serious nausea and vomiting, to the point where I went to Urgent Care...who referred me to the ER...who wants to perform a battery of tests including a head CT. I have an appointment with a trusted GP tomorrow to discuss possible root causes...but it is to coincidental that so many women are experiencing these same symptoms! I am certainly leaning towards having this removed. CAN THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE HAD THIS REMOVED PLEASE RESPOND IF YOUR SYMPTOMS SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED OR WERE RESOLVED!!! THANK YOU!
These side effects seem to go well beyond a 5% rate of incidence according to all of you who have reported. I will investigate further and keep everyone posted. As someone who is highly experienced in the pharmaceutical industry, you bet your a$$ I'm going to get to the bottom of this! Good luck ladies!

Hi Everyone! I am a 40 year old mother of 6 that has just had her second Mirena IUD put into place on April 10th, 2009. On Easter Sunday (April 12th) I woke with a lot of joint pain, back pain, breast pain, severe nausea, headache, dizziness, faintness and extremely low blood pressure (87/54). My first Mirena was placed in October of 2001, 6 months after the birth of my last child. All went pretty well with no real bad complaints the first time other than the normal cramping and bleeding. I didn't even have headaches or moodiness (my doctor thinks it was because I was breast feeding at the time and the body produces a lot of natural progesterone during this). Things took a turn for me in 2003 though and have progressively gotten worse since; I have had so many crazy ailments (everything from muscle spasms, thinning hair to stabbing pains behind the eye) , that even I was beginning to think it was all in my head! It all started with an ovarian cyst that had to be surgically removed in Dec. 2003, from there I was diagnosed with high blood pressure and an extremely high heart beat rate in Sept. 2004 (on meds to current date). I get sick very easily now and I had gotten strep 3 times in the winter of 2006, so I had to have my tonsils and adenoids removed in March 2007. I have now been diagnosed with Raynauds Phenomenon and Glaucoma and suffer from an array of symptoms. My most recent mammogram showed that I have a lot of breast cysts now as well. I have been tested for MS, Lupus, Lime Disease, RA and many other things; everything comes up negative. Due to the current symptoms and symptoms I have had during the first Mirena (never made the connection until now) it prompted me to do some research. What I found was just shocking to me! The Mirena is made with a synthetic progesterone (progestin) called levonorgestrel. If you research this, you will find a huge list of possible adverse side effects; many of which I have suffered from. I have read many different sites and posts from countless people that have been affected by the Mirena. Most of these stories have a huge similarity to each other. I am now 10 days into these symptoms; yesterday I went to my Dr. because the symptoms were not getting any better and I wanted to discuss the possibility that most of my problems since 2003 may have been caused by the Mirena. My doctor did not confirm my suspicions, but she did not deny that it could be a possibility either. What occurred to both her and I was that I had left the first Mirena in longer than suggested; it should have been replaced around late 2006 to early 2007, but I was sick and had other surgery, so I just kept putting it off. Due to this, the effectiveness of the hormone progestin was wearing off over the past year or so; in the past 6 months (until now) I have been pretty much symptom free (that was why I had the Mirena replaced). The fact that my symptoms are suddenly back and in full force only 2 days after the insertion of the new Mirena, strongly suggests that the Mirena is responsible for most if not all my ailments. Over the last 6 months, even my blood pressure had gotten better and I had to lower my dosage of meds to compensate for the change; now my blood pressure is jumping all over the place again. I am now considering having the Mirena removed before it causes any other symptoms and completely ruins my life! It horrifies me to think that the Mirena is still on the market considering the potential it has to cause havoc on other peoples lives as it has mine.

Almost forgot here is the truth :
The side effects are : ******

SERIOUS side effect such as:
• severe cramps or pelvic pain;
• extreme dizziness, feeling like you might pass out;
• heavy or ongoing vaginal bleeding, vaginal sores, vaginal discharge that is watery, foul-smelling discharge, or otherwise unusual;
• severe pain in your side or lower stomach;
• pale skin, weakness, easy bruising or bleeding;
• fever, chills, or other signs of infection;
• pain during sexual intercourse;
• sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body;
• sudden or severe headache, confusion, problems with vision, sensitivity to light;
• jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
• signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

LESS SERIOUS side effects may include:
• irregular menstrual periods, changes in bleeding patterns or flow;
• breakthrough bleeding, or heavier menstrual bleeding during the first few weeks after device insertion;
• back pain;
• headache, nervousness, mild dizziness;
• nausea, vomiting, bloating;
• breast tenderness or pain;
• weight gain, acne, changes in hair growth;
• mood changes, loss of interest in sex;
• mild itching, skin rash; or
• puffiness in your face, hands, ankles, or feet.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur.

