Straight From the Bottle

My friends are on it - three of them... and they were hormonal and crazy for the first 6 months - no shit.

Seriously. Unless I'm mistaken it's still fooling your body with false hormones.

Have you ever been to this site or read this book? Taking Charge of Your Fertility?

http://tcoyf.com

Your body tells you everything you need to know... everything. You will not believe it and after you read it, you may be a little pissed no one told you about this before.

It's so amazing.

Good luck!

Hmmm. Yeah. I know it has a little hormone but not nearly as much as Ortho Tri which is what I was on for years. Good to know. Good to know. And thanks for the link. I'll check it!

Delurking- I 've read you since I was pregnant with my daughter, and I really enjoyed your book.

I literally just had this convo with my ob (I'm due in a few weeks, so we are pretty much in the same boat (almost-two kids, no more for at least a long while). I think we're going with the plain old IUD- I really don't ever want to be on hormones again, nor do I want to be that lady with the 16 and counting show... I am worried about the hormones with the Mirena, which is like taking the mini pill, which I took when I was breastfeeding my daughter. I was no more pleased taking that than I was with Ortho Tri Cyclen or the five other pills I have tried. So, the IUD. No hormones, but heavy periods. I'm willing to take that trade. Good luck with whatever choice you end up with!

I love my Mirena.  I had a Paragard (copper IUD) years ago but I had it removed because the strings would poke my husband during sex.  Plus I'm one of those people that does well on a little hormone because otherwise I get horrible acne.

I've had my mirena 6 weeks now and it's great.  No poking the husband, no periods (although I'm still breastfeeding so that could explain it) and my skin has totally cleared up.  It was really, really bad after my baby was born, much worse than when I was a teenager.

So that's my 2 cents.  I vote yes.

I have the copper one, and it is awesome.  I have two daughters, and I am really committed to teaching them about their periods and not having them hate the stigma and such.  No hormones for me, I'm too hormonal as it is!

I've had the non-hormone IUD for 6+ years, and it's the perfect birth control for me.  No hormones (a health requirement based on a previous condition), good for 10 years or until I want it removed, no complications.  The installation, as you called it, was pretty uncomfortable, but no issues otherwise. My periods last a shorter duration of time than before (though they are heavier - a lot of info, sorry), but I can deal with that.  Good luck!

Thanks for the congrats!

Got a few friends who have IUDs - not Mirena, the non-hormonal sort, I think - and both of them rave about it.

OMG I LOVED my Mirena more than anything. It was the greatest-- I didn't have a period for 2+ years.

Just be sure to check your strings once a month!

I'd like to get off hormones, but I'm scared of the IUD after the big scare--was that the late 70s? 80s?  On the patch now, which is supposed to be the worst, right?  My skin was also bad after giving birth and while nursing but it's been great since getting on the patch.  I know I hated the minipill, lots of breakthrough bleeding and bad skin.

I had Mirena for all of three months.  It gave me crazy side effects (night sweats and hot flashes).  My friend has it and has loved it.  She didn't have the side effects I did.  My doctor told me they should stop after the first six months.  Decided it wasn't worth waiting for.  I ended up with Essure, which is like a tubal ligation but much less invasive (no surgery, just office procedure).  It was a little scary to think about something happened to my kids and I couldn't have more.  Ultimately, I'm very happy knowing that we are complete with just the four of us.

I had the Mirena in between pregnancies, and I LOVED it!! It went in at 10 weeks postpartum, and I didn't have even one period, no spotting, nothing. How fantastic is that?? And I felt great. Then they popped it out when we decided to try again and voila! two weeks later, we were pregnant! So it didn't affect my fertility at all, which was a relief to me. I'll be getting another Mirena as soon as baby #2 arrives.

But, everyone is different. My sis-in-law got the Mirena, too, and she had spotting/bleeding for about the first 3-4 months, almost non-stop. She also said hers was very painful to put in, whereas it just felt like a little pinch for me.

So, I hope your Mirena experience is just like mine!

I have had the Mirena for 10 months or so, had it put in at my 6 weeks ppd doc visit. It def gave me a little bit of cramping, and I had a decent bit of spotting for a few weeks, but after that all was peachy. I didn't feel crazy or hormonal, and my condom hating BF has no complaints so yeah, yay Mirena. I hope you have good luck with it!

I was thinking I'd do the same after having my daughter. I've always hated the pill, I don't like condoms, I don't like anything. It just seemed like the easiest thing for me.

Oh and also 1 - I love your baby carrier and 2 - you look so good for just having a baby!

Hi!  I love your blog and read it all the time.  I've never chimed in before, but since I just had an IUD related appt. last night, thought it my be fitting. :)

I'll preface with the fact that I have 3 or 4 friends with Mirena who all LOVE it.  I've had mine for about a year, and the last 4 months have essentially been one non-stop period. (boo!)  I went in to make sure I was okay, and the doctor explained that with an IUD there is no such thing as "normal."  Some people don't get periods, some stay the same, and well, the 'lucky' ones get 4 month long ones.  

Well, I'm getting mine out in a few weeks probably.

I'm sure yours will be fine - just thought you should know that the no more periods is not exactly a guarantee. I was a little miffed that nobody had let me know ALL the possible outcomes. :)

More positive feedback on the Mirena. No side effects, no period, no worries, no nothing. (Oh yeah--no babies either.) Here was my thing though--my doc didn't stock them and needed me to pay for it up front.--$500 worth of up front--and I had to wait to get reimbursed by my insurance. So make sure you check out to see what your plan covers.

So I'm not too keen on the whole things-taking-up-semipermanent-residence-in-my-hoohoo thing. Personally.

And I'm kind of pill retarded so I'd always forget to take mine, plus, like you, I felt like a sexless robot. So I opted for Implanon, a matchstick-sized piece of plastic that releases the hormone (like an IUD) that gets put just under the skin of your inner arm. You can't see it, but you can feel it just underneath your skin and it's fun to make people poke it at parties. It lasts 3 years or you can have it taken out whenever, and it's progesterone only, no estrogen. You may think, how are they going to get a matchstick under my skin? The answer is through a giant needle. BUT BUT BUT they totally numb it at first. I know what you're thinking- but I totally didn't feel it. I congratulated my doctor on her fab numbing skills, I was so amazed. You should check it out. Your OB has to be specially trained to insert it, so you might have to find an OB that's certified if that's the way you choose to go.

Happy Baby Blocking!

I have the copper IUD because I don't care for hormonal birth control.  The procedure was a breeze (during my period) and so far I LOVE it.  My man can feel the strings every once in a while but they don't bother him.  I am waiting on my first period to see how it affects cramps and flow as my GYN said it could make those worse but my periods are usually so bad that I can't imagine they'd get worse (and I feel like I could handle it better than hormonal BC or freakin' condoms!).

I had the Mirena too.  And I had a ton of random little spotting for the first 6 months and was pretty hormonally weird.  But wasy better than any pill I've ever been on.  After 6 months I had almost no period.  I thought I loved it, but after I had it taken out (to get pregnant again), I realized that it was waht was giving me the nights sweats and hot flashes--same side effects that someone else mentioned.  Love the IUD concept though.  I think I may try a non-hormonal one next time (but hubby is still freaked by the probs associated with the early versions so will have to do some research on that).

Oh, and my sister who never carried a full term pregnancy said it was horrendously crampy and had it removed after a few weeks becasue it was so awful.  So I don't know if it would have been a good option before kids.  Just FYI.

There is a really intense discussion on my local mama site about the whole IUD situation.

www.urbanmamas.com/.../what_do_you_do_.html

FYI:  I got the Paraguard inserted six weeks after my 3rd baby was born (so I've had it about 5 months).  I took some ibuprofen before the insertion, and it wasn't bad at all.  I mean, really, it's not giving birth.

I have had 2 periods since then, both slightly heavier and longer than normal.  Although, pre-baby #3, my periods would last for 1-2 days, and would not require more than a light pad, and sometimes not even that.  Now my periods have been lasting about 4 days, with a heavy flow pad for the first two.  Nothing horrible, and, in a way, almost preferable to my non-period periods I used to get ("Is it my period?  Or am I spotting and pregnant?"  Which is why I didn't realize I was preggo with #1 for 2+ months--I had mistaken light spotting with my flow.)

