Mirena Crash: The Mirena IUD Side Effects After Removal

344 thoughts on “Mirena Crash: The Mirena IUD Side Effects After Removal”

1. Okay, so I had the Mirena in for 6 months. The first week it was inserted I bled heavily and had bad cramps, but that was manageable. What wasn’t was the anxiety that started about a month after insertion. I called my doctors and they insisted it wasn’t a side effect. I believed them, and continued with it. About two months in I started experiencing panic attacks. They were terrible, hard to breathe, shooting pains in my chest. I called the doctors back and they told me to see a psychiatrist for the anxiety. That it was not Mirena related. Another month went by and the panic attacks ramped up. Also dizziness started. Two days I was so dizzy I couldn’t get out of bed. The doctors again told me these were not side effects. I finally told them I wanted it out. I needed it out. Upon removal my anxiety started decreasing. Within the hour I stopped having panic attacks. The dizziness lasted another two weeks, gradually getting better. Once the dizziness stopped I got a yeast infection. A bad one that lasted about a week. The itching was terrible. I would not recommend getting an IUD if your body is sensitive to things. It is definitely not worth the pain, panic, or side effects I got with it. I feel very frustrated that the doctors would not listen to me when I told them I was having side effects to the IUD. They insisted I keep it in and seek medical help from other doctors. I am glad I went with my gut and had it removed.

2. Had my Mirena removed after about 3 years. Immediately after I began to bleed HEAVY and passed numerous large clots, that lastest about 4 weeks. I experienced a sore throat, headaches, and slight cough for about a week. After that finally ended I started to have really bad acid reflux which ending in me going to the ER where I was diagnosed with GERD. So far it’s been over a month and I’ve still not gotten my period.

3. Hi, I like your post really I have read first-time Thanks for sharing keep up the good work.

4. Hello, Thanks for sharing this amazing information with us. Keep Sharing.

5. I had my iud put in due to having to go on Accutane in april of 2015. Everything was fine , and I no longer got my period, which I did not mind. In December of 2017, I went to the WHNP and she told me that my IUD had shifted, and she tried to remove it, but could not. It had to be surgically removed in January of 2017, and a new one was then implanted. After the second IUD was inserted, I noticed, my hair was constantly shedding literally everywhere, and I started to get facial acne again. My eye brows no longer grew in as thick as they use to. I just thought that maybe my hair shedding was from straightening my hair but I only did that once every few months. My hair became even more dry and life less. Then in 2018, I noticed I had a small marble sized lump in my right breast. It turned out to be a benign fibro adenoma, but no one in my family , has a history of this. I finally got my IUD removed 1 week ago today, and I’ve just been anxious , and am also experiencing light spotting. My hair use to be so thick and long , and after bob-cut its still shedding, if I run my hands through my hair so much hair comes out. I spoke to my WHNP and she told me to take prenatals without iron. I am also trying curology for my skin, so hopefully , my body can go back to normal. I am a 25 year old female.

6. I got the mirena shortly after having my son in 2012. The first year I had it, I would experience random days of intense nausea but after a year, that went away. Had zero problems the next 4 years and enjoyed not having a period. Had it removed and replaced about 8 months ago. Highly recommend taking Ibuprofen before your appointment because holy cramps! Had it in until 2 weeks ago because I started feeling it and having lower back pains. I decided to remove it. The crash is real… I had a bout with depression 14 years ago and all those bad feelings came back. Crying for no reason and feelings of complete emptiness for the first week. I also had terrible nausea, diarrhea, all over back pain and sharp chest pains. I called my PCP and went in to get blood work and an EKG done to be sure there were no underlying conditions. I’m normally a healthy person so all of this was so bizarre to me. Everything came back normal but I still feel like hell and I got it removed 2 weeks ago. To add insult to injury, we’re quarantined due to the Corona Virus so that’s been doing wonders for my sanity. I’m grateful I came across this thread because all these symptoms are spot on to what I’m going through and it will allow me to sleep better tonight knowing more than likely this little bugger is the reason.

   • My daughter has been experiencing heat flashes and then an electric shock sensation in different areas of her body at different times.
     She’s getting it removed tomorrow.
     Do you have any recommendations on anything helping you with the depression/anxiety?
     This lockdown is crazy and adding extra panic to the situation.
     I hope you start to feel better real real soon.

7. Hi! I am reading all these comments and seeing everyone have the “crash” for a couple weeks. I just want to say. I am envious of all of you. I had mine taken out over a year and a half ago….and I am still bleeding. It has gotten worse. I have been to MULTIPLE doctors and no one can tell me how to stop bleeding. My doctor told me today that he had no more options for me. I am lost. I am scared. I am hurt. I just want answers on how to stop the bleeding.

8. I got the Mirena a little over 6 months ago in March. The bad side effects that got me most was my boob pain. For months it felt like the first day I got implants all over again. The pain was bad, even going down the stairs hurt. But i read other people’s stories that had it too and stuck with it. Once the pain went away I felt great on Mirena. I even stopped taking my depression/anxiety meds. Best I had felt mentally in a long time. That being said. I have never dieting and exercised so hard over this time (i had been before and was maintain 128 weight) and after mirena I gradually started gaining. The more my weight went up the more cardio i added in and the more foods I cut out. I cut out carbs. I cut out sugar. I cut out dairy. My caloric intake was under 1000 calories a day for months. I interitted faster. I tried everything!!!!!! And my weight stuck around 138-143. I’ve never been so healthy and restricted my diet so much. Not even a cheat of dessert at a bday, that kind of strict. So I have to think it the mirena. I got it removed right at the 6 month mark. It’s been out almost 2 weeks and I am in the Mirena crash hardcore. Irritable is an understatement. Low energy. And just extreme lack of interest in doing anything. And now extreme breast pain again. I read above all this is very normal. My weight it down 3 lbs abs I pray it keeps going in the direction. Just wanted to chime in bc all of your stories helped me at the beginning and now at the removal. Hoping to report back all the weight is gone in a few weeks. I didn’t have acne with it or hair loss although I do think my hair health went down and had way more breakage and less shine. Hope this helps someone.

9. I’m currently going through the Mirena crash and the weirdest thing I have noticed is that all food tastes differently and none of it tastes that good. Can not wait for that to be over!

   • I had a terrible experience w mirena and I removed after 5 weeks.. my vision was going less and less and I started to grow hair on my face like a man beard 🧔.. My doctor said to keep it for little longer but not ., I removed. Now is getting closer to 2 months after removal and not period yet ?

10. I’m so glad I found this site. I had my Mirena removed one month ago after the full five years. I bled for a week after badly. Now waiting for my period to go back to normal. I lost 4 lbs quickly when I’ve struggled w/ my weight for the last 4 years. But now I’m having crushing anxiety and I’m very emotional. Also, when I get mad, it’s like rage. I’m sensitive, but I feel like I’m losing it right now. I’m exhausted all of the time and any little spat w/ my partner is magnified and I’m a mess. I’m not normally like this. I hope it goes away soon bc this sinking feeling is awful. Any and all advice is welcomed.

11. Such a relief to find this blog, I had my mirena out two weeks and one day past. I am now post menopausal. When I got my mirena in I was peri menopausal and suffering extreme blood loss. The mirena worked fantastically for me, a true god send. BUT now, since the operation that was the removal and D&C im in extreme sadness, I can cry all day, becoming more lethargic, anxiety twinges, its so horrible. Im planning to move forward with herbs, but any other suggestions or comments are most welcome.

12. I am 7 days post IUD removal after having it in for 5 months. Never had any children before. Never been pregnant. I had it removed because I was getting ovarian cysts each cycle that were 4-6cm big and causing pain. As well as repeat yeast infections (1 a month).

    The midwife practically yanked the damn thing out. The first day after was fine other than some spotting. Then I bled for 3 days without any clots. At that point, I started having a weird pressure/pain in my pelvis that almost felt like a pulled muscle of like my cervix was bruised. On Day 5, I followed up with my PCP for hemmoroids (not related) and told her about my pelvic pain. She told me that the midwife could have lacerated my vagina taking the IUD out. She told me to wait and see if the pain went away in another 5 days. If it didn’t, to follow up with my OBGYN. She also said that my body would begin to change… periods would come back heavier, cervical mucous and discharge would come back, and my body would just “change” like I was about to start my period ie) cramps, tender breasts, headache. That it was normal to my body adjusting back to normal hormones.

    I am most concerned about the pelvic pain/pressure though. 2 days have passed since that doctors appointment and the pressure seems to be getting better but we will see. It’s a really weird pain. It feels like it’s high up in my vagina but sometimes it feels lower. I don’t believe my vagina is lacerated as I did stop bleeding after 3 days. Now there is just soreness. I haven’t read anywhere online about there being any soreness after IUD removal but most of the women who have had it removed have also had children before unlike myself.

13. Mirena crash is very best artical , Thankyou for sharing.

14. Hi there,

    Any updates on how long the crash lasted? I’m 6 weeks post removal and still feeling depressed, anxious, and not at all like myself. Symptoms peaked with my period and now I’m trying to find any solutions I can to get myself balanced before my next one. Any suggestions on how to improve/treat these horrible side effects would be greatly appreciated! It is very comforting to know I am not alone in this.

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17. I had my iud for the 5 years. Just before I had it I suffered from gallstones and had my gallbladder removed. I had massive stomach issues. I blamed the gallbladder damage. Some day couldnt use washroom and was in sever pain other days very loose stool. Lower back sides and stomach pain would drop me to my knees again I assumed stomach issues. At the end of my iud I met a doctor that stated all these things can be from the iud as it messes with your intestinal track. During the iud I still had periods 2 weeks at a time but very very light. After finally getting it removed I bleed for over a month and heavy. I started to freak out had an ultra sound which simple found I now have thinking of the walls and now need to watch for tumors and growth which possible can result in needing a hysterectomy done. Also I’m 1 month plus in and have hit a massive crash in mood, I could sleep all day, the smallest things make me cry. It’s truly horrible.

18. After i had my son in dec which was a c-section they inserted the iud. My periods where terrible always but still and nonstop finally in march i couldn’t take it anymore i remove it. My hair still has been failing out everyday, im very mooding, stressed and sick. It feels like one big lie as i was told it was going to help my periods. Also when they removed it the strings where very long and the doctor said it was twisted in my uterus thats why i wouldnt stop bleeding. They just use us as Ginny pigs. Im so frustrated.

19. Last week I got my Marina out after 10 years in and still Bleading of & on some times heavy . I was very happy to have the Marino in , now I am 33 years old . I hope the bleading stops for good .

20. Scary – am on my 3rd iud. BUT 1st two were Mirena, this one is a Lillyete something (cheaper says my obgyn). I am 49 and had the first one in after my 2nd child. I have only had lower back pain. No mood swings but not much libido either. Meet with a new primary care doctor next week – older woman – hope she has good answers and advises me well.

21. I’ve had my out for 2.5 weeks, and was fine until this week. Like so many others, I felt pregnant but knew the symptoms couldn’t possibly show up yet (had a period last week). I’ve also dealt with crushing anxiety – really interesting to hear that I’m not the only one!! I’m prone to anxiety anyway and also recently started a new job in a new field, so it’s been a bad combination. I’ll ride it out and hope that our future little baby shows up soon and is super cool!

22. Maybe im not crazy after all. I had my mitena out 9 days ago so my husband and i can try for a baby, ive had 2 merinas over 10 years with no side affects and was always the biggest advocate for them but now… i was feeling a bit off a couple of days before removal just a bit foggy and blah but ihad it removed and was ok for 3 days… then my mood started to deteriorate i went from my normal happy and bubbley self to a anxious wreck. I work as an RN and love my job i actually had to leave that thursday because i had a crushing anxiety attack. Since ive felt very low bursting into tears i feel soo foggy in my head and have constant light headedness. I cant eat i just feel nausiated. I have seen my GP who gave me some hormoan replacement but i stopped it as it made me worse. I had a really good day yesterday and almost felt back to myself… today i have crashed back down. I have constant anxiety about what is wrong with me; why do i feel so light headed? And i only think the worst. Its terrible when im alone and am sooo greatful to have an amazing support system. I just want someone to tell me they have been through exactly this and i will get better as its so hard right now to invision it ever going away. I just want to be my normal self.

23. I had my Mirena put in 3 years ago. I was 48 yrs old at the time. After the initial adjustment of the period from hell for 4 months it settled in nicely. I was going through menopause and I thought that the extra boost of the progesterone had helped me through it with minimal symptoms of the menopause. I had sporadic problems with bleeding and discomfort (like there was a stick in my cervix!) after sex so last April I went to see my doctor. He did a blood test to check my hormone levels and said that I was now through menopause and was not likely to ovulate or have a period anymore and I could take the IUD out if I wanted. NOTE: he never confirmed that the IUD causing the bleeding or discomfort I had after sex. Thing normalized after that and I didn’t have it out because I was worried about the crash and lack of progesterone. After all, I sailed through menopause to easily…Who wants to mess with that??? A week ago I felt like something was wrong with my Mirena IUD. After sex I bled. Really red, really real. Not the pink stain that was usual. I could feel the irritation in my cervix again too. THEN… my week went to hell! I literally turned into a basket case. I cried at everything. My anxiety was so bad I felt like my chest would burst. I was tired and sick. I was dizzy and shaky. Depressed and almost suicidal. I lost 6 pounds in a week and had no appetite. (I havent been able to lose weight in 3 years) And continued to bleed for 3 days. I called the doctor because of my discomfort and saw him yesterday. My IUD was in my cervix! I dont know if the crash I had was because the progesterone was not being released into my uterus or what happened but again the doctor would not confirm this either. its been 24 hours and I am not noticing any crash effects now. Time will tell but I believe that last week was the crash people talk about. I thought I was going crazy! I put my boyfriend and family through hell! Im so glad its out and gone!

24. My wife had all the the symptoms above excluding acne. She had while mirena was still and after removed. She was on the severe spectrum, bone crushing anxiety, mood swings, loss of memory, low libido, weight gain, you name she had it. It was a nightmare. She was off of work for six months(after removal) , and we almost had here in a outpatient program for mental health. Once we figured out it was Mirena we had it taken out. 7 days later my wife came back, as she was gone for a while. We cancelled outpatient feeling we much better but as here first period approached all the old symptoms came back. This time we had an idea of what to expect and I was more prepared not to take anything personal. We also had meds Xanax and adivan to help. Once she got through pre menstral and post the symptoms went away again. She is in her 7th period now back to work and is doing much better. When we started meds it took about 4-6 mg of Xanax to calm her down and basically help her sleep to now she takes the much lesser adivan and a half a mg only when need be. So thats a huge improvement. Don’t want to scare anyone but for those who are having a very hard time and feeling this awful, give it time it does get better. And any fellas out there hang on my sanity is coming back slowly it will get better and your wife or spouse will come back. Hope this helps, some of these threads like this helped me to know that there was a reason for the horridness and gave me massive hope to hang on.

25. Last week I got my Marina out after 5 years in and still Bleading of & on some times heavy . I was very happy to have the Marino in , now I am 53 years old . I hope the bleading stops for good .

26. great article I did experience somehow what you mentioned , iv read also an interesting article about it Mirena weight gain http://healthfocusblog.com/an-investigation-on-mirena-weight-gain-issues/

27. I am 28 and had mine removed yesterday. I had it for over 5 years. 5 years and 5 months. I was scared to get it removed because I thought it would hurt. It was a little uncomfortable and I had cramping but it wasnt so bad that it made me cry. But I have been losing my hair and have gotten such horrible acne and super large pores. I am hoping that those go away soon!! I will keep yall updated! Wish me luck!

28. Wow! Wish I had read all this before I had my Mirena IUD put in 4 yrs ago!! My GYN pretty much said it was this or hysterectomy to deal with my “2 a month” periods. I was 49 when I had it inserted and today, at 53 1/2, I had it removed!! No issues with removal; slight bloody discharge, little bit of cramping, but I am only 2 hrs post removal so I am crossing my fingers that I don’t have a “crash”. I’ve had severe hair loss, unusual weight gain (about 20lbs), deep depression, NO energy or excitement to do anything. I have an overwhelming urge for sex a couple of days a month. I am assuming that is when my egg has dropped and its my body’s natural inclination to reproduce. According to my “levels” my GYN says I am not menapausal yet. I am very happy to have that foriegn thing out of my body!

29. It is so reassuring to read this. My Crash started almost two months after I had my Mirena removed, so I thought it was something unrelated. I thought I was pregnant because we started trying for our second child about a month after removal. But then I got one of the worst periods of my life along with feelings of despair, childhood/teen hardships getting brought back into my mind as if they happened yesterday, smells reminding me of past tough times, and the weirdest feelings of negativity over taking my mind. I feel completely out of control of my mental and emotional health. Definitely sobbed uncontrollably after I couldn’t find my daughter’s pacifier… I started feeling this way about two weeks ago and it’s gradually gotten worse. Hoping for my body to return my hormone levels to normal soon!

30. Thank you for this site and for taking comments from women who have had this experience. I too have had this experience in an extreme form. Women need to be better informed all around about such issues. I now have what is called progesterone intolerance as this reaction will not shut off and I go through a version of it every month due to my own levels of progesterone. I had a Mirena twice. Once between the birth of my second and third children. I had it removed seemingly without issue but after the birth of my child… I experienced a form of progesterone intolerance that I did not attribute to the Mirena. I researched it and it is called PMDD and researchers in Sweden, who are developing Sepranolone (a progesterone agonist) document this illness very well. I had a Mirena twelve years later, for endometriosis but had to have it removed after one month. I started getting really oily skin, then cystic acne, then emotionality to uncontrolled grief like emotions… to waking up in the night… to waking up in the night feeling like I could not like with such a terrible feeling. Once it was removed, these terrifying symptoms subsided but not enough to allow me to function normally. My doctor is being wonderful and referred me to another specialist as the OBGYN SAID THAT THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN WITH THE MIRENA and I should, therefore, go to counseling and/or see a psychiatrist. Not good. She was prepared to just leave me like that.

31. After 8 months I decided to have my Mirena removed 5 days ago. The Mirena caused me so much pain that I literally didn’t want to do anything. I was moody all the time. My kids asked me constantly “what’s wrong mama???” My lower back felt like it was broken. The cramps were so bad all the time. I would start spotting all throughout the month, every month. My period only stopped for 2 months and then came back with a vengeance. I got 6 bacterial infections in 8 months and 2 yeast infections. I am so glad to have it out of my body but the cramping and bleeding is horrible. When I first walked out of the Dr’s office last Thursday I felt so light and free. Then Sunday I started cramping. Yesterday I passed blood clots the size of my hand. Now they are the size of golf balls. I called the doc, she said it was normal. WHY didn’t she tell me what I would experience when I had it out? I don’t know but I’m hopeful that everything will go back to normal very soon. It will be condoms for me from now on.

32. Hi,
    Thank you for sharing your experiences. In tge past 15 years I have had 2 mirenas and a copper iud and 2 babies each taking 2 years to conceive.
    I have just had the mirena removed after 3 years.
    On Monday I had a job interview for a job I’ve been working towards for years. I was confident, happy, excited. On Tuesday I had the mirena removed. Since then I’ve been moody, sad, anxious, and I’ve thought if they offer me the job I’ll say no!
    I did some research before having it removed and have been taking vitex and dong quai, although stopped now I have bleeding, which started 4 days later and like others say, is heavy and crampy. It can take 3 months to restore the natural hormones in my body. Im also taking gut health because that can be another thing. Also eat calciforous veges but I’m eating more cakes and chocolate than veggies right now.
    I have a question about what to use for contraception. I am reluctant to put hormones into my body, but there are not many suitable physical alternatives. I told my dr i was interested in a diaphragm she said it’s practically unheard of these days. I have done some research into natural methods such as basal temp measurements and queen anne’s lace. But I’m not sure I’m good enough to remember to take my temp the second I wake up every day. I’m not keen on the copper iud as I’ve read about copper toxicity. Even though i have had it before. For 30 years I never had anything, just natural methods, and the hormones have messed me about. Keen to hear your thoughts. Thanks!

33. My story, my experience, issues and usage of the Mirena is almost identical to this. After the 1st year of nothing but problems with the Mirena, and the remaining 4 years of no periods, I had the Mirena removed and my tubes tied on June 7th, I started to feel the crash just a couple days ago (July 24th ish…). I’m so thankful that I found this article, and I know that I am not alone, and this is all mostly normal. Because the feeling of BLAH and the crushing empty feeling, is SO real…So now I need to mind the crash and take care of myself, easier knowing that it will most likely pass eventually. I am a big believer in the power of essential oils, and DoTerra makes a monthly blend called ClaryCalm. I basically took a bath in it this morning after reading this article. 🙂
    Also, the period thing…I had my first one on June 30th, and it lasted what my normal periods used to before the Mirena…7 days of heavy bleeding and terrible cramping…I was hoping that wouldn’t happen…:)
    I’m glad to have this foreign object out of my body… Now to recover. <3 Much love to all of you.

