Hi, Ive had the Mirena for 2 weeks now and it has been TERRIBLE, ...

First of all.... WHAT WAS YOUR DOCTOR THINKING????? Nobody should be able to get Mirena if they have never had kids yet... that is part of the conditions on being able to qualify(you have to have had kids already) I would check into that, because no doctors where I am from would put that in if you hadn't had kids yet, that is just plain neglegence!

Not true. If you are married, monogomous, and your uterus is large enough, you can get an IUD. The cramps went away from me, and the sex drive only gets better. Don't panic yet. Your body has to adjust to the IUD. I had cramps on and off for a few months, then they went away.

Whoa. I did lots of research prior to getting Mirena in August. Calm down curious320, the "standards" for Mirena exist because of what pre-existing IUDs used to do to a woman's body (because they were made from metals). IUDs can be given to people like myself, 21, no children, and not married but in a monogamous relationship, or hell, I have friends who change relationships every few months and have IUDs. These are suggestions made on the medical side to lower the chances of IUD recipients getting dangerous side effects like PID, which could result in a hysterectomy and thus render a woman unable to have children. Chances of this are low, however, when you practice safe sex or are monogamous. It's not negligence on the doctor's part, it's simply that older doctors tend to agree with the "standards" because they understand the IUDs of the past, but younger doctors pay more attention to recent research and will go by what is currently being reported. It's simply an age thing. I went through this with my GYN and the one who did Mirena for me. My doctor is in her late 50's-early 60's, and the one who did mirena for me is in her late 30s and has an IUD herself. And to top it off, my doctor didn't even refuse because I didn't have kids, she refused because I wasn't married, and for her (having known what IUDs had done in the past with people who didn't uphold the safe sex or monogamy), marriage was the best way to prove to her that I was monogamous.

svgm00, don't worry. Your cramps should go away, I had them for about a week after I had the IUD placed and I was worried because I'd never had such bad cramps. However, by the time my period rolled around, they went away and I felt much better. I get light pelvic cramps every now and then, but all it does is alert me to my period approaching. I haven't hit the 6-month mark where you're supposed to be regular yet, but I'm awaiting it. Hell, a few cramps are better than the side effects I had from the pills I was on before.

Thanks everyone, its hard what to decided because there are many different opinions I'm gonna make an appointment with my doctor to follow up.

I had my mirena inserted in March of 2008, after talking to two different doctors and doing a lot of research about my options. I had been on the pill but was really irregular about taking it (which renders it almost worthless). Next I used Nuvaring--a GODSEND when I was in college! I never had to worry about timing and just sent for another three month supply through the mail. I decided to get Mirena when I knew my insurance would end when I graduated. I have been in a monogamous relationship for six years which means my risk of contracting an STD which would lead to PID (which can be very very serious when you have an IUD, and the IUD makes it easier to develop PID) is low. My docs also told me the reason they usually only like to insert Mirena into women who have had children is these women's cervixes aren't as tight and closed as a woman, like myself, who has never had kids.
I've had my Mirena for over 8 months now, and after the first 3 months or so my cramps (which were in my lower back and were very sharp) and my bleeding (which lasted about a month) were gone. I had periods for a few more months..but I have been COMPLETELY period/cramps/bloating/moodswing free for the past 4 months. I'm 23 and very happy about Mirena!

Like most of you, I am 24 and never had children, but my doctor actually suggested Mirena to me do to my intolerance of pills and unwanted side affects with NuvaRing. The ring was very easy but caused a lot of discharge thoughout the month. I too had my concerns never having had a child. The insertion was very very painful and I am concern I will need to be put to sleep in order to ever remove it. The pain in itself detours me from considering removal anytime soon, but I am still leary just because I have not had any children but definately want to in the future and do not want something to go wrong with the IUD that would prevent that. Hearing how others have had perfectly normal results with the IUD is comforting to know.

I am 18, I've never had kids (not sure if i want to) and i have an appointment to get mirena inserted on Jan. 15th. I am in a serious monogamous relationship and could never remember to take the pill at the same time everyday. Im nervous about insertion and the side effects. My period has always been heavy and painful and im worried about that getting worse. Any advice about insertion or comments about side effects?

I finally got the mirena removed! It did hurt but not as bad as the insertion, I took a Midol one hour before which helped. Side effects are different on each person but I really don't think it is safe for someone who has never had a child unless you hear a testimony of someone who had it for a couple of years and was able to have their first child.