Mirena and Cramps: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Jhr...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 21, 2020

"This... omg, this has been enlightening. 1.) 30+ lbs. I have gained almost 50 lbs, but I lost almost 20 again. I have literally been working so hard to lose weight. 2.) Acne? Yes! Bad, bad cystic acne. 3.) Pain, tingling, weakness, and numbness on one side of my body. 4.) Infections. 5.) Mood swings/depression. 6.) Cramping/bloating. 7.) Stomach pain. 8.) Pain/cramping after sex. 9.) Low birth weight/premature birth of my daughter. 10.) I am honestly shocked, devastated, and determined to remove it after finding out this is all from Mirena. This is my 3rd Mirena, and I went from the 120s to the 170s and now am back to the 160-ish. I have been through so much with this, it’s unreal. Don’t do it."

• Mom...
• March 3, 2020

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I got the Mirena after my first baby. I didn’t think it was awful to have inserted, but it was a little achy and felt pressure for a few weeks after. But then I loved it and loved not having periods. No problems for 3 years, and then I started having vaginal itching and a smell down there like mashed potatoes. I also had brown spotting that didn’t seem to want to stop. The doctor gave me a pack of birth control pills and told me to take 4 at once, it made me nauseous as anything, but it stopped the bleeding. After the second baby, I got the Mirena again, and now at 2 years on the second Mirena, I’m starting to have vaginal itching again with a sour vaginal smell. I’m also having thick flesh-colored discharge coming out in clumps. I actually think it’s the mucous membranes from my uterus lining coming out without blood, if that’s even possible. I’ve noticed having leg cramps too. All in all, I love Mirena and have no regrets and will continue to use it until either my husband or I get fixed."

• Dur...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 17, 2019

For Birth Control "I almost backed out of getting the Mirena because of these women on YouTube being so 'fear mongering' and, quite frankly, just scaring people. It is 2 days since I got it in, and I'm sore, and yes, it was really crampy, but I just wanted to say: Don't over-read like I did on the internet. Everyone's cervix and uterus is different, everyone has different pain levels. My pain tolerance is high (I've had spine procedures while awake), I've had wicked period cramps, and my NP said my 'perfect cervix' made the insertion extremely smooth. With all that said, did it hurt? Kinda. Was it uncomfortable? Yup. Was it painful? No. I'm sore, but I've barely bled, which is another plus, and I think a week from now I will be even more happy that I got it done! My point is - don't over-read. People tend to only post negative experiences online, but this is something that is already stressful enough. I don't think it's right to scare women before they get it done (and no, I've never had children)."

• NYC...
• September 3, 2014

For Birth Control "Mirena gave me my life back. Ever since I hit puberty at 11 years old, I have had horrible, very heavy, very painful periods. Around 18, I was diagnosed with endometriosis. I would miss school and work, and have to double layer my clothes when I slept, it was horrible. I tried every birth control out there including Seasonique, the NuvaRing, Ortho Tri-Cyclen, Depo-Provera, Loestrin, Lybrel, if you name it, I've tried it. Nothing worked. I started having periods that would last for 2-3 weeks. Finally, I tried Mirena, having it put in was painful but bearable. The first 6 weeks I had cramps and spotting. After that, nothing. I get a very light 2-3 day period now and then. No cramps. It's amazing and gave me my life back. I'm so thankful for it!"

• Des...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 23, 2015

For Birth Control "Got the Mirena in almost 2 weeks ago, and I must say I love it so far! Horrible cramps for the first 5 or so hours after insertion (had to drive home) and almost couldn't take it. The heating pad helped bunches along with laying on my back. The cramps went away the next day! I even went to work. A few cramps here and there, but that's expected. Nothing too unbearable. I'm also a 21-year-old with no kids. My boyfriend also can't feel it. One thing though, the antibiotics they put you on the day of insertion did give me a yeast infection. It went away a couple of days later. Love the Mirena so far!"

• ano...
• December 1, 2014

For Birth Control "I used to get cramps so terribly painful that at 24 years old, I was begging my doctors to approve a hysterectomy. This had been an ongoing issue for me. I finally got the Mirena as recommended by a friend, and I don't get my period anymore. The only downside is that on rare occasions, I do experience cramping after heavy exercise. I didn't gain weight, and no negative side effects to report on really. I would recommend this to every woman."

