Hi all, I'm 34 and recently switched from Paraguard to Mirena, it's been two months and I've gained 5lbs. I teach aerobics and workout at least 5 days a week. I'm moody, my boobs are killing me, have headaches, and just feel out of sorts. I'm going back the the Paraguard ASAP! Paraguard is a copper (no hormones at all!)IUD, the only side effect for the 4 years I had it was heavy periods (2-3 very heavy days). My doc talked me into switching, and I hate the new one, I feel awful! I also have Fibromyalga and since the copper IUD was removed have had much more chronic pain. I am convinced that the copper was keeping the inflamation down in my body. The docs seem very eager to push Mirena, but beware! I'd advise anyone to go with the copper IUD(unless they're allergic to copper).

melgoodie: I'm with you. I exercise daily, and eat very well. I gained 7 pounds in the first month with Mirena (and my boobs and nipples hutr like crazy). I lasted 1.5 months with Mirena.

melgoddie & the gryphon, I am with both of you, I had the same issues with the Mirena for 1.5 years, gained 48lbs. I am so happy with the Paragard!

48 pounds. wow, that must have been frustrating. I'm quite glad I had mine removed, and wish I'd never had one fitted.
fwiw, here's a site with 90 pages of people bemoaning weight gain with mirena.

http://discoveryhealth.co.uk/forum3/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1472&FORUM_ID=8

Thought I'd give an update since I have had Mirena removed....and feeling quite good! Zero physical affects. Moods are back to normal, making me realize how out-of-whack I was. Doc has given me BC to try now... it's been over 20 years and I used to get severe migraines from them so I'm a bit nervous. The doc also said that because I used to smoke way back then, it was the combination of the progesterone(?) and smoking that produced the migraines. I don't know, but I'm going to research this one before I actually swallow it! (and I no longer smoke) I am thinking about a copper IUD...How do I know or find out if I am allergic to copper, and how does your body react if you are allergic to a copper IUD? Thanks!

I got migraines on mirena. Best of luck! (I don't smoke).

Hello All!

I got my Mirena inserted this past Thursday. I won't sugar coat it, it was the worst pain of my life. But ~ 1) I have a very low pain threshhold, 2) I have never been pregnant, 3) we discovered a "kink" in my cervix that made insertion extremely difficult.

I was able to immediately get up and get dressesed and walk down to my sis's vehicle to take me home. I had cramps and nausea, more nausea after I took the pain pill my doc prescribed for me. I slept great that night and woke up Friday with only the slighest twinges of cramping.

I was concerned I would start hurting again and chose not to go to work that day. I feel pretty good, no cramping today or yesterday, just a little discomfort mainly from gas and indegestion.

My period has all but stopped now, even though my doc advised me that I should spot for about 5 weeks. I know enough to know this favorable experience could change, but am quite pleased so far. I know a lot of people have had very bad experiences, so I wanted to share my positive one!

I have a great doctor who inserts IUD's regularly, calls them the best form of BC available. She doesn't blink an eye at a never been pregnant woman, says it's approved, it just hurts a little more. She gave me Cytotec to open my cervix to make insertion easier, and she was very calming during the procedure. I think she was the biggest part of the experience being a successful one for me.

Good Luck to anyone beginning this journey. Do your research and find out what is best for you. Know that you may or may not have any or all of the symptoms and side effects associated with IUD's.

dunleaper: Ever put that cheap candy machine or dime store jewelry as a kid and break out with a skin rash...if not chances are that your not allergic to copper. Copper is one of those materials used as a filler metal is some jewelry. If you don't know whether or not you’re allergic to copper, you're probably not.

My Mirena is being changed to the Copper T (Paraguard) this week! Can't wait to get these hormones out of my body, I will never put any type of artificial hormone into my body (by mouth or insertion) ever again!

Good Luck!

well let me first say I am so happy I found this site. I am a 25 yr old mom of 3 kids. I have a 4 yr old , a 1 yr old, and a 3 month old. Yes, i had 2 babies last yr and not at the same time. I just got mirena 2 weeks ago. and i am alil scared right now. Now i normally have my period about 2 or 3 times a year and only for at the most 4 days. I have been bleeding non-stop for a few days now and it just seems like alot. i'm not having bad cramps or anything, its just the bleeding. and , not to be nasty, but it seems like its blood blood ya know what I mean. i'm just wondering if this is how everyone has felt or if i should go get myself checked.

Thanks so much for any replies its much appreciated

After reading through this thread again, I'm SO glad I'm having the Mirena taken out later this month. I've just realised from reading through posts that I've had a few more side affects than just the pain, thinning of hair and weight gain (a whole dress size!). I've definitely had the lactating thing (though that's gone now, thank god!) and the constipation thing.
I've also noticed that I'm a lot more short of breath these days (though that could be from the weight gain), and I generally feel uncomfortable, bloated and just plain unhappy to be in my skin.

It'll be 7 months to the day that I had it inserted when it's taken back out and I really can't wait till the end of the month.

Here's hoping the weight comes off quickly!

Best of luck to everyone.

