Dear Wise Women of TE,
I'm considering switching from the pill to an IUD (Mirena) for contraception. I haven't had children but we're planning to do it later, maybe in 2 or 3 years.
Any thoughts? Experiences? Stories? Advice?
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Dear Wise Women of TE,
I'm considering switching from the pill to an IUD (Mirena) for contraception. I haven't had children but we're planning to do it later, maybe in 2 or 3 years.
Any thoughts? Experiences? Stories? Advice?
According to their ad on tv and their website: http://www.mirena-us.com/index.jsp "Candidates for Mirena have had a child. ."
I totally LOVE my Mirena. LOVE it. I only wish I had done this at a younger age instead of taking pills all those years!
I got mine about 1.5 years ago. All the hormonal side effects I was having from the pill are now gone. After 25 years of my period, I'm finally finding out what a normal cycle is for me and lo and behold...it's regular! :D I did have some difficulty adjusting to being off the pill after having been on it for 20 years, but after about 3 cycles, my body was fine with it. My menstrual symptoms are light and predictable now, but I do not bleed (at all).
I have not had kids (don't plan to) but my doc said it's super easy to start trying. All you have to do is have it removed and you are immediately ready to start (no waiting a cycle or two, like with some pills).
Insertion was unpleasant, but quick enough that it really wasn't that big of a deal. I had one issue with the little wires that are used for removal. My H got 'poked' by them and it freaked him out. :p I went back for a shorter trim and it's not happened since.
I have 2 friends with the Paragard, and their experiences have not been as pleasant as mine.
Anna, I just checked out your blog! Wow! Congratulations on your HUGE weight loss. What an amazing accomplishment.
Lorri
That's what I've been told by two or three different doctors as well. Good to know you heard the same.Quote:
Originally Posted by GLC1968
I can't help finding this funny (although it musn't have been that funny when it happened!!).Quote:
I had one issue with the little wires that are used for removal. My H got 'poked' by them and it freaked him out. :p I went back for a shorter trim and it's not happened since.
Thanks for sharing. :)
Most doctors I've run into are unwilling to consider Mirena for me. No kids. I don't plan on children, but that doesn't change their opinion. Instead, I'm on Depo-Provera. I don't mind getting 1 shot every 3 months, and for me it works well. No period means no menstrual cramps means 10 less days a month where I'm sure to try to bite heads off. I have had more weight gain on it than I like, but weight can be lost, and it sure beats my 100% natural cramps.Quote:
Originally Posted by Grog
Since Mirena does have a hormonal component, you might want to make sure the hormone mix is similar to the mix of your current birth control pill. It's a pretty good bet that the reason why Depo works so well for me is that the hormone mix meshes well with what my body does anyway. Mimicking my body's natural state would be bad, since that way lies massive doses of ibuprofen. If the hormone mix in Mirena (or any other hormonal birth control) is bad for you, it can have all kinds of fun effects. Depression, weight gain, mania, more cramps... A good hormone mix doesn't give you new PMS symptoms and helps existing ones.
Finding a doctor to insert the Mirena if you haven't had a child already can sometimes be challenging. (I've been looking for two years with no luck.) I do know several women who have it (and who haven't had a child), and they all report the uncomfortable insertion procedure as the only downside for them.
I've got the Copper T with no hormones. I turned into a raving b*tch on the Norplant and got pregnant twice on the pill so we decided hormones are not a good mix for me. My periods tend to be normal for a couple months and then I'll get a heavy one with cramps. Insertion was horrible for me and I felt awful for several days after. It's time for mine to come out and while I didn't have any real problems I'm unsure if I want to go the same route again. Maybe I should have "the talk" with dh and get HIM fixed. :eek:
Lora
Thanks Lorri!!Quote:
Originally Posted by velogirl
Sorry, but that's really funny!! http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...ile/giggle.gifQuote:
Originally Posted by GLC1968
I've had a Paragard (copper T) IUD for the last 9 years. Many doctors do not recommend IUDs for unmarried and childless women for two main reasons. First, a woman with a never-stretched uterus is more likely to have heavy periods, cramps, and slightly higher risk of expulsion of the device. Secondly, the IUD strings do pass through the cervix which can make it easier for an STD infection to travel upwards into the uterus, leading to Pelvic Inflammatory Disease.
