Mirena and weight gain

I have a 4 yr. old daughter and an 8 month old daughter. About 7 weeks after giving birth the second time, I had Mirena inserted. I admit that I was skeptical about this method, however, my OBGYN convinced me that it is the best choice with little to no side effects. Since having the Mirena inserted, I have gained 1 pound per week and currently up to a total of 28 pounds gained! I have been working out at the local gym 4 days a week and watching what I eat (for the most part). I have been blaming myself for my weight gain and lack of sex drive. After reading these posts I realized that I am not alone and I thank all of you for blogging on here. I had the Mirena taken out today. Rest assured that it did NOT hurt at all. Of course my OBGYN said that there is no way that the IUD caused my weight gain( and by the by my blood pressure is high now too). But it seems like doctors are so pro Mirena that they don't take the time to listen to the side effects that it actually causes. I wish all of you luck and thanks again for sharing your stories.

extreme mood swings, depression, inflammation, irritation while having sex, infection too frequently, bad acne, weight gain, cramps, water retention, missed menstrual period for one year, hair loss and did I say cranky with deadly intolerable mood swings.

I had my baby in April 2009 and after my six weeks I was already back down to my desired weight a week later I got the mirena and started to gain it all back I asked the doctor at my 3mth follow up and he said weight gain was not a side effect I have just continued to gain weight to where everyone says are you pregnant it seems to just be in my abdominal area. Also I believe that I am losing a lot of hair from this medication, when I take a shower my drain gets clogged and when I brush my hair I have to clean it every time because I have lost so much. I don't know if memory loss is a symptom but I have a lot of that and I am tired all the time I feel so lazy.I have severe back pain that shoots through my back to the front of my abdomen. I have experienced pain during sex.
I've had is the massive mood swings I go from 0 to 10 in .01 seconds and cannot control it. My life is a wreck I am on a roller coaster with my boyfriend of 8 yrs. We have gotten along really well and ever since I have been on the Mirena I have acted so crazy. I never want to leave my house I flip oy on him for things that have no validity. I can't go in the store shopping for anything groceries cloths nothing I have anxiety like no other I start sweating and feel like I need to get out of there I feel like I have been there for hours and have to go fast.

About 3 weeks ago I reached my breaking point. I was cramping really bad and I never have had cramps then I went to bed the next day I woke up and could not move I felt as if I had the most severe flu like symptoms ever. I had 104 temp chills low blood pressure. I was freezing cold but sweating like no other. I tried to stick it out took some aleve and theraflu they did not help. I was shaking like I was in a freezer but my body was burning up. My head felt like it was going to explode. I was vomiting but I could not eat so I had nothing to throw up. So the next morning I woke up after not really getting any sleep I felt miserable I had my boyfriend take me to the emergency room I felt so bad I could not even get myself dressed my boyfriend had to even put my shoes and socks on. At the emergency room they took my vitals my blood pressure was 54/92 and even got lower than that. My pulse was 140 my temp was 103.9 ..basically they said if I had not come in I would be dead. They took some urine and blood and there was an infection in my urine so they started me on antibiotics then they told me something was abnormal in my liver, I do not drink but maybe once a month if that usually just on occasions so I did not understand what was wrong with my liver they said I had to be admitted for 2 days to do some blood tests and keep an eye on my liver issues. After 30 tubes of blood they said I had bacteria in my blood which most likely inflamed my liver, they think the bacteria was from a uti I had developed.All the tests came back negative for the liver problems it was just inflammed. So my fever stayed and my blood pressure had gotten as low as 54/86 my blood sugar was 161 they even had to give me insulin.I ended up being in the hospital for SIX days. I am a ver7y healthy person I have never even been sick a day in my life beside the morning sickness from being pregnant with my first child, so I knew something was out of the normal. Then when I got out I researched the side effects of Mirena and I feel like I have been under advised there are so many more side effects than I was informed of. While the whole reason for me sharing my life-threatening hospital stay was because one of the side effects is Sepsis this is a severe illness in which the bloodstream is overwhelmed by bacteria.Which symptoms are Chills
Confusion or delirium
Decreased urine output
Fever or low body temperature (hypothermia)
Hyperventilation
Lightheadedness
Rapid heart beat
Shaking
Skin rash
Warm skin
Sepsis is caused by a bacterial infection that can begin anywhere in the body. Common places where an infection might start include:

The bowel (usually seen with peritonitis)
The kidneys (upper urinary tract infection)
The LIVER or the gall bladder
The lungs (bacterial pneumonia)
The skin (cellulitis)
The infection is often confirmed by a blood test. But, a blood test may not reveal infection in people who have been receiving antibiotics.

In sepsis, blood pressure drops, resulting in shock. Major organs and systems, including the kidneys, liver, lungs, and central nervous system, stop functioning normally.
The death rate can be as high as 60% for people with underlying medical problems. The death rate is somewhat lower in those without other medical problems.

