Light periods symptoms and conditions

I've had my Mirena in for about a month now, and honestly, it hasn't given me any problems. Of course I had cramps in the first week, and spotting for the first 3 months or whatever...but I can truly say that I love this birth control, and I hope not to get the negative side effects like most of these women. If you are considering the Mirena for birth control, talk with your doctor. If you have problems, talk with your doctor...if you're pissed off because you feel like you wasted your money, maybe you should take a second to think about it...neither you nor your doctor can look into a crystal ball to find out how something will effect you. But please, if you are considering the Mirena, don't decide against it because what a bunch of middle-aged women (with less than healthy reproductive systems) said. I'm 20 years old, and this IUD is a blessing.

First off, the side effects listed are not the norm....the "no periods" or very short periods, are the concept of Loestrin 24. Very short, very light periods. The moodiness are often side effects of the YAZ, the other 24 day pill. This is because the progestin dominance of YAZ. Loestrin 24 is known for the very short, very light periods, less side effects due to the shortened time off the pill. The side effects you read are unfortunate (make sure your pharmacist is not switching to a generic - even though there is no generic equivalent) but for the most part, these side effects are RARE!

Hello,
Just thought I would add some pro nuvaring commentary to the chorus of horror stories here. I've been on the nuvaring for about two years now and so far I have no babies (yay!) and no side effects I could confidently link to the ring. Like most women I get headaches (about once a week or so), experience pms, and my sex drive is not what it was in the first few weeks of my relationship but I'm unwilling to ascribe any of these 'side effects' soley to the ring. In particular I find it difficult to believe as some of your postings indicate that the side effects of the ring seem to be worse than the pill- depression, weight gain (in one post 40-50 lbs!), headaches, etc. when the dosage or hormones is lower. So I guess simply put, I am satisfied with the ring and although it's not my place to criticize another woman's choice of birth control, I wouldn't let these posts scare you away from what is, in my experience, the best form of hormonal birth control based on its user-friendliness and lower dosage of hormones.

I had minor cramping when I first got the Mirena put in. But, it was much milder than when I get period cramps. I didn't have any trouble with it (unless you count extremely light periods as a bad thing) until I did air travel (cross country airplane flights). Now, keep in mind, I travel a fair amount by car & have had zero Mirena issues from sitting in a cramped position for hours in car travel. Flying on the airplane caused really weird lower back cramping that put my out of a lot of activities. It was quite definitely core muscles cramping severely, to the point of pulling my lower back vertebrae & tailbone slightly out of alignment. After 3 weeks of pain, I finally went to a chiropractor & got realigned. This has happened with 2 flights thus far out of 4 (it doesn't seem to happen on short 1 hour or less flights). I have NO idea why this happens. I normally have no issues when flying. The mirena is the only thing that's changed. I can only assume it's the combination of the position when in a plane seat for so long & the mirena. Maybe it's poking one of my fibroids in that position?

Mirena has had zero effect on my PMS. PMS is just as bad as without any BC. My acne is just as bad as it is w/o BC. I guess I need Retin A & Midol. LOL

Things to keep in mind when reading the above: I've never had a child. I've been pregnant once & miscarried. I'm in my early 30s. I'm a light smoker. I have uterine fibroids. I rarely drink. I have lupus. Some of these things may or may not have an effect on what happened to me. So, keep that all in mind.
Also, as with all of these experiences, keep in mind it's personal experiences & we're all unique individuals. I'm keeping my Mirena because this is the only big issue I've had & I don't travel a lot.