I never mentioned anything to DH about the fact that there might be some pokey strings that he may feel during sex.  I didn't want the power of suggestion make him *think* he felt something.  And he hasn't said anything, and we've done it plenty since then.

Anyway, I love my IUD.  I totally wish I knew about them in my barfly days.

I got the Mirena and I LOVE IT!  I've had it about 3 1/2yrs.  I have not had a period in over 3yrs.

the mirena is the hormonal one, right? i'm sure you've thought about this, but what if it makes you feel the same way the pill does?

oh, also wanted to second (third? fourth?) the book taking charge of your fertility. i've never felt so totally free and in control. it's awesome.

I've had the Mirena for almost 2 years now. I had it installed at my 6 week follow up appt after having my son. I have liked it mostly but I did have some issues with breakthrough bleeding for the first year and a half or so. I would have a mini period every month or so.

It was gross, just enough to be really irritating but not enough for an actual tampon. That has subsided though and my doc thinks that it was happened because I was breastfeeding. After I weaned and my hormones calmed down from that I stopped having any breakthrough bleeding.

I have horrible issues with hormonal birth control but I don't find this to cause the same issues. The doc says it's because the hormones are delivered directly to the area rather than throughout the blood stream but who knows.

I've been really happy with mine in the past 6 months or so. I love not having a period and I swore I'd never go on the pill again so this seems to be a good fit for me.

I have the Mirena and love it, but my sister hated it and had it removed.  This is actually my second Mirena--I had one before I had a baby and then I got my current one after my son was born (about 13 months ago).  No periods, rare for me to even have spotting).  BC pills make me lactate (yep, you read that right--try being 19 and lactating--FREAKY), but I had no problems with the Mirena hormones when I had it the first time pre-baby.  I think its at least worth a shot, especially compared to condoms.  My husband sometimes gets poked by the strings (though I just had them shortened and it seems to be better), but he still prefers it to condoms.  Good luck!  I hope it works well for you!

Yeah, that would be me - the one who had the Paragard still in place when the PG test came back positive. :)

I still think an IUD is a great option.  Mine was more of a lesson that birth control in any form is fallible.  A good lesson for moms, since eventually we'll all have to teach our kids about safe sex.

(Adorable pic!)

My husband and I are just like you guys. And no form of birth control has ever worked for us (except abstinence, though the rhythm method did for a year and a half). We`ve tried condoms (he`s also a hater), I got pregnant, the pill, pregnant, Depro Provera, pregnant, and so it goes. I`ve been pregnant six times and only once was intentional. Sort of. We`re at the point now where a vasectomy, tubes tied, condoms AND something else just to be sure. :P Either that or never have sex again, which is what I`m kinda leaning toward.  

I've had the Mirena IUD twice after both pregnancies.

Each time I had cramping and spotting for about 3 weeks and then it's been perfect afterwards. No periods even! And I can't complain about THAT.

I would recommend Mirena to anyone who asks! I really am happy with it.

I have the Mirena for three years now and love it!

Light but continuous spotting in the first month but since then basically no period at all - I can't even tell you how great that is and I didn't even have terrible periods. No side effects for me but I have a friend who had a horrible time on it so I think its a bit unpredictable.

My doc told me that the hormones lessen after about three years and I might get my period again and I am quite sure I will replace it then.

I'm on Mirena and I love it!!!!!  I've had it for almost 6 months and my periods are gone.

You're right, why didn't we know about this earlier?

Totally off the subject but a few weeks ago you blogged about needing to lose the baby weight . . . um girl have you seen yourself in the picture you posted???!!  You look pretty fab!  I can understand wanting to look pre-baby and props for your efforts to get it back but I think you're looking pretty good!  You go mama!

I have Mirena and love not having to think about it.  It didn't hurt to put in (at least not as much as I was expecting).  I didn't have a period for about three months and then the first one was pretty easy to deal with.  Now I've got maybe 2 days a month and very light.  I guess you'd have to ask my husband if it affects my moods, but personally I think it's okay.  I recommend it.

Obviously, unsolicited advice sucks and you asked about IUDs and I'm sure you are well aware of this but . . . vasectomies - they are reversible. The hubs will be getting one after kidlet number 2, unless, of course, I get cut open upon removal of said kidlet. In that case the instructions are to close those tubes OFF.

Also, one of your fellow bloggers, Katie, recommends the 'Taking Charge of Your Fertility' book and it works. I can't do hormonal bc and this works well for us, well meaning that I've never been pregnant when we weren't trying to be. One of us is getting fixed though because it will eventually be nice to not have to think about it.

Regardless, congrats on the unbelievable good looking kids and good luck with whatever you chose.  

I use the Mirena and I love it.  I'd have to say that most of the women I know use it as well and we are all super satisfied.  It's a beautiful thing and after the initial contraction like feeling you have when they put it in, you'll never notice it again.

I have an IUD without the hormones and I love it. After a few months of my body settling into it during which my periods were pretty heavy and long with some irregularity (but this could also be due to postpartum hormonal settling as well as the IUD alone), my periods are lighter and shorter. I had an IUD for a couple of years before I got pregnant too, and it was totally painless to take out and then we were good to go with the babymaking after waiting one cycle. I totally recommend IUDs - they are very popular in Europe and the UK amongst women in committed relationships, regardless of whether or not they've had children.

i have the nuva ring, which i like, i cannot feel it, neither can my husband, only have to think about it once a month, low hormones. can't help you with mirena, but i am sure you have done your homework and will be satisfied.

I just got a mirena last month (after 2 children, we are also d o n e).  The insertion was a bit worse than I expected and I was crampy the rest of the day.  My OB explained that the hormonal effects of the IUD are a lot less than the pill bc they stay in the uterus, not throughout your system.  I have no complaints and the one period Ive had was lighter than any I've had before.

I LOVE the idea of not worrying about it for 5 years!  That is what sold me.

I just scanned the comments, so I think I'm pretty much repeating more of the same, but here it is:

I got Mirena about 10 weeks after my son was born, and I love it. Insertion wasn't an issue because my doctor (because of my situation) had me take a Xanax and a Percocet before I went in. However, I had major cramping - as in, couldn't go to work because it hurt so bad - for the first two days after, and then had a long period. Since then, though, I've had nothing - no pain, no periods, no babies. :)

Based on my experience, I would recommend this to everyone!

You are AWESOME!!!! This has been so helpful for me and I'm sure for many other women who are reading this thread. You're all wonderful!!!!

I had a regular non-hormonal IUD for 6 years, it ruled. Periods were maybe lighter a bit, but no other effects other than no-baby.

I have the Paragard and I really like it. I had extremely light periods to begin with, so now they are heavier, but probably just normal person periods for everyone else. I'm glad not to be on any hormones, and my husband has never complained of feeling the strings (maybe that means he has a tiny penis?).

Why did you decide to go for the hormones as opposed to the non-hormonal one?

Had the Mirena for a little over 2 years.  Loved it, but my husband said it changed me.

Hurts like a mother when they put it in, and when I went to have it removed, the strings had gotten up in the cervix, so I had to have surgery to have the thing removed.

Mirena and I are totally down bitches.

I got one placed at my six week check-up after Jack was born and....I LUFFFFFF EEET!

Thus far I haven't had any side effects, except my period is a little less predictable now, but at the same time its few and far between anyway. It eliminated my once so-bad-I-think-I'm-gonna-vom-on-your-shoes cramps too, so now when I surf the crimson wave I'm a much happier camper.

Like you and Hal, my fiance and I are contraception intolerant. I hated taking the pill everyday and the hormonal side effects. I loathe condoms, because seriously...its like eating cheesecake with a balloon on your tongue. I'm surprised I didn't get knocked up sooner. When I heard of the IUD, I knew from the second I had Jack, I'd be knocking on my OB's door with my legs already in the stirrups.

Be forwarned though, that the placement isn't always pleasant. I had some complications with the insertion and I got incredibly nauseous, almost blacked out and proceeded to throw up in my doctors sink. But thats just me. I'm kind of a puss like that. I think you'll be fine, especially if you have a friend called Percocet to hold your hand.

So yeah...

"Who's down with IUD?"

-"Yeah you know me!"

I *heart* the Mirena. Seriously, it rocks so much that I sent it a Christmas card. I was a past ortho chick and Im a MUCH happier IUD girl.  Periods just don't happen.  I still buy tampons and everything but thats just so I fit in with the other kids.  I dont need them.  

