Mirena and mood swings

I am so glad that I have found other women with the same side effects. I really thought i was going crazy. I became depressed, severe anxiety, mood swings, crying, really crazy thoughts my husband was gonna cheat, I just had a baby 8 weeks before and I wasn't sure if it was PPD or what! I felt fine though until a week after I got mirena. I am on meds now and I thought all of these side effects was from them, even though I had taken them in the past with no problems. I would suggest to all women who are the least bit sensitive to meds, have any history with anxiety or depression NOT to get mirena. The drs say that my side effects aren't from it but I was fine until this. I was happy with my new baby and after I got it was so tired and mentally gone I couldn't take it. I have had headaches with loss of vision, I had a history of migraines four years ago....now there back. I have had panic attacks, yell at my family for little things, dry patches on my scalp, pain during sex and extreme bloating and weight gain. I can't wait to get it out!!! Good luck to you all!

All I can say is HOLY CRAP!!!!!!! I have had Mirena in for almost 16 months and let me tell you how RELIEVED I was to come across this web page! I have had TERRIBLE cramping, back pain, mental block, NO SEX DRIVE AT ALL, Pain during and after sex, indescribable mood swings, and can we say MENTAL BLOCK!!!!! It sounds crazy but I used to be able to handle daily stress with three children, my husband and our Business! Now I can go from a good mood to crying over MINOR things and we won't even talk about the major things (can we say mental ward!). I get headaches that put me down on the couch! I get lightheaded, heart races, and fell angry over nothing! I just thank GOD my husband is who he is because I have totally failed at my duties as a wife and as a parent when it comes to patience and understanding!!!! If I had to put a simple description on it I would say "It’s like being Pregnant 24/7!" I have to drive to accomplish things and I FEEL USELESS!!!!!!!! So obviously I also suffer from depression! I thought I was going out of my mind and now I am crying as I write because not only have I suffered through all this but it pisses me off to think how it’s effected my children and my husband! It’s coming out!!!!!!!ASAP

Like many of you, I thought that the Mirena was going to be GREAT! My doctor had NOTHING negative to say about it! I have had my mirena in now for almost 2yrs. I just have to say, the weight gain is enough to depress anyone, I have even been on the slim fast diet & ate lean cuisine meals with it and I DIDN'T lose not one pound!! I am bigger now than what I was at 9 months preg.!! After I had my son, I had lost all my baby weight, all but about 3-5 odd pounds, but after I got the mirena put in, its been nothing but weight gain!!! It just keeps coming on!! I am ashamed of my weight! I also get horrible migraines, headaches, have depression for no apparent reason, really weird mood swings, I also used to get a pimple from time to time--NOT anymore, I have acne constantly and have even bought the Proactive kit and have had very little results, I feel like I am 82yrs old instead of 28!!! Haha, you want to talk about a sex drive, I no longer even have one!!! And when I do have sex, it hurts if my husband goes near my cervix, and lets not talk about the after sex pain, never mind, lets talk about it, its HORRIBLE! It feels like I am having contractions, it hurts so bad that get doubled over in pain, end up in fetal position for about 1-2 HOURS and even the following day I hurt & bleed!! And should I go on about my newly acquired MUSTACHE!!!! Oh yes. I have facial hair now as well!!! So, to any of you girls/woman who are considering getting the MIRENA---THINK HARD ABOUT IT!! Seriously!! My experience with it has been horrible! I will NEVER have them replace it when it comes time, in fact, I am opting to having mine taken OUT!!!!

I just wanna cry.I had mine put in on April 9th 2008. I thought for sure I was crazy and I was making a big deal out of nothing. I have it all the depression, lethargy, extreme irritability, mood swings, cramping, back pain, stabbing pain in my abdomen, bloating, abnormal and irregular bleeding, headaches, nausea, dizziness, lack of motivation, reduced interest in sex, continuous yeast infections, sore breasts, weight gain, itchy flaky oily scalp, joint pain, continuous gotta go feeling, and I so could go on.......... I just wanna give up. I have 4 children and can't afford anymore. I can't deal with the way I feel all the time. I want to get it removed but I don't want to end up pregnant and I'm just at a loss I don't know what to do.

Mirena....pills..depo...ALL VERY SCARY!!Like someone else said in this website....makes sense- "can't have our cake and eat it too" I had the Mirena inserted in me about a year ago and I have back, shoulder and neck pain ALL THE TIME!
Also very sharp shooting pains.......not all the time but very painful, like needles. I feel depressed all the time when I KNOW I have no reason to be and horrible mood swings. I did also notice those weird acne looking bumps on my forehead and very dry skin which I've never had in my life! I am getting this thing removed ASAP! Thank you ladies!!