34. I had the crash 7 days after my removal. It was scary and it was horrible. This huge feeling of hopelessness overcame me. I was so confused. I am so happy at my job, my marriage makes my heart flutter, my husband and I are trying for a baby! <3 and all of a sudden I had this overwhelming sense of anxiety, and scary thoughts that would randomly pop up and just felt like it would derail me. Mine last 3-4 days I had literally no energy I started to cry over nothing. It was like I was tramped in this body of blankness. This was a week ago, during that time I forced myself to take my pup on walks outside to get exercise I added more water into my routine and I took baths with Epsom salts. It was really scary. And I am so thankful I found this site to hell answer for me what was going on and that I wasn’t alone!! Thank you ALL for sharing your journey.

35. I am so glad I found this page. I absolutely experienced this crash and now I know what it was! I am not going to lie, it really scared me. These super anxiety ridden dark thoughts that came out of no where. This almost feeling of hopelessness it really scared me. And then after 3 days gone. No anxiety no weird thoughts. Thank you for sharing this. No one tells you about this crash before the removal. I am so glad I only had to deal with it 3 days

36. well ive had mirena change twice first time 4 years second time 5 years i just taken out today july 2018 very painful still but no period very surpised but not going be looking foward to it bc before the iud my periods was really heavy but i can feel my whole body mood is off tummy is upset ( feel like going puke) and my insides where the mirena was located hurts hopefully everything goes back to normal soon going back to oral pills might have a baby in a couple years

37. I had my mirena removed 5 days ago and got on the pill immediately but on the 5th day I feel so overwhelmed and heavy that all I’m doing is crying and my husband feels helpless. I had no idea what is going on till I did some research and found out about the mirena crash. Any advice on how to handle It?

    • Water
      Exercise
      Vitamins
      Epsom salt baths
      Rest
      And know that it will pass.
      I am 8 months post removal and almost 90% back to my old self.

      • Thank you Kelly.
        I had mine since Feb 2013 until last week (Jan 2019). I had horrible PMS (POS) and the Mirena was really good to me on that sense. I had horrible experiences with different pills, injections, etc.
        For me, it was better to tolerate the side effects of the Mirena than endure the PMS again or the side effects of the pill or injections.
        I was very fortunate to only have mild ones, no recurrent and no mood swings. It kept things a lot better than before.
        Now, this is day 4th after removal and I’ve been super exhausted, brain fog, nausea, headaches and heavy bleeding (using night pads!) I thought I forgot how to have a proper period since mine where super light to the point that I only used daily protectors and no pads, super light spotting.
        It’s affecting my work but know that I’m not alone makes me feel a lot better!

38. Last year on 19 th July 2017 I had mirena placed to get rid of my unbearable PMS symptoms. My body could only tolerate for 5 months, then I decided to get the mirena removed on 18 th december 2017. On March, I met the mirena crash 3 months later the removal. It was a usual work day, suddenly I felt my rapid heart beat. I thought that it was coffee or something else. In couple of hours my heart beat really raced and unexpectedly I started to feel panicked. At that period, Everything was in quite balance in my life. I was happily married. I had a job.I had totally nothing to panick or fear of. In the evening I started to cry out of blue.I said ok maybe I needed to cry and tomorrow I will feel better. But the next day, at work I couldn?t make and rushed to home. My heart palpitations got intense and I cried for 4 hours!!! I was crying, my heart felt like it was going to jump out of my chest. I wasn?t aware of that was the mirena crash at that time. Can you imagine my panic!! Because I had never felt like that way in my life. That crash hit me again on April, that time it was much like anxiety. I lost my touch in everything,I was on the clouds, I couldn?t concentrate to anything. The most sad thing about was that I was on the vacation with my husband. But I had to put some efforts to get happy and relaxed. There wasn?t any apparent reason to feel upset, nervous, melted down, fatigue. My husband was worried and panicked as well. We returned home and it continued. Never stopped. I was like a ghost. I felt lost. By the way I don?t have any depression, anxiety or panick attack history. I couldn?t find out where did it come from. Upon my third attack, while discussing with my friend we discovered the reason might be the IUD and then I quickly started to google mirena and thank god I found out that I am not alone. I am still hanging on!!! It was amazing to read the stories of other mirena sufferers. 3 days ago I had my fourth attack as you may guess it was the most horrible one. This time I felt pain on my chest left side left armpit that I couldn?t tolerate.I was sure that the reason behind all these were the hormonal imbalance of my body but still got myself checked. My cardiological and breast tests are normal. I am healthy but don?t feel like. I was given beta blockers to ease the palpitations but of course I am not going to use ithem. Now I am on detox and natural beta blockers. I Would love to learn more from you. How long this horrible crash will last? How many times this crash will hit before disappearing completely?

    • Your experience seems to be the closest to my own. I had my mirena in for a year and a half. Mid June of 2018, I had it removed. All was well, my now husband and I were wedding planning (I enjoyed that part and didn’t stress over it), I had a decent job and a good life in general. Three days after our wedding, I started having severe pain in the middle of my shoulder blades that radiated to my chest as well. I told my husband we needed to go to the ER. After an EKG, blood work and an Xray, everything came back normal. They told me it may be anxiety, so, I told myself it was just stress from the wedding and tried to not think about it. Two days later, I was driving on the interstate. Out of nowhere, my heart starts beating quickly, my mouth is dry and an impending doom came about. I got on the phone with my parents, crying uncontrollably that I don’t want to die. They had an ambulance meet me at the next exit. I went to the hospital yet again, the results came back normal. This time, the doctor gave me a non-addictive prescription for chest pain and one for anxiety. I did some research and found out the issues with Mirena crash. I made an appointment with my OBGYN who had inserted and removed the IUD. Upon meeting with her, she said removal of the Mirena wouldn’t cause any of these issues. She put me on a pill birth control and I haven’t gone back to her since. To me, it does sound like she was trying to protect herself. Honestly, I don’t if there was something wrong with the Mirena, I just wanted to be cured of whatever I have. During the next couple of months, I missed a lot of work because I couldn’t cope. I didn’t want to be around people, yet I didn’t want to be alone. I was so scared of when the next issue would happen. I even moved in with my parents for a short time because I felt safer there and was closer to a hospital. I would get better for a week, then BAM. The doom, the sadness, would hit me all at once and I was back at square one. I started seeing a new family doctor in November. I was convinced it was anxiety, because why not? That’s what everyone else was telling me it was. They had no idea and that seems to be the go-to issue. I’ve never had anxiety/panic attacked before but I guess I did now? She put me on a generic form of Lexapro. After about a week of going back and forth with myself of whether or not I should take it, I did. I started small, with only a quarter of a pill, then after four days, upped it to a half of a pill. That evening, on my way home from work, I could feel it coming again. That attack, that doom. I was driving again and called my mom. I told her something was wrong and please come meet me. My body started feeling like it was on fire. I could feel it everywhere, arms, legs, crotch-area. EVERYWHERE. I was sure at that point, I was going to die. That particular feeling subsided after about 30 seconds. On top of it, I had the worst migraine (yes, migraine and not headache) I’ve ever had. I couldn’t see correctly, I had blurry vision. I was shaking uncontrollably, it was somewhat cold but not to that extent. I just wanted help. Landed ER trip #3. They treated me for a migraine and I was out of there. It’s now December. I met with my family doctor again today, got another EKG (slow heartbeat), Xray (normal) and bloodwork (normal). I have an appointment with a Cardiologist next week. I stopped taking the Lexapro and the birth control. I don’t take any medication, don’t do drugs, smoked a couple of cigarettes in college and may drink occasionally (before this started happening). I used to crossfit or run at least 3-4 times per week and ate pretty well. Symptoms I’ve had include: chest pain, popping collar bone, back pain and popping, anxiety attacks, overwhelming sadness, crying uncontrollably, the fight or flight response (usually in me wanting to flee), fast heartbeat or palpitations, irregular periods (non stop light bleeding for 15 days, then nothing, back and forth), dry mouth, depression, exhaustion, shaking, fatigue, loss of sex drive, loss of drive to do much of anything. So here I am. Five and a half months after mirena removal and still going through this, trying my best to figure out what’s wrong and what to do. If anyone know of any help, please reach out. But know, along with everyone else here, you are not alone.

39. I usually don’t post things online but it’s very important to me that women using Mirena hear my story. I was on Mirena for about eight months and had it removed. I had a heavy period for a week after as normal and then all the sudden my body was putting out golf ball size clots causing a soaked pad every 15 minutes or so. I went to the ER and they sent me home because hemoglobin was at an eleven and iron was good.. although I was passing out at home. I called the dr the next day and they wouldn’t give me an appointment for another week because my blood was good at the ER. That day and night I suffered and every time I got up I would faint. Next day my mom came by my house and couldn’t get me to the ER and called an ambulance. Long story short, my hemo was below a seven, body was in shock and it took over ten units of blood to bring me back to life. I was in the ICU for several days before they decided to do emergency surgery due to the hormonal bleeding.. so women, if you choose to use this birth control please i beg you to look at other options.. it almost caused my death.

40. I had the mirena for 5 years. When it got inserted I was angry for like a month, little things would piss me off but my doc said it would go away. It did. But I had no sex drive. I also thought it contributed to my depression and mild irritability but it was worse when I got it removed in December 2017. I’ve been having mood swings, sore throat, nausea, low back pain, sob,episodes of crying. I’m not sure if or how any of these side effects may be related to removal but it’s just what I’ve been feeling since then. I can feel my period coming but it takes so long to come and it’s horrible. I’m in a lot of pain. I dunno if it’s worse in or out honestly. It’s overall just bad!!. It’s been out for a while now but I still feel that my body is still adjusting I’m not sure why it’s taking so long.

41. I had the Mirena taken out because I sensed it was causing me sever anxiety attacks (feeling of passing out, not able to breath and dying!). I was ambulanced to the ER in Jan.2018, from work; they ran all tests; found nothing wrong with me!
    I had the Mirena for 5 yrs., got a new one put in for another 5yrs, however, due to the gut feeling that it was causing me anxiety attacks I got it removed at 3 1/2 yrs; total of 81/2 yrs.
    After the Mirena removal, I went through the “crash”! I had the most sever anxiety attacks, depression; (crying all the time helped)- for about 2 weeks. I’m feeling better but became paranoid, almost like a traumatic experience that I can’t shake off. I’m praying that God continues to heal me from this horrific experience.
    I sure wished the doctors had some knowledge of these symptoms to at least forewarn their patients of the possibility of experiencing these SEVER side affects.

42. Wow I have had it in for a year and have felt many of these side effects. Not sure why this is an option for birth control or to help with heavy periods. I thought I wouldn’t have a period any more. I suffer from Stage 4 endometriosis and my periods were unbearable to the point that I was up to 8 tylenol within about 4 hours just to be able to stand upright. I thought this was going to be the answer. I have been suffering from EXTREME fatigue and stomach pains. I have in the last month been getting really bad chest pains to the point where I was wondering if I was having mini heart attacks. I just took deep breaths and it subsided so I just thought it was stress related. I feel like I could sleep for 48 hours and still be tired. I’m scheduled to have mine out next month and hoping that I don’t end up with the bleeding like all of you. I am in an active profession and cannot be running the the washroom all day.

43. I had the Mirena for almost a year and I thought I was losing my mind. I was an emotional mess, crying at the drop of a hat all the time. I have never been so depressed in my life. And yes I gained weight too, all in my stomach area. I originally got the mirena to help with heavy periods and of course birth control. My periods did become lighter but also became lengthier. And I also experienced cramping ALOT, sex became painful as well. I finally decided to have it removed and I’m now on day 3 of the removal. There was some spotting after the removal but it was a lot easier than I thought. Day 2 I felt like I had been hit by a truck, body aches and extreme exhaustion. I woke up with severe bleeding and huge clots. They since slowed to a spot again so I feel better now. My mind seems to be a lot clearer too. I will never again use a hormonal birth control, my sanity is way too important.

44. So I had the Mirena removed today after 5 years. The removal was painful as my strings broke off and the Gynae had to dig a little to grip it, as a result my legs feel a little numb and my insides tender. BUT IT IS OUT!!!

    Over the last 5 years I have have experience so many of the symptoms you all shared:
    – Weight gain
    – Bad acne on my chest and back
    – bloated (5 month pregnant looking belly)
    – Hair loss
    – Mood swings and anxiety
    – Brain fog (I used to joke and say pregnancy brain seems to have never left me), this is the worst because some days I just feel so dumb and has affected my job
    – Always feeling tired, I just want to lie down all the time (between this and the moodswings it has really affected my relations with family and friends
    – I have also been diagnosed Hypothyroid (symptoms all the same as the ones I have listed above) I have done some internet research though and many woman are convinced that their thyroid diagnosis was brought on by the mirena, i think so too. In my research I have read that many people say that months after their mirena being removed, their thyroid blood tests tend to come back as normal… I hope and pray this will be the same in my case.

    I also hope and pray that I don’t suffer the severe symptoms of the crash, I am thinking my last 5 years of mirena / Thyroid suffering has been more than I can handle, I feel like I am being held hostage in my own body and no one understands. My doctors are also blaze about the symptoms and dont take it seriously. The strange this is I read of hundreds of woman going through the same thing as me….

    Thank you to all the ladies who shared their stories all the best with your journeys…

    XXX

45. I had the Mirena IUD placed just over a year ago. I’m 37 years old and about 105 lbs. My sister has this too and she loves it. Unfortunately, although I was excited to get it, as soon as I had it placed I wanted it removed! It just made me feel strange right away and I wanted this foreign thing out but decided to give it a chance. The insertion itself was more painful than I thought it would be and I nearly fainted but it was over quickly. When I got home I was doubled over with cramps, bleeding and miserable for a long time. I have suffered many side effects over the past year including pretty bad hair loss and sore hair follicles (?!), which is quite disturbing to me, about 10 lbs of weight gain (which is not a big deal to me except that I feel “heavy”), constant bloating (I find this to be one of the most annoying side effects), lower abdominal discomfort most of the time, longer and heavier periods (used to only be about 3 days and now about 7 days), increased acne, pale, sallow looking skin, lethargy, lowered energy level, anxiety, panic attacks, headaches, brain fog (trouble concentrating and a strange feeling behind my eyes). I used to be a super active person who practiced yoga almost every day and did a lot of challenging hikes. When I got the Mirena, at first I began missing yoga classes because of cramping almost everyday, loss of energy, and feeling generally yucky, and eventually I stopped going and haven’t been back in over six months (and I love yoga!). I now feel unattractive and have totally lost interest in sex, where before, I loved sex! So that’s a pretty annoying side effect!! My satisfaction at work is suffering because I am always feeling anxious, overwhelmed and irritable now and have panic attacks almost weekly where before I could always “handle it” but now I want to quit my job! I wouldn’t say I’m depressed but I’m definitely not enjoying these side effects. I can’t feel the strings so that’s a little worrisome. I am going to make an appointment to have this removed as soon as possible and hope that the old happy, active me bounces back! Thank you to everyone who has posted their experiences, good or bad, sharing what’s happening to us is so important for us to get to the bottom of things and be mindful of what we are experiencing in our health in our bodies and minds. I feel better that other’s are feeling similar symptoms (but a bit angry at the manufacturer of the product for causing so many women to suffer) and hope that we all listen to our bodies and do what’s right for us. I will try to remember to write a post-removal report here (hoping the “crash” isn’t too bad).

46. I had this iud put in about a month and a half ago. (Just got it removed today) when they put it in! Omg! Let me tell u this! Worst pain of my life and I stuggel with pancreatitis. Putting it in was the worst pain ever! It sent my body into shock, whole body trembled I was freezing but litterly sweating so much I could have squzzed sweat out of my clothes along with lots of bleeding. (They said how my body reacted was rare) this lasted about 7 hours! Deffently not in the percentage of women who can work after! This pain lightened up but continued to the day I got it removed! I got it put in becaues of heavy periods and painful sex during and after lasting days.(endrometrosis) I DO NOT RECOMMEND AT ALL! Although! Taking it out was only painful for a second.. now that I’m home and relaxing I feels world’s better! Never ever will I do that again!

47. I know this thread is old, but I wanted to share my experience. I had the Mirena inserted in 2010 and kept it until a week ago. Crazy, I know. It wasn’t until recently I started putting 2 and 2 together and realized that the awful way I felt was because of this IUD. Pelvic pain, pain from sex, no libido, hair loss, facial hair, breast tenderness, mood swings, lower back pain, depression..all of it was because of the Mirena. I should’ve known better after the Nuva Ring made me deathly sick, but I’m terrible at taking daily pills. The only thing I can say positive about the Mirena, aside from keeping me from getting pregnant, was that I had no period. When I went to have it removed the doctor suggested I keep it, even though it was 2 years ‘expired’…makes me wonder how long these things actually last. Anyway, it’s been gone a week and even though there was mild cramping after removal and bleeding for a few days, I feel great. Amazing, actually. I can’t wait to jump my husband’s bones, haha!

48. I am getting the mirena looking out at 11 am tomorrow and I’m so scared. I’m.am two years over due for taking it out. All these years I thought I was just going play. Nuts , I couldn’t figure out why I was so damn emotional my hair falling out the bad sever pauns I get in my stomach not to mention the pains when I set up most the time I had to set certain ways or else I would start crying that how bad my vagina on the inside would hurt. My hair used to be so thick and long now I can even get my hair to grow past my shoulders and it’s so thin it redicules. I had a terrible experience with the mirena. I hope all these testimonials will give knowledge to the other women so they don’t make the same mistake we have.

49. I am posting on behalf of my wife and her (our) experience following the recent removal of her Mirena IUD. She remains in hospital high care, and after 3 weeks of seizures continue, Neurologists are still trying to find the cause. We have no evidence at this stage that the Mirena or its removal have anything to do with her current condition but with no history of seizures or any other symptoms that give rise to seizures, attention is now moving toward the IUD removal, and the impact on her hormones and how these can influence seizures in women her age (41yrs). Almost all other underlying causes have already been ruled out after numerous blood tests, CT scans, MRIs, EEGs, and lumbar puncture tests.

    She had her Mirena removed on the 15th September 2017. This was her second, the first being removed after 18months (late 2011) and we fell pregnant with our second child soon after. The second Mirena was removed after almost 5 years. Her first period came a month later, and was a little heavier than normal. She started experiencing some fatigue but nothing you woudl call out of the ordinary, and about two weeks after that on Nov 1st, she started the day with bouts of nausea followed by intense headaches. She had her first seizure that day, one of six. What followed was hospitalisation in ICU since, with a further 40 seizures over the period. In this time she has had her period twice more (3 times in 5 weeks) and the headaches continue.

    We have been through about 4 different diagnoses, each becoming rarer than the last, and all of them a process of elimination of all other known causes, rather than the identification of a singular cause. Doctors initially dismissed the IUD removal as insignificant until our current neurologist (we moved hospitals after the first could not progress on a clinical diagnosis and therefore a treatment plan) began to consider her symptoms in the context of her hormonal state. My wife is a fit and healthy woman (has two young and healthy boys 5yrs and 7yrs) and without any medical history of relevant health issues, the Doc has found the timing of the seizures, her specific symptoms, and the removal of the IUD as “not coincidental”. While she is currently on anti-seizure meds, her hormone levels were tested this morning and we await the results on these and those of a CT scan of her cervix tomorrow.

    I am only posting this because I have not come across many instances of seizures post-removal of the mirena so if there are any others with similar experiences it may go a long way to helping us get to the bottom of this case. Of course, the Mirena removal may have absolutely nothing to do with her condition, but at this stage, we’re looking for any clues that are out of the ordinary.

    Thanks

50. I had my Mirena placed on September 29,2017 and I had it removed 1 month later on October 26,2017. The insertion was horrible and I bleed from the very day it was put in until just a couple of days ago when I had it removed. Besides the bleeding I had cramping,anxiety, mood swing, loss of libedo, insomnia, constant hunger, and foggy brain. I knew right after I left the clinic that I had made the wrong decision, but I kept telling myself it’s okay.
    I tried not to think about it, but every time I used the bathroom, I was reminded of the IUD and the possible side effects, so I decided that I didn’t want to risk having a foreign object inside of me anymore.
    The removal was pretty tricky. The NP who removed it couldn’t see the strings because I was still bleeding from the insertion and she noticed clots coming out while she was trying to remove the IUD. She had to use the big cotton swab to remove the small clots that had formed in my cervix, by wiping down my cervix. Luckily, she was able to grasp the string and removed the IUD. As soon as it was out, I felt relieved.
    I read about the Mirena crash and I was pretty scared. The first 2 days were pretty much spotting and than the 3rd day I had cramps and gushing blood. I couldn’t tell if it was just my period or if it was the crash. The first 3 days were heavy, with no clots. It’s now day 5 and i am no longer bleeding, I only have the brownish discharge like how it normally was towards the end of my period. I’m now on day 7 after removal with no more side effects and hoping that I don’t crash because I do not want to bleed anymore. I pray that my body has gotten rid of what the iud has done,
    I do not recommend the IUD and I pray for those of you who are going through withdraws.