I give it a thumbs up. er two thumbs up.

I got Mirena because I was tired of the pill and wanted to try something different - plus the rumor about no more periods was intriguing.  Well, 19 months in and I haven't had my period in more than a year.  Despite what I read, I haven't gained any weight and have had no discomfort from the thing.  The biggest issue is that without the pill hormones, my skin has gotten a little wonkie and I get little pimples now (where as before, I had no pimples - ever).  Small price to pay for nearly perfect protection and no periods.

no way i could do an iud.  i would not like having something hanging out in my body.  and i won't take the pill since 1) i don't want hormones and 2) i'm a pretty forgetful person, so i know i'd forget and get pregnant.  we've always done condoms and i was fitted with a diaphragm at my 6 week check.  funny thing is, it was on back order until yesterday.  i mean seriously, that many people are jonesing for their diaphragms??

I got an IUD after I had my first kid, had it removed, and then got another one after the 2nd. Paraguard for me, however my Mirena friends like theirs as well. I like it, heavy periods at first but whatevs. I was never good at remembering to take the pill. First kid case in point. My ob/gyn said the hormones from the mirena are about the same as taking 1 birth control pill a month. And remember, the cool thing is, if you dont like it, you can have it removed. Its not FOREVER.

Regardless, I think that you rock for giving a shout out to the IUD. Its used by so many women throughout the world and so few women in the US. Props to us for being so progressive. Again.

My friend got pregnant with twins on an IUD. Twins. She has four kids now! Her doctor told her the odds were 1 in 1,000. Just FYI.

Just looking at the info on the site...with Mirena and other non-hormone IUDs there is the possibility of conception happening (sperm meets egg), and the embryo not getting to implant because of the IUD. I guess it depends on when you believe life begins, and whether you are Pro-choice, etc., but if you believe life begins when conception happens, then this could be a concern.

Thanks for this discussion.  Being 28 with two kids (2 year & 2 month) is the rarity in my group of friends so I have had no input on the IUD debate.  I swear I was asking anyone I saw with children about their birth control!  My OB swears that it is the best method for those who are done or those, like me, who may consider in a couple years to go down this road again.  I, too, have opted to go the Mirena route after the holidays but until reading this was still bouncing other ideas around in my head.  

Been reading you for awhile and love your topics!  I swear the minute some new behavior would arise in my son, you'd be writing about it within the month with Archer.  And our girls are days apart!!  So again, thank you.  Now bestow on me the secret to losing the weight.  

Thanks, Kim! So glad this helped you! Helped me, too. My readers are AMAZING. All so candid and generous with their experiences. As for the weight, I'm still 18 pounds over pre-preg weight and 30 away from goal-weight. I have lost 32 pounds and I've been really watching what I eat so maybe that's why? I can post about my diet if you want? The key I have found is pre-prepping foods. I make breakfast, lunch and even dinner beforehand so when I get hungry I wont snack on crackers, etc. And I know that what Im eating is high fiber, low carb, etc.

Also, no sugar in the house except a dark choc bar. And hiking when I can might be helping, too. Of course, I still have a long way to go. I'm in my fat jeans but nowhere near my skinnies. My hips and thighs are pretty badonk, still but I'm not too worried. I'm giving myself until summer to slim down.

Thank you, though!

I had the metal IUD and HATED IT. 6 months of periods getting heavier and heavier and longer and longer until-- no joke-- I was bleeding 3 weeks out of 4. Plus the cramps were so intense that I'd have to leave the room and double over.

I hate hormonal b-control-- kills my libido-- so I got a diaphragm and guess what? now were are a family of four....

looking for something easier. right now buying a sea sponge and soaking it in spermicide sounds pretty good. will wait for baby # 2 to get here and then make some decisions.

also-- and I'm sorry if this is a weird thing to say, contraception is difficult altogether-- but there's something that freaks me out about making the womb so inhospitable that the fertilized egg is forced to concede defeat. I'd rather stop the egg from ever getting fertilized in the first place, yah know?

Randomness...change your about the blogger! You're described as a mother of one...Fable's existence is being ignored. ;)

I had the Mirena IUD for about 2 years before I had to have it removed for treatment of precancerous cervical issues.  Implantation was painful - spent the day in bed with cramps - but after that it was fabulous.  Barely there spotting - I did get this on a fairly regular monthly basis - but nothing like my normal periods.  It was definately much better than being on the pill.  I did have some skin breakout issues that I didn't have previously.  After having it removed, we made the decision that since we were truly DONE my spouse was getting the snipped.  He did and I am even more fabulously happy without having to deal with any form of birth control!  I love being synthetic hormone free!

You know, I don't have anything to contribute re birth control, as I just had my tubes tied, but I just had to say that I saw Blues Clues for the first time recently (my older son is 3) and Archer reminds me of Steve from Blues Clues.  I think it's something around the mouth.  Anyway, I mean it in the best way - I thought Steve was very cute (and Archer is very cute)!  

I love mine.  Really and truely.  The pill makes me batshit crazy, Depo has too many weird side effects, and so far so good.  The first couple of months of random bleeding are annoying, but worth it because after that it is fine.  Not even enough bleeding to require a wee pantyliner.  

I wanted an IUD (Mirena) so badly. I'm still on the fence about having a second kid, but we knew we weren't trying to do that for a good while. I hate the pill and even lower-maintenance options (patch, ring) were getting to be a pain. I was all set to go for Mirena, but when I went to get it inserted, I found out that my uterus was too short! It's such a rare complication that my doctor hadn't even bothered to measure me beforehand and since I'd already carried a child well past full term, my uterus should have been a little bigger. But my doctor did note that when I had my c-section, they noticed that my uterus was a little heart-shaped (aw, love!) and that is probably why it's too short for an IUD. I wish you much luck and carefree diddling with yours, though. ;-)

I got the Mirena IUD about a month ago and I absolutely love it!!!!  I have had no side affects at all, only reason I get a bit crazy is because of the lack of sleep!  Implantation didn't hurt at all, I was really scared and almost didn't get it because I was scared of the pain, but I didn't feel a thing except for some slight pressure.

Good luck with your decision! (I say go for it!)

I have a mirena and I LOVE IT.  Love love love.  Best birth control EVAH.

I read a bunch of crap on the 'net about how awful, horrible, painful, excruciating, etc. the insertion was.  I was ready for Major Pain.  The doctor put it in and I was all, "That's it?"  Really.  No big deal once you've pushed out a baby or two.  I got mine at my 6 week check up after baby #2.  No problemo.

I spotted for a while.  Not a problem.  It could've still been lochia, because I had a lot of lochia with #2 (anemic, plus having two babies in 19 months = lots of repair work to be done by the body I guess).  Spotting is pretty normal, though.

My husband could feel the strings for a little while, but it wasn't long before they "softened up" (that's what the doctor said, anyway) and now he doesn't feel them at all.  

I nursed my daughter until like a week ago, so that and the Mirena combined suppressed my periods (YAY).  I don't know if they'll come back or not, but I'm definitely hoping NOT.

The thing is, if you find that it doesn't work for you, you can always try something else.  I've read of people having problems, but I've never known of anyone in real life.  But if it works for you, it really, really works.

I probably should post a blog about the Mirena, but my dad reads my blog...  Hmmm...

Amy @ prettybabies.blogspot.com

LOOOOVE my Mirena. Insertion was a bitch but after a few months of spotting it's been awesome for almost 3 years.

I'm actually getting mine taken out tomorrow (!!!!) because we're going to try for #2. Seeing that a commenter above got pregnant 2 weeks after removal made me so happy. Your readers are awesome and so candid, I love it.

Have it. Love it. No periods.  It was very painful when they put it in but I've never had children so that may explain why.  I would recommend it!  I dont have to think about it at all - it's GREAT!

I had Mirena in for about a year and a half.  The first few months I had crazy spotting, but I did that with the depo prevara shot too (don't recommend that one). My OB just gave me pills for a couple months in addition to stop the spotting and then it was all good.  I did have lighter periods, but they didn't disappear.  Hardly any PMS if any at all. I did feel a loss in sex drive though, but could that have been the two kids 17 months apart?  Who knows.  

