I've had the Mirena since Aug. 2006 - three years now. I conside...

I initially had my Mirena inserted in April, 2002 and had my second one put in in December, 2008. I initially had it inserted because I had VERY heavy periods that would last for 3 weeks out of the month which went on for many months. At that time I was only 32 years old so the Dr. didn't want to do a hysterectomy and suggested the Mirena. In August, 2002, my marriage ended - my husband decided he "didn't want to do it anymore". So, I moved out with my children and the whirlwind started. All the symptoms I had I just chalked up to my marital breakdown and the major change in my life. I was extremely tired, constant headaches, foggy brain, irritable and the list goes on and on. I never once thought this would have anything to do with the Mirena as the dates so closely coincided with my separation. Then, a few months ago I started having "menopausal" symptoms - extreme night sweats, hot flashes, etc. I was even more tired than usual (which was pretty damn tired). I went to the doctor and she checked my hormone levels. The results came back a couple of weeks later and she told me that I was in menopause (age 39). I was shocked as I didn't think I was old enough to be going through this so this is when I found this site. I wondered if there was a link between the Mirena pushing women into early menopause. When I read all the side effects that people were having, I was completely shocked! I wonder now if all the symptoms I had been having just before and continuting after my initial marital situation were caused by this IUD. I suggested it to my doctor and she said that no, that wouldn't be the case. She said that most of the symptoms that people experience with the Mirena are part of life. She says people are quick to blame medications for weight gain, irritability, etc. when in fact the body would do this whether you had the mirena or not. She stated that most people who have the Mirena inserted are already fighting hormonal issues, i.e., either just had a child so their hormones are out of whack, or battle monthly with their cycles, etc.

Anyway, back to your post. My doctor has recently put me on an estrogen patch, mine is called Climara (and I am also taking progesterone) for menopause. It has helped extremely with my night sweats and hot flashes but I don't feel a whole lot different otherwise. In fact, I think I have even more headaches than I did before. I may be a bit less tired because I am now able to sleep, but honestly, nothing else seems to have changed. My sex drive is a wee bit better, but certainly not at the level I think it should be at.

My doctor wants to get my levels all up and regulated and then she says we can remove the Mirena. The patch and the progesterone pills that I am on will work for my menopausal symptoms as well as act as birth control so there should be no need to have both. I would have had her take it out immediately but it is SO expensive and I didn't want my horrendous periods to start up again. She states that because I am in menopause I shouldn't be having a period anyway, but I haven't had a period in over 6 years because of the Mirena so we don't really know what will happen!

I will re-post in a month to see how I react when the Mirena is removed and I am just doing the HRT.

Good luck.