These are all the symptoms I was having and I did have bacteria in my blood I believe the mirena did this to me.
So I dont know if anyone else has experienced this but THIS IS NOT WORTH MY LIFE I have an appointment Dec 3 to get the Mirena removed but I would like to take legal action because this is unexceptable and I BELIEVE MIRENA ALMOST TOOK MY LIFE.

I gor the Mirena in February this year. About 3 wks after I noticed that my face was starting to break out really bad. I made an appt with my derm and he told me it was a onset of adult acne and gave me Retin A to use. I used it for about 6 wks and it never helped, the acne just continued to get worse and worse. He had switched my meds several times and nothing has seemed to help. I also started having lower abdominal pain went in to see my doctor said that I was just ovulating that it was nothing for me to be concerned with. The past 6 mths since my mirena I have had severe acne, lower abdominal pain, lower back pain, headaches really bad, weight gain and sometimes nausea. I have went to the doctor and nothing ever seem to help. I started researching the mirena because I realized all of this started happening since my Mirena was inserted. All of this side effects are side effects from the Mirena. I made appt for tomorrow at 1:30 to get the Mirena removed. I am 100% the Mirena is causing all of this. Has anyone else had the Acne and got the Mirena removed. How long did it take before your face started clearing up.. I am fed up with it, it has gotten to the point where I will not go anywhere because I am ashamed of my face....I will post in a couple of weeks after I get the Mirena taken out..Thanks
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I had Mirena inserted in mid-September. I was told the insertion process would not cause pain, just mild discomfort. I am 41 and have a son born c-section. The insertion was horrific. I have had Rheumatoid Arthritis since the age of 6 and I have a very high pain tolerance, but I literally almost jumped off the table during insertion. It's been two months and I have experienced weight gain of 15 pounds. I seriously look like I am 6 months pregnant now and all the gain is in the abdominal area. None of my clothes fit me. I am only 5 feet tall and have maintained my weight at 95 pounds. I was 112 pounds when I delivered my son at 31 and that is the most I have ever weighed. I now weigh 110. I had a tremendous craving for sweets after insertion. Even with my RA I have always been very active, and after Mirena I felt so tired all the time. Also, I experienced an enormous amount of hair loss, lack of sex drive, pain during urination (they thought I had a UTI or bladder infection, but test showed everything was normal), mood swings, crying all the time, and although my blood pressure was still in the normal range, it was higher than it had ever been. I never did get a period after the insertion either. The worst was the increased joint pain and muscle pain. After two weeks of the insertion I could not put any weight on my left leg and I had to start using crutches to get around. I just spent 3 weeks in an in patient physical therapy unit thinking I had done something to my left hip. I was worse after leaving there than when I went in. I had my Mirena moved this past Friday 11/20 and although I am still having some symptoms, they are subsiding. I will keep you posted. I am so glad I found this site because I thought I was going nuts.

I am 28, have a 15 month old son and had Mirena put in at my 6 week check up, a little over a year ago. My periods are light and manageable, some what regular. I do have a little spotting here and there throughout the month. All my symptoms are manageable, but all together they do suck.

I have gained weight since stopping breastfeeding about 4 months ago. I am bloated ALL the time, which is not normal. I hate having a balloon belly! I eat well, exercise and have never had a weight problem. I have sporadic cramps, constant lower back pain, some joint pain, pain during sex and no sex drive.

As for the headaches, mood swings, depression and anxiety, I struggled with all of these before Mirena, while on the pill, but still have them now. I dont know if they are worse or better. Mainly the weight gain, bloating, back pain and weird cramping (which makes me worry that I have a cyst or something else freaky) are my concerns.

Probably Mirena is still on the market because these symptoms are not lethal...and when they are, they must be within acceptable ratios. Pharmaceutical companies dont care...they just want money.

I do think its really weird how so few OBs will admit that these symptoms can be caused by Mirena. Also, they must have to fill out a brief question are why women have it removed...maybe they get "docked' if there are symptoms attached as the reason.

I've had my Mirena since April of 2009. Since, I've gotten severe cramps, irregular bleeding, loss of sex drive and motivation, lack of energy, severe mood swings, and MAJOR hair loss. My hair loss probably started around August. When I went to 2 doctors neither one of them thought it was from that. They are still testing me for possibilities. I'm thinking that maybe it's time to have it removed.

hello, i got the mirena in 2007 and after i got it put in a few months went by and everything was fine. then i started getting sick in the mornings and i thought great this birth control sucks i am pregnant again. but that wasn't the case because i took test and it said no and then the docs told me that nausea was a side effect so i figured i would just leave it at that. but it only got worse i started getting really bad headaches, pain in my stomach, sick all day long, and for some reason i couldn't eat more then once a day but i would gain weight i was depressed and i felt like a complete piece of crap. it also made me gain weight i am 22 yrs old and i have never weighed over 130lbs even when i was pregnant during the 2 yrs i had the mirena i gained 15lbs my experience with the mirena was absolutely terrible if you ever got morning sickness that turned into all day sickness while you were pregnant this is exactly how the mirena made me feel bloated, painful and sick to my stomach i finally got the mirena removed because i just couldn't take it any more i have been off the mirena for 3 months now and i still can't eat much and it really bothers me i am hoping it gets better because i can't take much more of this. please let me know if anyone else experienced this!

