Mirena and stomach

Hi, I am a 34 year old mother of three. I got my tubes tied in Feb 2003. After that my periods were excruciating. My doc suggessted that I get the Mirena. I had it inserted in May 2007. Everything was going well after that. My periods were lighter and there was no pain. Well, in June 2008 I had a wreck. I was not hurt, but ever since then I have had really bad headaches and ringing in my ears. I thought that it could possibly be a case of whiplash, but I have had an EEG and MRI and neither one of them showed anything. Also, a couple of months ago I went to the emergency room because my back and stomach hurt. I thought I had a kidney stone. The doc said that I probably had a cyst on my ovary and that it would desolve. He gave me something for pain and sent me home. The 16th of December 2008 I started, what I thought was my period for Dec. It ended on that Saturday. Then on the 23rd of Dec I started again. I have been bleeding off and on since then. Also, when my husband and I have sex he can feel the Mirena but he says it doesn't bother him. Afterwards I have some spotting. I can't explain the ringing in the ears but everything else points to the Mirena.

well i got my mirena in may of 07 the first three months were hell, i bled for 3 months striaght!!! i wanted it removed then and ther but my doctor talked me into keeping it. so know it has been a little over a year and a half and i am finally fed up. I am constantly bloated, eat like im pregnant some time, breaking out like crazy, i am always sleeppy, and a dry vag. & im only 19!!! i once woke up with a sharp pain in my side that felt like really bad gas... the pain lasted 8 hours and i finally went to the ER they could not figure out what was wronge with me.. since then i get the pian in my lower stomach, back and side at least once a week. i hardly get my period ] well that and im not preg. BUT at times i really fell crazy, i feel terible about myself, im depressed and tired and all these things you all have talked about, at one point i really thought i was losing my mind, i had no idea what was wrong with me. and yes as women we so have mood swings but i know something is not right, the occasionall mood swing would be heaven compaired to the constant hell i am in. i am not sure if the mirena is what is causing all these problems but its a very good possiblity. the only way i can be sure is to get it removed and see for myself. so as soon as i can i am going to get it removed. i was never told that the symtoms could be so bad all i got was a pamphlet. WHY were we not told !!! i am going to try and find a different birth controll but i dont want to fall into the same delema.

I had the mirena inserted back in March of 2008, so therefore I've had it in for approximately 9 months, going on 10. I actually wanted a tubal ligation, but my Dr. said I was too young and being recently divorced, I may want more kids. Well, I'm 37, 38 tomorrow and have 3 and the guy I'm with has 2, I believe that's enough for me! She still refused to do it, so I went ahead with the insertion. When I had it inserted, the pain in my abdomen was so extreme, I couldn't even walk!! It lasted for about a week or more, then things subsided. As the months went on, my boyfriend would say to me, "you're so mean, why are you so uptight, you need to go see a doctor, you're not the person I met a few years ago, what's up with you?" Well, I didn't think anything of it, I was getting my period very heavy for a few months, then it went to just spotty....NOW...I'm not getting it at all and I'm feeling the same way as all of you have felt. My breasts are sore and HUGE, they feel like boulders, like when I was pregnant. I actually took a pregnancy test and yes, it was negative, but I really feel pregnant. The bloatedness in my stomach, the constipation is unreal! Even my friends have said to me, "are you pregnant?" That's definitely a sign that something's going on inside my body. So, here I am, looking up side effects to Mirena AND this is what I found...all of you fine ladies having the same ones as I. That is just CRAZY!!!! I'm calling my doctor first thing Monday morning and scheduling for this damn thing to be removed!!!!! I'm done with the moodiness, the depression, the weight gain, the pain, the constipation.....I'm through with it and I DO NOT recommend any other woman to have or think about getting Mirena inserted before they do a complete search on what the side effects are with this IUD. I'm hoping after I have this removed that my life goes back to normal and my boyfriend, gets happy again, cause all in all, our lives changed when I had this inserted....everything went down the drain, even the sex life....I'll keep you updated after the removal....I hope you all the BEST of luck!
By - JerseyGirl

After reading all of these posts, I realize I'm not alone. Mirena was the perfect option for me because I'm very forgetful when it comes to medications. What sold me was when I was told it has a 99.9% effectiveness against getting pregnant. I was only told of the good things. After it was inserted i was in SEVERE pain from the cramping, it reminded me of labor contractions. I took 600mg of ibuprofen then layed down and cried myself to sleep. I got it July 28th, 2008. Since then I've been bleeding on and off but more bleeding than not. I get sharp, cramp-like pains in my lower stomach and sometimes vaginal area. I also suffer severe lower back pain. I was bleeding so bad at one point and it was very different from any period I'd ever had so I thought maybe I was miscarrying. I called the doctor and it was rather blown off and I actually got kind of laughed at, saying it's just your body adjusting. I have restless nights and wake up exhausted. I have those far out dreams like you do when you're pregnant, except I'm not. I also get bloated and uncomfortable at times. I've been bleeding now for almost a month straight. It comes and goes, which is very aggravating. I'd almost just thought about getting it taken out and just going with oral birth control that way I'd have a normal period but I love not having the boundaries in the bedroom. I'm giving it the 6months, like they told me it'd take and if all my symptoms are still present I'm considering removal.

I had the Mirena put in at the end of May 2008... I noticed my weight was slowly going up then BAM between Aug. and Sept. i put on 30 pounds... my appetite is so big now I can eat and eat which doesn't help with the weight gain, and I use to workout but now I don't. I have 3 kids ages 15,14,and 9 and in the mornings I use to get up and make them breakfast now I'm tired all the time. I feel craps when I'm not on my period flutters in my stomach.. I feel so bloated. And very depressed about how I look and feel. Don't get me started on the mood swings and I never use to get head aches now they are often plus I'm getting achne which wasn't a big thing for me as a teenager so why now at 32 I am having it taken out tomorrow 12-10-08 and I pray that things will change for me, has anyone gotten yours out with good results, and if so how long before I can get back to the me before Mirena?

I've had my mirena since March 3, 2008 total of 9 months. To make a long story short I found out on Nov. 21st that my Mirena became a foreign object in my body and have to have it surgically removed from my body (wherever it is). It's in my stomach almost sure don't know how the hell it got out... I asked my OB she said there could be many reasons how it got out... but I been through a lot to find out it's sitting in somewhere in my stomach and found out I had a cyst (i know they're normal when using mirena but mine has been growing in size). I'm currently using the NuvaRing for a form of Birth control since my OB said the Mirena does not work out of the uterus.... I feel like it's still working in me somehow since I still feel like sh**.... I hope the NuvaRing controls my periods... I was always on my period up until I found out it was not in place... I'm really scared to get the laparascopy done to get it taken out but I really want it out and hope to have it out by January... I wish I would have never got it... I should have just used the NuvaRing since the beginning... I know several ladies who have the Mirena and are happy with them and wish it would have worked for me but I guess my crazy body ate it somehow...

I'm 23 years old, and a mother of 2 children under 2. I had my Mirena placed in September 2008. Since the placement, i have had extreme bleeding and clotting for 20 days straight in the beginning. my doctor said that was normal and that it would subside, which it did, but i was still having the abnormal bleeding throughout. That wasn't a concern for me, it started with the strange pains that i would get, it felt as if something sharp was poking my insides, my boyfriend also would feel it during intercourse, and at times it would be so painful for him we had to stop. That has ruined our sex life. Just recently i have developed lower back pains and didn't know where it was coming from, i thought maybe because I'm constantly picking up my 7 month son who weighs as much as his sister who is 2. But then the depression started kicking in. I feel so lost. I cry out of no where, and I'm always tired, and have no motivation, or desire to care. I feel like everything is falling down around me, and i have no control over it. I snap out of no where with anger. I'm a stay at home mother, and i feel trapped every day. i love my kids, but lately i feel like I've lost who i am, and it's effecting my relationship with my children, not only that but with their father. i feel myself distancing myself from him. I don't really have anyone to talk to about anything, and sometimes i just wanna run away from everything in my life. i used to be such a fun person, always laughing and happy, but now i feel like I'm not me, like I've changed completely. i thought i was loosing my mind until i thought maybe this is all a side effect from Mirena? My doctor did not warn me of this so i wasn't sure until i found this website. I can't believe everyone is experiencing the same thing! as of now i don't have medical insurance, and i want this thing removed! I'm in the process of getting insurance so i just hope that i can cope with this a little longer, because i feel like I'm gonna lose myself entirely

I got Mirena Feb 15 2008 which was five months after my first child. I thought this was going to be a blessing not to have the heavy bleeding and anymore kids for five years being that i was so young anyway. It seem like im losing my mind now i feel flurries in my stomach and back pains 911 and nowi even think im losing my hair. Im scared to get it removed b/c of the high risk of having another baby and im not sure what other method i can use. I've only had one problem before this and i was bleeding really heavy and my doctor gave me some medication but now i think the only medication is to REMOVE this.

