What is the Mirena IUD?
The Mirena IUD is a small object that is inserted through the cervix and placed in the uterus to prevent pregnancy. A small string hangs down from the IUD into the upper part of the vagina. Mirena is not noticeable during intercourse and can last 1-10 years. IUD's affect the movements of eggs and sperm to prevent fertilization and also change the lining of the uterus and prevent implantation. It is 99.2-99.9% effective as other types of birth control. Mirena IUD does not protect against sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS.
Inserting a Mirena IUD will involve a visit to a healthcare professional. To prevent infection, clinics require women to have check-ups prior to insertion. This can include a full medical, pelvic, and breast exam, with a Pap smear, STI check, and pregnancy test. If anything unusual is found, it is addressed before the IUD is inserted. Upon insertion, Mirena is effective immediately.
How is Mirena IUD inserted?
Mirena is usually inserted during your menstrual period when the cervix is slightly open and pregnancy is least likely to occur. However, it may be inserted at any time. Insertion takes about 5-15 minutes with most women feeling cramps during and after the procedure.
How do I know Mirena is still in place?
Keep track of your IUD by checking its strings. You can feel for the string by putting a finger into your vagina. It is recommended that women check their Mirena IUD after each period. A shorter than normal string can be a warning sign of an imbedded IUD. Missing strings may mean that the IUD was expelled. If the string is missing, call the clinic and use a backup birth control type.
If you miss your period while on using Mirena, you may want to take a pregnancy test. If you have any concerns about your IUD, call the clinic where it was inserted. The longer Mirena remains in place, the less likely it is that the uterus will reject the IUD and expel it.
How do I remove Mirena IUD?
Mirena can be removed at any time and the procedure is quicker and easier than insertion. If it is removed near ovulation, a woman may become pregnant from recent intercourse before IUD removal.
Who should not use Mirena?
Every woman is different, therefore Mirena is not recommended for all women. Due to the risk of serious health problems, women with the following conditions should not use IUDs:
- Recent or repeated pelvic infection
- Known or suspected pregnancy
- Severe cervicitis (inflammation of the uterine cervix)
- Salpingitis (inflammation of a fallopian or eustachian tube)
- Malignant lesions in the genital tract
- Unexplained vaginal bleeding
- HIV/AIDS
- History of ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy resulting from gestation elsewhere than in the uterus)
- History of Toxic Shock Syndrome
- Physical inability to check IUD
IUDs are not recommended for women who are at risk for Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, have lower immune response, abnormal pap smear, heart disease, anemia, a history of severe menstrual cramping and heavy flow, or previous problems with a Mirena IUD.
- Women with a history of breast cancer cannot use the Mirena IUD.
- Women with diabetes should be monitored carefully if they use the Mirena IUD.
- Breastfeeding women should be aware the synthetic hormone in the Mirena IUD will be passed to the baby in her breast milk.
Are there any health risks?
Contracting any vaginal infections while using an IUD can increase the risk of developing a serious pelvic infection. This can result in a loss of fertility. For this reason, women need to assess their own risk for infection. If you have multiple partners or if your partner has multiple partners, your chance of infection is much higher.
The uterine wall may be perforated or pierced during insertion of the Mirena IUD. Over time, an IUD may become embedded in the uterine wall which carries a risk of surgery and/or infertility. An embedded IUD is still effective, but it can be painful and may need to be removed.
If a woman becomes pregnant while using Mirena IUD, it is highly recommended that she have it removed, whether or not she wants to carry the pregnancy to term. An IUD increases the risk of having a miscarriage or premature birth.
A woman who becomes pregnant while using Mirena is more likely to have an ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg attaches and grows outside the uterus. This can be very dangerous and requires emergency medical attention.
Are there any side effects?
Mirena IUD can cause longer, heavier, and more painful menstrual periods. The increased blood flow may cause anemia. Spotting may occur without serious cause or as a sign of infection.
The Mirena IUD can cause ovarian cysts. Some women using Mirena stop bleeding altogether. Usually menstrual periods return when it is removed. Mirena can cause weight gain, headaches, increased blood pressure, acne, depression, and decrease in sex drive.
BirthControlBuzz is a service company that provides birth control prices, birth control types (prescription required), health administrative services, and birth control statistics predominantly to US patients seeking to purchase birth control on-line.