Drug Interactions

http://www.drugs.com/ppa/levonorgestrel.html

Laboratory Test Interactions
Endocrine tests may be affected. Sex hormone-binding globulin concentrations may be decreased; thyroxine concentrations may be slightly decreased and triiodothyronine uptake may be increased.
Adverse Reactions
Cardiovascular
Syncope, bradycardia, hypertension (intrauterine system).
CNS
Headache; nervousness; dizziness; decreased libido (intrauterine system).
Dermatologic
Dermatitis; acne; hirsutism; hypertrichosis; scalp hair loss; pain, itching, or infection near implant site.
GI
Nausea; change in appetite; abdominal discomfort.
Genitourinary
Prolonged, irregular, frequent, or scanty bleeding; spotting; amenorrhea; cervicitis; leukorrhea; vaginitis.
Metabolic
Weight gain.
Respiratory
Upper respiratory tract infection, sinusitis (intrauterine system).
Miscellaneous
Adnexal enlargement; mastalgia; breast discharge; implant removal difficulty; musculoskeletal pain.
Bleeding irregularities
Most women can expect variation in menstrual bleeding patterns.
Delayed follicular atresia
Follicle may grow beyond usual size and may resemble ovarian cyst.
Ectopic pregnancies
Have occurred, although relationship to drug is not established.
Intrauterine pregnancy
Risk of septic abortion, miscarriage, sepsis, premature labor, and premature delivery may be increased with the intrauterine system.
Ocular lesions
Retinal thrombosis has occurred with oral contraceptives; consider possibility in levonorgestrel users.
Perforation
Perforation of the uterus and cervix by the intrauterine system may occur.
Thromboembolic disorders
Remove capsules if thrombophlebitis or thromboembolic disease occurs. Consider removal in patients immobilized for prolonged periods.
Valvular/Congenital heart disease
Patients with certain types of valvular or congenital heart disease and surgically constructed systemic-pulmonary shunts are at increased risk of infective endocarditis, and use of the intrauterine system may represent a potential source of septic emboli.

YEP ! It's in there !

The side effects are: ******

Everyone has explained the exact symptoms as listed on these two websites. The Mirena website will not list these and the IUD is not marketed as such because let's face it, no one would use it, but if you study actual drug websites and the scientific facts of what the drug does , then you would not be surprised that your hair is falling out , your butt is getting big and you have no sex drive. These are "less serious side effects". But when we were all approached with the device, no one ever said "hey, it makes you cramp up and have strange tingling sensations in your extremities, accompanied by joint pain, but what the heck, it’s good for 5 years!" Pretty sure you would have said ..."huh? That doesn’t sound good to me”.

The hormone released in the IUD is levonorgestrel a synthetic, biologically active progestin. Progestins are hormones, an imbalance in hormones cause the same crappy side effects that you are having. This is why people feel better then they have the device removed, because you body goes back to making the correct hormone balance customized for YOU. Progestin is prescribed for male and female alike, guess what I’m not male!

I'm pretty sure that this "synthetic progestin”, is messing with my normal hormone creation. Although Dr's may disagree, I’m seeing a connection here.

So mine was inserted due to irregular periods , I had no other complaints and yes, now I have the weight gain , depression , join pain , etc ... but, I did go to a hormone specialist 1 year later , who did a hormone panel and found out that my hormones are out of whack ...due to the device?, or pre-device insertion? I have no idea, but now I am on hormone replacement therapy and guess what, symptoms are gone.

So my advice is this, if you just had a baby, had sudden period changes, or any medical reason why this evil thing was prescribed, or maybe, you were just fine and had this IUD inserted for birth control purposes and now all of a sudden you could care less about sex and taking this thing out for a test drive. PLEASE demand that your doctor due a blood test to determine your hormone or thyroid level to see if it is out of balance.

If you young, they won’t believe you, if your older or just had a baby, you have a better chance. But please explain , hey it’s just a simple blood test , if it comes back normal , hey the Dr is right, your crazy ,so move on to plan B which is taking the thing out, or If your right then 5 years of birth control is a great thing WITH corrected hormone levels.

HRT makes this uterine parasitic device much more manageable for me. The IUD did stop my heaving bleeding , abnormal periods and sever cramps for which I suffered for years , and I don’t want to take it out because I do not want to endure that same pain , so try a little estrogen , progesterone, testosterone , DHEA cocktail it worked for me and I hope it will work for someone who is have the same issue.

