Mirena and breast tenderness

I posted 3 months ago, and I'm back.

I went to the doctor today to have it removed. It was really quick and easy. I burst into tears as soon as the doctor asked why I wanted it out. I have been on my period for the last 6 weeks. No breaks. That was really my only issue. Not cramping much, no more bloated feeling, no weight gain, no breast tenderness, none of these horrible side effects you are all experiencing....Except BLEEDING ALL THE TIME. Obviously my body didn't want this foreign object inside of me and I decided I wasn't going to wait forever to see if the bleeding would stop.

I am giving myself a break from any kind of hormonal birth control (been on it for 10 years). I have no idea what my periods are even like now without the birth control stuff. Interesting to see what will happen. I'm going to start back up on the patch in January. That was my method before the Mirena. I used the patch for about 6 years and never had issues, I just wanted to try Mirena because it seemed so easy.

OH WELL. I tried.

I had Mirena inserted in July, 2008. I was feeling pretty good about it, but have come to realize I am experiencing some side effects. Right now, I can say the side effects are worth it compared to the horrific periods I was having for the past 6 years. I have extreme breast tenderness and need to get a Mammogram anyway. I'm sure when the results come back normal, my mind will rest at ease and I will know for sure it is a side effect from Mirena. I've been extremely fatigued, however I used to get the same effect the week before my period. So I'm not sure it's a side effect or normal. I do experience waves of nausea but they pass and I eventually feel better and get back to normal. Other than that, I'm okay. I just hope I continue on this path. I'm sure I'll know after a couple more months.

I had mine inserted the first week of July. Yes, it was freaking uncomfortable getting it done and I had cramping the rest of the day, but my OB warned me of that and I made the decision to go ahead. I'm not in a position to complain about it now.
I bled/spot for 2-3 weeks after insertion. Only heavy enough to require a tampon for the first week, but I had it inserted when I was supposed to be starting my period anyway. Again my OB suggested this and warned me about the possibility of bleeding for up to 6 months. Again my decision to go forward!
Since then I have had cramping once a month like I'm going to start my period and never do. Within the last few weeks I've started getting the acne and an oily scalp. It's all over my back and not poppable. I'm hoping it will eventually subside when my body gets used to the new hormone level I'm giving it. If you think about it, it's the same thing in puberty (ie change in hormones) that kicks off the acne so it doesn't surprise me that this is a side effect. If it doesn't subside I'll make a decision then whether or not to have it out.
I have not had any of the other side effects. In fact I had terrible headaches and neck pain before I got this and those have gotten much better.

I was on the pill for 15 years before getting mirena and I had much worse side effects with that (extreme moodiness, loss of sexual desire, bad cramps, long periods, etc). I tried multiple brands of pills and never found one I was 100% happy with. But I dealt with it because I made the decision to go on B/C.
I'll take the acne over those any day! (not to mention I got pregnant on the pill!!!)

I understand that these side effects suck, but you act like it's the company's fault. They specifically list the common side effects and the majority of the ones you're complaining about are listed in plain site Taken directly from their website:
Menstrual changes
Lower abdominal pain (cramps)
Acne or other skin problems
Back pain
Breast tenderness
Headache
Mood changes
Nausea
Ovarian cysts have been diagnosed in about 12% of Mirena® users. In most cases, the enlarged follicles disappeared spontaneously during two to three months of observation.

Did you think that's just for show? Did you ever stop to consider (before getting the product) you might actually get those side effects and what you would do if you did? It is your body... YOU are the only one responsible for what goes inside it. No one held you down and forced you to do this. Mirena didn't hide anything from you or trick you into it. Take some responsibility for your actions! Quit blaming others. This is a great example of what is wrong with our society today!

Take responsibility! Do your research! Make your own decisions and deal with the consequences of them without blaming others!

If you look at the mirena website it gives you the FDA number to call to report side effects. If you're having major ones call the FDA and report it so that more than just people that stumble upon this forum know about it!

Okay so I am 27 and I had my mirena put in Jan/Feb 07. It was the most painful procedure of my life. I mean tears and all. I have never had kids so i was a little worried about that because they advertise this for women who have had children but, my doctor said its fine for me. At the time, I was not married, highly sexual active and didn't want any unexpected pregnancies. I had been on Depo on and off since I was 17 and was worried about the Calcium bone loss and weight gain from that so I decided to switch. Any who, I normally had very bad cramps with my period but, with the Mirena they were 10 times worse for like 2 months. I was told that it was normal, of course (What would I know) Time goes on everything seemed normal. My cramping lessened, bleeding lessened, but, i still had my breast tenderness and moodiness and my sex drive seemed normal. However, at this time I wasn't as sexually active. From the beginning I had very sharp stabbing pains mainly in the left side of my pelvis.

I married my sexy wonderful husband in Dec 08 and since about May my sex drive has just died and I am irritable 90% of the time. Now, I am a newly wed, and moved to a new location so I thought all of this was completely due to all of that stress and it might be. However, if its not and it just took took 1yr or so for my body for adjust to the hormones and this is the outcome then I can't continue to get irritated at my husband every time he wants a hug. I just always feel so tense and I WANT TO HAVE SEX AGAIN and be sweet and happy without having to be on percocet. So, i am thinking that i am going to get it removed and maybe try the YAZ thing.