I haven't found Mirena to be very invasive so far. I got it put in after my daughter was born and since then my periods have been few and far between, but I attribute some of that to breastfeeding the first six months. I have had the Mirena in for almost a year and the only thing I notice is that sometimes I feel moody and hungry and lethargic like I'm about to menstruate but then nothing happens. I haven't had weight gain problems and I do fight off some acne on my chin and sides of my face but I don't know if that has to do with the Mirena- I haven't always had the greatest skin to begin with. I got pregnant because I wasn't on the pill or anything, everything else before this has made me psychotic. Any contraceptive you use will have its drawbacks because you are messing with your physiology and biology and everything. This is the best thing I've tried- so far it hasn't been problematic enough to consider taking it out. I think I am a case of very mild side effects with this method. It sounds like some people's bodies are more sensitive and attack the device as a foreign object in their system. My body is less fussy apparently

Hi, So far I have had the opposite experience from these posts with Mirena. I got mine about 4 months ago because I was looking for an alternative to the pill. I had been on O/N 7/7/7 for 15+ years with no problems. A couple of years ago, my insurance started to only pay for generic bc pills and I spent 18 months after that trying to adjust to the generics. Weight gain, moods, low sex drive etc. Four months into Mirena, the weight is gone and the sex drive is revving up. I do feel like a teenager again with some minor acne bugging me, but it doesn't seem like too much of a problem yet. My fingers are crossed that this keeps working for me.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ive been sitting here reading all of your post and experiences pertaining to the Mirena..I'm 29 gave birth to my 1st child in Nov 03....I got the Mirena(5yr) inserted in Jan. 04. Just like some of your stories...I had minor cramping and heavy bleeding for a few days...after that things were fine...It has since been 5 yrs and I just got my second one inserted the same day I got the old one removed in Jan 09...Wouldn't do that again....cramps were a lot worse and lasted a good while..I had to get pain pills and everything....Few hours of that and things were back to normal. I haven't experienced Weight Gain....Loss yes!!! I don't have any major problems with mine. No headaches, stomach pains etc....
Periods are long gone...I may spot when I'm stressing about something but that usually last about couple hours or depending on my mood. Sex is great!!! One side effect though is that my partner can feel the string and SOMETIMES causes minor bleeding..Not enough to be like OMG I'm having my period...Right now I have the string cut as short as possible...
All in all the side effects for everyone is different...Based on my experience i would and have recommend this to my friends. I love it..
The first one did me good for 5yrs and I'm banking on this one to work wonders as well....Like I said I'm 29 with 1 child and second Mirena and no major problems or bothersome side effects.

bleeding,

I chose Mirena to help with my severe PMDD and heavy periods, as well as Birth Control pills give me migraines. Depo shots made me gain weight and lose sex drive.

Had Mirena put in this past July. I bled solid for 2 months. Stopped for a few days, started again. I now bleed 3 out of 4 weeks of the month, and my PMDD still comes as usual, though not nearly as badly, same as my periods. This is the only positive thing I've had. My periods had been so heavy they interrupted my life.

My sex drive, previously higher than my husbands, is now dead, and I hate it.

I've gained 20 pounds and CANNOT get it back off.

I'm always tired, wasn't before.

I have constant stabbing pains in my abdomen. After orgasms, it hurts horribly.

I will leave my Mirena in merely because even though I bleed all the time, it is preferable to the heavy bleeding I'd have before I had the Mirena inserted. I'm also willing to put up with the weight gain and sex drive loss, because to me, the lighter bleeding and lack of cramping outweighs the weight gain and sex drive loss issues.

I had Mirena since Sept 2008. All I felt was a slight cramp when it was put in and a minor ache for a few hours afterward. I had some spotting for about 4 days after it and then nothing. Periods got lighter each month but the spotting got longer and longer.

I stumbled across this sight a few days ago when I was wondering if the Mirena could cause weight gain. After reading everyone's experience with it, everything started to come together. I got it 3 months after my daughter was born. I had gained 80 pounds while pregnant and lost 40 within 3 months. I then had that damn IUD put in. I gained it all back. I haven't been able to lose anything after gaining it all back. I have trouble just trying to maintain my weight. This is what I've experienced so far: weight gain, facial hair, cramping, sharp abdominal pains, joint pain, constant exhaustion, mood swings, bloating, tingling sensations, headaches/migraines, 15 days of spotting each month, constant hunger, no sex drive... I've had blood work, tests on my stomach and abdomen, iron infusions... All my doctor was telling me to do is change my diet and exercise when I went about the exhaustion. I've done that and gained 3 more pounds!

It's scheduled to come out December 4th. That day can't come fast enough for me!

