Mirena and hormones

Ladies,

I am 35, mother of 3 and my doctor suggested Mirena for the treatment of endometriosis. The last hormone that I took (depo provera) left me with a 10 cm tumor that I had to have removed. I am a little hesitant to take a hormone because I am also a diabetic. Now that I am reading your messages I am TERRIFIED!!! Still unsure what to do or if any method is better than the other. After having my daughter in Jan 09, the endometriosis showed it's face. Instead of doing something about it during the section, they waited until after the 6 week checkup. I am so sorry that these things have happened to you all but what's a woman to do??

After suffering from really heavy periods, I had the mirena fitted 7 weeks ago. Since then I've had recurring bleeding every day both heavy and light. However the stomach cramps are the worst. I'm becoming addicted to painkillers and brandy which I take to relieve the pain. My little girl is fed up of seeing her mum sat with a hot water bottle complaining of pain. The doctor says it's just my body settling down and blames my hormones. They've given me Norethisterone to take for 3 months but I'm unsure what to do. All I know is the periods were better than the pain I'm in now and I'm truly fed up!!

I have had Mirena in for almost two years. I have gained about 20+ pounds, my usually high sex drive has disappeared, I have awful lower back pains that shoot down into my leg, I have migraines so severe they send me to bed. I thought this would be a worry-free choice of birth control. I am disturbed to know that so many other women are experiencing the same symptoms. I have not yet had it removed, but I am soon. Thank you to everyone that posted and helped me to understand my symptoms.

i'm a mom of two boys, and i had my baby in May, and i got the mirena in August, and 2 mos ago i notice, my hair had started shedding, and the more i comb my hair the more of my hair came out, and when i went to talked to my dr. he said that my hair shedding wasn't a side effect from the mirena, but i knew thats the only thing that it could've been, because i wasn't taking any medicine, he tried to make me keep the mirena in, dont get me wrong, i didn't have any other side effects from the mirena, but when i did talk to my doctor. he tried to tell me it could be my hormones balance out, he tried to talk me out of getting it removed, but i had it removed two weeks ago, and i notice since then my weight is going down, so it does make you gain weight too. But its not safe to me, i think they need to take it off the market.

I had Mirena put in January of this year, I am 49 years old. I did not need it for birth control as my tubes are tied. I was having very bad perimenopausal symptoms so my doctor suggested I try it for the hormones. I was still having heavy periods 8 months later. A little over two weeks ago I had a complete hysterectomy so obviously the Mirena is gone! I was and am having HORRIBLE joint pain as others have posted. I feel like I am 100 years old some days, my legs and shoulders and hips hurt the most. I read that the Mirena hormones are contained in a steroid reservoir, whatever that means,does anybody know? I have been on steroids before and this is exactly the same reaction I had, hip and joint pain so bad they had to take me off. Well anyways, I am glad it is out of my body but my question to anyone is, once you had it removed, how long did it take for the joint pain to subside????

I know that for every woman, the side effects or various medications and hormones are different. I personally had the Mirena IUD inserted a little over 3 years ago on the recommendation of a friend who, at the time, had nothing but positive things to say about it. I went on that recommendation alone, and now wish that I had done more research into the side effects before having one inserted.

The initial insertion was not horrible, but not great either- a pinch at insertion, severe cramping and pain within a few hours, and a dull aching feeling in my abdomen for about a week. After that, though, I couldn't feel the IUD at all.

It was not long after that when I began to experience side effects. Like many of you, I attributed my symptoms to stress and life changes. I figured that my migraines, back pain, fatigue, dizziness, increasing urinary tract infections, and weight gain were a result of a changing metabolism and high-stress job.

When I went to my family physician to have blood work done (because I was declared anemic when trying to give blood), I was told that I wasn't getting enough iron and I went on iron supplements. (The supplements then made me constipated- sorry if that is TMI, but that was a very unwelcome result!) When I took trip after trip to my ob/gyn for antibiotics to treat UTIs, I was told that the UTIs were unrelated to the IUD. When I saw a urologist to have three separate tests done (one for hormone levels, another for uterine function, and yet another to test kidney function), all tests came back within normal range. Even when I went to the ER one Saturday morning, when my back was spasming so badly that I could barely walk or stand, I was told that my back pain was stress-related.

All the while, my friend (the one who recommended the IUD in the first place) was dealing with similar problems- weekly severe migraines, back pain, etc. She was being told the same things by her ob/gyn- none of her symptoms were related to the IUD. Since she and I trusted our doctors completely, we went on about our lives, upped our workout regimens, tried to de-stress as much as possible, took OTC pain meds when it was all too much to bear- and yet for both of us, our symptoms continued.

Then, in July, my husband and I decided to begin trying for a baby. I made my appointment to have the IUD removed (which was a painless process), and it was only then that I began to research the Mirena IUD online. My former ob/gyn had moved, and my new one seemed ill-informed about what to expect once the IUD was removed. I wanted to know how soon I could conceive, and she knew very little about the process- heck, she didn't even know what the hormone was called that she had given me to jump-start my period (it was progestin, by the way- a very common prescription that my paramedic husband knew quite a bit about, but the ob/gyn didn't even know the name of!).

Once I got online and found this site (among many others), I finally began to put two and two together. I am now firmly convinced that my symptoms were directly related to the Mirena IUD. Again, different women are affected in different ways, but I know that for me- nothing good came of messing with Mother Nature like that.

Now that I've had the IUD out for about four months, I feel like a different human being. I did experience the "Mirena Crash," but once that passed, I almost immediately began losing weight, my abdomen was no longer blown up like a balloon, my energy level and sex drive increased, my back pain is now gone, and I haven't had a migraine or UTI since.

I've since switched ob/gyns, but I now have a healthy distrust of anything medically new and experimental. I will never have the Mirena inserted again, and I will definitely research anything and everything regarding my body. Ladies, listen to your bodies- mine was screaming at me loud and clear for over three years, and even though I knew that something was very wrong, I didn't listen. I'm just happy that I "accidentally" figured it out. (Oh, and my friend will be having her IUD removed later this week. She and I now call ourselves the "sister skeptics!")

I have been on Mirena since April 2009. At first I thought it was the only form of birth control that I could be on since every other form that I have tried caused me to have anxiety attacks. Recently I've been noticing that I get really dizzy, get frequent headaches, have a hard time focusing, "fly off the hinges" about anything. I also feel weak, have no energy, have muscles aches, and the worst part is I'm always tired & Im only 22 years old. I'm sick of feeling like this! I made an appointment with my OBGYN to get it removed because I believe that I may be allergic to all forms of birth control because of the hormones used in them. The office nurse told me that my OBGYN will probably try & put me on some other kind of birth control, or see how he feels about it being removed, but Im going to tell him I want it removed ASAP. All birth control causes me to have problems so the only form of birth control I plan on being on is a condom! At least I know I'm not allergic to latex. I hate Mirena & regret ever getting it! DO NOT USE!