51. So my story is a little different and I have no one to talk to so I figured I’d try here. I know the original post was made years ago, but just came across it now searching through google. So I had to first mirena put in November, 2013 a year after the birth of my 1st and only child. My periods stopped immediately and I have had none since. The IUD had slightly shifted up so they could not see it normally I had to get ultrasounds to make sure it was ok. So last Wednesday I went in a got the old one out and a new one immediately replaced. Mind you with the first one I had not one symptom it was smooth sailing. 3 days after the new one was put it I started experiencing major cramping and bloating, popping feelings all over my abdomen and the weirdest anxiety rush ever(which prevented me from sleeping). the symptoms have become so odd that I went in yesterday to get the mirena checked out to make sure these symptoms I was experiencing were indeed from the IUD. After 20 minutes of searching and unbareable pain they advise me “they can NOT find the Mirena”. and to top it off Saturday(3 days after the new one was put in) I had unprotected sex with my boyfriend. so now not only am I in more pain than before, the are now making me wait til Tuesday to get an ultrasound it even see if the Mirena is still there. the whole situation is just so messed up and was wondering if the symptoms I am having sound firmiliar with anyone?????

52. I got the mirena (IUD) inserted exactly 2 years ago…. no major problems at all just for the first few months kept spotting none stop. Now I don’t even get my period or do once every 3-6 months that last 2 days…. I have experienced weight gain but not positive if its due to the mirena or poor eating habits due to my brother being terminally ill…. I used to weight 105-108 now weighing 140 but haven’t gain anymore weight and have just continued to stay the same…. the weight gain doesn’t necessarily bother me since I do agree with others I look more of a “healthy” weight.. gaining 30 pounds in such a short amount of time is alittle scary at first and now have stretch marks but only on my thighs.. my doctor recommended the mirena since all birth control with estrogen made me miserable, gave me servre migraines, even at times vision loss for a few mintues to an hour, body numbness and tingles.. it was a nightmare trying to focus in college not being able to see the board and feeling as if I’m having a stoke! Overall I am so happy with the mirena no headache, no pain, nothing other than some weight gain which like I said is no big deal and I’m sure once it is removed the weight will drop off quick.. the only real problem was insertion… that was pretty rough I had one doctor try to put it in for half an hour to an hour and have no luck and just caused me lots of pain… had another appointment to get it inserted by another doctor and was unsuccessful and could tell how uncomfortable I was so the doctor and I both agree it would be better to put me under and do the insertion… woke up fine just a bit of bleeding… overall I would recommend the mirena to just about everyone, my mom recommended it to me as well as my doctor and she has had no issues. A few months ago recommended it to my friend and she got it inserted and is happy as well

53. I have had my Mirena in for eight months now. I have endometriosis and have tried 12 different kinds of birth control over the years and nothing seems to help. My doctor suggested Mirena because my periods would get so bad I would end up fainting in public on the first day of my period not every cycle but several times a year and really hurt myself. I have been faint free for the last eight months which is my longest ever but I have so many other terrible symptoms that I am having it removed in three weeks. I’ll be 30 in two weeks and have always had great glowing skin and now I suffer from acne. I am now on acne medication to try to help that. Always have been very fit, active and work out all the time and I’ve put on 20 pounds in the last eight months. I am always extremely tired, bloated, bleeding or spotting, cramps just about every day and more recently can’t sleep through the night and been suffering from extreme night sweats. I wouldn’t say I’m depressed but definitely unhappy with all these awful side effects and for no reason do seem to burst into tears on occasion. I can’t stand this anymore and can’t wait to have it removed. I worry a Mirena crash is inevitable based on everything I’ve read from other women but this is no way to live. There must be something else that can help me with my killer periods, and for me it is NOT Mirena.

54. Thank you for all the comments, I’ve been reading all day and I’m soooo relieved I had this thing removed 3 days ago. I had no idea my symptoms could be attributed to this. I have found myself in a situation I would have never imagined, still nursing my almost 2 and half year old beautiful daughter. I’ve been on Bc pill to depo shot to Nuva ring over the years. A few months after my daughter was born I got this mirena inserted at the age of 36. I had attributed my extreme mood swings, tiredness, irritability and complete lack of sex drive the last 2 years to the fact that I’m home all day with a toddler and must have hormones out of whack from still nursing. However, one symptom that had been very difficult to deal with is what I can only call severe eczema on mostly my hands and (at times, I now realize that were around my cycle, but didn’t know cause I no longer had any bleeding) spreading and becoming more inflamed on my hands, arms, face and legs. I eat very clean and have tried taking several different foods out of my diet Over the last years to figure out the culprit to no avail.
    When I went to have my iud removed a couple days ago and told my dr mostly because of my skin I wanted it out (I hadn’t realized yet all the other suffering I’ve gone through has been experienced by other mirena users), She told me it will make no difference because the hormones are so minuscule and don’t leave the uterus, but she would do it anyway so I could see.
    Well, 3 days in and my hand is healing more every day, I’m not feeling any itching or pain on my skin like I have the last 2 plus years. Just a little spotting and I have an unexplained lightness in my body after having that foreign object removed. I didnt realize for 2 years my iud could be the cause of so much emotional and physical discomfort. Like so many I was just (after the first year) enjoying no more periods. But, what my body was no longer shedding through the natural process was clearly reeking more and more havoc on my system in unexpected and what I thought was unrelated ways. I’m so thankful my husband encouraged me to remove it. I will never recommend or have something like that put in my body again.

55. I had the mirena put in to help with periods. I was having pretty heavy and painful periods. I didn’t need it for birth control since I had a tubal ligation years ago when I had my daughter. The insertion was HORRIBLE! I thought I was going to pass out! Maybe it was worse for me because I’ve never had a vaginal birth…. but who knows. I didn’t bleed for 10 days then I bleed pretty much every day for the next year and a half when I had it removed. Not heavy bleeding like before, just constant. I’ve worn a pad for pretty much every day for a year and a half! I also LOST my sex drive. All of it, gone. I was pretty much a sexaholic before I had my IUD put in and then NOTHING. It was horrible since I love sex and went to don’t even touch me…. But I gave it time. I was hoping it would all straighten out…. it never did. I gained weight and had no energy, but I didn’t want to take it out because it hurt so much to have it put in. Flash forward to a couple of weeks ago. I went to see a hematoligist for unrelated issues and told her that I had a mirena. She immediately told me to have it removed. I told her that I thought that this was safe for me since I can’t take normal birth control pills for risk of clotting. (I have high platelet counts all the time because of my blood disorder and not having a spleen. ) She said it was not safe since the hormones still enter my body. She said even though there were less hormones, I still had hormones in my blood which increased my risk for clotting, along with the weight gain I had with it. So I finally had it scheduled to be removed on a Friday. Let me tell you I was a mess since I figured that it was going to hurt like hell….especially since I had a cervical polyp that formed. (I’m pretty sure that was mirena too.) So I saw the doctor at 3:30 and she said she didn’t see my polyp. Where it went, who knows? She said it could’ve gone up into the uterus…. anyways, the removal was nothing! Just a tug and it was gone! I mean, getting in the stirrups are never pleasant, but that certainly was the quickest and least painful thing I’ve ever had done to me while in the stirrups. Anyways I left the office at 4. I felt great that afternoon, I had finally gotten rid of the mirena and I want in horrible pain! I was good all of Saturday. Saturday night I saw a pink spot on my pad… This morning, Sunday morning, I woke up EXHAUSTED! My muscles feel weak like I’ve been doing heavy lifting for 10 hours straight. And the cramps have started…. I’ve gone ahead and taken a muscle relaxer, that’s what I had to take before with the cramps, before it gets unmanageable. I’m hoping that I go back to normal? No, hopefully something better than normal since my periods have been awful. I’m wondering how long until I have some energy again… I guess my next step is a hysterectomy… I don’t want to have another surgery, so please wish me good luck!

56. Ive got the Mirena inserted March 30th. Its now August 19th. the Mirena has helped with my depression. However I’ve gained! Ive always been a thick and curvy girl but all the weight i gained is in my stomach. My stomach has never been flat but its never looked like i was 4months pregnant all the time either. My breasts got bigger and recently they hurt like i just got finished breast feeding. I had the acne for a short time probably a month in. My libido is still in tact in fact it maybe a little worse. I did experience the bleeding in the beginning which calmed down to the brown after period blood for about four months. It wasn’t enough for a pad but panty liners were doable. I am starting to work out again its almost been a month and i haven’t seen any progress with my workouts. I normally would see some changes in the way my clothes fit or something but Ive seen nothing thus far. I want to keep it because my depression is gone but then i don’t because of the weight. Ive even tried eating seafood and salads for 2 1/2 months and nothing happened with that. Reading the comments I’m sure its Mirena. Just don’t know what to do yet. I’m scared if i take it out the depression will come back full force.

57. I so relieved and yet so ticked off reading all of these comments. I went from the Paragard IUD (no hormones, just copper and plastic) to the Mirena in October of 2016. I am and always have been thin, athletic, high metabolism, high libito, super cheery and peppy with a great outlook on life. Since getting the Mirena, all these things have changed. I gained around 5-7 pounds (all in my stomach area which has ALWAYS been flat!), my face breaks out, my hair and skin has dried out, my libido is super low, and I have suffered depression like no other this year. I already made my appointment to have it taken out and am putting the Paragard back in. I will miss not having a period but for my sanity and my health, this is NOT worth it. I thought I was going crazy, trying to rationalize all these things happening to me. And you do rationalize it, until you stumble onto this conversation and see… it’s not in your head, it’s not age or bad habits. It’s the Mirena!
    Hope to be back next month with a happy update once this thing is gone from my body!

58. I had a good 7 year experience with Mirena – I’m 52 and supposedly in menopause, Hormonal headaches seemed to be much less while I had it but now 8 days post removal I’ve got a wicked headache that’s been hanging in there for four days. I found these posts in my search to figure out if removal of the IUD could cause my headaches to return – guess so! And what is weird i(or maybe not) is that I used to suffer from anxiety which has been very under control but just today I got that old feeling, no reason, just driving down the road with my husband – that feeling like I was freaking out, wanting to just get away or crawl out of my skin… it’s better now 🙂
    Thanks for your posts.

59. I had my Mirena inserted on April 27th and I wish I would of found this website before I had my Mirena inserted!!! I had it not even a full month and just could not take all of the side effects I had developed in short time I had it. I gained almost 10 pounds in 3 weeks, anxiety, panic attacks, cramping and lots of bleeding! I got it to help with my heavy monthly cycles, and it just made it worse! I just had it removed today and I am so very happy it is out of me!

60. Well, I guess I am one of the lucky ones! I finally hit my 5 year mark and had mine removed today. (This was my second mirena. First was 2009-2011)anyway. I have a hard time losing weight, but I attribute that to me not being able to stick with a diet very long. And I do get headaches regularly. That is a side effect…. BUT… I have hair down to my knees, and its heavy. Other than those 2 things, I have absolutely no complaint whatsoever. Lst time I had it taken out, I got pregnant within 2 months (which is what we wanted) but I don’t remember a “crash”. Here’s to hoping non e of these “crash symptoms” happen this time around either!!

61. Hi – its been a week since my coil was removed. I actually had it in for 10 years as my doctor said it was okay to keep it in. (this was at the 5yr appointment to have it removed) I must say, had a little spotting and a little cramping. however what is now concerning me is the frequent nosebleeds and headaches. I’ve not had a nose bleed for over 25yrs and its getting a little scary now as they are excessive and takes a while to stop. My last one was this morning in the car and I had to pull over at a garage for some assistance. Not 100% sure its related but my gut feel is that it is…
    Cant get an appointment with GP for over a week so I guess a waiting game now!

62. No “Crash” experienced, but a whole level of TTC hell that I never thought I’d be faced with has happened. I have Poly Cystic Ovaries and for those of you who don’t know what that is, trust me that it makes life a little more challenging a woman, especially when you’re trying to conceive. I’m no stranger to abnormal periods and the hormonal rage that comes with PCOS, but what I am a stranger to is 3 month periods. Yep, you read that correctly, 3 agonizing months!

    I got my Mirena placed in January 2013, 6 weeks after giving birth to my beautiful baby girl. We decided this past July that we wanted a second child and I had an appointment to remove my IUD within the following week. I didn’t get a period at first and there was no ovulation. I still haven’t ovulated since having the IUD removed (10 months), but what I have had is very LONG, heavy periods that have lasted anywhere from 3 weeks at a time to my now longest run of 3 months. I’m tired, frustrated and hormonal. Unfortunately my DR. doesn’t see a problem with this.. When the IUD went in I spotted a bit and then I didn’t get a period for the duration of having it in….

    I don’t ever recommend getting the Mirena.. it has made my life miserable.

63. I used to be a Happy, loving, active, & fun person to be around until i put this IUD. My life change completely. My body deteriorate, my mental, emotional and physical health went straight to the garbige. I list everything, my marriage, jobs, car. I lost myself completely. The depression and mood swings are so high and the suffering is unexplainable. Everything started weeks after I place that thing. I went to the Doctor but he told me it was normal and that the depression was all in my head. The pain that I went though is indescribable. And im still getting cramps so painful that it worst than stabbing. I bleed all the time. I’m depress 99.99 % of the time. I gain Weight which doesn’t go away with nothing. I cry with an overwhelming feeling that I can explain. Headaches, sensitive to light, i have so many stuff that is insane to think that something like that can do sammich harm. I develop many medical condition! I want to remove it but it was so painful to put it in that I’m afraid to go though the same pain again. Once I remove this IUD I will be very careful to what goes in my body.

64. I got my first Mirena when I was 16 at the suggestion of my gynaecologist. Im now nearing the end of my third Mirena (I just turned 30.). I was one of the lucky ones who enjoyed life without periods or cramps. I experienced minimal to no side effects, or so I thought. Since that first iud I’ve struggled with depression, anxiety and unstable emotions. My parents and I passed it off as just being a normal teenager but I never grew out of it, in fact it got worse. Ive tried quite a few antidepressants and anxiety medicals through the years but nothing really works. The only thing it could be is the birth control. It’s the only thing that’s been consistent this whole time. I’m getting it removed on Monday and I hope to be successful in getting to know a better version of myself. I’m really hoping it has been the Mirena affecting me all this time and that I’m not just some demotivated, depressed girl who’s full of anxiety and, for the most part, an emotional wreck.. 🙁 Will update

65. i had both types of IuDs for 5 yrs each…the copper one. Par a guard…first has no hormones and ID recommend that one!
    the mirena I do NOT advise anyone to get or try! Just read above comments ( very true) or study the hormones it releases first! I too was moody depressed had anxiety weight gain… Nothing Good!! Look into the copper IUD. par a guard! That was much better than Miirena! I just had Mirena removed and feel100% better. Like my old happy self again!

66. Hi wow so nice to know I am not alone. I feel crazy. I had my mirena out on Friday 24th March. It was my second one, and I no longer require contraception and wanted my body to be hormone free for once. I was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid in 2012 (I often wonder at the conection, I read up lots at diagnosis where the mirena was blamed for thyroid malfunction)
    Anyway, Friday and Saturday I was fine. Sunday, it was like I had been dropped into a very deep well of blackness. I put myself to bed at 8pm and laid here thinking the darkest awful thoughts and crying. I felt like I was going mad. I woke up Monday morning to a scene from Carrie. Seriously?? I was day 14 of my cycle (yep I was one of the unlucky few who has always still bled) so Monday was a shock… and it hasnt stopped. It is constant. Clots, heavy gushing. The mood swings are horrendous. The anxiety is incredible. How I am getting through each day I dont know.
    I needed to find out what was happening so googled “symptoms after mirena removal” and wow noone warns you of this do they??
    how long will this continue for? im keeping a diary. Feeling really sorry for myself 🙁

    • I’m in the midst of a 3 month period. I had my Mirena removed this past July (It’s April 30th, 2017) I’m TTC and haven’t ovulated once. I am Anxious, tearful and agitated most of the time lately. My dr. isn’t concerned about my 3 month period that switched between spotting for a day to gushing blood. I’m so done with it all..

67. Had my Mirena taken out yesterday. After reading all these comments I was a bit antsy but since it was almost 2 years over due, I knew I had to get it out!! I am menopausal and after 24 hours, I feel fine. I had no problems the whole time I had it in. If anything changes, I will comment on it but right now, I haven’t had any problems at all!!

68. Just got Mirena out in January. 14 days of spotting. Had for 16 months.no picnic. Put in after uterine polyp removal. Wish I did not get. Hypothyroid, no kids and perimenopause. Nerve damage, cold, anxiety, pelvic pain, fear of falling and migraines all the time. Had taken out cause could not deal with anymore. Wanted my heavy period back. I at least know how that feels and can deal with. Good bye Mirena I won’t miss you.

69. Hi
    I’m 48 and had copper iuds for 20 years, after having my daughter. 2 years ago I had a mirena inserted as I heard it stopped bleeding. Wonderful not to have your period but the side effects effects have been horrid. I only linked my severe body aching that has developed to the mirena as I read about ladies with similar experiences. I now have developed arthritis and the only thing that had changed over the two years was the iud. Pain in shoulders,arms, hands and feet. Draining me. I had it removed 2 days ago and replaced it with my old friend…the copper iud. Am waiting to see if pain in my body improves.

70. I’m on day 4 of the Mirena crash. Bleeding & clotting, crying for no reason (and I can’t remember the last time I cried before removal), really persistent headache that won’t go with painkillers and feeling so tired and fed up. Haven’t been to work and just flopping around not doing much. Had Mirena for 9 years from age 41 and felt great mostly but did gain over 40lbs which I put down to age. It’s not that I piled the weight on, it’s just been a few lbs a year after Christmas or a holiday and I just couldn’t lose it again, even eating 800-1000 cals a day and walking 30 miles per week. I just want my body back now, I want to know if I’m still having periods and I want to lose weight. Hoping this crash is gone soon. Good luck all. I like having mine as it did it’s job regarding contraception but looking back, I’m not sure the side effects were worth it.

71. I had my Mirena placed in August 2015 when my son was 10 weeks old. Mind you this was my 3rd try with Mirena and same thing every single time…(My own stupid fault.) Felt ok and seemed to be doing good with it. Periods were coming and going like normal, no change and I felt fine. Skip to November 2016–Periods stopped, face broke out to the point I have to take 200mg of Doxycycline everyday and a total mental snap. Ended up in the ER on 1/10/17 thinking I was having a heart attack when really just a bad panic attack. Trip to the doctor 1/14/17, put on Paxil & given Klonopin for extreme panic attacks. 1/18/17, the little devil removed b/c I could feel it when doing yoga & the anxiety/mental break all started when the periods stopped. According to my mother this is exactly how bad I got the other 2 times I gave Mirena a try. Husband is getting a vasectomy and no more hormones (that don’t belong) in my body for me. It’s truly not worth it. I regret this last time for sure b/c I became a very emotionally unstable person and was not the mother/wife that I needed to be. If anyone starts feeling anxious, hair starts falling out or (tale, tale sign for me) periods stop, GET THAT THING OUT ASAP. Still dealing with headaches but nothing like the bat crap crazy anxiety that I was dealing with when it was still placed. Oh, and as for the Paxil/Klonopin, Paxil made me psychotic and I’m terrified to know what the Klonopin may do to me. Paxil went down the toilet but hanging on to the Klonopin just incase I have a mega anxiety attack (hopefully that won’t happen).

    STAY HORMONE FREE LADIES! If you’re not looking to have anymore children, get the partners clipped. If you’re not in a serious relationship, I highly recommend condoms. =)

72. I am 19 and had my Mirena for a full year. The beginning was a positive experience but in November I started randomly bleeding, cramps, headaches, the whole nine yards. It progressively got worse until my cramps would keep me up at night crying and was unable to go in to work some days. I got the Mirena removed in mid December and my doctor suggested I start taking the pill to regulate my period when it returns (my period completely vanished while I had my IUD which was amazing) I started taking the pills over three weeks ago and have been consistently bleeding since day 1. I mean heavy period bleeding: heavy pads and super tampons needed. It started as spotting and brown like old blood but since it’s gotten heavier it’s bright and often comes with clots. On the heaviest of days I feel very weak, I gained a little weight after I had the Mirena removed, and have been an emotional wreck. I cried at a diaper commercial and I don’t even know why. I have contemplated going to the doctor many times, I just hope this doesnt last much longer since it’s been almost a month. Helpful comments are appreciated!