I have had mirena since oct 2007. i have had a lot of problems since. i have just recently the past 5 months or so, been able to loose any weight! i actually gained 15 lbs after i had it put in. also it had rejected itself the first time after about 6 months. and the main reason i started searching today on here is because for the past 3 weeks right after my last period, i haven't been able to find the string. i can completely feel my cervix because im short spaced. there is NOO string hanging out and i have had serious cramping. about a week ago i was standing at my microwave and all of a sudden i started having a lot of white/clear discharge leaking down my leg.. i wasn't sure what was up because i was also having some cramping. i figured i HAD to be ovulating. so i took an ovulation test and i was right! i was ovulating. 4 days later i took another test after the discharge went away and it was neg. i called my doctors today because ive been having a lot of bad cramping. she told me you do NOT ovulate while u have the mirena and the test should never had been positive. she said the string can go inside my cervix but it wouldn't cause any cramping but she said if the mirena was moving or shifting, she said i will get a lot of cramping and it can be dangerous. im nervous and she said if the cramping gets worse to go to the er. she said tomorrow i need to have a pregnancy test and an ultrasound done. i am nervous and i want this thing out of me!! when i touch my cervix, i get sharp pains. the same pains i had when i was dilating with my daughter. this sucks!! i will also agree with others.. the weight gain/hard to loose is deff something that has happened, still breaking out, more cramping when bleeding, mood swings, i STILL lactate after over 2 yrs of stopping breastfeeding, i still am VERYY sensitive and cry easily, my lower back hurts all the time, always tired/lazy, i feel pregnant still!!!! i prolly have every symptom u could think off. another thing i want to know is.. can the mirena make it so i can get sick more easily...? like lowering my immune system?? i get sick with a cold or nasel infection or fevers or something everyyyy month!! i am ALWAYS sick!! ive had strep throat prolly 6 times in the past 2 yrs. fevers prolly 5 times.. im sick as we speak with a nasel infection, wooping cough, diarea, sleepyness, head ache... and ive been sick since 10/20/09 and its 11/9/09 today... no fevers so i know it isnt swine flu.. but damn! im always sick!! ever since i had my daughter... which is also around the same time i had the mirena put in... welll... theres my story... mirena needs to be taken off the shelves and if anything happens to my cervix or makes it so i cannot have kids, so help me god ill sue the livin shit out of them!!! yaz got sued... mirena should be too!!!

I am SO glad I found this site. I have had Mirena for 7.5 years and have had these side effects mentioned here by everyone. At first the Mirena was the wonder birth control method, no periods, no cramping- I thought it was the greatest, but then I had strange things happening. I asked my doctor about these on numerous occasions,and he kept saying "the hormone level in Mirena is so low it is not detectable by a blood test" and therefore could not be causing symptoms.

I've experienced a lack of libido, headaches, weight gain, hair thinning, sadness, fatigue, sleeplessness....an overall change I was attributing to getting older and going through my 30's.

OK- so why is my story like every woman's on here if there an no side effects as explained by my doctor?

After finding this site and countless others, I made an appt to have Mirena removed.

I cannot wait to feel like myself again.
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Some of this may be TMI for some, but I believe in not pulling the punches:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

my insertion was so bad i literally almost kicked the doctor as an instant reaction and yelled a cuss word... i had a c section delivery so pain full doesn't even describe that pain it was unbearable.. but the cramping starting the moment after insertion to about a month ago was i think worse then the c section pain id be at work almost on the floor in a ball crying in pain and the doctor said take Tylenol it will go away and nevvvvver did... i still get random cramps and sharp pains

i never had bv until i was pregnant during the pregnancy i had it one time and thought it was gone... after i got the mirena put in ive have 4 cases of bv this is November., and 3 uti's.. i got the mirena in march i believe... that is not good for my body to be on antibiotics like that ... lately ive been having terrrrrible pain when i pee like above my pubic bone.. my first thought was a uti ... went to er hoping to get an antibiotic once again... blood urine ctscan everything was normal... er doctor said its probably my mirena and i should get it taken out... i called my obgyn and she insisted i keep it in and thats not the mirena giving me those pains!!! why are these doctors so against taking it out i mean i'll get on the pill i don't care i thought the mirena would be handy u know not worrying about missing a pilll!!! wellllll i wish would have never decided to get it in ive had painful sex , very emotional, pain in general, it terrible...

alssssso my boyfriend and i obviously do not use condoms bc the birth control... now we have to use them bc hes been having a burning sensation when he pees like so bad and painful to where his legs almost buckle ... he was talking to his best friend about it and he said hes experiencing the sammmmme thing and his girl is on mirena ... they've come to the conclusion theyyyy are having a reaction to the hormone released from the mirena and it makes complete sense i don't care condom or no condom it doesn't bother me... but its the fact ... he said he felt it at one point which the doctor said your boyfriend shouldn't feel a thing... sorry if thats tmi but while having sex i feel it bad and it ruins the mood for sex with me at least...

i didn't have a pd for roughly 3 months now its heavy and clotty... then the next day nothing then the next clotty again im soooooo sick of it thank god i stumbled across this sight in search if the reaction my man was having... but now i don't feel alone for all my problems ive been having!!!!