I was worried about getting it installed (ha).  My OB said, "you have had two c-sections--you'll be fine". Still, I was nervous and rambled on and on and didn't feel a thing.  My advice:  talk your OB's ear off to distract you :)

I did get pregnant a month after having it removed to try for #3, sadly I miscarried.  I'm sure just one of those things and not at all related.

I saw in the above comments that the pill you were previously on was Ortho Tri.  I took this for a couple years, AND I HATED IT!  I started Yaz over a year ago, and it's amazing.  The hormone doses are so low- I don't feel any different when I'm on the pill versus off.  Ortho Tri made me pretty moody, not to mention the weight gain and annoying need to buy bigger bras!  I switched to Yaz as an experiment, just hoping that not all types of the pill are equally evil, and I'm so glad I did.

I don't have health insurance at the moment, so I've been off and on Yaz (depending on when I can afford to pay the full price), and I prefer taking it.  You may be familiar with this already, but it's the only birth control pill that supposedly decreases PMS symptoms.  I was skeptical at first, but it's completely true in my case- I don't even get cramps, EVER.  If it wasn't for keeping track of the pills in each pack, I'd probably feel no cues that my period was about to start.

Anyway, I think the fact that I've been on and off Yaz sporadically over the past several months WITHOUT it messing up my body or mind really says something about it.  I've never researched IUDs, and I know women who simply don't like taking the pill, so of course it's a personal choice for each individual.  For those who are looking for a "better" pill though, I recommend giving Yaz a try.

I had to Mirena for 2 years in between pregnancies (preggo right now, due in Feb)and I liked it! Insertion wasn't too bad for me, I thought it was going to be so much worse! I made my hubby come with me and hold my hand I was so scared! Decided to have baby #2 and had it removed and literally, 2 weeks later had a positive test! I had Mirena in for 2 years and had some episodes of break through bleeding, but nothing too bad! Comfy for me and for hubby! I vote go for it! It's worth a try, at least. You can always have it removed if you have weird side effects! Good luck!

I got the Mirena put in in April of this year (very painful and scary for me even though I had a baby in Jan 07) and just got it taken out this month.  

It gave me have a serious case of The Crazies.  

Every month, EXACTLY the week before my period I went insane.  It was like I became manic depressive and a completely different person.  But once my period was over, I was fine.  I thought I was the only one noticing it, but my entire family commented on my behavior and my boyfriend threatened to only talk to me two weeks out of every month because I was so nuts. ( My OBGYN told me she had "never heard" of anyone suffering from depression/etc while on the Mirena, even though it said it was a possibility RIGHT THERE ON THE BOX. HAH!)

After months of dealing with it, I said enough is enough and I couldn't justify the high success rate of pregnancy prevention (which you'd think would be one of the biggest factors, right?) as the reason to keep it.  I had never had the insanity-factor be a part of my body adjusting to a birth control, so I bid it farewell.

That's just my story, though.  Obviously, that doesn't mean it hasn't been fine for anyone else and you shouldn't give it a shot.  

I had a non-hormonal IUD for several years. I only took it out to get pregnant (which happened instantly thank you very much). Frankly, I loved it. I do not (under any circumstances!!) get along with hormonal BC. I tried several forms after my first child and they made me absolutly nuts. More nuts than pregnancy hormones. I loved my IUD. My hubby could feel it a little during sex, but never enough to bother him. I will probably get another one after I have this baby. The insertion procedure was easy and the removal was even easier. Go for it girl!!

I hav the Taking Charge of Your Fertility also...great book, but I'm not brave enough to use it.  My hudband is havingg a vasectomy next week.  We have 4...

I'm pretty sure I'm going to go with the non-Mirena kind.  I had my son about a month ago.  Between kids I tried the mini pill and hated it.  After that we just did condoms.  Husband hated that.  My son was almost 2 when I got pregnant (intentionally) with this one.

My fear with "no period" BC is that I will fucking FREAK OUT every two seconds wondering if I'm one of those statistically unlikely pregnant people.

Delurking to say I just had my Mirena put in a little over a month ago. Was painful, but I've never gone through childbirth, so I have nothing to compare it to. My understanding about the hormones in it is this: because the device is localized in the uterus, there is a significantly lower rate of absorption into the bloodstream (like there is with the pill, because it's ingested orally). Therefore, hormone-related side effects are significantly less if not gone completely.

That said, most women who switch from the pill to Mirena experience side effects of coming off of the pill - which is highly varied, and which is why so many women get Mirena and have all these bizarre side effects and assume it's the Mirena causing them. It's going off the pill that's doing it - your body was absorbing hormones artificially for YEARS, there's going to be some side effects after it stops abruptly.

(and, to end this essay, I like my Mirena so far. I had a lot of problems on the pill, and I think I'm responding well.)

Having tried several brands of birth control pills, I am now certain that they MAKE ME CRAZY.  Hormonal birth control and I do not mix.  The end.  I've had my paraguard (non hormonal) IUD for almost a year now... Periods can be a little gnarly, but I'm hormone free and never happier.

I had an IUD put in about 4 months after my first baby was born, and I've got to say, I'd be warned that it would hurt, and it didn't.  At all.  It did give me really, really heavy periods, especially the first six months or so.  But it was WONDERFUL to not have to think about birth control.  And it came out easily when we decided to have another.  We did decide to send hubs for a vasectomy after the second, but I would totally do the IUD again.

I had a Mirena IUD for about 3 years and loved it.  I had it pulled out early because I was ready to start trying for kids and BAM I was knocked up within a week.  I couldn't believe I got pregnant so quickly and that made me extremely grateful that the IUD had worked so well for the past 3 years.  I plan on having one put back in when I'm done squeezing out the kidlets.  

Mirena - had it placed at 12 weeks ppd. Placement for me was no worse than a slightly extended yearly pap and pelvic exam. So, I loved it for the first 18 months! Never even spotted. Then at 18 months I stopped breast feeding and hormones returned. I had everything from heaving bleeding to light spotting for 3 months straight. GYN even put me on estrogen to try and stop it... After a year ( 2.5 years after placement) I had to have it pulled. Turns out the bleeding probably had nothing to do with the Mirena. So, despite my experience - I remain a fan, and if my hormones weren't so out of whack I'd still have it.

Just a heads up for Hal. Hubby reported being able to feel the string during sex. But that goes away once the string softens and rolls up.

Wow, this is so timely. I had this conversation not two weeks ago with my OB/GYN. My main complaint on the pill is a total lack of sex drive, so much so that its an issue in my relationship. I mean seriously, I want to have sex for maybe 6 hours a month. The rest of the time ? Don't even touch me.

The other option was the mini pill, but you have to remember to take that within a 3 hour window or you are unprotected for the next week according to my OB/Gyn.

I am strongly leaning towards getting the Mirena for myself, even with all the horror stories about the pain when it is installed. I'll just take a Valium .10 and sleep through the whole thing. That's how fed up I am with the pill...

MIRENA FTW!!  

I had the Mirena placed at 6 weeks post partum...LOVE IT.  Placement was a little uncomfortable but it didn't last long- way easier than getting a baby out :).  I'm still breastfeeding (kiddo is 15 months old) so no period yet.  Hubby can't feel the string during sex.  I don't have to remember a pill (my forgetting is what got us our wonderful 15 month old).  WIN WIN.

I just got the paraguard 3 months ago, 6 weeks after I had our second baby.  

I am like you in that I can't do hormones- I tried 3 pills and they were ALL bad, cndoms got us pregnant with our second.

The insertion is uncomfortable as everyone says, but having a baby is FAR worse.  I didn't want the mirena cause of the hormones, even though they are slight.  I just didn't want the chance of it messing with me and have to get it out and another one put in.  

I bled for 2 months straight after getting the paraguard in and then started bleeding SO heavily it was ridiculous.  They put me on progesterone for a few days and now no bleeding anymore.  I totally prefer it to the mirena as I did not want any amount of hormones on me.  I like sex A LOT and didn't want our sex life to be at all affected.

I'm so glad I found this.  I emailed my doctor last week about getting the Mirena.  I've read all the horror stories online but I've also talked to a number of doctors and nurses who love it and all their patients love it.  I'm glad to read about so many happy customers here!