I had the Mirena implanted in October and have gained 15 lbs. Due to schedules, I have to wait until April 20 to have it removed. Painful procedure, painful for first few weeks, breast etc tenderness - GYN said same thing - not due to Mirena. BUT I have had MORE ENERGY (but gained weight, go figure) since the IUD. BEFORE, since my 2nd son was born in 2001, I have been progressively tired. First, a few days before my period. Then, it grew to 14 days before my period. I hardly had any energy at all. I've had thyroid testing since 2001 and it doesn't show anything. The GYN did testing and said everything looked normal. Does this sound familiar to anybody?? I've been reading the notes re the 5-HTP - would this help me after I get back to "normal" so I have more energy? Are there any doctors hanging out "in the audience?"

Need energy, try sugarfree redbull. It's not just the caffeine that gives you a boost but the Taurine and B-vitas. I've heard good things about 5-HTP, but have not tried it. I do take a Multi vita, B complex, Glucosamine, Ginko Biloba, St. John's Wart, and of course Calcium. I have Fibromyalgia which causes muscle pain and fatigue, and this vita/herd combo works well for me. Mirena's coming out tomorrow (ye-haa)!

Hi every1, had a mirena put in in nov 04 and found out in Dec 05 that I was 5 months pregnant !! Had loads of horrible side-effects up til aug 05 then terrible heartburn constantly. My radiographer can t tell me where my coil is as they are invisible on scans so at 39 I m about to have my 4th child !! I think its time to have my tubes tied !! Something that did really concern me was the fact that if you get a bout of constipation these coils can (if you ve already had children ) come out easily, something they neglect to tell you. I wouldn t have 1 again thats for sure !!!!!!

Just wanted to put in my 2 cents. I had similar side effects on the Merena. It started 7mo after I had it inserted. The same time my period stopped... when I talked with my OB she told me that some people who have their period stop (or slow way down) and already have difficult PMS symptoms during their cycle or are hormonally unbalanced anyway (depression, etc) can experience these symptoms because its almost like their body goes into a long term PMS waiting for your cycle to start. She didn’t mention if it is “permanent” until you have it removed… but I wasn’t about to wait around!! I had it removed… it’s only been 2 days but I feel better already.

MY OB stated that it is common for people with the copper IUD to complain of painful cramping.

Hello all! My name is Alisha and I've had my Mirena since July 2002. I LOVED it up until the point that I completely weaned my daughter from nursing (@ 18 months). After that everything went downhill... mood swings, gained 20 pounds in about 6 months and generally felt like crap. I got on Lexapro thinking it was just my hormones after stopping nursing, etc. Never once thinking it was this stupid IUD! After researching on the net I found out I was not alone. Of course you ask a doc and they say you need to eat better, exercise, etc and that it couldn't possibly be the Mirena causing this. Well I know my body and glad to say that I plan to get this stupid thing out. Now the only problem is that the strings are gone and there is no clue if the stupi thing is even in place. So I'm having an ulstrasound to determine where it is then having it removed after that. I would love any advice on what to expect and supplements to take.

hi, i am 36 and had my first mirena fitted at 28 to help my endometriosis.suffered since 16.
mirena worked great, took a while to settle and had really heavy bleeding for 6 months but once settled it done the job.3 years in i noticed really heavy weight gain, mood swings, no sex drive at all and felt like my body was going to explode. told by gp to work with it, and after year,had that coil removed and a fresh one inserted.Pain really bad both sides this time and feel really bloated all the time, can gain up to a stone by night time in fluid. after 2 and half years,having it removed in june and being sterilized.endometriosis may become worse but cant go on like this.very unhappy

Hi girls,
This site was a lifesaver for me. I had my mirena put in on tuesday, the whole insertion was awful. My doctor said i had a tipped uterus so it was going to be worse. Tuesday night, i was in so much pain the advil wasn't touching it. But first day right? supposed to be alittle pain..by thursday, i was worse and to top it off..my entire lower body had swollen up. I was crying everyday, and the pains were not going away and the pressure inside my uterus was unbearable. I didn't know what to do. My boyfriend and i searched mirena side effects with google and found this site. Friday morning, I called my doctor and went in. They tried to tell me the swelling wasn't from the IUD and that if I left it in for another month the pain would subside. But after reading the post i said take it out. By the time I left the doctors office, I felt better and by that night i was completley better! I am glad i found this site or i would have kept it in and thought it was normal. My doctor didn't tell me any side effects..just that it was great. I didn't think to research it till after I had it, but this site made me see what was going on before i ended up with some serious problems. So, thanks again for helping me see what my Doctor didn't bother to mention. Now, almost a week later, I still have some pain and cramping but nothing like while it was in. My breast are really sensitive and the swelling comes and goes depending on how long I am on my feet. But I am getting better. I can't imagine having kept it in for longer how I might feel. I wish you all luck with whatever you decide to do.

jsthiel.....Hi I wore a Copper 7 for yrs. I loved it...Periods were a little heavy but everything else was worry free.Have the string cut a little shorter...Hold a penny in your hand it is copper does it bother you?....

Mine's finally switched, the Mirena is out and the copper T (paragard)is in again! I'd rather have a heavier period and some cramping once a month than the Mirena symptoms 24/7! It's only been a few days so I'm still waiting for my body to cycle and go back to normal, but at least I'm on the road to recovery.