Ohhh, I thought that I was going crazy. My 5th baby was born May 09, and I felt great for just having a baby. I have only had the Mirena since June 09, but thinking back, it has been since then that most of my issues have arisen. I have a constant pressure in my head, sometimes it is a headache, and occasionally it turns into a migraine. I have my period, and then it lags on with spotting for another week and a half, all the while having the cramps, major moodiness, depression, fatigue. I am having low back pains too. I am tired as heck all the time. I am hypothyroid as well, which can cause you to be tired, so I have went and had my thyroid checked 3 times since the baby was born as I was sooo sure it was off because of my fatigue. I have no libido either. My husband thinks all this stuff is excuses and in my head. I have been on the depo in the past for 5 years, but my blood pressure started to raise, and went back to normal after I changed to the copper IUD. I had that removed to try for another baby. But I did very well on the the copper IUD, which had no hormones and is called Para Gard, or something like that. I did still have my period, with some cramping that was slightly more than what I had without the IUD. But I had a libido, I wasn't fatigued or depressed. My doctor was pushing this Mirena, and against my better judgment I agreed. So please remember that there is another IUD, and it is good for 10 years, which maybe why they don't push that one. I am getting ready to get this hell Mirena out and switch back to the copper IUD.

Some of this may be TMI for some, but I believe in not pulling the punches:

I had mine inserted 12/07 when my youngest was 8 weeks old. I had the para-guard (no hormone) previously and loved it, I didn't take into account how poorly I have done with hormonal BC in the past (2 pregnancy's on the pill, 30lbs weight gain in 6 weeks of the patch, constant 'morning sickness' with the shot, etc) all I heard was no more periods....

After doing the HGC diet (as a last resort) I am finally down to the weight I was 2 days before my dd was born. At my peak I was 20lbs more. I want to get pregnant again next spring, but I have at least 35 lbs to loose before even considering it.

I bleed 2-3 weeks out of the month- too light for even the lightest tampons, but still no fun. I have actually developed raw spots from wearing a pad ALL THE TIME since I never know when the bleeding will start.

And, best of all, I hate sex. I have always had a great sex drive (I'm 29 with four kids) but now if my husband even looks like he's thinking about it I snap at him. When I finally give in (maybe once a month!) it hurts horribly for days- two main types: even with copious amounts of lube I am still dry enough that I feel swollen and bruised. On top of that I cramp for a full day - Feels like I've been punched in the stomach repeatedly. And then the bleeding starts.

Also some (relatively mild) acne, constant, but manageable (never a problem before). Including some in the groin area that end up as boils when on a stretch mark. I had never attributed it to my IUD until reading these posts, but had never had them previously.

The only reason I've had it this long is we lost our insurance shortly after the baby was born (DH laid off after 10 years in construction) I am calling my doctor on Monday to find out how much it will cost to have it removed!

I would ( and have) recommend IUD's to all my friends, but if any have ever had a problem with any hormones- para guard it is!!

I'm so glad I'm not alone. I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in July 2008, so I was placed on really strong medication the cut the effect of my current BC to 50%. So I decided to have the Mirena placed. It was placed Jan. 2009. A few weeks later, I experienced tenderness and swelling in both my breast. I went to see my GYN and she said it was normal and it should subside soon, but she sent me for an UltraSound to make sure. The results showed that my milk ducts were dilated. (And I was not Pregnant) A few months later I was experiencing severe depression, mood swings,bloating, facial acne, cramps, but the worst one of them all was the itching in my breast. Not to mention the 25 lb weight gain and my breast doubled in size. I would eat at any given time and had cravings. I felt like I was pregnant all the time. When I mentioned the itching to my doctor, she said I needed to see a dermatologist. I saw one the same day, and he also said he thinks it's the hormones in the Mirena. So I had it removed today. I hope everything goes back to normal.....

I had the Mirena IUD place in January 2009 after having my son in November 2008. It was all fine until about June when I started breaking out so bad, and not being able to lose weight. I was running 4-5 miles a day and not losing any weight. The worst was my skin. I had been clear for so long, then all of a sudden BAM! I had it taken out immediately and have since been taking Ortho Tri Cyclen Lo. I am hoping that this will help my skin. Anyone else with this problem?

Marini IUD side effects and marina crash side effects for my daughter….still going

February- pregnant 19 by 25 yr old first pregnancy...
Abortion first ever
IUD marina same day insertions as abortion
Yr later Sept bloated tummy, anxiety attacks, paranoid, tummy flutters, pushing sensation.. Odor, discharge something’s wrong
Next day….Marina removed, antibiotics, bacteria infection
Lab test all negative.
Next four weeks…. Barley any sleep, barley any food, depression, anxiety, out burst, rage anger, sadness, self verbal destruction, blaming self, tossing turning, moaning, soul hurts, very moody up and down, no patience, confusion, face breaking out…looking pale, skinny, unhealthy….It’s like a drug addict addicted to drugs but this is addicted to the guy who got her pregnant… no drugs ,no alcohol,
Call radio station, ask why are they not making sense…
TV.. fate/Destiny, symbolic meaning meant to be…..
Reality. .NOT an option….
25 yr old who got me pregnant was a fling off and on a yr..
Convinced self…… had to be with him ,loved him,
Drove over to his house daily,
Called daily, text daily,
Believe the earth was putting signs of fate and destiny to be together with him

Couldn’t be in public, took time off from work, saw counselor, who said needed anti- psychotic pills, depression pills, and sleep pills have hormones checked, thyroid level…. Alice in wonderland can’t separate reality from fantasy.
Saw another doctor, had test….white blood cells moderately high have to go do more testing. doctor said doesn’t need hormones checked…. said ADHD need meds again…
Feel crazy, feel like losing mind, drifting in and out of thought conversation, space out get into trance like sate, and feel as if I can’t control self,
Have to be with this guy, have to protect him. Pregnant because of him,
Convincing self destine to be together, family marriage future with guy..
Other times acceptance of rejection from him, never wanted to be together.
Lost three weeks of work., keys to car taken, keep texting him calling him…Girlfriends tell to stop….Ignore her..
What’s real and what’s not. Keep repeating questions seeing signs, from TV, radio, he wants me……he needs me…All in my head??? Everyone tells me…All in my head..
Can’t take ADHD pill, can’t sleep,….Confusion, blurry vision, see colors…..What’s real???
Snapping at family, angry, disbelief,he wants me….
Reality. Is he doesn’t can’t accept it….
Family thinks I’m loosing my mind…am I?
Over a guy? Who was just a fling? Who I thought was the One….
The reality shows, We are meant to be together…..But told It’sall in my head…
No family history of mental disorder, never have gone though this..
Always had confidence before marina IUD…..
Never chased guys, never had too…what’s wrong??? Why this behavior??
know’s better, he wants me,
Began Sept 26th..anxiety,flutters,pushing,bloating….swollen belly..
Still going Oct 28th..Removed Sept 28th 09…..after removal instantly feel better then BOOM!!! Downhill spiral of emotions began’s…..Still feel very clouded in her head, confusion expression......head tells her the opposite of what the family tell's her...
What can I do as a mother with great concern???? How do I get her back to the happy,outgoing,confident 19 yr old she was????