I got had the Mirena inserted at 6 wks post partum as well (late July).  Like you, SO ready for an alternative.  The insertion was really uncomfortable, but to be expected as my cervix has never dealt with childbirth (all Csections)  Also discovered my cervix was high and hard to get a handle on (ooooh, lucky me).  Cramping the rest of the day but no worse than the post partum variety. I think it took maybe 2 months before my uterus calmed down.  and it can take up to 6 months for your body to regulate itself.

I consider myself a happy camper.

I had the Mirena for several years, but opted to have it removed to have another baby.  I bled constantly for the first month or two and then nada.. nothing until after I had it removed.  I didnt have any problems with the hormones... if fact, Im a bit crabby now that I dont have them.  And the string did poke my hubby during sex, but I just had the doc trim the end.  I would most def have it again after Im done with having kids.

LOVE IT! I had a "regular" (read Copper T) ID for ten years after having my daughter at 18 years of age. It worked, no pregnancy scares for a decade, but the Mirena is AWESOME! I have had it for a year now and haven't had a period in as long...no bleeding, no cramping, no babies! Also, I can't take oral contraceptives due to a hematological disorder and this has caused absolutely zero issues and I have experienced no side effects (except for the missing monthly visitor!). I recommend it to everyone I know, definitely should be getting a cut!

For what it is worth here is my feedback - I hated it, hated every moment of having it.

Basically this was it in a nutshell.  Putting it on hurt like a mother.  Then I had the worst cramps and the heaviest periods and then I would be cramping for about 2 weeks of the month (like bad cramps) and then another week I had the massive period.  SO basically that left 1 week to have sex with my husband.  I thought it would be great because at that time we were not looking to even talk about babies for at least another 3 years (this was 4 years ago) and I was in school. Didn't have to worry about taking a pill and or using condoms.  SOUNDED PERFECT.  Until I got it and the side affects nearly ruined my life and destroyed my sex life.  I had it for a total of 9 months. The doctor told me that it would get better, and so I held on for 9 months and finally said ENOUGH~  

Sorry if this sucks but this was my experience.

Hugs

K

If you are going to get it my friend says to have a glass of wine and two advils (not sure if you can since you are breastfeeding) that will make the procedure go MUCH smoother.  

Hey, just started reading your blog and I love it!  I had Mirena for 2 1/2 years before I got it out back in August.  It was the greatest form of birth control I've ever used.  Pills are the suck and condoms are not worth it!  I totally recommend it.  I had some slight cramping periodically throughout the 2 1/2 years, but nothing I couldn't live with.

I had my Mirena inserted 7 weeks PP after the birth of #2, and have had it in for a year and some change now.  I had issues with BCPs - my body didn't tolerate the hormones well - but I've had no issues with the hormones in the Mirena extending to the rest of my body.

I was breastfeeding up until about 9 weeks ago, and so after the first four months where I bled on and off (light bleeding, but enough to need a pantyliner), they tapered off to short, light periods about once a month until I weaned him.  Then I had breakthrough bleeding about every 2 weeks for about 6 weeks thereafter, and I think my body's finally adjusting.

I would definitely recommend Mirena as a long-term BC option.  I was ready to have DH get the Big V once he turned 30, but now that I've had this, I think I may just keep it for the next ten years (replacing it halfway through) until we're 100% positive that we're done.  (We're 99.9% sure now... but what if?)

another new reader to your blog! sorry to make my inaugural comment so personal. :)

I got the non-hormonal IUD a year ago. (even though the Mirena dosage is supposed to be very low, the pill screwed me up so terribly that I didn't ever want to mess with hormones again.) I had very severe cramping for the first two or three months around my period, and had periods of weird lengths - longer than I'd ever had before, with 3-4 days of spotting and then another 5-6 days of the period itself. since that early time, though, it's wonderful. extremely predictable cycle, one day of spotting, 3-4 day period, completely manageable cramps, and I never EVER have to worry about anything.

but I must agree WHOLEHEARTEDLY with taking painkillers BEFORE the appointment! I felt like hell for 48 hours afterward.

I have the Mirena and got it put in 9 months after my adughter was born, almost 3 years ago.  The procedure definitely hurts (and I have had 2 kids, so I am familiar with the pain of which I speak) and I had cramping and periods for a few months.  I still have occasional cramping and light periods, but not a big deal.  My concern is that the long-term effects haven't been studied.  I think it's weird not to have a period when your body is supposed to have one.  That might be just me but I have thought about having it removed.  

Good luck!

Well... I am currently pregnant with a baby conceived while I had the Paraguard IUD--99.4% accurate or something... And it was the biggest mind-fuck ever to discover I was pregnant with such odds (not to mention this baby has THE SAME DUE DATE as my son--four years apart, exactly.) But while it did work, I loved the IUD. It wasn't uncomfortable, made the monthly visit less dramatic, and no hormonal side effects...

my sons are 17 and 20, and I'm getting ready to get my second Mirena.  Insertion is no big deal, and the side effects have been minimal for me.

I hope it goes well for you too.

I have a Mirena, and let's just say I love it so much I want to skip down the beach in slo-mo with it.

NO PERIODS, DUDE. Like, barely ever. And when you do get one, let's just say that box of plugs will last you the better part of a calendar year before you need to worry about a replacement. The only part that sucks is the insertion, and even the crampage and blood flow that make it suck hard was over in like two days.

So yeah, what I guess I'm trying to say is Team Mirena for the win. :)

I got a Mirena IUD a little over a year ago and I LOVE IT!!!!! I haven't had a period or any kind of PMS symptoms whatsoever for almost a year now, and no side effects either. It's a little uncomfortable having it inserted, but my attitude was: "I just gave birth to a 9 pound baby naturally, and you think THIS will hurt me?" I highly recommend it.

Hi!  Delurking to add (or the more likely scenario...repeat what you've already read) my experience.  I had my Mirena installed, implanted, whatever, a year ago, about three months after our third daughter was born.  The procedure was slightly uncomfortable but so close to birth it wasn't much at all.  I did have some cramping for a day or so.  I.still.have.my.f*cking.period.

Like some of the other commenters, it's not enough for a tampon, just enough to piss me off.

I have had no issues with the hormones although I had the crazy on the pill.

first of all I think that is the cutest pic ive ever seen-you are so cute with your daughter im serious its totally ridiculous. ur style is radiating off yall like a sunbeam

second i have to tell you hard i laughed at this: "I wish I would have thought to get the IUD during my slut phase"

i fell off my chair...in fact, my ass still hurts.  

im right there with ya, if only i woulda known back then about blessed mirena i could have had that many less pregnancy scares. ah, well whata ya gunna do.

sadly, i haven't used this form of birth control so i cant give a recommendation, i did consider it after i had my son but never got around to actually making the appointment.

my doctor also highly recommended it.

we have a different situation with condom use then you guys...it actually helps our sex life.  if you know what i mean.

anyhow take care and keep pimpin the mommastyletasticness

Hi.

I've skipped out on BCP's for years, as they made me nutso.  After bebe #2 came along in March, Big Daddy and I agreed to give the Mirena a try, as apparently we have the ability to look at each other & get pregnant.  

I got it 6 weeks PP, so it was difficult to tell if the bleeding was just the final healing from childbirth or if it was from the Mirena.  Over the last 7 1/2 months I continued to breastfeed with no problems, and have had no issues with side effects at all.  No period either, but that will likely change now that I'm not nursing anymore.  

The only weirdness I experienced is that over the first 4-5 months, I could occasionlly feel it poking my cervix.  It wasn't uncomfortable, just noteworthy.  For me, no hormonal side effects at all.  

Net/net, I'd recommend it.    

don't do the mirena!!! i got it at my 6 week check up and no joke that day i was bleeding just like after giving birth. within a week i was crazy as fuck, and was packing on the lbs. it made me have these horrible panic attacks and just feeling like my life was ending. i had it for 7 weeks and had to beg for it to be removed. i felt better the very same day. do your research!! women have had to have hysterectomies, their thyroids removed, even suicide. my sister had mirena in for 2 years, had 2 miscarriages and started to feel really bad and when i pleaded with her to have it taken out  our midwife said it was falling out and now she has so much scar tissue that she doesn't know if my sister will be able to have more children. she is 19. i'm a hardcore advocate against it!!! please, please, please think about it!!!! ( sorry so long....)

After years of sucking at taking the pill I was excited to try Mirena after the birth of my daughter. Insertion was very painful but after an hour or so of cramping I was fine.