I have been on yaz for about 5 or 6 months now and it was great at first since coming off low estrine, I was havening serious side effects, but starting yaz it was awesome for the first few months now i have huge waves of nausea, constipation, back ache, some headaches, EXTREME mood swings, and depression*, bloating, my breast are always sore, i have gone up a cup size, my boyfriend cant stand to be around me! i have no drive any more, im just tired and my stomach hurts all the time i still have bad cramps, even though i have no acene any more and i have light periods all these problems are making me feel worried that i am pregnant all the time even though i take bc like i should i still don't trust bc so we still wear condoms, so i no that im not. i thought i had everything wrong with me,i have gone to several doc. but they found nothing i have IBS also so suposably my stomach was hurting from that. i know when my IBS has kicked in and thoughts pains were not it. but all these post i keep reading have really brought light to this pill. everyone i know thinks im going crazy and i know i am. i have never complained so much in my life about how bad i feel and its on a daily basis for me now! im going to stop at the end of this month hopefully ill feel ten times better then i have been. i want my old self back!!! im so glad i took the time to find out about my bc and its side effects and all the post i have read about this horrible pill. it feels great knowing im not the only one!

I love Yasmin! I've been taking it for over a year now (I'm 31). I have little to no pms, super light periods, perfect skin, and no weight gain from taking this. My only complaints would be that I do get mild, dull headaches in the temple areas of my head more often than I ever remember. They're not bad though, and they don't ever last long. They're just annoying. Also, I noticed my period doesn't show up til day 4 of the placebo pill, which can be a little nerve wracking.

My 3 close friends, 2 sisters and a sister in law of mine all take Yasmin and none of us have ever had any major complaints about it. :)

I was on Orthocept pills for 10 years with no problems. Short, light periods, no PMS. I can have a temper, but it was when I was younger and in the middle of a fight. That being said...I gave birth to twin daughters in November 2005. 9 months later, I stopped breastfeeding and had to go back on birth control. My old pill didn't work and neither did 3 others (included Yaz). I bled almost the entire month. I was crabby and irritable, but mostly frustrated. It was a horrible 1 1/2 years. 6 months ago I was put on Nuvaring because it should produce no side effects for the most part. Besides heavy discharge (which I could live with if I wasn't bleeding all month), I had heavier periods. I also noticed I was starting to get some nasty PMS, which I've NEVER had in my entire life. I was moody and irritable and cried even more easily than normal. Lately, I've been lashing out at my sweet girls and yelling at them. At first I thought it was because they are going through the difficult "2's" and mealtime is a struggle. I thought, they are more challenging so my patience is worn a little thinner. My husband has a different story. We've both noticed nasty mood swings and it's gotten to the point in the past month that I feel bi-polar. I really feel out of control. My doc said to go off it for a few months to see how I am. This is my "period" week and all of a sudden I've had a little period. I haven't been able to get my hormones under control since giving birth and it's frustrating. My husband wants his wife back and I don't want my girls to remember me yelling and crying for no reason. THAT'S enough to make anyone depressed on their own. I'm not sure what we are going to do for birth control at this point (condoms I guess...which is no fun when you are used to not using them). I will see what happens. I hope it's not the Nuvaring, but after seeing these posts, I feel a little better knowing I may be able to get rid of some of my craziness over the next few months as my body goes back to "normal". Good luck to the rest of you as well. I love being a woman, but boy, we get the short end of the stick sometimes!

I had an experience with Loestrin 24 Fe that caused me to have to stop taking it. I'm 43, in good health, non-smoker, no weight issues, no blood pressure issues. My longtime OB/GYN said that there were 2 types of BC pills for women "of my age", Yaz and Loestrin 24 Fe. He mentioned that more women have reported to him that they had sex drive issues with Yaz but that more were reporting skin (acne) issues with the Loestrin....figuring it was counter to the point if I had low sex drive issues, I opted for the Loestrin. Started on it in March of last year...spotted pretty much every day for 6 weeks...then moderate spotting with light "periods". At about month 3, I started having moderate headaches. At month 5, I was in a movie theater seeing a movie with my boyfriend and all of a sudden, I felt what was like a wave of heat start at my toes and radiated up to my head....and then I felt paralyzed....couldn't move and felt like the room was spinning. An hour later when the movie was over, I was having trouble walking straight and remained shaky and dizzy. The next day, I had a migraine for only the 2nd time in my life, the first one having been 4 years earlier. Went to my regular doctor the next week and she gave me some migraine meds and told me that my blood pressure was up and my blood sugar was off the charts. She advised me that if I stopped taking the pill, it could make my symptoms worse. At this point, I was at my 4 days with the brown iron pills. To test the theory, once my 4 days were done, I took the first white pill of a new pack. Within 30 minutes, it felt like someone had hit me in the back of the head with a 2 x 4! That was all I needed to know. Later that week, I went in to give blood for a cholesterol test and to do a glucose tolerance test (never had any issues with this in my life to this point). The glucose tolerance test results were normal but my cholesterol was 239. That was July. Called my OB/GYN and he said no more pill...we could try the Mirena IUD once I had my next cycle. Went to see him in Sept to have it installed but ended up having it removed the first week of Feb of this year because I was dizzy, bloated, had acne, had severe headaches again, was extremely fatigued and my sex drive was in the toilet. The day it was removed, my stomach flattened back out and my fogginess lifted. Sex drive is back, skin is clear...feel like a real person again...AND my cholesterol was down to 196 without any real changes. My research tells me that the estrogen has an effect on your blood lipids so for me it impacted my cholesterol. The progestins in both the Loestrin and in the Mirena are what gave me the headaches.....I just can't take that drug. Good luck to all of you....I just don't think most of us "of a certain age" can take hormonal birth control.