Hi everyone. I am so glad i found this website. I am 26 years old and i got my mirena put in October of 2007. A few months after getting it put in i noticed my hair was starting to fall out, i was real moody, hot flashes. So i went to my obgyn and he said it was my hormones so put me on birth control on top of the mirena, don't know what point of that was. But me and my husband were debating whether or not to get it taken out, because i am really bad at taking the pill but after reading everyone's stories on here yall have made up my mind for me. I'd rather get it taken out and see if my symptoms stop. The hair loss has bothered me the most. I went from having a head full of thick hair to having real thin hair, my husband was amazed at how much hair i have lost. When i wash my hair at night it just falls out like nothing, i have a big ball of hair in the tub. I even went and seen a dermatologist and he didn't know what was wrong! Calling my doctor tomorrow to make an appt. to get this taken out!

I'm partial to Mirena. I had it for all 5 years, but still debate as to whether my weight gain, hair loss and joint pain were related. I got it shortly before my boyfriend of 2 years broke up with me, starting drinking a bit more and was in general stressed out. So stress & alcohol equals weight gain. Weight gain (30 lbs in a year) equals joint pain. The hair loss is another story. It might be stress, but I went long periods afterward without stress and I could pull out rat size clumps of hair once every few weeks from my shower drain. I had it removed on October 6th 2009. I immediately started NuvaRing. 3 weeks later, I'm DONE with that. That's another story. Overall, though, I don't think the majority of the side effects were caused by Mirena and the 5 years I had it in were good. I won't get another one, just because I'm still skeptical. I think I'm going to take some time off birth control with hormones. We'll see how it goes. I can't say I'd recommend Mirena due to all of the horror stories I've read. Maybe in a year, if all my symptoms go away, I won't be so wishy washy.

I got my Mirena in about 20 months ago and almost immediately my life started going downhill. I got moody, depressed, started gaining weight, my skin broke out in TERRIBLE cystic acne. Then I started having trouble sleeping at night, and was waking up EXHAUSTED every morning. etc etc. At first I blamed job stress. Then poor eating habits. Then poor skincare products, my new apartment...everything but the IUD.

I have Type 1 Diabetes, so I see an endocrinologist regularly and when I went in yesterday to show him this new BALD SPOT on the top of my head, and talk about my random weight gain, despite joining weight watchers and exercising every single day, he started asking me questions and determined that that IUD needed to come OUT. He said if the hormones were affecting my body enough to cause acne, and increase my insulin dose (I went from 10 units a day to 20...a HUGE increase!) then it was most certainly affecting my hormones enough to cause weight gain, hair loss, etc. It even explained why I suddenly needed to get waxed every three weeks instead of every six.

Unfortunately all the literature indicates that removal comes with terrible bleeding, clots, and cramps. I'm going on vacation in less than one month and I'm super bummed that I have to keep it in until I get back from vacation but I'm not going to the most civilized region so I don't want to risk the kinds of horror stories I've been reading while abroad.

hi. i had mirena put in feb 08. around June i started having flu like symptoms and stomach issues. doctors couldn't figure that out so i learned to deal with it. no biggie. may 09 i started having palpitations and tightness in my chest. doc #1 said it was a panic attack.(no) doc #2 thought i pulled a muscle (nope) july went to the er. test were ran all negative. pain and palpitations still come and go. until 4 days ago, just walking around i became short of breath, had sharp pain, and bad palpitations that wouldn't go away with rest. the next day i had to go to the er again because my blood pressure went up so high. been at home in bed for 3 days now. still tight chest. still palpitations off and on. i see a cardiologist tomorrow to make sure there is nothing seriously wrong. but reading this, things are making a bit more sense. i have also asked my gyn 2x's and they state that mirena will NOT cause any type of chest issues because of the type of hormones in it. if cardiologist finds nothing along with everyone else, IT'S COMING OUT! i'm so tired of feeling sick!
thanks everyone for your comments. i now know it's not just me!
J.

I'm 48 and got a Mirena put in last January at the suggestion of my doctor. I'd been having menstrual migraines and we thought that a steady dose of hormones might help with the dips and prevent my headaches. Well, it has helped some, as the headaches don't come every month anymore, however, I do still get them, so it hasn't really done what we hoped. Add to that my (growing!) list of symptoms and something has to be done. I am very active. I do Taekwondo 4x a week and was working out 5x a week this summer in preparation for my black belt test. You would think that I'd lose weight with the workouts I've done for the past 10 months, but no, my weight has increased over 10lbs! And it's not muscle, either: My breasts, waist, hips and thighs have all increased. I feel bloated, tired to the point of exhaustion even after 8 hours of sleep, and all of my joints are achy. The brain-fog has gotten so bad that I've had to go back on ADD meds to try to maintain my focus at work. I'd been doing my workouts for 3 years prior to getting the Mirena, and I never felt tired the way I feel it now! I'm seeing my doctor next month and this thing is out of here!

I had mine removed this week - thank the lord above!!! However, it has been rough and be forewarned that I experienced horrific cramping and HEAVY bleeding for nearly five days. I also had terrible back pains and some pain down my legs as well as some mental fogginess. I only had it in about one month and had gained 3 pounds and outgrown my bras! So now, two boxes of tampons later, I finally stopped bleeding altogether about 24 hours ago and the cramping has subsided. I feel mentally clearer and, believe it or not, have some semblance of libido - my husband is thrilled!

I am exploring other options for managing hormonal changes in perimenopause - including evening primrose oil and am still doing lots of yoga (even during the pain periods I did lots of yoga to help me manage)...Mainly, I feel so betrayed by the doctors (two women half my age) who insisted my symptoms were "all in my head" - to those of you planning for removal I encourage you to tell the medical professionals you work with that you are NOT crazy and NOT the only one experiencing these side effects. I personally believe that many women get too much progestin in the Mirena (which is not Progesterone, either) and this, in addition to overloading our estrogen, is enough to make us completely insane and miserable. I say let nature work its course as regards my own perimenopause and to those out there using Mirena for birth control I managed to avoid pregnancy with little concern using natural/rhythm methods and condoms as well as a diaphragm, conceiving my two beautiful (now teenage) sons without any intervention from hormones except my own. I am going to do peri and menopause the same way here on out. !!!!

Would love to hear how long it took for weight and stomach fat to go away after the removal from anyone who has been there - I eat very healthfully and exercise daily so I knew the pregnant look I got after that month with the Mirena was not due to one too many cookies )as my doctor seemed to infer !

I think I know how Mirena works now.. You don't get pregnant because you never want to have sex!!.lol.. At least that is my experience. I had it put in about 4 months ago, and have completely lost my sex drive. I have tingling in my arms and hands all the time now, my whole body aches, and I feel flutters in my stomach as if I were pregnant (even though I'm not).My breasts also hurt like heck! I feel confident in its effectiveness but don't want these side effects anymore!! I also was told that using Mirena is like always having an abortion.. does anybody know if that is true?? I wasn't informed this when I had it put in... I was just told that the hormones stop you from getting pregnant, If any of you ladies have any answers to my questions that would be great!!

