r/Mirena

Recently saw OB for tubal ligation consult and he talked me into getting a Mirena IUD instead.
He said it’s an easy, 5-10 minutes with very minimal pain and a few hours of light cramping. I said, “I’ve heard way too many horror stories that say otherwise.” He tells me, “People only talk about the bad stories. 97% of people with it report no issues. But the 3% just gets talked about more.

Look… I’m all tatted up. The only time I ever didn’t get complimented by a tattoo artist for how well I sat was when the one on my spine lulled me to sleep for a moment and made me twitch.

I have Fibromyalgia that I deal with on the daily without any pain management other than the occasional Tiger Balm on a really painful trigger point.

I did 19 hours of labor with Pitosin and no pain management including the OB/GYN yanking on my verbiage to try to straighten my posterior uterus.

I do hard labor at work 5 days a week getting cut and bruised multiple times a day.

I’m no stranger to pain.
But… this???

Them putting this thing in me crumpled me into an almost sobbing ball of weakness. It was not just pressure. IT HURT!

That was at 8:30 this morning and the cramps (which are NOT light period cramps like he said they would be) have not subsided. At 3:30pm day of insertion I’m in so much pain and the only thing I can compare this to was the back labor contractions at the four hours into Pitosin mark.

I extensively researched this and either people be lying…. Or…. I have a sensitive cervix/uterus???? Because these aren’t *light cramps. This feels like somebody is ripping my insides out.

I’m 27, and have been on birth control for roughly 13-14 years. I have been on the pill for the majority of those years, aside from 3 months when I tried the birth control shot. The reason I stopped taking the shot so early on was due to severe cystic acne. To be up front, I always struggled with acne, and couldn’t find a treatment that ever made it completely go away. It was never so severe (until I was on the shot) that it was cystic, scarring, painful, etc.

So I immediately went back on the pill (as well as a course of accutane), and didn’t really have any issues until the past 2 years. My periods have been increasingly heavier and more painful, and at some points I have had to miss work.

The gynecologist I was seeing a few years ago recommended to not go with the IUD since the same hormone in the shot that caused the cystic acne is in the IUD, and I decided to not go through with it. Fast forward to now, and with a different gynecologist, after expressing my periods getting worse she suggested the IUD. I told her why I was apprehensive, and what my previous gynecologist said and she gave me the same “it’s more localized” answer that I’ve read others writing about in this group. She had me get an ultrasound, and everything came back normal.

I have the insertion scheduled for next month, but I’m still extremely apprehensive and have not found any comfort in any of the medical professionals answers. So if any of the girls that have struggled with acne have had either positive or negative side effects on the IUD in regards to acne, please share your experiences. Any general advice/opinions are welcome as well.

I had mine inserted under anaesthesia with polyp removal, D&C, etc, etc on January 22, so I'm almost at 4 months. At first, it was great... until it wasn't. At the 3 month mark, almost to the day, my mental health plummeted and I found myself in a dark, dark place that wouldn't let up despite being medicated for 3 years.

I decided at that point that I needed to get it out, but when it came to the crunch, I couldn't bring myself to. What if this is temporary and part of the adjustment period? Am I overreacting? Will I regret it? What if I get the dreaded "crash" and end up in a worst position. I'm excellent at catastrophic thinking, and the worst at being decisive.

Anyway, tonight, I did a string check and thought it felt longer than it was at my last check. I went to get a better grip on the strings, and the damn thing just slid out. Did not feel a thing. I was suddenly holding it in my hand thinking "wtf just happened??"

So, here we are. Sans-mirena, I guess. What now?

