First of all, a big thanks to all of you who have shared your exp...

My symptoms started improving right away! Some took longer than others but the bloating, headache, all over pain...almost immediately. The dizziness took a few weeks...the blurry vision took longer. The one thing that didn't "resolve" is that my period did not return and I went into menopause prematurely (at 43). I only had the thing for 5 months and everything was fine prior to the Mirena. It took 3 months from removal to when my hot flashes started. If you didn't have the symptoms pre-Mirena, and they go away after removal then to me, it's the Mirena!! Although I know with a post-partum period of time, it was probably harder for you to identify what was Mirena and what was post-partum. Good luck, to me this contraption was not worth it!!

Thank you for your post!!! I have been through the same as you!! I cannot beleive that you had an auroua migrane!!! I had one of those last month!! I freaked out and went to my eye doctor, he calmed me down and explained it was by stressed, or something i ate with msg. he dilated my eyes and said I was fine. I have blurred vision, dizziness ,swelling in my hip and leg muscle. please don't worry , I have been worried and have the same symtoms but after reading all these I'm pretty sure it's the Mirena and it puzzles me how this thing can do that. but then again it's a foreign object.

Hi Sam611,

I had mine removed less than a week ago after using it for almost 2.5 years. Like you, I did my research post insertion (I'm finishing up my PhD and have always been very 'body aware') and thought I knew what I was getting into. I've had 2 children (now 11 and 13) so I'm familiar with the pregnant feeling.
My life has been pretty turbulent for the last 3 years (grad school, divorce, cross-country move, intense new romance) and I blamed my symptoms on stress. The last 9 months, however, have been relatively calm. With that background, here's the low down:

Long term symptoms (since within a few months of insertion):
Mood swings (very up to very down)
Depression (with poor response to treatment)
Bloating
Bleeding (sometimes almost all month...mellowed after 1 year)
Cramping
Hair loss
Vision effects
Mental fog (pregnancy brain)
Weight gain (20 lbs in 2.5 years)
Hip pain

More recent symptoms that finally tipped me off:
Acceleration of mood swings and brain fog
Lethargy
Acceleration of wt gain
Spike in blood pressure (feeling heart beat in finger tips...like when I was pregnant...verified by nurse at removal appointment)
Panic attacks (totally irrational with no external explanation, lasted for days)
Suicidal thoughts (SO not like me)

In just in the few days since removal, my mental clarity has improved immensely. Nothing like being foggy when trying to write a dissertation! My energy level is way up. While I've been working out regularly for a few months with continued wt gain, I can feel it coming off now, already. My moods are much, much better. Little things have been throwing me way off track for a long time. I had a couple emotional knocks last night that just rolled right off (no gruesome details, just know that a week ago I'd have been in a puddle of tears). My blood pressure is down and food cravings are gone. Hips feel much better.

Doc said that she has seen a few women in her clinic who have had problems and wanted the Mirena removed. She thinks it might be the beginning of the wave. I had no idea that the hormones in the device could be causing so much trouble. Over the last year, especially, I have adjusted my whole life and lifestyle to stabilize my moods, not linking them to all the other symptoms. Ugh. I am relieved and angry at the same time. The difference, pre and post, is night and day.

FYI, I had a few hot flashes the day after removal, along with a mild headache for a few days. I was on my (light) period when I had it taken out and it's still tapering off. Moods were pretty rough the first afternoon post-removal (another suicidal rant in my journal) but consistently good since then.

I hope that helps. Good luck with your investigating. I'm going to circulate a cautionary message with my girlfriends and grad student peers. Mirena worked great, but I sure would have liked to have known long ago what was causing me so much trouble.

sam611 & isabell320

I came to this site looking for side effects of Wellbutrin, but then figured I better check the Mirena while I'm at it. It's been about 5 months since I had it inserted. After reading your posts and all of the other posts here, I'm considering having it removed.

You see, I have not had any children. So, the insertion process was EXTREMELY painful...so painful I almost threw up (I am NOT a puker for anything but too much alcohol!). I've had several side effects, but I didn't really think of them as side effects until I found this site. (again, I originally came here looking for Bupropion side effects!)

