Getting an IUD

[Anonymous]

I am 42yo and done with childbearing. I have been on the pill for yours and finally found a pill that more or less works for me (no weight gain, libido intact, periods light or nonexistent). My GYN has been pushing an IUD for a while. So was my previous GYN in a different city. I think I'm finally ready to do it but have a few questions for those that have used Mirena or Skyla. How has it worked for you? Has it affected your libido? Periods? Cramping? How long after insertion did you stop having side effects? Was the insertion uncomfortable? Anyone who regrets it? Your input would be helpful. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

I know there have been a bunch of old threads on this so you'll probably find plenty of feedback by searching.

My experience...I'm on my 2nd Mirena and will have it replaced this winter with #3. Yes, insertion is uncomfortable. My first wasn't too bad because I'd had a baby a couple months prior but the 2nd hurt more. A day or so of cramping, a few months of pretty much daily spotting with the first. Only a couple days of spotting w/ the 2nd. I've been very happy with it -- no periods, except occasionally a day with very light spotting and slight cramping. No impact on sex drive. The only downside vs. the pill for me is that the pill stopped my PMS acne while it still flares up some with the IUD since the hormones released are more localized. But, small price to pay for all the other benefits.

[Anonymous]

I am the poster of the other thread - Mirena 7 weeks ago - see that one.
Overall pretty good. I feel nothing, and the pain lasted only a day or so (but PRETTY painful for me upon insertion). BUT, the brown blood just doesnt stop coming....

[Anonymous]

Thank you both for sharing. I'm not terribly excited about this, but feel it may be the best choice for me right now. I noticed you are both spotting after several months. Is it getting better? Are the side effects of menstruation like cramping and acne getting better? I have terrible fatigue with periods and can't spend 1-2 days in bed every month. Thanks so much for your input.

[Anonymous]

I have skyla. Light spotting pretty consistently for 5 months and then basically no periods. My libido increased. Never have to worry about BC. It's great!

[Anonymous]

I've had a Mirena for about two years now. I was on the pill for many years before that. I think my doctor wanted me off the pill at 40 because in the past I was a social smoker and she worried that it put me at risk of cancer, perhaps? (I haven't smoked in years.)

Anyway. Very small amount of pain after insertion, and not since. I think I've had spotting maybe twice in the two years since insertion. I haven't gotten my period since the insertion, though it was going away in the years before I got the Mirena. No cramping. No side effects. No weight gain that can't be explained.

I'm single so I don't really have opportunities for sex, but I don't think my libido has changed. I'm pretty tired most of the time (single mom), but when I have been in relationships on Mirena, libido seemed normal. it is kind of weird to not have a period to let you know you're not pregnant accidentally. That was hard to get used to!

[Anonymous]

Had a Mirena. Insertion did not hurt at all. A little light spotting, then light periods. But, it did a number on my acne (which seemed odd, but it was really bad and really noticeable), so I switched back to the pill (problem quickly improved).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you both for sharing. I'm not terribly excited about this, but feel it may be the best choice for me right now. I noticed you are both spotting after several months. Is it getting better? Are the side effects of menstruation like cramping and acne getting better? I have terrible fatigue with periods and can't spend 1-2 days in bed every month. Thanks so much for your input.

I'm one of the PPs -- I've had my 2nd Mirena for over 4 yrs now (due to replace soon) so it's been a long, long time since I had any spotting. Prior to Mirena, I had very heavy and painful periods so it's been wonderful to eliminate those.

[Anonymous]

I've had my Mirena for about 6 months now. Love, love, love it. I had some mild cramping the few days following the iud. Nothing horrible and it was on and off. Had very light spotting on and off for about 1.5 weeks 3 months after insertion i had a very light period that lasted about 3 days. Since then nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've had my Mirena for about 6 months now. Love, love, love it. I had some mild cramping the few days following the iud. Nothing horrible and it was on and off. Had very light spotting on and off for about 1.5 weeks 3 months after insertion i had a very light period that lasted about 3 days. Since then nothing.

Oh and I'll add. Happy to report my libido has not changed.

[Anonymous]

Mine was a bit of a disaster. The initial cramping last about 3 weeks. I bled for the first 2 months straight and my doc put me on BCPs to make it stop. I have always had heavy periods, so I went with mirena. The first period quickly turned into emergency level bleeding. Tampons lasted about 10-30 minutes before leaking in a big way. Then, a few weeks later, my body expelled it. The odds of any one of these things happening is low. I have bad luck and my body did not like it. I'm on the pill now. My libido was unaffected by mirena.

Tbh, I'm a little envious of the women who have such an easy time with them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:. I have been on the pill for yours and finally found a pill that more or less works for me (no weight gain, libido intact, periods light or nonexistent). My GYN has been pushing an IUD for a while. So was my previous GYN in a different city.

Sorry, not answering your question, but I'm wondering why the doctors are pushing the IUD when the pill is working for you?