Has anyone used Mirena or an IUD?

I recently answered a question on another user. This is going to be long, but i think it's really important to make sure you know details. it helps you decide better. for me, my big thing was having something foreign in my uterus. well, here you go:

after lots of research, i got mirena put in on october 1st. before that i had tried ortho tri-cyclen and lutera, but didn't like how the hormones made me feel batty all the time. i love my mirena now. the hormones are localized instead of traveling everywhere, and the only time i feel cranky is before my period - like a normal person.

well, here you go:

Key things I want to know

-On a scale of 1-10 how much pain was putting it in, having children or not?

No children, VERY painful. I'd say a 9. i have never felt pain like that before. i should have taken a painkiller beforehand and eaten more than an orange for breakfast, so it was partly my fault. the doctor told me the type of cramps i was experiencing was akin to labor pains. MAAAN!! hurt so bad. i couldn't go to work that night, went home and took a vicodin and a muscle relaxer, slept and was fine the next day. my advice is take painkillers before, and eat a HARDY breakfast that won't metabolize quickly to avoid feeling faint like i did.

- Did any of those awful risks ever happen to you?

no awful risks have happened to me, but it's only been about two months. i really like it now. it never hurts during sex, my boyfriend can't feel anything (well, he said he THINKS sometimes he can feel a little pokey, maybe the string? but he's not sure). i also ride horses and have experience no problems whatsoever.

- Did Mirena ever move out of place?

no. i was scared of this the first month because i couldn't feel the strings, but when i went in for my checkup the doc assured me the strings were there and everything was perfectly in place. i was nervous for no reason. heh.

- Did you experience extreme cramping? how long?

YES. during the insertion two HORRIBLE cramps, then afterward steady bad cramps until the next day, but nothing painkillers and a muscle relaxer couldn't handle. i had intermittent cramps (not bad ones) for about 4 days after. normal cramps during period, no cramps in-between.

-Did your periods change or ever stop?

I bled steadily for 2 weeks, spotted randomly (not too bad) for about 2 weeks. was beginning to become frustrated, but was patient since bleeding usually lasts from 1 month - 3 months. after a month and a half i was totally back to normal, and my period came back at it's regular time, if not maybe a few days late. it lasted perhaps 6-7 days instead of 4-5 days like being on the pill (lutera), but it was a light period and no nasty cramps or anything. my next period came in schedule, with the normal "warning" signs beforehand (a little sensitive, sore breasts, sort of very light cramping the day before it started)

Oh! and I heard that you check it by feeling strings that pass through your cervix.

How does feeling the strings let you know that Mirena is in place?

if the strings are not seen or felt, it can mean that the IUD has moved in your uterus, taking the strings with them. if the IUD moves it can make you susceptible to getting pregnant. if the strings are not easily seen hanging from your cervix then removal would be harder. they would have to go in your uterus to find them in order to take the IUD out. this was my worst fear when i couldn't feel my strings, but my 1-month checkup washed those fears away as it was perfectly in place, even after bleeding for a month (bleeding apparently could "dislodge" it, which is why you're supposed to check after your period).

sorry for the long answers, but i know how it feels to be unsure about getting an IUD. i'm glad i did now. it hasn't caused me any weight gain, excessive moodiness, etc. like you hear about sometimes. remember that people usually go online to COMPLAIN about something - and the horror stories i've found online really aren't that much. i would try it, if you can tough out the initial pain the first day, but who knows! i was an extreme case apparently. with most it doesn't hurt that much i've heard.

If you're looking for a semi-permanent birth control Mirena is fantastic!!

I've had it for about a year now and I absolutely love it. I chose to get an IUD because I simply couldn't keep up with the pill anymore and my fiance and I know we won't be wanting kids for quite a few years yet (the Mirena is meant to last for 5). The insertion was not the most pleasant experience (they need to manually open your cervix so it's a lot like 30 seconds of child birth) but if you have already given birth before it should go much easier. You're are a bit sore for a day or two (not unlike a particularly unhappy period) but I haven't felt a lick of discomfort from it since- it's like you're free as a bird! Commonly your periods lighten or even disappear (mine are nearly nonexistent now) because the hormone in Mirena is designed to help treat Endometriosis. But don't get too excited you still get all of your normal PMS symptoms and sometimes the period cramps because it doesn't make your period stop it just reduces the amount of blood building in your uterus.

Overall I think it was one of the best choices I ever made. My fiance says he can feel it once in a while but other than that it has only improved life in the bedroom, and if your thinking you may not be done having kids it's nice to know that it's completely reversible. I hope this helped, good luck!

I've heard more about women having abdominal pain from mirena than anything.

Get your man to 'man-up' and get a vasectomy. they don't hurt nearly as much as a tattoo.. Insurance covers them cuz it's cheaper than paying claims on pregnancy and child med needs... it's permanent, and a wonderful relief to enjoy sex without ANY concern of pregnancy. Make certain to let it heal completely before test-driving.. and make sure to get a sperm count of zero before "re-consummating" enjoy!!