I had years of horrendous periods and issues with every kind of oral contraceptive on the market, including Dianette, Yasmin and Cerazette. So, wanting to postpone childbearing for a few years (but not wanting to miss my window if there was some serious pathology causing my pain) I got the full gynae once-over and contraception package.
I had a laparoscopy, D&C and Mirena in February. I was supposed to get a hysteroscopy, but, well, my uterus is retroverted and the scope is straight, so that didn’t happen!
I had one 3 day (incredibly light, painless) period 8 weeks after the procedure and have been amennorheic since. No staining, no spotting, nothing. Only minor pain after the op, and that was from the laparoscopy, not from the D&C/Mirena.
So far:
No more bleeding
No headaches
Level mood
Good skin
Normal appetite and minor (3lb) weight loss
No bloating
No back pain
No period pains
No time off work since recovering from the surgery
No more money spent on “feminine supplies” or analgesics
I like knowing I can have it removed any time I want and get pregnant almost immediately (the same can’t be said of Depo/Norplant/Implanon) and that the amount of extra hormones actually entering my body is minute.
Luckily, this is the UK, so I waited 6 weeks from seeing my GP to seeing a gynaecologist and 6 months from seeing a gynaecologist to getting the procedure, but I didn’t pay a penny.
I cannot recommend Mirena enough, and have to remind myself not to be a one-woman Mirena cheerleading squad when consenting patients for it, or recommending treatments for their menstrual problems (I’m a doctor currently working in gynaecology).
Thank you to EVERYONE who took the time to respond to my postings, you really helped me to consider all of my options.
I went to the doctor today (I have a GREAT GP, also a gynecologist) and we discussed our options, my history of anxiety and depression, and the likely cause of my current hormone issues. She recommended the Mirena IUD over Implanon because the risks of side effects like increased depression and weight gain are much lower with the IUD. She says to expect my period to almost completely go away eventually.
She also discussed the consequences of accidental pregnancy while on the IUD (usually the embryo attaches to a fallopian tube, Danger Will Robinson!) and how important it is to go to a doctor immediately in the event of a pregnancy. However, when I told her that my husband and I ALWAYS use condoms on top of our preferred method of birth-control, she said, I quote, ‘‘There is no way in HELL you will get pregnant, then.’’
So, that’s the deal. I’m getting it ‘‘installed’’ on November 1st. Excited and impatient, but not looking forward to the pain and discomfort of installation. She said to take 800mgs of Ibuprofin before I came in, and I would be able to get through it. Fortunately I’m kind of used to suffering through uncomfortable medical procedures at this point.
On my way out the door, the receptionist told me I won’t regret it. So here’s hoping!
Ooh, excellent choice, Olive. Really - do a search for my name. Prob’ly half my posts are singing the Mirena’s praises to anyone who’ll listen. (OK, I exaggerate, but not by too much.)
Love it. Love it, love it, love it. Won’t ever go back. Best thing in the whole wide world. Did I mention I’m a huge fan of my IUD? Thought so.
Yes, implantation hurts - take some Advil beforehand. And think about taking the rest of the day off, too. My cramps from insertion were really bad that day, then lessened the next (I was back at work by then, but still a little crampy), and then gone by day 3. Along with my periods, save for some light spotting now and again. This was two years ago, and I’m still in love with it.
I never think about birth control. Ever. Gone are the days of trying to remember, “Did I take my pill?” “Do I have enough for this trip?” “Damn! Will I get my period on my vacation?” Never again. And I never check my string, either - my doc said that few women really do. She looks at it during my yearly physical; so far everything’s been right.
And I don’t think I paid one red cent for mine, except for the office visit co-pays - apparently, my insurance covers it. It’s pretty much the best thing ever.
IUDs are the most popular option among female gynecologists.
I have issues with anything touching my cervix or in my uterus, so I’m not going there, but OBVIOUSLY, YMMV. But hearing that almost had me going for an IUD.
Just a little update… today was the day I got my Mirena IUD. It hurt like hell for two 3-5 second periods during the insertion, both of which I was told about beforehand, and which I got through with some steady breathing and the knowledge that a little pain wouldn’t kill me. I kept telling myself that childbirth would be way worse.
I was secretly delighted by the fact that the IUDs little arms spread out and I could actually feel them extend and I knew the worst was over. The whole thing was actually kind of fascinating to me – that you can actually make a cervix dilate, measure the depth of the uterus with a sound, and then erect a little machine inside the uterus (like a ship in a bottle, kind of) is all kinds of cool. And when I think about all the relief that little machine can offer, it’s just even cooler.