I can't even type fast enough to describe how astonished (and relieved) I was to run across NUMEROUS web sites with women describing the same symptoms as have been perplexing me the past few weeks. I had the marina iud inserted a little over a month ago and the past couple of weeks I"ve noticed such a dramatic change in myself, but couldn't figure out what was wrong with me. Depression, lethargy, extreme irritability, mood swings, cramping, back pain, swelling in my abdomen, abnormal and irregular bleeding, headaches, nausea, dizziness, lack of motivation, reduced interest in sex...these just top the list. I thought maybe I was pregnant again, but knowing that it wasn't possible when you haven't had sex because I've either been bleeding, in pain from cramping, irritable, or just couldn't get "excited". These are all things that I've never experienced before and I cannot place blame to post partum depression because I had 6 weeks post partum that I felt "normal"....energized, happy, motivated, patient...all the things that are "normal" to me. I wish I had done further research about iud placement before I decided to go with this form of birth control, but the pamphlet made it sound so dreamy and my doctor swore by the thing. Before this thing does any permanent damage to my body, or my relationships; I'm having it removed. Pregnancy is a better option for me at this point (at least without the iud I wouldn't be so frustrated with my children!) I couldn't imagine dealing with these symptoms for years. I've read of women even being driven to attempted suicide and being on the verge of divorce. NOT ME....I knew from the beginning I had a bad feeling about getting the iud....and I wish I had listened to my intuition!

I've had Mirena for nearly two and a half years now. About 6 weeks after I got it in I had to take a pregnancy test because I was dizzy, nauseous, bloated, and had sore breasts. I was not pregnant. But I've had a repeat experience every few months since then. Sometimes I feel so sick and tired that I can't do anything but lie on the sofa. After I stopped nursing I got bad pregnancy symptoms and cramps so horrible I thought my IUD had punctured something. Currently I feel sick to my stomach, and I've been getting headaches, and I'm tired and terribly thirsty all the time. I've read about others who had the same problem. I've also had nearly continuous yeast infections and vaginal irritation since I got it in. My libido has dropped incredibly and I'm always kind of dry during sex. I had problems with depression before getting the Mirena, but now I have anxiety on top of that. At the two-year mark I started getting nasty under-the-skin acne under my chin, and I've gained ten pounds since then. Some of that might have been my own fault, but I currently eat healthily and exercise 1 to 1 1/2 hours most days, and it's taken weeks for me to stop gaining, and I know I'm losing way slower than is natural. I put up with it this long because I haven't gained huge amounts of weight or had really bad mood swings, and I'm afraid of what might happen with other types of birth control, but I am sick of being sick all the time. I'm getting this thing out!

I had Mirena put in on Aug 15th 08. To start with I hated it. I bled for a month straight and I was tired all the time. Now things are getting better. I have not had a regular period since having it put in. I bleed a little after sex but other than that no symptoms. I don't have much of a sex drive but I didn't before I had Mirena either so I don't think that is a side effect. As for any cramping or mood swings I don't have any of those either. Now I am extremely tired and sometimes moody but I am also the mother of a one year old so I feel that explains that. If anyone's symptoms go on for longer than a few months then I would suggest having it taken out as this may not be for everyone.

I have had the Mirena since October 2006. My Public Health Nurse suggested it...It was to help with my mood swings, such as crying all the time, and the feeling that something bad was going to happen. Once I got it,,,I noticed that I did not cry on a whim, in fact I could hardly cry! My nose and sinuses would actually hurt if I did have the need to cry...almost like my body was fighting the urge to cry. I did get neck pains and also I was not having my period for MONTHS! Until, I went to see a traditional healer and he told me that I was very sick...he gave me a special root to help me...and I bleed for 7 days straight..I felt so much better! and lost a little weight. But, the feeling of panic went away. But, now i notice that I am getting dizzy constantly, I cannot even bend to put my socks on. I walk with my hand on the wall to help me just in case I do fall....I have fallen 2 this week alone. I did have some neck pain recently, and I went to the doctor he basically told me I have fluid in my ear and it would take 6 weeks to go away...I told him about the neck pain in my neck on the right side...he never even bothered to check it. I am starting to wonder now If this birth control is even worth it...and I am seriously thinking of having it removed and then getting my tubes tied. I hope anyone out there who has the same symptoms like me would send me a message....******

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I thought I was totally crazy and something seriously wrong with me: Absolutely No Sex Drive, Horrible acne all over my face (really bad under the skin huge ones) and on my chest, neck and back, back depressions and mood swings, bloating, upper back pain, and weight gain! I am an active person and have been on dance teams for years now and I have never gained weight the way I do now. I have also always had energy to do everything! And I don't have any to even get up off the couch right now! :( I thought that my upper back pain was just from everyday/coaching stress but my massage therapist says that the tenseness in my back is unlike anything she's ever seen! I feel like my stomach is going to explode after I've eaten the smalls meal and then my digestive system doesn't work like it used to before my IUD. I've become a completely different person than before I got my IUD! I am going to call my doctor today and make an appointment to go talk about options. I REALLY LOVE NOT having a period and not having to worry about taking a pill or using a condom. My husband likes that aspect too so we will see what the doctor has to say and if they have any advise or suggestions on what to do. I will keep you all posted!!!!