Commenting on the post earlier today. I decided to look into the Norplant (see below for more details) Now i found that development of my Mirena was done in part by the maker of the Norplant? Which has been pulled in the US and the UK after 50,000 people filed a class action suit (which was settle out of court)

Development and studies of the Mirena Coil began in the 1970s. Schering Health distributes Mirena outside the United States, while Berlex distributes it inside the United States. Both companies have worked with the Population Council, a that has worked with other contraceptive manufacturers (including Wyeth, maker of Norplant).
Mirena was first marketed commercially in Finland in 1990, but not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration until 2000. It is intended to initially release 20 micrograms of levonorgestral per day and may be used for five years. Sound familiar?
Norplant is a form of birth control was first approved in 1983 in Finland. The original Norplant consisted of a set of six small (2.4 mm x 34 mm) silicone capsules, each filled with 36 mg of levonorgestrel (a progestin used in many birth control pills) implanted subdermally in the upper arm and effective for five years. The original (6 capsule) Norplant's production has been phased out; USAID's contract ran until December 2006.
The original (6 capsule) Norplant was approved by the FDA in 1990 and marketed in the United States in 1991 by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. Norplant distribution in the United States ended in 2002; limited supplies still remained in the U.S. until 2004. Norplant was withdrawn from the UK market in 1999.
Side effects
After three months of using Norplant, women will need to schedule a follow-up appointment to monitor blood pressure and discuss any concerns. Side effects may include irregular menstrual periods for the first approximately three months, including periods lasting longer than normal, bleeding or spotting between periods, heavy bleeding, or going with no period for the mentioned period of time. Common side effects include weight gain, nervousness, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, mastalgia, dizziness, dermatitis/rash, hirsutism, scalp-hair loss, headache, depression, and acne. Sometimes, pain, itching or infection at the site of the implant will occur. Ovarian cysts may also occur, but usually do not require treatment, although they can cause pain even if benign.
Norplant discontinued in the United States
By 1996, more than 50,000 women had filed lawsuits, including 70 class actions, against Wyeth and/or its subsidiaries, or doctors who prescribed Norplant. Wyeth never lost a Norplant lawsuit.
On August 26, 1999, after winning 3 jury verdicts, 20 pretrial summary judgments and the dismissal of 14,000 claims, Wyeth offered out-of-court cash settlements of $1,500 each to about 36,000 women who contended that they had not been adequately warned about possible side effects of Norplant such as irregular menstrual bleeding, headaches, nausea and depression. Wyeth said that most of the plaintiffs experienced routine side effects described in Norplant's labeling information. About 32,000 women accepted the out-of-court $1,500 settlements.
At least they warned the user of these side effects and the no longer offer Norplant in the US

The Mirena* IUD, which its manufacturer calls an IUC (intra-uterine contraceptive) is being heavily promoted to young women in the U.S. as a wonderful high-tech, no muss, no fuss, put-it-in-and-forget-about-it for five years form of contraception. But it’s really just a levonorgestrel uterine implant, the same old side-effect ridden progestin that was in Norplant, a tiny implant that is injected into women’s upper arms and then causes many of them months if not years of misery.
MIRENA IS SAME AS NORPLANT

\ i had mirena 9 months and that was enough i know myself very good, so when i started changing i knew it was mirena. i almost ruin my marriage, with my bad moods. but what worry me later was that if YOU BREASTFEED IT WAS WOREST, THIS IS WHAT I FOUND ON BEWARE REPORT ON MIRENA. I WAS VERY UPSET CAUSE I BREAST FEED MY CHILD AND MY DR. DID NOT INFORM ME THIS!

could find that followed breastfeeding infants exposed to levonorgestrel (Norplant) was done in Norway and found that they had higher incidence rates of respiratory infections, skin conditions and eye infections than the control group, and later were found to have a higher proportion of “neurological conditions.”

