I love it. I've had it for a week now. Very little spotting, mini...

You need to remember that having the IUD one week is nothing. I promoted it for the first year and a half and didn't notice anything until now. I seriously thought my thyroid levels had to be messed up!(they were great)I know when I am not ME. I had it out a week ago and I have already lost 3 1/2 pounds- not excercising or changing my eating! I have a desire to have sex...which is pretty amazing except I an STILL bleeding. Yuck ! Anyway, just pay attention to your body cause things could change however, it could work great for you. I am sure you know that different meds affect people diffferent ways.

You are only 21 and have only had it in for one week......
It is not fair of you to judge all the other women on this site, who are having serious health issues because of the hormonal imbalance the Mirena can cause, as just being unable to cope with pain, or to be using Mirena as a scapegoat for their health issues. You should do a little more research, perhaps read Bayer's own report on the side effects that were certainly not made up by the women that were questioned. You simply cannot know yet wether this is a good choice or a bad choice for your health. For your sake, I hope it will turn out to be a good choice.

I will tolerate a lot if it means no babies. Cramping, nausea, mood changes are nothing compared to a screaming, whining, child and a ruined life. you should also read about the other people complaining about the Nuvaring, Yasmin, and so on. It's not just the Mirena...it's the hormones that have the reaction to your body. I'm not judging, I'm just saying I see a lot of people try and blame their symptoms on everything under the sun. If it doesn't respond well then switch birth controls, but the symptoms are virtually the same.

PS- Don't judge me for being 21. Take your own advice. Age has NOTHING to do with anything...I was just throwing it out there to let everyone know I've had a pretty healthy life, even if it's been relatively short.

I do not agree with you on this. Age and experience with different forms of BC as well as having kids and raising them has EVERYTHING to do with it. Mirena wasn't even intended for young women who haven't had kids yet, because it was not tested in the clinical trials on this specific group. They didn't want young women being at risk of becoming infertile due to complications with Mirena.
Having a family and raising kids can be really stressful and you won't know how you react to this stress unless you have been there... it's only then when you will know the difference between being a balanced mom or an unbalanced one due to the hormones affecting you. I have always been a very balanced mom until Mirena came into my life. Bayer states in their Clinical Trial report:

Psychiatric
Patients with a history of emotional disturbances, especially the depressive type, may be more prone to have a recurrence of depression while using Mirena. In cases of a serious recurrence, consideration should be given to removing Mirena since the depression may be drug-related.

These are not women simply blaming Mirena for what's going wrong in their lives. When sensitive to hormones, Mirena might just make a balanced woman who can handle her life and her daily stress tip to the other side of the scale and turn into an emotional wreck.

You yourself stated ín your first post that: "I work in healthcare and see people react like this all the time-no tolerance to pain, and just wanting an excuse as to where some of their "pains" come from."
I wouldn't want to be treated by someone who would dismiss my pains like that. For most of these people, their pain is as real as you are. Please take them more seriously and have some understanding.
I am not judging you, because I was once 21 too, and I know what it was like. I could handle anything, had a healthy life like you, and had my own strong opinions. I understand where you are at. Later in life, some of your opinions might have to change due to your experiences. I honestly wish you all the best, and am glad you find Mirena is this great. And it really is a good solution for lots of women out there. But remember that 1 in every 10 women has side effects, some of them even very serious.

For your information, please read the following:
"Progestin (Mirena contains the progestin levonorgestrel which enters the bloodstream) is a synthetic version of the female hormone progesterone and is used in conjunction with synthetic estrogen in the combined pill, and on its own in the mini-pill. Progestin has been shown to promote the lowering of brain serotonin levels by increasing the concentration of a brain enzyme that reduces serotonin. Hormonal contraceptives like the mini pill and Depo-Provera (three month hormone shot) are progestin-only contraceptives, and are known to worsen the effects in women who are already depressed.

If scientific proof already exists regarding progestin exacerbating an existing condition of depression through the lowering of brain serotonin, is it so much of a leap to prove that progestin decreases the level of brain serotonin in a mentally healthy woman, thereby causing depression?

With new medical studies like Professor Kulkarni’s looking to provide a link between hormonal contraceptives and depression, there may soon be scientific proof that concurs with the anecdotal evidence given by women for the past 45 years. The question is, why has it taken almost half a century for these claims to be deemed important enough to warrant serious scientific investigation?"

You can read the whole article here:
http://www.aphroditewomenshealth.com/news/hormones_depression.shtml

Take care and wishing you all the best

Claudia

give it time !!

I understand everyone's worry, and understand it has different reactions to people's bodies.

I'm giving it time, and hopefully it keeps going as smoothly as it has been. It really stinks to hear what other people are going through. Hopefully they either stick it out or try another form of birth control. The only new side effect I've started to experience is a little bit of discharge...it's making me feel "wet" almost all the time. It's just annoying, but I can handle it. I just need a panty liner, if anything. Still no bleeding, mild cramps every now and then, and I experienced a headache the other day, but it was mostly likely from being busy all during the day/working at night all with no sleep.

I had all these symptoms without anyone telling me how my body was reacting. I decided to research it on my own, when I kept having problems and my doctors weren't taking me seriously. I work in healthcare as well and know some people can maybe feel like something is wrong after hearing about it. That was not what happened in my case. My symptoms were very REAL. I hope that you continue to have great luck with the Mirena.

Dear21 year old,

I too work in the healthcare field and I have a high tolerence for pain ( 2 natural births) However, the insertion of the Mirena made me almost pass out from the pain. In truth, these women are not conjuring these side effects. Just because you have not experienced any of these monsterous side effects... YET does not mean they do not exisit. It is insulting that you miniize the suffering and anguish caused by these side effects. Even though you are still wet behind the ears, try to have a liitle more consideration and respect for those expereicing these side effects. You can tell from tone that I am experiencing them to the fullest. I will be having mine removed on Monday March 24, 2008. Say a prayer.. You too young buck!!

I say what I feel...and honestly don't try to offend, but I am not the type to keep my mouth closed because I am afaid to offend. I said in my last post I do understand how it is for people going through these, as the first post was a little harsh. Good for you having it removed...but you should ALSO know working in health care that almost EVERY medicine has side effects. It's up to yourself in making a decision if the side effects outweigh the benefits of the purpose of the drug. That is the risk you take. You go on the medicine, test it out, and if for some reason you don't like something about it you switch to something else or go off the medicine if possible. That is how it always is. I understand people come on here to see if other people are experiencing the same side effects as others, but people are also coming on here and getting the wrong idea about medicine. Not everyone feels the same effects, some people don't feel any at all. Some medicine that could cause you breathing problems, has saved someone's life! It's all a risk, you either take it or you don't. I agree doctor's should always warn their patients of the side effects, but when you are aware of them and starting using a medication, or in this instance an IUD, it's the risk you take, ALWAYS.

Also, about the insertion...Passing out?! and you gave birth twice?! You obviously have a horrible doctor because in no way was the pain anywhere NEAR that for me. I gritted my teeth twice because it hurt moderately...I'd say 3 or 4/10, but that was it. Getting my nose pierced was much worse than insertion. I honestly am in shock of people saying they almost passed out...I can't imagine it hurting THAT badly.

Your condescending attitude about my age was also greatly appreciated. I got a good laugh...