The Mirena - Sherman Oaks,CA

Have it, LOVE it. Got it at 6 weeks and didn't have a single issue. My friend got it when her daughter was 2. Had some cramping and stuff when it was placed, but not a problem since. She LOVES it too. Good luck.

Love it, love it, love it! I am on my second one (they last five years, I have have used them now for 7 years) - I am 42 years old. There was a little cramping each time it was inserted, nothing too bad. I spotted for about 2-4 months after the first one and I have not had a period since. I do not have any of the monthly symptoms like bloating, cramping, headaches etc. I know some women have had issues with theirs but no birth control works for everyone. Schedule a consultation w/ you GYN and discuss all of your options. Research all of the options you want to explore and have questions for your GYN. My GYN was not a fan of the shot and was aware pills were not an option for me - I never remember to take them or get them refilled. She highly encouraged me to try the Mirena. It does have hormones, so if you are sensitive or have reactions to hormonal therapy, it may not be for you. Your doctor must be experienced with the Mirena - it is not a traditional IUD. Placement is critical and someone not familiar w/ it can place it wrong. It is larger than a traditional IUD which is why it is only for women who have had children. You may have to get the strings trimmed so they don't interfere w/ sex (my husband could feel them until they were trimmed). I hope this helps...

Good luck!

I don't have Mirena, but got Paragard a little over a month ago. So far I am happy with it. I was not prepared for the amount of pain on insertion though. I was extremely uncomfortable during the procedure. After a couple days of light cramping I was good though. After all my years on hormonal birth control I was ready to be done with it. For about three years I had been using a spermicidal gel that you put in with an applicator. It has been very freeing to not have to worry about contraception!!!

I got the Mirena after I had my son, and there have been pros and cons.

Pros: Effective right away, no pill to take everyday, no nausea (I'm super sensitive to estrogen based birth control)

Cons: You have to check the strands often to make sure it's not disappearing up into the uterus (this almost happened the first month I had it, doctor had to pull it back down), my husband was constantly stabbed during sex (my sis in law said they had the same issue), mood swings, felt unnatural not having a real period (some may think this is a pro), weight gain

I had it taken out after almost 2 and a half years. The cons were a bit too much for me, and I was always good at not knowing my cycle and not getting pregnant before we tried for my son. I hope I helped some. :)

Check out mymirenaexperience.com I had an acquiantance have an eptopic pregnancy on it.

You'll see with all the responses that it just depends on the person. Some love it. Some hated it. There's probably no way to know if it will work for you unless you try it. If it were me, I'd narrow my choices down to two or three, if possible. Talk to your doctor to see which one he/she would recommend for YOU.
I had the Mirena after my youngest. I absolutely loved it. No periods at all and the only cramping I had was the day it was inserted. Hubby later said he did feel it, but he's not one to complain and obviously it didn't bother him enough to not want to do it anymore!! LOL!! I've heard that the strings can be shortened if that's a problem.
Now, after all that, I did get pregnant with the Mirena. To be honest, it may have been the second miscarriage since I had had no periods for 4 years, then out of the blue....a heavy period, which could have been a miscarriage about 4 months before I learned I was pregnant with a test. The IUD was imbedded in the uterine tissue and had to be surgically removed. After going back to the pill, I ended up pregnant again and the baby was full term with no issues whatsoever. That baby was sooo meant to be, I guess!!!
Since hubby ended up getting the vasectomy, I haven't had to deal with bc, however, I would have looked into the Nuva ring. Like I said, I'd find a couple you'd like to explore and get some advice from your doc. Good luck!

Hi Jennifer I have mirena for 3 years and I'm doing fine with it. In my case I don;t have my period at all {which I like}. Don;t experience pain or migraines. After the device was put it I had a period about 3 months and then it stop. My doctor sad it;s normal for some woman.
I don;t like pills and this solution was the best for me even thought I wish I would not need to use any and let my body work the nature planed. That's not possible so mirena works for me.

I love mine! I've had it for 3 years and I've had 1 major period and the rest of my "periods" has been minor spotting. I don't have to worry about forgetting so it's awesome.

I had a miscarriage on it... I really hated it and bleed almost the entire time I had it in sorry if thats tmi... I cramped and was hormonal and mood all the time. I had a few friends who got pregnant on it as well. I had nausea the whole time I had it in and was miserable :( everyone is diffrent though) I also dont suggest nuva ring as I have had a friend get pregnant with twins on it. I am now on kevara (?) and its only bc of how irregluar my periods got after I had the mirana removed... I also have looked into non hormonal bc, but my doc keeps telling me I need time for my body to recover from so much and is afraid about what would happen with my moodiness and my periods. Good luck and I would suggest calling your doc and ask him/her what is best for you!

I love, love love my Mirena. I had a lot of side effects from bc pills and haven't had those with the Mirena. I got one after my first and had it for about 2 years then decided to get pg again and was able to get pg one month after getting my Mirena out. After my second (he's 5 months) I got another one. Here are the things I think people need to know about the Mirena-- 1. cramping afterwards is NORMAL, sometimes its extreme. After my first one it was so bad I had to call my husband to come home from work. After my second it was like period cramping. Give it 3 weeks or so to totally subside. 2. You will most likely spot a lot for 1-3 months after you get it inserted. Most people I know (including myself) have spotted anything from really light to like a period off and on for a few months. Stick it out, it WILL go away and after it will be SO worth it. After I stop with the initial spotting I don't have hardly any periods at all so for me, its worth it to spot for a while.
I think a lot of people who got theirs out were not willing to really give it a chance. Its the best bc I've ever been on. I have zero side effects, no weight gain and can still nurse. I love not thinking about it at all. Its great!

I love it! I've had it for almost 2 years and haven't had any problems and I love not having a period!! All of my close friends are also on it and although a few have had some periodic spotting, they are all very happy with it! Good Luck!

I loved it. I had it for about 3 years and never had any problems. I did continue to get my period but only spotting for about 3 days and then it was gone. I didn't have enough spotting to ever go and buy tampons or panty shields. It was wonderful. I then had it removed in Jan. and now we are having baby number 3. I am 10 weeks pregnant. Hope this helps and good luck.

My experience is like momma11's. I am on my second mirena. I have no period. I do have PMS symptoms, but I'd rather have PMS and no period than have no PMS and have to worry about birth control.
I love mine.