SIX HOURS POST REMOVAL- I had my mirena removed today after 3 years and nearly 3 months. My side effects included headaches, sore breasts, weight gain, nausea, severe hair loss, depression, severe pitting edema of my right foot, cramping, hip pain, exhaustion, severe mood swings, and acne. During the first six months I had constant bleeding, which I had been told to expect. I took regular pills everyday and the bleeding stopped. Then the hair loss started. My hair came out in clumps and was EVERYWHERE. I lost about 15 inches of my hair in spots. I went to the salon and got a fantastic hair cut, I attributed my hair loss to stress. Now I'm not too sure. I also didn't feel like I was myself with the odor that I developed. No matter how many times I showered I felt not regular. Slowly but surely over the past three years I have gained 30 lbs. I worked out to try to get the weight off, I lost nothing and in fact gained weight! The pitting edema of my left foot started in July of 08. I have been tested for everything including diabetes, heart problems, clotting disorders, pregnancy, high blood pressure, kidney problems, and the list goes on to the tune of $6,000. I went to my OB back in the spring and was told if they could find nothing else then they would remove the IUD. In the interim I lost my job and subsequently my insurance. I luckily was able to get coverage again and immediately set an appointment for the removal. Insertion hurt like nothing I have ever experience, removal was quick and almost painless. I also ended up with BV (bacterial vaginosis). I feel and look as though I am about 6 or 7 months pregnant. My belly is actually the same size as it was when my son was born. I weight about 15 lbs more. My breasts were extremely swollen and sore.

I instantly felt better after removal. My hip immediately stopped tingling. I have no back pain. It felt almost like a lifting if that makes sense. I am curious to see what the next few weeks will bring and I will definitely keep you all posted.

Hi everyone ~ I am so glad I have found all of you. I have an appt today to have the Mirena placed. I highly considering canceling the appt now. I have read probably 98% bad and only 2% good. can anyone help me decide what I should do? I was having it placed for my heavy, painful menses, the birth control is/was a bonus feature. really? I shouldn't do this eh? someone please respond.

I had the Mirena put in November 2008. And this is the WORST birth control I have EVER had. I have uterin contractions, hot flashes (im 19 yrs old) No sex drive, bitchy, and no period for over 6 months. and nothing is getting better. So I got the depo shot which is 99.7% effective. And no side effects. I wouldn't ever recommend this birth control.

C

I had Mirena placed in August 2009. I was so excited when I first heard about it; shorter, lighter periods, decrease of cramping, no taking a pill daily, birth control for up to 5 years... Well I am so ready to have it taken out! My face broke out worse than a hormonal teenager and I have NO sex drive since it's been inserted, none. Also I have to wear a panty liner every day and night due to spotting. I didn't experience any weight gain but would rather take a few pounds versus all the side effects I do experience. I would not recommend Mirena to anyone and am scheduling an appointment to have it taken out asap.

I've had the mirena for only about two months now and about two weeks after it was placed my stomach ballooned to over twice the size it was before and I've gained about seven pounds that are unexplainable. I have not had a regular period which is understandable but I cant deal with the weight gain and bloating. I just had a baby four months and am trying so hard to loose the remainder of the baby weight,and I was doing extremely well until I got the mirena, and nothing drastic has changed about my diet or exercise routine.Does anybody have any idea how long this is suppose to last or what I can do to combat the bloating/weight gain besides getting it removed?

All I can say is OHMYGOD! I had no idea about all these side effects. I had my son April 4th, 09 and had the Mirena placed October 21st. Since then, I have been constantly spotting, I have headaches, and no motivation to exercise. I have been moody and felt overall like blah. I have noticed some joint stiffness and discomfort in my hands as well as muscle tenderness in my legs. I have not experienced any weight gain or loss at this moment, nor have I noticed a change in hair loss...but will definitely be aware of the possibilities. Well I have a appt. for my follow up, I am going to inform my doctor of my side effects as well as yours, and see if this really is the best option for me. The last thing I want is for this to inconvenience my life when I got it just for the opposite...Good luck ladies!

iVE POSTED BEFORE ABOUT THE CHRONIC HEADACHES I GET WITH THE MIRENA, I ALSO GET PRETTY MUCH EVERY OTHER SYMPTOM EVERYONE ELSE SEEMS TO BE COMPLAINING ABOUT BESIDES THE WEIGHT GAIN I ACTUALLY LOST A LOT OF WEIGHT INSTEAD, WHICH I WAS ALREADY A PETITE PERSON WHEN I GOT THIS THING INSERTED I WEIGHED AROUND 118 AND IT DROPPED ME DOWN TO 100. SCARY....IVE HAD TO EAT THE EQUIVALENT OF LIKE TWO GROWN MEN JUST TO GET BACK UP TO 110!! I AM DESPERATE TO GET THIS THING OUT BEFORE IT TEARS MY RELATIONSHIP APART MORE THAN IT ALREADY HAS, CAN ANYONE PLEASE RECOMMEND A GOOD BIRTH CONTROL, THAT COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE ME TO GAIN WEIGHT!!!???
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HELP AND HONESTY LADIES IM SO RELIEVED I AM NOT CRAZY AND JUST THINKING UP ALL THIS IN MY HEAD!!!

