Mirena and Weight Gain: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Im...
• September 25, 2016

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I have issues with heavy bleeding as a result of Mirena IUD being inserted 18 months ago. My bleeding issue has completely been gone. I get a very light period every month and am very happy with that. Since my bleeding was so heavy, my other option would be a hysterectomy. My frustration is the weight gain, I've gained 15 pounds since this was placed. I'm only 5-2, and I work out every single day and watch my carbs and take a very low-calorie diet. In spite of this, I still continue to gain weight. I have constant bloating and terrible water retention. All my weight is in my stomach and thighs. I have an appointment this week to get it removed, however, I'm scared of having the heavy bleeding again."

• She...
• December 18, 2016

For Birth Control "Wasn't too bad to insert. First 3 months I had continuous spotting. Period stopped after 3 months. At first, it felt fine. Developed GAD and anxiety disorders half a year in and started crying for no reason at everything and had to see a therapist twice. I thought it was just me going crazy until a year passed and I got my period all of a sudden. My monthly periods then would last 10-12 days and hurt like hell. Cramping was UNBEARABLE. I never cramped on BC pills or off BC pills, but all the time on Mirena. I was depressed, tired, gained 10 lb, and was always hungry, anxious 24/7, and sensitive to every little thing. Removed my IUD after a year and a half of use and switched back to BC. VERY disappointed with this-I had such high hopes."

• Cyn...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 24, 2023

For Birth Control "I had the Mirena placed about 4 years ago. From day 1, it has been complete misery. It is painful, it is disrupting my hormones, I have gained 30 lbs, I have brain fog, fatigue, severe myalgia. It worked its main purpose of ensuring no unwanted pregnancies, but in my opinion, it was a high price to pay. My quality of life was affected, and I would not recommend it to anyone, ever."

• Lca...
• July 25, 2019

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I had Mirena placed December 26th, 2018. I have fibroids and the world's heaviest period. I was told this was going to help lighten, if not make my period go away, and shrink my fibroids naturally. In the last 7 months, I have had my period almost completely straight through the 7 months. It’s still very painful, the bleeding is lighter, yes, but it is NOT worth it if I am continually bleeding for months. The time when I would normally not be on it, I am spotting thick brown discharge. I’ve been told this is normal. As for the fibroids, they are still the same size. Just to add onto this, I have gained a ton of weight (I workout with a trainer every day), so this is very frustrating, and I have small acne hormonal bumps around my chin. I can’t wait to have this thing removed. This is a complete nightmare, I don’t recommend this to anyone."

• Bri...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 1, 2019

For Birth Control "Well... I didn't get pregnant, so that's a plus, right?! On the other hand, my doctors have made me feel like a crazy person because I've gained 50... yes, FIFTY pounds in the last 18 months with no change in diet or exercise routine. I kept telling my doctors that this is not normal for my body, but they kept telling me it has to be something I'm doing or maybe it is just because I turned 30... seriously?! At one point, I even hired a nutritionist and had a hard exercise regimen that I paid for and still gained more weight when everyone else lost about 30 lbs... It wasn't until I read all of these reviews that it all made sense. None of my clothes fit (I went from a size 9 to a size 12/13), my sex life has suffered, my body image is non-existent... so yes, I didn't get pregnant, but it isn't worth my continually expanding waist size OR my mental health."

• Cra...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 21, 2019

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "This medication is HORRIBLE! My gynecologist suggested that I use Mirena for heavy bleeding. It's been 12 months now, and I'm going crazy. I can't wait to have this device removed. Inserting it was very painful, it was without any painkillers. I only had 3 months of no bleeding. Now I experience constant bleeding, mood swings, headaches, abdominal pain, depression, and the worst thing ever, I gained at least 40+ pounds. My eating habits have not changed. I blame Mirena. On top of that, they can't see the string, so I have to have it removed surgically. I've been bleeding now nonstop since March, we are now at the end of June. This is HORRIBLE. I have an appointment with my gyn on Monday, I can't wait to have this thing out of my body. My sex life is practically gone. Thank goodness I have an understanding partner. But the guilt of not feeling good and bleeding all the time has me questioning my role in my relationship. Hopefully, this malicious thing gets out of me soon."

• Sil...
• January 28, 2021

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I have had the Mirena implanted to help fight the uterine cancer stage 1, grade 1. I was told that I would just have abnormal bleeding for a few days. Also, that the periods would become lighter and shorter, then eventually, I wouldn’t have any more periods. That wasn’t the case at all, I had gained weight, major mood swings, and heavy spotting every single day. I’ve had it implanted 6 months ago, and I still have heavy bleeding. I still have to make sure I carry spare pads since I randomly bleed heavily. I’m at my wit's end, I keep being told that I just need to push through this time since it will get better. I honestly don’t feel like it will and really wish I was more informed of the other side effects before agreeing to having it implanted since I don’t feel like my old self."

