I think I'm going to break up with my Mirena

[wendibird22]

I had Mirena inserted back in September. Insertion was pretty easy and relatively painless and the OBGYN said the insertion for her was textbook. I then had daily spotting for what seemed like forever...probably 6wks at least...and then off and on after that. Here it is May and it still hasn't regulated. I cannot plan on when I will spot or have a period. Right now I seem to have some type of bleeding every 2 weeks or so. Definitely not regular at all. I also find that my mood swings are crazy all over the place (much more than my normal PMS sans Mirena), I get back aches in my kidney region, pelvic cramps/pain, nipple pain (I'm still nursing), headaches, extreme bloating (I look and feel 5mos preggo), and diarrhea that I have been documenting and seem to come mid-cycle, though again, my cycle isn't predictable. The only thing I can predict is that in any given 4-6wk timeframe I will have a day of bloating, a day of major back ache, a few days of nipple pain, etc, etc, etc. And while I have loved not having to remember to take a pill each day or DH to use a condom, I seriously don't think the Mirena is worth all this other $hit I'm putting up with. Up till now I've been trying to give it a chance and see if I'll adjust but really, I think 8mos is long enough. I did schedule an appointment to have it removed but they can't get me in until the end of the month. I guess that gives me time to research other BC. Any recommendations?

[larig]

Honestly, I love my good old copper IUD. I like not having any extra hormones.

[mariza]

I've been happy overall with my NuvaRing, though there has been one or two occasions that I've forgotten to remove it or put it back in on time. It's what was recommended to me by my ObGyn after I had my Mirena removed.

[cono0507]

I had a Mirena since 2007 and just had it taken out last month. I had some spotting the first few months which then became just one day/mo or so, but still with lots of PMS symptoms since you do still ovulate with the IUD. I actually was pretty happy with it. But in the past year, I've had heavy spotting, more like a light period each month plus a week or so of spotting on either side of that. Just wasn't worth it any more. Now I'm back on the pill (seasonique) until DH and I are ready for him to have his vasectomy. So far so good on seasonique - haven't spotted a bit in the first 5 weeks of it and no more PMS since no ovulation on it.

[SnuggleBuggles]

Honestly, I love my good old copper IUD. I like not having any extra hormones.

Posts like OP make me more and more grateful that I didn't trust them that the Mirena was side effect free (or only good side effects, as the spin normally is; "no periods!!"). I have had very good luck with the copper IUD and it lasts 10 years. Any mood stuff I know is just me, not anything I have added to the mix.

Beth

[veronica]

OP, sorry it is not working out and I hope you find something that works well soon.

I had great results on Mirena for 2.5 years (removed only to TTC). I had no periods or spotting and the inital spotting was only about 2 weeks.

It was a godsend because I suffer from very, unaturally heavy periods. I can't even think of paraguard, since oftentimes that makes periods worse.

That said, I'm not sure what I will do after DS's are born because I'd also like to be hormone free....

[pinkmomagain]

So sorry your dealing with this. I'm in love with my Mirena...in fact it's my 2nd one. The first one I did get periods. The 2nd one (placed when the efficacy of the first one was up) I didn't. No problems with moods or spotting.

But it does seem that some people make a connection to adverse symptoms with theirs. Definitely look into other options. Hope you feel better soon!

[wendibird22]

For those with the copper IUD, is your cycle regular?

I will have to read up on nuvaring.

BCPs are kind of a pain but it is nice to know, consistently every month, what your cycle will be. I've never really had a problem with hormonal BC so I am surprised that Mirena is causing all this.

[g-mama]

I'm sorry you're not pleased with the Mirena.

I just went in this morning to have mine replaced since the five years is up. I don't experience any of the negative side effects you've mentioned. Those would stink. I only experience the greatest one, which is a period that is basically a few hours of spotting. I used to have periods that were ridiculously heavy and lasted 8-9 days. Even the pill didn't help much with that.

[wendibird22]

I'm sorry you're not pleased with the Mirena.

I just went in this morning to have mine replaced since the five years is up. I don't experience any of the negative side effects you've mentioned. Those would stink. I only experience the greatest one, which is a period that is basically a few hours of spotting. I used to have periods that were ridiculously heavy and lasted 8-9 days. Even the pill didn't help much with that.

Where's the "jealous" smiley! I might be willing to put up with some of the other junk if I only spotted one day a month. I spotted for 5 days about 2.5wks ago and now on the 3rd day of spotting this week. About 5-6wks ago I spotted off and on for 12 days. For me on BCP I don't spot at all except for the placebo weeks.