Ladies--Birth Control Question

[lfeikert]

I had my yearly check-up today and my ob/gyn discussed another form of birth control with me. It's called Mirena and it's an intrauterine contraceptive. It goes in the uterus and it lasts for five years. She said you basically stop having periods which was the part I really liked. I'm just wondering if anyone has any experience with this. I'm really interested, but I do fine on my birth control pills so I don't want to make a change that I'm going to regret. The idea of not taking a pill every day and having little to no period sounds really good! I just want to get some advice from women who have had experience with this. It's kind of scary when I think about it! Anyone ever used this or something similar?? How'd you get along?

 

[lfeikert]

Anyone

I was really hoping for some feedback because I don't know anyone personally that has had this.

 

[magicmato]

I cannot help you, as I have not used it before, but my OBGYN also recommended me getting an IUD once we are 100% certain we are done having kids.

 

[lfeikert]

That's exactly what we talked about today. Right now we are 99% certain that we are done having kids, but I guess we are maybe just not quite ready for the final step--either the tubal ligation or a vasectomy. The Dr. said this is the route to go then because it's very effective, but should we ever decide that we want more kids, you just take it out and you can get pregnant again. Sounds good, but I just want to hear some personal experiences.

 

[Kae]

Have you thought about getting the shot, most women do not have a period but 4 times a year. I have an IUD the copper one without hormones it can last up to 10 years. but I can have removed before that but I still have periods

Kae

 

[lfeikert]

Have you thought about getting the shot, most women do not have a period but 4 times a year.

Honestly, I hadn't thought about anything other than my pills until today. I don't know much about the shot, but this is supposedly more effective than that.

You said that your IUD is good for up to 10 years. This may sound stupid, but does it become less effective as the time to remove it comes closer?? How do you know when it is the right time to remove it and insert another to continue to prevent pregnancy?

 

[Kimmie5870]

I'd be concerned about increasing your risks of getting cervical cancer. Did your doctor mention anything about increased risks?

For a variety of reason's DD's doctors wanted to stop her period. They told us at the time that by stopping the period it could increase her risk of getting cervical cancer later in life. DD is already at a higher risk so we said no.

 

[Ginamarie]

I've heard about this, but the idea of it scares me. It seems like there's something really unnatural about not getting your period at all. I also feel like it's so new they may not know all the side effects yet.

 

[va32h]

I have had the Mirena IUD in place now for a little over a year.

It's fine - I've already had cervical cancer, so I cannot imagine that my OB/GYN would even consider this method of birth control for me if it would in any way increase my chances of a recurrence.

The Mirena acts as a traditional IUD, but also releases a very low dose of hormones, and this is what causes your period to become very light.

Sometimes I get a light period for a day or two, sometimes none at all. But I was always very regular and didn't have severe periods anyway, so I can't say my experience would be the same as anyone else's.

I will say it is kind of freaky to not get a period. I panicked and thought I was pregnant the first time, which is not good, because if you get pregnant while using an IUD it will likely be ectopic.

You know when to remove it because you are only supposed to keep it in for a certain length of time. When your time is up (5 years, usually) you just have it taken out.

It hurt a little when it was inserted, but other than that, I don't even notice it's there. There is a risk that your body can expel it spontaneously, so you have to go back to the dr. after a month and have them check to make sure it is still there.

 

[welovedisneyx4]

Check out this thread. I didn't seem to be impressed w/ it, but I just want to stay on my bc pills, so unless something w/ no side effects or problems come along, I won't be happy w/ it.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1197637&referrerid=&highlight=
(I hope that works)

**Actually that thread is more about Depo than I thought, but it has some other info in it**

 

[Beth76]

If your goal is no periods, you can do that with your BCP. You can continuously take them or take it so that you only have four (or whatever #) periods a year. There's a specific BCP (and of course I'm totally drawing a blank on the name) that is dispensed at 3 month intervals so you only have 4 periods a year. What I do is just take my regular BCP without breaks for 3 months--per my doctors orders.

 

[beckmrk04]

I was on the shot for 2 years, and didn't have any periods at all. I really LOVED it- BUT, I gained 50 lbs over those two years (with no lifestyle changes). I started losing weight the minute I stopped the shot, but it took a while to get myperiod back.

The Mirena IUD is different than the 10 year one, which I don't believe is hormonal (is that correct?), while the Mirena is hormonal.

I am actually considering the Mirena after I give birth, it's on my list of things to ask my doc next week!

 

[Pixiedust34]

If your goal is no periods, you can do that with your BCP. You can continuously take them or take it so that you only have four (or whatever #) periods a year. There's a specific BCP (and of course I'm totally drawing a blank on the name) that is dispensed at 3 month intervals so you only have 4 periods a year. What I do is just take my regular BCP without breaks for 3 months--per my doctors orders.

Those pills are Seasonale. You get 4 periods/year, and they are very light too.

 

[mudnuri]

I went today for biopsies of my cervix, and while there...they found my body was rejecting it. They had to finish removing it while I was there.

Ayup- 300 bucks for one month

not sure what I'm going to do now, I'm just torn....uughhhhh they say it may or may not happen again. Same % chance it will as last time- SLIM...

uughhhhhhh

Brandy

Here's a post I made year ago regarding this. If I was happy on the pill, I would NOT change, you are NOT guaranteed the IUD will stay in place...and low and behold- you have NO clue when it "removes itself"...

Brandy

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Personally, I wouldn't do it. I don't think it's healthy for your body to be stopped from having regular periods.

 

[mjkacmom]

I wanted one, even though I had a tubal, to help with bad periods, but my insurance doesn't cover it. I know so many women who LOVE it, though. I tried Seasonal, but for the first 6 months, I spotted daily, and stopped (this was before becoming pregnant with my twins - I had an appointment to discuss an IUD and "oops"). There is no risks with not getting your period every month. When they developed the pill in the 70's, the manufacturers thought that women would be freaked out not getting a period every month, so they included the week of sugar pills.

We have extra $ in our flex spending, so I might get one now!

 

[va32h]

Personally, I wouldn't do it. I don't think it's healthy for your body to be stopped from having regular periods.

I hear a lot of women say this, but every gynecologist I have ever been a patient of has assured me that there is no medical reason to NEED a period.

OP, please ask your doctor about the medical necessity of a period, and don't rely on the DIS for this information.

 

[crz4mm2]

I hear a lot of women say this, but every gynecologist I have ever been a patient of has assured me that there is no medical reason to NEED a period.

OP, please ask your doctor about the medical necessity of a period, and don't rely on the DIS for this information.

This is absolutely true.

Please ask your care provider. No need to have a monthly period.
But, not all patients with Mirena are period free. Some still have a monthly period.

Best of luck to you. The Mirena is a GREAT method of birth control.

 

[NikiM20]

I had a Mirena IUD for 3 weeks.........yep 3 whole weeks...I was miserable, SEVERE cramping, had no sexual desire............Hubby said it worked because I didnt want to do it. So NO I would not recommend it to anyone. DH ended up going with the vasectomy

 

[RadioNate]

Check out this thread. I didn't seem to be impressed w/ it, but I just want to stay on my bc pills, so unless something w/ no side effects or problems come along, I won't be happy w/ it.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1197637&referrerid=&highlight=
(I hope that works)

**Actually that thread is more about Depo than I thought, but it has some other info in it**

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE read this thread about Depo aka "the shot" before considering it. There are so many more people with bad experiences than good, including myself.

IUDs have come along way from the IUDs of the past. I know people are leary because of the IUD of 25 years ago but they really are different today. I'm strongly considering one after we are finished having children.