I have posted before and have been on the mirena going on three years. My symptoms started about April of this year; severe anxiety with all the symptoms: chills, panic attacks, even in my sleep, insomnia, depression, numbness and tingling in my hands and feet, shortness of breath, chest pain, the works... My doctor put me on celexa and my psychiatrist put me on klonopin to sleep. Note: I had never needed these types of medication or any kind of mental specialist ever, in my life. I have one daughter she is 2 and a half, and a very happy home.
My anxiety has gotten so much better since I have been on the meds. but the paranoia kept me from taking them for at least a month.
I can't say the mirena caused it but my doctor says that it is possible. A hormonal imbalance can be caused by your bc, The longer you take it the greater the risk.(for some women)
I have horrible mood swings still... and my sex drive is ok, but not what is used to be, but she did warn me of this before-hand. The acne and weight are my biggest problems now. I cannot stop eating, and I am not depressed, just so very very hungry even an hour after a big meal. My doctor said this is because of the hormones. Your body thinks its pregnant and will react as such, so as we all know; all of our bodies react differently to a pregnancy, morning sickness, swelling, sex drive, these things are all different for different women. It has not been a picnic for me and for others I know that it may be an ideal bc. I will have mine removed this coming week and will update if I see a change.
Thanks for reading.
emg1223

I have to say I am SHOCKED over this site but had to read every bit of it. I am a TRUE believer in the Mirena and until I came across this site while searching for sites to send a friend to encourage the Mirena I never knew how many horrible things could happen for someone on the Mirena. HOWEVER, I guess this is proof when with any type of birth control including Mirena it is said it's not for everyone. I happen to LOVE mine. I'm actually on my 2nd insertion. My first one went very well, after a crampy insertion and 2 days of horrible cramps controlled by ibuprofin I was left to enjoy 5 years of birth control w/out problems. I can't take the pill as no matter the dose I spend the 1st to weeks nauseated and vomiting in the morning, I tried the Depo Shot (personally that is the EVIL OF ALL EVIL birth control methods, gained 68 pounds in 11mnts never going over 105 pounds except for pregnancy in my life, have battled to control my weight since therefore I believe it destroyed my metabolism forever, major depression to the point of medication and medical leave from work & the world). And after an accident pregnancy no way was condoms going to be enough for me. My Dr. recommended Mirena and I gave it a try. I was not lucky enough to go period free my first insertion I did have a max of 3 days of period with little or no cramping. My second not as good, I now have about 5 days of spotting only if sex promotes it and occasionally after using the bathroom a little blood on the toilet paper, never needing to actually use any feminine products. I use to get ovarian cysts all the time, small enough surgery was only needed once but I knew when one was there and I knew one they "popped" as my doctor would call it. I haven't had that problem since I started with Mirena, I'm told its due to the small amount of hormones (hence the reason my Dr suggested Mirena versus a non hormone IUD). My sex drive has not been affected one bit...in fact like one of the positive posts I just read...my husband and I have discussed more then once prior to coming across this site how much more of a sex drive I do have, although we contributed it to not being pulled down in the dark world of depression from the Depo shot...and the freedom of placed once & forget for 5 years type birth control. I have 8 friends and coworkers that have the Mirena...One person had a problem, hers "fell out" in the toilet and she had been cramping and in abdominal pain for a few days prior not connecting it to her Mirena...but after 2 months of other methods she had another one placed and has had no problem since...that was 2 years ago. It stinks to hear how horrible this "wonder bc method" is for others...(are you seeing how terrible the other methods were for me first for me to feel this is the wonder of all wonders) and of course I'm concerned with the fact that most of you that had a problem had SEVERE problems..not just a small one here or there. But I'm going to bet that on the flip side the methods that caused me hell might work for one of you. I have 2 more years left on this 2nd cycle...I pray I never have the problems you do if I chose a 3rd insertion...however, with science today we can only hope your complaints are taken seriously and the makers of Mirena continue to improve so that less and less people run into these side effects. I'm not sure I would have another option...SCARY!

Had my Mirena removed after 7mo of horrible side effects. It has now been about 5 months since having it removed and I was thinking about getting paraguard instead since there are no hormones (I believe it is the hormones that cause the effects). Any of you out there use paraguard, please let me know how it is... getting it in about a week.

Okay...this is amazing, cause I thought I was crazy but now I know all of us are!!!hahah...I had the Mirena put in in early October. I am perimenopausal and my hubby has a vasectomy. The docs encouraged it to help with my menopausal symptoms, primarily irregular cycles and cramping due to not bleeding - they said that was due to low progesterone and the Mirena would work wonders. I had it put in (very very painful - and this from a woman who gave birth, at home, two separate times with nothing but a midwife and some gentle massaging during the birthings!) and never stopped bleeding. Not once! I have gone through two boxes of tampons and three of pads. I have cramping all the time, and low back ache. I noticed that my bras felt really sore and enlarged (so did hubby) and they grew overnight. I gained three pounds and started crying at the time. The final insult: no sex drive. zippo. none at all. I also have terrible vagina odor which is, I know gross to admit, but a very new thing. I think that there are many women who simply cannot tolerate these hormones. Our bodies know what to do and I am going to brave the change without intervention. I went to see doctor today and, of course, she tried to talk me out of removal. She even had the nerve to say that it was good to have in, to protect my uterus, for eventual Hormone replacement therapy -as if I had ever mentioned that as an option? I looked at her and said, "take it out". Now I don' t know if this is imagination, but I swear the cramps have abated in the past several hours. I am still bleeding but feel hope for its ending. I would not recommend this to anyone and to those out there being told its value in managing menopausal symptoms, move on. It is not worth it - the change is change enough!

I had my mirena removed about one week ago after a year and a half of having it in. my doctor had told me that I would have no side effects as it only dispersed hormones locally. My experience was very different! The most noticeable were: immediate weight gain (10pounds in 6 weeks from inserting it), inability to lose weight with diet and exercise, terrible mood swings and depression for no reason at all, extreme fatigue and lack of energy (I couldn't stay up past 9pm), bad acne, hair loss on my head and increase of facial hair (go figure!), constant bloating (I looked pregnant all the time), definite decrease of libido, nausea (which led me to see many gastro dr's as I was convinced I had a stomach bug), vertigo, terrible discharge...you name it, I've had it. The thing about Mirena is that the side effects are accumulative and subtle to begin with, so it takes a while before you make the association. Since removing it a week ago, I have noticed a major increase in my energy level (I love it! i feel alive again...), increase in libido, sudden disappearance of depression and mood swings, and bloating is gone. I'm happy to have my body back and feel liberated! I replaced mirena with a regular Copper IUD. In the past I've had increased bleeding during periods with the copper IUD but I'll have that any day compared with my experience with Mirena. The doctor that removed it for me told me that she never advises woman to use mirena unless they have a medical problem such as fybroids, very heavy periods etc...Mirena is used as a cure for these conditions. Her reasoning is that if you are a healthy woman with no hormonal problems, why would you ingest hormones into your body in this manner and mess with your system? The fact that periods stop with mirena means that hormones are all over your system... I advise all women to listen to their bodies...you know better then any doctor if a contraceptive is right for you. There are always other options for you if you are not happy.