My son was born March 2007, when he was 8wks old, to much of my surprise I found out that I was pregnant again. Mirena sounded perfect!!!! I had it placed 7 weeks after my 2nd son was born in Jan 2008. I had what I still assume is normal with any type of birth control method, irregular bleeding,cramping,some slight mood swings. That all seems normal to me when you mess with you body like that. Aug 1, 2008 I woke up at4am with awful abdominal pain sooo bad that I turned to my husband and said that I think I have to go to the hospital. I decided that if I could fall back asleep then its probably nothing major. I fell back asleep (or passed out, I don't know) The next morning I was hurting so bad I couldn't lift anything, couldn't stand up straight, felt weak and felt as though I had rocks in my stomach but had an empty feeling at the same time. The pain was all over my abdomen, stabbing, shooting,pinching. I also had pain aroung my belly button and a noticeable discomfort about my pevic bone. Finally I called my husband to come home, went to the hospital, they took blood, cultures, did an exam and did a ctscan. All normal! WHAT!! Aug 11th still having pain and now having MAJOR HOT FLASHES. I find myself getting so hot and irritated that I cant be around the babies because I am afraid I will yell at them. If I get in a little disagreement with my husband it will most likely end with me saying I want a divorce (I noticed another lady with that same problem) Today I had a ultra sound done and it came back what my (new) doctor says is normal. The problem with that is that one of my ovaries is split and is NOW shaped like a horse-shoe. I was pregnant for almost 2yrs straight and had lots of ultrasounds NOT ONE TIME did anyone say anything about a odd ovary. I'm just going to make a educated guess that it wasn't deformed till after the Mirena. Now I am wanting to remove it but feel like I should get every test known to man first to rule out any other possibility. I really don't want to remove it. I am afraid of getting it removed and even more of getting pregnant when I already have two 10 months apart and still in diapers.
My biggest question is wanting to know if hot flashes are related or if I might be having something else going on. Am I the only one with he hot flashes? I have them all day long!!!!!!!!
Also I noticed after reading other post that some other things may be related like, piercing headaches, itchy flaky oily scalp, weight gain, ear drainage, lower back pain, oily skin, increased smoking, in-grown hairs in inner thigh area, joint pain, fatigue, decrease sex drive.

I have had severe breast tenderness for the last couple of days(I got my Mirena a week ago) A little cramping for a few days, and spotting-that has all gone away, but I can barely tolerate a bra, or put my arms to my sides. Has anyone had this symptom, and how long can I expect it to last?

in response to sarahgo810 - i had the mirena put in today...it was painful while the doctor inserted the mirena. i felt dizzy and got a major hot flash and was shaky for about 1 to 2 hours after it was inserted. i also had cramping and some pressure on and off throughout the day (i did take naproxen sodium to help..aka aleve). i am very hopeful though! i've suffered with severe dysmenorrhea and bleeding with my periods since i was 14 and i will be 34 this year. even after two children my periods never lessened in pain or bleeding. i've tried several different pills that have not helped. i've had several tests done over the years to see if anything is wrong with me, but the test always showed i was fine. after suffering for about 20 years, i figured enough was enough. if mirena will help with my cramping and bleeding, the small amount of pain to insert it is well worth it. my doctor did tell me that most likely i will be spotting for the first few months. i can handle that. she told me most of her patients stop having a period or their period is very light and only lasts a couple of days. also i've read online that most side effects such as headaches and breast tenderness go away in the first few months (just like birth control pills). i am so encouraged and have faith this is going to help me! thanks for reading!

I had my mirena placed in March of this year. Not going to lie, it was Horrible. I have never had kids and assumed that was why. I was bleeding very heavily when they placed it, and had stopped bleeding by the next day. With in three days all cramps were gone, and I have only had a period once since March. I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!

The first few weeks to a month were not great, but not enough to make me throw in the towel. I had headaches, and was a little crampy here and there. But now, 4 months later, I am So glad i had this done. Honestly....sex drive went up..don't have to worry. :-D

I would suggest to anyone struggling after a few weeks to give yourself time. NOTHING works great instantly, even Tylenol. And to remember things work differently with different ppl, but if you don't give it a fair chance you will not know!!