73. I just removed my mirena on 1-16-17 i did this myself i was tired of the constant pain and not being able to do things i enjoyed because of it i was fine for about two days now i feel depressed and in more pain all i want to do is sleep and close my self away from people this has hit me out of no where ive used bc pills and patches even did the shots before getting the tyrant iud so with my experience i will never use another form of bc ever again im 25 years old I’ve done more damage to my reproductive organs than should be done

74. It nice that I am not alone. Read blurry vision is also a side effect which I experienced 4 months after its use. My problems were evident from the get go. Hair loss, weight gain, depression, mood swings, weird inconstant periods, vomiting almost every three months or so, nausea, sleep disturbances, numbing of hands and feet and extreme fatigue. I was confused as to what might be happening to me and I was tested for so many things and each test came back negative. The oversight that the Mirena may be causing the issues was frustrating. I started researching side effects and read a lot of material, but I know now that it is the Mirena. I finally scheduled an appointment yesterday to have it removed and they couldn’t take it out because the position of the Mirena most likely moved. Now I might be facing surgery to have it removed. I am living a nightmare and this product should be seriously removed as an option for birth control or regulating periods. I thought I was going crazy and its adverse effects have affected my work and family life. I truly don’t understand why doctor’s push this product as a good alternative to birth control. It is not a good product. I understand everyone is different, but at the very least doctor’s should consider everything if Mirena is being used and I hope that whatever my outcome, I get better soon because I want my life back. I truly do not recommend this product to anyone. Most of us know our body and mine has been telling me for almost 2 and half years that although Mirena was doing its job as a method of birth control, but the side effects are detrimental to over all my well-being

75. So my experience on the MIrena was fine, I did have a good amount to of weight gain while on it as well and acne but I’m not sure if that was just a coincidence or not but it seems like a lot of people also had the same thingr happen to them. So with that being said I decided to get it taken out cause I weigh even more then I did while I as pregnant with my last child. So I got it taken out a year early. I got it taken out in December 13 2016. It came out easy and nothing the painful just a little cramp feeling, felt the same as it did when the put it in. So I asked the doctor what to expect after it being out and she just said you should have a period in a month and it shouldnt be much different then it was before u had the mirena. Well I’d say about 3 maybe 4 days later my period startso. Normal flow for the first day, no biggie. The next day blood is kinda brown like it’s ending but it’s still like that right now hasn’t stopped at all! Every now and then I’ll get some clots coming out and some normal blood mixed with the brown blood. It’s been about 10 days now a for from the comments it might be going for awhile. I’m hoping that once it’s out of my system, which I’m thinking a couple months or so, I’ll be back to normal and hopefully lose some weight and my acne which I have never had a problem with before.

76. Let me start off by saying I loved the mirena, I had it for 4 years, no period, mild cramps randomly, and no baby lol but what I didn’t realize was how bad my depression and anxiety got until recently. But not every body is the same. If you’re interested in it, try it. But take a mental note about your body and mind so you can noticed negative side affects. I’ve been with my boyfriend for 6 years and had the mirena for the last 4 years. He helped me realize in the beginning of our relationship I was happy, outgoing, energetic. But now I’m a moody ignorant miserable person. I had it removed 2 days ago and it was an instant relief. But not all stories are bad like mine, it just depends on your body. Good luck to all ladies !!!

77. Had mine removed November 14, and I too didn’t experience a period pretty much for almost 5 1/2 years, the time I had the Mirena. I have been feeling off since the removal , figured it came with symptom’s of having my period but after reading most of these comments I have to belief the feeling of sadness is a little more full blow because mirena is gone. I do have to say for the entire time I did have it I didn’t experience what many others have. I was planning on getting another one but not sure after all the stories.

    • Just had mine removed Nov 2 bc my husband and I are TTC. This was my second Mirena (got my first when I was 18 had it in for 5 yrs, immediately replaced – second one was in for 4 yrs) I had no issues at all. Since removal, I have noticed some mood swings, fatigue and slight nausea – however, nothing too extreme. I’m sure it’s just my body re-regulating. As many women have previously stated, everyone’s body is different however, I’ll add, both my sisters & sister in law have had the mirena and we have all had very positive experiences. I had what I thought was AF Nov 4-6 however, now I think it may have just been spotting. I have been testing for ovulation – thought today would have been day 28 but still just not totally sure what’s going on. Optimistic that my body will regulate over the next couple of months. Would love to read experiences from others who have gone through removal and their road to pregnancy. Thanks!

78. Mirena made me gain 70lbs in two years. I just got it removed a month ago and I’m a box-of-tissues-carrying-fool-who-can’t-stop-crying! I haven’t been this emotional since my father passed away years ago. The fatigue is still there, but I no longer want to eat every thing in sight.

79. I had the Mirena inserted in January 2016. Within a few weeks I noticed my hair starting to fall out much more than normal. I had the Mirena for about 6 months before spot bleeding finally stopped. At this point I thought I was happy with the Mirena but unfortunately this didn’t last very long. I started getting reoccurring thrush infections which I had never had before, I regularly got constipated, I got severe acne and my hair continued to fall out more than usual. On top of this I would get upset very easily and this affected my work and home life. I actually started to think I was having a mid life crisis at 35. I removed the Mirena about 4 weeks ago and it did not hurt much getting it out. 2 days after removal I had very heavy bleeding with clots for 7 days ended with a massive headache. Now I feel like me again, things aren’t upsetting me as much, I don’t have thrush and my skin is clearing. Mirena is definitely not for me I’m back to all natural and taking herbs to help get my hormones back to normal.

80. So I’m 18(birthday: September 17th) and I had my IUD removed 5 days after my birthday, I had had the Mirena for a full year and 4 months and it gave me nothing but extreme pain, nausea, excessive bleeding in periods that lasted for days and just all over discomfort. The day I had it removed, I had just stopped bleeding from yet another extended period but since then I haven’t had another period and here we are in November(2 months!). I have no kids and I’m always safe about sex but my curiosity is heightening on this. Seriously?! I thought I was supposed to be period free WITH it in, not WITHOUT it. I’m thinking of taking a pregnancy test soon(though it’s impossible for me to be pregnant at this time). Please, can anyone email me and help? Any advice?

    • Also I’m not sure if I’ve experienced the “Mirena Crash” because I’ve struggled with depression since I was 9.

81. O.M.F. I have never in my life seen more comments and horror stories about something I’m about to go do in an hour and a half. I have had my Mirena in for a little over 6 years. (A year too long) I have yes, had some weight gain.. But probably from my own poor diet habits) but that’s it! Been awesome. Not pregnant, and no period for the last 3 and a half years!!! So…. Obviously not having a period for that long… Is NOT normal. So of course I’m expecting some side effects… But after reading all of that… I am completely FREAKING out right now. I have my appointment to have it taken out in about an hour and a half… And I don’t know if I can do it now! I am so super scared and thinking maybe I should wait until the Holidays are over!! That way I’m not bleeding to death and /or falling asleep at thanksgiving dinner… Or ready to slit my wrists at Christmas! Someone please tell me what I should do! Wait until January? Or just have it taken out now?? Or what do I do!!!???! Someone…anyone… I’m scared now and need advice.

82. Holy cow. I was searching online for what happens if you DO NOT have your Mirena removed after 5 years and this forum (among others) popped up. I’ve read various responses from “nothing will happen” to “it can get imbedded, you could get cervical cancer and you could die”. Then after reading the responses here, I don’t know if I’m more terrified f having it taken out or of leaving it in. I have no idea what to do!!

83. I have had my mirena removed 10 days ago due to a personal experiment to find the source of my low energy. episodes of depression, and non existent libido. I had the Mirena in for 2.5 years. I have had a very light period (heavier than with the mirena) for one week. My Dr. said it would take up to 1-3 months for my period to return. Perhaps he intended for it to “Normalize”, I’m speculating…… I have felt very blah since day two after it’s removal. Gloomy I suppose. I recognize I removed it to eliminate depressive states but my blah feelings as of recent are different. I would rather sleep than anything else. I am still happy to have the mirena removed as I am skeptical the device can excrete equal hormones daily over a span of five years. That’s my stance. They list the side effects for a reason. I don’t doubt it’s only a matter of TIME for the excess progesterone to fully leave my system. Fingers crossed!

84. I also forgot to mention that with my anxiety came extreme irritability with mood swings and arguments were awful with my partner, I had some hair loss, loss of libido was also an issue during the time I had it, I also had weight gain in the last 2-3 years of it and now loosing that and most of the symptoms are resolving.

85. I had mine for 6 years, had it put in and taken out surgically, putting it in was horrid with a very heavy period the first few days and heavy period the month after, then no period for 6 years following, I started looking into removal at 4 year mark but as I had it put in surgically no one wanted to do anything, it took me a few months when I started pushing for removal again as I was getting bouts of depression and chronic anxiety which I now can see had increased over the years of having it, I was booked in for surgery, some cramps and bleeding after but nothing major, since then mostly evened out but having very light periods (2-3 days) since and feeling angry/hormonal before and tearful and low after, its been 2 months since removal and not sure what to expect to be honest as I was on the pill for years before and haven’t had a normal period in around 10-15yrs!!

86. I’ve had mirena in for almost 10 years now. I’ve been thinking about having a baby and not sure I want to take it out anymore. Are there some that don’t have bad side effects when taking it out?? I’ve had zero problems with my mirena and haven’t had my period as long as I’ve had it. I’m worried. Somebody make me feel better please!!

87. I’ve had the Mirena since early 2014. I’ve had nothing but good experience with it so far besides bad acne twice. I’ll have breakouts on my face for a month maybe 2 and it goes away. I could say weight gain but I don’t eat very healthy either. I’ve also just discovered that discharge is a side effect also and I have had that since I’ve had the Mirena. But besides that I haven’t had any issues. Spotting every now and then but way better than having my period and cramps every month. I don’t have plans to take it out till I hit my 4th or 5th year to replace it and I must say I’m dreading that part after reading everyone’s horrible experiences. One of my co workers had hers fall out the 4th year during sex with her husband and after that she was experiencing mood change and being emotional cramping and bleeding (not sure how much bleeding) and she had been back and forth about 3 times to the ER for passing kidney stones within 3 months. I’ve never heard of that being a side effect after the Mirena removal. But she insists its from her iud coming out. She got pregnant about 3-4 months after her iud fell out and just had her baby a month ago. She has no plans to have the Mirena put back in. If anyone has experienced discharge please let me know what you did to get rid of it!!!

88. i had my Mirena removed and was told by my Gyno specialist to use a panty liner. The first day was spotting just like at the beginning of a period, by day 3 it was really heavy, no clots like other girls. however, i have never bled that much before, and i was feeling lethargic and low energy due to the hormone shock (that i wasn’t informed of) and loss of blood. Today is 8 days after removal and i have finally stopped bleeding. i read on this forum that daily exercise will help release the excess estrogen and herbal vitamins will also help get your body back on track. I’ve started both of these, not sure if they’re working or if its’ the natural endorphin after exercise, but i’m feeling a lot better. i will definitely not be getting the Mirena again, especially with the available, less invasive contraceptives on the marker. Hope my experience has helped someone.

89. Hello all,

    Lot of mixed stories in here, mostly some scary ones, so I thought I’d share mine. I got my IUD placed in October of 2013. I was annoyed with the pill and my mom and sister both persuaded me to get the IUD. The process to get it in was very uncomfortable but pretty quick. I experienced some pretty painful cramping the first two days and spotted the first week. I have loved my mirena since- rarely ever spot and when I do it lasts less than a day. However, some symptoms I’ve experienced was acne (yuck) and weight gain. It wasnt until last year that I read mirena could cause weight gain. I was at my healthiest, working out every day and eating right yet I gained 15 pounds the first heat with my mirena. Aside from that, I have really enjoyed having my mirena. I have an appointment tomorrow to have it removed so my husband and I can begin trying to expand our family. I’m hoping the removal process will be as smooth as getting it.

90. The Mirena was wonderful for controlling heavy bleeding and very bad cramps. It worked great for that. No pain for me during insertion or removal. I had it for a year. About 2 months after having it inserted, I started having hair loss and extreme hair dryness. Due to this I had it removed. I am experiencing blah and depression now the first week after. No heavy bleeding yet. If it wasn’t for the hair loss/dryness, I would not have taken it out. I have many friends who have no side effects and love it.

91. What a relief to see I am not alone in this! The Mirena was meant to be the solution to my excessively heavy periods, not for birth control. Post menopausal, I am relatively fit and active, love socialising, been a stable weight for years and enjoyed work and family life. Out of 5 months with Mirena I have bled or spotted 4 months, gained 5 kg, skin breakouts, had extreme joint pain in hips, knees, lower back, cramping, fatigued so badly I can hardly get through shifts at work and totally lost all interest in sex or going out with friends. I have struggled through days in a brain fog, feeling drugged, unable to concentrate, even writing this now takes more effort. Friends and family have noticed that I am “not the same” and after an emotional meltdown at work unable to stop myself from crying, I have booked in to have the Mirena removed. Many friends had success with Mirena, but I know it is not for me. Bring back normality!

    • I had an experience similar to yours. Had mirena for 7 years or so. I got it after my child was born. He is about to turn 8. My last mirena was almost a year overdue to come out. I had been feeling sick and having health complications. But my doctor told me when I got to his office to have it removed, that a new one was already out of the package. So I let him put a new one in to keep birth control. I voiced my concerns about things I had read. He assured me that everything would be fine. He’s the doctor, right? I figured he knew best. I don’t have a doctorate. The insertion was so painful that I have had recurring nightmares about it. Approximately 2 months after having the silicone iud inserted, I woke up with numb legs. I thought I slept wrong on them. I tried to move my legs to get circulation back. 3 days later, healthy eating, and adequate water intake, I still couldn’t feel my legs, and I couldn’t move my feet or toes. My knees and ankles hurt so bad when I try to walk. Like there is no cartilage in them. Nothing to stop them from grinding together. Went to the ER twice. No testing for silicone poisoning. Some fluids/nausea meds for the constant vomiting. Only sratches and poking with a safety pin at the first er visit, to see if I could feel it. I told them I can feel pain. Natural stimulation just feels like pins and needles though. Can’t tell if a blanket is touching me, or if it’s a dog brushing against me unless I see it. I have to use a cane, and wrap my other arm around someone just to not fall down. The pain from walking to the bathroom is so bad that I can hardly breathe by the time I get there, and I have to take breaks. Today, I had severe pain, exactly like labor without the contractions and tearing. This hurts so bad, and no one seems to care. I told them what to check at the er. But they talked about a spinal tap. I am not going to do that. Just check me for silicone toxicity. But apparently that is a hard test to get. My sex drive was gone the whole time I was on mirena, hair falling out, awful weight gain no matter what I ate, high cholestorol, and liver isn’t doing so well now. Not to mention the depression, anxiety, and panic attacks complete with projectile vomiting. Very scared and feeling alone. Doctors just treated me like I was crazy, and tried to commit me the first time I went in to the er. I removed my own device a few days ago. Praying this will pass, and I survive. But the pain still comes and goes as usual. More here than not, and still can’t walk by myself. With an added menstrual cycle. Absolutely terrifying. I feel like this is what hell is like.

92. I am really glad to read all of this. I feel like I should be committed or something. I am going crazy. I have an appointment in an hour to get the mirena taken out. I feel like am constantly under a fog, I cant remember anything, constant dull headache. I feel like I am on drugs, this thing cant be removed fast enough. I was so desperate I tried taking it out myself I hope I didn’t mess anything up.

93. Angie~ I just got mine removed today so I cant really give my story to the removal part but I can tell you it sounds like the water retention.. I have gained so much weight over the last 2 1/2 yrs. I’m a “house cleaner” (for my job) and I stay active and have been a runner for 17 yrs.. Nothing budges… Well about 3 weeks ago I got up instantly weighed myself.. I then felt the swelling hit me.. 50 min later I was UP 4.2 lbs! So my guess your peeing out the water. I too have had tons of hair loss, acne, mood swings, lack of libido, no patience, anxiety, pelvic discomfort. My husband would get poked by the wire… The only reason why I had it was to control my bleeding.. I’m going through menopause and the Dr suggested to do that.. Wellll the Dr I had didn’t even bother to check my estrogen levels…. Last yr I switched Drs – to a WOMAN dr and sure enough she took my blood.. You should be in the 50 range for estrogen and I was 9! a freakin 9 and I was only 45 yrs old… So this year she upped it another mg. (She is watching me carefully since cancer runs in the family)I was at 43. So I’m thinking the IUD and estrogen is not a good combo.. So I decided to let nature do its coarse.. see what happens.. Although I don’t want the 17 gushing bleeding days…. And spotting all month long when not gushing… But I too loved the IUD for about the first 1 1/2 yrs until I started getting more side effects and putting 2 and 2 together.. So We shall see what happens in the next few days.. Just spotting right now.. Been 5 hours since it was removed…

94. So I got mine taken out in Wednesday. After I got it taken out I started peeing like crazy. Now, two days later, I am still peeing more than usually but not as much as the days before and I feel like I’m constantly discharging. I feel like it maybe abnormal but idk. I don’t drink a lot of water so my pee is really yellow so I can’t tell if my discharge is clear (because of my urine when I wipe) or bright yellow. There was a slight discomfort when I peed. But how come all of this is happening no sooner than I take my IUD out? Any ideas

95. I had the mirena put in because I was so inconsistent with my pill. Had normal periods, no abnormalities at all. Two months after I had the mirena put in, I was having lower abdominal pain and the doctors thought I was having appendicitis. I actually had a 30cm diameter cyst that had to be surgically removed because it was twisting my Fallopian tube. I eventually had the mirena removed, but am continuing to have cysts. I’m on the Nuvaring which I like and helps with the cysts. But when I take out my Nuvaring (for the week of my period) I develop a cyst. I don’t know what to do at this point and am just frustrated. I’m also concerned about fertility, my doctor says I shouldn’t worry, but I can’t help it.

96. I had my Mirena IUD put in in August 2013. Insertion was more painful than expected with a few hours after of curled up on the couch with pain and cramps, which subsided with the help of Advil. I loved it an raved about it for the next 1.5 year. I almost never got my period, with the occasional 1-2 day spotting every 3-4 months. I would still have some monthly hormonal ups and downs, but nothing compared the the actual period hormonal spikes. After around the 1.5 year mark I started to bleed randomly when I had sex, and that progressed to EVERY time we were intimate. It was like a bloody crime scene after. Thinking about the mess that would most likely be there did not help the romantic mood, nor did having to prep the bed with towels each time. My boyfriend was so great about it, but it was always in my head and such a mood killer. I had an ultrasound so make sure it wasn’t embedded in my insides or tearing causing the bleeding, and placement was determined to be good. I decided after 2.5 year to have it removed. First, my regular Dr. could’t find the string so I was sent to a GYNO, who also struggled with finding it, but just as he was about to give up….he yanked it out. Did not hurt much at all, nothing even close to the pain of insertion. I felt great. As expected I had light spotting that and the next day, then about 1 week later my first period cycle. It wasn’t too bad, lasted 5 days medium bleeding, and I thought, “ok not so bad I can deal with this again”. YA then 10 days later I got the period from HELL!!!! Full on ultra heavy, (soaking through super tampons in 2 hrs) and extremely sore breasts and cramping was unbearable. Doubled over in pain even after popping 2 extra strength advil. Passed large clots as well. This lasted a hellish 9 days. I then called my Dr. to get back on a previous pill of Marvelon to help regulate my period. One week in to taking the pill and only 7 days after my last nightmare period ended, I am back at it again with the beginning of another bloody week of hell.I don’t know how I can keep doing this basically every 2 weeks. After reading up on Marvelon, I feel some of my symptoms are expounded on due to the new pill (shaky, depressed, restless legs, trouble sleeping, etc). My next move will be to get an abdominal ablation, but that is not really an option for the next few months and I don’t know what I will do if I keep bleeding like this every 2 weeks. I can’t count on my Dr to provide me with any useful advise. Can anyone shed any light on a future end or distance between this?

97. I had the Marena for 4 1/2 years. The only issue I had while on it was slight acne. I had it removed May 16. I bled for 2 days straight. Bright red blood and a lot of it! Then it was gone. But I have been emotional, depressed, angry, and crazy tired. All I want to do is go back to bed. All the time. 4 weeks later I got my period again. Changing tampons and pads every 2-3hours. Heavy period for 3 days then it just stopped. I took the Mirena out because we are contemplating baby #5.. So many women end up with Percreta if they get pregnant too soon after coming off the Mirena. Honestly, I’m scared. My body is not right. I’m hoping it won’t take too many months to get back to normal. This depression stuff really stinks.