I got Mirena after my second baby and thought it was FANTASTIC! I never even started my period back and there seemed to be no side effects and no weight gain. I was worried about side effects because my libido plummeted with BC pills but the Dr. told me that it is such a tiny amount of hormones and it is delivered so locally that I shouldn't have any problems.
I've always had about two to three Migraines with aura a year tops. But about three months with Mirena I started having one, two, or three a month with no meds helping. I tried everything and finally I got my Mirena out. The following month I had three migraines and thought I was back to square one. But then they went away. I haven't had one in four months! I think that the hormones took a while to get into my system and then took a while to get out. I'm now using Paraguard and although I have heavy painful periods at least I can take meds for it and there are no hormones!

I was wondering if anyone has been having a problem with acne? I had the mirena inserted in May of this year, within two weeks I was having terrible mood swings, I was flying off the handle at the drop of a hat! Crazy! I went to my doctor to have it removed, he talked me into keeping it in a few months see if it changes. My moods are better but my face has become insanely greasy! I wash it twice a day, use face-wipes throughout the day to try to control it, I blot my oil away with the oil absorbing sheets. The problem is I am doing it all the time! I have even resorted to using the tissue paper toilet seat covers to blot my face, they work great in a pinch...but they are becoming part of my daily oil control routine! As an added bonus I now have acne! Never in my life have I had acne, nothing I do helps, I have all the creams and acne treatments, nothing has worked. I am just wondering if anyone else is having the same problem?

Girls! I am so glad I am not the only one!!!!
I had Mirena right after I had my second baby (around March 2007) and I had it for 2 1/2 years. I think I was alright for the first few month (but it is hard to tell as I was quite overwhelmed with baby and toddler care). But the past year 1/2 or so It was clear to me that something was not right. I was feeling really intense mood swings, had no patience, felt angry at times, loosing interest in my job and feeling at lost with my life at times and... NO libido whatsoever!
My OB told me over and over that Mirena was not the problem! But it seemed to me that this had to be the answer. My husband did not encourage me to take any other drug to fight my mood swings and he suggested I just take this off. So, I did it... exactly 5 weeks ago! And I am so much better. My libido is back. I have not felt down. I am enjoying my work. I am loving my children and my husband!!! I am so sorry I did not take it out sooner!
Alright now... the hormones are not crossing to the blood stream... But I had NO periods and of course No ovulation! So why is this so surprising to all of those guys that there may indeed be such side effects!!!
So girls! You are not crazy! Give yourself a chance and take this IUD out!
Good luck.

I got mirena inserted in feb 2009, I bled off and on every month up until this last month. I have had drastic mood swings with my deployed fiance. One minute we are okay and for some weird reason I would just get so angry for something very minute. I have been experiencing discharge with a foul odor.
I have had increase episodes of migraines, insomnia, cramps, and throbbing pain in my vaginal walls. I have experience vaginal dryness and having to use lubrication more than often.
I have no desire for sex. My fiance is 24 and I am 28. He is always ready to go like 5 times a day sometimes if we don't have the kids at home with us. I feel really awful putting him through this, especially being he in Kuwait, he doesn't deserve my attitude. The problem is I can never remember to take the pill. The MIRENA is more convenient and a safer method to prevent pregnancy, My fiance does not want us to have any kids right now. I am nervous if I take out the MIRENA we will slip somewhere and get pregnant again. Pregnancy right now with really cause a strain in our relationship related to him not wanting us to get pregnant right now.
I feel so trapped because I don't know what to do at this time.
By C. W.

Hello Everyone,

I've been doing some research on Mirena IUD side effects, and I'm so glad to come across these testimonials. I had Mirena placed in June of 2008, which hurt badly - something my doctor didn't tell me of until the procedure. Everything was fine most of 2008 but since January 2009 I have been extremely emotional and even was put on anti-anxiety/anti-depressant medication at one point. I have gained over 15 pounds in a year and can not get below a certain weight no matter how hard I try. My weight also fluctuates, which it never has before. I'm constantly gaining/losing 5-10 lbs, on a weekly basis. I have never weighed this much in my life, besides when I was pregnant, and it is really starting to bother me.

I've attributed most of my moods and "hormones" to being a single mom of two toddlers, financial stress, relationship stress with my ex and with my mother. I eat healthy and get exercise a few times a week. I'm definitely thinking removing the IUD would help my situation and make me feel like "me" again.

My question goes to the ladies that have had the Mirena IUD and have had it removed. Have you noticed a considerable difference, and if so, how long does it take for you to notice side effects starting to dissipate?

Thanks.

I had Mirena inserted 6 weeks ago and just had it removed. My medical history includes TIAs (mini-strokes) and migraines. I had a migraine EVERY DAY while I had Mirena. I also experienced ZERO LIBIDO (so what was the point of birth control!?), weight gain and mood swings. I had Paragard inserted a few days ago and I am already slowly returning to normal. My point - if you have had problems with hormones in the past, not only estrogen, but also progesterone, you may want to stay away from Mirena. My OB/GYN argued with me the entire time that there is no way Mirena could cause these symptoms since progesterone is not released in the bloodstream - BULL!!! Women, listen to your body and trust your gut.

Hey Gals,
I had my mirena put in in February 2009. I just got it out three weeks ago.
When I gave birth to my son I weighed 230, having gained 50 pounds during the pregnancy. Two months after giving birth I was down to 190 and losing weight fine. All throughout the pregnancy and afterwards I was eating healthy and exercising, so for people who say its just because we eat poorly and don't change our diet after we give birth, thats not always the case.
Then I got Mirena put in. I gained all that weight back, horrible mood swings where I would start snapping at my husband over inconsequential things. I started getting really bad headaches, (I've never had migraines before, but I'm sure it was pretty close). Constant fatigue; I was always tired, no matter how much sleep I got and never had any energy to play with my son. I also hadn't had a period since February of 2008, just a little spotting after getting the Mirena put in. Not to mention discomfort during intercourse, which just made the act seem unpleasant for both of us.
Now that I've got it out I've lost 15 pounds, I no longer have headaches, All of my energy is back and I'm not as tired as I was before, and I finally got my period! I have never been more excited to have it than before.
I guess it works for some people, but with it and the hormones it was secreting, my body couldn't handle it. I've tried other BC's before too and didn't have any problems.

I had the Mirena inserted when my daughter was 6 weeks old, August 2007. I had no problems (that I THOUGHT were related to it) until end of July this year. I had next to no period up until then and then bled for nearly 3 weeks straight. Went to the doctor who said I had a miscarriage...ok so let's take it out, it obviously doesn't work for me and go back to the pill which I had been on most of my life when I wasn't pregnant with any of my 5 children. After 3 weeks of being on the pill I had it removed on 9/10. No pain at all actually but haven't stopped bleeding since! Went back to the Dr on 9/23, felt my uterus and said seemed fine. No fibroids or polyps that he could feel. Changed my pill Rx and said it should straighten out within the next 2 cycles, if not come back...on 10/5 I went back without an appt and was told by the nurse to double up on my pills to try and stop the bleeding. I scheduled an appt to see the Dr the following am. Had an internal ultrasound done and a biopsy of the lining of my uterus. Results should be back on Tuesday... my Mom & Sister told me to look online about side effects with the Mirena and I found this page. I am comparing many of the things I have been experiencing and now realize perhaps they were ALL related to the IUD. I gained weight (am actually heavier then I was after my daughter was born and I lost all my pregnancy weight within the first month), I had terrible acne, headaches, back & neck pain, constant fatigue, emotional, decreased sex drive. It has been out 4 weeks today and although my acne has improved slightly, I feel like I have been on the brink of the flu since last Saturday, no motivation, pure exhaustion, and emotional roller coaster not to mention the cramping from my biopsy that probably wasn't necessary now I'm thinking and 4 days in a row home from work... I am hoping time will heal the way I feel once the hormones adjust themselves. The pill always helped me more then it ever hurt me. I'm glad I got the Mirena out as soon as I did. Just wish I would have known sooner what it was really doing to me!