Just something to think about

Read my symptoms first; at the bottom it will tell you how long I had the IUD and the time line of the symptoms.

constant pelvic discomfort
(sometimes to the point where Advil usage doesn't even help)
("zaps" or "pings" of pain...light lightening bolts)
almost constant bleeding
(sometimes with clots - in differing sizes)
(coloring can be bright red to burgundy and brown)
(odor from the bleeding is very noticeable)
immediate weight gain
(this includes severe abdominal protrusion)
(I belly dance, & the costume I had just worn 2 weeks prior to insertion no longer fit)
severe swelling of the extremities
(hands usually do swell in hot weather, however, I've never had my feet and lower legs swell up like this - I had elephant feet/legs)
immediate acne issues
(my skin is always clear except for a few during my period)
moodiness
brain fog
(I'm a bookkeeper, & I noticed an immediate problem with my making stupid mistakes or taking longer than normal to resolve usual issues in this regard)
clumsiness
(could be attributed to the brain fog)
breast tenderness
(feels like someone's constantly squeezing/poking them)
movement of the IUD
(I could feel that it was out of position; it was more on my right side and caused ALOT of discomfort)

Here's the kicker, ladies. This was all within 1 WEEK of USE.

I demanded removal of this nasty thing & the GYN office refused.
After two more weeks of hell, I insisted, & they finally removed it.

This is what I experienced AFTER the removal:
Immediate relief in my pelvic area, BUT, still having pelvic pain.
INTENSE bleeding & clotting. To the point where I bled through my clothing at work (yes, I was using tampons & heavy pads).
The GYN's office didn't seem concerned; they said this was my body's "normal" reaction. (yeah, right). I finally stopped bleeding a good 5+ days later.
Even more breast tenderness.
Weight gain/bloat has not gone away. (I'm quite active)
Still experiencing brain fog.
Acne is starting to dissipate.

I have a ****** Group set up to shout to the world about this horrid device; look for: mirenajustsayno

Report your experience directly to Mirena; they have a contact # to report an "Adverse Reaction". From there, file a report with the varying health organizations.

On another note, I also had several ultrasounds done at the GYN's office prior to the insertion. The DR stated I had no ovarian cysts, no fibroids, BUT, my uterus was overly large. I sounded at a 10 as opposed to the usual 8. I was told it didn't matter, that I was a good candidate. He also stated that I had "a little endo".
(The reason for my use was to control the heavy bleeding during my period, along with the severe cramps.)

Well, I had some ultrasounds done at the hospital late last week, about 10 days after the removal of the Mirena. This is the result:
irregular complex cyst on my left ovary
unusually thickened uterine wall (no other explanation other than it was thicker than average)
It was noted that the series needs to be repeated.
(I'm assuming they want to look deeper)
Note that I have not resolved whether or not there was any perforation from the IUD moving out of place; the GYN never ran an ultrasound to verify it - they just did a regular exam & told me "it was still in my uterus". (that exam initiated severe bleeding for several days as well)

Good luck and let me know how you're doing!

And, yes, I do have several friends that LOVE their Mirena.

Hi, I had mirena placed two months ago after giving birth to my 3rd child. I wish I would've seen this site before I make my decision of using Mirena. My first symptom was chest pain and it was followed by heart palpitations, lower back pain, dizziness, heart burn, etc...... I asked my obgyn and he said "IS NOT MIRENA" the cause of your symptoms. I had to see a Cardiologist because I felt that I was going to die in any minute from a heart attack. My Cardiologist said you are to young to have heart problems. I had an ekg, blood work, echo, and stress test done. nothing seems to be wrong with me "Medical terms" you are fine. But I knew something was wrong, I got my own diagnosis "MIRENA" was the cause of all my symptoms. I have it removed about two weeks ago and I finally feel normal again. No more side effects. Please ladies do your own research really good before using this or any other medication that your doctor gives you and please DON'T trust your Dr. 100%, they are not always right. Good luck to all of you.

Well i had the mirena inserted in February and was excited about the fact that i would have less bleeding and possibly no periods @ that. 6 years prior to this I had originally had the Paraguard and was very happy with it until i separated from my partner and had it removed due to a new relationship. So anyways, after my marriage the only contraceptive that we used was condoms. I pretty much got tired of doing this..so i decided to have an IUD inserted again. I had looked into the Mirena and it sounded great! Well, since February, i've had a constant bloated feeling, i've gained 6 lbs. and work out everyday with a balanced diet. I am very disgusted and just couldn't figure out what could be causing me to gain weight. Well, I'm so glad that I fell into this site. Now i know what's causing it. I also have extreme breast tenderness, acne, and joint aches. So today I set up an appointment for next week to have the Mirena removed and a Paraguard IUD inserted. I did very well with this type and am going back to it. I never had an side effects with the IUD since no hormones are involved. My periods were heavy for the first few months, but after that it wasn't bad at all. So just thought i'd share my experience..Good luck to u all.