I thought Yasmin was great. I took it for about 3 years. I had light periods, no pain, no weight gain. I wanted to try Yaz, though, because I can get quite emotional before my period. I've been on it for about 5 months now and have had painful periods, headaches before my period, breakouts on my face, and weight gain. So I am switching back to the Yasmin. I think everyone reacts differently and pills aren't for everyone so you just have to shop around and try different ones before you find the one that's right for you. I took Ortho-Novum in my late teens, early-20's and I gained weight from that, too.

I have had my Mirena IUD in for 5 years now, and am having it removed tomorrow - yay!!! The only thing I'm NOT looking forward to is the contraction to have it removed (my Doctor reminded me to take a pain killer 1 hour before removal!). Whilst I have had a relatively good time on the Mirenda IUD and didn't have a single period once it was inserted - compared to a friend who also had hers in for 5 years and still had monthly light periods - I am beginning to put 2 + 2 together and have seen the reason for some of my "medical" problems as being linked to the Mirena!

I have had a decreasing sex drive for the past 5 years - which my husband says is "psychological" and I should be able to "think" myself into wanting sex!!! (I've told him that us women don't think about sex every minute like men do and it is impossible for me to feel like making love in the build up to actually doing it!!) I have also experienced weight gain - I am the heaviest I have ever been and my diet hasn't changed much from before I had the Mirena put in!

I think it may work for some people, and I am glad I have tried it; but I certainly don't intend to get another Mirena after I have this one removed!

I wrote earlier about having a nose bleed after having the IUD removed.... Today (3 days later) I have had massive bleeding and lots of clots. It is weird because I haven't had a period in soooooo long but also because I have always had really light periods. I will be glad when this is over!

I stopped taking Aviane in December 2007, and have never felt better. I was on it for 15 months or so, and experienced all of the other side effects listed below. The only good thing was really light periods. Actually that is why I stopped - I missed a period and was worried I was pregnant. Within a few days of going off Aviane, I realized that I felt like a normal human being again. While on Aviane, my skin was a mess and I felt lethargic all the time. The worst part was the mood swings and anger. One day I sort of stepped outside myself while I was screaming my head off at my husband, and thought "This isn't me! I'm not angry person!" Since stopping Aviane, I haven't had even one moment of uncontrollable rage. Its really reassuring to read all the other comments about this pill: I know it wasn't me, its the pill!

I just wanted to give an alternative perspective to the comments on this board.

I've been on Yaz for two months, and I'm very happy with it. The first week or so wasn't great: weird muscle aches, fatigue, lightheadedness occasionally. I had light brownish discharge/spotting for about a week. The second week I had some striking headaches, and over the first two weeks I lost 10 pounds (water weight).

But since then it's been smooth sailing. My period came exactly on time and lasted about 2.5 days. I no longer have any symptoms besides breast tenderness (akin to what my breasts felt like before my period, before).