I too am one of the many women who wishes that she would have seen this site before getting the Mirena! I thought that I was dealing with some sort of postpartum depression. My MD had me convinced that NONE of the side affects that I am experiencing are Mirena related. Now after reading all of this I know I'm not the only one!
I had my son May of this year. Before I had him my MD had talked to me about the choice of a birth control after birth. Well I knew very little of Mirena, but once my MD had explained it I was SOLD! No kids for 5 years (not looking to have my next one until about that time) and "little to no side effects." What could have been better. He was singing music to my ears about Mirena. 6 weeks after my c-section I went in for my follow up and was given the ok to get it. I was told that the procedure shouldn't hurt. Liars. I can't believe that they don't numb you for that. Hello.....YOU ARE MANUALLY DIALATING MY CERVIX!!! I bled that day and afterwards and the cramps were out of this world! The doctor just told me to take the left over vicodin I had from my c-section. Two weeks later the craps were still in full throttle!
A few weeks after the insertion I was starting to to become this other person. Mood swings and a total bitch came out of me. My poor husband got the bad end of it. He thought it was postpartum and just let it be. A while after that I began to feel bloated and I started to gain the pregnancy weight back. I wasn't eating any different so I know something was not right. Fatigue was another effect that set in around the same time. I thought it was just trying to adjust with a baby in the house but here it is 5 months later and I have no energy. I promised myself I was going to start going to the gym and I can't muscle up the energy to do that. I'm wiped out by the day's end with taking care of the baby and getting simple house chores done. Also my back hurts ALL THE TIME. I thought that it might have been from the epidural but now I think not. I've always had some breakouts but not that bad. Now I break out all the time, and they are bad. Not to mention that I'm getting breakouts all over my neck, chest and back. I've never broken out like this on my body before. Not even when I was pregnant. Even more recent is my hair that is starting to come out in alarming clumps. I can get a good fistfull in the shower when I'm ringing my hair out, another good one when I blow dry it, and then just randomly during the day. For the most part I've always had thick hair and I'm noticing a DRAMATIC difference!
I've made several calls to my md about the cramps and the things I'm going through and he asked me to just give it a few more months. I'm going to call ASAP and demand that this thing comes out!

Thank goodness it is not all in my head. For the past year, I have been feeling as strange as the comments I have just read. Life is hard in the first place, but since having this IUD, life has been hard and very overwhelming. I have had constant mood swings, at least 3-4 days out of the week. Not only do I feel extremely nauseated 10 days before my period, even after it has come and gone, I feel nauseated again a week later. I had hoped that this new method of birth control would give me new freedom to have relations with my husband without being overly concerned about getting pregnant due to the less likelihood of the device failing. Boy was I wrong. I don't even think about sex. Nothing for the most part that he does turns me on. I can't even concentrate on feeling sexual when we are having sex. I just want to hit him or flip out on everyone. I feel a flush of anger go through my body that makes me think of very dangerous ideas, such as harming myself or others that are not really doing anything to deserve my anger. I have been very paranoid about everything and feel that I can not trust anyone, especially when I am telling them how I feel. I think that they just think that I am crazy. I have had extreme pain in my back near my spine, which I had thought before reading your comments was perhaps a side effect from the epidural I received during my child birth. I also have extreme pain in my sacral and hip areas that I never had before. My stomach is bloated with more stretch marks than I had when I was pregnant, my feet hurt. And I have an uncontrollable hunger at times. My short term memory is passe'. In fact, I took off my engagement and wedding rings in the house and can not for the life of me remember where I might have put my engagement ring. I am going to have this thing removed as soon as I get on my husband's insurance, before I go completely mad and hurt myself or my family. In closing, who cares if our doctor doesn't believe these things are not side effects. The truth is that God created all of us with common sense to know if something is blatantly wrong with us. We need to be wise and take care of our bodies and minds. This is something that God expects us to do. We have to live up to our obligations and commitments to our families like we promised we would when we got married.zfcII.

It was such a relief to read side effects experienced by so many ladies, i was begining to believe i was loosing the plot!!! what with mood swings, nausia,headaches,stabbing pains,and much more.... I had the mirena fitted about 8 months ago for heavy painful periods which i have had for as long as i can remember so the thought of normality and freedom was heaven. also not having to go through anymore trial and error medication taking seemed to good to be true. I really thought mirena was my answer...(Oh How Wrong)..... Iv had enough of all these horrible feelings and was about to go to my GP for a prescription for something to treat depression, im normally quite a level headed person but i couldn't explain the feelings i was having. I decided to look on the internet for side effects of mirena and hey presto here i am!!!! what a relief i actually did because instead of taking another prescription away with me i hope to be getting this foriegn body removed ASAP... before Mirena my specialist told me my other option was a hysterectomy im not sure what this procedure involves for me but at this moment my priority is getting this thing out!.

I am so sorry to read about the bad experiences with Mirena. For myself I was put on it to keep hyperplasia and the beginnings of an oestrogen dependent cancer at bay. I was very hesitant at the thought of having something in me but oral progesterone had left me bloated, with awful migraines and terrible mood swings.

Once the Mirena had been inserted, It took a few months for all the bleeding I had been having to calm down and eventually stop altogether, but the most wonderful thing to me about Mirena were the side effects it had on me. My monthly migraines completely disappeared, so did my terrible depressive PMT, and best of all, the severe almost disabling pain from endometriosis was completely gone! I began to be one of those blessed women who hardly know they are having a period.

Five years later and a repeat one was put in last week. I have an extremely gentle and skilled gynae and a lot of the problems I am reading about seem to be related to incorrect insertion that is leading to terrible pain afterwards, because the darn thing is to low in the uterus and is sticking into the poor woman.

I quite understand those for whom is just seems not to be suitable, but for me I wish I had known about it's wonderful effect on endometriosis, migraines and PMT years ago. I would have taken it for that alone 20 years ago. And it is keeping me cancer free. My sex drive has also not diminished on it at all.