Since any links to other sites are going to be deleted, I will copy the texts here:

Mirena: the other side of the story
AAA Ewiesaa Consultant Gynaecologist, The Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust, Suffolk, UKa Consultant Gynaecologist, The Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust, Suffolk, UK
Sir,

I read with interest the article by Halmesmaki et al.1 that only 48.7% of women randomised to the levonorgestrel (LNG)-releasing intrauterine system Mirena, kept it in situ until their 5 years follow-up visit, while the rest either had it prematurely removed (8.5%) or underwent a hysterectomy (42.7%). It supports the growing evidence that women’s satisfaction with Mirena (Schering Health, Newbury, UK) is limited. I do not find this surprising. A colleague and myself previously reported (as an abstract) a survey including 160 Mirena users in Suffolk in which we found that 46% of women had had the system removed within 3 years of insertion (median duration = 260.5 days; range = 4–1460 days). The most common reasons for early removal were unscheduled bleeding, abdominal pain and progestogenic adverse effects; including bloatedness, headache, weight gain, depression, breast tenderness, excessive hairiness, greasiness of skin and lack of sexual interest.2 Our data related to a selected population who had the Mirena inserted under general anaesthetic after hysteroscopic examination of uterine cavity to exclude lesions, such as submucous fibroids. I would expect the continuation rate to be lower in women having the system inserted without prior exclusion of intrauterine pathology. The satisfaction rate in our cohort of women, as assessed by visual analogue scale of 0–10 cm, was only 49% (unpublished data).

Halmesmaki et al.1 reasonably attributed the detrimental effect of Mirena on the sexual function to the higher incidence of lower abdominal pain in users when compared with those who underwent hysterectomy. Furthermore, the decreased satisfaction of sexual partners could be due to the inhibiting effect of the irregular bleeding, which is the most common adverse effect of using Mirena.2,3 The observed decrease in women’s sex drive could also be due to the systemic effect of the progestogen absorbed into the circulation, indirectly affecting the sexual partner. The argument used by the authors that serum concentration of LNG is extremely low and that its influence on ovarian function is limited has been disputed recently by many investigators. Xiao et al.4 found that Mirena was associated with substantial systemic absorption of LNG and recorded serum levels of around 500 pmol/l. This is equivalent to two LNG-containing ‘minipills’ taken daily on a continuous basis. Moreover, a retrospective observational study documented that 21% of Mirena users experienced progestogenic adverse effects.3 Wahab and Al-Azzawi5 reported that Mirena suppresses oestrogen production, inducing a clinical situation similar to a premature menopause in at least 50% of treated women. The prolonged oestrogen deprivation will have a profound negative effect on women’s sex drive, which may explain the sexual partners’ decreased satisfaction.

In fact, despite the popularity of Mirena as a contraceptive method and in treating menorrhagia, the continuation rate and women satisfaction level have not been adequately assessed in the UK population. A large well-designed study is required to evaluate these important factors so that women can be adequately counselled. The idea that Mirena works entirely as a local source of progestogen should be revised, and the recent concerns about Mirena should be made clear to women regardless of the marketing pressures.5

AAA Ewiesaa Consultant Gynaecologist, The Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust, Suffolk, UK

I had my Mirena IUD removed on Monday, May 5, 2008. I had it inserted on November 10, 2005. I was having major side effects from the birth control, and every doc I went to said that there is no way that Mirena would cause the side effects I was having because the "progesterone amounts are too low to cause these side effects". I have had the following side effects:
WEIGHT GAIN
JOINT PAIN
LUMPS IN BREASTS
BREAST TENDERNESS
HUNGER (as if i were pregnant)
DEPRESSION
LOSS OF SEX DRIVE
HAIR LOSS
SWOLLEN ABDOMEN (BLOATED?)
HEADACHES
GROUCHY/ON EDGE
ACNE
CYST (had a couple weeks ago... i was on vacation in Vegas and had a cyst burst.. never had these issues... this was the last straw)
STABBING PAINS IN ABDOMEN AND IN AREA OF OVARIES
PMS SYMPTOMS EVERY OTHER WEEK FOR TWO YEARS
BREAST GROWTH D TO DD
VAGINAL BLEEDING AFTER INTERCOURSE
FATIGUE
TENDERNESS OF ABDOMEN
BACK PAIN
HIP PAIN

As of today, Friday, May 9, 2008 (4 days after Mirena has been removed) I have lost 9 pounds. I am sure this is probably water weight? I am feeling a little better every day. The night I got home from having it removed, I had major mood swings... would be happy one minute and crying my eyes out the next!!! I would not recommend this IUD to ANYONE.. not even on my worst enemy (if I had one). This needs to be taken off the market. It is not safe! I have spent thousands of dollars on ultrasounds on my breasts (thinking i could have cancer because the lumps i had in my breast) and on other doctors bills to figure out what was wrong with me.. only to find out that "Mirena is not the cause"!!!!

My experience and a question...

Hello all,
I had mine placed 6 days ago. First 2 days were a little painful. But I was able to go to school and work (in my final year of college and am having a hard enough time in Calculus without missing a day). I have been on many different kinds of birth control (patch, pill, and shot). My problem is I suffer from severe migraines. At the worst point in my life, they were 3-5 times a week. The patch worked the best for me. I lost weight, periods didn't change at all, migraines went to 2-4 a month and I (still to this day) have never really experienced cramps. However, because of the cost and my financial situation at the time, I couldn't afford it. The shot was the worst. Gained 10 pounds every 3 months, very emotional and depressed all the time, and the migraines slowly became more frequent. Changed to the pill (Kariva) and took it so that I only had a period every 3 months. My migraines almost went away completely but I had a lot of lower abdomen pain. Had every test under the sun and they found nothing wrong. My doctor suggested changing my birth control so here I am. My question is are there any signs of complications from the placement of Mirena? About once a day or more I get a sharp pain in my lower left side. Not sure if this is just the same pains I had from the pill (didn't take anything for birth control for 2 months and all the pain stopped. didn't start up again till placement) or if others have experienced this when something was wrong. I am scared they may be something wrong but being a broke college student, don't really have $100 to spend at the doctor to have the usually *shrug*. Thanks! email ******