I’ve had it since March and it’s made my pain miles worse when it’s supposed to help.
The cramps and bleeding literally hasn’t stopped for a single day, I knew it wasn’t going to work but the “localized” hormones were supposed make it better? I smelled bullshit a mile away and I’ve wasted two months of my life in agony entertaining these dimwit doctors who think it’s the miracle device that’s going to solve every women’s painful periods

The denial and gaslighting from these “specialists” has been an absolute fucking joke

Update
I needed this thing out weeks ago, I wish I did this sooner, it was unfortunately far from a standard removal.
I went to PP and they couldn’t find the strings but still charted they did for some reason. I called the office that placed it in the first place and the phone nurse was already trying to talk me into waiting it out even longer until I started sobbing and screaming I don’t care, I want it out, it’s making me want to kill myself and I need it out immediately. Then she booked me an appointment with a surgeon without the guarantee we’ll be able to get it out.
so I drove to the other side of town to meet with him, he sorted out the misunderstanding with PP, gave me a double cervical block (fucking ouch) and then had to go into my uterus with the forceps to “tease out the strings” as he put it. It took almost ten minutes of searching and I will not lie, that was the most painful experience of my life. Ten times worse than the actual placement. If we didn’t get it out soon I was going to black out from the pain, but I NEEDED it out.
He was very kind and empathetic while I was blubbering and sobbing on the exam table, the nurse/chaperone was very sweet and encouraging; let me squeeze her poor hand until it turned white.
When he said he found the strings I immediately started desperately begging him to take it out. He did in the middle of my desperate pleas and showed it to me as proof before tossing it in the biobin.

I’m never getting an IUD ever again, I don’t want to scare anyone out of getting one but I’m not going to just pretend it didn’t happen because others have had great luck with theirs either.

Hi! I have read a lot about people's experiences getting an IUD while also having adenomyosis. I realize every body is different and will have different experiences. With that being said I might be getting an IUD mirena inserted in the office and I'm incredibly nervous about the heightened amount of pain that will cause. I realize that my uterus is swollen possibly and I'm worried about what the insertion process is going to look like when that is already a very painful process with a healthy normal uterus. Has anybody experienced getting an IUD with Adenomyosis and what was your experience?

I just got Mirena 2 months ago and am experiencing like blinding rage and insatiable hunger like 2 weeks a month before my period. This along with fatigue is something Im paying attention to pretty hard because it’s pretty abnormal for me. It’s like even if Im happy and having fun, there’s anger sitting below the surface.

My period has already basically stopped, it’s just been spotting and I imagine will be lighter and then stop over the next couple. Im single and not wanting to have kids especially with a rando.

Has anyone else had this rage and either it calmed down after a while or tried estrogen patches? My doctor said rage is common in perimenopause but it’s not a coincidence that it started right after I got the Mirena.

Tell me there’s a light at the end of the tunnel..

Edit: has anyone switched to a different IUD and had better results??

Getting my mirena removed tomorrow , what should I expect the following days/weeks and what has you’re experiences been like post removal because I’m terrified xx

I’ve had my current IUD for almost 2 years. Before this, I had an IUD for 7 years and replaced with the current one same day as removal of the previous one.

I’ve had a hard time with my weight my whole life. I was on the patch as a teenager, and I gained 80 pounds in just a couple of years.

I had weight loss surgery 5 years ago, and lost a decent amount of weight - roughly 150 pounds. I was exercising all the time and eating super healthy. I worked really hard, the surgery was just a tool that helped me get started.

But since I got the new IUD two years ago, I have gained roughly 30 pounds. I’m constantly bloated and exhausted. I went from having so much energy and hiking all the time to feeling exhausted after doing barely anything. I’ve been working on exercising more regularly, but I haven’t seen any results yet.

My doctor swears that weight gain isn’t a side effect, but after reading the experiences of others, I don’t believe him.