But, not to sound snotty or anything, but the reason I'm responding to your posts is because the migraines you are experiencing......(I have suffered from these types of migraines since I was about 12 or 13 (I'm 31 now)).

They are called migraines with aura. Not aurora migraines. Aurora is aurora borealis (the northern lights). Aura is the right word/spelling.

I know how terrible they can be...especially for someone who has never had them before!

Thanks to all for sharing your experiences!

Hi, I'm just over 2 months removal and I would say some of my side effects are gone. I've had two periods since removal after before the 1st I had terrible mood swings, hated my husband, annoyed by my kids, general life sucks feeling (just like when I had the Mirena in) but this time this feeling only lasted a day where it normally would last up to a week. I just started my second period since removal and I had none of these side effects. I still have not started to loose any weight but I'm hopefull. My acne was very bad right after removal now just a few zits right before my period nothing too bad. I also think by sex drive is reving back up. My natural path doctor has given me some natual supplements to help and she said she would expect my hormones to be back to normal in about 3 months. Good luck and it does get better.

Hello all,

I wanted to share my exp. with Mirena because I have struggled with so many GYN issues since the age of 19, and I am now 27 years old. I suffer from polycystic ovarian cyst syndrome which is mainly a hormonal imbalance dealing with your FSH and LH hormones that are released from the brain to your reproductive organs. There are a cluster of symptoms that come along with PCOS ( polycystic ovarian cyst syndrome). I am not a typical pcos pt. meaning I do not have the weight gain, facial hair, or diabetes yet anyways. I mainly have had irregular periods since I first started menstruating, sometimes I would go 6 mo w/o a period, and if I did have a period it would be devistating....the pain, heavy bleeding, lethargy, emotional mood swings, and having to stay home because of this. I also have endometreosis as well, which has caused a lot of pain during menstruation and intercourse. Well as far as treatments are concerned after exhausting every type of birth control out there and dealing with my cysts I was very tired of trying to find something to regulate my periods w/o all the crazy side effects and not having anymore cysts rupture (the most painful experience). Until one day by Gyn Dr. and I decided to try Mirena I was 25 when I first got it, and it hurt so bad I almost passed out. I started to get mild acne the first month along with spotting almost everyday, the cramping and back pain went away after a week or so. The acne continued and I never had any problems with breakouts. My periods stopped completely after 4months, and I noticed an huge increase in my sex drive, not sure if that was related to the IUD or my body was just changing.....My headaches stopped as well I used to suffer from migraines prior to getting the IUD. All in all up until last thurs I had to have my IUD removed because this past year I was tired of dealing with the Acne I tried everything from antibiotics to topical stuff nothing worked. Besides that Mirena was wonderful I didn't have a period for 3 years, no headaches, increased sex drive, no weight gain, only 1 ruptured cyst, no pain during intercourse, and no problems with it falling out. The negatives several bad yeast infections, insomnia, depression (had to get on an antidepressant, stopped it 2 months ago), anxiety, acne. Now the reason I got it taken out was that back in Sept 08 I got my period real bad for the first time in 3 years, very very bad, then didn't have another period until Jan. 09 very painful, bad, but light, then in Feb same thing, and then in March, and now again in the end of Apr. those last three were light, but the past 6 mo were increased depression, anxiety, pregnancy symptoms like you will not believe, insomnia, back pain, headaches, poor memory, and major fatigue. Not to mention I my acne still there. So all in all I thought Mirena was a great method, but I am still trying to see if I am better w/o it and will not know if until I start menstruating on my own again. When I got it taken out some of my symptoms have already gotten better, like the sleeping part, and pregnancy symptoms but the other symptoms are still lingering, especially the acne. I just hope that maybe I won't have to be on any more birth control hormones and if my body can normalize I am considering Paraguard which is 0 hormones as a method of birthcontrol. I hope this info helps and if anyone has any questions or comments please share. :)