So - keep in mind when you're reading these negative comments that usually the happy folks don't feel the need to post!

I have been taking Loestrin24Fe for about a year and 2 months. Everything was going fine, no adverse side effects, just lighter shorter periods, until about the 8th month...when I skipped my period. I freaked out, however, was not pregnant, and continued to have either normal or real light periods after that. Now, about 14 months into taking the pill, I skipped my period again (2 negative pregnancy tests), and have been feeling anxious, and moody to the point where it's scaring me, I don't know why I have been acting the way I have...depressed...moody...anxious. I'm going to the gyn tomorrow -while I'm there I'm gonna ask if i should stay on it or what is going on? I'm afraid to switch to another pill..they all have their horror stories it seems. but I'm afraid to stay on this also.
does anyone know why a doctor may say its "normal?"
thanks!

After being diagnosed with PCOS, my doctor prescribed Aviane about 8 years ago for me after I had bad side effects from other BC pills (nausea, weight gain). Because of my fear of being nauseous, I began taking it after dinner. Now after 8 years, I have had no notable side effects, light periods, and some weight loss. This is great for me because with PCOS there can be weight gain, and BC pills help eliminate that.
Hope this helps some of you. I refuse to take anything else.

acne; shortness of breath; very light periods; more moody than usual

Like many of you on this forum, I am glad to have found this site! First though, I would like to say that I understand not every one taking Yasmin experiences the same side effects. I understand that some women probably have wonderful experiences with this medication. However, it frustrates me that while some women might have good experiences with this drug, I think the potential for SEVERE side effects other women could experience should be much more emphasized and researched. The pamphlet inside the Yasmin packaging briefly touches on what they advertise as rare side effects that overall outweigh the benefits of this drug. I think many of the side effects listed on this forum are not even mentioned in the packet. Personally, I believe I have had a horrible experience taking Yasmin for the past 8 months. It is very frustrating to take a medication that advertises itself to help symptoms (such as MOOD SWINGS) and in fact, causes many of these horrible symptoms in some women! I am so sick of the multi-billion dollar prescription drug industry (which seems severely under-regulated by the FDA.) Has anyone seen the fancy Yaz birth control commercial? You know, with the "we're not gonna take it" song? All those skinny models prancing around in a PMS-free world??? OMG PLEASE!!! I can't believe it has taken me this long to realize all of my horrible symptoms have started and only worsened during my time on Yasmin. I thought this pill wasn't related because my skin looks beautiful, I haven't had bad cramps anymore, I've had light periods, and my boobs have gotten bigger. Sounds great, huh? But since taking Yasmin I have also had such horrible mood swings I can't control myself. I feel like a completely different person. I've become extremely impatient, irritated by everyone on this planet, I can't concentrate, and I have looked so bloated at times several people assumed I was pregnant. My self-esteem is ridiculously low, I hate myself, my mirrors, and I accuse my loving boyfriend of the most ridiculous things. I don't see how he even puts up with me! I have become so depressed I rarely want to go out. I'm EASILY offended by the slightest comments and ridiculously paranoid. It is also very hard to go out when many of my clothes (even my "fat pants" do not fit anymore!) I have thought I was crazy, almost quit my job, left my boyfriend, and seriously wanted to kill myself. I'm aware that many of these symptoms could be caused by other things, but honestly, I have contemplated so many other potential causes (such as major depression) and I realize every thing has started during these past months I've been taking Yasmin. I am 21 years old, I do not smoke, and have generally great health. I feel entirely overwhelmed...I honestly don't know what to do.

Hallelujah, its OUT!

I got mine out today!!! I made sure to take ibuprofen before I went in and thank heavens the removal was NOTHING like the insertion! Quick, easy and pretty painless!
I sure wish I could go "au naturel' at this point but my husband and I just can not risk pregnancy right now. I am grudgingly going to start on a low hormone pill on Sunday...

I will post in the future to share what changes happen now that the thing is gone!

Good luck to all you ladies!