These two reasons are real. However, it really drives me nuts when doctors discourage young unmarried childless women away from a good, cost-effective, reliable solution based on cultural assumptions that married women are not at risk of contracting an STD. Not to mention assumptions that unmarried women are somehow incapable of engaging in safe sex. (Don't get me started on this one!!! :mad: )
Anyway, I had mine inserted at Planned Parenthood, who were willing to respect my wishes, as a 20 year old nullipara nullihubby young woman looking for reliable non-hormonal protection. They also have a sliding-scale payment system which really helped me to afford the high upfront cost.
Insertion was unpleasant but bearable, with a few days of cramps afterwards. For the first year or so my periods were especially heavy and crampy. Since then, my periods have been basically the same as they were before the IUD (that is to say, "normal" heavy and crampy :rolleyes: ). I've heard that most women who have already had something the size of a bowling ball up in there do not have nearly the cramping/discomfort problems.
I know a lot of women have benefited from the hormones in the Mirena, I just prefer to not use hormonal contraception. Also, bear in mind that the Mirena needs to be replaced every 3-5 years, while the copper IUDs have a 10-12 year effective lifespan. Also, while fertility is immediately restored with the copper IUDs, I don't know if that is the case with the hormonal Mirenas. In case future fertility is important to you.
That bothers me too. Good birth control is important, and not every woman can remember to take a pill. And some women can't tolerate having their natural hormone mix altered.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dianyla
In my case, the most important factors were not having to take a pill and getting the right hormone mix for my other problems. So I'm ok with a doctor refusing an IUD with hormones, and preferring a shot. If I needed non hormonal birth control tho, I'd be short on options.
I'm on Depo Provera and I really like it. No periods, no hormonal swings, (I used to have very irregular periods, but PMS), a shot every three months... I think I'm one of the lucky ones for whom Depo's chemistry is compatible -- my mood is MUCH more stable on it than off. Haven't had significantly more weight issues either.
But I've been on it long enough that they are trying to convince me to change (Depo suppresses estrogen & can thus lead to bone-density loss, particularly with prolonged use). I'm theoretically open to the idea, I just haven't yet been presented with an appealing alternative. Pills would make me very nervous. I don't want to get pregnant and pills, well, people have accidents on pills and I'm not sure I'm the best personality type for reliably taking them at the same time every day and not forgetting. While I don't plan on having children (ever), at 27 I'm not quite ready to get a hysterectomy either :eek: ... The patch, the ring, etc are all less appealing to me than Depo, more intrusive, and frankly, I LOVE not getting my period... That's perhaps the thing that's MOST important to me. I guess this thread is interesting to me because IUDs are an option I haven't considered very seriously and perhaps I'd do well to look into them. Especially if Mirena, as someone mentioned above, induces amenorrhea... Will be interested in hearing more experiences.
Dex, did you try Planned Parenthood?Quote:
Originally Posted by dex
I second planned parenthood- I have been talking with them about getting mirena and they are completely open to it!(and I am 24, single(well I was engaged when I started talking to them) and have never had children).Quote:
Originally Posted by Dianyla
I don't have an IUD myself, but have seen many people with them. It's not 100% effective for birth control, but awful dang close (better than pills b/c you don't have to remember to take it). Most women will have lighter periods with the Mirena (heavier with Paraguard).
STD infections can be worse with them (instead of staying around the cervix it can go up through the cervix to uterus and ovaries) - at the clinic we just make sure there is no recent history of STDs, and are in a stable relationship.
The main reason doctors don't like to insert IUDs into women who haven't had children is because of a more difficult insertion if the cervix hasn't been dilated. It can be done, it's just more uncomfortable. The effects of the IUD are readily reversible when removed. The patient just has to check to make sure the strings are still there - rarely, the IUD can fall out on its own.
Hope you figure out what will work best for you.
I too have the Paragard Copper. I love it, best birth control I've ever tried. I chose it to stay away from hormones. My periods haven't changed and I have seen no difference in cramping either.
Good luck with your choice.