This is unbelievable. Like most of you, I was told there were very few side effects with Mirena. I had a baby girl in May this year and was considering using the depo after birth since I had used it before with no major issues or dislikes (a little weight gain but, I always felt I was too thin before and the depo made me look curvy in all the right places so no complaints at that time which was about 4 years ago.) I did however, stop using the depo when I wanted to try for another baby and while off the depo I gained much more weight. Right before my due date this year, my midwife suggested I consider Mirena because unlike the depo, "it doesn't make you gain weight." Considering I had gained 30 lbs. during pregnancy and wanted to lose a total of about 45 after birth, I agreed to use Mirena as b/c. Well, I had my baby on May 10th, I immediately breastfed and on my two week postnatal visit I had already lost ALL of the pregnancy weight (30 lbs.!) I then scheduled the appt. to have the Mirena inserted on July twenty something. By that visit I had already lost 50 lbs. by breastfeeding alone...I was ecstatic! About four months later and with the Mirena in me, I am gaining weight, so far 8 lbs. and all of it on my belly, I look like I am about 5-6 months preg. This is especially depressing because only a couple months ago my husband was talking about how flat my stomach had gotten. I am also experiencing hair loss and spotting/bleeding after every intercourse. I am also considering having this thing removed! AHHHHHH!

Ive had the mirena for 4 months.My doctor thought it would help with my painful,heavy periods,well I been bleeding since and it just getting worse.I want to know if anyone has had stomach issues,like acid reflex,heartburn,gas,or just pain in your stomach.cuz im thinking I have a ulcer or is it this device????Lisa

i had the iud put in about a month ago when i had it put in i did not feel a thing which my doctor told me that was because it was only 3 weeks after having a child since then i have really bad acne , heavy bleeding to the point i have to sleep with dog training pads just so i don't destroy my bed. no sex drive at all, i have a rash all over my arms, stomach, and legs, migraines but i get those a lot any way, cramping to the point that i am not able to sleep, mood swings like crazy, not wanting to be involved at all with my one month old... if i had to do it all over again i would not have this done even though i cant remember to take the pill i like the side affects that happened with it than the iud that i have now.

I am so glad that I found this website, I just left my OB/GYN only to be told I have a UTI. I haven't had a UTI for 2 years, and even then I was pregnant. Since the Mirena which I had inserted in Jun 08 I have have been placed on Zoloft. I have been rushed to the ER for SEVERE abdominal pains that felt worst than childbearing. The pain was so bad, I had to have morphine to help me relax, and even then, the doctor stated she could not find anything wrong with me. I have gained 10 lbs., up out the blue, and I cannot get my stomach down for anything. Acne, on face and back, yuck. Hunger to the point that I eat as if I am pregnant, I never had cravings like this before. Finally, headaches. I am unclear if I want to get it removed or not. I am saddened that there isn't more info available to women regarding this.

For me having the Mirena removed just last Thursday was the right decision. I was not using it for birth control but as hormone therapy for heavy, crampy periods. I had it inserted in July 2008 and bled every single day for the entire time, I had it removed last week and now I am bleeding very heavily but hopefully that will stop once all those hormones are out of my body.
While on Mirena I lost all sex drive, I became severely anemic and with that fatigued terribly, and moody, crying at nothing and screaming at my kids or husband for stupid reasons, I felt bloated and gassy and didn't have those problems before.
I am 42 years old and I hate my heavy bleeding in fact I want a hysterectomy, but not sure now what I will do.

For those of you who had the Mirena removed, how long did it take to stop bleeding afterwards? This is draining every last ounce of energy for me and I am taking iron supplements.

What sucks is the cost of this, Even with insurance I ended up paying a lot out of pocket to get this thing and then all the Dr. visits due to bleeding and side affects in the 4 months it was in and now the removal of it. I am wondering if there is any way that we can get a Class action lawsuit against Bayer for this horrible thing they are trying to sell to women.
I know there are some out there who have not suffered all these horrible side effects at least not yet or that they are aware of, but I truly believe that there is nothing good about this IUD and those of us and there are a lot of us who have suffered with this should be reimbursed or compensated for the pain and loss of parts of our lives and expenses with this. Does anyone else have any thoughts on this?

i had Mirena inserted on the 28th of September, i usually check my waist measurement every week since i had my baby- i lost 4 inches after delivery and exercise, i was so shocked this evening to find out i gained 2 inches on my waist in two weeks! i have been asking myself why i am so gassy these days, am always sweating, sleepless nights and i noticed my stomach looks like am pregnant. am so shocked! and the most scary part is that my baby developed skin rashes all over her body, right about the time i had mine inserted. i have tried all kinds of cream, changed her laundry detergent (mine as well), skin care products, but the rashes wont dry up. my baby`s skin was flawless before i had this mirena. i always dress her appropriately, moreover the weather is not hot for her to develop rashes. i feel so guilty that i put her through the discomfort,am getting the mirena removed to confirm my suspicion but i know already that mirena is the cause as there is no other possible reason. its unfortunate that the professionals won`t tell you the truth and i specifically asked if it will affect the baby because i am breast feeding. i am so glad i did this research to validate my sanity, even though the harm has already been done. thank you all for sharing your experience.

The Mirena for me has been a blessing. I only have one child; a four year old daughter and she will be five in April 09. I got the Mirena placed in on June of 2004 at my six week appointment after having my daughter. Although the insertion of the mirena was uncomfortable, It actually just felt like getting a regular paps smear which is uncomfortable by itself. With the exception of the cramping when they are inserting it into place. I haven't had any mishaps going on 5 years. No migraines although I have gained 5 or 6 pounds since having it but it has done wonders for me. My only concern is the bloading that I have experienced. The first time I felt like I was pregnant all over again and it remained that way for like a week or two. I was scared and nervous because I thought I was pregnant. My stomach looked about 4 months and i'm 5'2 and very petite but it came out negative. I'm actually going through it again and although I have been through it once before I keep looking at my stomach and wondering if I could indeed be pregnant because I'm getting closer to the time that I need to insert a new mirena so I'm going to get a pregnancy test.......again.

Hi! I am 23 with two kids. I got pregnant with both of them b/c we were just using condoms and slipped up a couple of times. I chose the Mirena IUC because i didn't want anymore surprises! I have had it for about 14 months, since Aug. of 2007. I had it inserted 7 weeks pp. I was informed by my doc that there would be some cramping that would minimize and probably be gone over time. I knew that there were some serious side effects also, but i was lead to believe that they were very very rare. So, ive had many things going on in my body that, as most of you did, i contributed it to being older and my body changing after having two kids (16m apart!). Some of my symptoms have been, sharp, piercing pains on either side of my pelvic region (i assume thats my ovaries), and also dull, cramping that comes on slowly and intensifies and radiates to my lower back. Almost as bad as labor pains. My stomach is always bloated, i too look like i am about 4 months pregnant. I am extremely fatigued all the time. I can't sleep at night. I wake up with night sweats and even when i do sleep i am still tired. I haven't gained any weight, but i haven't lost any, seeing as how i was only 7 weeks pp when i had it inserted i am still not back to my normal weight. I have gone to the gym every day for months and took up running which i hate, only to see no results! My hair is falling out in the shower and when i brush my hair. I thought this happened because i stopped my prenatal vitamin because it happened with my first son, but i'm still losing hair. I have terrible headaches. I probably get one or two a month. I use to have maybe one or two a year. I am very anxious and nervous all the time. Sometimes more than others. I have always been worried about germs but now i tend to go overboard. I know i'm doing it but i can't help myself. I have really bad mood swings and i realize it when they're coming too but its so overwhelming i just have outbursts! I have very frequent yeast infections and i had never had one before. For a long time i didn't know what was going on. I have a lot of discharge also very irritating! I have absolutely no libido. My poor husband begs me and then i cringe the whole time. I've never been like that before. Anyway, when i came across the website and read all of these posts that were exactly what i was going through i knew it was the Mirena! I called my doc. and i'm having it removed on the 26th! I cannot wait! I am so excited that i can look forward to feeling myself once again after thinking this was the way it was for so long. I am just sad that for 14 months i've lived my life in a fog, and not been as excited about life as i could have been. By the way, i know a lot of you guys are going to be looking for other birth control whenever you get this one taken out, but make sure you read some reviews on it too because i thought about yaz and nuvaring, but they seem to have reviews that are almost as bad. I want to be me! The way i felt when i was 19 before i ever had kids. I want to have fun! I say NO to any extra hormone running through my body. The condom will have to do for me, and my husband and i have vowed to use it the way we were suppose to be the other times we got pregnant. If i do get pregnant, its is what the Lord had planned for me and my family and i'll look at it as a blessing. Besides being pregnant is way better than feeling like this.

I just recently had the mirena iud inserted. Oct 30 2008. 3 months after having my first child under a normal vaginal delivery. When I have asked my doctor regarding any side affects he stated that women may have heavy bleeding the first 6 months/ and that after those 6 months that your periods will actually disappear.

The first week that I had the mirena in, I began bleeding almost instantly. Blood clots the size of my closed fist came out of my body from the uterine wall I suppose. I went through a super tampon/ and a pad in an hour and a half. ( I am one of those women who normally use a super tampon maybe once in a while/ normally a reg. size does the job) This bleeding has not stopped since the mirena was inserted.

Looking at a computer screen is part of my daily routine at work. It seems as though my eyes feel blurry through out the day as I am working. Towards the end of the day I can barely stand to look at it. This has never happened to me before. It is almost like I want to turn all lights off and sit in the dark, with no noise(headaches).

Of course sex drive is at the all time low. Who is in the mood to go for it when you are bleeding with a terrible headache?

The first few nights I had a horrible time falling asleep and staying asleep.