So I post this just to balance the negative experiences. Above all get a skilled and gentle Gynae.......that is the secret of skilled, speedy, and gentle insertion of an IUD.

I HAD MIRENA INSERTED JAN 11TH OF 2008. I HAVE GAINED WEIGHT I HAVE CRAMPS SO BAD AT TIMES I CANT MOVE I HAVE JOINT PAIN BACK PAIN AND HEADACHES I HAVE SWEATING PROBLEMS WHEN MY PERIOD IS ON I HAVE LOTS OF BLOOD CLOTS AND MY MOOD SWINGS ARE OUTRAGEOUS. ITS ODD THAT WHEN U TELL YOUR DOCTOR THEY PRETEND AS IF MIRENA IS NOT THE PROBLEM AND MAYBE TRY TO GIVE U SOMETHING FOR THE SIDE EFFECTS THEY KNOW ITS CAUSING OR THEY PASS IT OFF AS SOMETHING ELSE BEING WRONG. IF IT WASN'T FOR THIS WEBSITE I WOULD HAVE JUST PASSED THESE SE OFF AS NORMAL IM TALKING TO MY DOCTOR ABOUT REMOVING THIS THING I HOPE THAT I BE OKAY AND NO HORRIBLE LIFETIME PROBLEMS OCCUR BECAUSE OF IT

I have had two mirenas, the first was fantastic. I never had any side effects and it was the best thing since chocolate!!! However the second one appears to have only lasted two years. This last month I have had stomach cramps and mood swings but no bleeding, the GP suggested I have it removed which was done today to see if this was what was causing my problems. I need to go back in one month. Will keep you posted!!

I am so happy to find this site and to know i am not alone in what i am feeling since having Mirena put in! I have only had the IUD for the past 8 days and that is 8 days too much. I have been feeling worse each day , My whole body is aching , I am so tired i cant seem to do anything but sleep . I cant stay motivated for any time, I am sweating and shaking with Heart pounding like it's coming out of my chest! My legs are hurting like i ran a marathon every time i get up i feel so Dizzy and Faint! My God the list is never ending not to mention my mood swings, At this moment i am waiting to hear from my Gyne office i want this thing out of me Tomm ! I cannot believe that i feel so horrible . I would rather deal with my heavy , heavy Periods and cramping then deal with the side effects to Mirena ! I knew it sounded to good to be true and why my sister the RN was really not saying much when i told her i was going to have it inserted only adding that well i guess your Doctor knows whats best! I will keep you updated .

I HAD MIRENA INSERTED A YEAR AGO. IT WAS OK AT FIRST. JUST BLED FOR 3 MONTHS STRAIGHT AND MIGRAINES OUT OF NO WHERE. I HAD NEVER HAD MIGRAINES BEFORE. THEN THROUGH THE YEAR IVE HAD ACNE, CANT LOSE WEIGHT, MOOD SWINGS, NO SEX DRIVE, DEPRESSION, LEG PAIN, CRAMPING, COULDN'T WALK UPRIGHT, BAD WATER RETENTION, AND A FEW OTHER THINGS...I DECIDED TO TAKE IT OUT AND FOR THE FIRST 24 HOURS IVE BEEN PEEING A LOT. I RELEASED ALL THAT WATER AND I DON'T HAVE LEG PAIN OR WALK FUNNY ANYMORE!!! PREVIOUSLY I SAW A PSYCHIC AND WITHOUT MENTIONING THE IUD SHE TOLD ME TO TAKE OUT THE THING BECAUSE THE HORMONES WERE WORKING AGAINST MY BODY AND NOT WITH IT. SHE SAID IT WAS CAUSING EMOTIONAL ANXIETY AND IT WASN'T GOOD FOR MY MENTAL HEALTH...WEIRD HUH?

Well I had Mirena for 15 months and had it removed almost 6 weeks ago. With Mirena I had mood swings, bloating, nausea every night (toward the end), was thirsty, soooo tired, mild cramping, and I'm sure I'm not remembering everything....so I was hoping all my problems would go away as soon as I got it out, but I feel like it's worse! I'm a hormonal mess, crabby, angry, depressed on and off. I'm still so tired, bloated, my fingers are so puffy in the mornings I can hardly get my rings on, and I've gained weight since having it out! I had a period that started 2 days after having it removed that lasted a week, and haven't had another since (I was expecting it last week). From what I've read here and on other forums it sounds like you can't expect a regular period right away. What have others' experiences been after having it out? How long did it take for your period to be normal again? (If ever!?)

I have been on Mirena since about March of 08 after I had our son. My Husband was overseas and we wanted something before he got home in June. We hate condoms and I can't ever remember to take the pill, so I decided to get this. Well since I have been on it I have been VERY moody and everyone can notice it. Hubby was the first to say it is probably the Mirena but I was like how can it give me mood swings? I still kind of don't understand how it has, but anyways, I called the doctor to get it taken out and tomorrow I am going to get this dang thing out of me. I am so tired of being moody, sweating all the time, i have cramps during my periods and I used to never have any kind of symptoms during my periods. You could never tell when I was on my period, now you do. I was having terrible back pain a few weeks ago and I never thought it could of been because of the Mirena but after reading some of the posts, a lot of other people have had back pain also.

I can't believe they will put something like this into you and advertise it as much as they do. I believe they should take it off the market. I hate being moody and tired all the time.

