IUD / Mirena?

[Grog]

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?

[Ladyrunner]

According to their ad on tv and their website: http://www.mirena-us.com/index.jsp "Candidates for Mirena have had a child. ."

[GLC1968]

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! 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. 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.

[velogirl]

Anna, I just checked out your blog! Wow! Congratulations on your HUGE weight loss. What an amazing accomplishment.

Lorri

[Grog]

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).

That's what I've been told by two or three different doctors as well. Good to know you heard the same.

I had one issue with the little wires that are used for removal. My H got 'poked' by them and it freaked him out. I went back for a shorter trim and it's not happened since.

I can't help finding this funny (although it musn't have been that funny when it happened!!).

Thanks for sharing.

[Torrilin]

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?

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.

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.

[dex]

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.

[ibcycling]

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.

Lora

[Ladyrunner]

Anna, I just checked out your blog! Wow! Congratulations on your HUGE weight loss. What an amazing accomplishment.

Lorri

Thanks Lorri!!

[Ladyrunner]

I had one issue with the little wires that are used for removal. My H got 'poked' by them and it freaked him out. I went back for a shorter trim and it's not happened since.

Sorry, but that's really funny!!

[Dianyla]

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!!! )

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 ). 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.

[Torrilin]

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.

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.

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.

[VeloVT]

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 ... 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.

[Dianyla]

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.)

Dex, did you try Planned Parenthood?

[ehirsch83]

Dex, did you try Planned Parenthood?

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).