The weight gain has to stop. I worked too hard to lose the weight to gain it all back! My question is: were you able to lose the weight gained after removing the IUD?

hey!

i’ve (20y/o) had the mirena for 2 months, it’s been endless brown spotting, aside from maybe 4-7 days of usual discharge, coming and going cramps varying in pain and really odd cervical pain - coming and going with varying pain just like my cramps. i haven’t noticed many other side effects aside from mood swings and a touch of acne but nothing crazy.

i’ve had my run with different pills both combo and mini, and the bar but this is honestly something else,

please someone be the bearer of good news and tell me if this is gonna end 🥲

Hi! Long story short 3 years ago I was happy and on no birth control until I developed a Fibroid (not easy to have diagnosed and the worst thing ever) and had surgery to remove it. The doctors do not know what causes Fibroids but I was told if I get an IUD it will thin the lining of my uterus and help prevent future growth as they can reappear as soon as 2 months post surgery. It was Horrible having a fibroid but I think my IUD may be worse?

Since getting Mirena 2.5 years ago I feel like I’ve gone insane. I overheat very easily, a few times a month I wake up with a high heart rate, nausea, anxiety, spiked cortisol and have even had a few panic attacks. I have never had an issue with my mental health or anxiety until now. It feels helpless when it happens but then it passes for weeks on end. There are other symptoms too but this one is the worst.

I like not having a period and will be getting married in a year or so and it would be nice to not have to worry about that.

I guess I’m writing to ask, besides removal have any of you had any other solutions? I’d hate to remove it and need surgery again so I’m at a constant battle of what’s worse in my body. Thoughts? Am I crazy to keep putting up with this?

Lemme preface this with; I’m paranoid. It was inserted around 12 pm today under anaesthetic. I still have some residual stinging from the insertion and am spotting but other than that I’m not in pain and can’t feel a thing. That’s normal, right? I can’t check it at all yet, so just making sure :)

Hi everyone, I had a laproscapy 3 months ago and they found deep infiltrating endometriosis and could not remove it at the time so I have had to get an MRI and CT and then I'm going to be discussed in the MDT meeting to see what they can do. I had the mirena coil inserted at the same time as my laproscapy and ever since then I have been constant heavy bleeding and clotting having to change every hour, my GP has put me on northesterone to control the bleeding which did help however it has really affected my mental health so I don't really want to keep taking it. When I ring to ask if I can get the coil removed they keep saying I should really wait 6 months, but I feel like I can't go on much longer like this, my ferritin levels are severely low which they gave me iron tablets for but I feel like they are not improving. Sorry for the long post but my question is has anyone else experienced this and waited the full 6 months with the coil? Thank you

I’ve had the Mirena for about 2.5 years and I genuinely feel like it changed me as a person.

Before getting it, I was probably the chillest person ever. I never struggled with anxiety and honestly didn’t even understand what people meant by panic attacks because I had never experienced one.

Not long after getting the Mirena, I started developing anxiety, and over time it has escalated into something debilitating. I can barely drive anymore without severe anxiety taking over, especially with my 3 year old in the car. I constantly feel like I’m zoning out, going to pass out, or won’t have a place to pull over if something happens. I get stuck in panic loops the entire time I’m driving and feel on edge almost constantly.

It’s made me feel crazy because this is SO unlike who I used to be.

On top of that, I now deal with extreme bloating, headaches, and extended PMS symptoms that I never had before. I’ve spent so long trying to convince myself it couldn’t possibly be the Mirena, but after 2.5 years of progressively feeling worse, I finally made the decision to get it removed next week.

I honestly pray I go back to the person I was before because this has been awful and exhausting to live with.

Has anyone else experienced severe anxiety/panic symptoms with Mirena and did things improve shortly after removal?

My GF(23) and myself(22) have been dating for a little over a year but the last 3 months have been an absolute nightmare. A little background information, my gf has BPD which affects her emotional regulation and sensitivity to changes in the endocrine system which she is medicated for. Our relationship was fantastic from when we met in February last year and we were absolutely obsessed with each other, absolutely and positively in a love id never felt before, however, that all changed in late January this year when we fell pregnant. You know the saying, young, dumb and full of c**. I feel like it was absolutely my fault and we ended up agreeing to book an abortion which was insanely difficult for both of us. At the clinic the doctor piqued our interest with the mirena IUD and said she could implant it in the same operation, we both agreed that this would be good to stop this shit show from happening again, so we went ahead with it thinking nothing of it. Of course, the doctor rambled her bs about there being basically no adverse psychological side effects or dramatic hormonal shifts and, of course, we ate it up and left no crumbs.