I posted back in early March 2008 and figured I would update my experience with Mirena. I had many symptoms that most posted on here but not all. I figured I would give this option a few months and if the symptoms continued, I would have it removed. After a month, all symptoms have disappeared. Periods are lighter, no pain during intercourse and I can breathe a sigh of relief. No longer do I have to worry about pregnancy ( I always used natural planning going by my body cycle). I did have slight weight gain but started exercising more to offset the extra calories I was taking in with the sudden cravings for food. All and all, I am glad I stuck with it and let my body adjust to Mirena. Good luck to all of you.

I had my Mirena inserted in July, shortly after the birth of my second son. Having Antiphospholipid Syndrome, Type 1 Diabetes, and Lupus, the doctors wanted me off estrogen birth control pills. Not sure if we want a third child, thought Mirena was the way to go. I am 33 and back in the college days I was on the Depo shot and had horrible acne, mood swings, breast tenderness, and nightmares. A few months ago I started noticing the same effects with the Mirena. Nightmares, acne, but most annoying, no sex drive whatsoever, and extreme snappiness to my husband and children! I feel like how you get the week before your period....I feel depressed like that EVERY week....like "blah", can't seem to snap out of feeling blue. Not sure what to do. I wonder if Copper IUD's are any better since the evil progesterone is the bad culprit? I may just try to see if the Rheumy and OB will let me go on B.C. pills for just a couple more years....by then I should know if I want one more baby and if not, then I can get sterilized. My OB did say no one has ever complained to her before about these effects. But, I know simply b/c the Depo Shot, that the things I am feeling are real and from the Mirena and not just a modd disorder.

Okay. so i just got this thing out on Thursday right? yeah now i am bleeding like there is no tomorrow. the doctor had a hard time getting it out and i bleed a little bot the first few days but today at easter i began to GUSH. now i am laying on the couch trying to find out if anyone else had these problems once this thing was removed. i am VERY VERY tired which i am finding to be a normal side effect of the removal. and i really can't complain about that because i had insomnia while it was in. also i am very nauseated. thought i would give everyone an update. i am definitely going through withdrawal.

I had 2 c-sections back to back and I had so much complications with the patch in the past that I figured the natural choice was the IUD. I talked to my OB/GYN and he suggested the MIrena. I did a little research and talked to a few women who had it and htey seemed to like it, so I figured what the heck, might as well...

BIG MISTAKE!!! I had a lot of pain when the IUD was put in, but right away I started gaining weight. I gained 30 lbs and even with running 2 miles 4 times a day and doing other activities, I lost nothing. Additionally I started having my cycle for 2 weeks straight and had constant breast sensitivity and pain, back pain, pain in my lower abs, weakness in my joints, mood swings, NO SEX DRIVE WHAT-SO-EVER, gassy, bloated all the time, etc... Basically, you name the symptoms, I had them.

I finally had the Mirena removed on Thursday 19 Mar, 08 and I am so happy I did. I am seeing changes already, my body is in serious withdrawal though. I am tired and listless, sleepy and moody, but I am hoping these symptoms will soon past.

My advice to anyone wanting to get this IUD put in, think twice!

Can someone tell me how long it took for the symptoms to go away?

Hi, I'm 27 and had Mirena inserted in Oct. 2006, six weeks after I had my little boy. I have been experiencing extensive hair loss, fatigue, lack of sex drive, heart palpitations, intolerance to cold, and inexplicable mood swings (especially including anger or depression). I haven't gained much weight; however, I have been incapable of reclaiming my pre-baby weight regardless of diet and exercise. I wrote off most of these symptoms during the first year, since I thought they were just the result of my hormones getting back to normal after child birth. But now that my son is almost 19 months old, I've really started to get worried. Not only are these problems NOT dissipating, they are getting WORSE.

I've recently been doing some research, and it appears that these symptoms are indicative of hypothyroidism. I was planning on undergoing treatment for that affliction. However, I don't know what I should do now that I've discovered that so many other women on Mirena are having the same problems as I am having. Perhaps it would be better to switch to a different birth control. It would be stupid to take one drug in order to counter-act the side effects of another, wouldn't it? It may be less convenient, but I know for a fact that I never had problems like this when I used Nuva Ring.

