IUD

I got pregnant twice on it but they say that is very rare. I had it for three years though before I got pregnant the first time and I had no issues with it I loved it

I had a copper IUD for 9 years before I switch to Mirena. Next year will be 5 years. The only bad experiences I have ever had are a sluggish libido which def happened with the Mirena

First there are 2 types of IUD. The Mirena is for 5 years and provides hormonal protection as well as barrier protection. I have the Mirena and I love it. I don't get a period and its as effective as having you're tubes tied. Plus you can have it removed anytime you want. Like most birth control, there is a chance of weight loss and the biggest issue is usually it possibly moving into other parts of your body or it coming out. Iam on my second 5 year IUD and plan on continuing with it uuntil I no longer need birth control.

I opted for the Mirena and thought it would be the best thing ever. I was told that only placing it in women who've had babies is a practice of the past. Well... I went in to have it placed and had a terrible time. After almost an hour of ridiculous pain she called it a "failed insertion" due to my immature cervix. Boo! I was bummed but I guess it wasn't meant to be. If you've never had babies I would he cautious about moving forward with the iud.

I just got one in (Mirena) less than a month ago. I used to be on the pill and I love not having to worry about remembering to take it. It did, however, help me remember when my cycle was (haha!). I don't know what medical insurance you have, but my plan covered it 100%. My doctor will only do the procedure while you are on your period, so scheduling for me was a HUGE hassle. It hurt like a BITCH when she put it in for two seconds (think the length of time of getting a shot) and I was nauseous and light headed for about 10-15 min afterward and cramped for the rest of the day. I had it done at the end of my week and ended up spotting for another 4-5 days. I cannot feel it, I forget that its in and FH does not feel the strings that make sure it stays in place (the strings hang out of your uterus and into your vajayay). Again, I have had mine for only about 2 weeks, but no regrets. So far, I am happy.

I've had the Mirena for a year and love it. I've never been pregnant/had kids and didn't have insertion problems. She numbed my cervix first which I'm sure helped. I spotted in place of a full period the first two months and then haven't had a period or spotting since. I can't feel the strings and neither can my husband. I've been very happy with it!

I've had the Mirena for almost 4 years now. I had to go off the pill unexpectedly when I was in Scotland, and I've always had terrible periods and couldn't deal, and also didn't want to have to worry about pregnancy when I got back. I was a student so I was assigned a doctor while I was there, and she met with me once, talked to me about the procedure, did a test for chlamydia and then scheduled me to come back the next week and have the IUD put in. I wasn't on my period because of timing and I hadn't had sex in 3 months so no one was worried about pregnancy. It hurt a lot (I took tylenol or something beforehand) and I felt crampy for a while after, but I walked home shortly after and there weren't any complications. I forget it's in there. DH thinks he's felt the strings once or twice, but that's about it. I love not having periods. I've gained a lot of weight, but before that I had lost weight, so I don't think that had anything to do with the IUD. Occasionally I get worried about pregnancy so I just bought some cheap tests and threw them in the bathroom cabinet for the couple times a year I get paranoid. As of right now, I plan on getting another one when it's time to replace this one in December 2015, either another Mirena or the smaller one that the company came out with recently.

Thanks for sharing your experiences! I think I'm mostly freaked out by the unknown. When I take the pill I see that something is going on. Just having a plastic looking wishbone up there is like ehhhh. If it comes out of place do you feel that? I forgot to ask the gyno that.

I am on my second Mirena.

Oh, you will feel it if it gets bumped. TMI, but FH's fingers bumped it once and I got cramping pain immediately and then cramped all weekend. Similar cramping pain to when they insert it. I got super paranoid it moved and wouldn't be effective, so I went to my doctor and she checked and everything was in place. I like it! When we take it out to TTC, it's going to weird me out having a period, lol.

Good: you can just forget about it, and, if you get the hormonal kind, you may just not have your period (whoo-hoo!) bad: I got pregnant even with mine (can happen with any contraception, I know, but happened to *me*, so I thought I'd mention it....).

