Tell me about your Mirena experiences.

[MommytoLuke]

I am pretty sure I will be getting one, once I figure out the insurance pickle I am in and they will cover it.

Anyhoo, the big scary part I have an issue with is of course the insertion. Tell me how bad or not bad it was for you....

[MommytoLuke]

bump

[alejorge]

I got mirena and to get it placed wasn't that bad. It hurt for a whole 5 minutes and then the pain was gone. I did bleed for about 2 weeks after placement. Then after having it for a f ew months intercourse was painful for me. I could feel it move and it hurt. Then after year and a half of having it I was doing a lot of strenuous work a lot of heavy lifting and it started to fall out. Then about 2 days later it was out and next thing you know I was pregnant with #3

[Crabbie]

I have had mine for almost five years and I think I'll get it again this year, if the doc lets me.

I had no insertion pain and a little bleeding after but not much. I've had no periods, only random bits of spotting that don't even require a panty liner.

[Kristen]

I have had mine for over a year now and I don't think I will get it again once this one is taken out.
I had problems from the start; one doctor couldn't even get it in! I then went to another doctor who was able to get it in but from start to finish it was a very uncomfortable experience. I started bleeding pretty heavily about 5 minutes afterwards and that kept going for 2-3 months and then the light constant bleeding started for another 5 months or so. Now the bleeding comes and goes, very unannounced and very annoying. It doesn't seem to be following a pattern (IE: my period) it just shows whenever it wants to with just enough force to make a mess and then is gone just like that.
Sometimes I think I can 'feel 'my IUD (I don’t even know if that is possible!?) when I am walking or sitting in a certain position, but I don't know for sure.
It is nice to not have to worry about BC but I don't think this was the right option for me. I have my annual appt. with my OB next month and I haven't decided if I will have it taken out at that appointment or not. We do plan on having more children and are looking at starting to TTC early next year, so maybe I will keep it in until then so we don’t have any surprises sneak up on us. I don’t know, I suppose I will talk to my OB about my concerns and have him help me make my decision.
I hope you have a pleasant experience and find that it is the right choice for you!

[KerryS]

It was pretty bad for me. I had a vagal response and almost fainted. It felt like a really bad labor contraction that lasted several minutes. It was worse I think because I wasn't expecting it. I would recommend taking 800 mg. ibuprofen about an hour before the insertion, and if I had it inserted again, I would ask for a Valium to take beforehand.

It seems about 50/50 for people who have a lot of pain and people who have little/no discomfort. The good thing is that as soon as the insertion was over, it stopped hurting, so it's not something that was an ongoing pain (I did have crampiness afterwards for a day or two, but nothing some Motrin wouldn't easily take care of).

[MommytoLuke]

Oh geez. Now I am on the fence again. The only other option for me is Depo, which I always had a good response to ( I was on it for years before Luke and then while I was pumping for him). I know I can't even attempt the mini pill, I would never remember to take it everyday. SO, that's about it for options. Cort was gonna get a vas, but we decided against it.

I am just so nervous...

[KerryS]

Oh geez. Now I am on the fence again. The only other option for me is Depo, which I always had a good response to ( I was on it for years before Luke and then while I was pumping for him). I know I can't even attempt the mini pill, I would never remember to take it everyday. SO, that's about it for options. Cort was gonna get a vas, but we decided against it.

I am just so nervous...

FWIW, the pain at insertion would NOT prevent me from getting it again, if that's the type of BC I wanted (I'm opting for permanent BC). It's just something to be prepared for ahead of time. And enough women don't have that type of pain on insertion that I wouldn't even necessarily expect it to happen.

[Nipple_nectar]

I had barely any pain with insertion. I did have heavy bleeding for a week or two then constant breakthrough bleeding for months.

Now, it's been a year and I am almost symptom free. I agree with Kerry, I think it's the best form of BC out there and would recommend it to anyone not considering pregnancy for long term.

[Darcy_]

I had pain when I got it in, I have been cramping and bleeding for the last 8 months. However, I have a very senstive uterus.... I guess. I am getting it taken out at the end of this month. Also, my insurance didnt cover ANY of it. We had to pay it all out of pocket... around 800.00

[Rieckah]

I would rather give up sex all together than EVER get another IUD. Make damned sure that your cervix is low and open.(I think it is low an open right around ovulation or right before your cycle) Otherwise you may end up with the pain that I went through (they shoved a rod through my cervix to open it enough to get the thing in since it was closed).

My insertion was so bad that it took about 2 months recovery time before I quit hurting constantly and even then my abdomen was tender to the touch and if we had sex I was climbing the wall (not in a good way) when he hit my cervix.I ended up with a staph infection and had it removed. \

Never ever again, not for all the money in the world.

ETA I am on the NivaRing and loving it.

[mags]

I got the Mirena 8 weeks postpartum and had almost no pain. I took a Tylenol 3 about 30 minutes ahead of time and probably didn't need it at all. It felt like he pinched my cervix but he warned me and made me take a couple of deep breaths first. And it was over just like that. I cramped (tolerable) and bled for almost 4mon. and almost had it removed because of it. Sex hurt and made me cramp and bleed worse. Then all of the sudden things were fine. I still have breakthrough bleeding that is totally unpredictable, but I can deal with that knowing that I will not get pregnant (we still use condoms and the pull out method on top of the Mirena-we REALLY do not want another baby). I have had it for 1 1/2 years now. It is by far the best BC I have ever used and will get it again when it is time.

