Iud - Spokane, WA

I had the Mirena in for two years following the birth of my daughter. I loved it, no problems, and best of all NO periods! I got it out in February and was pregnant the month after having one period. It's a great choice for most women who don't want to worry abotu birth control but aren't sure how soon or if they want more kids yet!

I have had the Mirena (hormone IUD) for a year and a half and love it. I originally wanted to get the copper IUD because I didn't want to so anything that used hormones but after doing some research I decided the small amount of hormones that mostly stay locally combined with lighter periods was preferable for me than the copper one w/o hormones but with generally heavier periods. I was also swayed by the fact it's been used in Europe for 15 years with a good track record of safety and that when you have it taken out you are just as likely to get pregnant, immediately, as someone who had been using no birth control. That seemed to say to me it's pretty safe.

I have a very good friend who got the Mirena a year ago and ended up taking it out after 6 months because she developed uterine cysts, which is apparently a somewhat common side-effect. She was experiencing quite a bit of pain w/ the cysts, so she decided to just take it out.

I'm having no problem, though, and would defintely recommend it.

After the birth of my daughter, I was in the exact same situation that you are in now. I had decided on an IUD but didn't know which one to go with. I had only been on the pill twice in my life before, and both times with a very negative reaction. The hormones in them (I even took a low-dose form the second time around) did not agree with me - I suffered from depression and had a significantly lower libido on both forms. Needless to say, I was very hesitant to do anything else to my body involving an alteration of hormones.

My doctor told me that the hormones in the Mirena IUD were practically insignificant compared to birth control pills. She also thought that because my cycle has always been inconsistent, that what hormones there were would actually be beneficial. I went ahead and chose that one over the copper IUD.

I have been nothing but pleased with my choice, and I have had the Mirena IUD for almost 2 years now. I haven't experienced any of the side effects that I had before with the pill. There was no weight gain, no hormonal changes that I have noticed, and I even stopped having periods altogether (can't complain with that!). It was painful to have put in, and I can't say that I'm looking forward to having it removed some day, but otherwise, I have no reason to complain about it.

Hi I also got the mirena IUD six weeks after my son was born. I Have had it since february this year. It's wonderful. I also experienced horrible things on the depo shot, and the pill. the patch didnt stay on, so I had to figure out a good type of BC. My sister had the Mirena for five years, just got it taken out. and she never had any problems.

I love NOT getting periods. and I love not being a grouch during that time. ITS a life saver. I totally recommend it!

Good luck!
-C.

I have never had an IUD, but I have known someone that tried it two times and both times had horrible bleeding problems. If there is something else you can try I would recommend it only because her experience was scary.

Hi S.,
I have had the Mirena IUD in for about a year and a half with no problems. The Mirena is one that gives off a small amount of hormone continually. Because you aren't ingesting the hormone you won't get the same side effects as with the pill.
Most of the negative side effects you experience from the pill are experienced because they pass through the digestive system and are absorbed systemically (throughout the body). The hormones from the Mirena don't do that they work locally on the lining of the uterus etc. The really nice thing about the Mirena is most don't have periods with it either!! When I first stopped breast feeding about a month or two later I did get a period but now if I wasn't on the pill as well :[ (for ovarian cysts not birth control) I don't think I would get them or I would get just spotting. Talk with your doctor because if you have ever had a pelvic infection it's not safe to use but if you can it's wonderful-no remembering to change the patch, ring, or taking a pill every day!

Hi there. I have the non-hormon and it is great! It also lasts longer then the other one. Goodluck.

Hello S., not to try and scare you but I wanted to let you know out of the 5 women (one was the copper) I know that had the IUD including me ALL had complications :( I 2 weeks ago today had to go in and have mine removed because I have been spotting for OVER a year now & any time me & my hubby would try & have intercourse it would make me bleed alot! I would recommend the Nuvo Ring! My other friend her IUD actually preferate into her uterus, (it didnt show up on the ultrasound either) & caused MAJOR PAIN & when she had it removed the Doc just ripped it out & she found out later on that they should have done surgery. And now she has such bad scarring that she has to wait for to heal all the way in order to try & get pregnant again!! One of my other friends it started to go into the side of her uterus when she found out. I wouldn't reccomend IUD's to my worst enemy... LOL

I had great success with an IUD, I had the Paraguard (the one without hormones) as I was breastfeeding and didn't want to have birth control with hormones, which eliminates many of the choices. I had the IUD put in 2 1/2 months after my son was born (condoms worked fine in the mean time) and I had it in for 2 1/2 years with no problems what-so-ever. I had it taken out Dec 4th and found out I was pregnant Feb 4th. So I would have to give it a great recommendation!