I had a baby six months ago and got Mirena approximately three months ago. I've felt terrible for several months now but didn't associate it with the IUD until recently. I first started experiencing headaches. I thought they were sinus headaches. I waited until they got unbearable and went to the doctor. I had a CT scan of my sinuses that came back normal. In the meantime my headaches were getting worse and were almost always accompanied by nausea. I've been working in the dark in my office for the past couple of weeks. So . . . I went to the neurologist who said he thought I was having migraines, but did an EEG just in case. I just happened to think about Mirena as he was walking out the door and asked him if it could have anything to do with my headaches/migraines. He said, "yes, definitely". I've been treated for migraines for a week now and haven't gotten much relief.
I knew I had been depressed for a couple of months but didn't know how bad it was until my husband said something and then it all started to make sense. And yes, I have been certified "nuts" too, but all women are, right, so I didn't think too much about it. I have always taken anti-depressants and am under constant care from a psychiatrist. I already take high dosages of Prozac and Wellbutrin and I don't see any reason for them to have quit working over the past several months. I just realized that we are building a beautiful new house- I'm 29 and have never owned my own house- and I haven't been excited about it once! If the depression doesn't take enough out of me, then the headaches, nausea and general yucky feeling all the time, certainly does!
I could go on and on about this but instead I am going to the doctor (who said Mirena had the least side effects of all birth control) in an hour to have this dreaded device removed. I certainly hope that it is the IUD causing all of my problems so that I can get my life back. A person doesn't feel the way I do on a daily basis unless something is wrong. If it is, I am lucky that I have only had it three months. I will be sure to post and let all of you know how things go post-removal after a week and up. Until then IUD takes on a different acronym meaning for me: INTRAUTERINE DEVIL

I had Mirena in for about 2 years. For all of those 2 years I dealt with pregnancy symptoms. I would get sick after I ate, I was terribly weepy, always exhausted, and so crabby my husband threatened to divorce me. lol... so today to save my marriage and sanity I had it removed!! YAY!
dizziness was always the number one problem when I was on the Mirena. Obviously, I can't tell how I'm going to feel now. But I will DEFINETELY re post to let everyone know if i feel any better. I was joking earlier about how my vagina feels so free! ( Without that stupid thing shoved up there ) I am a free woman. And am also trying for a second child ( Fingers crossed, I want to get pregnant as soon as I can )

You are not alone!
Year 2000 – 2004 | I had Mirena (with NO complications or side affects) and then had it removed to plan for our 3rd child.

September 2005 | I had the Mirena IUD re-inserted following the birth of our 3rd child. The moment it was inserted, I immediately became clammy and then passed out in the doctors exam room. (The next 2 years remained un-eventful…and experienced no side effects)

Early 2007 | I soon became a poster-child for Mirena side affects...including night sweats, hot flashes, hair loss, facial hair, acne

Nearing 2008 | the list grew with heavy/thick constant periods, nausea, vomiting, mood swings, ovarian cysts, and my sex drive was null & void. Given the side effects…I was actually thinking that I was going through menopause (at age 37) or pregnant with an IUD!

Spring 2008 | to make matters worse, my OB-GYN did not believe that my side effects were related to the IUD. They tested my hormones, thyroid, etc... ALL of which came back normal! Through most of last year, they monitored the continued growth of my cysts (through ultrasounds), but advised me to keep the IUD…since they were unsure if it was the root cause.

Tuesday, November 18th, 2008 | I had the IUD be removed. The removal was uneventful...and I returned to work following my appointment. But what I did not link to the IUD immediately; was what transpired over the following days, weeks, and months!

The following morning, I woke up to an achy lower back...like I had slept wrong. Over the course of the day, my back pain had worsened and was limping by night fall. The following day, I could barely walk...and the pain became so excruciating, I passed out! I was rushed (by ambulance) into ER and after several tests and surgery later that evening, it was determined that 4 of my 5 ovarian cysts had ruptured…and that the toxins had seeped in to my lower spine. Apparently…even though the IUD had caused the cysts initially...it had also kept the cysts "in place"...so to speak.