• Jea...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 31, 2013

For Birth Control "This is Jean's husband. Jean had this device inserted many years ago. She was NEVER informed of its risks or how long until it should be removed. She has had severe cramps for years. We (I) have informed every doctor and emergency room she has gone to about the device. They all ignored the info. Yesterday she was taken to the hospital. She had severe chest pains. All cardio tests came back negative. Today they transferred her to ICU because her temperature kept spiking. They did blood work and found out she has a massive infection running through her body. She is being bagged and they are flushing her system to try and get rid of the infection. An OB-GYN came in and tried to find the 'string' to remove this contraption. I will know more soon."

• Cal...
• December 13, 2019

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I'm a 54-year-old postmenopausal woman who had polyps. Up until I was diagnosed with the polyps, I had not had a period in well over 9 years. I had them removed and was told the lining of my uterus was too thick, and it was recommended I have the Mirena coil inserted to help thin my uterine lining. The insertion, done on 11/5/2019, was no problem, just slight discomfort. A week after it was inserted, I started bleeding. I have all of the classic period symptoms: cramps, back pain, etc. It is now Dec. 13, 2019, and I have been bleeding nonstop for 32 days. I have talked to my doctor numerous times, and she tells me this is normal and I just need to let it settle. How can it be normal to go from being done with menopause to bleeding constantly??? I was going to wait another month and see if the bleeding would stop, but after reading all of the reviews here, I will now insist on having this thing removed. I strongly advise anyone thinking about getting the Mirena coil to NOT do it!"

• Anonymous
• March 24, 2008

For Birth Control "I have had the Mirena for about 6 months now. Aside from the abhorrent cramping that happened for about 6 hours after it was put in, I have no periods, no cramping, no bloating, no mood swings... nothing! I love it."

• ban...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 16, 2019

For Birth Control "DO NOT GET THIS. I'M TELLING YOU THIS NOW! Many people, like myself, have read the reviews and thought, oh no, that won’t be me. It’ll be fine. I'M DIFFERENT. Well - no, I’m not. I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone. Constantly bleeding, I can’t even HAVE sex, constant cramping and discomfort. Nausea. Dizziness. And the worst of all is the HORMONES. All I do is cry. Getting it out asap."

• Ave...
• July 3, 2019

For Birth Control "After reading the reviews, I was terrified. Then I got to thinking, most of the time people only volunteer to share their reviews if they have had a negative experience. I am on a weight loss journey, so I was scared I would gain weight on the Mirena, and also, even after having the Paragard two times, I was scared to have the Mirena inserted after reading reviews. Monday, I went in to get the Mirena, my doctor reassured me that less than 5% of women gain weight and that most of the time the weight gain is caused by other factors. The procedure itself was quick. There is a small amount of pressure as the IUD is inserted, but nothing to get worked up about. I have had the IUD in place for four days now and have had minimal spotting and minimal cramping. I will update this in about three months. If you are considering the Mirena, please do not make your choice based on reviews from others. As I stated before, people are quick to complain but rarely reach out to leave positive reviews."

• twa...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 13, 2020

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I was 42 when I first got the Mirena. Had it put in to control my heavy periods. It took at least 6-8 months of still getting a period and off and on spotting before it completely stopped. I have had it now for 5 years and just recently had it removed and another one put in. I am now 47, and this one will take me into the menopause stage of my life. Other than some cramping after insertion and, of course, weight gain, I have been happy with my decision."

• mom...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 27, 2016

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I wanted to share my positive experience with Mirena since there are a lot of negative reviews. All the negative reviews almost scared me off from trying it for myself. All women are different though, and I figured more people who had problems would get online and complain than women who had positive results. I am in my 40s, have 1 child, and have a really bad problem with extremely heavy flooding menstrual periods. It had gotten so bad I was flooding through every 2 hours, and that was affecting my daily life during that week. I had to do something, so I went for it. Insertion was painful but over quickly. I had mild cramping that day and spotting for about a week. After that, I had some discharge for several more weeks that I only noticed when I used the bathroom, and then it stopped. I have had 2 periods now after insertion, and they have been wonderful. I went from flooding to not even needing to wear or use anything! I have not had any side effects or problems. I am so happy that I did not let the negative reviews scare me off! Good luck to all the ladies who give it a try! Hope your experience is as positive as mine has been!"