I was just rising above my PPD when I began Mirena and a few months in I had a really bad spell of depression.  So bad I almost considered having it removed.  But I gave it another month and started taking Same-E and the crazies subsided.  So I'm glad I pushed through.  Mirena gives me the best peace of mind when it comes to BC.  Although I will say this, occasionally I've had mild cramping after sex because the IUD was "rattled" as I like to put it. (a length issue? I'm not sure)

The Pro's outweigh the Con's by leaps and bounds so I suggest taking the plunge.

Hey Bec,

I've had my Mirena IUD for about 6 months now.  Insertion was a real problem because I have a tilted uterus (ask about this, very important) and she had to do FOUR excruciating attempts and pry open my unbelievably CLOSED cervix (should be wide open after two kids back to back) and that alone was more painful than the NATURAL BIRTHS I had... but, big but, AFTER that dreadful experience where i thought I was going to die during a challenging insertion and a day of crampiness, it's been AWESOME.  Very mild periods.  No cramping.  No hormonal fluctuations like I had with the pill and the nuva-ing.  I feel like me.  Steady.  Calm.  Normal in my usual abnormal way. :)    I highly recommend the Mirena.  Just be sure to ask if your uterus is tilted and if you cervix is closed.  If the answer to either of those is yes, have them give you an anesthetic gel to calm everything up in there during insertion.

GOOD LUCK!

IUD = perfect birth control for people who hate birth control.

I have a copper IUD--I'm in the "don't do hormones" camp--and it's great.  Insertion? Not a problem.  Husband feeling it?  Never.  Period?  My period is definitely different now, but not better or worse.  (I used to have heavy bleeding followed by spotting; now I have spotting followed by heavy bleeding.  Weird, I know.)

I keep meaning to write a post about Me, Myself and IUD, because I love-love-love and want to kiss my birth control.

I've had a mirena iud for three years, and I think it's phenomenal.  I don't fit the perfect profile for one, since I've never had a child.  It's a great choice for us since my husband is allergic to latex and can't use condoms, and I wind up on antibiotics frequently, which would impair the effectiveness of the pill.  I've tried depo, and it made me absolutely crazy.

I have nothing but good things to say about the Mirena.  I had mild discomfort during the placement of it. The only other slight negative is that my husband was able to feel the strings during sex, initially.  My doc went in and shortened them, and they also eventually softened.

I'd highly recommend it.

hi!  sorry i am late posting this...  computer is crapping out on me lately (gadzooks!)  here are my IUD thoughts.  i have a mirena for the very same reasons you are looking into having one, rebecca.  honestly, as someone who also is 27 (though i only have one child for now), it really is a method of birth control that work well with my body for my lifestyle.  make sense?  my body has been very receptive to it...  the insertion for me was slightly uncomfortable.  not painful, but uncomfortable.  (keep in mind though that my son was a c-section).  i have not had hormonal side effects like some others have mentioned.  i had slight spotting for the first couple of months that has dissipated each month and now i have nothing (this is 7 months into having the IUD).  i love it because it's done, ya know?  my birth control is taken care of for the next however many years (up til 5 if i choose) and it's done.  i don't have to think about it each morning when i take my vitamins, and i don't have to think about it before each time i want to have sex with my husband.  it's done.  someone above mentioned the strings and having to have them shortened.  i had to have that done too...  i'm not sure why they call them "strings" because honestly, if you pop a finger up there and check them out, they feel like fishing line and you definitely get a nice poke from reaching up there.  i too ended up going to my doctor though and having the "strings" shortened...  not a big deal at all and husband can't feel a thing.  like i said...  it's done, and for me that works really nicely.  good luck to you!  :)

I got the mirena just under 3 years ago. Spotting for the first 4 months and nothing since. I think it's great and haven't had any problems.

I tried to have it put in over the summer and it HURT SO MUCH SHE HAD TO STOP. Granted, I have not experienced the joy of childbirth, so I probably have a rude awakening coming for me in the next few years.

I had the Mirena for a year and HATED it!

It didn't stop my periods at all and caused incredibly painful cramping... that never let up like it was supposed to.

I don't think I'm a usual case though.  I think one of the things that definitely contributed to my discomfort was that I had not had any children prior to getting the IUD.  Yeah.  I'd recommend that any woman stretches the ol' uterus via baby-making before putting one of those suckers in there!

I'm going in to get a Mirena the first week of January and I am SO excited about it!

We decided against the regular, non-hormone IUD because my periods are already very heavy and painful (like, keep me in bed for several days kind of painful)...my doc and I agreed that I probably couldn't handle them getting worse.  So that's a factor to consider if your periods are rough.

Prior to my son's birth, and since I stopped nursing, I've been monitoring my fertility with the TCOYF methods, and it does seem to work.  I just want to not have to think about it, and I also want to be able to have sex whenever I want, not worrying about abstaining during the fertile period.

Good luck!

Seems crazy to add a comment after this many but I just wanted to say that reading this really made a difference for me... I have a 22 month-old, I'm not sure I want another but if we do have one more it will not be until 2010. I went back on the pill after I stopped nursing and I'm totally sick of it by now. I've been taking it on and off since I was 14, it's been nearly 20 years, and I've had it!

My doctor had mentioned the Mirena but I was still a bit hesitant and scared. Well, reading all the commenters' input finally inspired me to make a move. I'm picking it up at the pharmacy today ($350! Ouch) and will have it installed on Thursday morning. Now I know that I must be prepared that it could be weird for the first couple of months, so I won't be frightened or disappointed if it is... And Oh, the joy of not thinking about that damn pill each day...

I had the mirena put in at my 6 wk pp visit. I had awful side effects the worst being debilitating migraine headaches (seriously I was taking the left over vicodin from giving birth). Plus the bleeding from insertion never went away in the few months I had it in. Very light, but VERY annoying. I hated it although I really wanted to love it. So caution; because after the fact, a doc (not mine of course) did say the side effects were higher in groups of pp women who were breast feeding. So you may want use something else for a bit and get the mirena when you are done nursing and pumping.

As an aside I am now on the nuva ring and love it. I leave it in for four weeks and put a new one in right after I take the old one out, so no periods. Also no crazies.

I've had mine for just over 8 weeks. It didn't hurt to put it in at all, but after I had a really heavy/crampy period. Hoping that changes. After our "oops" baby, my husband was the one who pushed the idea but I'm totally in love with it now.

Just having the peace of mind and not that daily panic of "Oh my God did I take my pill?!" is sooo worth it.

I say go for it!

Dude.  Mirena is the best thing ever.  I had my daughter at the end of July (05) and got my IUD in November.  Six weeks after getting my IUD, I had a very light period.  That was January of 2006.  I have not had a period since.  I am not hormonal.  I am not a psycho.  I do not get cramps.  It's awesome.  I've had it three years now and am a little bummed that I only have two years left on it!  My husband is totally getting a vasectomy but I may keep the IUD because I like it that much.

Like most of the posts.  LOVE IT.  I HATED the pill.  And the IUD is the next best thing to chocolate ice cream.  I hardly ever see my period, which actually gave me a scare last month since I thought just maybe I was pregnant.  But, alas, I'm not and the little Mirena dealy is wonderful. I never got hormonal either.  Go for it!  

Sorry GGC I don't have time to read all your wonderful comments before I leave my two cents.  I'll have to come back later.

I've had the Mirena for 3 years now and the only side effect was the bleeding for 4 months or so after installation.  That sucked, but it's been so worth the no worries of babies in my future or periods for that matter.  Rarely have I had any break through bleeding after those first 4 months.  So nice.  I highly recommend it and I so agree with the no-vasectomy bit... makes a lot of sense.

Hey lady,

I didn't have good luck with IUDs. They did provide reliable birth control but not in the way expected.  I bled for 10 days and cramped for a good week EVERY MONTH - leaving very little opportunity for any activity leading to conception!  I would certainly give this one a try...but beware!