I am amazed to see so many woman going through the same things I am. I really do feel like I have been going crazy with my doctors. Since I have been on the Mirena I have experienced, weight gain, depression, nausea, excessive tiredness, cramps in my uterus and breast tenderness. I also have a hard time sexually. I cant seem to get wet either. Although my sex drive is there I still can get wet. I also have lost hair on my head and have started getting hair on my face. YUK!!!!!!Since I have been on thr Mirena for the past 2 years I have maintained my weight but have lost nothing. I am going to get it taken out really soon, since my husband was nice enough to get a vasectomy. Hopefully these mood swings and tiredness will go away.

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

I am in the older age bracket of 40 and over and I have had the Mirena for over 3 years and I have had no side effects to speak of. I have had other IUDs in the past and also have had no problems. My bleeding has been minimal to nothing, no weight gain or other side effects that were listed. Each body is different, where some body have higher rejection when have something inserted into it.

Migraines, weight gain, dizziness, depression, no sex drive, some what of an odor and discharge, spotting, numbness and tingling in my hands and feet, nausea, mood swings, tired a lot.

I am happy that I have come across this website. My son was born in July 2nd, 2009 and I had the Mirena IUD inserted on August 24th, 2009. The insertion wasn't all that painful, but the cramps that followed were. It lasted for approximately 2 weeks following and I had some spotting here and there. I have had serious cramping on my right side and after sexual intercourse, I always bleed and cramp on my right side. I have complained about my right wrist hurting bad and my thumb seemingly being dislocated. After reading these post I see that I could possibly have joint pain as a side effect. I can honestly say that the joint pain didn't start until after the Mirena insertion but I never associated it with that.

I thought that I'd love the Mirena because I wouldn't have to worry with pills or having to remember to take birth control, but the side effects are not worth it. I have also had some weight gain. Serious mood swings. Depressed moods and very emotional. Ive been short tempered about just minor things and I haven't been motivated to do much of anything around the house.

I'm debating on whether or not I should have the Mirena removed. I'd hate for any of my symptoms to get worse.

Hi, I am on the mirena and I have been on ther for almost 2years. At first everything was fine. I don't have a cycle but that didn't bother me cause all the BC I've been on is like that. But know no sleep it's like I sleep but I am not sleep. I have to take Tylenol PM. My sex drive is horrible I can't even get into it or can't get wet either. And especially the weight gain that I experience I'm a person that hardly ever gain weight. I talk with my physician and said that it could be my thyroids I went through all the test everything seems to be fine. I was also thinking about going to a urology doctor.I scared to get the mirena out I have 2 kids and been with my significant other for 9 years. I want to get off but I don't know what else to get on. I have been on everything you can think of and I am not trying to have anymore kids. THIS IS HORRIBLE I MA TO YOUNG FOR THIS

I just want to say how happy I found this site. I'm not alone! I thought I was going crazy or that my body was shutting down completely. I had my mirena put in Sept. 2006 and my body has become something I don't even recognize. I am extremely bloated all the time and it hurts every time I eat and use the bathroom. I keep on thinking maybe I have Irritable Bowel Syndrome, but it doesn't make any sense because the symptoms showed up after I had the Mirena put in. I thought it might be food sensitivities so I got tested and have been trying to cut those foods out but it doesn't seem to be helping. I have tried all sorts of natural remedies but it never seems to go away.

I have gained 40 pounds since I the Mirena put in even though I have never have had weight gain problems before, I eat healthy and I am active. I also have a difficult time concentrating and focusing on anything. I also get dizziness, depression, irritability and mood swings. I also have been experiencing a sharp pulling or stinging in my uterus at times as well as joint pain (especially in my hips, knees) and painful intercourse with bleeding afterwards. My hair is also falling out and I have lost my desire for sex.

I've also noticed a drastic decline in my immune system. I have never been as sick as I have been in the last three years of my life. I seem to always be getting sick. For the first three months after the Mirena was inserted I had frequent bouts of yeast infections, bladder infections and still three years later I have these types of infections frequently. Not only this but I seem to catch everything that is going around when before the Mirena I hardly ever got sick.

Finally after reading the posts on this site I can trace all the changes in my body to when I had my Mirena put in. I am so upset that I have been suffering for 3 yrs with these side effects and it has taken until now for me to figure out that the Mirena doesn't just effect your uterus it effects your WHOLE body. I cant believe I trusted the doctor I went to when I had it put in that said that the hormones would only affect my uterus. NEVER, NEVER USE THIS PRODUCT!! It is coming out as soon as I can have it done! Please ladies if you know what it is like to have it removed let me know.

