[~Alchemy~]

I know it's been asked on here before but thought I'd get some fresh answers. Looking to go onto the Mirena. I have been on the pill for 5 months now but it was always going to be temporary until I decided whether I'd get the Mirena put in.

I've read the pamphlet/talked to my doctor but would love to hear about your first hand experience please.

FTR I have reasonably bad skin (always have) and it doesn't seem to get better/worse on the pill.
I had breakthrough bleeding during the first 3 months of the pill but has settled down now.
Quite prone to getting thrush the pill seems to make it slightly worse but I can't really be sure.

[sophiasmum]

I am getting it next week. Doctor said expect irregular/breakthrough bleeding for the 1st 6-9 mths which I am not looking forward to. I have a friend who stopped having periods while on it, I'm hoping that happens to me!

[lisles]

Hi Alchemy,

I used the mirena for nearly 10 years and LOVED it. I had acne prior to going on the pill - the pill cleared it up for me, and it didn't come back after I switched to mirena. There was a small amount of irregular spotting, nothing heavy, in the first 3 or 4 months. After that, no bleeding at all - ever!
I didn't have any side effects other than that bit of spotting in the early days. (The manufactures call having no periods a side effect but I call that a benefit). No thrush, no mood changes, no weight gain, nothing. It was brilliant for me.
Oh by the way, it did hurt like hell going in so you might like to consider a brief anaesthetic if you get it done.

[caitiri]

I got mine after 2nd child and its was good whilst I was BF and not ovulating, but as soon as I started I got vry painful cramps and pressure, irregular periods and breakthrough bleeding after any sort of activity. I kept it in to see if it would settle but it didn't so after 2 years I got it out a couple of weeks ago cue the postpartum like bleeding.

So my advice is that if it works it will work really well I'd give it 6-8 months but after that I would ditch it if its not working for you.

[PippityRoo]

I've had mine in for 3 months now, and it's been great. I've had no side effects at all. I do occasionally get a tiny amount of spotting maybe once a week/fortnight. I'm yet to get my period back, but I don't want it back anyway I'm tandem breastfeeding both my 2yr old & 6mth old DD's, so that may be also keeping my period at bay.

Insertion was fine. I'd heard it was painful, so was expecting it to be bad. But for me it was no more than the discomfort of a Pap smear. I did take some panadol before my appointment though

ETA, My Dr advised me to give it 4mths, and if it was causing me problems & I didn't like it, I could see her about taking it out.

This post has been edited by PippityRoo: 04/02/2013, 12:03 PM

[mumto3princesses]

Hi,

I had the mirena for awful heavy periods. My Gyno said if I agreed to try it he wanted me to leave it for at least 5 months before taking it out if it didn't work. When I had it put in I had continuous bleeding for just OVER 4 and a half months! Then it stopped and I got nothing except the odd spot once every couple of months. The Gyno said that was unusual considering how bad my periods were and expected it to be a more normal period. At first I thought Yay this is great.

Then I had trouble with my skin, had problems with hair loss, anxiety got worse, didn't like to be hugged anymore. Then I gained weight slowly over the 18mths I had it and the other problems didn't get any better so I decided to get it taken out. A couple of days later I realised I also had a weird foggyness in my head. Its hard to explain and I didn't realise I had the foggyness until it lifted. Symptoms got better soon after.

[Katie_bella]

Another with a less successful story im afraid. I bled everyday for 7 months (horrible sticky brown stuff, sorry if TMI). Also had the anxiety symptoms, not wanting to be touched, low libido etc. My Doc told me a small number of women don't respond well to progesterone only types of contraceptives.

I had it removed at 7 months, went onto Nuvorings and haven't looked back. Mind you, i've been gestating and lactating for over 2 years now so haven't had to worry for a while!

[greenrainbow]

I've had the mirena for 14 months now and LOVE it! No more 8 day long periods, just very occasional spotting. I too have horrible skin, never improved with the pill, in fact some pills made it worse, neither better or worse with the mirena. I was concerned with my lack of libido for the first 6-8 months but that has definitely improved now. I didn't find it too painful when it was inserted (took panadol beforehand) although i did have period pain type cramps on and off for a few days after.

[~~HappyMummy~~]

I only had it in for 5 weeks - made me cranky, depressed, anxious, etc etc. Changed my personality. Also I bled on off the whole time. I hated it.

Was very disappointed as I thought it sounded fabulous.

[Mrs Optimus]

I love my Mirena - need to get it changed this year....