  I have the Mirena and absolutely love it!!! I got it 8 months ago at my 6 wk. followup. I waited a long time to be able to get on it because it is recommended that you have had at least one child before doing so. I never fared well on other forms of hormonal contraceptives. I had been on almost every pill on the market and received Depo-Provera injections for 2 years. The hormones from both fucked me up so bad that I spent the later portion of my teenage years all the way through age 24 severely depressed and borderline suicidal. Not a single psychiatrist pointed the finger at my birth control. I had read a lot of places that depression is a 'possible' side effect but it was always made to sound like it was highly unlikely. So after all the antidepressants in the world failed to help me, I decided 'what the hell' and ditched all the hormones not naturally produced by me. It took almost 9 months, but I woke up one day and it was like I was a completely different person. No darkness, no sadness, no wishing the world away, no crazy hormones, no psych meds, and...Happy:) It was really truly a bitter irony when I realized that I had wasted 9 years of my youth just to ensure that I wouldn't get pregnant and 'waste' my youth (not knockin' those who had babies young, it is simply a reflection of how I saw it back then)

 Now, back to the Mirena. I knew when I was pregnant with my son that something had to be done to keep me from getting pregnant again right away. I am currently going to school for my RN and there was nooooo way I was going to try and make it through with more than one baby biting my ankles (though my husband thought it was a fantastic idea. OK ass, you go right ahead and this time I get to sit back and laugh at YOU when you can't bend over to zip up your boots!) I was VERY leery about Mirena at first because it IS hormonal and given my track record I feared depression would hit again and this time- I had a lot more to lose. After TONS of research, I found that what make Mirena different is that because it is inserted into the uterus, the hormones are the most highly concentrated in that area and only trace amounts pass through into the body's systemic circulation. When you take a pill or get a shot, the hormones are literally coursing through your veins in a much greater concentration and therefore the chance of them reaching your brain and fucking with your happy control center is also much greater. OK, sign me up. After 9 years I can spot a depressive episode coming from the other side of the earth so now I know I can pull the plug (haha Bec, pun intended! Ziiiiiing!) and can return to normal.

  Fast forward. Like I stated in the beginning, I LOVE MIRENA!!!! I want to shout it from the rooftops and carve a 'T' shaped marble statue with a plaque that reads: "In honor of this device's noble contribution to the freedom of sex without fear of depression, child, or menses." A little much? I think not. Now even though I am singing its graces I can assure you being on Mirena did have its downsides at first. I can't say for certain whether it was my body adjusting to the Mirena or simply my body adjusting postpartum, more than likely it was both, but the first 5 months or so there were a few definite side effects. The most annoying is that I did still get my period. Not only did I still get my period, but there was no rhyme, reason, or predictability to it what so ever. One month it was 3 days, 2 weeks later I would have another that was 5, then I would spot for another 2 weeks until I had another that lasted 8 days, and so on and so forth. At around 6 months it dwindled to just random spotting and has been that way since. I think the longer I am on it, it will hopefully go away entirely. I get crampy on occasion but after experiencing 24 hours of labor they are completely negligible. I have had NO issues with my mood, none whatsoever. Shit, I didn't even experience baby blues or lack-of-sleep induced crankiness. THAT, to me, was the most important thing and what has definitely made me an IUDer for life.

  I hope my testimony can be of some help not only to you Bec, but to anyone else on here that has experienced similar problems with hormonal birth control in the past. There are so many people out there that here 'hormone' and go running in the opposite direction and hopefully by explaining some of the physiology behind what makes it different, it may keep them a little more open to the option.

~Danielle

I have another question to add to the Merina discussion, since I'm seriously considering getting one myself, after hitting the 10-year limit with my Paragard (which has been great, except for the heavy crampy periods).

I know I'm opening myself up to get bitch-slapped here, but I am a smoker.  Yes, I know I shouldn't, but I do.  In doing quite a bit of reading on the Merina, I haven't found any type of smoking warning like they have with the pill, which suprised me, since it is hormonal.

Does anyone know anything about this, or is there another smoker who would like to come out of the closet and help me out?

Thanks.

Just make sure you know what will happen to you and the fetus if you get pregnant. No birth control method is completely infallible. My mom had two ectopic pregnancies (separated by 4 years)while on an IUD. Apparently, the risk for those goes up when an IUD is involved.

I had the non-hormonal one (it's copper) for about 18 months.  I loved it and will get one after we have another baby.  Good luck!!

Mirena - have one. Love it. Have had it since December 06. Periods disappeared for a while - they're back in the last 5 months but nothing that bothers me.

No cramping - no issues. No weight gain - and more importantly... NO BABIES! :)

I'm all for 'em - I say, go for it!

I had the copper IUD and I thought it was awesome for four years until I was suddenly pregnant (as of two months ago).  Then the doctors were all saying, "Don't worry!  I've delivered hundreds of babies with the IUD still in!  There's nothing to worry about!" WTF?!  Hundreds?!  So seriously, it was great while it lasted and my ob was able to remove it without any complications (increased risk of miscarriage is the main one - the IUD WILL NOT be stuck in baby's head if it doesn't comes out), but it is not a sure thing and it is not a vasectomy.  Good luck with your decision!

In between my 2nd and 3rd babes I tried the Mirena. Tried being the optimal word. I didn't really look too far into the Mirena when choosing it, it was pretty new and I was determined to NOT have another child anytime soon. (My first two are under 11 months apart)

Well, first let me say it hurt like hell. As in I was doing my breathing like labor was happening all over again. My OB was delivering a baby so the midwife did it. It's a miracle she didn't puncture my uterus she was shoving so hard (Something that you should NOT let them do if it's not going in easy.) My uterus was obviously small or tilted. So she gets it in, tells me to check the strings every day (you can feel them at your cervix) to make sure they are there.

Flash forward two weeks later and I'm in the kitchen cooking dinner. Something starts to feel....funny...down there. Not painful, just there is obviously something IN MY PANTS. Run to the bathroom and TA-DA, Mirena is snuggled in my panties. The freaking thing FELL OUT when I was cooking dinner.

After that I did more research. It does release hormones. And I wasn't OK with the fact that you can get pregnant, the baby can- hate to use the term- be aborted by the IUD and you'd never know it.

In the end it was the Lord's blessing the thing fell out. Our third baby was conceived a few months later. I would not get my tubes tied cause of the reason you mentioned- what if I wanted more if I remarried one day!- and my husband didn't care if something happened to me, he was D.O.N.E having kids so he got snipped. It's been liberating! LOL

Birth control is the sort of thing that affects us all so differently, so you're obviously going to get horror stories and gushing praise about the same method from two different people.  I guess you have to decide if the gushing praise makes you want to try it despite the horror stories.  I haven't tried IUD, but I recently went on depo after 8 or 9 years of pills and patches and rings.  I feel so much better physically on depo than I ever did on pills.  I forgot what it was like to not feel tired and cranky all the time.  The best news is that no matter what you ultimately do, it's reversible if it turns out to conflict with your body.

I've had the Mirena for 6 months now, and I think I've decided I love it. When I had it put in, my doctor specifically told me "Give it 6 months before you consider having it removed" and she was right.

The first month there was some spotting and some cramping. Then the next 3 months I had very light periods, but they lasted from 8-14 days! Last month, though, my period was only some spotting for 1-2 days. I usually have one small cramp that lets me know to expect some spotting the next day, and then that's it. I'm hoping to be one of those women who stops having a period completely. One of my best friends has the Mirena, too, and hasn't had a period in three years.

So far I'm thrilled. It's easy to deal with (check the strings once a month and that's it), and while it does have hormones, it's a small amount that is primarily delivered locally instead of throughout your body. I mean, obviously some of the hormone gets into your bloodstream, but I'm very sensitive to hormones and this doesn't bother me at all, so it has to be a very small amount.

As with any birth control, your mileage may vary. But if it seems like the only birth control you'll use and be relatively happy with, it's worth a try.

Thank you so much for this thread.  My little Reeve is now 4 months old.  His older sister is 18 months old.  YES.  I didn't have time for PPD, because I was preggers again.  My goal is to NOT be pregnant this year or next year.  And just like you I *hate* the pill.  Hubby hates me on the pill.  I was on Ortho Tri, generic, and a bunch of other ones.  I hate them all, except for Alesse... but my co pay for those are ridiculous.  Plus I don't want to take any more hormones!  

The wealth of information here is amazing!  Thank you!

Er, I sort of hated the Mirena.  I didn't think it was that painful when it was put in.  It felt like a really small contraction.  And I had no cramping or bleeding.  But I did have weird "down there" symptoms.  I got infection after infection.  I should revise that to tell you that I also have a long history of abnmormal pap smears and HPV and recurrent bacterial vaginosis.  I just felt like the Mirena was making it all way worse.   The plus side was that it didn't effect my sex drive at all.  The pill is rotten in that respect.  