To me it’s unthinkable to even consider exposing a nursing infant to any type of progestin. I would call this a form of corporate sociopathy—marketing without a conscience to unwitting, under-informed women who are just trying to responsibly avoid an unwanted pregnancy. Since the FDA is unlikely to take action against this practice it’s up to the rest of us to spread the word.
IF YOU BREASTFEED AND HAVE MIRENA READ THIS ABOVE

I am so happy to have found this site, I only wish I would have researched prior to having Mirena inserted. I have had The Mirena IUD for nearly three years. I thoroughly enjoyed having decreased flow and some months not having a period at all. However now I realize its probably one of the worst decisions I ever made. Only recently have I come realize that my fatigue, inability to concentrate, loss of memory, lack of interest in anything including sex, weight gain, constant yeast and bacterial infections were most likely due to the IUD and not due to anything that I was doing wrong. I have had bouts with depression and have been on meds for that, however it seemed like I was a basket case, over anxious and often times a nervous wreck. There were days recently where I was lethargic, lacked motivation to do anything. Then I'd have a good day, a day where I felt energized and thought, well maybe it was just the gloomy weather. Now I have come to realize it had to be the IUD. That is the only thing that makes sense. I made an appointment and got the IUD removed yesterday and already I can tell a difference in the way I feel. I woke up this morning feeling well rested for the first time in three years. I am looking forward to getting back to the "old me" rather than just a shell of of person that lacked motivation to do anything. I wish I would have investigated further and not listened to my Nurse Practitioner all these years that told me over and over that my symptoms were not the cause of the IUD.

I am so glad that i found this site. I was feeling like i am going CRAZY! I got the mirena after my third child Oct 2005. I can't wait to have it removed!!!! My story started by going to the doctor to find a good birth control. My doctor suggested the mirena, it sounded like the perfect method for me...up until today Oct 2008, i thought that it was perfect.
After the insertion everything was great until i started to feel like i was always pregnant(tender breast, nausea and vomiting, weight gain, and dizziness). I would report to doctor, have test run, simply told that i might have a stomach virus. Symptoms would come and go alone with now major hair loss, constant yeast infections, sore limbs, greasy oily skin, unexplained sweats, losing of 30 lbs, but gaining back 10 lbs in a month, bloated stomach, mood swings, unexplained sadness/depressions!!! I use to have long thick hair, but now i barely have any. My scalp is so sore and my hair is very dry and brittle. I thought that maybe i was just stressing myself and needed to take it easy. I started to grow very tired, drowsy with blurry vision, stressed-out, even slipped into deep depressions about any and everything. I would blow up on anyone for anything. I am so not feeling like myself....
After several OB-GYN and Dermatology appointments, I came to the conclusion that it might just be my so called "perfect" birth control. I expected my doctors to know the exact reason after i mentioned by birth control but they would always say that it was not likely to be the mirena. I will be having this removed this week. I just hope and pray that everything goes back to normal including all my beautiful thick hair.

I am not a Mirena user, but was seriously considering it until I came across this site, and read all these comments. I also came across a site warning that Mirena is a levonorgestrel uterine implant, the same progestin that was in Norplant (which is several small implants that are placed under the skin in the upper arm). Once I read that, I definitely would not try this form of birth control. I had Norplant implanted in my arm, many years ago, after the birth of my two children. It was horrible, there were maybe a few days out of the month that I had no bleeding or spotting. They said my period should regulate within 6mths, well I gave it almost 14mths, and couldn't take it anymore. Romoval was not quite as easy as implantation. I used to joke...that it was great birth control, who'd want to have sex when you have your period all the time, well it was no joke.
Read all these warnings, do research, glad I did. I would have made the same mistake I made 15yrs ago, with Norplant.

Very disappointed...I became Hypoglycemic!

My story: I became Hypoglycemic within weeks of having the Mirena inserted. My symptoms were; anxiety, shakiness,irritability and nightmares.
I went to a primary care doctor and then to a endocrinologist complaining of that my blood sugar was becoming a problem. I was aware of the feeling of low blood sugar because when I breast feed my two boys (ages now 7 and 10) I then easily became hypoglycemic. However, I have not had this problem since.
Both physicians thought that i had reactive hypoglycemia because my fasting glucose was within normal limits.I have a healthy diet but i changed my eating habits even further (e.g. gave up all caffeine, sweets, alcohol. I started eating more whole grains and had small meals every 3 hours).
Even though I change my eating habits the side effects still became worse.I was starting to get panic attacks, I had never had these before. During one of my worst panic attacks (9 months after I had the Mirena inserted) I called my sister. I kept saying "I don't know what is causing me to be so anxious, I have never been like this before." Well, that statement sank in, I started to think about what was different. The only thing was the Mirena. That night I look up side effects of the Mirena and came across several blogs all describing their disappointment and many speaking about anxiety related issues.
I have to say I felt relief. It was not going crazy. The following day I read the official FDA Mirena web-site and that is when I found out about the effects on blood glucose. It is stated that Levonorgestrel may effect glucose tolerance and the blood glucose. However, my gynecologist never mentioned this side effect so I was not aware of this potential reaction. Btw, I had told both the primary care doctor and the endocrinologist that I had a Mirena IUD but neither of them new about the effects to the blood glucose.
The other interesting thing I noticed on the official FDA Mirena site is that when the list the Adverse reactions (depression,nervousness, weight gain etc...) they say reported by 5% or more subjects...hmmm, MORE...i think that is a key word!
I had it removed one month ago and I am starting to feel better. From what I understand, it may take up to 3 months to get the Levonorgestrel to get completely out of the system. however, my hypoglycemia is starting to diminish, I recently had a cup of coffee without getting the shakes and I can now enjoy a glass of wine at night too. My anxiety is almost completely gone.