M. F.

I have the mirena and love it. I haven't gotten to the point of no periods but I have greatly diminished ones. No hormonal side effects and after I got used to it being in, no problems. Some irregular bleeding when I first had it put in but otherwise its been great. I didn't have any problems having it placed but they did have to place it while I was on my period. However, my best friend had one placed and felt labor was less painful. I had heard that the copper ones sometimes created a heavier period and more cramping which I didn't want. My purpose in getting the IUD was to reduce/diminish my periods. I'm not able (nor do I want to) take the pill due to my age and when I had this placed, my smoking. I've had it for over a year now and I'm thrilled with it.

I have had an IUD since the birth of my 2nd child. I have had it for 15 months now. I must say I have had horrible experiences with the pill also and the Mirena IUD is wonderfull. You hardly ever have periods and it does not cause any hormonal problems for me! I strongly suggest the Mirena IUD.

I have the hormone IUD and my sister has the copper IUD. I had very minor cramping for at the most one week and spotting for maybe two days. My sister had spotting for a week and a half. On the hormonal IUD, you are less likely to get a period (I have not had one and my sister has..). Good luck!

I have the merena (sp?) and like it, but worry that I don't get my period.. that is one of the side effects.. other than that I have no problems with it and have no worries!! it's great!

My cousin has the Copper one and loves it because it prevents pregnancy and she has no hormones in her body and she still gets her period.. so nothing changes..

I had the Mirena IUD placed over a year ago and have nothing bad to say about it. I had terrible periods for years and was on Depo to control them. Because of my age and the hormones and such, my GYN and I decided that the Mirena was a good choice. Due to the fact that the hormones are centralized in the uterus, you shouldn't have any adverse reactions to them. That is one of the best things about this. The hormones stay where they are needed and don't mess with your body. I personally haven't heard anything negative regarding the Mirena IUD and since I was working in an OB/GYN clinic, I came into contact with a lot of different people with a lot of different opinions.

I just had my first IUD put in in May, its the merena with very little hormones in it. So far it hasn't messed with my moods which was what I was worried about because of the hormone, my doctor said that there are so few hormones in it that it stays in your uterus so that is a plus. The only downside is that you have to deal with irregular bleeding and discharge for a full 3 months until your period starts a normal schedule. But my doctor did say that our periods will eventually have a much lighter flow, maybe just spotting so that would be nice! I would recommend it, so far anyways. Hope I could help, good luck!

Hello, well I have had both IUD'S in the past the first one i had was the one with hormones wich i did not like in any way i would have longer periods some times 3 weeks out of 4 weeks and when i had it removed it took us over a yr to get preg agian and this time around i have the copper t with no hormones and its seems to be great , with no extra periods, so i recomed the copper t with no hormones.. good luck

Hi I just wanted to share that I had the Marina IUD that needs to be replaced in 5 years I love it ... I got it after I had my 4th baby and I loved it because after sometime I had no more periods, really no cramping nothing. Of course it took a few months to get to the no period and on occassion after but it was only a showing not a flow of a menstral cycle. Then when I remarried a couple years ago I decided to have my IUD removed in April 06 I was pregnant in May and had a baby in February 07 and now expecting another. So weather you are interesting in another child later or not I liked the Marina IUD and will be getting it again after this baby. Anymore questions please just ask.

I had one after my daughters birth, the copper kind. My size down there is almost too short to get one but she said it would be fine. In my case my body didn't like it, I kept having the feeling like I wanted to push. It also poked my hubby a couple time... definite mood killer. But keep in mind this was 7 years ago.