• Anonymous
• October 5, 2010

For Birth Control "I have had the Mirena in for almost a year! I was so tired of birth control pills, and my sister had it put in and loved it! So I thought this was finally my answer to contraception. Well... over the last 10 months, I have had acne (on my back, arms, face, everywhere), and I have never been one to get acne. I have had cramping off and on, weight gain, and my stomach has been bloated up like I am pregnant. Also, I have experienced anxiety and loss of energy. All I want to do is lay around. I am getting it taken out ASAP."

• Tri...
• February 16, 2020

For Birth Control "I got the IUD put in on 01/24/2020 and had little to no bleeding. I had a lot of cramping and pain. My OBGYN, whom placed it, checked it and ensured its placement. The whole time, I had uncomfortable pain and cramping to the point of tears. On 02/08/2020, my boyfriend finally took me to get checked at the urgent care. They stated that I had PID and BV due to getting my IUD. I was put on two antibiotics and further tests were put on order. After taking the meds for one week, I still had pain and cramping at the same level when I first got it. However, I had developed a fever and nausea. The urgent care doctor told me to go to the ER. At the ER, they could not find my IUD imaging. They told me to follow up with my OBGYN, and I still had PID and BV. I went to see my OBGYN the next day to find my IUD still inside me. When pulled out, it had bacterial growth on it. Right after being taken out, I felt better, and the cramping stopped. Please do not put this in your body!!!"

• Tar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 1, 2013

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I thought I'd throw a positive review out there. I've read so many negative ones. I'm 19 years old. I've never had children, so getting it put in wasn't very pleasant, but not terrible. I got the Mirena because I was bleeding for almost a year straight, very heavily. The only negative side effects I've had so far are bloating, cramps, and moodiness, but they went away after a week or so. I've had no weight gain whatsoever. I've actually lost a few pounds... Yay! My sex drive has actually gone nuts (in a good way), and my periods have stopped! That's the main thing I'm happy about. I was tired of bleeding all the time. I'd recommend the Mirena to anyone."

• akk...
• September 3, 2014

For Birth Control "I got my Mirena almost 6 months ago now, and I absolutely love it. I read so many reviews that made me hesitate to get it - it took me months to decide which birth control to get, but my doctor recommended this, so I trusted her. I have had 1 child previously, 2 years ago now, so I think that helped make my experience smooth. I took some ibuprofen before getting it put in, and there was discomfort, but nothing unbearable. I spotted and had irregular periods for the first 2 months, it was really annoying. Then I spotted occasionally for another two months or so. My periods have stopped completely now, so it was worth it. Also, the cramping was not bad at all. Nothing more than the moderate period pains I used to get. And my partner never notices it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 23, 2013

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "If I could give the Mirena a 20, I would! I had it inserted in August 2013 for endometriosis, and I have had one period since; and I use the phrase 'period' loosely (I barely bled for around 36 hours. It barely warranted the use of pantyliners). My primary reason for getting it was to keep my endometriosis at bay; it is an estrogen-dependent disease that thrives during your period, so my doctor killed two birds with one stone. My insertion was mildly uncomfortable during the part where they opened my cervix, but my doctor also had me take 800 mg of Ibuprofen an hour before my appointment. The whole insertion process took less than two minutes. I had absolutely no spotting or cramping for three days. Added bonus, my sex drive is through the roof!"

• Dow...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 29, 2019

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "Ever since I got this thing, I’ve been bleeding and cramping, depressed, and have a low sex drive. Getting this has been one of the biggest mistakes I’ve made. I was talked into it, instead of having my heavy period problem actually remedied, I was given this bad idea of a device. This has made my bleeding problem out of control. I haven’t stopped bleeding since I got it. I went to the doctor for help with heavy bleeding, and now every day since placement has been a nightmare. It seems women have been brainwashed into thinking it’s okay to be in pain. As a woman, having this thing makes me question how much society actually cares about women. Insertion was so painful I became dizzy, nauseous, and almost passed out. I had to be given a shot for the pain before I left the office. And this is normal?! No. Advice? DON’T DO IT!"