9/25/07 (Previous post)

I am 26 yrs old and I have been on Nuvaring for about 3-3 1/2 years. I thought this was the greatest thing not having to remember the pill and the short light periods. I have always sworn by this BC! I have been having side effects I never thought came from the ring until now. I have read a lot of the side effects others are having and I think my lack of sexual desire for the past 1 1/2 yrs. MAY be due to Nuvaring and not my getting married 2 yrs. ago. (lol) I also have headaches often, not bad ones but enough to carry Tylenol in my purse. And another is dryness before intercourse, that I never had a problem with 2 yrs. ago. I never put two and two together until I racked my brain and wondered why I struggled so badly with my lack of sexual desire. I could care less if I have sex or not! That just wasn't me 2 yrs ago! I just couldn't figure out what had changed, going back on any medicines I had taken the past 2 yrs., the Nuvaring is the only thing that was constant. I have a Dr. Appt today and I am going to discontinue use of the ring and see if the side effects subside like they have for some others. I will post again when I have an update. Please let me know if anyone else is having the side effects more than a year after using the Nuvaring!! Thanks!

UPDATE 11/8/07

I took my Nuvaring out for good on Sept 29. Started on Wed Oct 3rd. And with the advise of my OB/GYN this would be my last period with the Nuvaring. We decided to go hormone free for a while. I no longer have the dryness I did before while on the ring and my sex drive is coming back around, I actually enjoy sex again. Daily head aches are a thing of the past. Things seem to be much better now off the Nuvaring. I started this time just a few days late with a fill blown period. Not the little light "Nuvaring Period" that I had for over 3 yrs. Welcome to life without hormones! Any side effects going off the Nuvaring?? I have had is a few days of my nipples being sensitive, that went away. I am looking forward to seeing what this next month brings without all of the bad side effects. When I decide to use birth control again, I guess I will choose to choke down the pill again. Until then....I'm FREE!

Had mirena inserted Jan '05. Spotting and such for months afterwards but overall have been pretty happy. Love having such light periods, but I said to hubby this morning that I feel like my pmt is getting longer and longer. At the start I had breast tenderness, bloating, and feeling down for a few days. This month breast tenderness, bloating, and mood changes seem to have started 10 days before expected period. In addition I have been seeing a skin specialist for acne for over a year and still can't seem to get on top of it. Most important for me though is that for the past 18 months I have had trouble with my voice (my voice feels deep and thick and talking is often uncomfortable and I can't possibly sing). Have seen heaps of different specialists and had stacks of tests but there doesn't seem to be any physical reason for the problems. Has any one else had voice problems?

I have been on mirena now for 10 months. I was on the depo for 10 years prior. I loved my depo adn only went off of it after Kaiser said I could not do it any longer. I was told that mirena was a god send and a lot like my depo. I can say that the combination of depo and mirena I have not had any period at all. but that is where the happiness ends. I have experienced moths of breast pain. it hurt to touch them let alone put anything on them. after about 6 months and numerous trips to the vet it disappeared. then I got a small rash on my neck and by my arms. went to dermatology and since then I have been there, or to my primary or an allergist every week since then. the rough severley itchy skin is constant. remarkably every 29 - 32 days it fades for 2 days or so and just when I am sure it is going away wham back it comes and each time it is getting worse and worse. having never had any skin problems before I believed the doctors tha tit was folliculitus, then they said dermatitus, then they said uticaria and then hives or the last straw i was causing it that it was in my head. i just got a new allergist and while she doesn't knwo if it is my mirena she can tell me I have histamine levels that are off the chart. my husband is allergic to a lot so we already use free & clear everything and my housse is spotless but I am still being told it is soemthing I am doing to myself. I have also been reevaluating my things and I relaize I have been experiencing a lot of numbness and joint pain. so much so that my primary sent me to a rhuematlogist and he ran every test for lupus, and many other diseaeses adn even cancer. I was going crazy. Iwas beginning to think maybe I was mental. I have since been researching mirena and I am finding it so much more than what the pamphlet says. I finally got the nerve to call my ob, adn she ahs since been researching things with me and we know for sure that no matter what next week I get my mirena removed. I am just feeling so alone and depressed. I am 33 years old and instead of enjoying my new marriage I am contemplating a divorce becasue I do not want him to be stuck with soemone who might be crazy. seeking support and anyone else who feels this way.

