IUD / Mirena?

[Andrea]

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.

[GLC1968]

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...

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.

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.

[Andrea]

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.

[badger]

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.

[Meaux]

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.

[Andrea]

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.

My doc said that I can keep the same one for 10 years!

I'm glad to hear that the cramping goes away in a few days- it's better today, but still bugging me a bit.

[Flur]

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?

[Blueberry]

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.

CA

[jesvetmed]

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? ) 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!

[badger]

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!

[Dianyla]

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?

In my experience with, uh, a reasonable sample size including, uh, a variety of depth and breadth... Yes, it does matter. Some don't notice at all, some notice and don't care, some notice and yeeeouch!!! Your healthcare provider can trim the strings short so that they're flush with the cervix if it's a problem.

Note: Just last year, the FDA extended their approval for the copper Paragard devices to last for 12 years. I was very happy because I was about to go in and get mine swapped out, but now I can keep it for 2 more years!

[Brandi]

I have had mine for almost 5 years. Will have it removed in april and plan to get another one. I have no kids and have had very few problems on the marena. I was on the pill for almost 19 years because of Polycyctic ovaries and just plane got sick of it. I am very happy. And i don't have a period either because of it. i do get pms though. Unfortuantly that part does not go away and I get some cramping too. But it is all easy to deal with it. I love it.

[Brandi]

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!

Ummm I believe the mirena is 5 years. i have had mine almost that long and have card that says it come out april of next year.

[greycoral]

I had the Mirena IUD and I absolutely hated it. The insertion was incredibly painful, and I felt really awful for weeks. They warned me about the side effects, but I really couldn't handle it. I went in to have it removed, and they told me that my body was rejecting it and it has almost come completely out anyhow.

No IUD's for me. I hate taking the pill, but I don't have a choice right now. The husband and I did condoms for a while, but it's just a hassle, we had much less sex! So, i will continue the pill until i'm ready to have a baby, and then after that, he's getting snipped.

[Brandi]

I had the Mirena IUD and I absolutely hated it. The insertion was incredibly painful, and I felt really awful for weeks. They warned me about the side effects, but I really couldn't handle it. I went in to have it removed, and they told me that my body was rejecting it and it has almost come completely out anyhow.

No IUD's for me. I hate taking the pill, but I don't have a choice right now. The husband and I did condoms for a while, but it's just a hassle, we had much less sex! So, i will continue the pill until i'm ready to have a baby, and then after that, he's getting snipped.

That is the first I have heard of such issues. I am sorry it was bad for you.