Hey I'm 20 years old and ,I just had Mirena inserted in me September 07.I was skeptical to get it ,but I got it because I had 2 children in a row by c-section.I didn't want to get pregnant again right away .I notice that I never knew when or if I'm going to have my period.So that kind of freaks me out but that isn't my problem all that much .Lately after my husband and I have sex it seems like I will have throbbing sensations right after in my vagina.Ive been trying to see if anyone has this problem too,but haven't had any luck yet.I'm going to get Mirena taken out soon but I don't know when.My sex drive is like dead and Ive want to sleep more than I want too.-Courtney (Tn)

I am 49 years old and have been experiencing the perimenopausal symptom of very heavy menstrual bleeding. I got the Mirena to control my periods; I didn't want to go on birth control bills or have a surgical procedure. My Mirena was inserted 2-07-08. Insertion was mostly a nothing, just a bit of cramping while I was on the table; then I was immediately fine After that I had a couple of days of slightly stomach upset, and I remember thinking it felt like morning sickness. I've had some extremely light spotting, but haven't had my first period yet. My only real complaint is that I've gained three pounds so far. I'm really hoping this won't continue, as it will be a deal breaker. I'm trying to lose about 10 pounds, and do not want to get into a situation where the weight really piles up. I also have extreme breast tenderness, also not unlike early pregnancy.

I got my Mirena in a few months ago, on a second attempt. I've never had a child, so there was some difficulty in opening my cervix enough to push it in, so I had to go back with my period for another insertion, which was painful, but not terrible. The first two weeks were great. I had no cramping at all, and some spotting, but even that was mostly just when I used the bathroom, and not when I was up and walking around.
The first complaint I had was that my boyfriend could feel the string. It wasn't even just an awareness that it was there, but severe pain that hit him every time he bumped it. We stopped having sex.
Then, I started being a complete bitch. I have a history of clinical depression, and have been treated and it hasn't been an issue for a few years, but I know depression, and this is not it. I've also been stressed out. This is not it. This is like my worst PMS ever, multiplied by ten, constant, and increasing every day. I'm a teacher, and I've been finding myself yelling at my kids when the do the littlest thing wrong. I've screamed at my mother when she's trying to be helpful, and I've hung up on my boyfriend when I was pissed at him for no reason. I have NEVER experienced such irritability, and I have NEVER treated the people I love with such disrespect. I'm worried that if this keeps happening, it will ruin my life.
I've also gained significant weight. I have always been a slim woman, and now my clothes don't fit. If anything, I have been more active and eating less calories since I've had my Mirena inserted. And wrestling my pants on in the morning doesn't exactly help the irritability.
Then, one morning, I woke up with INTENSE throbbing pain in my lower abdomen. I was about to get myself to the hospital when it stopped. The next day, I felt for my string. Gone. The next day, it was back. The next day, gone. I went to see my doctor, and after much poking and prodding, she was unable to find the string, gave me a pregnancy test (like I'd been having sex...) and scheduled me for an ultrasound. Since then, I've experienced awful cramps. My doctor thinks the intense pain was an ovarian cyst bursting (which makes sense with my medical history), and the cramping caused by that made the Mirena shift up, which then caused more cramps as it resettled into a new place. She insists that the ultrasound will likely show everything is fine, and that it won't be a big deal until five years from now, when they have to figure out some way to remove the Mirena without it's string, ie dilating my cervix and using clamps to pull it out.
I have asked to have my Mirena removed on several occasions, and my doctor insists that it will get better, and I just have to tough it out. I know that I cannot continue to experience this irritability or pain, and I do not want to see if the weight continues to pack on. On Tuesday I have my ultrasound, and then an appointment with a different doctor to tell me the results and have it removed.
I was on these boards before my insertion, and shortly after, and thought all these side effects were crap, and that the posters were just the 1 out of 10 women who don't recommend the Mirena to their friends. I was sure that it wouldn't happen to me, but boy was I wrong. I believe the statistics the Mirena website gives are completely flawed, and I would NEVER recommend this to a friend, or even an enemy.

I had the MIRENA IUD inserted on January 11th, 2008. 10 weeks after my sons’ birth. It is now February 18th I have went over a full month of consistent bleeding. After 13 days of non-stop bleeding, no breaks in between, called the doctor just to get advised to take ibuprofen for menstrual cramps. That was not of my concern, how long was I to be bleeding for, however was. Never got an answer, and now the cramping too are of big concern. Just yesterday, while I was at Wal-Mart, I had cramps so bad they stopped me dead in my tracks. I have never, never ever had a menstrual cycle longer than 3 days and cramps so bad I couldn't go to work. Just over these past two weeks my skin has become so horrible, I do not get acne ladies, and I now have acne all over my back, chest, arms and patches on my face. Also, in odd places, who gets acne behind their neck and ears? I don't know, do you? I had breast tenderness for about 1 to 2 weeks; still have dizziness every other day. I have 2 kids, had an epidural with both and had no issues with lower back pain. Think I do now? Well, of course I do! Funny thing too, I didn't know that mood swings were a side effect, and my boyfriend says to me the other day, "you have been real mean for like the past month!" The only thing I can say that has not been a problem is my sex drive. Even though I have been bleeding for over a month I have had some very, very light days. This IUD has not interfered with my interest in sex. I actually want it more now than ever... but that’s probably because I am so in love with the man that gave me the two loves of my life!!!! And not the MIRENA IUD... lol!!!