Well... at this point I have had headaches... all day for a week now. My head hurts like someone is pounding it against a wall. I have not had a headache in years. My stomach has been upset/ feeling as though I may have to throw up.

I am afraid that I may start seeing the other symptoms that ladies have talked about.
When you had the symptoms did they all happen at once or one at a time over different time periods?

I just had the Mirena inserted this morning. My doctor said the only side effects would be bleeding and cramping. Well, I am having terrible cramps, I feel drowsy and cannot think straight. I have a sharp stabbing pain in the left side of my stomach that has lasted for about an hour now. I had an uncomfortable tingling in my left arm and the same thing with my left leg. This has been going on for a while and it is making it impossible to do any work. I hope that all this goes away soon. I wish my doctor had told me more and that I did the research myself.

Hey ladies! I am not shocked to hear all of this! I had the Mirena placed in me on July,10,2008. It is now October 27th, 2008. Almost 4 months with this in me and i feel like crap! I mean, i thought my headaches were from lack of sleep or something. Im cramping all the time, I have had sharp pains in either right or left side of my stomach but never both sides at the same time. I broke out with acne on my arms UGH and i have never had acne on my body. When i have a period, they are heavy, i fill the toilet up with blood, i fill up a pad in NO time, it lasts a lil over a week, and i have had meat like substances (looks like intestines, or chewed up hamburger *sorry*), and dime & nickle sized clots pass out of me! I have a picture of it and dated time of the passings. When i called a nurse about the passing of the meat and clots, all she had to tell me was "take a pregnancy test and if negative, then take Motrin tablets and see if that helps" WHAT?! I have noticed im a lot angrier now. Its not a pretty sight. =/ I have 1 child, my son (22mths old). I haven't noticed weight gain, maybe at the beginning but i figured it was bloating. When i talked to a different nurse about all of this a while ago, she had thought the mirena had fallen out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Uhm noone told me about this happening!!!!! All i heard was the best about it and not the worst! I havent taken a pregnancy test yet, im so scared to! I cant afford another little one right now! =/ I am going to weigh this out one more month, because they did tell me it takes 3 months to adjust. So after another month, by December, if its still the same. Im removing it.

I'm 45 I had the mirena inserted 5 1/2 years ago for heavy and painful periods that made me acutely anemic. I had the second Mirena 10 months ago. Until i read this site and others like it I thought I was going mad. Only advantage for me has been super light periods. Have had weight gain round stomach, thighs and butt and cannot shift it despite doubling exercise and halving food intake. Have constant headaches and reccurrant sinus infections and memory/concentration problems, water retention nearly all month long and feel depressed most of the time. also oily skin libido is non existent! also joint pains and insomnia. Doctor said it was menopause but tests came back negative. Have an appointment next week to have it removed. A bit anxious about how heavy periods will be as they were pretty awful before but can't handle these side effects. Any one else my age whose had mirena removed how long before periods back to normal?

I had my mirena taken out on oct. 15 (placed on aug. 8) and my doc, like many of the other posts, behaved as though i were simply a hysterical female and said that NO ONE complains about it. I told him that i'd had lower back pain, loss of sex drive, fatigue, swollen breasts, nausea, stomach poking out, terrible smell, weight gain, mood swings, headache, achy feet, numbness on my face and dizziness. here's what's so sad, we are all so brainwashed by the current state of medical care in our country that we don't even think it's strange to be ignored for a flurry of symptoms. i mean, if he was so convinced that it WASN'T the mirena causing the problems, then why didn't he address the problems?! what's worse, it took me several days to even realize that my symptoms had been completely ignored! anyway, i'm still having the back pain and my cervix was sore when having sex the other day. i'm having weird abdominal cramps and am still very tired and moody and eating us out of house and home. i am hoping this will stop by thanksgiving.

Oh lord ladies I feel all your pain. Im sitting here on the internet looking for ways to take this fricken piece of shit out of me by myself so I don't have to wait another day with this inside of me. The doctors said it was a little uncomfortable to get put in. UH NO!! worst pain of my life and after four days it hasn't gone away. I haven't been able to get out of bed the cramps are so bad. How the hell was I not warned about any of this? PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DO NOT GET THE MIRENA IF YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT IT. I promise you its not worth it.

I had my mirena inserted 2 months ago. Since then I have experienced severe burning and pain under my ribs which tends to move around my stomach. Has anyone else experienced this?

I have had my mirena for about 9 months now. I thought it was great at first. I moved away from my family to be with my fiance and ever since then I have had such bad anxiety, depression, mood swings like crazy, very low sex drive and bad acne like I never had before. My skin was always very clear. I always have had depression and anxiety but never this bad. I just feel like I hate the world! I thought that it was just that I was homesick and taking it out on my fiance until I had stumbled across this sight. The only thing is that I am not having pains anywhere or excessive weight gain although I am bloated and I look like I am 5 months pregnant. Now what I would like to know is if this is really all caused by the mirena or if it is all in my head? I have a 17 year old and an 11 year old and now I am living with his 3 kids and the last thing I want is to have this removed and find out that it was not the mirena that was giving me all these symptoms. Can someone please help me with some answered questions? Thank you so much!!

I am so happy I found this site, I thought I was the only one. I always heard good things from other people but they must be like me, embarrassed to say anything because the side affects are so weird and embarrassing and personal. Every since I have had the Mirena I have been bleeding non stop,it has been about 2 months. It has been light bleeding but at times there are small clots. I am constantly sore down there I feel like I got hit something down there. I have no sex drive and even the thought of it makes me crying because of the pain already I can't imagine what it would be like if I did. I have been back and forth between having UTI's and yeast infection's I have only ever had a UTI before. I am constantly on edge I cant take care of my kids like I use to. I have let all my house work go, the cooking and my husband go bless him has picked up all the slack. He is an active duty Marine so it's not he doesn't have enough to do but he has to come home and do stuff that I would normally be doing but I have no interest in doing anything. I have put on wieght, my stomach is bloated all the time, I have acne problems that I have not had in a few years. My back constantly hurts, I feal light-headed a lot so I don't want to do much driving unless I know that I'm totally alert, after a lot of caffeine. My skin is really dry, I can't put enough lotion on and chap- stick. I think the thing that really bother's me the most is my mood swings, I have a history of depression and I was never told that Mirena could make it worse. I have had thoughts that I have not had in a very long time. Sometimes I have to just go to my room and not be around anyone because I don't want to start yelling at everyone. I am on 2 depression medications and for the first time I don't feel like it is enough. If anyone knows if there is anything that can be done to make sure that on a national level people are told and that the company take some responsibility let me know. I don't want anyone feeling the way I feel. I adore my children and my husband, but with this Mirena I don't want to be around any of them.HELP!!!

Heavy chest, find it hard to breath, palpitations, weight gain around my stomach and hips (I've never had a problem with putting on weight prior to having the coil fitted) mood swings, very, very tender and sore breasts. Lack of Sex drive or being attracted to the opposite sex...

I have the Mirena since January 2008. Insertion was very painful for me and so were the weeks after that. I was starting to feel fine after about 2 month. Then my face startet to break out with very painful zits, regular headaches, stomach paines (it always felt like it was poking me) , i got cysts which i never had before, my hair is falling out and got thinner and my body startet to become chubbier and chubbier. I have been talking to my doctor and she gave me some antibiotics which did not do a thing for me. I am tired all the time, i am moody and just like many of you my sex drive went completely out the window. Now i am so so close to make an appointment and have it taken out!!!! I am sick and tired of it. The fact of not havint to think about taking a pill every day or having easy periods is nice but everything else that comes with the mirena is just not worth any of it!!! Of course every woman is different and some might be alright with it, all i am saying is be careful what you put in your body!!!

IT IS GOOD TO KNOW I'M NOT ALONE, LIKE ALL OF YOU I THOUGHT I WAS GOING CRAZY AND SO DID EVERYONE AROUND ME. I'VE HAD MY IUC SINCE JUNE 3, 2008 AND I'M GETTING IT REMOVED IN 2 DAYS, AFTER SEEING THIS SITE. I GOT ON THIS SITE LAST NIGHT BECAUSE OF THE SEVERE MOODS SWINGS AND DISCOVERED ALL MY OTHER PROBLEMS THAT I WOULD HAVE NEVER THOUGHT WERE EVEN LINKED TO ONE THING LET ALONE MIRENA WERE THE SAME PROBLEMS I READ OVER AND OVER ON THIS SITE PLUS A FEW THAT WEREN'T ON HERE. I'VE BEEN HAVING PAINS IN MY FINGERS, TOES, AND BREASTS LIKE I'M BEING JABBED WITH NEEDLES, JOINT PAIN SO BAD I WOULD FREEZE UP, NAUSEA, FELT LIKE I WAS PREG. TOOK 3 TESTS ALL NEG., HEADACHES, SINUS TROUBLE, NERVOUSNESS SO BAD I FELT LIKE I WAS SHAKING ON THE INSIDE OUT, PELVIC PAIN, BACK PAIN, ITCHY SKIN AND MY SCALP ITCHES SO BAD I'VE HAD MY HUSBAND CHECK ME FOR LICE SEVERAL TIMES, IT'S HARD TO BREATH AT TIMES, HAIR LOSS, PAIN DURING SEX, AND NO DESIRE FOR SEX AT ALL. THE MOOD SWINGS ARE THE WORSE, I WAKE UP P-ED OFF BEFORE I EVEN OPEN MY EYES, I HAVE NO PATIENCE AT ALL, I DON'T CARE TO TALK TO ANYONE, I TREAT MY HUSBAND LIKE I HATE HIM. I HAVE A 17 MONTH OLD AND A 4 MONTH OLD THAT I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO HAVE FOR 15 YRS., 10 YRS. OF NOTHING AND 7 MISCARRIAGES AND EVER SINCE I GOT MARENA I HAVE FOUND IT HARDER AND HARDER TO DEAL WITH THEM. BEFORE I GOT THE IUC MY YOUNGEST ONE CRIED ALMOST 24/7 AND I HAD NO PROBLEM DEALING WITH IT NOW SHE HARDLY EVER CRIES AND I GET FRUSTRATED THE MOMENT SHE STARTS. I HATE FEELING THIS WAY, I FEEL LIKE A TERRIBLE MOTHER, WIFE, DAUGHTER, AND FRIEND. I CAN'T WAITE TO HAVE IT REMOVED.