98. Hi everyone, just wanted to share my experience and comfort anyone who has/is in my shoes. So total years of on Mirena for me was 10 years, had it done 3 times (once replaced after surgery for removal of endometriosis)
    I have a history of Lupus and auto immune conditions and also coeliac disease. I am not sure if Mirena long term is good.
    Ten years ago I did experience a period of months before the Mirena worked, because I was/am always quite unwell with my health it was hard to separate certain side affects from Mirena plus the booklet they give you does not mention everything that can go wrong.
    However in my second Mirena I started to notice a different pattern in myself, but couldn’t quite work out where it was coming from, it was only last year when I started to seek medical help and no doctor could work out the problem causing so much pain and troubles, then alarm bells went off, it has to be the (MIRENA) I have a lot of allergies and not ruling out having some type of allergic reaction to the materials in coil etc.
    Apart from looking like I was pregnant all the time and having most of what other women complaints, I did have this rash on my face which will not go away, my doctor diagnosed me with rosacea and after using expensive treatments creams for months it would not clear up (no way it was that) then another said acne so it wasn’t not that too, kinda looked like it.
    I was getting very suspicious of this rash, and also pain, nausea, stroke like side affects, that was so bad I had to be hospitalised without a diagnosis (only came up with constipation) trust me it was not that! I did xrays, blood tests, ultrasound, test after test and nothing could answer my problems.
    So after jumping online and reading lots and lots of views others had, I urgently requested my Mirena to be removed, it had no strings visible but scan showed it was in the right position. I was so ready to get the F**** thing out of me, even if doctors never confirmed (yet) it could be the MIRENA.
    I went in as a day surgery patient in case there was an issue and I needed surgery to remove it.
    This is what the gyno did for those wanting to know:
    you lay in a position like for giving birth, then they disinfect the outside and inside with solution (does not hurt or sting)
    then they insert the device to open the canal to reach mirena iud, there is pressure but not worst than a pap smear, then because strings are not visible (in my case) they may ask you to cough hard a few times in order to help locate the IUD, a few attempts in my case were made to reach it, I did feel internal moving with some pain but not worst than the pains you get with it, trust me it only lasted a short time, However in my case when my MIRENA was found and taken out I did feel pain as it was being pulled (I would say ripped from flesh inside) I saw some flesh stuck to the top of the device when mine came out, I insisted to view it for my peace of mind. ( I was feeling brave) I just wanted to make sure everything had came out intact.
    It has been only a few days since my removal, and NO JOKE my rash has faded for the first time since last year. It had something to do with it, I am sure of it being linked now. I am spotting however so far so good overall all after only a few days. I will post more on my recovery to help others on here. Healthy blessings to you all x

99. I removed my 5 year Mirena 25 days ago and so far so good. I would extremely suggest for those who will remove their Mirenas not to look for problems on google. The true is people leave comments when there are a problem, but have you thought about the majority of women who had their IUD removed and didn’t experience any of those horrifying symptoms?
    Each person is different. Each body is different. Don’t panic! If you think you will suffer, chances are…. you will.

100. Hello everyone. I just got mine removed today. I only lasted 3 months with it and I felt like dying, literally. I bled until about 2 weeks ago, my hair was thinning, extreme mood swings that led to severe depression. I quit my political science class because of such extreme weakness that I couldn’t get out of bed. My most worry some side effect was my joints started to pop and become painfully stiff, oh and the dizzy spells that almost led to fainting. Let’s see what else, migraine headaches and acne issues that are definitely unwelcome at 35. I was so nervous to go through the removal but it went fast and was only slightly uncomfortable for me. I am bleeding quite a bit though. I initially got the Mirena to help with painful periods. I pray that this crash I hear about isn’t as bad as the side effects I suffered. Oh yah, my doctor ordered blood test because he was concerned that my symptoms could be from poisoning. I then researched and sure enough I could have silicone toxicity. I’m really scared. Now I’m in the process of researching what I can do to detoxify my body. Prayers appreciated.

101. I had my mirena put in November 2014 and had it removed today – 1 1/2 years after. It was stressful My weight went up, acne appeared , migraines occurences went through the roof, over emotional, constantly tired, horrible cramps, constant heavy bleeding for weeks even for 6 weeks once, anaemia, loss of hair, numbing hands, painful legs, anxiety, chest pains, insomnia, depressed, etc. But it did do as it should I didn’t get pregnant. 4 Mondays ago I got a sharp cutting pain that made me double over which was followed by a gush. Went to the bathroom and there was so much blood. By the next morning nothing I took helped the pains or bleeding. I was admitted to hospital And the next day an ultrasound confirmed the mirena had moved and part lodged into the wall apparently. I was told i had an infection which is why i was shaking and had a fever. After being discharged Bleeding went on for 9 days , horrible pains/ cramps that felt like contractions . well it apparently came down more and the string became visible again. It was removed today a bit of discomfort due to my circumstance on where it was. I am preparing for the crash but funny for 2 weeks prior the spontaneous bleeding I was experiencing these symptoms you call the crash… Could it be due to it’s misplacement it was rendered not effective? Was that my crash?

102. I got my Mirena about 3 years ago after experiencing horribly heavy irregular periods caused by fibroids. I was severely anemic from it. My doc told me the Mirena hormones would make the fibroids shrink, and regulate my periods better. The first 4 months after insertion, I basically had one solid period. Yes, I bled for like 4 months. Then boom, not one period again for the last 3 years. That was the only benefit.

     In the last 3 years, I have gained 50+ pounds (from 120 to 172 pounds, I am 5’8″). I have changed NOTHING, in fact I’ve tried to diet for the first time in my life, yet I continued to gain weight. Lots of weight in the stomach and my breasts swelled 3 cup sizes. At my last physical, I have high blood pressure for the first time in my life. I always feel cloudy and mildly numb. I have ZERO sex drive. Every single doc tells me the weight gain and other symptoms has nothing to do with the Mirena. I call bullshit.

     I decided to get it out. So I went in, and they couldn’t find the IUD! After digging around for 15 minutes with horrible pain, they said they could find it and sent me to get a sonogram. At the sonogram I learn my fibroids have doubled in size. Of course my insurance doesn’t cover this so $500 later they tell me I need to make an appointment with a different doctor to remove the IUD next week. I’ve read that this is quite common (Mirena migration), and there are lawsuits against the company for it.

     I am afraid it’s going to hurt when they remove it. I worry my periods will come back like they were before. But I am looking forward to feeling normal again.

103. Hello Ladies,
     I’m 56, post menopausal and just had my Mirena removed last week after five years. Do not get one if you are a migraine sufferer. It will only make them worse! At least that is what happened to me but took me five years to figure out! At a time in my life my migraines should of been tapering off, they increased. Obviously I don’t know for sure what made them worse and won’t for some time but I’m hoping by having the Mirena removed my migraines will lessen. I’m not sure I had other side effects from the IUD or not. We all suffer some depression, fatigue and weight flucuation just with the mere stressors of life itself. How much the IUD plays a role is hard to say when other factors are involved. Every woman’s body is different and may respond differently to medications. For me,I do believe the Mirena probably exasperated my migraines.Oh how could I forget!! Kind of a loss of interest in sex! Which was a bummer for me and my hubby cuz I was very sexual!! I didn’t stop though!:)
     Also, since I had the IUD in for the Progesterone, I was also using a Estrogen patch. Since I was getting my IUD removed I decided to stop everything. Maybe not a real wise decision on my part because I have been feeling awful for the past week. Depressed,extremely fatigued, loss of appetite, loss of interest, can’t even leave my house!!! This is so not normal for me. The ” CRASH”?:( Maybe go back on Hormones?:)

104. Reading all of these posts makes me feel a lot better! I have been trying to unsuccessfully convince my husband that something wasn’t right. I had the Mirena put in January 2016 after a surgery to help with endometriosis. I became an emotional roller coaster after that. At first I chocked it up to the surgery, anesthesia and painful recovery and then things seemed to get worse. Most days I didn’t know whether to cry or be a total b****. I became extremely depressed. I gained 20 pounds and even had to buy bigger pants—depressing! I couldn’t focus at work. I felt like the dog from the movie Up every time he saw a squirrel. I was extremely irritable. I had zero patience for my children and couldn’t even talk to my husband without getting into an argument. I remember reaching my breaking point one afternoon after I flipped out on an innocent driver. I was screaming at him and calling him expletives because I thought he cut me off—he heard every word and I can still remember the look on his face. 🙁 I felt so horrible. I went home and bawled my eyes out and thought that there was something seriously wrong with me because I knew that this was not me. That’s when I started doing research and found all of these negative side effects caused by Mirena, side effects that matched what I was experiencing as well. At that point I knew that I was going to have this thing removed. I had it taken out on April 4th….I only made it for 3 months on the little devil. Day one, overall I felt better mood wise, like there was a light at the end of the tunnel. For the last two days I have experienced the “crash” feelings mostly when I get home from work. Just kind of feel blase and don’t know why, but I’m more pleasant for my children and husband to be around. I have had cramping and pretty much have been bleeding since it was taken out. However, I had spotting or light bleeding the whole time I had the IUD. But the bleeding has gotten extremely heavy (gushing) and I have been passing clots like the size of eggs. I called my doctor and was told it was normal. I have an extremely difficult time believing that this is “normal.” I’m not sure how long it will last but it’s embarrassing and makes me worried to be at work or in public in case I have an “accident.” I haven’t lost any weight yet, but look forward to it. That, in itself, can make a person depressed. Aside from the heavy bleeding, I am so glad that I made the choice to have it removed.

     Thank you to all of the ladies who have shared their stories! This really gives women out there who think they are alone a glimpse of hope.

105. I had the morena for 5 years and I’m going through Hell I have had anxiety and I feel bad every day for 1 year already can some one tell me why.

106. Well here is my Mirena story. I was on birth control pills since 17, and after finding the right pill.. Stayed on it happily until October 2015. I’ve had bad reactions to other pills and hormones (even different generics of the same brand), and when I talked to my doctor about Mirena, one of my concerns was a switch in the hormone.

     I was told the hormones were very similar and I’d be just fine. She told me insertion was a breeze and many women do it on their lunch break. She told me I’d stop having a period, and have a no fuss birth control in place for five years.

     I’ve never had children, and my husband and I have no desire to so this seemed like a fool proof method.

     The insertion was the single most painful experience of my life, and I’ve experienced pain. From that day on, my life was not my own. We called Mirena the Fist of Satan.

     I immediately gained 10 lbs. in two days I gained that much. I am a police officer who maintains a healthy and active lifestyle and this was shocking.

     I experienced contractions for about 2 weeks, and bled for 6 weeks. I had shooting pains that I thought were appendicitis. My periods went from 3 days to 9 days of heavy bleeding that were completely irregular.

     I became someone else. I was like an angry and distracted person who couldn’t keep my life sorted out. I was consuming 1000 calories or less a day, and STILL putting on weight. I developed acne that was on a whole other level, and I couldn’t get it to stop. I started to get scarring and it kept getting worse.

     Every time I had sex with my husband was an utter chore and it hurt like hell. He’d bump it and I would have nauseating pain. I’d bleed for two days after.

     At my 6 week check up my ob reassured me that things would level out, and she required her patients to commit to a year with it. I started to panic.. A year?? This is going to last a year?

     I was afraid to have it removed because of the utter horror I experienced having it inserted, and some of my friend’s horror stories.

     After 4.5 months I had enough I couldn’t deal with it anymore, and my husband was worried the woman he married was gone for good. The whole experience was so consuming, so exhausting. So depressing.

     I called to have it removed, and it was a fight to schedule after my doc’s requirement that her patients keep it in a year. I finally got scheduled, and the day before my appointment.. My doctor went on maternity leave. I was already a little upset at feeling so misled about the whole thing. They put me in with another doctor.

     I had three panic attacks before going in, and two glasses of wine. Lol. The removal was a breeze. A little pinch where I started to panic.. Then it was gone.

     It. Was. Gone.

     So far I’ve been surprised at the simplicity of the removal. I had very light bleeding initially, and for the past few days now I’ve had what I would consider to be a light period Type bleeding. The little bit of tiredness, some chills, but all in all… I’ve lost 2 pounds in the last four days and I feel like a fog is lifting.

     I no longer have the constant pinching and twisting feeling in my stomach. My skin is already clearing up. And even better… I feel like I have hope that I’ll start to feel better than I have for the last five months of my life. Well I start to experience some more significant symptoms in the next week? Maybe so. But I realize that if I didn’t have it removed, nothing would get better.

     I will give it about a month, and let you know how it goes. Also… I have started my previous birth control pill, and it’s possible that maintaining the hormone I did well on will help balance the hormones I came off of that were a nightmare.

     Trust your body. Trust your inner wisdom.

     • One week after.. Light bleeding, but nothing unmanageable so far.
       Husband says I’m much more myself. No real “crash”, just a little hormonal moodiness here and there. 2 lbs lost so far.

       I’ll keep updating.

       • Two weeks post removal.. I’ve lost the spare tire, and I’m easily dropping a few ounces a day now. My mood is 100% better. Little things that threw me into a rage or a depression just roll off.
         I am still bleeding and it started to get heavier yesterday with some light clotting. I think I’m going to take my non hormone pills and let the cycle finish, then see if the new pack will end the bleeding. Fingers crossed. But even with the bleeding.. Life is better. No more heavy cramps, anxiety, etc.

       • So here’s another update. My body wanted to have a period so I stopped the bcp cycle and let it happen. After that I started the new pack and life is totally back to normal. No irregular bleeding, no horrible mood, losing weight little by little. I totally have my life back. Anyone who argues it couldn’t have been the Mirena is wrong. Ever since the first of Satan was removed.. My life is back. I couldn’t be more thrilled.

107. I had the Mirena in for the full length of time. It caused weight gain, acne, mood swings, and headaches. I would have not kept it in so long but, I didn’t have the $400 it would have cost me with my insurance to have it removed so I waited as long as possible. I went to have it removed in the office in Nov. but I ended up having to have it removed in the operating room. The doctor that removed it said he would have never given it to me bc I had so much scar tissue from my C-section. I bleed lightly the first day and that’s it. It has been 1 1/2 months now. I don’t know if that is normal. I am hoping by the time 2 months hit I will have started back my normal periods. Anyone else experience anything like this??

108. I’m sorry to hear all these terrible storys with the mirena but Im so happy I had mine removed a few weeks after I had it inserted. I’ve always had bad cramps with my period but nothing like this before and it went on for the entire time I had it in constant pain I was even given prescription antiinflamitory pain medication and it bearly did ANYTHING! I knew then it wasn’t right for me so I had it taken out regardless of ‘waiting it out’ I don’t want to live like that!

109. I had the Mirena put in July 31 in hopes to control my menstrual symptoms. I just had it removed this Tuesday because it was not working for me. It did not ease up my symptoms at all. I felt bloated 24/7 and when it was time for my period the bloating was horrible. I never stopped having a period and my periods were actually longer with the Mirena in. I went from having one for 3 days to 8 days. I also gained weight. After having it removed on Tuesday, I started having some light spotting which I expected to get. By Wednesday evening it got heavier like a normal period. Yesterday it was super heavy with clotting that I bled through a super tampon and my pants and then again shorts in a couple of hours. I started wearing a pad with the tampon. Today my flow has been heavy still with bleeding through a tampon within 2 hours. I called my doctor’s office who asked if I was running a fever, feeling nauseous, vomiting, or having pelvic pain in which I said no because I have not. They said to keep an eye on it and if I am still bleeding heavy through the weekend to come in on Monday but if start exhibiting any of the other symptoms that I need to go straight to the ER.

110. I read a lot of the above comments before having my IUD removed, a month short of the 5 year mark. I prepared my husband for every possible bad thing listed above. The five years (almost) that I had it, it reduced my periods from about a 12-day period with unmanageable clotting, to what I would think is more of a “regular” period, lasting 7-8 days with manageable bleeding and no clots. I am 43 years old and have decided to reduce medications. I thought should things return to the way they were prior to Mirena that I would try other avenues. I have waited to comment here simply because I wanted to post an accurate account of things in the month following removal.
     I was on day 10 of my cycle (and still bleeding) the day I had it removed. I continued to bleed for another two weeks after that. No clotting. About a week after removal, I had about three days of raw emotion, crying for hours on end. Since then, my emotions are good. I have not had another cycle.
     As Amy noted above, in the months prior to the 5 year mark, I did have headaches, not migraines (I do suffer from migraines and know the difference). No exhaustion though. I also had about a 15lbs weight loss. So I assume the product was due to be removed or replaced.
     I cannot say much bad about the Mirena experience, it helped my cycles, which was what I needed. It did not stop them as my family doctor and my gynecologist had lead me to believe. In the first few months I did have a lot of abdominal discomfort. My biggest disappointment was the weight gain, 15-20 lbs is a lot of weight for most women.

111. Hmmm! I am a 62 year old who had a Mirena IUD inserted in May 2015 for Post menopausal bleeding which I am told is non-malignant. I had it removed on January 18, 2016 for a variety of side effects which included: depression, hair loss, extreme nausea, irritability and mood swings. Obviously I am disappointed in my experience with this medication because I was told that it has local effects only and should only protect my uterus and not effect me systemically. I am disappointed in the medical professionals who I reported these side effects to and who encouraged me to carry on and the problems would abate – they did not. I have now started bleeding (today) and am hoping that this will be short-lived. I am happy to say that my nausea (which while on Mirena was significant enough that it woke me from sleep at night) has begun to decrease since having the IUD removed.

     In view of the wide number of posts on this site over a period of several years and the variety of significant side effects, which appear to be the result of the MIrena I wonder what part Medical Professionals play in our stories? And in particular, I wonder about whether this information is being received by BAYER, the makers of Mirena? I don’t believe that we are either drama queens, or hypochondriacs.

     I have a 40 year Nursing background and if I was a Gyne/OB or Family Physician, I would have to think very, very seriously about whether this would be a drug I would recommend or use in my practice. Are our voices being listened to? Bayer are you listening? I think we all would appreciate a response and a re-thinking of not what the drug is supposed to do, but what it actually does. And where are our governments in all of this – aren’t they supposed to be reviewing these types of drugs?

112. I’m freaking out reading all of this. In March, I will be at the 5 year, removal stage of my Mirena. As I’m 33 and never want kids, I was planning on just having another put in the same day (for as painful as it is). Overall, it was a good experience: stopped my periods which were GOD awful, but I have ZERO sex drive and I’m always tired. Hearing all of these bleeding stories leave me wondering: Does anyone know how long you have to wait to have Mirena put back in? Also, for about the last week and a half, I have had migraines DAILY. I’ve also been sleeping about 15 hours a day and can go back to sleep at any moment. I forget everything (and I’m trying to focus on a new job), feel more depressed than usual, anxiety attacks too, but really the headache and EXTREME exhaustion are what are freaking me out. Did anyone experience this as they were coming to the last couple months with Mirena in?

113. I had my mirena inserted end of September 2015 ( 15 weeks ago ) for severe heavy periods, I bled/ spotted until Christmas ( which was awful the spotting went on and on and on ) I noticed my hair shedding from around November, went to my GP and said it could be due to being hypothyroid. She lowered my dose of thyroxine as it appeared I was turning a bit hyperthyroid. I have just returned to see her 8th January. She agreed that I have lost 1/4 to 1/3 of my already thin/fine hair which is extremely upsetting and stressful.
     I have my check up this Wednesday 13th Jan at the gyno/hospital and will be having it removed. It did reduce my period a lot, about a 10th of my normal bleeding but the discomfort and pmt are a lot worse. The nausea and the anxious feeling started October/November. The side effects for me are not worth it, I wish I had an ablation instead as I won’t be having any more children. Now I am at a new job and will no doubt have to take a week or two off which is super inconvenient, hopefully there is no issue with my employer.
     I wouldn’t recommend the mirena….3 months bleeding loss of approx 1/3 my hair anxiety and now having to take it out anyway so I don’t go bald…… There are better options !

     • Hi T Harkins – would you provide an update? Has your hair stopped falling out or grown back? I am going through the same thing… I had the Mirena in for 40 days , after the 4th week I noticed major hair loss and shedding. I had it removed (it has been out for over 2 weeks not and i continue to shed an extreme amount of hair). Would you please give me an update? I had many other symptoms that have seemed to slow down a bit bit the hair loss is so depressing!

