[MirandaL]

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 ****ed 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

[lux1624]

Same kind of issues Help!

Hi Miranda,
This is probably the first time I have read anything close to what I have been dealing with. I am 27 and have never had childeren. I get horrible Migranes so my doctor recommended the Mirena as a form of birth control because pills and the shot were out of the question. I got the IUD back in June of 2012 and still have it in today and I have been back and forth to the doctors with UTI's and UTI symptoms. As we speak right now I feel as though I need to use the washroom but I can push on my bladder and its empty I dont actually have to go (I feel like the irritation is more in my urethra then in my bladder). I have had STI tests done, I have had urine samples taken I have had ultrasounds etc. I asked my doctor if there is any link between this feeling I am having and the IUD she says no, but then why am I feeling this discomfort I never had before?
I am thinknig about taking the mirena out and going back to the basics and relying on only a condom but I can't use any other form of birth control becasue of my migranes.
I havent noticed if depression is from the Mirena or the things that have occured in my life in the last year. I am tired of going the docs for consultations, and tests and antibiotics for it all to come back negative or nothing working and continung with this irritation. I still get horribly bad cramping only on my left side. It almost makes me collapse in pain.

Please let me know if your symptoms and irritations and pain have gone since taking out the IUD.

Thanks so much

J

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 ****ed 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

[sarahbee]

I have had Mirena for just over 4 years now. I did have twins before I had it, but it was the first time I have had an iud. I have have some problems with a uti several times in those years. It has never been as frequent as you describe, but I had a UTI progress into a severe bladder infection a few months ago. It was some horrible pain. I also sometimes have pains inside of my pelvis and strange feelings there. I have had the iud checked twice to make sure it hadn't moved because of the discomfort. At the time they said it was still in place. I also have had a strange smell that no matter how many showers I take, or change my underwear, or change detergent, or change soap, I still get. I never had that until the last 2 years of having Mirena. I also do not get a period. At all. In 4 years I have had some spotting a few times. I still cramp and bloat (nowhere near as bad of cramps as when I wasn't on the iud), but no blood (sometimes a few drops, but that is all and I cannot be sure it is from a period and not just blood from something else). I have also been steadily gaining weight. My doctor told me Mirena was low hormone and shouldn't make me gain weight. Have you had the same issues?