For more information, call 1-866-868-8850 or visit http://www.birthcontrolbuzz.com/.
Stumble It!
posted by BirthControlBuzz @ 11:17 AM
19 Comments:
Great site, I am bookmarking it!Keep it up!
With the best regards!
David
I've had Mirena for 2 months now. I'm sticking with it, but the side effects they call "Spotting' and "break through bleeding" have been a full on 2 month period for me, including cramps (which I did not have before). Symptoms are also worse with physical activity. OB/GYN says positioning is fine and these are actual fairly typical side effects for at least the first 3 months or even the first year.
anon #1 - Thanks!
anon #2 - I've never tried the IUD but even with birth control pills (and being on them for 2 years) I still get breakthrough bleeding about once a month. That's too bad that your symptoms are worse with physical activity...
Hello, thanks a lot, You'v done a great job.I can only realize how much time and resources does it take to create such a resource!Great work, I am impressed!
anon #3 - It does take a lot of blood, sweat and tears...but the blog's worth the hard work if someone gains some insightful knowledge from it.
I have had the Mirena IUD in for a month and I can not handle it. My blood pressure has increased a lot, I have horribel headaches when I exercise, I have been having horrible cramping, I started having panick attacks after it was inserted, and I also just feel bloated all the time. I guess it works differently with everyone.
anon - Have you talked to your doctor about this? There may be other birth control types that are better suited for you. On that note side effects do occur when using birth control - sometimes it takes a couple of months for your body to adjust to the extra hormones...But I suggest definitely speaking with your doctor to see what she/he can do for you. I wish you luck!
I have had the Mirena IUD for 2 months now. I did have the initial cramping, but the cramps lasted for about 3 weeks after. I still get them 2 months later, as well. and the bleeding! i bled for a month and half after the iud was inserted. My OBGYN who delivered my son in december told me that was normal and should let up. the strings used to poke my husband when we had sex, but after he told me he now cannot feel them, i have discovered that the strings that used to be easy to feel are now barely skimming at the opening of my cervix. my mind is not made up yet that the mirena is for me, but i am hanging in there.
I am usually sensitive to hormones and could never take birth control pills for this reason...I became convinced when the pharmacist told me that Mirena would reduce my periods and would have very little effect on me as it was a localised hormone. i waited five months to see if the effects would diminish but they didn't.. side effects were lethargy, bloating, weight gain , sensitive breasts, moodiness, mental fog and low moods... i switched to the copper T iud and have never felt better :)
I had the Mirena IUD inserted 6 weeks after I had my son. I was 18 and opted for the 5 year one. I am now 20 and I've just recently been experiencing problems with it. My period was suppose to start approx. 4 days ago. So as you can imagine, I'm a little worried. For the past 2 months my bleeding has been unusual. My periods start at the time they're suppose to but they last 8-10 days. Then it's gone for 1 or 2 days and it comes back for about 3 more days. I'm just wondering is this common amongst women who have had the Mirena IUD for over 2 years?
I'm not sure if this is a common occurence for women using Mirena IUD, but one of the possibilities could be atrophic bleeding.
If progesterone doses are too small without any estrogen around, such as with the "mini" birth control pill, breakthrough bleeding often occurs because estrogen is needed to stabilize the blood vessels in the base layer of the endometrium. Such bleeding would be called atrophic bleeding since the tissue is very bare down to its basal layer.
In any event, you should be seen by your doctor.
PLEASE read this is a SIDE EFFECT
I had the Mirena inserted in me 2 weeks after I gave birth to my baby boy. I started feeling really sharp pains on my left side and I felt like there were huge knots turning inside of my stomache. The doctors insisted that the mirena was not the problem for the knots and the sharp pains that I was feeling. But yet after they had takin the Mirena IUD out of me 2 weeks after it was inserted I know longer feel the knots ( trust me on this one the knots were a 20 on a scale of 1 to 10 pain.) I still feel the really sharp pains on my left side below my ribs above my waist. Remember I did take the Mirena out of me. Could someone give me some advice in telling me what the sharp pains on my side might mean.It is severe.