114. I loved my Mirena… Had ZERO side effects! I never got my period but I still got mild PMS symptoms every month like clockwork… Maybe twice a year I would have a brownish discharge but that was it, I never gained weight, my skin was fine, moods normal. It was actually a huge relief after being on the pill for 10yrs (which made me feel crazy.) Well my 5yrs was up so I got it removed 3 weeks ago (24 days to be exact) and I just woke up with horrible cramps! My first period just came… And I bled through my first tampon in ONE HOUR! I guess that’s normal– it’s hard to remember what periods were like prior to being on birth control since its been 15yrs… But so far I’m not a fan. Also experienced this “crash” which led me to this page. 5 days ago I had the worst “blah” feeling ever it was indescribable– I spent my 2 days off work being completely anti-social.. I didn’t wanna talk to or see anybody. I literally did not leave my house for 2 days and this is extremely unlike me. I felt depressed and stressed but I don’t know why. I’ve also been waking up with headaches and grinding my teeth in my sleep it seems. Also, it seems I’ve GAINED 5lbs in the past month! ( This could be from the holidays though?) I’m hoping that all of this subsides… I think I’m one of the few women that loved the Mirena! I would have replaced it with another but thanks to Obamacare and all of the changes to health insurance, it isn’t covered anymore and I couldn’t afford it.

115. Hi, I am a 24 year old female. I got my Mirena in two and a half years ago. Since then, I noticed gradually that my panic attacks started happening when I got the marina in. Then, after a family trip to Disneyland, experienced my first severe anxiety and panic attack. I couldn’t breathe and I felt like someone was chasing me for the whole eight hour drive back home. Fast forward two years my anxiety and panic went from once a month to 5 – 7/6 times out of the day. I went to the ER at least 3 to 4 times out of a month. I thought that I was losing my mind and my sanity. It affected my school and my job my manager will send me home early which would make me even more depressed. I then seek help from a psychologist where they just wanted to put me on meds, antidepressants. I refuse to take them so I narrowed down possibilities of what was causing my panic depression anxiety. And that’s when I came up with the Mirena. Now in August I finally had the dreadful thing removed. My first period was like and my second. Felt normal. There were no blood clots I’m still waiting on my third. When I got it removed I felt an instant relief. However, every couple days before I get my period I go back to the spiral depression anxiety and panic and now I know for sure that the Mirena was the cause of all of my problems. Since then I started experiencing chest pains numbness lethargic and libido. I’ve had cats cans mri and blood test done and I’m hoping to move forward from this dreadful experience. Ladies take care of your body and don’t push something natural to be unnatural such as forcing hormones in your body. I hope it gets better and it has but I want to get back to normal. I used to be a fun loving caring partner and mother. And I just want that back. Thank you Jesus and God bless to all you women out there suffering from the terrible thing.

116. Please help I have just had my marina coil removed after 8 years. I feel dreadful, I have tummy pain also bloating, but worst is the horrible dragging feeling down below as though my insides are falling out. Been to gp he says I have an infection. Has anyone out there had this problem. I am 57 years old.

117. I had the Mirena removed about a week ago. I had it removed because I bled for almost 18 months straight nothing but problems I had to marinas before this no problems with them. But now that I’ve gotten it taken out because it was displaced I am having so much bleeding and clotting hopefully this doesn’t last forever

118. I had my mirena removed Monday of this week I fine now I’m ill my husband and kids pretty well avoid me I’ve had headaches and nausea/vomiting I went to dr about it she said its to be expected and she sent me home could I be going through mirena crash and how long does this usually last

119. Ok so I had the mirena removed about a year ago due to sists on my ovaries and large amounts of pain. When I had it removed I bleed like all of you are saying the blood clots were so bad I had to go to the dr. She put me on the pill to stop the bleed so I did and it stopped about a week in. Then things started to go back to normal I thought. Since then and no during my cycle time I get these uncomfortable side effects. My face breaks out in these itchy fluid like boils that are painful as well as breast tenderness, itching and they get painfully uncomfortable as well. I’ve never had skin problems in all my life and it just seems funny I get the mirena out and my hormones are all crazy. I get mood swings, tiredness and bloating and abdominal pain only around my period. I think my hormones are imbalanced from the mirena. I’m in search of any information that can help me get my hormones balance restored if anyone has any info please message me at [email protected]. Thank you. Hope you all get your issues resolved as well.

120. I am so grateful for all your comments…9 months ago I got the mirena with hopes that it would help my very strong periods. Bled non-stop for 5 months then my doctor put me on a birth control to try to lesson the affects of the iud! In the meantime if my husband and I actually tried to have sex a towel was always needed for the clean up… yep still bled! The birth control helped a bit then last month I started again bleeding non-stop.. and to clarify it was the black old blood that only needed a panty liner per day. Back to the doctor I went and she had me get blood work to see if there was anything that could be causing my body to react this way! Everything came back normal so I said get it out! Getting it put in HORRIBLE getting it out no big deal! I felt amazing ..weird feeling but loved it.. two days later emotional wreck..uncontrollable ugly crying! Next day extreme pain and cramps… today bleeding to the point I couldn’t get out of bed! Large blood clots every time I stand up…filling both a tampon and pad in one gush…horrible horrible pain! I hear that this iud is amazing for some people and for those awesome.. I had every single negative side and wish I had never done it!

121. I just had mirena removed today I felt fine except slight cramping and a headache but now I feel so awful i started crying for no reason my headache has worsened and im having nausea. Is this part of Mirena crash???

122. Hello
     I’m 20 and have had the mirena for a little under a year. I haven’t had a period for 8months but have persistent cramps and hormonal mood swings like I would if I were expecting a period. More recently I’ve had bad headaches and neck ache like I’ve never had before and have this underlying feeling it’s all down to the iud.
     I really want to have it taken out and let my body get back in synch but am scared to experience this crash many others have seemed to experience. Any advice would be kindly welcomed

123. I had my IUD removed on November 5, 2015, and I have the IUD crash. Once it was out I felt lighter not so much bloating. I been having slight bleeding. That may sound good but the worst part is, I had depression, anxiety, headaches, serve cramps and abdominal pain. I wanted nothing to do with family, friends, work or my husband or playing with my kids. It is now December 11th and I was feeling better today with slight cramping still. I thought about getting the IUD back to stop all this. Its madness going through this and not fair having to.

     • I would def think twice about getting back on it if it affecting you this bad now just think of how much worse it can get I hope things work out for you this is def not fair no one warns you of the dangers that come of getting birth control they blind you with all the so called benefits. I’ll be praying things change for the better for you.

124. I had my Mirena placed in December of 2009. I am an older woman and have gone through menopause while using the Mirena. After having it placed I had a minor period and some spotting for a couple months (as indicated that I would) and have not had a period since. I know I went through menopause during this time but I’m not sure exactly when it was over based on my periods as I wasn’t having one. After the Mirena was placed I also noticed some hair loss/thinning and I have put on about 15-20 lbs. Not sure I can blame it on old age or the Mirena. I had it in longer than recommended but since I didn’t need a back up birth control it was ok. I had it removed today. I am curious to see how my body reacts to the removal.. Good luck ladies. All and all, so far it was a positive experience for me.

125. I removed my Morena IUD myself about a week ago. I’ve had some light spotting that turned into HEAVY discharge. Besides that, I’ve had no issues. I had more issues when I had it inserted. Terrible migraines, cramps and some bleeding for a few months.

     Removing it by myself was very easy and painless.

126. After three years, I finally got the hunk of plastic removed after off and on complaining about it ever since I got it. I found out from my current OBGYN that he had no problem removing it as long as he could feel the strings to do so. He said that he was surprised that the clinic who administered it to me put it in knowing my past medical history of having an ectopic pregnancy along side the fact I had never actually given birth. So that being said, no wonder I had pain, and bleeding after sex. Then even after not having sex for two years, I still had much abdominal pain. After I got it removed, I also had symptoms much like a menopausal woman and I am only 26 years old. My hormones are still trying to get back to normal even after over 2 months of having it removed. I finally got my period back after the first month and had it twice since…Thus the only reason I liked having the Mirena. I read somewhere that it isn’t the matter of having problems with an Iud, it’s a matter of when. There is a reason why we aren’t meant to have a foreign object like that in our bodies. Our bodies always know that it’s not meant to be there, thus the side effects and in some worse than others especially if you’ve had any past uterine issues for whatever reason.

127. My wife is having complications with getting her IUD removed. 12,000.00 dollars with insurance is what we have been quoted to have the surgery done to remove the IUD because it has embedded itself. The doctors say “there is no guarantee that the surgery won’t affect her being able to have a child. We are having it removed because we are ready to start a family, obviously. I’m hoping someone will have some incite for us or has had a similar experience but with a positive outcome. I’ve read a lot of the postings on here and I’m sorry for all the pain and hardships you’ve had to go through. If anyone has any information about our situation please share your experience if you think it will help us. Thank you.

     • I just had to have my Mirena surgically removed in Jan. The surgery for me was no problem. It was done at the hospital as an outpatient procedure. I am fortunate to work at the hospital I had it removed at so I didn’t have to pay anything. I was in and out in no time. I only bleed the a little bit the first day. My periods have not yet started back and it has been nearly 2 months. I am not sure if this helps give you any insight but I thought I would share my experience of having it surgically removed. Good luck!!!:)

128. I just got my IUD removed on 11/19/15 after having it for 8 months. I had a spotty to moderately heavy period from day one. I suffered from head aches, severe mood swings, and mild hair loss, bloating, some achne has just started, cramping the whole time. When it would be my normal time of the month I would get so sick I couldn’t move for 3-5 days. The mirena also cause me to have to take medication for high blood pressure. I was very hopeful it would have worked for my heavy periods and it just made it all worse as well as adding some nasty extras. I was good until this morning when I started to bleed profusely and have clots between the size of a golf ball and a baseball every time I stand up. I have had my tubes tied for 11 yrs and had the our put in only to help my horrible periods. I haven’t had the crash yet but I now will understand if it should happen. I am going to opt to have an ablation after the first of the year because there is no way I am doing that craziness again.

129. I had the mirena just over 10 months. I gained almost 20lbs after having lost 27! I have a mood disorder and have had to double my antidepressant. I also began to have anxiety attacks. I also had constant fatigue, bloating, loss of libido, and cramping. I have arthritis in my knees, which has become increasingly worse to the point of waking me in my sleep. I had this POISON removed yesterday. The bloating is down and I hope I get back to my old self sooner than later.

     • Hang in there ladies. If it doesn’t feel right, it isn’t right. Sorry for the crappy grammar.

130. I got my Mirena out almost 4 weeks ago after having it in for 2 years and 9 months. I had to get it out because it had moved out of place. I thought id give my body a break for a little while and have my periods back ect. But these 4 weeks have been hell for me. I started my period a day after it was removed which lasted about 4 days and then stopped. Then my moods went crazy. I cry for no reason, i get irritated and frustrated. Its not me at all. My body feels so weird and iv had the worst headache, nausea, fatigue, shortness of breath almost like i was pregnant but im defiantly not Pregnant. Iv never been like this before i have so must rage and confusion. Im going onto the pill to see if that helps. It would be nice to know what this is happening i don’t feel normal…

131. I had that thing inside me for4 and a half yrs after suffering from endometriosis for many years, suffering excruciating pain day in day out, irregular periods, heavy bleeding and didn’t know what to do, my gyno recommended this to help, I felt always like life was not coping, anti depressants was given to me and still had no idea what the cause was, I had facial hair growing all the time, weight gain and still didn’t know the cause until around the 2 yr mark, I still kept this thing inside me due to not wanting to go through pain every day again, then 4 and a half year mark approached, I had those pains back and they were worse than ever before, throwing up and ended up in emergency, they said that the medicine from the mirena had probably ran out and I’d have to get another one, so I had a curett done and another inserted, the worse mistake ever in my whole life, pain everyday, still bleeding, after 2 yrs I ended up in hospital 2 times in 6 weeks, I knew it was the coil that was not working , after speaking to my sister whom is a registered nurse, she had that in her and one day she collapsed at a doctors seminar and rushed to hospital, that so called mirena nearly killed her, it had dislodged and was cutting through the tissue which caused major blood poisoning, she told me to get it out and don’t risk it, so I did, and in December 2014 I had a complete hysterectomy , everything out, it was such a complicated surgery, they couldn’t recognise my ovaries, they had to move my bowel,, I thought my nightmares would be over but noooo… I still get those pains and don’t know why after nearly 12 months of having it done… Ladies do not get that mirena put in, and if you have 1 in take it out straight away!!! …. Iv loved reading all the comments, it’s amazing how everyone has had similar experiences , so Thankyou xx

132. I had mirena put in about a year ago. Almost immediately my sex drive completely dissappeared. My husband joked, “That’s not how it prevents pregnancy is it? If it is I’m going to be pissed!” but I didn’t really notice anything else right off the bat. Then a few weeks passed and my relationship with my husband began to suffer, things that never bothered me in the slightest before were suddenly driving me crazy and I felt irritable with everyone. I would tear up at every little thing. I was making a big deal over tiny problems, which was never like me. But it kind of came and went so I tried to forget about it. Now a year later I’m suffering from crippling depression and suicidal thoughts, everyday is extremly blah and I find it impossible to enjoy anything unless I’m drinking alcohol or eating junk food (neither of which I do very often, as a side note). A couple months ago I also began having cramping every few days. Now it’s nearly everyday. I’m having my mirena removed tomorrow and am really excited to see how things change in my life.

     Honestly, I’ve heard of A LOT more people having problems with Mirena than people it worked great for. For that reason alone I would consider it irresponsible of me to ever reccommend it to anyone, but on top of that I never want anyone to go through what I’ve been through over the past year. Yeah, condoms and being careful not to have intercourse during ovulation is harder and less fun, but to me being emotionally stable and having a healthy body that functions the way it’s supposed to is totally worth it.

133. I had the mirena put in may 2012 ,the first year it was great, by the second year I started to get acne bad, moody, losing alot of hair and sharp pains in my stomach. As of August 2015 I had it removed, had my first period on the second day of having it out lasted 5 days. Next month (Sept) again had my period lasted 5 days,then at the end of the month (Sept) i had some what i would call spotting. Now its October and no period yet. I have taken HPT and all came back negative. Is it normal to miss a month of no period? I am giving it till November before i call the OB. I feel different and look like i am 4 months pregnant, have nauseous, breast are tender and i am always tired. Is there anybody else feeling like this.

     • Hi, Yes i also started my period a day after removal too and havnt been myself.
       Im always nausea, Headache, Always tired and very moody iv only had the one period so have to wait till end of month but it also last about 4 days.

134. I really wanted the Mirena to be my solution to not having periods, or at least less of them. I managed 6 months but my periods became almost constant every two weeks.
     No depression, no weight gain, no acne, just near-constant bleeding, so I took it out this week.

     Now, holy crap, am I HORNY! To the point of distraction. I’m a mom in my 40’s and it’s almost uncomfortable. It’s been three days since it was removed and all I think about is sex. I went looking online for possible side-effects of removing it and didn’t see this problem listed. After reading the above postings, I guess I am grateful that this is my only problem.

135. So Annette- August 3rd– how are you travelling???? I’m 55yrs old and about to have my Mirena of 5 years removed. I also have had a brilliant experience and the 4 months of continual bleeding and blood clots, which confined me to the house, all disappeared once the Mirena was fitted. No periods or symptoms — perhaps lowered libido but that could have been age or menopause, one couldn’t tell. It has been a live savour for me. I wouldn’t recommend playing with your hormones to anyone as im sure there is a price to pay but I was desperate. Having it removed in a month——- so curious as to how you went Annette ???

136. So many comments wow! I had the mirena for 4 years the first 2 weren’t bad …the second 2 were awful. ..horrible anxiety ..mood swings…no interest in sex..depression. .. so I decided to remove it and instantly felt normal I was energized.. happy..felt like myself again. ..no more depression …after 2 days I started bleeding.. a week later some big clots and I suffered the CRASH it was awful I am still bleeding after 2 weeks and have had horrible mood swings on and off and a little anxiety …today I feel normal again so I hope its over and the bleeding stops soon! I used to recommend this but after figuring out the mirena caused all this I say NO WAY

137. I have to beautiful daughter. I had my youngest April 12 2014.September 17 2014 I got the Mirena and got it taken out Febuary 20 2015 due to having it poke me and having pains in my ovarie It is September 9 2015 and I am still having pain in my ovarie all the time not to mention I haven’t had a period since May 2015 but that’s problem because I still be my daughter some.Why am I still hurting in my ovaries I figured after I got the Mirena out my ovarie would stop hurting and it’s always on left side never on right. And I am not on any birth control now.Please help ladies.

     • Elaine, I had the same problem, always on my left side, iv spoken to a number of woman who have had the same , even after my complete hysterectomy I’m still getting pains on my left side, my doc doesn’t know why, so I might look at having an MRI, may be it might see what’s going on,I think that it might be scarring tissue, but good luck and best wishes x

138. I had the Mirena put in about 4 months ago I bled All the way until today.I had excruciating pain during sex I was having severe hormonal issues So I came to the clinic I’m got it removed today. My doctor said that the way my uterus was lined The Marina was pushing up into it every time We had sex. So the doctor took it out and I am very dizzy and very weak.The first month that I had the Mirena inside me I had severe migraines that would not go away I spent more money on tampons Than I would have ever imagined. I do not recommend the IUD to anyone It really messes you up. I am having some cramps And dizziness but I hope to improve within the week. Good luck to anyone who had the IUD I would suggest you get it removed ASAP I’ve also heard that it imbeds into your body And people have to get it surgically removed So good luck and I hope If anyone is thinking about getting the IUD you will quickly change your mind It was the worst Birth control I’ve ever had

139. Hi there, i’m almost 28 years old and I had the mirena coil in for just over 3 years, my doctor recommended I switch to it from the copper coil as I was struggling with heavy periods and depression from it.. I wish I had never listened to them.

     Swapping them was straightforward enough, a little uncomfortable but fine, i felt immediately better and for a year or so after didn’t have any major problems, other than some mild anxiety. Gradually over the course of the next 2 years the anxiety worsened to the point where i would wake up with panic attacks every morning, i’d be constantly exhausted, have headaches, cry over nothing, my skin was disgusting and i lost all interest in being intimate with my husband. I felt as if i couldn’t function or be the wife and mother that i want to be.

     2 months ago i went to my doctor to ask for it to be removed, she couldn’t find it.. i waited 2 weeks for a scan which showed that fortunately it was still where it was meant to be, but the strings had been cut too short (I’m sure they were fine before so I have no idea what happened).

     I made another appointment and had 2 nurses try to remove it, which they couldn’t, so a week later my doctor – instead of referring me to hospital – decided to try again! She made a joke that she was certain she could have removed it and that it looked as if she was lying.. sent me home to await my hopsital referral for surgical removal.

     2 weeks ago I had it removed under general anasthetic, procedure was quick and relatively painless just some cramping and bleeding afterwards, the bleeding has stopped now.

     However, although my anxiety went initially, it has returned over the past couple of mornings and i’ve been struggling to control it – I think it coincides when I am due on my period, but i am yet to have one. My husband had a more ‘serious’ operation recently and I need to care for him and my daughter, I am due to start full time work again this Monday, and I just want to have it under control. I’ve been taking Kalms, rhodiola, drinking tons of water and chamomile tea and eating as cleanly as possible – I don’t want to take the antidepressants the doctor has given me, I can’t afford to make it worse. I’ve read that 5-HTP is effective, although it can make you drowsy so be careful if you’re driving!

     It seems like there is no immediate fix to this – if anyone would like to message me and keep in touch about concerns or to track getting better i’d love to hear from you, a lot of forums i read don’t have very recent posts. My e-mail is [email protected]

     Take care of yourselves, and remember, it won’t last forever!

     ~ Eva

140. I got the mirena implanted april of 2012 and everything was fine actually perfect until may of 2015. Since May 2015 I have regained my period and have had spotting every day up until august 20th(today). I have also had massive mood swings and my obgyn cannot schedule an appointment until September 20th. I am seriously thinking about taking it out myself before i go back to work with the school year approaching, now that I have heard about this “crash.”

141. I had the Mirena implanted in Nov 2014 and had it removed in July 2015 because I bled the entire time and developed ovarian cysts. I believe I’ve experienced “the Mirena Crash” because of the extremely heaving bleeding and clotting. But again, after a few days of no bleeding, the bleeding is back. Very frustrating.

142. I have had the mirena going on 4 years. The only real problem I had was at the beginning when I bled for about 6m. My OB said that was normal because my body has a foreign object in it and its trying to get it out.after that I have had a handful of spotting every couple of months but no real bleeding. I have gained weight and I do get moody and hot but I don’t think I would blame the IUD for that, Im ready to take it out now and am very scared about the crash now that I have read these testimonials. Pray for me!