I AM SO HAPPY I AM GETTING MIRENA OUT OF ME TOMORROW.

OOOO and I also forgot to mention that I also have been getting headaches and I never got headaches before. I never thought it was because of it...how can this thing cause so much????

I'm 21 years old and have two beautiful girls me and my husband decided that we didn't want anymore for at least 5 years and then maybe we would talk about it we decided that the Mirena was a good idea because im terrible at remembering to take pills since i haven't never really took anything on a regular daily schedule anyways i had the mirena put in about 2 weeks ago and i was in the ER yesterday for strong abdominal pains also running into my back they wasn't sure if it was from my IUD or if something else ive been having cramping mood swings, and really bad headaches. After reading some of the things all i have written me and my husband have decide it needs to come out thanks for all the warning signs it really helps out to know that your not alone and ill be the first to agree that i would recommend the Mirena!!!!!!!!!

I have had the mirena 13 months. After reading all these postings I have decided Im calling the doctor tomorrow and having this ridiculous thing removed. I have ALL of the symptoms everyone has wrote about: headaches, horrible back pain, weight gain of 15 pounds, decrease sex drive, severely depressed, terrible mood swings, constantly tired, hot all the time - sweating, unexplained joint problems, heavier periods now then before mirena, and nausea, sick feeling every night. Thanks for confirming that Im not going crazy and that I can be me again!

I have had alot of the similar side effects with the mirena as have the rest of you. I had it put in sometime in June 08. My doctor said it was my only birth control option because i had a blood clot last summer after i had my baby. So i went with her on it, i had it put in, well right away, i started bleeding, constantly, and still am, cramping, im so tired, ive horrible mood swings, acne,bloating, and back pain. Ive associated the mood swings with my bi-polar disorder, i thought i was having a relapse and started taking my meds for it again, which i am so glad i found this site, because now i know it was the mirena. I went in the middle of sept to have my mirena checked out and i told my doctor i wanted it removed i couldn't handle the mood swings or the constant bleeding. She told me that the mood swings had nothing to do with the mirena, and that she could give me some pills to stop the bleeding, that where i had got the mirena put in my body was out of sorts and needed some medicine to get back in to a rhythm. I said okay. Well i took the hormones for a week, that ended Wednesday night, and here it is Saturday and im bleeding badly again, and cramping so bad, i can hardly sit here and type, so i am defiantly calling Monday to get it removed. When i went in last time she couldn't even find the mirena, i had to have an ultrasound, its been traveling upward in my uteras, and theirs no strings on it that they can see, so i have no idea how they are going to remove it, and i pray it don't take surgery. This is the biggest mess i have ever gotten myself into. I so wish i had done some research on this, besides mirena's pretty little website, before i had gotten it pt in.

Severe joint problems, unable to hold even a kettle. vicious mood swings, constantly tired, lots of weight gain, sore eyes, always tired, nightmares, sweating, chronic fatigue, been in hospital and treated for pelvic inflammation.

I had an ultrasound on my uterus because i couldn't find the strings... and the midwife couldn't see them.
No IUD in my uterus!!! But I have been having sharp pains since June when i got it... 3 months ago.

So I went in for an x-ray today... I can plainly see the IUD.... Which i had them give me a copy....

It is sideways. SIDEWAYS in my body SOMEWHERE.
I have an appointment on Monday with a doctor, and I will most likely have surgery on Tuesday. (today is Friday)

So I know that a "rare" side effect is punctured uterus, of course i only learned this today.....
BUT it says that the IUD can puncture your uterus..... HOW THE HECK DOES IT DO IT BY ITS SELF SIDEWAYS?????
This to me only means that it happened DURING insertion and that my midwife pierced my uterus and put it outside my uterus.

Also my hair has been falling out in clumps, and i am having TERRIBLE TERRIBLE mood swings. This really needs to be taken off the market... NOW... and RECALLED.

it is NOT SAFE.... the docs are BLINDLY putting it into our bodies and hoping it goes in the right place. I now have to have surgery through my abdomen to find the thing.....

Here is a couple links to my pics of my X_RAY.

******

Wow I can't believe all of these people feel this way! I had Mirena put in Nov. 07 and I can relate to most people on here. I go to the gym all of the time and I can't lose the weight around my belly. I'm usually about 118 lbs and for the last 5 months have been 124 lbs. I have back ache and mood swings still. I have no cramping anymore, but I'm very bloated. I have never in my life experienced all of the acne I have now. I have no sex drive either. The only thing I like is that I don't have a period at all. I paid so much money to have this put in, but I really want it out! I'd rather be on the pill.

*Never had the Mirena*
Thinking about getting it.

Here is what I HAVE had with the Paraguard

Anyone else switch from the copper to the Mirena? Better or Worse? Recommend?