Copper with no hormones here also. I had a child previously and found the insertion to be uncomfortable but nothing more than some cramping that day. My bleeding and cramping increased in my mid 30's. My doctor said that was not unusual. He did tell me that it might not be as bad if I removed the iud. I chose to keep it because I loved the convenience of not having to worry about forgotten pills and I felt better without taking the hormones. For me the iud means a little more uncomfortable physical reaction but the emotional rollercoaster I felt while taking the pill was gone. I did remove my iud when my husband got cut. I did notice lighter periods with less cramping almost immediately. I would do it the same again.
I'm one of the few with a bad experience. Very few people know this - I can't believe I'm sharing it here:eek: :eek:
I had the Mirena. No kids, was in a stable relationship (engaged!) and my doc really wanted to pull me off of pills to see if that was the problem with my weight gain. I had a *really* hard time with the insertion. It HURT (and I have a relatively high pain tolerance for such things). I had about 2 weeks of really heavy bleeding, and things calmed down for about 6 months. I have *never* had regular periods, so it was hard to tell if it was the IUD or the periodic 6 months with no period cycle.
On our wedding night, we notices something poking out. I spent the first day of my honeymoon getting the IUD removed (which did NOT hurt). It had turned around - the strings were no longer sticking out - one of the little arms was turned down and coming out. OUCH! The poor doc who removed it never even charged me:) My doc said not to try again with an IUD because it would likely happen again....apparently my body was very active in rejecting it.
So...it doesn't work for everyone...
My doctors are concerned about bone density loss (I'm heading into my 3rd year on depo). But they're more concerned that going off it would lead to bad things, since my menstrual cramps are severe. Not a little severe, ibuprofen intake measured in grams per day severe. My body handles ibuprofen well, but the intake I need to control pain is not healthy long term. Stomach bleeding, intestinal bleeding, drug rebound (where you get withdrawal headaches when you stop the painkiller), blood thinning... Lots of not good all 'round.Quote:
Originally Posted by liza
So to keep me as healthy as possible, my current doctor is encouraging weight bearing exercise. I'm getting better at doing weight work, and I actually need a bigger hand weight! I still need to get myself a jump rope (gotta stop procrastinating on that). Weight work is not fun the way biking or swimming is, but the payoff is. Some of the weight exercises help me hurt less on long rides :).
I had the Copper T in my 30s, after two kids. It was the WORST experience of my life. I remember cramps ruining a golf game on vacation one time--I was in such pain I had to lie across my husband's lap in the golf cart while he drove me back to the clubhouse!
We also had the problem with the wire poking, and the insertion wasn't pleasant, but not near as bad as an endometrial biopsy!
I do not tolerate the pill, so after that IUD we decided to have a child and then a vasectomy. (For a minute there I couldn't even remember how I've kept from getting pregnant for the last 14 years!)
Karen
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dianyla
Yeah, I laughed at the H getting poked with the strings thing...he didn't. :p
There are people whose bodies won't work with an IUD. I got mine after 3 d&c's, and 3 fibroid removal surgeries. My doc was concerned that if the fibroid returned again, it would force the IUD out of place, so we do check it periodically (due to the location of my fibroids). I'm sure there are other cases where it won't work with a woman's utereus shape.
I had some serious hormonal issues when I was on the pill (and during the fibroid years), and I was concerned about the hormones on the Mirena. My doc mentioned the Paragard (no hormones) but suggested that with my heavy and irregular periods, the Mirena would be a better bet. The hormones in the Mirena are a tiny fraction of those you get from any other form of BC. The pill, Depo, the patch..all of them work by putting the hormones into your body and allowing your bloodstream to carry them to your reproductive system. The Mirena secretes the hormones right there...so much, much smaller amounts are effective. This is why removal means immediate fertility, even with the hormonal IUD.
As I mentioned in my other post, the hormonal issues/side-effects I had on the pill and on Depo (yes, I tried that, too) are GONE on Mirena.
Oh, and I should mention that all the woman I know who have IUD's (7) are married and only two of them have children. The rest are like me - married within the last 5 years and not planning on having children but not ready to have that option taken away just yet. I didn't even know about the increased STD risk, but I guess my being married, my doc didn't feel the need to mention it? He should have, though. Of course, based on my history, that's a chance I'd be willing to take - even if I wasn't married.
