Anyone have the Mirena?

DH would like to get a vasectomy yesterday.....but there is something that is holding me back....So my doctor just gave me info on the Mirena IUD.....sounds like it's just what I am looking for....

I was wondering if any of you have any experience with it??? Thanks ladies!!!

 

I just had mine put in couple weeks back. This is the second time i've had it. I really love it. Just like other b/c. Its not 100% effective. As one woman found out on here ( pink and blue mom, i think) . You do have to check your string once a month or so. Alot of women completely stop monthly cycles, which is great.And you don't have to remember to take anything. If you do get it, ask dr to cut string short, men can feel them , in certain positions . And i guess it doesn't feel to great.Lol. I've seen alot of women on this site that have them.

 

I have had mine for over a year and LOVE IT! It's uncomfortable having it put in and for about a month there is cramping and spotting, but I can't even tell I have it in now. It is GREAT! And best of all--my periods are so light that they only last a day; not even heavy enough to wear a pad. The past two months I have had no bleeding at all. No cramping either, it is fantastic!! I never check the IUD--yes, you are supposed to but I forget. My OB did adjust the length of the string. Unfortunately my insurance did not pay for it and it ended up costed me a load of money, but in 5 years I am going to fork it up again because it is totally worth it. I chose the IUD because I just wasn't ready to get my tubes tied (we are definitely done having children I just wasn't ready to have any changes made inside my body). Anyway, in my opinion, its worth the money. As far as my husband feeling it, if he has he has never said anything to me and I can not tell any difference.

 

I have it and love it!!! Not one bit of spotting or bleeding here yet (though still bfing once a day). Oh, and I had it placed at 8 weeks pp.

 

I've had mine for about a year and 8 months. It was kinda painful when it was put in, also my doc was showing another doc how it is done. After, I had a "period" about once every couple of months with minimal cramps. Now, I have a "period" occasionally. To be honest it kind of scared me to think I may be pregnant. So I was still buying pregnancy tests. Now that I've heard of women getting pregnant on them, I don't know what to think.

 

I have it. I had the copper one first and changed to have the Mirena put in. I was hoping it would solve my LONG periods of REALLY devastatingly heavy flow - and it MOSTLY did that. I'm about 5 months in I think and I am still having long spotting at the end of my cycle but it's NOT bad like it was!!

I recommend the IUD for a lot of reasons (it hurts when they put it in, but that goes away within an hour). I like not worrying about birth control and I like that I don't have to do ANYTHING with it for 9 years (probably be in menopause by then anyway! LOL!!!

Good luck!!

 

I have one, I had it inserted about 6 months ago and its like I dont have periods anymore! I'm a bit surprised to read that someone got pregnant whilst using one as my doctor stressed and stressed again that it was IMPOSSIBLE to get pregnant whilst using the Mirena..... hmmm

 

Add me to the list...I have it and LOVE it. I had mine put in a couple months ago. I am super sensitive to BC hormones and the Mirena doesn't make me wacky!

 

Kinda funny you are asking...I just had one put in yesterday!! I asked my Gyno about the chance of pregnancy (after reading about the mom on here that got pregnant with it in) and she said the precentage is less than the pill. She told me she personally had 12 people last year get preggo while taking the pill and 2 with an IUD.

I did have a major cramp while she put it in and had intense cramping for the rest of the day. Nothing debilitating that sent me to bed, just like your worst period cramp. I still feel the cramping very slightly today, but only if I stop and think about it.

I say go for it!!

 

I don't think the doctor should have said its Impossible to get prego on the mirena. Its 99.9% effective.Anything is possible. I have a friend who got preg when both her and husband had tubes ties and vasectomy. And also the Mirena is only good for up to 5 years , the copper one is good for 10 yrs.

 

I had one for 1 month. It hurt going in, and out. I couldn't take the bleeding every day. Cramping every day. I ended up having a hysterectomy. I had horrible period problems, and a precancer on my cervix so they just took it all out.

Teri

 

One thing to note about the IUD that I didn't realize until recently is that it works by preventing the joined egg and sperm from implanting. If you believe that life begins a conception, then this would be a very early termination of life......Just wanted to pass that information along so you can make informed decisions. I'm not trying to start debate, I just wanted to share what I've learned.

 

I have a friend that had one and wound up with severe hair loss, depression and other problems with it - and she had to fight her OB to take it out (BTW she did have her thyroid checked to make sure it wasn't that first) - she hated it!