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

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

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

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

I have had Mirena for over a year now. I have been battling hair loss thinking it was from stress. My Dr. put me on Prozac and recommended that I even use Rogaine. Never once did they lead me to believe it could be from the Mirena!! I felt like I was losing my mind. Bouts of rage, constant hair loss, acne, weight gain. I am meeting with my OBGYN on the 11th to discuss removal. I am hoping these side effects subside rather quickly. I just don't know if the hair will return

I have had Mirena for a little over a year now. I thought the hair loss was just from stress in my life so I have been on Prozac and using Rogaine to help with the hair loss - with no luck. Now after reading all of these posts, it makes sense that it is from the Mirena. I have had to horrific mood swings and bouts of rage, hair loss, weight gain and acne. I am scheduled to see my OBGYN for removal on the 11th. I am hoping that the hair loss will at least stop. My stress is from worrying about my hair loss, so I might even be able to come off the prozac and live a normal life. Please post if you have had your removed and the side effects subsided. Thanks!

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

I just had a mirena put in on Thursday, after the recommendation of the obgyn (she said she had one).
When I was asking my questions I was concerned about the acne, since I never really had it in my life and the possible headaches. BUT reading the above postings is not very encouraging: low libido, weight gain, mood swings. I will surely be back to post the results after a month.
Note: I have not had children, but since I was prone to severe pain/length of periods that is how mirena was suggested.
INSERTION was excruciating! "3 small cramps" was in fact pain that left me quivering and in shock. Doctor's need to be more transparent about the insertion process (especially if you have not had kids).
I will be back after my 4 week check up with the latest report. (and if need be, I will be assertive in the removal demand.)
Thank you so much, ladies.

Thank the Lord that I found this site.
I was up until 2 AM last night searching for answers.
My doctors insist that there is nothing wrong with me. I was starting to think that I was crazy.
I am 33 and had my Mirena put in in May 2008 after having my fourth child. I did a lot of research and talked to a lot of doctors before deciding that this was the right birth control for me. Not once did I run across any of the side effects that I have in all of my previous research.
Since then I have had headaches, nausea, bloating, gas, back pain, fatigue (severe now), moodiness, tingling in my arms, hands, legs and feet, weight gain, and now this strange sensation of fluttering in my belly.
I have taken a dozen pregnancy tests over the last few months. I could swear that I am pregnant. Of course they have all come out negative.
I want to get this out of me NOW. I wish that I could do it myself. The doctor that does the IUD's at my clinic only comes in a few days a month. I wonder how long I am going to have to wait until I can get it removed ? !!!
To be honest I would rather have baby number 5 instead of dealing with all of these side effects any longer. Even my husband agrees.
Thank you all so much for being honest and getting your stories out in the open.
If I hadn't of found this site, I would have kept on trudging along with this dang IUD in and being miserable.
I am all for a lawsuit against Mirena. Women need to be aware of these possible side effects.
I am going to call the clinic first thing Monday morning to setup an appointment for removal. I will try to post as things move forward.
Once again thank you all from the bottom of my heart for being so honest. I wish you all the best of the luck.

23th
2009
10:36 PM
MIRENA is the worst thing EVER!!!!!!
I got Mirena as my husband and I were lacking in the sexual side of our relationship because we both HATE using condoms.I have a 31/2 year old son and we have decided that for now we are happy and would like if we didn't have anymore children right now so I talked to my doctor about Mirena.
Let me start by saying that my labor 6 hours with NO pain meds was nothing compared to the pain I had when they put it in. Then the bleeding started right away I was bleeding for 8 weeks then had 1 week free and now have been bleeding for about 8 weeks. I had 2 ultrasounds to make sure it was in proper and everything was "fine" my doctor says everyone's body reacts different.
The symptoms I have are Occasional Cramping,
Sever bleeding,
headaches,
irritation in my legs (same symptoms as RLS),
Depression,
no sex drive,
back pain
Weight Gain (17lbs in 2 weeks)
and the weirdest symptom is hard to explain but its the same feeling in my body as if you were to touch a 9volt battery to your tongue! Every now and then I have little shocks and its so annoying. I have had mine in for 17 weeks and I have an appointment in 8 days to have it removed...Back to condoms it is

I've had my Mirena out for nearly 2 weeks now, after 15 months of living with the side effects. I've posted before about fatigue, crankiness & irritability, low-grade depression, weight gain, poor sleep, headaches, etc -- same old story as everyone else -- that came on gradually over the months. I'm still SO grateful to this website for making it clear to me that this wasn't just typical exhaustion due to having 2 little kids (now 3yrs & 16mos) or post-natal depression. Anyway, getting the Mirena removed turned out to be an ordeal in itself -- the strings disappeared and the doctor couldn't see anything with a speculum, so I had to wait 3 weeks to get an ultrasound and it turned out to be in the right place (phew!). Then I had to wait nearly 2 months to have a hysteroscopy -- they dilate your cervix and poke a camera up inside your uterus so they can see where the coil is, then they can pull it out. The poking and prodding was a huge drag, uncomfortable but not excruciating. When they actually pulled it out it barely hurt at all. I was a bit sore for a day or two, like mild period pains but nothing serious.