Looking back at a post, it was 8 months ago when i first posted re long periods. and I'd had 3 two week ones then. So 11 months of bleeding...I've been to the docs, taken more hormones, different hormones, tried not having sex, tried having lots, but still bleeding and bleeding. Mirena used to be great. Have had it for over 3 years..... but it just stopped working. The acne has got worse.. the mood swings are worse, the dizzy spells before the "period" pain.....

I feel so guilty for recommending it to so many people as the answer... but it just isn't right for me anymore. Got an appointment to have it removed - scared of the removal pain and possible Crash... always struggled to keep hormones in check!

Thanks to all for their posts ... nice to know we are not alone. Would be nice to hear from anyone who has used Mirena to control Endometriosis.... or is thinking of it.... think it's pretty good... but hard to tell as it was inserted when I had my lapaoscapy and removed the adhesions. All Mirena side affects confused with endo.... but still think Mirena is the big cause.... enough is enough. Three years is a long time. (and a period constantly for nearly a year is insane!!) Good luck.....xx

everyone has their own opinion about mirena but i am here to assure you all that your not crazy. Im currently 19 years old and had mirena inserted October of 2008. Its been about a year and im going nuts. For a long time i had no answers to all of the crazy side effects. I didn't want to believe it was this wonderful easy convenient birth control. Im a college student and i just didn't want any unplanned babies. well its made my life worse. I smoke cigarettes so my doctor told me this was the best option and so i was all for it. Slowly but surely i started losing hair i didn't notice for awhile because my hair was thick in full well i can wrap a standard pony tail four frekin times around my pony. Its about half of my usual hair now. NOT ONLY is it falling out but its very dry and splitting all it does is tangle. Im very healthy young and i take vitamins daily to try and slow this process but it does no good. Since February of 2008 ive been having these terrible episodes were i get worked up for no reason. Ill be sitting in class and all of a sudden i feel like ive run a marathon. My heart races my palms sweat and a tremble. I get so freked out i have to leave class because i fell like im going to die. The worst anxiety attacks and i have to control my breathing or they just last longer. My face is so oily and so is my hair. I usually only washed my hair every other day so i don't strip the natural oils out but now its become a everyday thing which just contributes to more hair lose. I use to break out only around my period now i don't go a day without acne. Im even getting it in my scalp and back. If I don't eat on a schedule i feel like im going to pass out i get severely hungry and weak. I have pains in my uterus and ovaries sometimes and though they don't last long they are painful. I never feel like i want to have sex ever and if i do theres no telling when its going to hurt. Im very dissatisfied with mirena i loved it at first but not enough to go bald. ITS MADE MY LIFE SO STRESSFUL I FEEL BALD AND UGLY AND THAT LEADS TO DEPRESSION.

LOWER BACK PAIN
STOMACH PAIN
NO SEX DRIVE
ACNE AND OILY SKIN
DAMN NEAR BALD
PAIN IN UTERUS/DURING SEX/ANYTIME
EXTREME ANXIETY
DEPRESSION

HI, i have had my coil for almost four years. I had it inserted in October 2005, 4 months after my first son was born. it wasn't really painful but felt a bit weird like someone was opening an umbrella inside my uterus. Anyway since then (the past 2 years in particular) i have had crazy moon swings, my breasts are almost always tender, i have a really offensive discharge(which is awful) no libido! my poor husband. i never really had this problem before having the coil. i am quite depressed, cry spontaneously, am irritable and have little patience. when im due on i have really bad lower back pain, stabbing pains in my sides, nausea, bloating, and constipation. but the most recent one is acne! i don't get spots( maybe one when im on but not one every day!) they are mostly on and around my jaw and chin. i feel like a kid again, im 28! my confidence has suffered and i have put on about a stone in the last 6 months. i also get almost constant stomach pains, mostly just under my diaphragm and get heartburn with most foods i eat. i have very light and irregular periods but always get all the pre-period symptoms. the most awful ones are the acne and bad odor. has anyone else experienced bed odor? i also feel tired all the time and just want to sit and do nothing. i don't feel productive at all and have lost my desire to be productive. I am going to see my doctor this week so hopefully she will be able to shed some light on everything. i really want to get it taken out but am scared that i might fall pregnant again. i have one beautiful son but don't really want anymore children. should i put up with all these symptoms? anyway, will let you know how my appointment goes. take care and thanks for making me feel better and not so alone!

I am 30 years old and have never had any children. I had the Mirena for 4 months. During that time, I had no energy and I gained 10 pounds (probably a combination of both the hormones and my lack of energy). I was also very moody. I took two pregnancy tests while on the Mirena because my belly was so bloated and I was not having a period. I convinced myself the only reason I was gaining weight so fast was that I was pregnant (of course, both tests were negative).

After reading these posts, I realized my issues were probably due to the Mirena and I decided to have it removed. I had it removed 4 weeks ago. Removal was painless and my doctor was able to find the string easily. I only had light spotting for two days after removal and no pain. Within two weeks, the bloating had decreased significantly and I'm losing the weight I gained pretty easily (low cal diet and running). I had my first period within 3 weeks. The only bad side effect of having it removed is excessive acne on my face.

Previously, I used the Nuvaring, and I think I will go back on it. Even if I had read these posts prior to having the Mirena inserted, I still probably would have tried it because I rarely have medication side effects. I think everyone's body reacts differently, but I definitely could not handle the Mirena. I would absolutely recommend the Nuvaring, I only switched to the Mirena for ease of use and costs. Nuvaring does not come in a generic and therefore costs me about $40/month.

It has been fine for a year and all of a sudden im getting spots around my mouth which i never had before and terrible insomnia cause buy hot flashes all though the night. I never had any trouble sleeping before. I now have anxiety also because of not sleeping. The mirena was really good for a year but now i think my hormones are all over the place. Im having it out on on the weekend and i will report back with the results. I heard it takes a month for your hormones to return back to normal, i hope i can sleep before that as i feel terrible. Also my hair has become thinner i don't know if this is because of the coil.
El x

I am 45 years old. I get the impression many of the ladies here are younger, as they speak of having younger children, so I will tell my side from a bit more "mature" (ie older!) perspective:

Had Mirena for a little over 9 months. My two MAIN side effects were a development of terrible cystic acne on my face, back, shoulders, hairline, behind my ears and straight down my spine, ending in a nice lovely rash just above my tailbone. These things were deep, solid knots under the skin, not average little pimples. Worse acne I've ever had, and at my age too!