 

QUOTE(AmynTony @ Feb 2 2008, 02:53 PM) [snapback]602218[/snapback]
I have a friend that had one and wound up with severe hair loss, depression and other problems with it - and she had to fight her OB to take it out (BTW she did have her thyroid checked to make sure it wasn't that first) - she hated it!


WOW, I thought it was just me! I would have never thought that it was because of the Mirena!! :shok:

I think I might have to call my doc about that one. Thank You!

 

QUOTE(finley3001 @ Feb 2 2008, 12:31 PM) [snapback]602083[/snapback]
One thing to note about the IUD that I didn't realize until recently is that it works by preventing the joined egg and sperm from implanting. If you believe that life begins a conception, then this would be a very early termination of life......Just wanted to pass that information along so you can make informed decisions. I'm not trying to start debate, I just wanted to share what I've learned.


For some reason I thought it was that it prevented the egg and the sperm meeting....I guess I wasn't as informed as I thought I was. Apparently my husband was, I asked him what he thought and he said the same as you. Go figure.
Thanks for letting everyone know.

 

QUOTE(doubledownmom @ Jan 31 2008, 10:36 AM) [snapback]598685[/snapback]
DH would like to get a vasectomy yesterday.....but there is something that is holding me back....So my doctor just gave me info on the Mirena IUD.....sounds like it's just what I am looking for....

I was wondering if any of you have any experience with it??? Thanks ladies!!!


I had the Mirena IUD put in when the boys were 8 weeks old. I love it. It was really not painful during insertion for me - I'd been warned to take some ibuprofen about an hour before my appointment. I have virtually no period - I spot for a day or two; panty liners are enough to manage. DH has mentioned the strings being a "pain" occasionally, but they can easily be moved around. Best of all, our insurance covered it so we paid nothing out of pocket. I would recommend it to anyone. Good luck!

 

I had one put in when the girls were 6-ish weeks old. I had it taken out after 6-ish months. I bled all but a day or two of every month and was in constant pain--I could feel it in there. I absolutely hated it.

 

I am also thinking of getting one. Has anyone here had one who also had a c-section?? I'm wondering if it's more painful if your cervix hasn't been "stretched out" already by a baby.

I'm kind of a wimp about pain :huh: How painful are we talking here??? Just a couple of minutes??

Michelle

 

QUOTE(greymom @ Feb 5 2008, 06:12 PM) [snapback]607579[/snapback]
I am also thinking of getting one. Has anyone here had one who also had a c-section?? I'm wondering if it's more painful if your cervix hasn't been "stretched out" already by a baby.

I'm kind of a wimp about pain :huh: How painful are we talking here??? Just a couple of minutes??

Michelle

Michelle, I had a C section and I thought it was pretty painful!! (The first time I had it 6 weeks PP and it was nothing like the 2nd time. I had copper first and then Mirena) He had to take the copper out and put the other in (while teaching!) I cramped pretty bad for about an hour and then I was fine!!

 

QUOTE(greymom @ Feb 5 2008, 07:12 PM) [snapback]607579[/snapback]
I am also thinking of getting one. Has anyone here had one who also had a c-section?? I'm wondering if it's more painful if your cervix hasn't been "stretched out" already by a baby.


I had a C-section before I had my inserted. I had my son vaginally, but that was nine years before my girls, so I don't think that was the reason it wasn't painful. In my opinion, it was uncomfortable, but not unbearable--not when you compare it to recovering from a C-section anyway. I think the worst part is the fact you have to be on your period when it is inserted, YUK!!!

 

QUOTE(Utopia122 @ Feb 5 2008, 09:34 PM) [snapback]607722[/snapback]
I think the worst part is the fact you have to be on your period when it is inserted, YUK!!!


I've never been told that. I got the Mirena when the girls were about 9 months old. I was still BFing and hadn't had a period yet. I had it removed last April b/c DH and I had decided we would start TTC in the summer. I LOVED it and have already discussed with my OB getting one at my PP visit. It made my normally horrible and irregular periods virtually nonexistent.

QUOTE
One thing to note about the IUD that I didn't realize until recently is that it works by preventing the joined egg and sperm from implanting. If you believe that life begins a conception, then this would be a very early termination of life......Just wanted to pass that information along so you can make informed decisions. I'm not trying to start debate, I just wanted to share what I've learned.


One thing to realize about this is that the pill also works that way. Both an IUD and the pill are supposed to keep you from ovulating, but in the event you do ovulate and the egg is fertilized, it prevents it from implanting b/c it keeps your uterine lining so thin.

