Hi everyone,

I'm new to blogging, and I always write too much so be patient with me, but I thought I'd ask some other women's advice on the issues I'm having with my IUD. I had an IUD (Mirena) placed in November 2010. My husband and I don't have any children, so it took a lot of convincing the doctor that I'd be an acceptable candidate. The first few months were horrible, a lot of bleeding, pain after intercourse, debilitating cramps etc... Finally the bleeding and pain just stopped, and I hardly noticed anything was there until about three months ago (7 months after insertion) Now, I've been having recurrent UTI's and pain and bleeding after intercourse for three months, to the point I have about a 2-5 days between infections before another one hits. My first UTI was three months ago when this all started, and I tried to fight it at home with water, cranberry juice, probiotics... but I wound up in the emergency room with a bladder infection after it spread. Luckily, it hasn't gotten that bad since, but I'm sick of these symptoms, and I'm sick of going to the doctor for more and more antibiotics.

I started researching a link between IUD's and UTI's plus the bleeding and pain after intercourse and am finding a ton of women who report the same thing, and that as soon as they remove the IUD, there problems go away. I'm just surprised recurrent UTI's aren't listed as symptoms for either the Mirena or the Paragard. One thing I read about are women who actually have there IUD's sent in for testing and find that E. coli bacteria have attached to the IUD! I've also read that the vaginal bleeding and pain after intercourse is due to the fact that the hormones in Mirena (Paragard is hormone free) thin the lining of the uterus. I know this is part of the reason you don't get pregnant on Mirena, but am not sure why this would cause bleeding or pain???

Other than the pain, bleeding and UTI's, I've developed depression and a compulsion where I can sit for hours and pull the hair out of my head. I never really thought to link these problems to my IUD but I started researching that too, and it seems even at extremely low doses, the hormones in Mirena and other birth controls can cause depression or cause it to worsen. Then I realized that my hair pulling starting the month I started Mirena.

I've been putting up with these symptoms, even changing my diet, and putting a tampon soaked in yogurt up there (for the probiotics) because I love the ease of the IUD. I love that I just don't have to worry about getting pregnant, and don't have to remember to take a pill or place a ring or anything else. Now I think the symptoms aren't worth it anymore, and am starting to look at other forms of birth control. Before I saw the link of UTI's to IUD's I was thinking of the Paragard since it's hormone free, solving both the depression and bleeding/pain issue, but now I'm thinking any IUD is not good for me, and will just keep causing UTI's.

I have an appointment today to have them look at it and talk about the possible links between my IUD and my symptoms, and if they try and tell me there aren't any links I'll just have them pull it out. I'm wondering though, if anyone has any comments, has had any similar symptoms or problems in the past, or what kind of birth control you think I should try now? The birth control issue just make me mad at my husband because here I am in physical and mental pain trying to prevent pregnancy, and all he has to do is... nothing! So right now I'm a little pissed at him, having to be the responsible one to prevent children before we're ready. Wish me luck at my appointment. Thanks for reading and for any advice!

Miranda