December 2008 | Following my recovery, I returned to my OB-GYN to discuss other B.C. options. Although I had experienced side effects from birth control pills (15+ years earlier), my OB recommended me trying the pill again. I was reluctant, but low on options…and optimistic that the side effects would be minimal compared to the IUD.
But, needless to say, my prior side affects NEVER subsided...and had in fact worsened! The nausea and vomiting happened almost daily...and it didn’t matter what I ate. I could eat chicken salad...and immediately get sick...and eat the same chicken salad later without any problems. My periods became violently heavy and lasted 2 weeks at a time.

January 2009 | Realizing that my OB-GYN was not helping to diagnose the problem(s)...I went to my general family practice doctor in January 2009. He ran every conceivable blood test, and also ordered an Upper G.I. and an abdominal ultrasound. My blood work was text-book perfect...as was my ultrasound. It was diagnosed through the Upper G.I. that I have a hiatal hernia (an abnormality in which part of the stomach protrudes through the diaphragm and up into the chest…causing nausea, vomiting, heartburn, etc.) and my Dr. recommended Prilosec OTC to control nausea and vomiting….which only worked occasionally.
And even though this diagnosis offered some relief…no one could offer a cause for my other existing problems that have consumed me for the past 2 years (night sweats, hot flashes, hair loss, facial hair, acne, heavy/thick constant periods, nausea, vomiting, mood swings, and a non-existent sex drive)

February 1st, 2009 | Fed-up, frustrated, and nothing to lose…I stopped to taking the pill.

March 2009 | the nausea & vomiting stopped completely!

April 2009 | my periods were no longer as heavy and I actually began to notice my side effects diminishing.

May 2009 | I have been birth control free for 3 months! My face has cleared from acne and facial hairs! The night sweats, hot flashes and mood swings have are gone! I still haven’t gotten sick or queasy AND I have a sex drive again!

• Mirena’s Levonorgestrel causes all of the side effects that I encountered, including Hiatal Hernias!
• The OB-GYN’s cure-all was Yasmin B.C. which carried many of the same side effects and is also linked to Hiatal Hernias. AND is used for the treatment of acne and PMDD??? Huh? …Yet mine went away when I discontinued its use!!!!

Don’t give up! You are NOT alone!
Do your research!
Trust your instincts…and what your body is telling you!

I had the Mirena implant 4 years and 1 month ago (May 5 2005). I have had zero side effects and was perfectly happy. I am now 42 years old. Since May 4th 2009 I have had 28 days of headaches. I NEVER get headaches. The 1st 3 weeks it was annoying and my GP thought it was due to allergies, although I usually only have fall allergies. Have been on steroids, allergy meds, antibiotics, nothing helps. Last Tuesday it was so bad I went to the ER. I had a CT scan without contrast material - but showed nothing. Had an MRI today and meet with a neurologist tomorrow. Have met with my opthamologist, dentist and ob/gyn. No one has any solutions. Do Mirena-related headaches respond to medication and are they all over? My headaches can be like a vise, then behind the eye, then on the front, then in the back all in 15 minutes. They never start in the same place or end in the same place. Thanks for any insights you may have.

omg. I think I'm getting this thing taken out I wasn't aware it could cause ovarian cysts, I just had an ultrasound yesterday because of abdominal pain periods lasting 3 weeks at a time and vaginal bleeding during bowel movements. I was told it probably wasn't this iud but I'm not so sure.
I've also experienced hair loss extreme mood swings irritability dizzy spells and crazy headaches.
Waiting on a call from the gyn to see what they say about my cyst. Ugh, all this drama just to keep from getting pregnant isn't worth it. Gonna invest in some condoms!! Lol if I ever get my drive back!!

Well i must say that i was concerned about being pregnant becuase i have had the mirena since April 08. It truly sucks. I get the worst hot flashes, mind you i am only 27...to early for them and my periods are light which is good. But i forget things, i have gained weight, i am bloated, dizzy and nauseated, and dizzy for anything. Not to mention my mood swings and my impatience. I mean this is how i feel everytime i am pregnant. I am taking this out, but like me i am a fertile mertile, is there any good BC out there.....