I am so grateful for finding this site! I seriously thought I was losing my mind because of all the things I've been feeling over the past 6 months. Extreme fatigue, moodiness, joint pain (hands, knees), back pain, blurry vision, breast tenderness, NO sex drive, dizziness, nausea and blotchy skin. Since I work in the medical field, I was beginning to think that I had fibromyalgia or rheumatoid arthritis. Since reading all the responses, I'm making an appointment first thing Monday morning to have my Mirena removed.

Thank you ladies!

I got mine Nov 12 of 07. The day after I slept all day, and have experienced about 2 months of constant spotting as if I was having a light to medium period. Doctor said this was ok and would get better. I have experienced headaches for days but they do go away. Some breakouts on my face but that was very mild. And breast tenderness and some enlargement. I have had it for almost 3 months now. The bleeding has stopped. The breast tenderness started again two days ago, with a tiny amount of spotting. I took a pregnancy test a couple weeks ago and it was negative. The breast tenderness and headaches, were always a sign of pregnancy with me, so this is kind of stressful. But if it is truly side effects, then the Mirena is a great option for me.

Dear All,
Just had Mirena removed today after getting no sleep for 3 days and constant headaches and nausea! Can't wait to have my life back! I had it since December 13th, have gone to OBGYN office 5 times reporting: heavy bleeding for 20 days, constant nausea, bloating, extreme mood swings, weight gain, headaches, cramps, insomnia, lower back pain, anxiety, breast tenderness; blurry vision , irregular heartbeat, extreme fatigued. My sex drive went from every day need to NONEXISTENT! My doctor made me feel like I am making it up.
To report the side effects to FDA:
FAX report1-800-FDA-0178 --
To report by phone1-800-FDA-1088 --
.FDA Report form 3500 to report adverse reactions can be found on the following webside https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/medwatch-online.htm

There are lots of women for whom Mirena works, but those who may have problems should be informed. I WAS NOT! I would like to help others not to make the mistake. Please do it too!

After reading your stories, I am terrified that I even let my doctor talk me into getting this. I have a 3 year old and a 4 month old. My husband and I weren't sure if we wanted more kids so I asked my doctor what she recommended.
We decided on Mirena so I had it put in back in December. It is now Jan.19. On Wednesday I went for my 5 week checkup to make sure it was still where it was suppose to be. Well, they couldn't find it. This was in the morning...I needed to get an ultrasound. They still couldn't find it so they did an internal ultrasound...still nothing. So my doctor ordered an x-ray.
Mind you I had my kids with me because I thought it would be quick. So they were both hunger at this point. By this point it was almost dinner time.
They finally found it back on the right side of my abdomen. NOT IN MY UTERUS!! I couldn't believe it. I now need surgery to remove it.
They will be doing a laparoscopic surgery...my doctor has never done this before. Do I let her or do I get someone else to do it? She said she has never perforated anyone's uterus before and that she would not charge me for the surgery but I would need to pay for the hospital stay. Is this right?
I don't think I should be paying for any of this.
Besides the fact that I've also been experiencing lots of cramping and pain. I 've gained 6-7 lbs., have muscle aches, crabbiness, headaches, dizziness, bloated all the time, bad gas pains in my stomach,...tired.
Was it worth it...NO!!!
I can't wait to get it out. My husband and I will stick with condoms for now until we want a more permanent solution. My husband said he would get the vasectomy at that point. I've gone through enough.
I am sure this is not a good form of bc. I'm sorry women have had to go through the same experience but hopefully more women will realize how bad it is and not get one.

diarrhea, breast tenderness, nausea, flu symptoms

For those of you asking about live after having the Mirena removed, I can happily report that mine has been out almost 2 months and MOST of my page-long list of side effects have gone.

The first and most noticable one was that my breast tenderness was gone and they retruned quickly to their normal size. Sex drive almost immediately started to return to normal and the pain during sex is GONE! Ditto for the joint pain Depression, mood swings, all better. Period? After having constant spotting for 17 months (a brownish discharge most of the time), I was never so glad to see a bright red, normal period. Of course it was heavier, but I was actually relieved, and it actually had a real beginning and end. It even snuck up on me, as I didn't seem to experience any PMS symptoms before it started (much to the relief of my husband). The only two things that remain is I still seem to be retaining some water in my hands, face, and feet, I haven't gained any more weight, but the weight I gained on Mirena hasn't come off easily, either. And, for the time being, it seems that my acne has gotten a bit worse! Hoping its the last of the hormones rearing their ugly heads. So, chin up, there is hope!