Its now been a little over a month since the procedure and i feel like I'm in the goddamn torture chamber. I can tell shes growing increasingly more emotionally numb towards me as the days roll on, its like the only emotion she can muster towards me is guilt and sadness and she refuses to give the idea of the IUD affecting her to such an extent any merit. I can sense that shes fallen out of love with me and not being emotionally reciprocated by someone who used to look at me like i was the only thing God ever created with any meaning has been heartbreaking to say the least. I’m now scared and confused and i want to get the IUD removed but she doesnt seem to want to connect the dots and she told me shes comfortable with the IUD in which sucks for me. Am I going crazy? Like have any women or men experienced something similar here? Am i in the wrong? Is it too late? I really really just want things to go back to how they were if thats even possible because im still absolutely enamoured by my beautiful girl.

Hi, im thinking of getting my mirena removed, ive had it in for about 8 months, my question is will I bleed a lot when it comes out?

When I got it in I bled for 2 months or so and I wondered if it would be the same when getting it out? A lot of information on the internet I’ve looked at is conflicting

Hey all,

I’ve been hospitalized with suspected MCAS and had the Mirena IUD placed 4/23/26. It’s been a struggle identifying triggers, but I’ve recently been able to identify that polyethylene and levonorgestrel have been triggers historically. Which are both components of the IUD, as I’ve only just learned.

My flare up symptoms and triggers have been accumulating and worsening since getting it, but I’m being encouraged to try and keep it in due to a family history of PCOS, fibroids, endometriosis and my own diagnosis of chronic pelvic pain. I’m on a small dose of both mirtazipine and LDN to help, but I’m still getting worse. About to get steroids and loratidine next, which have helped historically.

My question then is this: has anyone had reactions to the Mirena IUD that they were able to get under control without removing it?

I ask because fluctuating hormones (specifically high estrogen) is a trigger for me, which is why I got the IUD in the first place. I’ve failed the pills, shot, and copper IUD. This has been a last resort.

Any input (especially credible sources I can use when talking to the docs) on this topic appreciated!

TL;DR: seeking info on getting reactions to Mirena IUD under control without removal, currently on LDN, mirtazipine and about to add in steroids plus loratidine. Many thanks!

it’s been a year, it’s got rid of my hugeeee flare up cramps but i do have different cramps that aren’t good and when i go gym it flares up in a different way. i just don’t know if it’s mirena related or endo related as i got the mirena before i started gym. i just feel irritable all the time and so annoyed at everyone and that’s just not me. i’ve tried to hide it but it’s not easy and i just wanna be happy again.
when i have sex it hurts but it always has but my recent almost about to be partner has made it so much easier for me and im soooo thankful for him but it just feels so tender after and just think the coil is making it more painful? my bladder is also so uncomfy and feels way worse when laying down…. just wonder if its mirena related too?
but it’s also made my sciatica pain wayyyy better during periods and i don’t struggle to walk - which is probs bc my periods are barely there anymore and so so light now that i’ve had it in me for a year.
so there’s some pros and some cons.
i just want to be natural and have my own hormones and just use strong painkillers maybe for cramps and things. but i just hope a sexual health clinic nearby me can remove it (uk) if i had it inserted from a hospital for endo related symptoms…? and i have a follow up at some point regarding my endo features from my mri and don’t want my gynae to be confused as to why ive removed it and maybe she’ll less likely offer me surgery?
should i remove it??? or just get on with it? just worried my endo symptoms will be worse when i get off it but i just dont want to be feeling like this mentally anymore and have these other symptoms and side effects that are actually making my pcos symptoms worse like acne and facial hair…:(