Wow! Thanks everyone for your stories.
There is a clinic here in Vancouver where that's all they do, one night a week. They also have an ultrasound machine to check that the IUD is properly inserted. If you're in Seattle, you may want to check it out (PM me).
In Europe very many women, married or not, have IUDs. It seems to be in part a cultural thing NOT to have them much in North America. The risks that Dianyla mentions are indeed real, but they by no way should be thought to be limited to unmarried women!!
My main reason for wanting to switch is to reduce the quantity of hormones I take. I have been extremely good with taking the pill on time, I've forgotten maybe two over ten years.... But well it's been ten years and I don't think it can be that great for me to keep going. I am thinking of a Mirena because the hormones mix is much less than the pill, and doesn't travel that much in the body. I am firmly against getting Depo-Provera for myself. I'm happy it works for some of you, but the perspective of having six months of misery if doesn't work for me just doesn't cut it.
I'll keep thinking about it, I may even take an appointment with that clinic to see what they think about it (although I know already they have no issues with unmarried, nulliparra women).
Thanks a lot!!!
Oh, and another thing... in Europe they also offer a smaller petite sized IUD that works much better for women who have never been pregnant. I have IUD Envy!!! :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by Grog
I think the US is culturally biased against IUDs because of the Dalkon Shield incident. More than once when I've told people what I use they get a shocked look on their face and say "I thought those IUD thingies were banned years ago!!!".
Not to mention, I have some personal conspiracy theory beliefs that IUDs are simply not as profitable to the Big Pharm companies and therefore they are not marketed and sold as aggressively. Think about it... $500 for a device that lasts 12 years? Compared to how much revenue for monthly oral contraceptive refills? Hmmm...
I just had my Mirena removed and got a new one the same day. I love it. I don't bleed anymore and I'm not an emotional rollercoaster. The pill really messed me up, and my Doc doesn't do Depo shots. ( too many bad side effects) I had the option of the new IUD or a tubal and I took the IUD.
I've had a mirena in for nearly 4 years and think it is great. I've never had kids but had it inserted in Australia where my doctor didn't seem concerned about that. It is soooo much better than the pill. My only (maybe) problem with it is that I've developed some darkening above my upper lip in recent years that comes on with UV exposure. I've heard that this can be a result of birth control but I don't really know that it is linked to the mirena. Anybody else with this problem? Any solutions to it (other than copious amounts of sunscreen and a hat)?
Bringing back this thread (thanks Grog) and hoping those of you with the Mirena, or other IUD, will return with additional information.
With the experiences listed on this thread, things seem a little less scary than the vast horror stories I found online.
I am wondering, however, if those of you with the Mirena have experienced: loss of libido, acne breakouts, weight gain or mood swings.
Hoping to gather any additional information possible...
Thanks!!
Just reading about IUDs makes me cringe.
And I never will do IUD....
I had mine for ~6 months, I would guess. I didn't experience any of the above. I think since the hormones are more localized, you're much less likely to have side effects. Of course, my body then rejected mine...Quote:
Originally Posted by three
I had IUDs for almost 15 years. I LOVED them. I hated the thought of putting hormones into my body and I can't remember to take pills, so the IUD was ideal.
The insertion was painful and the first few months I had worse cramps. After that, though, my cramps were much less than before I had the IUD. If I still had to worry about birth control, I'd still be using the IUD.
Wow! What a great thread! I asked my doc about an IUD at my last checkup & she refused me one because I hadn't had children (don't plan to, but, like a lot of you, not quite ready to get myself snipped @ age 27!)
I'm gonna give planned parenthood a call since several of you mentioned their willingness to give them to those that haven't given birth.