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 did get my Mirena removed on Oct. 3. I was having a lot of breast tenderness and they seem bigger with sore knots inside that come and go, abdominal pain, blotting, weight gain that would not come off no matter what I did, acne problems all over my face and scalp, depression, and mood swings. There are probably a few more but these were the most prominant. I took 3 ibuprofen (600mg) on the way to the doctors office to help prevent any cramping and it worked. It was a lot easier coming out than going in. I was only a few days shy of starting my period and so I waited to put in my NuvaRing until the next Monday. I know this will sound crazy but I was looking forward to having a normal period. I think our bodies were made to get rid of that stuff every month rather than holding it in. Maybe a reason for so many side effects!? Anyways, with the removal on a Wed. I did not have any bleeding until Sat. I warn you, I had a little bit of blood when I wiped on Fri. night but thought it would just be light like it usually was so I wasn't prepared for Saturday's explosion. It was definitely a period that was long overdue. The more I bled though the more I felt like the blotting was going down and that I was getting back to normal. (Could have just been in my head, but I was happy.) I did experience a little bit of dizziness those days. Don't know if it was from all the bleeding or just hormones trying to balance out. It was off and on for about a day and a half. Also I have had a few hot flashes over the past two weeks. I have also lost about 3-4 pounds and the knots in my breast have gone away and they don't hurt any more. YEAH!!!!!! So even though it has only been a short time, I really feel that I made the right decision to take it out. I am sure that will still be a few side effects with the NuvaRing, just as there is with any birth control. But at least I can be in control from now on.

Ok. This is crazy. My doctor is a VERY good doctor, and has denied my charges against the Mirena. I had not looked into the reported side effects when I complained to my doctor. I have had my Mirena since 2004. No problems at all until about 3 months ago. (maybe longer than that adding the mood swings, loss of libido since the birth of our last son, vaginal irritation, dryness, yeast infections that I never had before the IUD, breast tenderness, joint pain, recent bleeding that lasted a month) I began having heart palpataions so severe that I thought I was having panic attacks. Like a heavy weight being laid upon my chest, too small of an area for my heart to be able to properly beat, loss of breath, loss of sleep (causing me to take tylenol pm to be able to rest). I went to the doctor, and was concerned about the symptoms. She was alarmed, she has known me over 5 years, and I have been in her office only a handful of times. She ran an ekg, did chest x-rays, and found nothing. She sent me on to the cardiologist to have blood work and an echo. They found nothing. I asked her about the possibility of the Mirena being the problem. She thought it was doubtful, but wants to look at it during an exam anyway. My hubby and I are considering having it removed. We can't figure out what other problem there would be. Please email me if anyone has had symptoms similar! I am VERY concerned.

I had the Mirena put in in March of 2007, shortly after my 6 week post partum check up. I have always had terrible side effects from bc pills and I am allergic to latex (....condoms,etc), besides I'm married and it's so weird and inconvenient for a married couple, with 3 children and LITTLE time for sex to use condoms!! With all this in mind, my obgyn convinced me to consider this product. I did my homework as instructed and all research came back with the same answers: NO DOCUMENTED side effects. My biggest concerns were weight gain/mood, aggression. I was assured this would not happen to me again. The insertion was super easy; didn't feel a thing, then a few days later it felt as though I was in labor all over again and this lasted for about a week. I continued to bleed for approx 5 months, and since i have had to wear a panty liner everyday for discharge/spotting. After reading this website, I've come to realize that all the "strange" things happening to me are apparently not so strange/rare: the terrible headaches, leg cramps, SEVERE acne that scars (everyday of the month, currently using proactiv for that, but not helping one bit! and i've never had a zit before in my life), I'm 27 and feel as though i have the joints of an 85 year-old...my knees and hips ache 24-7. Yes, the mood swings are there too. My poor husband and children....i'm happy one sec, then biting off heads the next. I have also had severe constipation, having to do regular enemas to have bm's. Worst of all, after busting my butt to lose 25lbs of baby wgt 3 wks after giving birth, I started gaining it back 3 weeks later after having Mirena inserted. I have gained approx 38 lbs since the end of March. I have completely changed my diet to..sugar busters, 1200 calories a day, exercise 5 days a week,excessive amount of fiber and water, and i'm even taking ephedra/hoodia pills 3x a day. I can honesly say I have not lost 1 pound, not 1. We are not sure if we want anymore children, but if so not for a few years, but I cannot endure the suffering anymore, and neither can my family. please reconsider having the Mirena put in your body! So many women post complaints, why is there NO documented side effects with this device with the manufacturer and physicians who recommend it?????

I had Mirena inserted in August 2006 and didn't really notice any side effects at first. Recently I have put all these side effects together and started to research Mirena. I have had breast tenderness with lumps, abdominal pain, acne, depression, anger, and weight gain that I can not get rid of. Against my doctor's wishes I am getting it removed tomorrow morning. I will try to remember to post again when and if I see any results.

Oh yes, I also forgot:

lack of sex drive (non-existent), had very healthy sex drive before
2 episodes of heart palpitations (not sure if related)
breast tenderness for 2 weeks out of every month
increase in cramping and PMS symptoms (never had cramping before)

One week after IUD removal, acne is already clearing up.

severe breast tenderness weight gain no periods

I have experienced very few side effects. No weight gain whatsoever, and I no longer have periods or pms. The negative side effects are very minor, like breast tenderness and minor cases of acne.