• Ang...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 22, 2018

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I've had Mirena for 6 months now, and I'm starting to lose my patience with this thing. The first 3 months, I bled/spotted continuously with little breaks in between. Now, although the spotting has stopped, Auntie Flow has gone from my normal 5 days of bleeding to 14 days of bleeding. I am so miserable. I've talked to my doctor, and she says to give it some time, but I was hoping for things to have gotten a little better by now. My mood swings are very bad, as I find myself angry for no reason. I have gained a few pounds, and at times I feel depressed. I just don't know what to do anymore. I want this to work so badly, but I'm afraid I will just be wasting my time."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 18, 2015

For Birth Control "I am a graduate student who has never had children and got the Mirena because IUDs have the highest rate of success (especially over time) for birth control. The insertion was painful (pain scores 7-8), but I slept for a couple of hours after the procedure, and when I woke up, the pain had subsided to a 2-3 (out of 10). I had very light spotting the first couple of weeks, but have not had a period since the insertion (I had the device placed early June 2015). I have noticed some moderate back acne and slight weight gain, but I am unsure whether those can be attributed to other life circumstances at this point. If the weight gain continues, I will write another review, but at this point, my experience has been great."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 23, 2014

For Birth Control "This device saved my sex life! Since insertion (that wasn't that bad), I've not had one thrush infection! I know people say IUDs can make infections worse, but for me, it's been a lifesaver. I have lost weight, and my mood and libido have greatly improved. I am 24, no kids, and have tried every other birth control under the sun (including Implanon). All gave me constant thrush and weight gain! Amazing how such a small thing can reap such positive changes!!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 9, 2017

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I had my Mirena for five years and never experienced any abnormal bleeding; in fact, I stopped having periods after the first six months. I did, however, gain a lot of weight, which has been impossible to lose no matter what I've tried. Now that it is out, I'm hoping to see the weight go away. If it does, I'll update the post (if I can)."

• mls...
• January 15, 2015

For Birth Control "I love Mirena. I am 26 and never had kids before. I had my Mirena inserted 7 months ago, little pain when MD inserted. Little cramps, but it all went away. I have gained a few pounds. Overall, it is a great birth control."

• For...
• August 22, 2016

For Birth Control "I am 25 years old and have never been pregnant. Due to having migraines with aura, I needed an estrogen-free form of BC. I was on Depo Provera ('the shot') for 1.5 years and hated it. I gained 20 lb without changing my diet, spotted for a year straight with no breaks, and was an overall mess. Mirena was the obvious choice for me. Insertion was not fun ("

• Com...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 18, 2019

For Birth Control "I had chosen the Mirena insert because I needed a more stable form of birth control. One that I didn't have to take pills every day at certain times for, and one that was painless. The insertion was tolerable. I had it for about 6 months when I noticed that my periods were little to none. Then I noticed that I started gaining weight in my midsection and my thighs. I don't like it. I started feeling depressed. I've been having pelvic cramps/pain. My appetite has increased so much. I am eating excessively with no control, and I know it's Mirena. I just feel icky. I plan on getting it removed very soon. To each their own."

• Not...
• January 18, 2013

For Birth Control "I am 56 and had the Mirena inserted 4 years ago because I'd had heavy continuous bleeding for months. It was Mirena or surgery. The insertion was extremely painful, but the bleeding stopped almost completely within a couple of weeks. I had lots of problems with the strings 'stabbing' me in the vagina for almost the entire first year. I finally went to a different doctor who trimmed about 3 ½ inches of string. Haven't had any problem since. I have not enjoyed sex since it was inserted, I lost a lot of hair, gained 20 pounds within the first six months, and have had to take antidepressants daily. I never had problems with depression before. But hey - no more bleeding."

• Ray...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 30, 2020

For Birth Control "I’m 42, had the Mirena put in August 2019. It is January 2020, and I am still bleeding. The doctor said to give it a little more time, well enough time has passed and I want it out. This was not a great idea, having more cramping than I had before and also weight gain."

• ver...
• October 13, 2013

For Birth Control "I recently had my second Mirena inserted. I had my first one for 6 years. I had a little bit of spotting for the last year or so, perhaps due to the hormones reducing. I had gained almost 60 pounds since my first insertion. But it was gradual, and I never attributed it to the Mirena. I recently went on a low-carb diet...started exercising, and voila, 40 lbs lost in a 3-month period! I guess it wasn't the Mirena after all. When I got my second one inserted, I gained 5 lbs of water overnight and bloated something fierce. I began to worry, what if I start to gain again? Well, I gave it 2 weeks, I'm down on the scale lower than ever! I'm a happy Mirena user."