I think CA is exactly right. I've had mine for exactly 3 years now (weird timing!) and I can say that I still have MUCH less hormonal issues than I had with the pill. I had some serious facial discoloration from the homones in the pill and that's all gone now. I also had pretty wicked mood swings and those are definitely a thing of the past. My acne is the same as it was prior to going on the pill. Many women report worse acne on an IUD, but the same women would likely also report worse acne for just going off the pill. The pill regulates your hormones so that acne flare ups tend to be less. Remove those hormones, and old acne issue often arise. I don't think you can blame the IUD for that, though.Quote:
Originally Posted by CA_in_NC
I do question whether or not I'm seeing a loss of libido and weight gain. I have no way to link these two things to the IUD specifically or if they are just related to my current situation. Because I did not notice these things right away after insertion, my guess is that they are NOT related to the Mirena. I plan to have mine removed in January (or shortly thereafter) so if I find that my weight gain reverses and my libido returns, then I'll start pointing fingers. Until then, I'm reserving judgement. ;)
I talked to a few friends and found a doctor that wasn't against using an IUD before having children. So yesterday, I got the Paraguard (non-hormonal) IUD. WOW! That was like a punch in the uterus! But it was over very quickly, though I did have some pretty bad craps until I got home and took some ibuprofen. I also made myself go out for a run since that's always helped me with cramps. Today the cramps aren't as bad, but they're still there.
I'm looking forward to finding out if my birth control pills were preventing me from losing weight as easily as I'd lost it in the past (when not on hormones). I'm also wondering if my on-bike performance will be any different. All the research I've found is pretty inconclusive (as far as exercise performance goes) because of differences in pills, between women, training status, etc.
Are you going to the Willow Women's Clinic on Burrard? that's where I got my copper IUD 4 years ago.
I don't have kids and debated about Mirena, but I was psycho on the pill, and at $300 (at that time, could be more now), I just couldn't chance it. So, the cheaper copper one won out, and I haven't looked back. I did notice that my periods were heavier and cramps were more, but they got back to normal after about 6 months.
I should mention that it wasn't without subsequent trips back to the clinic. Insertion was a bit traumatic as the doctor couldn't get it past my cervix. It eventually did. Then after about 2 months, the strings disappeared. After the ultrasound, it was determined it crept up my uterus. No biggie, they'll just have to go "dig" for it. Thankfully it dropped back down last year.
I was recently at my GP for a pap, and she mentioned that even though most doctors say the copper ones are good for 5 years, the manufacturers only guarantee for 2.5 years. I'm due to get mine out next year and I'll likely get it again.
I got the Mirena in February, it has been wonderful. No periods at all since it was inserted (they were previously painful and irregular). No more pills to worry about, it has been such a blessing. My OBGYN didn't even blink when I asked of it, and I do not have any children as of yet. Insertion was a bit painful, but the cramps subsided after a day or two.
My doc said that I can keep the same one for 10 years!Quote:
Originally Posted by badger
I'm glad to hear that the cramping goes away in a few days- it's better today, but still bugging me a bit.
Hmm... only $300? I pay $600/year for my BCP, so $300 for something that I could leave in until I'm over 40 sounds like a good deal...
So I'm wondering about this "H getting poked" thing. Is this a common occurrence? Does it matter if the H is well-endowed or not?
The only time we had a problem was when mine rotated, and one of the arms was sticking out... Not the normal situation. Before that, it was fine.Quote:
Originally Posted by Flur
CA
Just wanted to say thanks to you all for sharing this info. I'm on the pill (and at age 42 have been for .. well far too many years). With my sometimes working nights, and sometimes days, my "routine" has faltered in many ways, including taking my pill and my vitamins.
Mirena may be a good option. I will ask at my next appointment. I think that they want me to keep on some type of hormones due to the extensive network of fibroids I am carrying around (can I blame weight gain on those? :rolleyes:) Supposedly the hormone will help keep that bleeding under control until I hit menopause.
It would be nice not to have so many hormones streaming through my bloodstream, and have less breakthrough bleeding due to forgetting a pill for a day (ie, sleeping thru that day!). lately I feel like I've been constantly on my period. YIKE.
THANKS AGAIN!
They say Mirena's good for 3 years (I guess they impregnate it with progesterone and can only last so long). I've heard of doctors leaving copper IUDs in longer than 5 years, but I guess they don't want the liability of pregnancies.
If I wasn't so psycho on the pill, I would get Mirena in a heartbeat - to not have the monthly visits by aunt flow would be so liberating!
Jes, I would imagine Mirena may help you with your fibroids as the progesterone will thin the uterine wall, hence the lack of bleeding after about 6 months.
Isn't peri-menopause fun? I started using progesterone (wild yam) cream for my night sweats; they went away!