 

QUOTE(Utopia122 @ Feb 6 2008, 02:34 AM) [snapback]607722[/snapback]
In my opinion, it was uncomfortable, but not unbearable--not when you compare it to recovering from a C-section anyway.


That's what my doctor said! But I didn't quite believe him because he is a man and doesn't have a cervix, after all

To clarify how Mirena works... According to the pamplet I got, it works in 3 ways: 1. Thickens your cervical mucous so sperm can't get in 2. Sometimes prevents ovulation (but not always) 3. Thins out the uterine lining so a fertilized egg is less likely to implant. So it's not just preventing fertilized eggs from implanting - it's not very likely an egg would be fertilized at all due to the other ways it works.

I was just at the OBGYN yesterday, that's why I'm reading up on this now - I'm not the IUD expert or anything

Thanks Diane and Utopia for your comments on the pain factor. I wonder if it's less painful when inserted during your period because your cervix is open a little bit??

Michelle

 

I have one also. i would not say it hurt going in. its kinds like having your yearly exam not the most pleasent but every bearable and over very quickly.

 

I had to have mine taken out because I bled/spotted for 6 months on it..I could take it anymore.

It didn't hurt - and I am a wuss!

 

QUOTE(greymom @ Feb 5 2008, 08:12 PM) [snapback]607579[/snapback]
I am also thinking of getting one. Has anyone here had one who also had a c-section?? I'm wondering if it's more painful if your cervix hasn't been "stretched out" already by a baby.

I'm kind of a wimp about pain :huh: How painful are we talking here??? Just a couple of minutes??

Michelle

I had a c-section and my doctor warned she might not be able to insert it since I didn't deliver vaginally. She had no problems.

I am a HUGE pain wimp. For me it was like your worst period cramp ever, and then some. I think she had it in in less than a minute.


QUOTE(Utopia122 @ Feb 5 2008, 09:34 PM) [snapback]607722[/snapback]
In my opinion, it was uncomfortable, but not unbearable--not when you compare it to recovering from a C-section anyway.

Just what I was thinking.

 

I have had my IUD for over a year now. I like it but I hate it. I spot on and off all the time and it's really annoying. I always have to carry something with me because I never know when it's going to happen. It's not a lot to make a mess if you know what I mean but it's really irritating. I like it because I don't have to remember to take a pill every morning. I'm torn between just leaving it because it's easy or getting it out and doing something different. I just don't ever want to have a period again.

 

QUOTE(~* dfaut *~ @ Feb 5 2008, 07:31 PM) [snapback]607611[/snapback]
Michelle, I had a C section and I thought it was pretty painful!! (The first time I had it 6 weeks PP and it was nothing like the 2nd time. I had copper first and then Mirena) He had to take the copper out and put the other in (while teaching!) I cramped pretty bad for about an hour and then I was fine!!


May I ask why you replaced the copper one with the Mirena? Did you not like the copper iud? I was considering the Mirena but read in some other forums about people's hair thinning, acne, weight gain, depression. I like the idea of birth control with no hormones.

 

I've had the mirena twice now. I really do love it but.......first time round, the last year i started getting "early menopause" symptoms. Night sweats , hot flashes, extremely moody. I was only 27. I had the mirena taken out and almost over night all symptoms stopped.Of course most of the doctors i talked to said it was just "coincidence". I finally found one that agreed with me.
Since i didn't have problems till the end before, i thought i would give it a shot again. I had it put in a month ago. All went great. I noticed a week into it i was loosing alot of hair. Its getting to be more and more each day I'm talking a handful. Thank god i have alot of thick hair. I go back to dr in 2 weeks for a check up , so i'm thinking it might be taken out.

 

QUOTE(walker006 @ Feb 7 2008, 10:19 AM) [snapback]610219[/snapback]
I noticed a week into it i was loosing alot of hair. Its getting to be more and more each day I'm talking a handful. Thank god i have alot of thick hair. I go back to dr in 2 weeks for a check up , so i'm thinking it might be taken out.


When I went on the pill last time, I also lost a lot of hair right after starting it. It lasted a couple months, then leveled out. I guess any hormonal therapy can cause that to happen. The Mirena is supposed to have a lot less systemic hormone circulating than the pill (it's more localized in your uterus), so it's probably less likely to cause something like that for most people. Hopefully your hair loss slows down soon!!

Michelle

 

I was JUST asking my SIL about this last night. I think I may be done with kids but not sure but it definitely will be at least a year or so. And I do want to explore options. After reading some of these posts, maybe I should just stay on the pill and really try and convince the hubby to get the snippy. My SIL swears by it.