143. I’m 56 years old and I had the Mirena placed for painful cramps and excessive bleeding. Today it was removed after 5 years. Mirena gave me my life back. Gone were the painful, excruciating cramps and the Heavy bleeding. I have been reading about the ” Mirena Crash” comments and I’m a bit apprehensive. But I also read about how awful Mirena is and I have to say, Mirena was my life saver. For 5 years I have remained healthy and happy. Hopefully if there is a crash, and I’m feeling funky or blah I’ll take a walk, ride my bike or go swimming. I refuse to attack the Mirena IUD.
     I’ll get back to you guys in about a week to let you all know if I crashed. Remember folks Mirena isn’t for everyone. Luckily for me Mirena was my panacea for all that ailed me gynecolologically speaking!!!!

     • any update? I dont see where you updated in a week.

144. So I had my IUD put in after the birth of my daughter 4 years ago. Since then I have a a period every month that last about 2 weeks. I have sleeping issue and have also gained 30 pounds. I recently decided that it was time to get it removed. I made my appt. and I was thrilled to finally be free of this tiny little bugger. Everything is going fine until the doctor tries to remove it! I have had 2 kids and I am pretty good with pain. She tried twice and it was not moving I screamed both times then she had another doctor come in and give it a tug. Still two tugs later and extreme pain this little thing is not coming out. Now the doctor is worried that the IUD is embedded so she wants me to see an OB-GYN.
     I was able to be seen the next day. As soon as I enter the room I knew this doctor was just going to rip this device out of me. I came in thinking that they would check and make sure this thing had not moved or was embedded. The pain was unbearable I was screaming and crying my body was shaking. She tugged, tugged and tugged I could not believe that she was still trying to pull this thing out. She was finally able to remove it I have never been in so much pain in my life.
     I asked her if it was suppose to be that painful and difficult to remove. She only responded that most are not that uncomfortable. Her I am like bitch it felt like you just ripped out my insides.
     Know I am worried that there was an issue and she forcefully removed it. Hopefully my body is able to recover but I will never be putting or taking any kind or hormone again.

145. I’m 54, just had my second Mirena removed after 7 years! The first one was inserted to help with heavy periods and worked brilliantly! It was removed during surgery on my bladder & replaced with second one! I’ve honestly had no side effects & have been very happy with it!
     BUT, I have experienced lots of the symptoms mentioned by other nearly all of which I have attributed to the pre-menopause! I’m on another site where woman who have never even had a Mirena experience weight gain, depression, hair loss, lack of sleep, hot sweats etc and this is all normal for woman during menopause years which can last between 2 – 15 years!
     I am now post menopausal so hopefully will not get a “crash”.
     Watch this space if I do I will report back
     .

146. I had my Mirena inserted in November 2014 after I had problems with Depo Provera and bleeding and extreme weight gain. The cramping and nonstop bleeding on Mirena were so severe I would double over at work and be unable to work (I am a massage therapist). I was bleeding through 8 super plus tampons a day and it felt like someone was digging fingernails into my left ovary. Doctor never mentioned this side effect and her response was “oh well that happens.” I became extremely depressed and had no energy – either from the hormones or the loss of blood, not sure since the doctor refused to admit that they were related at all to the Mirena which she had talked me into. She just said it would be worse if I had chosen the non-hormonal one. Had the Mirena removed on 2/23/2015. STILL BLEEDING as of 7/23/2015. Different doc prescribed a round of birth control pills and that stopped the bleeding for about 2 weeks, but now it is back for the last 3 1/2 weeks. Mirena was the worst choice for me and pretty much destroyed the relationship I was in because I was so freaked out about the side effects that I no longer even felt sexual. I would rather take my chances and go with an abortion if needed than ever go back on the Mirena or any other hormonal birth control.

147. I am so thankful to have found this website. I have had all the same symptoms, but never tied it to the Mirena until my ever so patient boyfriend started researching it and discovered all these side effects, which he has seen first hand. Bloating, acne or boils, hair loss, some facial hair, severe cramping, back pain, exhausted daily, can’t sleep well, anxiety, panic attacks, depression, severe mood swings, headaches, loss of appetite, easily bruising, sore joints, mild weight gain, and the list goes on. I had the Mirena put in 3 years ago and loved it, no periods, and 99.9% effective. I am 39 and done having babies. I have 2 boys I am so thankful for and proud of. Thank goodness they love me so much. In the last 3 yrs. I have been hospitalized more than once, took off 3 mos. of work due to anxiety and panic attacks, separated from my long term companion, couldn’t keep a boyfriend, very irritable, diagnosed at one point bi-polar and put on all kinds of medicine for the above symptoms that I have never had to take before. Some hormone replacement for hair loss, another for hair growth and acne, anti-depressants & anxiety medicine, medicine for arthritis, and sleeping pills. My head felt cloudy and not like myself for a long time. Severe lower cramping and bloating sometimes daily. 6 days ago I had the Mirena taken out and am so thankful. I did experience the Mirena Crash and think the symptoms are finally subsiding. I was very irritable, depressed, weak, exhausted, and achy body like I had the flew.
     Thank you everyone for your posts, good to know some of us have exprienced the same effects and there is hope. J

     • JJ – did your hair stop falling out? Did it grow back? I had lost so much hair to this stupid IUD … is there any hope?

148. I have had 3 Mirenas spanning almost 11 years and had absolutely zero bad side effects. No periods, no issues. Honestly the best thing I’ve ever had. Just had it out to start trying for a baby. I am 4 days post removal and so far have only experienced watery blood / brownish discharge. Wondering when this will stop but so far that’s all the issues I’ve had.

149. Just had my Mirena removed two weeks ago. Bleeding has subsided for the most part. Within the last week I began to have splitting headaches with flashbacks of horrible PMS headaches. Gosh, I haven’t had one of those for years. Also having intermittent moderate to severe depression. Thankfully it comes and goes. Does anyone know the best method of treatment for the “Mirena Crash” (post removal)? Prenatal vitamins, natural progesterone cream? Anything??????

     • PS Also just turned 54 and in the “Big M” according to my GYN. Just happy to have it gone!!!!!

150. Omg I’m so glad I came across this before getting my iud removed. My only symptom that I know of is weight gain, But that’s enough. I read too many bad things to want to keep this. I’ve had it for roughly four years. First three months I had random cramps then nothing. Just weight gain that I lost once but am unable to lose again. Getting a massive variety of supplements and prenatal so I can hopefully bypass the worst of the crash. Only thing unaffected is my sex drive. Hope that doesn’t get affected. Time to get the tubes tied!

151. I have had my mirena in for just over a year now and after having a few bad symptoms, I am over it. It is now to the point where I bleed for 2 weeks (atleast) at a time. I got it due to the promise of helping with chronic cramps every month…unfortuntely this has not helped and is maybe worse.

     I am just wanting to know if anyone else has had it removed after a year and if they still had the Mirena Crash??

     I think I will just stick to the pill and condoms instead of all these ‘miracle contraceptives’ that dont seem to work well for me.

152. I am 52 and have worn two consecutive Mirena IUD’s since 2003 to control heavy, heavy bleeding. The first was removed in 2008 and another inserted while I was in surgery. This one I wore past five years (with my OB/GYN’s permission) and just had it removed a few days ago.

     While I wore the Mirena’s for 12 years, things were pretty good. Some cramping, no acne, some mood swings etc. Some of the sypmtoms were normal as I was peri-menopausal but nothing too bad. I am heavy so I wonder if some of the weight I carry is related to the 12 years with Mirena…

     Since it was removed a few days ago, I have light bleeding but haven’t experienced any other symptoms.

     I’ve read each entry on this blog and I really, really hope somebody can answer my quesitons:

     1) How long after removal did the problems (clotting etc..) begin and how long did they last?
     2)Did anyone have just a few complications after removal (nothing too serious)
     3) Since I’m 52, and close to menopause, will I escape the clotting?

     Thanks.

153. I received the Mirena in June 2010, after the birth of my son that April. I had severe cramping and some bleeding in the few days after the insertion. As a sufferer of PCOS, I was excited to hear that the Mirena should help with the minimization of growing cysts, and should virtually eliminate the awful monthly cycles I was accustomed to. I had always had very harsh bleeding, and cramps from hell. So the thought of NOT having that as much was music to my ears. Well, turns out that I am one of the very few that DON’T get to have their periods stop… Literally, in the 5 years I have had the Mirena, I have had MAYBE a handful of months where I didn’t have awful cramping or a cycle. I have always battled my weight, but the weight I have put on since the insertion has been awful. I am now heavier than I have EVER been, despite trying to exercise (when I can find the energy) and eating right. Oh! And the depression…… Yikes – I’ve battled it most of my adult life, but after starting this thing, I have had to up my dosage of Lexapro, and still have panic attacks and severe bouts of depression – almost ending my marriage. My 5 year old son told me he never knows if I am going to be happy or angry, and that breaks my heart. I didn’t even think that any of that could be a result of the Mirena. Just a couple weeks ago, I had a laparoscopy to try and find out why I’ve been having so much lower abdominal/ovarian pain, and also had a tubal ligation at the same time. I have my post op tomorrow afternoon, to get the results, and will also have my Mirena removed as well. I will be glad to have it gone, but now I am terrified of the “crash.” I am praying that the effects of the removal are a piece of cake compared to the monthly pain, bloating and cramping I have…

154. I am 42 and have merina in for 10 years (first one for 5 years and 2nd one for 5 years).. A few months ago hubby had snip so I can either get it out or get another. It’s been amazing with no side effect and next to no period (hence my hesitation in getting it out).. The only possible side effect is significant weight gain… The diet and weight gain don’t stack up… Probably should have put on some. It not as much as I have. Anyone out there got there mirena removed and lost some weight? Not sure what to do.. But other than that it’s been gr8! Ps have had 1 friend got pregnant on it and another get terrible acne.. So it just depends I think. Needing advice

155. The mirena IUD seems a scary thing after reading all these comments I’ll share my story as it is a little different.

     I had mine inserted in 2012 without any real problems. I had very regular spotting, usually every couple of weeks for up to 10 or 12 days. Didn’t have any noticable mood swings, increased appetite, yeast infections or such things, although sometime a bad smell. Now that I read about hair loss, I have been losing a lot lately, but never connected it to the IUD. About three weeks ago I had quite bad stomach cramps and started to bleed like I would have with a period in the past (not just the spotting I was used to). I felt for the strings and they were sitting just inside the vaginal opening, much lower than where they previously sat. So, for some unknown reason, my IUD dislodged after almost three years, which is very uncommon (it’s usually within the first three months). I had it removed immediately and my period ended a couple of days later. Haven’t started bleeding or spotting at all again and there have been no gushes as others have described. I have felt quite deflated for the last few weeks but related this to something else. My biggest issue, and the reason that I found this blog, is that I have had this terrible burning sensation in my crotch area for the last weeks. I haven’t had any noticeable discharge and put the burning sensation down to changes in acidity due to the removal of the hormone. I’m hoping it goes away soon because it’s not very comfortable.

156. I think this is really important for all women who use hormone based birth control to think about. Yes, some women – and we all know at least one – never have issues with birth control, Postpartum depression, etc.. But then there is the rest of us – like me! I have always been sensitive to oral contraceptives, I mean they would make me crazy, it was like Dr. Jekyll and Hyde. I also have a family history of thyroid disease, and autoimmune disease. I had Mirena inserted after my doctor thought it would help with the heavy bleeding I had. Well yeah, it made my periods lighter, but I was having light two week periods, then nothing for two weeks and then bleeding again. I was having crazy mood swings, crying all of the time, weird random migraines, severe leg pain in my left leg and also right breast. NO energy at all, bad acne, and not only that, but my face just looked horrible. No weight gain though! I had the Mirena removed 3 weeks ago after having it in for almost 8 months. I honestly have to say, that was the worst 8 months ever! Some women on here have gotten defensive, and are very quick to defend Mirena, but that is not what this is about. If it worked for you then great, this post is about women who have had the “crash” or bad side effects. After a week of getting it removed I actually had energy, cleaned the entire house from top to bottom. I felt somewhat normal. The only thing is that I still have the leg and breast pain which is very concerning to me. I am getting it checked out soon to make sure I do not have blood clots, Which is a known side effect of hormones, and yes it can kill you. I just want everyone to be careful of what they put in their bodies. While this may work for some, it does not mean it will work for you, and I wish I would have never got it put in. I went to the Mirena web page and clicked on the link for Doctors, its information that the doctors can read about the product, so basically doctors are just regurgitating what they read on here and have no idea what the hell they are doing. I say this because I get migraines and was concerned before the doctor but it in that it might add to the migraines, to which she replied, “no, no this will help with your migraines.” What a liar, it specifically states on the Mirena page not to give to women who have a history of migraines. Found this out after I had it put in when I was looking for answers as to why I felt so bad. A good friend asked me about it and stated Ive been sick since I had the IUD put in, and that its not normal for you not to bleed, that is what women do, we shed an egg every month, when you mess with nature who knows what can happen. She was right!

157. Yvonne,

     Thank you for the post. I had it removed the first week of March. I experienced significant hair loss from May 15 until recently. Now I’m exhausted! I’m a runner and this morning I struggled to complete one mile. I really have to work at placing one foot in front of the of the other. I’m exhausted and finding it difficult to get off the couch. I hope that this is over soon!!!!!

158. I just got my IUD removed less than a week ago and have had nothing but issues. Massive headaches, loss of appetite, zero energy, extreme mood swings and horrible cramping with super light cramping. I didn’t really experience weight gain, didn’t really ever have acne, but I’m surely glad I got this thing out!

159. I had the Mirena removed in March and I am now experiencing weird chest pains, feels like an electrical shock to my chest. last seconds and goes away. comes and goes. I am scared and afraid of this symptom, My period has not come back to normal yet it is light and only lasting 2 to 3 days. I got pimple here and there too. Never used to have them. On top of that I get palpitations on and off. my energy is not there. I get tired easily. Just want to sit down or lay down all day. I feel really bad on some days. Can anyone tell me what to do to stop the symptoms?

     • Yvonne, you should really go to the doctor and have that checked out. It could be your hormones working its way back to normal or something serious like clotting. You should always have chest pain checked out.

160. I appreciate so much everyone sharing their experiencesall US women are very complex especially with our hormones and finding the right thing that works with everyone’s individual chemicals and hormones is very difficultI’ve used the mirena then went to the paragard the bleeding on my period was just too much so I went back to the mirena a year ago just got it removed hoping that it has been the cause of a lot escalating issues over the last few years that has gotten to the point where I just can’t bear it anymore with anxiety rollercoaster of negative emotions 9trigger temper and after the point where it’s now interfering with my work lifeI’m not positive but it all seems to make sense that this could have been causing the last few years of my life of miseryI’m ready to get back to my old self againand getting the Mirena out without the synthetic hormones being put into my body hopefullyis at least a big puzzle piece of getting back to normal

161. I have read this forum over and over from top to bottom a few times just to keep my hopes high and my sanity clear. I had the mirena inserted in April 2012 when my daughter was 18 months old. Inserting it was torture and I was in severe pain after. I remember almost passing out and throwing up. (I should have seen the red flag there) I had severe abdominal pain for about 3 months and bled brown blood for about 3 months as well where the doctors office said “it’s normal” sex drive was still there although slipping away gradually, but was non existent almost because of the pain when my husband and I did try. I found myself crying more, raging with mood swings, didn’t put any weight on although I didn’t keep any off, either. This went on for over a year.. Then, in December of 2013, I started having a severe anxiety attack like I felt like I was dying. I went to the ER 3 different times because I felt awful. They said nothing was wrong and sent me on my way. Since my anxiety went out of control, I slipped into deep depression where I was hopeless. My husband hated the IUD and swore all along its what caused my mood swings and seriously almost wrecked our marriage. I researched side effects jan 1st 2014 of mirena and found it caused anxiety and depression. I went to the bathroom and ripped it out. I had no idea what the mirena crash was. Just when I thought my depression was bad, it got worse. I wouldn’t, COULDNT eat, felt like my daughter didn’t need me, and life was better without me. I NEVER suffered from depression or anxiety before and I’ve been through some HARD times in my life and tragic things… Back to the story, I had to be checked into a clinic because I was too far gone I couldn’t handle it on my own. I didn’t want to die, but the irrational thoughts scared me. They diagnosed me with major depression. I was on Zoloft and it made me feel worse. I did get pregnant because I needed hope and needed something. They kept me on medication and never blamed the mirena.. I’ve been on three anti depressants that made me feel worse. Now I know why.. I didn’t need them. I had the mirena crash and I’ve been taking anti depressants for a year now.. I finally got off of them and felt a million dollars better until I had a hiccup.. On April 20th, I took a plan B pill that is a MEGA hormone pill that has the same synthetic hormones that the mirena did. Guess what happened to me? 🙁 I am having a HARD time, but these stories keep me going along with faith my family And my little girls. If anyone needs to reach out, please do to me… [email protected] it always helps to have a support group.

162. I had mirena placed in spring of 2012. Placement was uncomfortable and the cramping I felt reminded me of a mild labor contraction. Nonetheless it was over in a few minutes. I cramped pretty badly for the next month on and off and spotted for 3 months, also sporadically. 3 years later, I have gained about 15lbs and feel bloated a lot. Very fatigued and I feel like I can exercise all I want and my weight stays the same. I had it removed which was also uncomfortable. The dr who inserted it clipped my strings too short so the dr removing it couldn’t locate them. An extra tool and some uncomfortable probing and out it came. I haven’t bled since and I feel great. My sex drive is in crazy overdrive, but we are also ttc so it works out. I didn’t hate mirena, but the weight plateau/gain was not cool and I also constantly felt like I was pregnant or having pregnancy symptoms. I won’t get it again, but I don’t believe it’s awful like some of the posts here make it sound.

163. I am 40 years old and had the Mirena inserted to try and control my epilepsy (as recommended by my neuro and my gynae). Firstly, it didn’t and my seizures were worse. Secondly, I bled for 2 months solid and thereafter for half of every month thereafter. It has now been 8 months and I have literally had a period 3 times in the past 30 days with an offensive smell. I was also starting to get headaches – something I had never suffered from. In March I was admitted into a psychiatric hospital where I was diagnosed with bi-polar, PTSD, chronic anxiety disorder and severe borderline personality disorder (say what???). I decided I wanted this contraption out of me and yesterday I made the move. The gynae advised me that this happens to about 2% of woman on the Mirena (really??? – doesn’t look like that from all the comments above). I felt no pain on the removal and actually felt “lighter”. Today however, I am feeling flat, nauseous and having terrible period and back pains. The gynae also advised me that the Mirena had caused an infection, for which I am now being treated with antibiotics. I have had two children and can honestly say that the Mirena has had the most awful impact on me, my health, my state of mind and I would never recommend it to anyone as a method of birth control.

164. I have had my Mirena in for 7 months now, I had it put in to control very heavy periods. My first attempt to have it inserted was unsuccessful and extremely painful, whilst I have a child I didnt have a natural birth so my cervix had never been opened and basically wouldn’t let the doctor in! So I had to go under to have it inserted. Initially some cramping and bleeding for about two weeks and then things seemed to settle however I soon developed cronic and disabling pain, first in my right hip and then throughout my body, the joint and muscle pain has been so bad and I never tied it in with the Mirena until now. I have been seeing doctors and specialists and have had every test under the sun, first they though rheumatoid arthritis but blood tests showed nothing. I have been taking slow release oxycontine, endone, panadine forte and anti inflamatories EVERY day for 6 months now just to be able to move, I am 44 and feel like I’m 100. Getting out of a chair or rolling over in bed is so painful im almost in tears, my knees, ankles, hip, elbows and hands are so painful. I finally did some research and found a number of blogs with women who have had the exact same problems and now I think about it this all started 3 weeks after I got the Mirena. I’ve booked in to have it removed tomorrow. I had no idea there would be a crash. Oh well it can’t be any worse than what I’ve been thru im just praying the crash is short and that my pain dissapears soon so I can return to a normal life.

165. I had two kids and wanted a simple birth control and lighter periods. My sister got mirena and has no issues. I have had my period just about everyday since mirena. Light but everyday!! It’s so annoying. So birth control who needs it when you have bleeding everyday. No libido, hair loss, headaches, rapid heart rate, weight gain, acne, every month a new symptom. I am getting it removed. But now I fear the crash. Good grief. What a mess.

166. Mirena – works for some not for others – if it works for you that’s great, but if it doesn’t – read on:

     Unfortunately this birth control device did not work for me. I am in my early 20’s and just to clarify I don’t have any children. My moments of regret started during insertion (May 2012) – honestly I’m not going to lie, it was very painful and I experienced terrible cramps for the couple of days which followed. What didn’t help was the nurse who was holding my hand added “I’m surprised you got one, usually it’s only for women who have already had kids”. Whether this is true or not I don’t know, but it was news to me. I do also quite clearly recall the doctor assuring me there we no side effects for the Mirena just a week out from insertion… funny that.