I tried the Mirena and ended up having it removed after 4 months.  I had a lot of issues with cramping and spotting.  I liked the predictability of periods on the pill and hated the sudden spotting with Mirena.  Hubby could also feel the plastic strings so I went back in, had them trimmed, but he could still feel them.  So the spotting and stabbing strings pretty much killed our sex life.

I have an iud (not the mirena one, though, because hormone birth control makes me craezier than I already am:) and I completely love it!  The first 8 months I had killer, waterfall periods, but after that, it was like, You call THAT a period?!?!  I've had it for however old my youngest is minus 8 weeks (3 in April), and for the first week-ish, my husband could feel the strings piercing his, as our boys say,"weenis", and he hated it and me because he thought we could never have sex again, but Hallelujah! the strings nestled themselves into oblivion and all is well in sack again (well, ok, they're still there, but the strings did curl up like gift-ribbon so the needle-sharp tips don't stab him anymore)!  And I love that, whenever we're ready #5 (yep, you read that right!) I can just have the thing banished and go for it - although, being 27 also, I'm starting to feel really on the fence about having another one this late in the game, too.  I'm like, as much as I want another one, do I really want to cut it this close to 30 when, as is, I'm SO in the clear?!

I got my Mirena about 6 months after my second baby.  I still hadn't gotten my period back - breastfeeding, I guess, had kept it at bay... although that wasn't the case with my first, but whatever.  I totally love it and have had it now for almost exactly 2 years.  At first the strings could feel a little stabby (more discomfort inside me than for my husband), but I always was able to do a quick little adjustment (pushed them over to the side with a finger) and they'd be fine.  I haven't felt the stabby twinge in a long time now, and he has NEVER mentioned it.  The only time I've had my period since I got it (aside from some initial spotting) was when we went on vacation to Hawaii (of COURSE).  I would totally recommend it - we are done having kids and I'm hoping to keep on the Mirena train until it reaches the Menopause Depot.  I would definitely go for it.

I've gotten it installed this morning! It was merely uncomfortable for a minute, followed by some mild cramping and crabbiness (those go together), and a little bleeding. I don't even really feel it or anything. I'm still waiting to see how it goes, but so far so good!

I'm thrilled about having ditched the pill for good, with its bloating and crazy hormonal mood swings. I know the Mirena still contains hormones, but like my doctor said they're much milder than the pill and are localized to your uterus.

I got the Merina IUD when my 6 year old was almost 1 (I would suggest getting it sooner because it was kind of pinchy when it was put in) I had no weird side effects, actually NO peroid for about 4 years. I had it removed because I wanted one more baby... well I got pregnant with fraternal twins almost as soon as it was removed! I dont know if there was any kind of connection but twins don't run in my family so it was a little shocking ;-)

I love your blog and read it often, such adorable little munchkins you have!

I did have my tubes tied at 27.. I kind of regret it. I dont know why... 4 kids is enough but I always feel like it was just young to say no more kids forever

One last comment here...  I noticed only one other comment here about the Nuva Ring.  I heart the ring.

I'm in a slightly different situation, going to start trying for a family in the next year or so, but I've been on Nuva Ring for a good three years now.  I can't feel it, and my husband says he rarely does.  It's a once a month kind of thing, and you have the option of skipping your periods all together.

LURVE my Mirena. Loveleovelove it.

Doc put it in at my 6 week postpartum visit. I wasn't expecting it to hurt, so I was surprised when it did - I think if I had prepared myself it wouldn't have been "uncomfortable" at all. He trimmed my strings & I've never had any complaints from the husband.

Getting my lovely Mirena was the first thing I wanted to do after Boy #2 was born 18 months after Boy #1.

Whatever you decide to do DON'T think you're smart by going "All-Elaine" like I did... I sent off for the Sponge from Canada because we hated condoms, pills made me psycho & I was breastfeeding. Sponge's don't work, there's a reason why they don't make them anymore. Hence, Boy #2.

I've had the non-hormone IUD for 3 months now.  I'm 40, not wanting to bear any children, and was on nuvaring.  This worked great, except I was fairly sure the hormones were giving me migraines.  Overall, I'm extremely pleased.  The insertion was unpleasant but ibuprofen and a nap cured the cramping.  My migraines are gone and my periods are back to 'normal'(the nuvaring made my periods all but non-existant.)

I would also say that my hormonal 'crazy' period has lessened by going off nuvaring as well.  

i am late to this discussion and have no comment for the iud but i am on the pill and am wondering after all of the comments if that's why i don't want my husband to even look at me?? if he falls asleep on the couch i tiptoe to the room so i don't wake him for fear that he will want to touch me. once we get started i'm okay (most of the time) but i never initiate (which is SO not me) and never think it's a great idea when he initiates. i mostly do it (ha! "do it") to keep him happy. it was never like this before but i equated it to having 3 kids and a job. now i am wondering if it's not really that....

i heart the paraguard b/c i cant handle hormones at all.

I used a Mirena and I agree it is great for those who hate other forms of birth control, like me.  Five years on, however, (I just recently had it removed) I wonder how the hormones may have affected me.  Now that I'm 40, I'm not really crazy about the idea of having no more periods ever.  My periods still haven't come back even though I've had the Mirena out for several months.  I've had an increase in facial hair that I'm not crazy about either.  Maybe this is normal with age, but I still get the sense that the Mirena messed with a system that maybe I shouldn't have messed with.  I would recommend at least looking into that a bit to make sure it's okay with you.  You're younger than I was, so perhaps the concerns are not the same.

I had the Mirena in for three months before I got so sick (pretty much literally) of the cramping and the bleeding and the headaches and the mood swings that I had the thing yanked out and went back on the Nuvaring.

Ohhh, I forgot the horrible acne. And bacne. And chestne. And whatever other variations...

I just wanted to make one more comment as I'm not sure if all your readers are monagamous, etc.  Neither IUD is a good choice if you are in a slutty stage or having multiple partners(unless you're also using condoms), basically because the risk of infection is too high, and the complications from infection can force, amongst other things, the possibility of a hysterectomy.

I also have the ParaGuard - non-hormonal IUD.  I love it.  The insertion was painful - but I've never had kids, and I think it would be significantly less painful than that.  The strings have never been an issue for me.  I do have slightly more cramping and heavier periods than I had before, but I've only had it for about 10 months, and nothing bad enought to be a deal breaker.

Just found your blog.  I had the Paraguard IUD for a few years.  It was great birth control wise but I had bad cramps.  I know that I decided not to go with the Mirena specifically because it still included hormones a la the Pill, which makes me a raving maniac.  So if you're sensitive to them, the Paraguard may be a good choice.  Plus, it lasts nine years.  

I am on Mirena, and it's been working great for me.

I have a 2 1/2 yr old and a 5 mth old, so i dont want anymore quite yet.  I dont know if its because im still breastfeeding or what but i've had it in since Oct and i still haven't recieved my monthly hell but they say that can happen anyway.  no crazy pmsing, or wacky hormones. it's been perfect so far * knock on wood*

they also suggest that Mirena only be used if you've had kids and not just as a b/c method for anyone.

I personally hate it when people tell stories about what happpened to their "friends" but I have to tell this one. Mostly because it scared the crap out of me. My best friend...not the friend of a friend, but my best friend, who also happens to go to my gynecologist got Mirena four months after she had her daughter.

For the last year, she has had some weird abdominal pain that she just chalked up to being whacked out after two kids. Then, she started having a period every two weeks. Then, she started having severe abdominal pain during BMs.

Long story short, she went to the gyno and had to have exploratory surgery done to find the IUD. Yep, that's right, I said FIND. It has perforated her uterus, left her uterus and adhered itself to her rectum. It had happened so long ago that the dr. had a hard time finding the spot that it had left the uterus as the uterus had healed.

So, though it is only a small percent of people that may have this happen, I certainly don't want it happening to me. There was even talk of the big H (hysterectomy) being a possibility depending on where the IUD had gone to. ACK! Can you imagine. So, now, she is opting for the "rhythm method" and so far it's working. I went the vasectomy route, well, that is, my husband did :)

Good luck with whatever you try.