Second, profuse sweating under my breasts and lower back, again just at my tailbone, right above my butt. After drying off from a shower, I'd run my hand back there and still feel soaked. This did not seem related to hot flashes. Just sweating, and I think that contributed to the acne, which was beginning to leave scars it was so deep.

I do feel like I gained weight, my pants were much tighter and I just felt bloated all the time.

Fortunately, no hair loss or emotional side effects. I've had anxiety for years and take Ativan (lorazepam) which keeps it pretty much under control. No loss of sex drive either. It seems there are a distinct set of side effects, and some get them in different combination than others, but we're ALL getting them one way or the other!

OBGYN said as the Mirena is only progesterone, I was missing the estrogen which were the 2 components of the pill I took for years with no trouble. He gave me a Rx for a low dose of estrogen. Now I am getting what I had in the pill in 2 separate forms, and having these awful side effects on top of it. It didn't help.

So I had Mirena removed 6 days ago. Luckily he found the strings, told me to cough, and pulled it out, no pain! I immediately went back on Alesse BC pill that same day, so no break in hormones, but I handled the BC pill fine all those years, so I"m just going back on it. Have been bleeding ever since removal, but I figure that is just my body "getting back at me" for not having periods for months. My first real one, due in about 3 weeks following the pill schedule will probably be the period from hell. Ok, I accept that. My uterus wants to get this poison toxic mess out of me, and I'm ok with that.

I'm crossing my fingers that I will miss the "crash" I've read so much about. As it seems to be mostly psychological, and I didn't have those side effects to begin with, maybe it won't be so bad, or at all. Of course that could just be wishful thinking on my part! So far, 6 days of having it out of me and I already feel 100% better! My face cleared up in a matter of days. The sweating stopped immediately. My pants are looser, although I still weigh the same. The bloated feeling is gone. I just feel thinner. Before, my profile in the mirror looked like I was 4 months pregnant! That too is going down quick. Good luck to all who have it removed. Things can only get better!

And don't let any doctor tell you you can't have it out! It's your body! You can demand whatever you want, especially if you feel like it is making you sick! Do not take no for an answer. You don't even owe them an explanation. Just a "Sorry, it's not for me..." at the most.

Good luck to all....

cannot believe how many stories I have read about mirena and hair loss etc..etc.. etc.. I have experienced many of the side effects that everyone is mentioning.. I actually feel I could live with most of them if it weren't for the hair loss. I have had ( copying from other post.. ridiculous right?)Tired all the time ~ Depression ~ Hungry all the time ~ leg cramps ~ HAIR LOSS TO THE POINT OF BALDING IN SEVERAL AREAS ~ oily skin and bad breakouts ~ Mood swings (huge...yelling fits at my husband and the kids) ~ fluttering in uterus~Sore breasts.. I have medium thick hair that is about 10 inches. I noticed a bald spot in June and now have discovered 4-5 others starting. I just had the iud removed today and my OB pretty much tried to convince me that there is no way that the IUD is causing my issues. I have never had any of these issues before. I got the Mirena on 4/30 of 08 and noticed slowly but surely all of the side effects mentioned. My OB told me that the progesterone could not be causing my issues because it is such a small dosage that it would be comparable to spitting in the ocean as far as the amount that is in my blood stream. She said because I am black and 35 that I may have an autoimmune disorder and that I should stop reading blogs. I told her that all of my research wasn't from a blog and that ALOPECIA is a side effect just not mentioned in my pamphlet that I can find. I understand what she is saying and that she is the one that is the dr. but nobody knows my body better than I do.. I am in it!! I have !never had any problems and have been healthy my entire life. There is no history of autoimmune disease in my family. I am going to my primary care doctor.. to have some blood tests done. I think that the mirena has caused an autoimmune response in my body.. it may not necessarily be the progesterone..although I don't rule it out no matter what she says . the progesterone is synthetic and has an androgynous like activity that is similar to testosterone the main thing that causes male pattern baldness. also Mirena is made out of Silicone.. perhaps those of us that are having hair loss are having it due to our body trying to fight off the foreign invader of the IUD itself. I was going to go and have the Paragard inserted.. because i was thinking it may just be the progesterone.. nope... I read that many women are complaining of ACNE and HAIRLOSS even with that because its made out of copper. So with that being said.. not sure what to do.. may have to go back on Yasmin.. didn't seem to have any problems with that.. I really just don't want to risk putting another hormone in my body.. We all need to get together and look into a class action suit because I am tired of being made to feel crazy by doctors.. sometimes what seems to not be possible is .. especially when there are so many women having the same problem. Feel free to e-mail me re: a class action suit.. if they took depo off Mirena needs to come of too. It seems like it has really screwed a lot of peoples system up.. Hopefully I won't find out I know have a thyroid problem etc.. etc..

I have had my Mirena since May of 2007, at first it was wonderful then about 1 year in I started gaining weight, particularly in my mid section. My mood swings were out of control, anxiety, restlessness, joint pain, acne. I spoke to my doctor and told my stomach issues were probably IBS and acne was probably stress or hormones. I was put on lexapro for the mood swings and anxiety. I have been watching what I eat and working out and nothing has helped.Finally last week I decided to do some research on my own and googled "midsection weight" and articles linking this to mirena flooded my screen. I spent the rest of the day reading and called my doctor the next day. I have an appointment tomorrow to have it removed, I will keep you posted. Part of my is angry that these side effects were not listed in the pamphlet I received from the doctor but another part is so relieved to have found an answer to the madness.

I have posted a couple of times previously about negative side effects, i.e. migraines, weight gain, acne, chin hair, eczema, lower back pain, no sex drive...and the list could go on. As a mature 36 year old woman I have educated myself over the past couple of years and can really only attribute all these issues to having the Mirena inserted 4 months after the birth of my daughter 3 years ago. Although at this time my doctors will not openly acknowledge these side effects, I am confident that one day they will. I encourage women to report adverse side effects to the FDA. It onlt takes a minute or two. Who knows, it may be the hormones or it may be the silicone plastic? It has to be something. It should also be acknowledged that some women, my very best friend for one, have had wonderful experiences with the Mirena. I really think it may just depend on the woman and her own body. I am having mine removed tomorrow after researching all of this for about 8 months. All I can say is, thank goodness. I am also scheduled for the Essure(permanent birth control). Food for thought for the older women in the group. Whatever each of you decide, realize you are not alone and you do not have to continue to feel the way you do if you believe that the Mirena could be making you feel so bad. Take care.

Wow, am I ever glad that I've read all of these horror stories!! I am scheduled to have Mirena inserted next month (for the first time) and I was told that it is the best way to go! I am 26 with 3 babes (my youngest being 6 mos. old) and I was just looking for some type of birth control until I get my tubes tied (I am looking at a 1+ year wait). I have tried every other type of birth control and anything chemically induced makes me a crazy person. I wasn't even told that there were hormones in Mirena... that's how much was explained to me! I am canceling my appointment.

