[Angela1103]

Hello,
Does anyone have any experience with Mirena? I am really considering getting it, but I am slightly worried about a few things.

Has it caused you to feel moody or depressed? If so, how long did this last?
Did Mirena cause cramps for you besides right after insertion? If so, for how long?
How painful was insertion for you? I'm a little bit nervous about insertion, but I think I can get through it. It seems worth it.
Has it lowered your sex drive at all?
Did it fall out?
Was it effective for you?

I'm trying to decide whether I should go on the pill or get Mirena. I've considered Skyla, too, but it doesn't seem worth it to pay the same price for something that doesn't last as long and then have to go back in three years to get it replaced.
I don't think I want to try Paraguard, because I've heard about how it causes really bad cramps. I've already had issues with bad cramps (that seem to be well-managed at the moment; maybe Mirena would help even more) and would rather not be constantly miserable.

I'll definitely ask the doctor to see what she thinks, but I want to hear about people's personal experiences.

[Motorguy]

If I can make a subjection Angela, my 4 daughters get the Depo-Provera) shot instead of the pill it works for 3 months then they go see there Obgyn and get another shot. Never have to worry about the pill again. My two oldest have a daughter each now. They was not plain pregnancies and the problem with the pill they forgot to take faithfully. This problem done now with the Depo Shot for them. Maybe ask your Obgyn about this type of birth control for yourself.

[Baboy]

Well, you seem to be smoking out replies from us guys here, which is perhaps less than ideal, but I'll make a few comments.

It appears your thinking on the matter has evolved some since you posted on another thread that you found the idea of an IUD not too much to your liking. There, and here, Motorguy has recommended Depo-Provera. We know he wants the value of his shareholdings in the manufacturer of that product to increase, hence he's touting that one. I'm heavily invested in Mirena, so I'm pushing it.

Joking aside, it's probably not a bad idea to do what you are doing here and solicit opinions. There is unlikely to be a number #1 best solution for all. There are probably some who will relate less-than-satisfactory experience with various pills, others with Depo, others with various IUDs, etc.

I accept that MG has related in good faith his observations with respect to Depo and the women in his life. It might be a good choice for you. I know nothing about it, so I cannot say.

At about your age, my wife went through the same quandary. She had given birth to our child - a planned pregnancy. Then some not-too-successful stabs at birth control followed. Two abortions later (who these days can afford 3 kids?, which I say heedless of the risk of inflaming the so-called pro-lifers), getting into reliable birth control seemed like a good idea.

Like you, she did research. She ended up at a women's clinic where a bewildering array of options was available. In the end, she tried Mirena. Insertion was uneventful, but within hours she felt discomfort. She became decidedly restive and irritated, feeling she had made a gross error. She phoned the clinic and complained. She told them, and me, that she was determined to return to the clinic the following day and have the darn thing removed and tossed in the trash. She was urged to stay the course, it would get better. She relented.

As predicted by the physician with whom she spoke (who herself had been using one for 10 years), all the negative feelings evaporated within a few days and she was fine. No side effects since, except a near total absence of her monthly period.

One thing she likes about the Mirena, with a lifespan of 5 years, it lasts a bit longer than a shot of Depo. She got her second one a year ago, so it has 4 years left. One does not have to do a whole lot of keeping track of dates. In short, my wife is a Mirena convert, but it was a rocky start.

I have given you some detail here, including her feelings of discontent at the start, to help you to choose. Perhaps you will not want to risk going through the initial difficult - albeit short-lived - phase that she did.

Maybe you'll hear from some of the women members about their experience with Mirena. All I can offer is one woman's experience through the eyes of her SO.

[kira]

They can numb and/or dilate your cervix to make it less painful. If they don't the pain varies by person but overall it hurts a lot. Some people handle it fine and mine had my back arching but that is far from the worst pain I've felt. I've heard stories of people screaming or even passing out. Depends how sensitive you are and how good your pain tolerance is. If you can, find a doctor that doesn't cut corners. Mine was free from planned parenthood and they just shoved it in and sent me home. Painkillers or dilation and an ultrasound to check position are preferred but cost a lot more.