I never 'felt' mine in any way, once it was put in.

I have the Mirena and I LOVE IT. the only draw back was the pain of the first period after I got it (I thought I was going to die). Its more painful if you have never had kids but after two periods the only thing I have to deal with is the PMS the boob pain and the bleeding is non existent and its awesome!!! the only other drawback was the little bit of weight gain I had around my lower tummy area, its not any place I have had weight gain before but not I just do sit ups to try to get rid of it.

I am the product of a failed IUD so make sure you learn how to check placement if you are using it. My mom was never told how too or that she should be and along I came.

I will switch to an IUD after we have kids while FH is getting fixed, then we will not be using anything.

I have the Mirena. Had it for almost 3years. Love it!!!!! No cycles. I get occasional nausea and cramping but nothing worse than pregnancy and child birth lol.

Nadia, you can check that it's still in place. I think you would see/feel something if it wasn't, but you can check the strings to make sure. (And your ob/gyn can check when you go in for appointments.)

My friend was on it...shes on her 3rd kid! Yea ive heard alot of people have gotten prego while on it!

I am on my second mirena. I have to admit, I have seen the downsides. The first 5 years, I still got my period every month. It wasn't until it was time to have it removed and insert a new one that I learned that this was because it had migrated and was not in the right place. After two attempts, they were unable to remove it because they couldn't find the string. I ended up having it removed with a camera and under local anesthesia. Then the string broke and they almost ended up having to do actual surgery to remove it.

But they were able to get it and replace it. My new one seems to be in place. I don't get my period (haven't in over 18 months) and all is good. Despite my (scary and not common) surgery, I would still recommend it.

I have skyla which is an IUD specifically made for people that haven't had kids. (it's a bit smaller than mirena) it hurt soooo bad going in and ibuprofen was my best friend for about 2 weeks. Your period cramps will be worse the first few months and you will bleed heavier the first few months... those are the down sides.

I've had it for around 7 months now and I love it. I rarely have a period and when I do its just a small amount for a day or two ( no more heavy bleeding, yay!) the cramping still happens, but not as intense. I haven't gotten pregnant so it's doing its job and I don't have to remember a pill! So, I love mine.

I have Mirena and I personally hate it. It's in there now so I'm leaving it in until we are ready to start for babies, but I've been having a really tough time with it. Putting it in was extremely painful and I was really horribly crampy for weeks afterwards.For the first few months my periods were extremely painful and very random. It could be 3 weeks between them or 9 weeks between them. As time has progressed it has gotten a little better, the cycles are more regular, the length of each period is down to just a few days, the cramps are manageable. However it has completely killed my libido and made me super prone to cramps. FH has to be super duper gentle or he can go too deep and spur on the cramps, which then don't go away for a long time. Sorry if TMI. I've had it for 14 months and can't wait to take it out, but I know taking it out will be an ordeal since my uterus moved and the strings disappeared within an hour of them putting it in.

Edit: it is doing its job though! I'm baby-free and we aren't using any other back up method.

I have the Mirena and I LOVE it. I am actually due to have my next one put in (hitting the 5 year mark now). I will say I have had 1 child and my doctor gave me pills (not taken orally if you know what I mean) prior to insertion which softened the cervix and allowed for easier insertion. I had some cramping from the pills, followed by some cramping after but it was 12 hours of discomfort, from the time I inserted the pills to the time the Mirena was in and I was home on the couch relaxing and feeling good.

That being said, I did have to go in to the doctor and have the strings cut a little shorter as FH was hitting it and it caused some pain for him (Yes with his member and yes TMI for some people I'm sure). So all in all, other then 12 hours of discomfort and having to have the strings cut shorter I've had no issues and will get another one until FH gets a snip!

I am envious of you ladies who can stand Mirena. My experience was horrible! I passed out from the pain when they placed it, and I had it in for a little over a month before I had it taken out. The hormones turned me into a stark raving lunatic, and during the month it was in, it became "unplaced". Just not a good experience at all for me Good news for you though, judging from the comments, my problems are in the minority