I just had Mirena implanted and it was not a pleasant experience. I have a high threshold for pain and delivered my children naturally and without medication. I wish I had been given a valium and prescription strength Motrain for this procedure. I passed out and was weak and dizzy the remainder of the morning.
I have read all the posted comments from everyone and am scared to death to wait and see which bizzare side effects will overcome me. I am a true believer that the medical professionals (doctors) are not keenly aware of the general public's documentation on side effects and in this case Mirena. I took the Chantrix (stop smoking drug) this summer and the worst side effects possible presented themselves to me. I quit the drug after 3 weeks of progressively worse symptoms such as nightmarish dreams, auditory hallucinations, depression and stomach aches.
I am going to have Mirena removed immediately -- Monday next week if possible -- because I do not want to experience anywhere near the degree of suffering the poor ladies have in these examples

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!!!!

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.

I hate Mirena!! I went right from the DEPO shot to MIRENA and thought it didn't have any side effects. I did horrible on the shot, gaining a lot of weight and very very MOODY to where i wanted to crawl out of my skin. I've had Mirena for almost a year now, and I totally hate it. JUST LIKE YOU, ive gained weight in my stomach to where i look 5 months pregnant, and my boobs went from a smaller d size to a large DD and the DD don't fit. When i have a shirt on they look even bigger, and from my head to my boobs, not seeing the lower portions of my body you would think i was very obese. I also have hypothyroidism, and the mirena does not help with the hard time losing weight. But i will tell you one thing, for about 5 months of my life, when my son was about 1, i was off birth control. My body did so well, i lost a lot of weight and i was never bloated. i felt great about my self. birth control is horrible for anyones body, and i have really thought about just using condoms and risk getting pregnant. i have been with the same man for 2 yrs and do not plan on being with anyone else. so i made the decision to not be on birth control. every time i have sex i get severe cramping, and i have such a low sex drive i can hardly get excited. I HATE MIRENA!! AND I WANT THIS THING OUT OF ME!!! IM GLAD I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE! LOL

Ok i have read some of the post and now i am a bit scared about what i have done to myself. I had this put in Sept 23 2008 so i have only had it for about a week. I have two children 18 months old and 2 months old i am 22 years old and cant afford to have any children let alone any more children. So i chose mirena since i got pregnant with my children on the pill and the patches pill with my last one and the patch with the first one.

I paid 878.38 to have it put in and so far i have noticed that i have some poking and sometimes stabbing pain in that area and i have really bad gas and i am afraid to push to have a bm scared that i might push it out since the cervix is still dialiated. so far i don't want to have it removed but wanted to know.

Has anyone had it fall out?
and also what about weight gain, face compelxion,

Im not so worried about sex drive i didn't have one with my boyfriend before i had it put in. I lost my sex drive after i had my daughter who is 2 months old i actually lost it before i had her so thats not a major concern of mine that i think has a lot to do with bi polor anyways and the meds i take. And i haven't noticed any changes in depression maybe because i already take 3 different meds for manic bi polar syndrome.

I have notice some pimples popped up on my chest in the last few days but i thought that could be due to the heat and i was out side for a few days doing a yard sale.

Does anyone have any advice.

I am 36 years old and LOVED my Mirena UNTIL I started getting all the side effects. I have had it for 3 months now. I also know about 10 women who use this product and not one of the complain about anything. They all love it and that is why by their word of mouth also that inspired me to look into it. I have had mine since June 08. By researching it more I have found that everyones body is different and this product is releasing a very small amount of progesterone that can make you gain weight. That is the male hormone that causes this. I was on the Pill for 15 years and had to get off and some people have side effects on that. Everyones body is different and some people get effected by the pill. But my stomach looks like Im pregnant and is a big huge ball and my breasts were huge and now are enormous and I cant even fit in a bra. I have gained 30 pounds in a short time. The weight that I gained went directly to my middle and I gained it in 3 months which was 10 pounds a month. Insane considering I am a person who hasn't gained weight in 10 years and have had 3 kids. Just anyone taking this product be careful if you do see a difference. I do love it, but everyone is different and what I think is you wont know till you go on it. Like I said my friends are fine. Who knows, maybe being on the pill so many years, my body is different. But just wanted to give my input. I have lost my migraines that I received from the pill and don't have them anymore which is great. But then see some people have migraines on the Mirena, but not me. And I went immediately to the doctor to have major bloodwork done because I knew something was wrong. And every blood test down to a thyroid test came back fine. So my only issue that it must be is the Mirena. At this time, I am deciding whether to take it out or not, and have come to the conclusion either I am going to look huge and leave it in or pull it out and get my body back. Still deciding on that right now as I do not want to get pregnant after 3 kids. But I will say my sex drive on this product is awesome compared to some peoples side effects on this, but thats why I say everyone is effected differently by this product so don't not try it because you are scared. Kindly someone please let me know if you have had the weight gain, and you had the Mirena pulled out if you lost the weight???? Please someone let me know? I would hate to pull it out and then still look HUGE. Supposingly it should go down from what I hear, but who knows. Thanks and Good Luck to Everyone????

-- By msnbf1306 | Reply | (5) replies | Send Private Mail September 24th
2008
11:00 AM
I have had the mirena for 7 months now..
I never realized that I was having all these symptoms until reading tons of websites..

I'm constantly suffering from severe sharp stabbing pains, and my migraines are back are like hell now.
I'm having crazy lower back pain(to which I believe only 1/2 of it is to be blamed on mirena.. other half is to be blamed on my 9 attempts of an epidural)..

I'm going to get it removed today so we can ttc #2(Presleigh our daughter is 1 yr and 2 weeks old:)) I'm terrified of what it will be like to get it removed.. anyone been through this?

-- By keytibeth | Reply | (1) replies | Send Private Mail September 24th
2008
6:32 AM
Let's face it....this site is for side effects and there is unlikely to be a site for women who think Mirena is fab! I've had mine in for a week (so maybe it's too early to tell if I'll get any!) it was uncomfy having it put in but not as uncomfy as childbirth! I haven't had any bleeding so far...and so far better than the pill for me!

-- By ekky | Reply | (1) replies | Send Private Mail September 23th
2008
1:52 PM
i had the iud since sept 2006 and had it removed last week. i had felt it the entire time ive had it. id go thru hell with cramping and no bleeding. my weight would fluctuate from 135 to 150 in a matter of days, i haven't been able to get back down to my pregnancy weight of 117. i was so depressed that i tried to commit suicide. id cramp and bleed after sex, during i could feel it sometimes my husband could too. i had migraines that would last for days multiple times a week. my eyelashes, brows and hair has thinned out a lot. my skin is horrid with acne that would last for months with the same break out. i was bloated all the time. i was super moody, didn't have patients for anything or anyone. i am usually a pretty layed back person on mirena i was completely opposite, im surprised my husband hung in there! i was constantly constipated, frequent urges to pee, didn't want to out outside. when i was having it removed, my doctor couldn't find the strings, luckily she found them. my experience with mirena was horrible. i don't recommend it to anyone. after it was removed my stomach felt so much better. wasn't constipated, didn't feel a hard uterus, the pain that would shoot down to my feet stopped. my doctor did tell me i might have a mini period, which i am now. but im telling you i feel a lot better now that it is out of my body. if you knew me while i was using the IUD, you would think i am a different person now. i wish i had never gotten it in the first place...

-- By woman | Reply | (1) replies | Send Private Mail September 23th
2008
10:46 AM
I got the Mirenda IUD inserted about 3 1/2 months ago. Since having it I have had nothing but trouble. I have been bleeding almost everyday for the last 3 1/2 months. I probably have had 5 days of no bleeding. I also feel so bloated. I haven't weighed myself b/c I am scared to know but I am bigger now than 6 weeks after I had my baby. My doctor said that this device cannot cause weight gain but I am not a believer. My clothes are so tight and my tummy area is so swollen. I also have started cramping recently. I made an appointment to have it removed on Friday. Anyone have any other suggestions of birth control?