After getting my mirena I had cramps and bleeding to the point I could do nothing all day. I went back to the doctor and they said the pain is normal and then they said they couldn't give me painkillers in case the pain was a sign of a problem. Perfectly logical.... Finally they agreed if my insurance would pay for an ultrasound to check on the IUD they would give me pain medication. The IUD was found to be perfectly placed. The next day the pain stopped. Yay, maybe it's finally working out. Nope. I found it in my cervix after having sex the next day. I couldn't get the right angle to pull it out and I didn't want to pull too hard so i went to my regular doctor who just slipped it right out with no tools and me half sitting. They charged my insurance $300 for "surgery". I opted to have the stupid thing thrown away and not reinserted.

[Angela1103]

Well, you seem to be smoking out replies from us guys here, which is perhaps less than ideal, but I'll make a few comments.

It appears your thinking on the matter has evolved some since you posted on another thread that you found the idea of an IUD not too much to your liking. There, and here, Motorguy has recommended Depo-Provera. We know he wants the value of his shareholdings in the manufacturer of that product to increase, hence he's touting that one. I'm heavily invested in Mirena, so I'm pushing it.

Joking aside, it's probably not a bad idea to do what you are doing here and solicit opinions. There is unlikely to be a number #1 best solution for all. There are probably some who will relate less-than-satisfactory experience with various pills, others with Depo, others with various IUDs, etc.

I accept that MG has related in good faith his observations with respect to Depo and the women in his life. It might be a good choice for you. I know nothing about it, so I cannot say.

At about your age, my wife went through the same quandary. She had given birth to our child - a planned pregnancy. Then some not-too-successful stabs at birth control followed. Two abortions later (who these days can afford 3 kids?, which I say heedless of the risk of inflaming the so-called pro-lifers), getting into reliable birth control seemed like a good idea.

Like you, she did research. She ended up at a women's clinic where a bewildering array of options was available. In the end, she tried Mirena. Insertion was uneventful, but within hours she felt discomfort. She became decidedly restive and irritated, feeling she had made a gross error. She phoned the clinic and complained. She told them, and me, that she was determined to return to the clinic the following day and have the darn thing removed and tossed in the trash. She was urged to stay the course, it would get better. She relented.

As predicted by the physician with whom she spoke (who herself had been using one for 10 years), all the negative feelings evaporated within a few days and she was fine. No side effects since, except a near total absence of her monthly period.

One thing she likes about the Mirena, with a lifespan of 5 years, it lasts a bit longer than a shot of Depo. She got her second one a year ago, so it has 4 years left. One does not have to do a whole lot of keeping track of dates. In short, my wife is a Mirena convert, but it was a rocky start.

I have given you some detail here, including her feelings of discontent at the start, to help you to choose. Perhaps you will not want to risk going through the initial difficult - albeit short-lived - phase that she did.

Maybe you'll hear from some of the women members about their experience with Mirena. All I can offer is one woman's experience through the eyes of her SO.

Thanks! I'm glad she had such a great experience after adjusting to it. I think I'm willing to go through that if it means being protected completely for five years.

[Baboy]

Thanks! I'm glad she had such a great experience after adjusting to it. I think I'm willing to go through that if it means being protected completely for five years.

You are welcome!

As I said, my wife was totally put off her Mirena on Day 1. She wanted it gone! A clinic doctor suggested she wait it out for a bit. That was more than 6 years ago and to I know that Day 2 was sufficiently better that she decided not to return to the clinic to have it removed that day. Certainly within a few days she was totally used to it and felt nothing. It has been that way ever since. She went through no discomfort at all with getting her new one last year. At that time, she was not interested in switching to any other form of birth control. She really likes the idea of no more periods. Some months she gets what might be called a "mini-period", which she does not mind at all.

Let us know how it works out. I'll hope it goes very smoothly. But for right now, my best advice is don't be put off by some initial discomfort. The long-term trouble-free results are worth it. It is also economical. One Mirena every 5 years is much less expensive than many other forms of bc.

[kira]

Most insurance covers BC these days. I pay nothing for my seasonique and our insurance isn't that great. I owe $1500 from other medications and testing for this year. Nothing for BC though. Nothing when I used nuvaring, yasmin, lybrel, etc... They just wouldn't pay for that IUD.