Mirena and testosterone

I got it placed in about a month ago and since that time I almost stated immediately with cramps, then headaches, oily skin and acne (like I was 12), instantly mad with hot flashes, started to get a little facial hair and the worst thing of all about week 3 I noticed all my hair was starting to fall out. OMG OMG so I called the GYN and of course everyone said, "oh no it's not the mirena". I am telling you, i was fine before that damn thing was inserted and it was only a month ago. I swear I feel like they just sewed a penis on me and I am slowly turning into an angry man! Oh also the bleeding never stopped during my 1 month deal and it just went from red and heave to brown and smelly and back to red and sorta heavy. very unrealiable periods. The men in our lives can deal with the blood every once in awhile but heck I cant blame by guy, heck i don't even wanna have sex with me! I just got it removed on Friday and I am hoping that I start to grow my hair back (not grow hair on my back - ha) I also hope my headache (both tension and migraine like) stop. I hope to god that my immediate anger level stops (I was NEVER like that). I also asked my dr. to test my testosterone levels to see if that damn thing is messing with our testosterone levels cuz I would swear that I was turning into a man or someone was putting steroids in my kool-aid. Also, my blood pressure is now high so anyway.... long story short is IF you DON'T have to get one of these things don't. I had to get mine because my uterus lining is thick and they wanted to reduce my changes of getting uterine CA - now what they hell am i gonna do. I wish to $#%^ I would known all these side effects. Now I just have to decide what to do now.

I've posted several times before, but it ahs been a while since I've updated on here. So a recap: Almost 33, have 3 kids(ages 13,11,and 7) Had insert on 12/27/07 after having used depo for many years with no major side effects...issues continually worsened over next few months. Had removal early May, 2008. Several issues cleared up within the first few weeks after removal, such as the joint pain, swelling, heartburn. Brain fog and moodiness became much better. Libido returned gradually as well. But I still have had no success in losing the weight gained over the last 6 months. Still 30 pounds heavier thatn was at insertion...increased workouts, decreased caloric intake, only lost 4 pounds in almost 3 months. Family doc even put me on meds to help with the weight loss, and they had opposite effect...I actually was hungry all the time and felt completely stoned! Acne still unrelieved to the point that I know have an appointment for a 2nd dermatologist as my first one ran out of options for me! Completely unable to clear up my face. Family doc wants to put me on antidepressants, but I don't' think that's the answer. Plus after all the problems I've had...don't trust a whole lot of meds anymore...especially ones that are known for reducing your libido! (Plus after all this and to STILL be overweight with acne...he'd be pretty depressed too!) Bloodwork all came back fine...actually a "Picture of perfect health!" The only thing he did say was that my testosterone level, although in normal range, was at the high end of normal. However, as I'm still young 30's, no one tested my hormone levels before...so I don't know what is normal for me. Will be talking to him about using an anti-androgen, like aldactone, to see if that will help. Not using any form of hormonal birth control any longer. As old-fashioned as it is...I now use a diaphragm and spermicide...and I'm actually pretty happy with it. I'm happy for all those ladies who had a flat belly again within a few weeks, and their faces cleared up almost instantly...but I must admit I'm jealous. I wish it was that easy for me. Good luck to all of you. Will post again in the future.