-- By dontdoit4 | Reply | Send Private Mail September 23th
2008
8:38 AM
I have very little little sex drive since putting the Mirena in in early June 2008. I figured maybe it was the constant bleeding/spotting (maybe less then a week blood free days a month) for more than three months (i was warned but now am taking extra hormones to stop that, but still bleeding after two weeks). I've had very very frequent headaches and find myself taking painkillers 4 times a week, this is the most worrisome for me personally.
But a very big problem is that my husband can feel the strings during sex and finds it really uncomfortable, basically, session over straight away. I've had the strings shortened recently but it hasn't changed in his perception. Feel like we've given it a fair trial but Mirena has basically meant an end to our sex life, not just from me feeling rather uninterested in it and trying to avoid it, but also from him being seriously affected by it! It may be the position of my uterus.

-- By vbecky | Reply | Send Private Mail September 23th
2008
1:31 AM
i had the mirena placed in me after i had my last child 2005.i had the mirena inserted in me when he was about 2 1/2 months old.when he was 2 months old i started to notice that my hair was shedding like crazy.i had long beautiful full hair to mention.well it's about 2 years and 10 months later and my hair is still falling out.dry brittle,and unhealthy.i went to me primary care physician and she tested me for all kinds of things...every thing came back negative.i have smelly discharge everyday no matter how much i bath. i can't keep the weight off even though i constantly work out and eat healthy.i am so sick of this in me,i haven't enjoyed it since i had it....but then again,not one birth control method ever worked for me with severe side effects.i didn't even know that mirena had hormones in it.

-- By shinediaz | Reply | (1) replies | Send Private Mail September 22th
2008
11:11 PM
I started mirena 7weeks after the birth of my daughter. As i had forgotten to take the pill previously and fallen pregnant my doctor recommended it. After careful though i decided to go ahead and have it. Ive been bleeding for 16days straight now, have been feeling faint very often and having difficulty focusing at times. Not only this but ive been experiencing chest palpitations on some occasions and abdo and pelvic pains. Has anyone else experienced the same so soon after having it?

-- By bkg143 | Reply | Send Private Mail September 22th
2008
8:35 PM
I have had my Mirena for 14 months. I am looking into having it removed. I have gained about 5-10lbs with it and I have 2 menses per month. I only have about 5-7 non period days each month. My sex drive is at a all time low. I went from a female who wanted to have sex everyday of the week... to 1-2 times per month.
I am always nasty with my mate of 7 years and short tempered with my children. I already had a problem with headaches and I am now having many migraines per week. I just want it out. My new insurance doesn't cover the removal and I may have to pay out of pocket, but I cant get in with my GYN until November. I did read all the side effects and I have them all. Aside from not worrying about getting pregnant... This thing is the worst and I do not recommend it to anyone.

IF YOU CAN TAKE A PILL EVERY DAY, DO IT

-- By dmarijhazz | Reply | Send Private Mail September 22th
2008
5:13 PM
I have had Mirena for about a month now and for about a month i've had funky discharge. Now, it's not the normal discharge it's brown. It's starts out like the "pre period" brown then turns dark dark brown and then light brown and then back dark. What the hell? I haven't had pain or cramping but have started getting acne. I've never had acne before. The acne I can deal with but the brown discharge, NO! Does anyone else have this and does it ever go away?

-- By kvoges | Reply | (4) replies | Send Private Mail September 22th
2008
3:41 PM
I am 30 , have two kids and are done with having kids, wanted to get Mirena so I would not have periods and it sounded like a great form of Birth Control. I have had it for 1year and 9 months now, when I got it I did have cramping and some bleeding for a while, then the bleeding stopped no periods, I have occasional spotting but that is it no actual period. I am thinking about getting it removed before I got it I was a steady 150 never up or down, now I am a HUGE 185 and it keeps going up, I am depressed, do not like to get up in the mornings, have not energy, always tired and very, very mooody with everyone, my husband & children and I never used to be that way and I feel so bad because I am just not my self. I was reading all the other comments and it sounds like what I am going through!!! I am thinking about going in next week and getting it out and just use the pill again, hopefully I will fell better soon after getting it removed.

-- By 27asweem | Reply | Send Private Mail September 22th
2008
1:56 PM
******
I would recommend that everyone read about Mirena at the link above. I had mine removed today and I will post in a few weeks about my experience with it and how I felt after having it removed.

-- By kneupperb | Reply | (2) replies | Send Private Mail September 22th
2008
11:49 AM
I got Mirena put in Feb of 07 almost a year after my second baby. I thought it was the greatest thing one earth for almost the next year and a half. I always had light periods so I stopped having periods completely since it was put in. I had no side effects whatsoever until Aug 08. I started having mild headaches that turned severe and did not go away for over 20 days.

That was my first sign. I started having pelvic pain (which has since gotten much worse) resembling ovarian cyst pain. I started bloating like crazy and my clothes were very tight and uncomfortable. I started experiencing pregnancy symptoms which worried me so I took a pregnancy test and it came out positive. I took another one later and it came out negative. I went to my regular doctor (because she had to order the tests for insurance purposes) and their tests came out negative. I've been pregnant 9 times (7 miscarriages) so I don't need a pregnancy test to tell me I'm pregnant. I know I was but my lack of periods wouldn't allow the uterus to hold a pregnancy.

I looked up my symptoms online and found hundreds of women with the same experiences. My doctor looked for the Mirena and couldn't find the strings or the device so she ordered an emergency ultrasound (lucky for me I have great Drs). They found the Mirena pushed further back in my uterus and that I had a large cyst (which I already knew I had from all my pain). My headaches got worse, my uterus pain got worse, I had back pain like crazy, I became so tired I could hardly move, and I was constantly nauseous. With a husband, 2 kids, and a job there was no time for all of that. I talked to people at work recently and they said when I was experiencing the best of my symptoms they were talking to me and I was looking at them like I was telling them to F*** off with my facial expression. I had to explain to them that it was the extreme headaches and the pain I was in and not them. I didn't realize it got so bad that my facial expressions showed it!

I went to my Ob/Gyn for an appt I had scheduled weeks before my pain started and told the PA about my symptoms so she looked for the strings and found them so the Mirena was back in place. She asked if I wanted it left there and I told her HELL NO. She pulled it out immediately and called it a demon, which makes me believe she knows about the horrible side effects. She didn't try to talk me out of it at all, not that I would have let her. Both of my doctors were very understanding to my need to have it removed and were willing to do it.

After I had it removed I continued having those symptoms but they are beginning to fade off. I did have one day where I woke up and I was a raging B**** from the minute I opened my eyes and I don't know why. I apologized profusely to my family and I knew it was my hormones but I could do nothing about it. Later that day I had my first ever anxiety attack and I freaked out. It was TERRIBLE. I've had continuous spotting since then. All these are our bodies' way of telling us to stop polluting our poor bodies. It's called "the crash"

Well ladies good luck with your little demons and remember the side effects continue until your body can regulate itself again. Don't give up cause it will get better.

-- By lovebeingamama | Reply | Send Private Mail September 22th
2008
10:39 AM
I've had Mirena for almost 2 years. I am bloated and fatigued. My joints hurt, especially my hips. I've gained 5 pounds and cannot lose it, even working out 7 days a week. I workout regularly but not with the stamina I used to have. I am 39 and in great shape. I can't make it through my classes the way I used. I struggle and it's very depressing. For the past few months my sex drive is zero. I am considering having it removed. Was it extremely painful?

-- By victoriav | Reply | (1) replies | Send Private Mail September 22th
2008
4:25 AM
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 didn't 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 traveled 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?

-- By leticia09 | Reply | (1) replies | Send Private Mail September 21th
2008
11:06 PM
I'm 21 years old and i had my daughter 9 months ago. I had MIRENA put in June 2008 and so far all i have experienced is BLEEDING and BLADDER PROBLEMS!! How n tha hell do these people who created these damn IUD's expect a young mother like myself to have a normal life!! I understand all the side effects about the spotting and possibly bleeding up to 3 months but BLADDER PROBLEMS! oh hell no im 21 years old and thats not suppose ta be happening to me....At first people was like maybe you have a Urinary Tract Infection, so i looked up the symptoms and i ain't go none of them...so tomorrow im calling my Gynecologist and getting this damn thing removed even if i have to go back to tha pill so what..its better than dealing with this...

-- By laniya | Reply | Send Private Mail September 21th
2008
9:42 PM
I had Mirena inserted in July, 2008. I was feeling pretty good about it, but have come to realize I am experiencing some side effects. Right now, I can say the side effects are worth it compared to the horrific periods I was having for the past 6 years. I have extreme breast tenderness and need to get a Mammogram anyway. I'm sure when the results come back normal, my mind will rest at ease and I will know for sure it is a side effect from Mirena. I've been extremely fatigued, however I used to get the same effect the week before my period. So I'm not sure it's a side effect or normal. I do experience waves of nausea but they pass and I eventually feel better and get back to normal. Other than that, I'm okay. I just hope I continue on this path. I'm sure I'll know after a couple more months.

-- By sweetelle13 | Reply | (1) replies | Send Private Mail September 21th
2008
7:27 PM
I just had Mirena inserted 2 weeks ago. I'm 45 and was sold on it by my Dr. to help with heavy bleeding. It was very painful to be inserted. Every day since I've been very crampy, diarrhea, bloating and lower back pain. It feels like when I was going into labor at about 5 cm dilated. I hope this goes away quickly, this is a nightmare. I'm scared.