What a relief to have figured this out!

Increase in POCS and obesity due to young-age use of progesterones?2 March 2006

Ellen C G Grant,
physician and medical gynaecologist
Kingston-upon-Thames, KT2 7JU, UK
Send response to journal:
Re: Increase in POCS and obesity due to young-age use of progesterones?
Professor Balen and colleagues write that PCOS is increasing because more women are becoming obese.1 Progesterone use can cause rapid weight gain and many adolescent girls therefore refuse to continue taking the Pill.
In an attempt to cut the numbers of unplanned teenage pregnancies more longer-acting forms of progesterone are being used. Unfortunately depo medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) caused significantly greater weight gain with longer use in adolescent girls than the Pill. After 18 months obese girls gained 9 kg while non-obese girls gained 4 kg. The authors considered that the potential contribution of DMPA to severe obesity in adolescents is concerning.2 DMPA is reported to have no inherent oestrogenic or androgenic effects, which suggests that weight gain induced by DMPA is a progestogenic effect.
Use of progestogens can also increase the risk of PCOS. In the Walnut Creek Contraceptive Drug Study significantly more oral contraceptive users aged 18-39 had non-functioning ovarian cysts than never users (50/7506 with 4/2556).3 Fewer functioning cysts would be expected in users of progestogens designed to stop ovaries functioning. Use of fertility drugs can also cause ovarian cysts.
Progestogen use also increases the risk of diabetes. In a study of 210 women taking 150 µg levonorgestrel and 30 µg ethinyl oestradiol, 60% had stopped by 15 months and only 8% were current users at 3 years. Glucose tolerance tests deteriorated into the diabetic rangein 6 women but improved when oral contraceptives were stopped for side-effects including weight gain.4
It is reasonable that obese women with PCOS are not given fertility drugs risking more ovarian cyst development and further weight gain. Advice about weight reducing high protein/low allergy diets and life-style changes is preferable.
1 Balen AH, Dresner M, Scott EM, Drife JO. Should obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome receive treatment for infertility? BMJ 2006; 332: 434-435.
2 Bonny AE, Ziegler J, Harvey R, et al. Weight gain in obese and nonobese adolescent girls initiating depot medroxyprogesterone, oral contraceptive pills, or no hormonal contraceptive method. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2006; 160: 40-5.
3 Ramcharan S. Pellegrin RR, Hsu J-P, et al. Walnut Creek Contraceptive Drug Study 1981; Center for Population Research Monograph; Vol 111: P 162.
4 Wynn V. Effects of duration of low-dose oral contraceptive administration on carbohydrate metabolism. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1982: 142: 739-43.
Competing interests: None declared

Thanks, Mo! ;)

Hello everyone. I have had my mirena in for 2 years now and have absolutely no desire for sex at all. I decided to google the Mirena side effects to see what I could find and this site came up. Let me tell you all your story sound just like mine, but the one symptom that I haven't seen is having symptoms similar to Lactose intolerance or Gluten intolerance. I did find this ****** website and it specifically states "Glucose Tolerance
Levonorgestrel may affect glucose tolerance, and the blood glucose concentration should be monitored in diabetic users of Mirena ." Now I am not a diabetic, but my family Dr. said that I had all the symptoms of being Glucose intolerant. I was tested and came out negative. Also all my symptoms increase the longer I go with out a period. I usually go 2 months without, as soon as I have it it is like my body come back to normal for a week.
Now my husband is all about permanent solutions, so I told him that I was ready for a more permanent birth control. snip snip. I am planning on having mine taken out this year. I just want my body back.

Oh this website that I have attached is the actual Official FDA information sheet that we don't get to see, but the doctor does. Make sure you read the adverse reactions. Here they are so if you don't get to the website.

