Hi moms! My second child is three weeks old today (my older son is five years old) and my doctor asked me before I left the hospital if I might be interested in long-term birth control options as opposed to the pill (which I've been on for about 15 years). I'm wondering what your experiences have been with long-term birth control options (Mirena, etc) as my hubby and I still haven't decided if we'll want a third child. He'll probably get a vasectomy once we decide for sure that we're finished, but in the meantime I'd like to leave that option open. :)
My best friend had Mirena for five years and is about to have it removed, and says her hormones went crazy, she got awful acne, and overall just would not recommend it. Obviously I realize that person to person everyone's experience is different, but I'd love to hear about the pros and cons of the methods you chose, and what you would recommend or not.
Thanks in advance, moms!
I had mirena and was not a huge fan. It wasn't terrible but I am a pretty laid back person and I had some mood swings with it. It was nice not having a period though. My sister has had it twice and she loves it a whole lot.
My experience with my husband's vasectomy has been GREAT! I have had no side effects at all (except DH whining when "the boys" swelled to the size of a grapefruit, but I pointed out that 2 human beings the size of a bowling ball had passed through my girl parts, and he shut up pretty quick). I would highly recommend your husband's vasectomy as your long-term birth control option. ;)
I'm on my 2nd Mirena - 8 years total. No side effects. No periods. No problems. Love it!
I had the paraguard for 2 yrs and the Mirena for one year. For both I had crazy hormones like your friend, acne, GI issues, really long periods, heavy cramping, weight gain. I had a horrible time with the Depo shot too. I am just very sensitive to different types of birth control. I do know women who love the Mirena to be fair. My best friend got it after her son was born, and didn't have a period in 5 years and loved it. So I guess it depends on the woman. I would say take your symptoms on the Pill and multiply them a little bit and those would be your symptoms on Mirena
I've had the Mirena for 4 years. LOVE IT!!! No side effects at all. NO PERIODS!!!
Mirena seems to be a hot topic. In my experience people either love it or hate it...I love it. I'm on my second one and I have had no problems at all. It has basically taken away my periods, which I love, and I don't really experience any of the negative side effects. I like that it stays in for 5 years and that I don't have to worry. It also is giving us the time to consider a vasectomy as well. I'd recommend it. I will say that you have to give it at least 3 months to really know if it'll work for you. After that third month is when things start to regulate. The first three were a bit hectic in terms of spotting and irregular periods, but nothing horrible.
I have had Mirena for almost 4 years and LOVE it. I will never again get a different form of birth control. I am getting a new one when mine expires next year.
The acne is true for me too, but I have bad skin when I am not on birth control, so for me it is due to the super low level of hormones. One of the side effects of the pill is to make your skin better, with mirena you don't get that welcome side effect.
I have had issues with mood swings and lack of libido on the pill as well - not so since I have been on Mirena. And I also like no longer having a period.
Everyone reacts differently to BC, so it's impossible to tell how you would feel about it, but for me it's been great.
I have had the mirena for 3 years and LOVE it! Have not had a period in 3 years and no pain. I have not experienced any side affects and in 2 years I will have it taken out and another one put back in. It has been the best thing for me. I myself was also on the pill for 15 years and this is much better.
I got the Paraguard IUD in November - unlike Mirena, it does not use hormones and it was recommended to me by my doctor because of my history of blood clots and the fact that anything with hormones ups the risk. My periods are heavier than usual (as in tampon gets saturated in no time and I need to be wearing a pad too for back-up) but don't seem to last as long. Otherwise I have not had any issues. We don't want any more kids and hubby has considered getting "snipped" but right now it's not covered by our insurance whereas at the time I got it done, the Paraguard was.
I got implanon. It was put under the skin of my underarm, stays there for a few years then they replace it. I had no side effects. Sometimes recently I have random periods which is annoying but when I talk to my friends they seem to experience it on their birth controls too so I don't know if that's the nature of the beast or not. I would recommend it. It is very rare though, so my periods are basically gone. I will most likely get it again. I was going to do Mirena but my uterus is inverted so I couldn't.
I have the Paraguard (copper) IUD. I'm on year 9 at this point, and it comes due on year 10, so I'll be getting my second one in a few months. I'm in the "LOVE it" category.
The only major/common downside of Paraguard is that for your first 3 periods most people need to take midol or a mild Rx muscle relaxer because they are *super* crampy. Granted, that was 9 years ago for me. And midol took care of it.
A "semi" downside for a lot of people is that because it ISN'T hormonal, you don't get hormonal side effects (like a shortened period). If you've been on hormonal birth control it can be a bit of a shock to have your period revert to 'normal' (aka usually heavier and longer, mine went from light 1 day heavy for 2, to light 1 day, heavy for 2, light 2 days). AND if you get any other "bene's" from hormones, those go away as well.
It's also the upside (aka why I said semi-downside) because "minor" hormonal side effect of the negative kind also go away (moodieness, bloating, skin issues, weight gain, etc.) as well as major (triggering gynecological cancers in some people -like me-, blood clots, heart attack, stroke).
So it really depends on whether you body "likes" added hormones or not whether or not a copper or hormonal IUD is a better fit lifestyle wise.
What I absolutely love about paraguard (that's different from Mirena)
- Same failure rate as a tubal ligation (booyah!)
- No hormonal side effects (I get cancer, weight gain, wonky periods on hormones)
- Good for 10 years
- Not affected by antibiotics
- Good from the day of insertion until day of removal (aka no waiting period before you're protected and there's no 'waiting period' after removal for your body to reset if you want to get pregnant again).
((Of course, there are many aspects both share: like not needing to remember anything))
I was so thrilled with my IUD the first few years (still am), that now all my female friends have them, and many of their friends. I currently know (IRL) over 40 women who have gotten them. Only one had it removed, and it was during the first 3 months, because she got laid up by the cramps and said "F no, take it out!" They really are gnarly. But nowhere near as bad as contractions.
Obviously, no one with a copper allergy should get one, and nothing is perfect for everyone, but I love, love, love my paraguard.
December will be 3 years for Mirena for me. I LOVE IT!!! I have had NO PERIODS, no cramping, no headaches, no bloating..... etc... I would recommend it to everyone!
