[My GF is crazy]

Ok my girlfriend of 3 years, which I love dearly... got an IUD 2.5 years ago. We have been fighting ever since. I feel I have done everything to make her happy, but its never good enough. I blame the IUD for her iness. We have known each other 7 years, and she has never acted like this. We went from "honey moon phase" to " I hate you and all you stand for" phase. I really have tried everything and stuck by her side, all I can think of is the IUD (Mirena I think.) Has anyone had this issue? If so... how do I approach her in taking it out? Ive mentioned it before and I almost got killed (exaggeration.) Seriously though, I have been an awesome man and stuck by her, I am at my wits end, and dont know what to do. Please help.

[Mes T]

Hi, welcome to the forum. We have a profanity filter which I'm sure you've noticed by now, hence the couple of blank spots in your post!

Have you ruled out the possibility that maybe it's just the "infatuation" phase being over that's accounted for the troubles?

Otherwise, it's true that a LOT of women experience increased moodiness as well as a heap of other symptoms when on any kind of hormonal birth control method.

Has your girlfriend noticed that there's a problem? Does she think she gets moody, or does she blame you for things? If you want to bring up IUD removal I think she also needs to agree that it might be causing the problem. Otherwise like you alluded to, could just blow up into a fight!

[Hopeless Dork]

2.5 years is one heck of a long 'mood swing'. If you are not exxagerating and she is truly a different person it points way less likely to the mirena than it does to the fact that perhaps you two are just not in sync with each other. Also if it was the IUD affecting her, the hormones would have started taking effect right away... not 6 months later. It would be intermittent and not continuous as well. You've known her 7 years but you've only been 'in a relationship' with her for 3, and only 6 months of which were happy, maybe you guys were great friends, great relationship (for 6months) and it went downhill afterthat. I am not trying to say its not the iuds fault, but I am asking is there a possibility that the mirena is the scapegoat -- in your mind -- for why she has changed and why you two are growing apart?

She should see her dr if she thinks she is having negative emotional side effects from the (minimal) hormones released in the mirena IUD. there are non hormonal IUD's as well.

[jns]

In general, 2 1/2 years of fighting means that the you two should have considered ending it a long time ago. What keeps you two together? Also, what do you do for her that is so great and what does she do for you? Since it is a birth control device (you don't need birth control if there is no sex), how often do you want and get sex and how often does she want it?