• mas...
• October 7, 2009

For Birth Control "I read a lot of horror stories online before I got the Mirena, so I was concerned but willing to give it a try. I think it's great, but there were a few bad points in the first few months of the medication. Insertion was very uncomfortable, cramping followed by cramps lasting for six hours and light soreness for a couple of days (I have no children). I had a light period lasting for over one month after insertion and really weird brown discharge after that for several months. I didn't notice a change to my libido. I felt 'aware' of the Mirena for a while. But I stuck with it. It's been a year since then. I have no symptoms - no mood swings, no skin issues, no weird bodily functions. I don't have a period anymore or any cramping - it's awesome!"

• Cri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 16, 2020

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I had the Mirena inserted on November 4th, 2019. Today is January 16th, 2020, I am still spotting. I wasn't even told that I was going to be spotting for that long, only told a month by the nurse that insisted I be put on it. I noticed the cramping last up to a month and a half. I am sick and tired of the bleeding. It seems to stop between 1-3 days and start up again. So I just wear a liner every day. I do notice random pain in my ovaries, but it feels like an uncomfortable pulse, and then it's done. So I am not too worried about that, probably just my lady parts fighting back. I sure hope the bleeding stops soon because I am considering taking it out, up to 6 months of bleeding or spotting is absolutely ridiculous. I think they don't tell you about the spotting/bleeding so we get put on this. My overall experience is positive, I do recommend this product to others, just be forewarned about the bleeding, I can't express this enough."

• Cri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 16, 2020

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I had the Mirena inserted on November 4th, 2019. Today is January 16th, 2020, I am still spotting. I wasn't even told that I was going to be spotting for that long, only told a month by the nurse that insisted I be put on it. I noticed the cramping last up to a month and a half. I am sick and tired of the bleeding. It seems to stop between 1-3 days and start up again. So I just wear a liner every day. I do notice random pain in my ovaries, but it feels like an uncomfortable pulse, and then it's done. So I am not too worried about that, probably just my lady parts fighting back. I sure hope the bleeding stops soon because I am considering taking it out, up to 6 months of bleeding or spotting is absolutely ridiculous. I think they don't tell you about the spotting/bleeding so we get put on this. My overall experience is positive, I do recommend this product to others, just be forewarned about the bleeding, I can't express this enough."

• Jch...
• August 20, 2014

For Birth Control "I believe myself to be very pain tolerant. I got one of these inserted, and it caused me so much pain I nearly passed out. Keep in mind, however, that I have never been pregnant before. If you have not been pregnant, your uterus does not have as much elasticity. Also, my uterus was set back in a position that made for a difficult time for my gynecologist to get to it. (This happens when you have not been pregnant sometimes.) The nurse said she had never seen the gynecologist actually have to utilize the ultrasound to insert it. One day after insertion, and now I am completely cramp-free. Don't let the horror stories scare you. The ease of use, cost (completely free), and effectiveness of this product are phenomenal."

• Mam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 10, 2014

For Birth Control "I decided to read the reviews for Mirena after I got it. Wow, am I ever glad I waited! Reviews that stated spotting for months, and painful intercourse would have been enough to put me off for sure. However, I've had a fantastic experience with Mirena so far. Spotted for 1.5 days (not months - DAYS) with only mild cramping. Intercourse after 3 days, and it was as enjoyable, if not more so than before. As I understand, it's better to have had children before using Mirena. I can see why - insertion would likely have been more painful had I not had 1 child. High recommendations, but of course, your doctor will know if Mirena is your best choice. Right down to the tilt of your uterus - there are many factors to take into consideration."

• Mor...
• May 22, 2013

For Birth Control "I am 21 and have not had children yet. My husband and I thought Mirena was a good idea because we want to wait a few years to conceive since I am in college still, and we want to be more settled before we start trying. Well, I was nervous about the procedure, which was pretty painful, but all I said was, 'Whoa!' No tears or anything, so it wasn't THAT bad. However, since I have had Mirena (4 months), I have had heavy cramping (like if I stand up, I get lightheaded, and the pain is almost unbearable) and unpredictable periods with light to really, really heavy bleeding. I am going to give it 2 more months, however, my husband is seriously encouraging me to have it taken out since he hates seeing me in intense pain regularly."