I got the copper IUD in Feb 08. I hate it!! My periods are out of control I have to use the super plus tampons and pads b/c after about an hour and a half I will start bleeding on myself if I am not able to go to the bathroom and change it. I have never had to use anything over a regular tampon until now. I have had nothing, but sever problems with cyst on my ovaries and the cramping that brings me to my knees. I have been trying to give my body enough time to adjust to the paraguard but I am calling it quits next month. I can not take it anymore. In July I have broke out in these weird bumps all over my chest and back. I have NEVER had any problems with acne maybe a zit here and there. My periods last around 7 to 8 days. It lasted 4 before the IUD. I feel like I am always on edge which I believe that is b/c I am always in pain. It starts around a week before my period I will have SEVER pain in my ovaries it feels like someone is trying to pull them out. Not only am I bleeding more during my period I am sooo sore down there it feels swollen and sometimes even just walking brings pain. Most of the pain will last a week after my period stops. I have a few days a month where I feel ok. I have had it 7 months and it is not getting any better. I found this b/c I was looking to see if anyone has gone from the copper to the mirena and if it was better. I have sever mood swings, but I believe that’s how I deal with the pain a lot of the times. Not 100% sure though. If you like almost bleeding to death then I would recommend the copper IUD. I know the bleeding is heavier b/c there are times it seriously runs out of me like I was using the bathroom (not joking). I stay weak and always have headaches. Asking for this was the worst thing I could of done.

Thanks

I cant thank you all enough THANK YOU. I am 45, have 4 older children and have had the mirena for twelve months. the nurse who encouraged me to have the mirena and fitted it told me to ignore the booklet , that side effects were very rare as the drugs don't go into your blood stream. I cant believe i fell for that, i mean it doesn't make sense. since having it in i haven't stopped bleeding bits,im covered in a rash that the doc says is a viral infection, i have incredible mood swings, joint pains, cramps, depression which i have been taking st johns wort for, shakes,headaches,dermatitis on my hands, forgetfulness, crying, numb hands and feet,weak ankles that tend to just go all of a sudden which makes me feel really stupid. Blurry vision and feeling a inner hotness behind my eyes,some mornings i feel like ive got a hangover even though i don't drink. As for sex forget it i mean why would my hubby want me!! and its the last thing i feel like. I cant believe hes put up with me and my nasty moods. Ive been married for 24 years. I never thought that all these systems were due to the mirena, until i looked it up and stumbled onto this site, i must of read all of the posts, and look twice a day to see if there are any new ones.I have had to wait 2 weeks to get an appointment to have it taken out, but thank god i had it taken out this morning. I couldn't believe how easy, quick and painless it was, maybe i was lucky that the strings were easily found. I feel sooo relieved to finally have it out and only feel slightly crampy. I cant wait to get back to normal. This is the fist time i have ever posted anything on the internet so please forgive me if my typing isnt up tp scratch, its taken half an hour to write this. I feel i have a lot to make up for with my family and my very lovely hubby and hope that these systems go quickly. I will let you know and please keep up the posts i need the encouragement, and im sure others do too.!!

Hi, i have had Mirena for over two years and only recently have started to experience really bad cramping and spotting. I am so incredibly bloated, i look like im in early stages of pregnancy! I have gained about 20 pounds since in the time ive had it and ive had problems with my joints. I was beginning to think i had arthritis, im only 25 years old! I didnt realize that was also a side effect until i started reading more about it. Well Friday, i went in to my doctor's office to have it removed. Unfortunately my doctor was not in so i was seen by the nurse practioner and she could not find it!!! she said it most likely travelled upward to where she cant see or reach it. She poked around for about 20 minutes before finally giving up and saying, sorry i just cant get it. So im scheduled for an ultrasound this wednesday to find its exact location and hopefully getting it out of there. Im so worried because i have read about other women having to get it surgically removed. Has this happened to anyone else?

I have been reading everyone's side effects. I know everyone is different. I have not experienced hair loss, bad acne, or horrible mood swings. I HAVE, however, gained about 40 pounds since having Mirena inserted in February 2007. My periods stopped after about 4 months; I would have the brownish discharge everyone else has spoken about, plus feeling like I didn't smell good. It did help with my migraines, but here in the last 3 months, I have been getting a migraine once a month, with severe pain and vomiting AND I have started to try and have a period again. This past week I actually did bleed enough to be a nuisance to me. I have had so many problems with birth control I am at my wits end. I am 34, have one child and 2 stepchildren; my fiance and I don't plan on having any more children, so I am seriously considering getting this thing taken out and having my tubes tied. I enjoy the fact that I don't have to think about birth control, but the weight gain among other things is just too much.

i have had the mirena for 2 yrs now and everything as been great with it untill 2 months ago then i started with the bleeding,cramps,back pain,headache`s and tender boobs etc constantly, i have had pre cancer before but because im bleeding they wont do a smear test which i have every 6 months and they also cant find my strings now so im waiting on a appointment go up to the hospital which could take a while but there's one good thing ive had no mood swings or depression as of yet i had that all that when i was on the pill instead .

