Does Mirena cause very noticable hair loss and thinning?

Hi, sorry but yes one of the many side effects of mirena is hair loss or hair growth.
I suggest you contact your Gynecologist she might be able to give you another solution to the following which I know you know... but I also need to know to in order to help, and know what I am referring to..ok... from a caring individual.

How does it work?

Mirena is a contraceptive device that contains the active ingredient levonorgestrel. It is an intrauterine system (IUS) that is inserted into the womb in a similar way to a contraceptive coil. Once inserted it steadily releases the levonorgestrel into the womb (uterus). Levonorgestrel is a synthetic form of the female sex hormone, progesterone.

Levonorgestrel works by increasing the thickness of the natural mucus at the neck of the womb. This makes it more difficult for sperm to cross from the vagina into the womb. By preventing sperm entering the womb, successful fertilisation of an egg is less likely.

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Levonorgestrel also prevents the womb lining (endometrium) from thickening each month in preparation to receive a fertilised egg. This stops any eggs that are fertilised from successfully implanting onto the wall of the womb, and prevents pregnancy in another way. Levonorgestrel may also prevent the release of an egg from the ovary (ovulation), but this does not necessarily occur in all women who use the IUS.

The device itself may also add to the contraceptive effect, in the same way that normal copper coils (IUDs) work due to their presence in the womb.

Mirena may be particularly useful for women needing contraception who also suffer from very long or heavy menstrual periods. Because the levonorgestrel prevents the womb lining from thickening, it reduces the amount of tissue that is shed each month as a menstrual period and makes periods lighter. Peroids may eventually stop while the IUS is in place.

The Mirena IUS should ideally be inserted in the first five days of your menstrual cycle (day one is the first day of your period). This will provide immediate protection against pregnancy. The IUS can be inserted at other times in your cycle if your doctor is sure you are not pregnant, but you will need to use an extra method of contraception (eg condoms) for the first seven days after it is inserted.

Mirena can also be prescribed for women taking oestrogen-only hormone replacement therapy (HRT) following the menopause. In women with an intact womb, oestrogen HRT stimulates the growth of the womb lining (endometrium), which can lead to endometrial cancer if the growth is unopposed. A progestogen, such as the levonorgestrel in Mirena, is used to oppose oestrogen's effect on the womb lining and reduce the risk of cancer, though it does not eliminate this risk entirely. If a woman has had her womb surgically removed (a hysterectomy), endometrial cancer is not a risk, and a progestogen is not necessary as part of HRT, unless the woman has a history of endometriosis.
What is it used for?

* Contraception
* Heavy or prolonged menstrual periods with no known cause (idiopathic menorrhagia)
* Protection from overgrowth of the womb lining (endometrial hyperplasia) in women taking oestrogen-only hormone replacement therapy (HRT) following the menopause

Best of luck.