I am 26 yrs old and I have been on Nuvaring for about 3-3 1/2 years. I thought this was the greatest thing not having to remember the pill and the short light periods. I have always sworn by this BC! I have been having side effects I never thought came from the ring until now. I have read a lot of the side effects others are having and I think my lack of sexual desire for the past 1 1/2 yrs. MAY be due to Nuvaring and not my getting married 2 yrs. ago. (lol) I also have headaches often, not bad ones but enough to carry Tylenol in my purse. And another is dryness before intercourse, that I never had a problem with 2 yrs. ago. I never put two and two together until I racked my brain and wondered why I struggled so badly with my lack of sexual desire. I could care less if I have sex or not! That just wasn't me 2 yrs ago! I just couldn't figure out what had changed, going back on any medicines I had taken the past 2 yrs., the Nuvaring is the only thing that was constant. I have a Dr. Appt today and I am going to discontinue use of the ring and see if the side effects subside like they have for some others. I will post again when I have an update. Please let me know if anyone else is having the side effects more than a year after using the Nuvaring!! Thanks!

I had the Mirena put in last year and since then it's been anything but good. I had consatnt spotting to light periods that would last weeks and I would be flow free for one day maybe two days if I was lucky. After, about 9 months with no change I was put on birth control pills to help regulate my cycles, Ohh how could I forget the Mirena also caused the worse cramps EVER I had them on a daily bases. Anyhoo, The pills didn't help just caused more problems. It ended with me having to have it taken out because one night I was having sex with my hubby and I got a very painfull feeling on the left side of my vagina. The doc said I had to have it out right away and it turned out the mirena was slightly bent and was rubbing against my insides and my hubby just shoved it more. I got and infection and it was painful to have it taken out. tear...

26 years old/on YASMIN for one year.

I'm sorry you've all experienced so many negative side effects on YASMIN. Everybody is different and it's important to find the pill that's right for you. Ten years ago I tried the BC that comes in the form of a shot in the behind once every three months, and it made to throw-up and gain weight after just one dose. I never took another dose, but it was a year before my body went back to normal. So i know what it's like to have your body disagree with BC.

After ten years I decided to go on the pill again, and I was extremely nervous. I even had a couple different prescriptions filled and then backed out of taking them. Finally, one year ago, I started taking YASMIN. I experienced ZERO NEGATIVE SIDE EFFECTS. And I immediately felt better than I had in years. I have always had severe anxiety and have been hospitalized for panic attacks and heart palpitations. My last panic attack was on the second day of taking YASMIN, and I have been anxiety free for a year. Okay, well.. I do get anxious sometimes; life can be stressful. But i don't feel like my hearts going to explode, and I don't get dizzy, shaky, nauseous, or any of those other terrible sensations.

I have had many other positive effects:
My periods are lighter. I only have cramps every couple of cycles which are very mild (before I needed a hot pad and some pain meds). But the biggest change for me has been my mood. I am finally happy. I feel like a normal person for the first time, and EVERYONE notices a difference in the way I look and behave.

I'm not telling anyone to take YASMIN. And if i had even one of the terrible side effects some of you have mentioned I would have stopped the pill before finishing the first pack. I just thought you might like to know that if you do find a pill that's right for you, it can greatly improve your life and overall happiness. Be smart, do research, and most importantly- LISTEN TO YOUR BODY!
.

I had the iud inserted last September due to very heavy periods. My doctor told me I would have very light periods or none at all. It was very painful to have it insered. I experienced heavt bleeding for 3 months straight which has since become very irregular but heavy periods with spotting in between. There are probably only 6 days a month when I don't have some kind of bleeding. I never know when it's coming. I have had very little acne but defintley experienced cramping, headaches, leg pain, tired all the time, very low sex drive, not that that matters because of all the bleeding. Thanks god my husband is very patient. I have made an appt to see the GYN in August. My only other option is a hysterectomy. I think it would be better than this.