Adverse Reactions
The most serious adverse reactions associated with the use of Mirena are discussed above in the Warnings section. Others are presented in the Precautions section. Other adverse events reported by 5% or more subjects include:

Abdominal pain Upper respiratory infection
Leukorrhea Nausea
Headache Nervousness
Vaginitis Dysmenorrhea
Back pain Weight increase
Breast pain Skin disorder
Acne Decreased libido
Depression Abnormal Pap smear
Hypertension Sinusitis

Other reported adverse reactions occurring in less than 3% of patients include: failed insertion, migraine, vomiting, anemia, cervicitis, dyspareunia, hair loss, eczema.

******

Since any links to other sites are going to be deleted, I will copy the texts here:

Mirena: the other side of the story
AAA Ewiesaa Consultant Gynaecologist, The Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust, Suffolk, UKa Consultant Gynaecologist, The Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust, Suffolk, UK
Sir,

I read with interest the article by Halmesmaki et al.1 that only 48.7% of women randomised to the levonorgestrel (LNG)-releasing intrauterine system Mirena, kept it in situ until their 5 years follow-up visit, while the rest either had it prematurely removed (8.5%) or underwent a hysterectomy (42.7%). It supports the growing evidence that women’s satisfaction with Mirena (Schering Health, Newbury, UK) is limited. I do not find this surprising. A colleague and myself previously reported (as an abstract) a survey including 160 Mirena users in Suffolk in which we found that 46% of women had had the system removed within 3 years of insertion (median duration = 260.5 days; range = 4–1460 days). The most common reasons for early removal were unscheduled bleeding, abdominal pain and progestogenic adverse effects; including bloatedness, headache, weight gain, depression, breast tenderness, excessive hairiness, greasiness of skin and lack of sexual interest.2 Our data related to a selected population who had the Mirena inserted under general anaesthetic after hysteroscopic examination of uterine cavity to exclude lesions, such as submucous fibroids. I would expect the continuation rate to be lower in women having the system inserted without prior exclusion of intrauterine pathology. The satisfaction rate in our cohort of women, as assessed by visual analogue scale of 0–10 cm, was only 49% (unpublished data).

Halmesmaki et al.1 reasonably attributed the detrimental effect of Mirena on the sexual function to the higher incidence of lower abdominal pain in users when compared with those who underwent hysterectomy. Furthermore, the decreased satisfaction of sexual partners could be due to the inhibiting effect of the irregular bleeding, which is the most common adverse effect of using Mirena.2,3 The observed decrease in women’s sex drive could also be due to the systemic effect of the progestogen absorbed into the circulation, indirectly affecting the sexual partner. The argument used by the authors that serum concentration of LNG is extremely low and that its influence on ovarian function is limited has been disputed recently by many investigators. Xiao et al.4 found that Mirena was associated with substantial systemic absorption of LNG and recorded serum levels of around 500 pmol/l. This is equivalent to two LNG-containing ‘minipills’ taken daily on a continuous basis. Moreover, a retrospective observational study documented that 21% of Mirena users experienced progestogenic adverse effects.3 Wahab and Al-Azzawi5 reported that Mirena suppresses oestrogen production, inducing a clinical situation similar to a premature menopause in at least 50% of treated women. The prolonged oestrogen deprivation will have a profound negative effect on women’s sex drive, which may explain the sexual partners’ decreased satisfaction.

In fact, despite the popularity of Mirena as a contraceptive method and in treating menorrhagia, the continuation rate and women satisfaction level have not been adequately assessed in the UK population. A large well-designed study is required to evaluate these important factors so that women can be adequately counselled. The idea that Mirena works entirely as a local source of progestogen should be revised, and the recent concerns about Mirena should be made clear to women regardless of the marketing pressures.5

AAA Ewiesaa Consultant Gynaecologist, The Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust, Suffolk, UK

I am 3 weeks post removal and I am still experiencing aches and pains throughout my body, still have the 10lb weight gain, some mood swings and extreme tiredness and some periodic bloating...I am fed up! I have 2 questions: Has anyone found anything about this hormone levonorgestrel and how long it takes to get out of your system? Second, if anyone knows of any suits against these people, let me know because this is really interfering with my life and with my children and my boyfriend!! This is ridiculous, I didn't know about all of this crap prior to getting the Mirena and wouldn't have gotten it if I did know, and I am still paying for it after removal! Please let me know...thanks!! : )