Now I just have what feel like Menstrual Cramps From Hell, but nothing worse than what I experienced in the past, and not currently bleeding at all. I guess things might me a little dodgy over the next month with cramps and bleeding, but damn am I glad I did this. I almost changed my mind 1,000 times because I feared the pain and discomfort.
Just resting the rest of the day, and going back to work tomorrow.
Oh, yeah–and I didn’t even have a co-pay for this. It was FREE. Birth control for 5 years. FREE. If I weren’t in body-doubling pain at the moment, I’d do a happy dance!
Thanks for the update - I am planning on getting Mirena after my baby is born in december. They said I can get it at 8 weeks postpartum, I am hoping that since I will have recently had a baby that insertion will be easier. Do they give you gel to dialate the cervix beforehand, or just insert it?
I decided on it after my gyno said that she uses it and loves it, and we are not sure if we want more kids after this one, and I am tired of the pill but not ready for permanent solutions yet. I think I have to pay for it though…but since the pill was costing me $30-40 a month anyway, it will end up being cheaper in the long run.
I do find it a bit disconcerting that in the info I have, the pamphlet reads:
"How does Mirena work?
There is no single explanation of how Mirena works. It may stop release of your egg from your ovary, but this is not the way it works in most cases. It may block sperm from reaching or fertilizing your egg. It may make the lining of your uterus thin. We do not know which of these actions is most important for preventing pregnancy and most likely all of them work together."
Ummmm…ok. Not exactly fact-filled reassurance there. But I keep hearing from people who have it how much they love it, and if women gyno’s choose it, they must feel ok with it.
I’m contemplating Implanon, although I’m a wee bit squicked by the idea of having something implanted in my arm. At least I know that most doctors around here won’t object to it vs. an IUD.
The other common theories are that it acts as an occupant to the uterus, increasing production of prostoglandins that tell your body “there’s no room here” to support a pregnancy. Also, it slightly irritates the endometrium which makes it a less hospitable place for an egg to implant.
All that having been said, they’re right. We really don’t know for sure how they work. But they do.
I had the exact same experience! I love it otherwise - easy to use, didn’t have to remember it every day, light periods, no negative effects on my moods, all that good stuff.
Depo didn’t make me gain any weight (actually lost some), but it turned my into a raving mad-woman.
I tried Yaz, and bled & cramped for nearly a month straight before I gave up on that one.
IUDs intrigue me, but I doubt my insurance will cover much of it, and I’m afraid of getting it implated.
Thanks for the update! Please do provide others. I’m still waiting for an answer on the string thing (how noticeable is it to you and, um, others? How will you deal with your periods for the first few months?) Did you take any prescription painkillers for the procedure or afterwards? Were any offered?
I didn’t have and was not offered any prescription meds before the procedure, just took 800mgs of Motrin as instructed. I really doubt that it made much of a difference. The biggest thing I feared was the pain, but once I actually experienced it, I remember thinking, ‘‘Holy crap this hurts, but I’m okay.’’ I just kept breathing. The pain itself lasted 3-5 seconds both times, and I’m lucky the doctor walked me through every step, telling me exactly what she was doing and what to expect. Getting it inserted is exactly like having a severe menstrual cramp. It is familiar and intense, but tolerable. Completely tolerable. And suddenly over.
The pain afterwards–I took two Aleve, I think, and the pain was like a monster case of PMS, but I’ve had worse cramps from PMS to be honest. I was at no point on my knees or unable to move or asking my husband to shoot me please, which has happened in the past with my regular menstrual cramps. The pain was, however, bad enough to be distracting. I had wanted to write e-mails and fill out that Ecuador internship app yesterday, but I was hurting a bit too much.
Today I returned to work – didn’t even really need pain meds at all, though I took 400 mgs of Motrin twice to be on the safe side. I was slightly uncomfortable at work, but did my job without much problem. The pain, for the most part, is not distracting, though we were going to go out to eat and a sudden stabbing cramp made me suggest we stay in tonight.
As far as the string… May be TMI, but I tried to, um, investigate, but there are all sorts of strange things going on down there and I’m not touching it for a while, at least until the pain goes completely away. I still keep worrying it’s going to fall out if I poke around too much. :smack:
I just wanted to add here that rather than asking your doctor about drug stability, ask the pharmacist who dispenses it. I’ve had conflicting information before, and the pharmacist was always correct.
Thanks for the update, olivesmarch. Your description of the insertion pain made me think I can handle it, so I’ve got an appointment for wed. to have it put in. I haven’t ever been pregnant, so I’m freaking out a little.
I’ll post my take on it afterwards, in case anyone’s interested.