-- By sueh | Reply | Send Private Mail September 21th
2008
6:35 PM
Hi all again! I posted on Sept. 15th and 19th and I'm here again! Since I had my Mirena removed, I've had some heavy bleeding which has started to go away. I started to take Slow FE, an iron supplement because yesterday I was ready to drive myself to the ER - I felt lousy - drained to the bone and ready to pass out. After listening to my boyfriend, I went home, gave my kids something to do, and rested for a few hours in bed.
Later on I ate dinner and started to feel better. This morning I really started to feel more like myself (!). I have some bleeding, but it's turning brownish, like toward the end of a period. I am going to the OBGYN who delivered my kids (different doc's ofce than the one where I had the Mirena inserted); I want to get another opinion about the thickness of my uterine lining, the sono report, etc. just to rule out anything serious. My boyfriend thinks that I may have had a miscarriage without realizing I was pregnant (ironically, I was feeling like i had eight years ago when I had a miscarriage and a D&C and didn't realize it until he asked how I had felt then and compared it to now). I would need bloodwork to determine any hormone levels at this point; I'd just like to be reassured that it's not cancer.

Ladies - listen to your bodies. Yes, there is such a thing as allowing your body to adjust and some women haven't had the side effects which a lot of us are writing about; just don't overlook anything that is telling you "this is not normal, this is not natural." Trust your instincts and yourselves; you'll know if it's for you or not. And for crying out loud: if you want it out - insist upon getting it out - don't be coerced into doing something that you don't want to to.

-- By jnoto | Reply | (1) replies | Send Private Mail September 21th
2008
6:00 PM
I have had my Mirena for 2 years. My main problem is that about 6 months ago I started having bad cramps and a period again. Sometimes it lasts 3 days, but now it is up to 8 days. I have also had cramping after sex. Also, I have had some lower back pain, and bloating. The strings irritate my husband sometimes when I am on top. While I love the effectiveness of this IUD, the costs are starting to outweighs the benefit. I think it is time to get this sucker taken out.

-- By alisonengland | Reply | Send Private Mail September 21th
2008
1:11 PM
All I can say is that since having it inserted in Oct. 2007 I began rigorous training to lose extra weight for a breast reduction, I found it extremely difficult to lose 1 POUND let alone 20. Went to the gyn who inserted it and she was not sympathetic at all she said women over thirty just have those problems.....What problem? Walking/jogging at least 5 miles three times weekly, drop your caloric intake by more than half AND STILL ABSOLUTELY NO WEIGHT LOSE?? I am at my ideal weight, just the far end of it and seriously after 7 months training not one pound lost. New gyn thought Mirena might be the cause, I had it removed two days ago and I already feel a difference in my energy levels!!

-- By a_catchy_name | Reply | Send Private Mail September 21th
2008
12:25 PM
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.

-- By gsb474 | Reply | Send Private Mail September 20th
2008
2:44 PM
Anyone experience vaginal swelling??? I'm kind of freaked out. I got it placed 2 weeks ago and was supposed to start my period a few days later, I did and have been bleeding for 10 days now. I normally have 4 day ong periods. I have had some pain in my left side really low but then about 4 days ago I noticed it was hard to place a tampon and felt like things were swollen in there. I looked in a mirror and had my hubby check too. It looks like the side of my vagina has collapsed and is laying across the opening of my vagina! When I push (like giving birth, but not as hard) it kind of pushes out. My hubby said it looks like guts coming out instead of a baby head (we have 3 kids, so we are familiar with that sight). Has anyone else had this side effect??? My midwives can't get me in till Monday but I am worried NOW!! She told me I could find the strings and remove it myself BUT with all the swelling I don't know that I could find the strings or that it would even be safe to pull out like that! HELP!!!!!

-- By lmdmom | Reply | (3) replies | Send Private Mail September 20th
2008
1:20 PM
Mirena has been AWESOME for me. Everyone that is looking for the IDEAL birth control needs to consider this!

Its the MOST reliable form of BC you can have (besides abstinence), and the side effects are less than any form of BC you can be on. Think about it people, every kind of BC has an effect on your body. This one is a no brainer. You don't have to take it at the same time everyday, you don't have to worry about a patch, you don't have to worry about a ring sitting in your vagina. It can lessen, even STOP you from having periods...it did for me! AWESOME!!

I just got mine removed after 2 years, and will definitely get it after we have another baby. I am an OB RN and recommend them to all of my patients!

-- By dawntruck | Reply | (2) replies | Send Private Mail September 20th
2008
2:29 AM
I am not a Mirena user, but was seriously considering it until I came across this site, and read all these comments. I also came across a site warning that Mirena is a levonorgestrel uterine implant, the same progestin that was in Norplant (which is several small implants that are placed under the skin in the upper arm). Once I read that, I definitely would not try this form of birth control. I had Norplant implanted in my arm, many years ago, after the birth of my two children. It was horrible, there were maybe a few days out of the month that I had no bleeding or spotting. They said my period should regulate within 6mths, well I gave it almost 14mths, and couldn't take it anymore. Romoval was not quite as easy as implantation. I used to joke...that it was great birth control, who'd want to have sex when you have your period all the time, well it was no joke.
Read all these warnings, do research, glad I did. I would have made the same mistake I made 15yrs ago, with Norplant.

-- By drums61 | Reply | Send Private Mail September 19th
2008
9:10 PM
hi I had a mirena instu in dec 07, had bleeding on and off, noticed now in sept 08 bad cramping, swollen tummy, very uncomfortable, and bleeding a lot. They say 6 months it will take, I think I will get it removed, and see how the bleeding is without, then a hyster if that s the only answer. Feel nausea, headaches, depression, and stomach pains all exist.T.G.

-- By kuresa1 | Reply | Send Private Mail September 19th
2008
7:28 PM
I have had my mirena for about six months. I have bled all but two weeks of the six months. Because I am always bleeding, even when Im not "bleeding" I am having this brownish discharge. And just when I think its going to stop, I get this clear discharge that smells like sewage. I have never smelt anything so horrible in my life. I have had this three different times in the six months. I don't know what I am going to do. I got the Mirena when I started college because we can't afford a accident pregnancy right now. It was free with my insurance. Now, I have no insurance and I can't afford the 250.00 to remove it.

-- By e_wollitz | Reply | (1) replies | Send Private Mail September 19th
2008
6:06 PM
I wrote a couple days ago. My gyno finally called me back. She admitted that hair loss, fatigue, etc. are symptoms of Mirena and I should get it removed and try something else. I am definitely getting it out Monday. Hope everything works out for the rest of you .

-- By wglidden8 | Reply | Send Private Mail September 19th
2008
4:28 PM
I got my Mirena inserted in June.....I persevered with the cramps and bleeding which did settle down, however, I permanently have swollen breasts, weight gain, spots but have also noticed that I no longer have much energy am 43 and fairly fit.Furthermore, I seem to now be suffering from anxiety attacks which I never suffered before but also ARTHRITIC pain in fingers, knees in fact all over. I did expect some side effects however am getting it out, after finding this site, its more than a coincidence the other effects it is having on woman and which is not covered when prescribed.

-- By bluemia38 | Reply | Send Private Mail September 19th
2008
3:55 PM
I got my mirena in April 2008 and loved it at first. Before getting mirena i tried the depo shot and had my period for the 3 months i was on it and became anemic so i was really happy when my period finally stopped after getting mirena. The insertion was extremely painful even though i was given pills the day before to dilate me. I vomited during the insertion and almost passed out but is probably just because i had never had a kid before so they had to dilate me a lot. I had severe cramping for the rest of the day and minor cramping for about a week after. After about two weeks i started getting some of the normal symptoms listed in the mirena information.. bloating, mood swings, depression. None of them were severe so it wasn't that big of a deal but i've also had a major lack of sex drive, some hair loss, and periods that last about 3 weeks. About 2 months ago i started having extreme pain during sex. Even if my boyfriend stops immediately i can't stand up straight for a couple days after and have to walk kind of hunched over and even that is terribly painful. I thinks it's time i look into getting it removed.

-- By kdaver | Reply | Send Private Mail September 19th
2008
2:12 PM
I was just wondering if anyone else has a yeast infection type of effect from this. The insertion was horrible since it came out the first time they put it in. i was bleeding for almost 2 months and now spotting off and on. i have horrible itching and dryness. they thought it was a yeast infection so i treated it with the yeast infection medicine and did the 7 day one. then 2 weeks later it started again. she think i stopped using the hydrocortizone cream too soon. i don't think that's it. i think it might be the mirena and if it is i want it out asap. i've never had itching or dryness. anyone else had these side effects?

-- By mamii2daend | Reply | (2) replies | Send Private Mail September 19th
2008
2:02 PM
I had mine inserted the first week of July. Yes, it was freaking uncomfortable getting it done and I had cramping the rest of the day, but my OB warned me of that and I made the decision to go ahead. I'm not in a position to complain about it now.
I bled/spot for 2-3 weeks after insertion. Only heavy enough to require a tampon for the first week, but I had it inserted when I was supposed to be starting my period anyway. Again my OB suggested this and warned me about the possibility of bleeding for up to 6 months. Again my decision to go forward!
Since then I have had cramping once a month like I'm going to start my period and never do. Within the last few weeks I've started getting the acne and an oily scalp. It's all over my back and not poppable. I'm hoping it will eventually subside when my body gets used to the new hormone level I'm giving it. If you think about it, it's the same thing in puberty (ie change in hormones) that kicks off the acne so it doesn't surprise me that this is a side effect. If it doesn't subside I'll make a decision then whether or not to have it out.
I have not had any of the other side effects. In fact I had terrible headaches and neck pain before I got this and those have gotten much better.