******

Under the link I just mentioned you can find this:
Sir,

Kingman et al.'s success in controlling menorrhagia in women with inherited bleeding disorders (BJOG 111:1425–1428) echoes numerous reports in women without complicating haematological conditions. However, they ignore the metabolic effects. The LNG-IUS is associated with high systemic absorption of the progestogen, and serum levels of levonorgestrel (LNG) have been recorded around 511 pmol/L.1 This is the equivalent of two LNG-containing minipill tablets daily continuously. LNG suppresses Apolipoprotein AI (Apo AI) formation by inhibiting the ABCA1 transporter protein.2 The synthesis of Apo AI is a fundamental step in the initiation of reverse cholesterol transport, which is enhanced by oestradiol and statins and when deficient, the ensuing atherosclerosis in animal models can be reversed by the administration of Apo AI.3

The epidemiological observation of the relationship of breast cancer with the use of progestogen only contraceptives goes to the 1980s,4 but these were mentally rejected by many physicians because it did not conform with the doctrine of ‘oestrogen induced’ mammary carcinogenesis. The validity of the latter hypothesis was challenged in a randomised clinical trial of oestrogen only treatment5 and a wealth of biological data show that progesterone and progestogens in general and LNG in particular being established mammary epithelial mitogens.

The LNG-IUS also suppresses oestrogen production, inducing a clinical situation not unlike a premature menopause in at least 50% of treated women. Oestrogen deprivation for the number of years such treatment is being administered will have a profound effect on bone mass and vascular reactivity. Similar concerns have recently been widely circulated regarding the use of depot MPA contraceptive preparations.

Given that it is unlikely that a randomised controlled trial of the size of the Women's Health Initiative one will ever be mounted to test the long term effects of the LNG-IUS, caution is required, particularly in treating older women, for whom treatment may bring forward the menopause.

The idea that LNG-IUS works entirely as a local progestogen should be revised, and patients and doctors should be warned about the metabolic and carcinogenic risks, whatever the marketing pressures.

May WahabaaObstetrics and Gynaecology, George Eliot Hospital, Nuneaton, Warwickshire, UK & Farook Al-AzzawibbObstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospitals of Leicester, Leicestershire, UK

mirena DOES NOT prevent ovulation!! meaning you will still ovulate, but the sperm and egg cannot implant themselves which in turn will cause a miscarriage!! This is the same for all iud's, For some unknown reason docs will not tell you this, but my doctor did and strongly advises not to use iuds!! You will get pregnant! You may think your having a heavy period but really you could be passing a dead fetus! Sorry to be so blunt, please do research before you choose this method of birth control

I had the Mirena put in six weeks after having our daughter, on June 30th, 2006. I never was able to loose weight, and felt very bloated, moody, with pains in my sides (ovary level), and then in the Fall of 2007, I noticed a significant loss of vision in my left eye. I went through $40,000 worth of hospital visits, and one 8-day stay, to figure out that the Mirena had caused a rather large blood clot to form on the outside of my brain in the main vein that crosses over the top outside brain. I have suffered from multiple ER visits with migraines lasting up to 72 hours, even after shots and meds. I have been going to the University of Colorado Hospital for treatment and it has taken over six months to get me on a medication regiment that will hopefully alleviate my debilitating headaches and now am living with the possibility that my vision may never get better in my left eye. The Dr.'s I have seen: an eye surgeon, a Neurologist, a Neuro-ophthalmologist, a Retinal Specialist, and the multiple local MD's. The tests run on my body and head have been very extensive, including blood tests, multiple MRI's and the final MRVenagram that tests the flow and drainage of and around my brain that found the blood clot and have ruled out everything from MS, to Pseudotumor Cerebri (which is a lifelong disease offering only pain management for the most part), as well as a macular deterioration related with people over fifty, not 24, they have also ruled out any pre-existing tendency for being prone to blood clots . This has been the scariest thing of my life and so consuming and debilitating, that I would never recommend the Mirena to anyone. I have missed so much work and the traveling to doctors have been a drain on our financial situation. This kind of information needs to get out there because Dr's are denying any relation to the Mirena. My Dr's have definitely diagnosed my problem as the Mirena. The swelling of spinal fluid was my body trying to protect itself and that swelling caused such great pressure on my optic nerve that my macula, where a person has central and fine detail and focusing, wrinkled in a layer of my eye that cannot be operated on. I can no longer read out of my left eye and the stress that created for my right eye is a contributor to the migraines. I also see double at night, when lights or signs are illuminated by the headlights of my car. I am seeing two images! This is very hard to accept and not being able to read for very long also upsets me. The likelihood of my vision repairing on its own is slim to none. Thanks Mirena. SO please, please help the word get out!!!! Also caution anyone you know who is planning on getting the Mirena, or who has one in to be aware of any changes. My experience has been very extreme but maybe women out there are going through the same things I have been and no one will recognize the relation to the Mirena. I am only glad my Dr. was willing to admit the Mirena was the cause.