Dear Tiny:
The sharp pains on your left side are probably ovarian cysts. I had the same thing, when I was NOT on the IUD. They form in the event of a change in hormones, and it was the worst pain I had ever experienced. I was doubled over and could not move. Like yours, my pain level was 20 on a scale of one to ten. I was rushed to the ER thinking that my uterus had somehow exploded, only to find that the trouble was a tiny ovarian cyst. They put me on a birth control pill and the pains went away. So check with your doctor. He/she can usually palpate your ovaries (it's like an intense pap smear) and see if there are any irregularities. Or you could go in for an ultrasound. But yeah. Go to the doc and see if it's cysts. Good luck.
Hello,
I have had the Mirena for two years now. I am currently 22 years old and have never had children. I have been spotting on and off the whole time I have had the IUD. Also, I used to get bad cramps before, but even worse with the Mirena. But my periods are way lighter and I would take the Mirena over heavy periods any day. For the past five days I have been having really weird abdominal pain. Feels like bloating and spastic pain. I went to the hospital last night and I had an exam done. My doctor gave me a pregnancy test and did an STD test (all clear ahah). She said that I was inflammed a little and that sometimes it can be caused by the IUD. Has anyone had this before or does anyone know what this means? She told me to come back if it doesn't go away.
Hello, i am getting Mirena inserted in 5 days, and i am a little nervous. I have already talked to my doctor and she assured me that everything wil be okay, and not to worry. I have never had kids before, and i am only 19. I am expecting it to be crampish, and uncomfortable upon and during insertion.. But i am really worried about all these side effects.. With weight gain is it worse than the pill? Plus does anyone have anything positive to say about it?? now i am getting scared away from Mirena... should i be?
"Hello,
I have had the Mirena for two years now. I am currently 22 years old and have never had children. I have been spotting on and off the whole time I have had the IUD. Also, I used to get bad cramps before, but even worse with the Mirena. But my periods are way lighter and I would take the Mirena over heavy periods any day. For the past five days I have been having really weird abdominal pain. Feels like bloating and spastic pain. I went to the hospital last night and I had an exam done. My doctor gave me a pregnancy test and did an STD test (all clear ahah). She said that I was inflammed a little and that sometimes it can be caused by the IUD. Has anyone had this before or does anyone know what this means? She told me to come back if it doesn't go away."
13 March, 2008 20:48
Dear Anonymous from March 13 I sent your email to the doctor on staff and he had this to say about your comment:
"My thoughts are that you should be seen by the gynecologist that has inserted the Mirena IUD for followup. You should not be having this kind of pain that you describe especially since you have had the IUD in place for two years."
Yours truly, Paul Zickler MD
Birth Control Buzz
"Hello, i am getting Mirena inserted in 5 days, and i am a little nervous. I have already talked to my doctor and she assured me that everything wil be okay, and not to worry. I have never had kids before, and i am only 19. I am expecting it to be crampish, and uncomfortable upon and during insertion.. But i am really worried about all these side effects.. With weight gain is it worse than the pill? Plus does anyone have anything positive to say about it?? now i am getting scared away from Mirena... should i be?"
14 March, 2008 13:18
I also sent your email to the staff doctor and he had this to say about your comment:
"Dear anonymous, I think it is very important to discuss all your fears with your doctor as well as be aware of the side effects with any birth control medication and specifically with the Mirena IUD. If you and your doctor are confident that this is the right choice for you and you understand its use and potential side effects, then I am sure that the doctor will be able to help you through any discomfort that you may have."
Paul Zickler MD
Birth Control Buzz
I have had the Mirena IUD for 13 months now....my reason for having it was to stop my constant periods. I have two children and no plans to have more (my husband already had a vasectomy)My problem is, I am still bleeding irregularly and have trouble loosing weight ...as well I have gained 10 pounds in the last year. I am confused as to what my options are and if I should just have it removed... it doesn't seem to be helping!
I've had Mirena now for 1 1/2. I'm 21 years old and I do have one child. My daughter had some medical problems and I decided after I had her, I didn't want to take any chances at having anymore. So I decided to get the IUD. I do love it. It's nice to not worry or try to remember pills. I haven't had ANY weight gain with it, or any strong side effects. I cramped for awhile while my body adjusted and that's it. No headahces (and I'm prone to migraines). Some small cramping and spotting around my period-but I've yet to have a period since i've been on it. Only spotting occassionaly. I love it and reccommend a try for anyone. It does hurt going in, but it's worth it!
Post a Comment
<< Home