So, here's the update so far: My sex drive came back the very next day after being completely gone for ages! That was such a nice feeling again, to actually want to be with my husband instead of just going along for the sake of the marriage! I haven't felt sick or achey in my joints since it came out either, and the headaches are pretty much gone after being a constant in my life. I'm sleeping easier, and generally feel healthy again -- such a relief! My energy levels are still really really low though; I sure hope they start to come back soon. I think it's going to take awhile since I'd pretty much stopped exercising due to feeling so ill and tired all the time. I'll have to build myself back up through eating better and getting back to the gym, so unfortunately I think the weight-gain and fatigue are going to take longer to 'cure'. But still, I'm so glad to have it out and know that whatever happens to my health now, at least it's not being caused by hormones that just don't belong there.

Hang in there everyone; and don't be afraid of the pain in having it removed.

Hi I am dumb struck by coming across this site i never dream it could be my mirena causing my unexplained symptoms but the more an more i read it i am fighting with my hospital to get it removed A.S.A.P. i have suffered severe dizzy spells,heavy legs,fatigue,sweats,headaches,loss of concentration,mood swings,bloating,thinning of hair,weight gain, depression,dont want to communicate,just fallen apart in the last 17 months,had number of tests all come back normal,i been back to hospital today to fight this corner an they need to see how many women this really affects as every doctor i have seen says no way can it be the mirena but reading all these this needs looking into.i am worried about the dizzy spells they are my most concern along with panic attacks that come out of the blue..makes me think it may be my mirena after all :( just want to be back to my old self again..i have been to A& E at least 9 times with same symptoms only to be put on diazepam which i don't like to take,i am so upset that i still got to wait 6 weeks+ to have it removed as i got to go under to have it done as they cant reach the threads they are up instead of down...i am hoping after my long wait that i have now found an answer to all my symptoms an the mirena needs to be looked into more.an after it is removed i hope i get better as i have also read it can have after affects.nightmare wish i never had it put in.....

This is my Mirena story. I got it inserted just over 4 months ago. Other birth controls were not working very well for me, as I had irregular bleeding with them often. So my doctor recommended Mirena. Insertino was awful. It hurt terribly. I almost passed out in the office from the pain (and I am not a wuss when it comes to pain). On the drive home I had to pull over to throw up - I was so nauseous from the pain. The extreme pain (which, to me, was worse than when I was in labor) lasted for a few days then subsided.

I bled for 30 days straight after insertion, which was awful. I also have experienced hair loss, acne, irritability and weight gain (without changing my diet and exercise levels). Over the past four months I have also had awful back pain and extreme cramps that seem to come randomly. My periods come and last 10 days.

Recently, I decided that I'd had it with the Mirena. I went to the doctor today and had it removed. After talking with her about my side effects, she was very supportive in my decision to have it removed. She believes I may be overly sensitive to the progestin in it. Removal was super-quick and easy and virtually painless. I'm looking forward to life without this thing!

I had no noticeable side effects when I first got it but now two and half years later, I have all the symptoms cited by other contributors. My breasts ache all the time, I have trouble concentrating, feel exhausted (even when I go to bed at 9:00 pm), feeling worthless, weight gain, bloated, arguing and complain all the time. Oh, and the ovarian cyst that caused soreness in my abdomen. I have so many symptoms and never put it together with the Mirena, probably because they came on slowly over time. The last year has been horrible! I'm finally getting it out tomorrow. Has anyone else experienced a gradual increase in symptoms over time?

SEVERE ACNE, FACIAL HAIR, WEIGHT GAIN, DECREASED SEX DRIVE

I am 42 years old and have the Mirena IUD for almost 4 years, that is until Tuesday, October 6th....yee haw! I finally had it removed. After 14 lbs of gradual weight gain, despite not changing my diet AND increasing my workouts, heart palpitation (sp) and higher blood pressure than normal and a bout of bleeding that I have never experienced in my life, I went to the gyno. In the changing room the nurse asked me if I had a Mirena IUD, I responded yes, in her broken English, she said, lots of weight gain, huh? Side effects, huh? I was mortified. I began doing research and made the decision to have it removed. Let me say, in a week I have lost 5 lbs, my stomach is not bloated, my breasts do not hurt, I have had my regular period, I am back to myself again. It served its purpose for me, but I wish I would have been told the side effects so that I could have made an educated decision.

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

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

MIRENA SUCKS!!!! I have experienced each side effect possible! mood swings, discharge, weight gain, bloating, etc.......... Up until this past month I have had no period!!!

Ok, I have PCOS and had the Mirena put in 3 months after the birth of my last child in 2004 and thought it was great. No more fluctuations never knowing when or if I was getting a period...I just never had one, have not had one in 5 years years. The strings disappeared several years ago, had an U/S and they said it was still in place. I have had zero libido in that time, terrible mood swings, fluctuating weight and depression, thyroid problems, etc etc, all put down to depression. Well 6 months ago the headaches started, the vertigo... the ensuing DR trips have turned up an abnormal brain MRI and not much else no one has thought to think of the IUD. The MRI shows possible demyelination, vasculitis or sequelae to migraines...these are little white spots in my brain. If I find out these things are caused by this IUD there will be hell to pay. I am due to have it removed at the 5 yr mark in November..... I guess dig it out if they can find the strings. Will be interested to hear comments on this.