I had Mirena inserted in August 2007. I was diagnosed with High Blood Pressure, and the doctor had to take me off of NuvaRing because of the connection of the hormones in birth control and HBP. My Gyno said that Mirena was very low hormone and would not affect my BP. Since I have been on Mirena, my BP has stabilized, but now I get dizzy spells, often, and I constantly have a headache. I also have cramping, sometimes very severe. I have gained ten pounds, and I have bad acne. I work out religiously and eat very healthy. I kept wondering how I gained this weight, and couldn't get it off, until I found this website. Also, I have never had an acne problem, and at 31 years old, I don't think I should have the skin of a sixteen year old, especially because I had perfect skin at 16. I found this website because I was having spotting, again, tonight, so I decided to GOOGLE the phrase "Mirena Side Effects." The spotting is not unusual since I have had the Mirena. It is one of the side effects that I experience regularly, especially after intercourse. Intercourse has been a problem, too. I have been married, happily, for ten years, and our sex life was great until I had the Mirena put in. Now, I don't want my husband to touch me, and I have even told him several times, since having the Mirena implanted, that I want a divorce. I think this has to do with the physical and emotional changes that I have had since getting Mirena. I have thought about having it removed, but I am finally starting my career after staying home with my three children. So I am torn because I don't want to get pregnant. My husband has said several times that he thinks that the Mirena has caused the problems in our marriage, and after seeing what others have to say, I am sure he is right. Although I have been thinking the same thing for months. Just a couple more points to make: Like some of the other woman, I have insomnia. When I had the Mirena inserted, I think I experienced TSS (Toxic Shock Syndrome) because I had an extreme pain where it was place, followed by immense dizziness, nausea, blurred vision and a rushing sensation in my face and head. When I went to get a checkup, I was told that the Mirena was "lost," and the doctor had to do an ultrasound to locate it. I have lower back pain and strong, period-like cramps. And I have an irregular period with spotting throughout the month. (It is getting expensive having to buy new panties all the time.) I think that I have made my decision to have the Mirena removed.

Wow, this is all pretty scary. I'm 44 and had the Mirena inserted 3 years ago. Man it was so painful. I was warned beforehand though. I am childless and my family Dr. thought it would be best if a GYN did the insert so I choose that route...and there was one in her office. The pain of having that inserted was pretty severe but I've never been in a hospital or even had a broken bone so I just chalked it up to me being a wimp. If I take a step back and think about it, I've been fortunate enough to never have experienced PMS or cramping....I just had hormonal migraines for years. This was my reason for going with the Mirena as per my Dr's suggestion. I was not told to wait until I started my period, just to get the prescription filled and make an appointment. Thankfully I had insurance because that is one expensive puppy.

Aside from the constant cramps (which a friend pointed out were menstrual cramps), I had this incredible pressure in my lower right side. Sort of felt like a ball wedged into my ovary or something. My migraines went away immediately though and for that I was grateful. Then the weight gain hit and I spoke to my Dr. about it and she advised that it had no connection to the Mirena. Next came the lack of energy and tiredness. Again I was told it had nothing to do with the Mirena. By this time I am gaining weight, can't even go for a walk and don't even want to think about sex. I've sprouted facial hair that is very embarrassing and get cranky at the drop of a hat.

After 3 years of having the Mirena I am finally beginning to connect the dots. I spoke to my new family Dr. and asked her if she thought these changes to my body could be related to my IUD...without even knowing what I had, she asked me if it was a Mirena. When I said yes, she ordered up some blood work to see what changes have been occurring to my body. Prior to my getting the Mirena my original Dr. told me that my testosterone level was very high so I must have a good sex drive. Now I don't even want to think about having sex as I am too dry and not interested. I've had to ensure my partner that it is not him or has anything to do with how I feel about him.

I hope once my blood work comes back that I will get some answers to my medical issues. If I have to have this thing out, I hope it is not as painful as it was going in. And, if I have to have it out I hope my migraines don't come back.

Ive had mine out for about 5months now and although most things are back to normal- I don't even get pmt anymore, compared to for about 2weeks of every month when I had it- I still have acne and its not horrendous, but its a pain in the ares and I never had acne before I got the Mirena. I feel disgusting. Its on my chin and back especially. I had one spot that was there for a whole month and was massive and painful and its only just healing up and will probably scar. I am lucky that I got it out when I did- who knows how bad the side effects could have gotten. I had mine taken out after around 2 years.

Meant to say, actually, I am taking a degree in herbal medicine and one of my lecturers was discussing the contraceptive pill with us and she said that it is a known fact that if somebody takes the pill and finds that it interferes with their sex drive, it may cause permanent loss of libido because of what it does to your hormones, your testosterone esp.

Kind of worrying.....I'm never going to take the pill or anything hormonal again. You just don't know the damage that your doing. Yes I'd like to have sex without using condoms but it isn't worth the risk to me, my mental health, my skin, my lack of sex drive.