• Sab...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 24, 2019

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I have had the Mirena in for over a year and a half now and have gained 10 lbs. Before, my periods were heavy and cramps sucked. Within 3 months, I noticed my periods were getting lighter. At 6 months, I stopped having periods but still had light spotting during what would be my period week. The spotting only lasted about 3 days. Now I am constantly spotting, light and heavy, and PMS terribly. Currently, I have been spotting for 15 days in a row with some discomfort. I have made my appointment to get it removed."

• Hof...
• July 3, 2008

For Birth Control "I used to use Depo-Provera for about 8 years. I have two girls, 13 and 7. I decided to change to Mirena with our busy schedule so that I don't have to keep coming in every 3 months for a shot. The first 24 hours of cramping was not pleasant. But as with Depo-Provera, I have continued to not have a period and no weight gain for me. I strongly recommend for anyone with a busy family life who wants good birth control if you didn't get your tubes tied."

• Car...
• May 24, 2016

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I got Mirena inserted about 3 months ago, and I am so happy that I did. I had been on 4 different types of birth control pills, and each of them affected me differently. I gained weight, had terrible mood swings, didn't have a sex drive, and was always fatigued. Now that I have gotten Mirena, everything has changed... I lost almost 10 pounds, now back to where I was before I ever started the pills! I weigh around 122, and when I was on the pills, I weighed 132, and I was miserable. Mirena has made me have light bleeding here and there, but my doctor said that it is just my body adjusting. I am very satisfied with it, and I hope that it treats me well for the next 5 years!"

• Jea...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 13, 2019

For Birth Control "I did not love Mirena. In the 2.5 years I had it, I had vaginal odor, lower libido, weight gain (25+ lbs), anxiety, and IBS symptoms. It did make my heavy periods much lighter, but did not improve cramps or PMS. I went back to normal fast after having it removed. Odor, anxiety, and GI symptoms went away, and I lost the weight. I had 3 months of super heavy 'rebound' periods, and now they are back to how they were before. I would recommend Mirena to anyone looking for reliable BC/lighter periods, with a caveat: If you notice bad effects, don't wait more than 6 months to see if they improve. Your doc may brush off your concerns. I have heard horror stories of women who suffered for years because their doc insisted they were exaggerating side effects or that they must be caused by something else. I had 2+ years of side effects before I got it removed. Don't let your doc tell you you're wrong about how you feel. There are other options if Mirena isn't right for you. The only way to know is to try it."

• Rev...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 28, 2015

For Birth Control "I have had the Mirena for almost a year. The doctor I had was amazing and explained it perfectly. Worse pain for about one second and a break, and then even worse pain for about 1 more second. You can seriously count to 1, and it's over. I am someone that got extreme cramps before, and my cramping was bad the first three months. I spotted and cramped and hated it! But my boyfriend (a doctor) told me to give it three months, then decide, so I did! And I'm very happy I did. My only concern is I've gained 45 lbs since the insertion. I'm not sure at this point why? Four months now, I have changed my diet and work with a personal trainer 3-5 times a week. Fingers crossed I get my body back!!"

• Lau...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 7, 2018

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "This product fixed my awful bleeding - but at what cost? I went from 70 kg to 85 kg within 10 months. I’m vegan and very active. Weight gain, overwhelming sadness, unmotivated for the first time in 32 years. Very foggy. With my BMI now very high, I have to get it out as the weight is increasing with a lot of diet restrictions and heavy exercise but unable to shift it. Never had any issues dropping baby weight either. Tread carefully with this! Do your research from people who have had it, not from what the drug companies want you to believe."

• bmo...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 20, 2017

For Birth Control "The Mirena works great for most people. I am not one of them. My hair came out in clumps in the shower. I had the Mirena for 2 years and gained 15 lbs. I've never had an issue with weight and have always had a very fast metabolism. I figured my metabolism was slowing down (mid-twenties), and that I would need to eat better and exercise. I got my Mirena removed exactly one week ago and have lost 6 lbs and have changed absolutely nothing! All the weight I gained with Mirena seemed to go to my stomach. I looked 3-4 months pregnant every day. My depression got worse. I was so out of energy every day. I was itching my skin off every day - pretty sure I had a combo of hives and eczema. Feeling better, skin's clearing, and weight's down."

• Str...
• August 1, 2019

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "One thing that stands out to me after reading lots of people's reviews is why are people's doctors suggesting to give it more time? And things will settle down? Almost as if they want you to continue to suffer? I had my first non-hormonal coil fitted after the birth of my first child. It was in for 5 years, and I never had any issues; however, after the birth of my second child 9 years later, I’ve now had the Mirena coil in for just over a year, and I see now that the issues I am having probably relate to that. Irregular bleeding, headaches constantly, weight gain like you wouldn’t believe, mood swings, and extreme anxiety and low mood. Bleeding out of nowhere when it’s not even my period has made me review this thing. The coil is a foreign object in the body and not meant to be there. No wonder so many of us have so many issues with it. Can’t wait to have it out. Avoid."