I am a 48 year old with 4 children. I am not showing signs of menopause at all. I have had increasingly heavy periods, sweats, headaches, mood swings, the whole nine yards so what the heck, I had mirena inserted today. My doc encouraged me to try it to see if my periods would get lighter or even stop. As far as side affects, I am already half psyco according to my daughters. I am still crampy off and on but I expected it. I just switched to this doctor because I was seeing satan who knowing I was very anemic from heavy periods let me almost bleed to death. I skipped two months due to low progestin but still built up the lining so when I was getting ready to have a period the third month, I went in for an ultrasound. The technician was wowed at how thick the lining was. She commented to me that I was going to have a really bad period when it started. My doctor did not advise me to do anything about it. He could have said to call if it went for longer than a week or to call if it was extra heavy but he didn't. My period was at almost three weeks and very heavy. I went to work on my birthday no less, and my potassium bottomed out as well as electrolytes. I felt so sick I went to lay down on the bathroom floor but felt nausea and cramps and thought I needed to use the toilet. When I sat down, I felt my arms and legs go numb. Out of vanity, I tried to stand and pull up my pants knowing I was passing out. I went down and ended up fracturing the fibula in my right leg. My friend knocked on the door and I came around and asked her to call the squad. After my 10 minute $750 ride in the squad, I was admitted to the hospital with a hemoglobin of 6. I stayed in for 5 days receiving 4 units of blood. Needless to say, I found the new doctor. My hemoglobin is now around 14 and I am starting to put weight on my leg. Hopefully, I am on the mend. I know there is a lot of negative response about the Mirena, but I don't have anywhere to go but up. I hope it works for me. If not, I will be on my way to the ER for an ablation.

Had Mirena put in 2 days before period and I have not stopped bleeding for 1 month so far. I noticed my hair starting to fall out the other day, just like it did right after having my babies. Constant cramping, so bad I took and old prescription of Oxycodone to relieve the pain one night. I am so tired and depressed during the day.. I have an incredibly short and angry fuse. Insomnia at night. I'm going to try to call this morning to have this thing taken out and switch back to the pill, which I had zero problems with in the past. Oh, did I mention I have worse acne than when I was 13, and it's not limited to my face. I'm getting it on my back, neck and chest and it's the really deeply rooted kind that leaves dark scars. Honestly, the ability to not get pregnant for 5 years is great, but if I'm a short fused monster, with acne and a constantly bleeding vagina, who's going to want to sleep with that anyway?

gosh...i sure am glad that i read all this...now i know that i am not going crazy...i had my iud place in September of 06...don't get me wrong...i love the fact of not having a period at all...BUT that is the only good thing that has come from this...i suffer from extreme mood swings, sever bloating in my abdominal area only, little to no sex drive, gosh i could go on and on...i am only 27 years old and these side effects are playing a toll on my marriage...all i want to do is sleep and when im up i am so grumpy even my kids have noticed this...i will be calling the doctor in the morning to have this thing REMOVED and i hope to get back to normal...fast

I had the mirena for 2 years. When it was inserted I thought the ob was tring to kill me. I had horrible mood swings gained 20 pounds. I bounced around on sleeping all the time to not sleeping at all .I just returned from having it removed . I really hope I can lose all this weight I've gained. My hair was falling out like crazy too.

I got Mirena Jan. 2008. Since then I get migraines, tension headaches, anxiety, irritability, insomnia, mood swings, bloating (no weight gain), increased heart rate, no sex drive at all (I'm only 21!),and my partner can feel the strings poking him. I finally reached my breaking point with Mirena when I developed lower abdominal pain and a slight discharge. Mirena has infected my uterus and ovaries. This damn thing is coming out ASAP!!!

I inserted Mirena in July of 2008 and since then I have had a continuous period (don't know when it comes, don't know when it ends) which is brown blood and it smells terrible, very bad cramps, MAJOR mood swings, body aches, fatigue & I have ABSOLUTELY NO SEX DRIVE... one positive thing I will say is that I have noticed that my acne has pretty much disappeared. My husband definitely feels the string thing in there, in fact, he said it feels like a "razor"! I am a healthy 26 year old with 2 children, never had an issue with my sex drive prior to the IUD... I feel totally disconnected and I am highly considering having it removed.

I got Merena inserted a month ago and I have not been myself since! I have had headaches, laziness, mood swings, insomnia and I never had all of that before getting the Merena IUD!! I just don't feel myself at all lately and I'm 99 percent sure it's from the Merena. I called my doctor and was told it's NOT from the iud but I know my body and I know that's what it is!! I have an appt on Sept. 12th to get it removed!

I am so happy I found this site. I thought I was losing my mind with all the things happening to my body. I had Mirena inserted last Nov, and I can't wait to have it removed. I have terrible mood swings, my scalp is itchy and oily all the time, my hair falls out in handfuls, my hair snaps and breaks. If I color it it only takes in patches and completely rinses away in spots, I have acne, the skin all over my body feels dirty and I could defiantly shower now everyday. When it was first inserted I had my period for 3 straight months and now when I should get my period, I get excruciating cramps. Not worth it!!!!!!!!! I will have it removed hopefully before anything else surfaces.

So I made an appointment to have my mirena removed on Monday. However, i am scared now that my post symptoms are going to be far more worse than they are now but, it needs to be done. So, if you have had it removed can you please reply to this posting so i can have some idea as to what i could be facing?

I Had mine inserted 01/2006 and plan to have it removed in a couple of weeks. My husband and I would like to start trying to get pregnant (I've never had kids) soon. My experience so far includes: Sever abdominal pain for the whole first week - I had a heating pad on my lower belly that whole time and had to be drugged up from the "widening" of my cervix.

Afterwards - almost constant cramps all month long, mild to severe, no period blood or very little, mood swings like crazy, pain during sex (dependent on position) and pain after sex so severe sometimes I would cry. I swear I have cysts from it - the ultrasound said so, but they said that could just be from the hormones? That made no sense! The doctor never suggested having it removed though. Great birth control - you have painful sex, so you don't want sex!