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

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

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

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

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

-- By trsturself | Reply | (3) replies | Send Private Mail September 18th
2008
11:26 PM
I can't believe I came across this. I have been having the weirdest things going on with me and had no idea they were attributed to my IUD: Mirena. I have had Mirena for a little over a year and actually love it. I stopped having periods all together on it after only having it for 2 months. Never had any cramps, bloating or spotting. I also didn't gain any weight on it. In fact, I lost a lot of weight. However, all my other symptoms are the same as every one else on here. I have an extreme amount of hair loss. I am terrified of the amount of hair I have been losing. I have extremely irritable with my husband and think just don't feel like anything matters anymore. I just feel depressed. Having a two year old doesn't help. :) I also have zero sex drive. I have chronic headaches anyway, but I have had an increase in my headaches. I have had weird low back pain and joint aches in my knees and feet. I have also had a lot congestion and sinusitis, which I read can be a side effect. I have also had some eye and vision problems. Not to mention fatigue, acne, flaky skin, numb fingers and just basically, for the past year, I haven't felt like myself. I am having it removed on Monday and hope that I start to feel like myself again. I am so happy that I started to do some research and discovered this, otherwise I might still be miserable, wondering why. If anyone knows anything about a lawsuit let me know.

-- By wglidden8 | Reply | Send Private Mail September 18th
2008
8:56 PM
I had my Mirena put in on 9/11/08 last Thursday. I got it done on the recommendation of two of my co-workers that recently got theirs a few months ago. I had been having stomach problems, found out I have food allergies and than suddenly couldn't stomach my birth control that I had been taking for several years. Mirena seemed to be the answer. I had it put in on Thursday which hurt like hell. I was a little sore Friday and only spotting from my 2nd day on my period. By Saturday I was very sore and felt nauseous. By Sunday I was bleeding heavily, nauseous and had migraine headaches. By Monday I couldn't keep water down and had the worst headache. I called the doctor and she told me that the side effects were normal and I needed to give it time. I had read these post from Saturday and was getting worried. On Tuesday I couldn't even lift my head off the pillow. I woke up with my hands in a cramped position and couldn't feel them or my feet. I had tingling and numbness in my hands, feet and lips. I called my regular doctor who got me in right away. I had to be rolled in a wheelchair to his office because I couldn't even walk. I throw up about 4 times on the way down to hall to his office also (thankfully they had trash cans along the way). He immediately took the Mirena out and I got feeling in my hands and feet about 10 minutes later.

I was finally able to go back to work today after being out sick. I still have a dull pain on my right side around my ovaries and my stomach is very tender. I have felt like I was in a fog all day today and still a little sick to my stomach. I hope these symptoms wear off soon.

-- By dcaston | Reply | Send Private Mail September 18th
2008
12:17 PM
I had my Mirena implanted after my son was born in May 2006 and at first it was okay but now I am ready to get rid of this thing. My hair started falling out really bad and it is not as bad now but I still have spells where I think I might go bald if it doesn't stop. I am always tired, always bloated, and I cant seem to get the scale to get below 160 no matter how hard I try. But the biggest problem with the side effects is the low sex drive, it is affecting my marriage. There is no way for my husband to understand what I am going through mentally and he has been very patient but if things don't get better after I get the Mirena taken out, Im afraid he might leave me.
We had a disagreement this morning and of course I was in tears most of the morning and could cry now.
Can anyone tell me how soon they got back to "normal" after having the IUD removed, especially with regards to the sex drive problem.

-- By abyrd77 | Reply | (2) replies | Send Private Mail September 18th
2008
8:46 AM
I had Mirena implantewd in June of 2008. The first day was horrible for cramps, but then the next day everything was back to normal. 1 week later I started bleeding, extremely heavy, but that is what is mentioned as one of the side effects. My bleeding went on for almost 2 months before it finally stopped. Now my periods are a little irregular. Some times they last 2 days others go for 5 days. Other than that it's not been that bad. I had the standard side effects that my doctor covered with me and that were also mentioned in the pamphlet on Mirena.
I'm sorry to hear about the everyone misfortunes below, but I really think that you doctor should have explained it better to you, because some of the things listed below are common side effects that were mentioned.

-- By dedeja | Reply | (1) replies | Send Private Mail September 18th
2008
1:02 AM
Hi - I posted a couple of days ago (around the 15th). I had the Mirena taken out yesterday. Yes, still bleeding. Yes, with medium to large-sized clots. Oh, I forgot this side affect also - for some time when I had it in, I had a tinging or numb-like feeling passing through my top lip - I thought I was going crazy at first but I realized it had been happening more and more and it wasn't my imagination. I've had this also since it was removed; not as often though.

Could it be that we are the "3%" that has a problem with this IUD??!! I am following up with a second opinion with another OBGYN because I was concerned that the radiological tech said my uterine lining was "very thick" and my friend's mom (who is a nurse) asked right away if the doctor was doing a D & C...(!) Any suggestions or ideas or comments???

-- By jnoto | Reply | Send Private Mail September 17th
2008
9:02 PM
I just had my Mirena removed today because of some ridiculous side effects (and a couple other reasons). The side effects I had were - fatigue, nausea, headaches, NO SEX DRIVE AT ALL, vaginal dryness, hot flashes...

MY question is - about an hour after I had it removed I began to get tired. I mean REALLY tired - hard to keep my eyelids up kind of tired. Is this normal? Will this extreme fatigue pass soon?

-- By leighznich | Reply | Send Private Mail September 17th
2008
4:16 PM
HI Everyone! I am a 21 year old mother of a 6 month old little boy. I have had the worst experience with the Mirena. I had it inserted in May of 2008. I am trying to have it removed but my ob/gyn won't do it. I have had severe pain everywhere especially in my head. I have been put on migraine meds but nothing has helped. I have had bleeding beyond belief. I have been bleeding almost since it was put it. Pads after pad after tampon after tampon. I have never had bleeding this heavy. I am so frustrated. I rather take a pill everyday than go through these horrible feelings

-- By vmmiller1987 | Reply | (3) replies | Send Private Mail September 17th
2008
11:00 AM
Hi everyone, i had the Marena fitted on 1st july 08, lasted 11 weeks and gave up, nothing but bleeding, cramps, weight gain, being bloated, pelvic pains too much too mention, i had it removed 11th September best thing i ever done, i have not felt this great since before i had it fit, yeah i admit after effects are not very nice, 2 days after removal i had chronic cramping and very heavy bleeding which has all stopped now. i Feel on top of the world, i think i will just go back to my Heavy bleeding and cramps which admit only lasted 2 days, better than that awful ALIEN

-- By minigirl | Reply | Send Private Mail September 17th
2008
10:21 AM
I got my Mirena inserted in February. I only had pain for the first month's period but I spotted constantly for 3 months. My mood went from 1 day of weepy PMS to as of September - 3 weeks of complete depression, moodiness, anger and I even had 2 days where I was completely not able to function. I've put on 20 lbs and even that was a fight to keep it to that. I had it removed yesterday and my Dr. said it couldn't be the Mirena because it is supposed to be non-systemic and in the 4 years she has been using it, no one has asked to have it removed. She also told me that it could be other hormone issues and she hopes the depression doesn't clear up otherwise she'll be mad that the Mirena caused it. I'm pretty sure that is what has caused it and I will prove it.

-- By mress67 | Reply | Send Private Mail September 17th
2008
8:04 AM
Ive had my mirena in for 6 weeks now and Ive only just turned 22. I was never informed of the real side effects of this before it was put in. I have bead depression, and very bad lower stomach pains which I am very concerned about as they come and go but are causing a great deal of discomfort from one side to another. I am very worried that it hasn't been put in properly or that it is infected so I am off to the doctors today to ask about having it removed and go back to the pill as I can no longer put up with this. Another problem is that it is also causing my boyfriend great discomfort during intercourse as he says its hurting him as it is sharp, I regret choosing this form of contraception so quickly without really looking into it first - it just seemed like an easy option but it definitely aint worth the side effects - id so much rather take the pill!

-- By lady_chloe86 | Reply | Send Private Mail September 17th
2008
7:57 AM
I am 24 with 2 children and had mirena inserted in February after going crazy with implanon. I have never really tolerated the pill either and this was the last option. 2 weeks later I was in excruciating pain in my stomach that i could barely look after my kids. My stomach was so distended i looked about 8 months pregnant. After tolerating the pain for a few days i went to my doctor and she sent me for a pelvic ultrasound. they found cysts on each ovary. 1 measured 3 inches in diameter and the other 1 was slightly smaller. Even after they dissolved i was in pain for at least a month afterwards due to my bowels and bladder being pushed around. Since then I have had no problems (touch wood) I have had minor cysts in the past but not to this extent and after doing some research found that mirena caused it. I have opted to leave it in for the time being as i am not having any other side effects that i know of from it. But if I end up getting cysts again I will definitely be getting it taken out.

