I had one inserted on Monday, since there was no other birth control available to me. The normal pill doesn't work, my family has a bad history with estrogen (blood clots), depo makes me suicidal and they're not prescribing it anymore here, and I don't really trust the other methods :p.
It was quite painful, when my gyne measured my uterus (to see how long the strings need to be), probably the worst part. The actual insertion wasn't that bad, the whole thing just felt like really bad cramps. I get really bad cramps on my period normally, so bad I can't get out of bed...and I bleed A LOT (luckily they're only 3-4 days), the insertion felt like that.
Afterwards, I had some of the worst cramps I had ever had probably lol until that evening and a little bit of spotting, nothing major a pantie-liner took care of it. Since then off and on I've had the occasional brown "sludge", but the cramps are gone and I feel great. I've been hornier than usual...but my fiancée says I always am after my period :D. We haven't tried making love yet, due to our situation but in about 3 weeks we will, I hope he doesn't feel the strings...most of the time they hide behind my cervix so it should be fine though.
Anyways, so far this is the best birth control I've ever used, almost flawless prevention-wise, and so low maintenance - it lasts 5 years and all you ever do is check for the strings after your period! I recommend anyone in a monogamous relationship to get this. =) I say monogamous, because it opens up your cervix a bit and makes you more susceptible to STI's. Also, your gynecologist might not insert it if you've never given birth...took a lot to talk mine into it, and he said I was the youngest woman he had ever inserted one into.
Oh btw, here is some websites about it if you're interested:
official site: http://www.mirena.ca/ or http://www.mirena.com
quick info: http://www.womenshealthmatters.ca/centres/sex/birthcontrol/mirena.html
My only problem with IUDs is that I might want to have children within the next 5 years.
lol that sounds horrifyingly painful...i think i'd rather put up with inserting Implanon than going through that haha. :eek:
you sound like you've tried quite a few contraceptives...have any of them ever affected your libido? i'm currently taking lessina (generic for levlite) and i have an incredibly low sex drive...i've heard that some birth controls can cause this. just wondering if you've ever noticed a change in libido while on different forms of contraception?
[QUOTE=eminatic;186901]lol that sounds horrifyingly painful...i think i'd rather put up with inserting Implanon than going through that haha. :eek:
you sound like you've tried quite a few contraceptives...have any of them ever affected your libido? i'm currently taking lessina (generic for levlite) and i have an incredibly low sex drive...i've heard that some birth controls can cause this. just wondering if you've ever noticed a change in libido while on different forms of contraception?[/QUOTE]
I have noticed a decrease in my sex drive while on the depo provera shot.
I found depo and micronor (the mini-pill) affected my sex drive. The IUD hasn't at all, in fact I'm wondering if its higher ;).
LadyBug02, it does not HAVE to stay in 5 years, you can have it taken out whenever you like!
It does hurt eminatic, but its well worth it if you have a steady and stable relationship. Its more reliable and doesn't require the time-precision of the pill, or the insensitivity/cost of condoms. Trust me, a little pain is worth 5 years of security and no pregnancy scares...at least imo.
[QUOTE=curious_woman;186952]I found depo and micronor (the mini-pill) affected my sex drive. The IUD hasn't at all, in fact I'm wondering if its higher ;).
LadyBug02, it does not HAVE to stay in 5 years, you can have it taken out whenever you like!
It does hurt eminatic, but its well worth it if you have a steady and stable relationship. Its more reliable and doesn't require the time-precision of the pill, or the insensitivity/cost of condoms. Trust me, a little pain is worth 5 years of security and no pregnancy scares...at least imo.[/QUOTE]
Interesting. I didn't know that you could take it out whenever you wanted to.
Personally, I'm weary about hormonal birth control methods because the depo provera shot really screwed up my periods. I only have like maybe 2 periods in a year now and it has been like 3 years since I went off the depo provera shot.
[quote=LadyBug02;186955]Interesting. I didn't know that you could take it out whenever you wanted to.
Personally, I'm weary about hormonal birth control methods because the depo provera shot really screwed up my periods. I only have like maybe 2 periods in a year now and it has been like 3 years since I went off the depo provera shot.[/quote]
The depo is intended to stop your cycle during the administration of the medication; it can take up to a year to return to a normal cycle and fertility, as your MD should have told you. If you are this long without a normal period your GYN should be doing some in depth evaluation and regulating your cycle.
The amount of hormones released from the IUD is way less than other forms of hormonal BC though LadyBug02!
Curious woman,
Relatively few IUDs are medicated with hormones. Most of them are hormone free. And it can be removed whenever you ask your doctor to do so.
Well yes but I thought we were referring to the Mirena, considering thats what this thread is about :).