I have a great sex drive though and we have found ways around it. I have to take diflucan every week to keep me from getting thrush, never had that problem before. Can't wait ot have it out, however, I'm really worried about the bleeding so many have experienced after its removal.

OMG. I guess I am lucky that this is the first site i found! I am 22 years old and i have had Mirena since may of 2007 since i delivered my youngest son. I stopped having a period (which is great) but i started having some symptoms that were completely out of the ordinary for me. I started what felt like panic attacks, it feels like tightness in my chest with pain high in my chest. I'm having heart palpitations very often, and sometimes when my heart palpitates (it feels like it stops for a second) i partially black out. i have been attributing it all to stress because i am a full time college student with 2 toddlers and a house to run but now after reading all of these comments i'm not too sure. I have a really hard time focusing, it's like my eyes slide out of focus and i just stare into the distance. I've been having sleep trouble as well... i'm always fatigued but i have a really hard time falling asleep. My mood swings have inreased tenfold. i get so angry at the littlest things and i just can't help myself. the last and most important side effect (at least in the eyes of my husband) is that i have absolutely no sexual appetite. I find myself dreading sleeping with him because i just don't feel like it anymore. I love him dearly and I really think it's not normal for an otherwise healthy 22 year old to have zero sexual interest.

I have had the Mirena in for 6weeks and I am so BLOATED(look like I am 6months pregnant), GAINING WEIGHT (I work out regularly but nothing is changing), TIRED all of the time, MOOD SWINGS off and on. I feel CONFUSED at times as if I can't seem to get it together. I am having this thing remove ASAP and will post my comments afterwards to give everyone and update.

I have had Mirena for about nine months now and I absolutely hate it. I have mood swings all the time, when I get a period it's very light but lasts 10-14 days! Not to mention I have had no sex drive (if anyone else has had this problem please email me at ******) since it was placed and I have noticed a dry itchy scalp and dizziness. When the doctor put it in I sat up and a pool of blood spilled out on to the floor, I also got extremely dizzy and got really warm like I was having a heat flash. I cramped the whole day! I'm so glad I found this website I am making an appt to have this removed ASAP!

When my son was 6mos old I had the Mirena placed. I had spotting for about 6 weeks (which I was informed would probably happen so I wasn't too upset about that.) The 4th month of having the Mirena I started getting severe anxiety, mood swings and bloating. I also have an itchy, flaky scalp that started around 3 or 4 months after placement. I never made the connection that all of this could be caused from the Mirena until today when I had it removed because my husband and I want to have another child. After I had it removed I went home and took a nap. Literally, 2 or 3 hours after it was removed I felt like myself again. I was on the verge of an emotional break down and didn't know why...and I just thought I had better pick myself up and quit whining. It felt like my life was spiraling out of control but nothing external was happening to make me feel so panicked all of the time. I thought it was an odd coincidence that I felt better all a sudden. That's what prompted me to check online to see if anyone else had experienced this. Anyway, after I read a lot of the entries I felt relieved and hopeful to continue to feel like myself again.

Mirena is the worst decision I have made as far as a contraceptive. I have been hospitalized because of heart pains assuming heartburn since all turned out fine) then one month exactly I had heart burns again. I have had the Mirena since 3/08 and have an appt tomorrow to have it removed. I'm going back to my birth control this is just awful. When I went to my doctor one month ago he felt the heart pains isn't related to the Mirena and suggest I keep it since I was at my 6 month stage. I said ok, and here it is approx 1 month later and I still HATE IT!!!. I have lower back pain, mood swings and awful pain during intercourse. One night I couldn't even move that's how bad my bu** was aching it felt like that little Mirena was coming out my bu**(sorry for being graphic). We all need to complain to this company and like another woman said print all of this for our doctor. I wish everyone the best of luck and I hope all is well w/ my uterus. I will keep you all informed.

I am feeling so tired and let down with the marina. I had it fitted on the 1/08/08 and feel that my body has changed. I am bleeding so heavy, i have headaches, and feeling generally unwell. Has anybody taken this device out themselves my e mail address is ****** I would love anyone who can help or talk about their experiences to contact me. Also I have a good career and feel at the moment I can't cope....does any of this ring tru to anyone else?

I had mirena since 08/08 and I HATE it. I have had nothing but MAJOR mood swings, hot flashes, dizziness, insomnia, depression. I have put my husband and 3 and 2 year old's thru he** just so we don't have any more children right now. It is so not worth it. The pain during insertion was worse than my 35 hours of hard back labor. I had to be dilated 2 times to have it inserted, I was shaking, covered in sweat and sobbing by the time it was over. My poor husband just looked at me and said he was so sorry I went thru that. I am calling my doctor 1st thing in the morning and demanding that it be removed immediately. I am at the point that if I could find the strings I would pull it out myself. Don't get one, it is not worth it. I guess know on from the FDA had to get on inserted!

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 had mine inserted about two weeks ago. It was slightly uncomfortable. Not a big deal at all. A little bleeding and cramping. Haven't had sex yet due to horrible gas that I have had for two weeks. My husband is convinced that is how it works, because your husband won't touch you....he he he...
We will see.
I have had terrible anxiety issues in my past and I haven't had a problem with mood swings or panic attacks.
I am hoping this will work. I have three children and currently my husband is taking medication for lupus that can cause huge birth defects. So sick of condoms!!!1