     I spotted for about 6 months which really took a lot of energy out of me. Once I got past the initial bleeding, right up until the end of last year actually things seemed fine.
     But this year things started going downhill pretty fast, and it took researching (on forums such as this) to find what I now believe to be the root cause.

     My main symptoms have included: frequent chest pain; severe stomach cramps; feeling of anxiety (not usually an anxious person); lethargic (extremely extremely tired); nausea; decreased libido; weight gain (due to a massively increased appetite).

     What has scared me the most from the above has been the chest pains. The feeling is crushing/stabbing. I have been to a doctor about the pain (not relating it to Mirena at the time) where they ran an ECG scan (measures the activity of the heart) to be certain it was nothing serious… and found nothing. The doctor actually gave me some Gaviscon (most expensive Gaviscon i’ve ever had!!). If you are reading this and you also experience random chest pain – give Gaviscon a try, I find this relieves the pain.
     Whether it be heartburn or something more serious, it is not a pleasant feeling to experience at all. I find if I breathe in deeply too fast, or laugh too hard this tends to bring it on more suddenly – at the moment I feel it at least once every few days (soon to pass, fingers crossed!).

     Mirena Removal – 3 Years laters… so I made the decision to get mine removed a couple of days ago. It did Not hurt – to my absolute relief. I started spotting an hour or so later, and have been on what seems like my period ever since (haven’t had one since those first 6 months of initial spotting eeeek). Luckily I haven’t experienced any clots.
     What I am experiencing so far though is a loss of appetite (complete opposite to when it was in :S), feeling quite sick and very faint – especially today… Until about an hour ago I didn’t put down the faint feeling down to having it removed, but after reading a few of your comments here about this so called “Mirena Crash” this is probably (again) the culprit. I’m going to keep up the water intake and just get lots of sleep – this so called crash will hopefully sort itself out soon enough.

     If you are on here reading this – experiencing a lot of these ‘side effects’ and are thinking of having this Mirena removed – well you have probably already answered your own question. Listen to your body – as crazy as that may sound. If something does not seem right, it probably isn’t – and we can’t all be crazy ;). Remember it works for some, not for others. Best of luck.

167. Dear All Mirena Users,
     I have tried Mirena for over a year and have suffered severe cramping, more bleeding and an intense lower back pain for a year. At first I didn’t see the connection between my symptoms and the Mirena. I went to my regular doctor and said I think I have kidney stones due to my severe constant lower back pain. They tested me and found no kidney stones but bacteria in the urine – got antibiotics for it. I had an x-ray done of my lower back and they saw a problem with a lower disk. This was not news to me since I already knew of my disk slippage that had happened 17 years ago. I asked if they thought the Mirena could effect my back, making it worse, but they said no we do not believe that is the case. But I followed their advice and I started physical therapy and have finished my sessions without any less lower back pain. Since the back pain gets worse during my period I went to see my obgyn to make sure the Mirena was in place. It looked good and they were telling me that it is rare to have back pain complications from the Mirena. Before I put it in I specifically asked about side effects and the doctor said it can take up to 6 months to adjust to it, but in general most women love it and it makes your periods lighter. They had never really heard of back pain, joint pain and anxiety caused by the Mirena. Well here I am and I just came down with a severe bladder infection with lots of blood in my urine and high fever. I am not sure yet if I have a bladder infection or if it is a kidney infection….will find out soon from the doctors. I can’t help to think…….could the Mirena be my major problem causing my constant back pain? In addition I also suffer from horrible acne and weight gain from the Mirena. I have probably gained 10 pounds since I put it in last year. I am a full time working mother and have two kids. I have a busy life and I am tired of feeling run down all the time with a severe lower back pain – I have made the decision to have my Mirena removed. I will let you know how it goes. They will do it tomorrow.

168. I have had the Mirena for 3 months going on 4 and I feel horrible. Right now I have cramps in my lower abdomen. There have been times where I have actually felt something poking me which I should have NOTHING poking me, it had to be Mirena. I was looking for the strings and I couldn’t find them, I did research and I found out that hey sometimes curl. One night during intercourse I felt a very sharp pain in my right side during one thrust, I waited to see if it would get better or fade but no I had to tell my guy to stop. Another night I was feeling for the strings and felt poking, this time it was my finger that was being poked. I do not think this should have been that way.

     Right now back to the point that I am experiencing cramps, I think I will go to the ER to have it removed tonight!

169. hello ladies,
     I thought I was by myself before I read up on the mirena side effects on the internet. Let me tell you how my nightmare began….
     On Monday, I had just arrived to work and was sitting in my office feeling normal like I always had until I broke out in a sweat, began having heart palpitations, overall weakness, feeling like I was going to jump out of my skin! I began to take deep slow breaths until I calmed down. After I calmed down, I still felt very “edgy” the entire day as if someone had been giving my shots of adrenaline the entire day. I went to the er that night, and they couldn’t find anything wrong with my labs or ekg. They sent me home with nothing saying that it was stress. I literally stayed in the bed from that Monday night until that Wednesday evening after having continuous anxiety attacks throughout those days, I literally felt like I was going crazy. I couldn’t take it anymore and went back to the ER Wednesday evening and told them to please figure out what was going on with me. The refused to say that it was the IUD but that is the only thing along with other side effects that were occurring out of nowhere. They sent me home this time with some pain medicine for the chest pains and anxiety medication to take as needed. They told me again it was stress, but I’m not crazy. I have made an appointment to get it removed in three days, I want to be normal again. I didn’t feel like myself at all. I felt as if someone had poisoned me. I hope after removal of the iud, I will feel like myself again.

170. I am so terrified after reading all this. I am getting my mirena removed tomorrow 4/1/2015. I had it put in 8/15/2010. So almost 5 years. I am having it removed so that I can have another baby. I had a lot of problems with it In and am glad to be getting it oUt. I had a lot of hair loss not necessarily noticeable to anyone but me but I used to have really thick pretty hair now it’s thinner and coarse. I have also had period issues with it. The last period I had was on August of 2012. Almost 3 years ago. I get really bad stomach cramps and migraines. I hope that I don’t have the crash. Thanks for all the insight. Praying for everyone who doesn’t know about this and those who suffer with the mirena.

171. I just had my mirena removed on Monday and I feel horrible. I have horrible cramping and bleeding. I passed a blood clot the size of a lemon and was so frightened when it came out, if felt like I had just gave birth without the contractions. I cant stand the cramping that is constant and the headaches. Since getting the mirena inserted I have gained so much weight and lost so much hair I cry. with my last pregnancy I didn’t even weigh this much. I am 5 ft and I weighed with my pregnancy 140lbs. Since the insertion of my mirena I weighed a constant 177lbs and tried weightloss. nothing worked. Since it is already 5 years I decided to have it out and give my body a break. I pray my hair grows back and my weight will be a healthy one. It has been a week since the removal and I am still bleeding. I have an apt. to see my gyno and I hope all will be alright. Please research all kinds of medication and birthcontrol. Take care all.

172. I had my Mirena inserted 9/1/14 and removed yesterday (3/24/15). I have a history of endometriosis and ovarian cysts. I know what periods feel like but this little demon device from hell knocked me down for the entire time I had it. It was placed correctly and no infections but the bleeding and cramping were unending for me. I did the daily light spotting for the first 4 months (Sept to December). In the 5th month (January) I had a regular (for me) period (regular being massively heavy, 10-14 days long, softball sized clots, and cramps that make labor contractions laughable). After that I started having a regular for me period start every other week. The bleeding from the prior period hadn’t stopped when the next period began. I was in agony. My removal was almost as bad as the insertion. Even despite having multiple ultrasounds done and the cords being in place and everything seemingly normal,one of the tips of the device implanted in my uterine wall. When it was removed, the Mirena torn a small amount of my uterine lining with it. It was not perforated all the way through my uterine wall, but left a spot so weak that now I have to have a hysterectomy.

173. Wow. I read ALL these horrible mirena stories on multiple sights. Stuff that starts from the beginning of their IUD. I have never experienced any of this. I had my Mirena inserted as soon as I could, which was when my doctor told me to, after I had my son. I had him in March, bled for a month straight after birth, and had to wait for a regular period before having inserted around June during my second period after birth. I spotted one week after Mirena and never had a period or cramp. No hair loss, no weight gain. In fact I lost weight after my son to weight less than I did before I got pregnant with him and I’ve maintained my weight. I don’t work out nor do I diet and I’ve been able to keep an est 130 at 5’6″ while being on the Mirena. I also have hoshimotos which is a Thyroid disorder and a history of ovarian cyst both of which have been in remission/dormant since Mirena. All these stories about post mirena are freaking me out since I wish to remove it this summer and try to conceive with my Fiance. I’m taking everything into consideration, knowing that everybody is different and unique in their own ways, I just hope my post mirena is a lot smoother than these stories like my 4 years on mirena have been. We’ll see but I feel sorry for everyone whose had a problem on mirena. It has been my best friend for four years. One I’d recommend to a lot of people.

174. I’ve had the Mirena for going on 4 years and am having it removed tomorrow. I do not recommend this method of birth control what so ever. The first year or so was okay. But ever since, I’ve lost my energy. Nothing excites me anymore. I go through spurts of depression & anxiety. I’ve gotten huge boils on my face and back, as well as normal acne that was never there. I didn’t realize what was causing it until recently, and after reading your comments with very similar symptoms, I know I’m making the right decision to have it removed. I can’t wait to have my life back. Bring on the crash!!

175. I had my IUD put in on May 22nd, 2014. I gained nearly 20lbs despite eating well and exercising regularly as I normally do.

     I had it removed February 26, 2015. The bleeding began on February 27th. On March 7th in the evening it stopped. On the morning of March 8th I began cramping, but there was no bleeding. As I was about to have a shower I felt something falling out of me. It was a clot larger than the size of my fist. Then the amount of blood that poured out was insane. I was filling a super tampon every five minutes.

     I went to the hospital and I am now on Cyclen (birth control pills) to regulate my hormones. Aleve (Naproxen) has helped to control the bleeding, which is now 1 super tampon per hour I would say.

     I am frustrated and exhausted. I keep wondering when this hell will end.

176. Wow, I went on the internet searching for occurences of bleeding after Mirena removal. I had no idea there were so many horrible experiences out there with this IUD. Honestly, I was on the pill for many years and wanted to stop. My doctor told me about Mirena and it sounded great. I had 2 in 9 years. Never had a single problem, no weight gain, no headaches, nothing. I loved the fact that I had very minimal periods over the entire time. I could tell over time that the hormones were wearing off because, at the end of the 5 years, my periods got a bit heavier and lasted more like 3-5 days rather than 1 or 2. I had it removed last Thursday (it is now Monday) and I have been bleeding since removal.

     I am now worried about this ‘crash’ so many of you speak of… I hope I don’t get it… but I’ll post back if I do. Thanks!!!

177. (I’m Danish, so you will have to excuse my English) I’m sitting here with such a relief. Like many others of you, I thought I was going mad, and now it all makes sense!! Side effects from Mirena, and my side effects could have been written by any of you, as they are so like you descripe.

     What I cant get over, is why aren’t the doctors aware of these sewere side effects. The are not excactly mild ones, just blowing over. They are rather life althering and quite scary – I mean they are turning us women into monsters, as it is hard to control your anger, when you are such a mess on the inside.

     Is it just in Denmark, that doctors seem to be so ignorant to the fact that ARE so many side effects to the IUD ??

178. All your comments have only made me realise that I’m not wrong in wanting to get the mirena removed ASAP! I had it inserted in March 2014 after a surgery to remove ovarian cysts. The docs felt that Mirena would help by thinning the uterine wall and keeping me virtually period-free which will prevent re-formation of the cysts.
     I was happy at first. But I started having terrible mood swings barely 3 months later. The weight gain has been significantly high! I have dizziness that I can’t understand. I have been depressed, angry and highly irritable – this is so uncharacteristic of me. My husband, child and parents have been worried for me. Then I started having palpitations and registered a spike in BP. The latest blood tests show dangerously low HDL levels. I’ve been pushed into high risk category for heart attack. I’ve had a serious bout of nausea and acidity every month for the last 12 months. My physician recommends removing the mirena. I’very scheduled an appointment with my gynaec. I hope to get this thing out before my symptoms worsen.

179. Mirena Is Horrible Horrible Horrible… I had it for 2 years and was the most miserable, unhappy, person in the world. I feel like I missed out on the first 2 years of my daughters life 🙁 I suffered from extreme bloating all of the time ( I looked 9 months pregnant) I gained 10 pounds on top of the baby weight I didn’t have a chance to loose since I got it in right after my daughter was born. I got BV twice and each month would be a repeat of sore breast’s for a week, severe lower back pain for the next week ( I didn’t have back labor with either of my kids) light period for the next week and then extreme depression for the last week ( I hated my life, job, no one cared about me, I yelled all the time had no patience and didn’t enjoy anything. My kids would do the cutest things and I had no feelings what so ever. I finally had it removed on Tues after hubby got a vasectomy ( it didn’t hurt at all ) and immediately I felt lighter and happier. I did get a migrane the first day but that went away quickly with maxalt. The bloating was gone instantly and my head was clear. I have been laughing and playing with the kids and feel 100% better. I started spotting right away and now 4 days later I am bleeding heavily and clotting. I pray this will not last long and be the major extent of my recovery from that horrible thing and I can get back to my old self asap. I have tried the depo needle and it’s know to cause osteo perosis ( not sure of the spelling) and made me gain weight. mirena just messes with your body and mind, and the only other I tried was the pill ( which at this point seems to be the safest form of birth control. Please ladies don’t ever get this its not safe

180. Like many of you I also used to Mirena for 4 long years. I just removed, yes ladies I removed it myself, yesterday and I am hoping some of these symptoms will subside after awhile. I have an appt tomorrow to look at alternate solutions.While I have had no weight gain I am severely bloated at times. I am a fitness model and that doesn’t really translate well in pictures and at photo shoots to have a fit body with a pregnant looking belly. I also experience a horrible rash around my hips and buttocks area that seems to come when my period is supposed to occur. Its the same pimple like descriptions that most of you are describing just not on my face. Definitely have experience loss of hair, thank goodness I have a head full or I would seriously be bald.
     Sex is extremely uncomfortable and often leaves me in tears, which definitely ruins the mood. Speaking of mood, I feel insane most the time and very fatigued….. Unlike many I was not told of any side affects. NONE. Just that I might cramp a bit after insertion. This little device has been ruining my life, and I want it back. Hence the removal. Hoping I do not “crash”. I hope other women researching Birth controls get to this information before they make the worse decision of their life. DO NOT USE THIS DEVICE.

181. OMG!!!!! The mirena crash is real.
     IUD insertion: 11/2010
     Removal: 2/11/2015
     I am s glad I googled this. My symptoms are a little different then the many post I have read but overall these post confirm my feelings! I AM GOING CRAZY!!!!! My emotions and hormones are a mess.
     Ok, so i removed mines so my husband and I could try having a baby. I spotted for a few days but nothing big and on 2/13 my husband and I had coitus and I havent bled since. I have, however, had symptoms of pregnancy but a blood test and several urine test have been negative. I have nausea, heartburn, headaches, fatigue and to top it all off I got a cold….and a bad one at that..that came from no where. I am an emotional mess, I’m depressed, anxious and the whole 9. I DID NOT HAVE ANY SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS WITH THE MIRENA. I thought is was great except for the lower abdominal pain I would get occasionally but it was severe…I mean go to the ER severe. Since its removal I have been fine. Please share if you have had any similar experience.

182. I had my IUD placed Augest 21, 2009 and removed Augest 14, 2014 in the 5 years I had it I never had one problem no cramping no infections no weight gain no period nothing literally it was like the perfect birth control. My only problem is I have not gotten my period if over 5 years already even after the IUD removal. The doctors can’t tell me anything about it and I’m scared for my future I mean I do want more kids can any one help me with this dilemma? Has this happened to anyone else?

183. Hi Ladies,
     I have had Mirena in twice. First in May of 2014, and then taken out and a new one replaced in July 2014. I am part of the 3% where the device has been expelled from the uterus. I went in for my follow up a month after it being put in the first time after experiencing unbearable contraction like cramping and pains for weeks. I was determined to stick it out and knew I would have to go through some symptoms. At the follow up visit, my Gyno was surprised to see it half way out, she said the contraction like pains I experienced were because my uterus was literally pushing and contracting the device out. Crazy, I know. Even crazier, I was still wanting to give it another try so had a second one put in the same day. Talk about pain… maybe I’m pathetic when it comes to that, but after both insertions I remember leaving the doctors office feeling nauseous, dizzy, hot and clammy, and in so much cramping pain that I couldn’t even make it down the hallway. I sat in the bathroom and waited until my husband could come and pick me up. I had never wanted my own bed so badly. Needless to say, I was aware of these painful cramps which after the second insertion a few days later I was back to my normal self. A little spotting here and there, no periods. It was great. About 5 months after insertion, I had noticed I had a gradual weight gain which now 7 months later I’ve gained 10 lbs, had a significant amount of hair loss, crazy hormonal mood swings, and cyst like acne on my face and jawline and acne on my back and chest. Sure we are all warned of the symptoms in advance, but in my head I kind of just went “yea yea yea”, it cant be that bad. And to me, it wasn’t worth it. So today I had Mirena removed. I felt a little hot and clammy afterwards and feel blah right now. But I am looking forward to my body and hormones regulating back to normal. To me, this form of birth control was not worth the side effects. As a woman in the late 20’s, when you see yourself in the mirror heavier than normal, with a receeded hairline and face full of acne and know you cant do much about it, It gets depressing. Needless to say I am also on weight watchers and had lost 16 lbs prior to Mirena, which literally has made it impossible to lose weight even with proper diet and exercise. Too bad we cant choose our own cocktail of symptoms. Apparently my body is ultra sensitive. And yes, it is so important to remember that every woman’s body is different. Like I said, I am part of that 3% that experienced expulsion. Mirena: tried it, not for me.

184. Had Mirena inserted aug 2013 – had a vasovagal response ( passed out twice )

     Had minor cramping for 2 days – had 2 light periods then no periods. (No spotting just a couple or few sharp cramps each month – no biggie)

     Sound good? Well that’s not the whole story
     Horrible smell, libido at zero, hair and skin changed (not as bad as stuff others have experienced) migraines started after about 5 months ; around then I noticed horrible anxiety about going in to work – I would dread going in and talking to anyone – this company is owned by my family – it’s not like I could get fired – looking at the tasks that made me uncomfortable nervous and feeling trapped (like I have read others testimonials saying) I now have no idea what the big deal was
     Then I started researching more – saw others had this psychotic stuff going on – then my breasts were really sore all of the time – after 7 months found a couple large lumps in breast – dr checked said both breasts were full of cysts with the 2 larger ones especially notable – biopsy was fibroid – as far as I knew never had before

     She agreed mirena should be removed and did so at that visit – barely felt a thing

     Had minor spotting then regular period went back on pill psycho-me is gone, migraines are less frequent bad odour gone
     I lasted 8 1/2 months with it
     After about 5 months I started having horrid urges to urinate, am really bloated
     Finally got blood tests done – no infection – dr asked about fibroids in uterus – said I didn’t have an issue with before – she said if a lot or big enough can put pressure on bladder even thought I might be pregnant – skipped a month of pills and got my regular medium heavy flow with nasty cramps – so back on pill I am
     Scheduled for ultrasound – think I will get tubes tied – definitely not feeling myself – have began walking more drinking more water and eating more veggies. Yet feel worse
     Too bad the side effects suck I liked not having a period and only minor cramps

185. I had my Mirena inserted March 2011 after my son was born. I just had it removed Jan 5th 2015 so my husband and I could try for baby #2. Reading some of the comments and the horrific experience I have had since removal has shed alot of light for me. I bled from Jan 8th to Jan 23rd. I thought I was going to go nuts! Now the migraines have set in. Looking back on things I went through while the Mirena was in, I now realize were related. I never had any mental health issues till after my Mirena was inserted. I had to go on meds for depression and anxiety. I now know the Mirena was the culprit. My libido was non-existent and this was also related. It never crossed my mind until now that the IUD was causing all of this turmoil in my life. I am looking forward to my hormones leveling out and I pray that we are able to conceive very soon. Also, if you experience the prolonged bleeding, it is best to start taking an iron supplement, prenatal vit, and I added Vit B12 for an extra energy boost. Good Luck to all Mirena victims.

186. I have had the most horrific experiences with Mirena. I had it inserted in September and didn’t stop bleeding, until, oh, wait, that’s right I am still bleeding. After much argument with my doctor I finally had i