I had mirena put in in Oct 08. My symptoms are: dizziness, sweating, nausea, (these symptoms can be mild and brief (seconds); or last a few minutes. I had severe dizziness in May and June of 2009. I also get acne on my shoulders, neck, face, and my T zone is very oily (especially my forehead). I am using good acne products to try to combat this problem, but I continue to have a problem. Some of my acne is like welts and I even have this going on on my scalp. I wrecked my car in December 2008. At that time I was very foggy headed. I blamed the foggy headedness on being stressed and overworked. I am 40 years old. My children are 10 and 13, therefore I know my symptoms are not post pregnancy. Today, I questioned if I wasn't going through early menopause. My doctor said this mirena would be wonderful and that after six months I would not have a period anymore. I have a period every two weeks. My periods are very light, but I still have them every two weeks, and they last for two weeks. I have been wondering if my body will adjust, and if I will eventually get to this heavenly place of now periods and bliss?

I would really appreciate any feedback for my question which is HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE BEFORE I FEEL NORMAL AGAIN after having Mirena removed... I had it removed around 4 months ago and my periods are sort of back to normal and i thought after i got my period back (well i presumed) that the hormones or whatever it is in the mirena would have gone... BUT.... I still don't feel my old self.. I have had massive skin problems since the Mirena was inserted and even though it is out i still have massive skin problems... The doctors refuse to believe that its from the Mirena and have tested me for EVERYTHING but surprise... They don't know what is wrong with me... My skin flares up before I am due and lasts the whole week that i have my period... I am just wondering how long it can take for this thing to get completely out of my system ..

so about one month ago i had my mirena put in but every since then i have noticed the changes in my mood i am emotional i am angry like sometimes i honestly feel like the excercise sorry if i spelled that wrong you all know what i mean, but my fiance tells me your crazy i think your should see a therapist but after reading other side effects i finally have convinced myself maybe its the mirena,but however my obgyn told me that the mirena did not contain any hormones but the iud did so i went with the mirena and im like what would have been the difference ive gained wait in the last week because i been so emotional i feel sick all the time and fatigue so i hope this is whats causing my crazy episodes and sick feeling i see my doc next Monday and i will half to talk to her something is just not write if any one can reply to my story and let me know if im crazy or is it my mirena thanks ladies .....

I have had the Mirena IUD for 2 years. I have notice lately that I have had vaginal dryness during intercourse. I have extreme dry scalp, and I have had about three bacterial infections in that time. I have been irritable for so long everyone in my house has gotten use to it. I am getting the IUD out next week. I am looking forward to the change.

Hello everyone,
Can I ask if anyone with type 1 diabetes has had any adverse effects wtih the Mirena in regards to blood sugar/ insulin?
Have just had one inserted a week ago and it is still painful and from reading these posts it is worrying that this pain won't go away.. but am wondering about the effect it has on me as a diabetic - doctors say next to no effect as it is a LOCAL hormone and so not circulating... but from these posts listing nausea, depression and weight gain, these are all side effects of hormones circulating the body.... Any one have any answers in regards to this?
Thanks

I've posted here before right after I removed my mirena. Well it's been 27 days since I've had it out. At first I felt great. I had a period two days after I removed it. That period lasted a week long. Right after my period I CRASHED MAJORLY!!!! I had severe depression, severe anxiety and really bad leg and joint pain. All of that lasted about a little over a week. I got put on clonazapam and 20 mg. of celexa. So far I'm doing pretty good. I still get a little leg and joint pain, but not as bad and it doesn't last as long. I feel 90 % better and am expecting my second period on the 9th. I really hope I don't crash again. It was awful!! While on the mirena I had high blood pressure, fast heart rate, low grade fever, joint and leg pain, anxiety and depression, bloating like I was 4-5 months pregnant, nausea, heartburn, headaches, body aches (like I was sick), carpul tunnel syndrome (which I only get when i'm pregnant just like the heartburn) and more! Everything went down or completely away within a couple of weeks of having it removed. All except my heart rate. I am on a low dose of beta blockers to keep my heart rate from going over 100. Just like many of you I have been tested for many things like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and so on. i have also been suspected of having hyperthyroidism, but with negative results from blood work. We are experiencing a major hormonal imbalance from this mirena. I just hope and pray our dr.'s will do their research and realize we are all right about our experiences and something can be done about this IUD. There is hope. Your bodies will regulate. It's only been about 4 weeks for me, but I am feeling better so far since my crash. Don't hesitate to tell your dr.'s about any depression and anxiety you may be experiencing as those are very serious side effects and can be treated even if it's just temporary to get you through the crash. I also take a one a day multi vitamin. So maybe that will help to.

I had the mirena put in 4 days ago. Unlike most people, I have not had a baby before. My doctor told me that I was still able to get it. I had been on birth control for 12 years and felt like my body needed a break from the extra hormones in birth control pills. I was off birth control pills for 6 weeks and have never felt better up until I had Mirena inserted.. Getting the IUD put in was one of the most painful experiences I have ever had. Since I had not had a baby before, she actually had to dilate me to get it in. My cervix had not been stretched by a baby, so it was hard to get in! To top it off, I have been sick ever since.

For the first 2 days, I had horrible cramping, nausea and back pain. To top it off, when my husband and I had sex for the first time my husband could feel the threads from the mirena and he said it hurt like hell. The pain from the threads he described as fishing line hitting his penis. We tried different positions and it didn't work. Has anyone else had this same problem? I have also been sick to my stomach ever since I got it. I am also having trouble sleeping. I am truly considering calling my doctor to already have it removed already. I cannot live my life like this and it is greatly affecting our sex life!

The mirena coil has destroyed my relationship. At the beginning my partner told me he could feel it and it hurt us both. But when i told the doctor he said my partner was making it up as it is not possible to feel it. Im made to feel like a liar, and im sick and tired of them lying to me. I get sharp stabbing pain all the time, every day where the coil is. Sometimes i can not sit down as it hurts so much. I have no sex drive, i also get this weird pain at the top of my left leg near the fallopian tube. I bleed almost everyday and have constant cramps. Which is causing my spine to curve, due to not been able to sit up properly. My partner has left me as it has been going on for 3 years. I can not even begin to start a new relationship as sex is very painful and i bleed heavily afterwards, which lasts for weeks. I have a connective tissue disorder called Ehlers-Danlos vascular syndrome. And the hormones that are in the mirena coil react to my condition and i shouldn't be having the this coil. But my Dr refuses to take it out. I am deeply depressed by this as my life has been ruined by the mirena. I also suffer with headaches and i burn up and i start to sweat quite bad. Which can be very embarrassing. I didn't really want the mirena but i was pushed into by my doctors, as they thought they knew best. I told them that it wasn't recommended as i have EDVS. But they don't care what i think. I have begged for them to take it out but they will not do it. Im at my wits end as i don't know what to do anymore. I am 33 years old with a disable son to look after. And it can interfere with me looking after him as the pain gets too much. I want it out and i want my life back before i have no life left! Ladies please do your homework before making any choices. Dr's are not super human and they do not know everything. They are only human and make mistakes just like anyone else.