[Wolverine]

I don't have Mirena. I have Paraguard - copper IUD. I had no problems with insertion... less uncomfotable than a PAP.. bled for maybe half a day. NO problems since then either. My insurance covered all except $64.

[peytonsmommie]

I got mine June 9th. Insertion was uncomfortable but not too bad. It helped that my Dr would tell me when it was about to cramp, so I was expecting it. She told me I would spot off and on for about a month. Well the spotting didn't start for a week and it just stopped this week.

I had NO decrease in milk supply at all. My only complaint is that my face broke out really bad! I think it's trying to clear up now, so maybe it was just my body getting used to it.

I'm glad not to have to worry about BC for 5 years. The little bit of cramping I had was totally worth it!

I was hesitant to get it when I read some people's experiences, but since my insurance covered it, I figured that if I had that much trouble with it then I could have it removed. I'm glad I tried it!

[MommytoLuke]

Okay, I almost puked when I read Rieckah's post. Good lord.

And I would go back on the ring (that is what I was on before TTC with Chloe), but since I am nursing and plan to do so for at least two years, that's out.

Now I am just up in the air with what to do. Lots of bad experiences, not many good.

[Rieckah]

AFAIK the ring has low hormones and does not drastically affect supply.I used the ring, but was nursing a toddler at the time so he was not EBF.

[MommytoLuke]

Yeah, my doc said that it would probably affect my supply so I shouldn't risk it.

[peytonsmommie]

I re-read my post and decided it may sound negative- I just want to make it clear that I am completely happy with the Mirena.

Maybe you can have your cervix checked before to avoid what Reickah went through? I had not had a pp period yet when I had my inserted. I believe my cervix was closed too but I didn't feel much pain during the process.

Everybody is different.

[Mom2LilnKev]

I just got my Mirena placed last week. It was very uncomfortable, because they have to cut your cervix to insert it. However, it was well worth it. I had about 3 days of spotting and mild cramping, and now I feel fine. I would recommend it as of now.

[graciesmommy]

I had a mirena for a year and hated it. I had no pain at all on insertion however. I was 8 weeks postpartum and my cervix was likely not completely closed. I seriously did not feel a thing. I did take motrin about an hour before so that could have helped.

I know it may have been psychosomatic, but I swear I could feel it all the time and it drove me insane. When I had it removed I immediately felt so much better. I also felt like the progesterone affected me, although it is supposed to be localized only to the uterus. I can't take bcp because they make me crazy and I think the mirena did the same. If I was to consider IUD again, I would try the copper because it has no hormones at all, although it causes heavier periods.

[boys4us]

I have had mine for a little over a year and love it. I had it inserted at 8 weeks post partum and had very little discomfort. I bled lightly for 2 weeks, spotted lightly a few weeks later, and did not spot again until a few weeks ago. That happened about 5 weeks after I quit pumping and ds really cut back on nursing. I love not having to think about birth control and have no discomfort during sex. My ob made sure to cut the strings short so dh would not be able to feel it and told be to come back to have them trimmed if they weren't short enough. I would do it again in a heartbeat!

[Amy_G_]

Love my mirena and it's time to have it out. I'm not sure what I'll do, probably get another one.
they ask you to come in ON your period--because your cervix is slightly open at that time. My period started on Friday, I called, they couldn't fit me in until Monday. So by Monday my period was mostly gone and my cervix was mostly closed.
They don't cut your cervix to place the Mirena. wtf?

so the doctor took his time and inserted the mirena with a bit of trouble. It was about like a rough pap and internal exam--which every time I've had a rough one was when a woman dr was doing it.

I started cramping about the time I walked out of the dr and had some harsh cramps for about 2 days. that was my body trying to remove the foreign body from my uterus, and actually was kind of reassuring that my uterus was doing the right thing, even though I really didn't want it to expel the iud. ;)

then I bled. like a period. for 2 months.
About the time I was going to make the appt to have it removed. the bleeding stopped. I would spot once a month for about long enough to realize I needed a a pad, and it would stop. Once a year or so I'd have a more period-like period. Now that it's about time to have it removed, I'm having a 1/2 day period every month.

I really don't want to go thru the cramps, nor the bleeding for 2 months. but I love all the rest of the 5 years of Mirena. I guess I have to make the decision to go get it changed out. or should I try something else?

[MommytoLuke]

I am glad to hear more positives on the subject. She showed me her little model and thoroughly explained how the insertion works, including showing me the little rod she wil use to measure the length of my uterus, etc. She also told me if I go with it to take 4 Ibuprofen before coming in. I haven't had a PP period yet, but Chloe is 4 months old, so I'm sure my cervix is closed. I'm not really worried about bleeding though, since I have never had regular periods and when I was on Depo they stopped altogether. I'm sure the cramping afterwards can be controlled by Ibuprofen, too since I tend to respond pretty well to that. That's the only thing I used after having both kids.

I am so glad I posted this, now I have a good idea what to expect. I will probably go with the Mirena, as soon as I figure out my insurance stuff.

Thanks, ladies!