-- By kendra83 | Reply | Send Private Mail September 16th
2008
4:56 PM
Hi all. I'm wondering if anyone can help me. I'm a 34 year old woman. I gave birth to my daughter in October 2005 and in December 2005 I had the Mirena coil inserted. It's due to finish up this December as it's approaching the 5 year mark.. In the last 6 months, my skin has gone from being clear as a frosty sky to that of an acne ridden 15 year old. I'm breaking out on both my cheeks, neck, jawline and chest. Could this be a side effect of the "winding down" hormones in my coil? I've had the coil in almost 5 years but I'm only getting really bad skin now...... for the past 6 month or so. I've always had relatively good skin so as you can imagine, this is most distressing for me. Could it be the "last of the hormones" in the coil? Could anyone shed light on this for me? I would have thought that if my skin was going to "break out" with the coil, it would have done so almost immediately after inserting the coil in in the first place..... Not almost 5 years later! I've no allergic reactions to creams, lotions, foods, etc. My diet is quite good (I've never changed my diet so it's not diet!), I'm not stressed. I get at least one new spot every day. They last for days, or a week. They are really deep rooted so most of them I can't even "pop"! Can anyone help? It's my birthday next week so it would be the perfect birthday present......

Regards and thank you in anticipation

Y. xx

-- By yvie74 | Reply | (4) replies | Send Private Mail September 16th
2008
9:32 AM
I have had the mirena coil for a year and a half now the insertion was incredibly painful and much worse than I was led to believe. I felt ill and for several days with feelings of being pregnant. I am 46 with 2 children age 9 and 11 so just wanted a change from the pill. I am really interested to read all the comments as I thought I was doing alright - no periods great, no particular weight gain even better but have had a backache that has just got worse and worse. I always did have a lower back problem but that had got better over time and also I do horse ride so put it down to that sometimes. However it has got a lot worse over the last year - constantly aching and over a greater area and at night I can hardly move sometimes I am so stiff. Is this anything to do with the coil? The osteopath I see suggests I check this out with the doctor but I can see from all the comments that it is a common problem. Anyway decided I can't stand it any more so about to make an appt to see doctor. And yes no libido - poor husband! and feeling irritated all the time and very tired. Difficult to know whether this part is an age thing though - gets confusing when there could be a menopause issue lurking as well - don't now how you would know!. will be eager to find out if the backache is linked or not!.

-- By mag1 | Reply | (1) replies | Send Private Mail

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i had the iud since sept 2006 and had it removed last week. i had felt it the entire time ive had it. id go thru hell with cramping and no bleeding. my weight would fluctuate from 135 to 150 in a matter of days, i haven't been able to get back down to my pregnancy weight of 117. i was so depressed that i tried to commit suicide. id cramp and bleed after sex, during i could feel it sometimes my husband could too. i had migraines that would last for days multiple times a week. my eyelashes, brows and hair has thinned out a lot. my skin is horrid with acne that would last for months with the same break out. i was bloated all the time. i was super moody, didn't have patients for anything or anyone. i am usually a pretty layed back person on mirena i was completely opposite, im surprised my husband hung in there! i was constantly constipated, frequent urges to pee, didn't want to out outside. when i was having it removed, my doctor couldn't find the strings, luckily she found them. my experience with mirena was horrible. i don't recommend it to anyone. after it was removed my stomach felt so much better. wasn't constipated, didn't feel a hard uterus, the pain that would shoot down to my feet stopped. my doctor did tell me i might have a mini period, which i am now. but im telling you i feel a lot better now that it is out of my body. if you knew me while i was using the IUD, you would think i am a different person now. i wish i had never gotten it in the first place...

I am 24 with 2 children and had mirena inserted in February after going crazy with implanon. I have never really tolerated the pill either and this was the last option. 2 weeks later I was in excruciating pain in my stomach that i could barely look after my kids. My stomach was so distended i looked about 8 months pregnant. After tolerating the pain for a few days i went to my doctor and she sent me for a pelvic ultrasound. they found cysts on each ovary. 1 measured 3 inches in diameter and the other 1 was slightly smaller. Even after they dissolved i was in pain for at least a month afterwards due to my bowels and bladder being pushed around. Since then I have had no problems (touch wood) I have had minor cysts in the past but not to this extent and after doing some research found that mirena caused it. I have opted to leave it in for the time being as i am not having any other side effects that i know of from it. But if I end up getting cysts again I will definitely be getting it taken out.

I have had the Mirena for almost 4 years, my health has gone down hill ever since. I never ever thought that it could be the IUD causing all of these issues that I have been having, discharge, tired all of the time, no sex drive, lower back pain and whole lot more. Over the last couple of weeks I have been experiencing really bad headaches with dizziness and nausea and don't let me forget the bad cramping, even though I had my period 2 weeks earlier. I went to my PCP and he said to me " I have no idea what is wrong with you" I finally decided to look up MIRENA and it's side effects, since it's the only thing left that I have not investigated as a possible cause to all of my aches and pains. When I found this site, I realized what is causing all of my problems, needless to say I am making an appointment in the morning to have this GOD AWFUL thing removed. My only wish is that I can live a normal life again.

My experience has been alright with Mirena...

I'm 18 years old. I got it inserted on January 17, 2008. The first day I had horrid cramps, and would get pretty bad cramps randomly for the first month or so.

I spotted and got break-through bleeding for about 3 months or so afterwards, and then my cycle started steadying out some. My period became lighter with minimal cramps, but it didn't become shorter. Finally after about 6 months my period was back in order. I now have lighter bleeding with minimal cramps, but the amount of time my period takes has not changed any. My period has always lasted around 8 days and these light periods I'm having also last around 8 days (maybe longer), but I LOVE the fact that it has virtually gotten rid of my cramps. I used to get awful cramps that would put me in a cold sweat on the floor with nausea and feeling faint and all that stuff. My period also used to be very heavy the first few days.

As for side effects... I've never had a weight problem and it didn't lower or make me gain weight. I've always had a history of anxiety and depression so I can't really say if it has aggravated either of those disorders. I sometimes get problems with my stomach and intestines (usually just mild to moderate cramping, mild to moderate nausea, and sometimes constipation), but my anxiety has always given me GI trouble.

So, to summarize my experience... I had about 3 months of irregular light bleeding on top of regular, and sometimes heavier, periods. After about 3 months my body gradually regulated itself back to no virtually no spotting or break-through bleeding and I now have a regular monthly period again in which I experience pretty much no pain, lighter bleeding, but how long my period lasts is still the same.

All in all I'm doing alright with the IUD. The most annoying side effects are the possible GI side effects and just generally adjusting to it with the spotting, break-through bleeding, etc. It can take up to a year for your body to fully adjust to Mirena though, so I'm going to wait at least a year before I decide if I want to keep it or not. But so far my experience has been alright. I would like to see my periods be shortened and a little more predictable (they usually are predictable, but sometimes they last longer than my period used to last), but that's about it. :)

I had the Mirena put in Aug 4, 2008, l had light cramping and bleeding after it was put it. I got my period and it lasted for 7 days and spotting for 6 days now. I am so bloated right now, my 4 year old son said my stomach is getting big. I get headaches now which i never use to get before. I have a yeast infection right now. Right now I feel heavy. Im calling my doctor on Tuesday to get it removed.

i am 26 years old and i had my daughter 5/3/2008, at my 6 week i had mirena put in because of the wonderful idea of not having to worry about taking a pill! the day i had it put in i bled like i was on the heaviest period i've every had and i continued to bleed for the next 7 weeks. every day i would at least have one bright, red gush of blood, one day i even had cramping so bad that it felt like labor.... i had a HORRIBLE labor! this wasn't how it was supposed to be, my sister came over to watch my daughter while i curled up in ball for about 4 hours until i took my last loratab from giving birth!!!! i had a strange pain in my left leg daily that ran from my groin area to my knee, i had severe depression to the point that i stopped breast feeding, was so irritated with anything and everything and i cried every day. i hadn't done this while pregnant or the first 6 weeks at all!! i lost all of my baby weight in about 2 weeks after giving birth ( i only gained 17lbs ) but since having mirena put in i've gained at least 7 lbs back. my stomach bloated up so huge it looked like i was 4 months pregnant, even when i would shower and rubbed the soap on my my belly it was very tender to the touch. i also suffer from ibs and with mirena i have never had such horrible, horrible stomach aches and constantly going to the bathroom.needless to say i had it removed 4 weeks ago and the very same day my mood changed dramatically and the bleeding stopped. the weight isn't going anywhere though which makes me sad although i think a good, daily cardio workout will help that. i'm still losing a lot of hair, i'm a hair stylist so i know to expect some, but it's pretty extreme. my stomach is still a little bloated but it is improving and no longer hurts to the touch and the ibs has improved dramatically .... i think every woman should be well warned on what's involved with this drug, do your research. i DO NOT recommend this to anyone, it is not worth the pain and depression. having a newborn is hard enough and adding all of these side effects made me feel like my very stable, loving home and family was falling apart. DO NOT GET THIS PUT IN YOUR BODY!

OMG- I wish I had read this before I had this thing put in. Its been in about 4 months, I bled for 6 weeks after having it put in (which was painful), my cramps during that time felt like someone was stabbing me (worse then labor pains) I lost so much of my hair, which is coming back ( I thought the hair loss was from the after pregnancy) that I still have a receding hairline. The bottoms of my feet always hurt, my stomach always looks bloated and I cant loose the extra 10 pounds (which I gained after having it put in) I have absolute NO DRIVE, feel depressed all the time, feel no pleasure in anything that I cant even enjoy my infant son. My boyfriend calls me crazy and unstable because I am so moody. WOW, I am calling to make an appointment to have this taken out ASAP

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