Thanks for the update Davenport 4! Today is day 3 following removal for me, and I have a few things to report. First, the morning after removal, I swear it felt like my back "unlocked." Felt good to be able to stretch again. I still have back pain, but have begun to stretch my back to help strengthen the muscles, and today, the pain is almost gone. I'm also still experiencing swelling, but it seems to be improving little by little. I continued spotting, but I would likely have had more spotting anyway since I was at day five of my period when it was removed. And I also have flu-like (well, more like hay fever) symptoms and constant headaches, still a bit fuzzy and lethargic, but definitely more energy. I've begun running up the hill with my dog every day. Still need the occasional nap, but have slept soundly throughout the nights. I've continued to do more research, and was frustrated when I kept reading about the benefits of progestin treatment...I hate being one of those who it doesn't seem to help. The synthetic progestin used in the Mirena is Levonorgestrel. All synthetic progestins produce side effects, including weight gain, headaches, and there's some concern about it's effect on bone density loss. Even Mirena acknowledges that they're not sure how or why it works. I feel like a lab rat. There are natural progesterone treatments available, and micronization (crystalizing progesterone) appears to help absorption; however, even natural progesterone has side effects. These are hormones...not nutritional supplements. From what I understand, some of us are more sensitive to hormonal imbalances by introduction of external hormones, and it's just a matter of finding a doctor who's willing to work through natural options. Think I'm going to try a diet high in natural progesterone (broccholi, for example) and exercise to combat this crazy time of life. Will keep checking back.

Ok, I am glad I found this site! I have been having constant breast pain. on only my right side on top of my breast and on the side near my arm pit. It is only the right breast/right side. I think it is my Mirena too, but I have had the thing over a year. I am so afraid of having/getting Breast Cancer. I am a 26 yr old mommy of two little boys 5 and 1, plus a 12 yr old stepson who lives with me and my hubby. I called the Dr. today to make an appointment to have my breast checked.

I didn't read every single post, but **Is anyone else having breast pain like I explained? Mine started about two months ago...(right after my last pap/physical). I am so nervous. I have gained so much weight. I am bigger now than right after I delivered my 17 month old. Its all in my stomach. I have no sex drive and my BOOB hurts!!!!!

please let me know if any one else is experiencing this.
thanks!!!

I had Mirena in for 3 1/2 years. The first year was basically a fog. I started spotting, moodiness was ok, bad acne. The next 1 1/2 years I experienced light bleeding, acne , slight dizziness, some fatigue. On the third year that I was on mirena that's when things began getting worse. Around a month after my 38th birthday I started getting really bad symptoms. The worst part was the Dizziness. I got severe headaches, major dizziness, moodiness, less patience with everyone, weight gain, increased appetite, depression, fatigue during day, nervousness, panic attacks, some hair loss, bleeding gums. The dizziness was the worst. I would get panic attacks along with the dizziness. This especially got worse around time of period. I noticed just before I was scheduled to get my period I would get these crazy dizzy spells and anxiety. I have had numerous test and gone to Cardiologists, Nuerologist, Gyno. The gyno's are the worst. They deny that it is the mirena. However, I have been doing some research by myself and have come across many websites like this one. Most of the women who have been on Mirena have had the same symptoms that I have had. The one symptom that I did not here of was bleeding gums. During my pregnancy I noticed that I would bleed when brushing my teeth. Of course this is normal because of hormones. However, about a year after I gave birth to my daughter my gums were still bleeding. I was on mirena for about 6 months already. The dentist had me go in 4 times a year, because he was concerned. They thought it was bizzare that I had this promblem at 38, Wanted to know if anyone else experienced this? Also, wanted to disclose that in the early years of mirena I was taking Prozac. Around the second or third year of mirena I started to be a little forgetful about taking the prozac daily. This may be a reason why my panic attacks came on strong around third year.

I was using Mirena for 1 year, since I had it inserted I felt discomfort and pain, I talked to my OB GYN, but he said that was normal, after months I developed an allergy on my pubic area, so I went to a Dr. recently and he removed it, he told me that I have an allergic reaction to levonorgestrel (the releasing hormone from mirena). Another side effect was pain during and after sex.