Mirena and yeast infection

I haven't read this side effect in anyone's posts yet... my spouse and I have had to deal with painful, chafed skin on our genitals after intercourse. Poor guy, he has weird abrasions, redness, and swelling behind the head of his penis while I have external burning and itching. I actually feel like the pH of my vaginal canal has altered and is eating him alive!! I also have had to cope with extreme moodiness and hair loss the past five months since I had it inserted. Needless to say, I'm glad I looked up these side effects to prove I'm not crazy and that neither of us have an STD. I'm making an appointment tomorrow to remove this horrible thing.

Hello all. I too am a new recipient of this "miracle" called Mirena! I just had my third son in late July, and I had weighed my options, and with some STRONG convincing from my OB/GYN, I had decided on the Mirena. I had it placed on September 20, 2008, and no more than two weeks later my hair began falling out! Now when I say "hair falling out", I mean every time I would brush off my shoulders, brush, comb or wash my hair I would get hand fulls! The hair loss got sooooo bad, that I couldn't sit down to a descent meal without finding MY hair in my food or strolled across the table. I'm always bloated. I bleed for weeks on end. My neck, arms, and arm pits, legs, and breasts are soo itchy it's ridiculous. I have had to treat a new yeast infection every five days since placement, and this, from a person who has only had a yeast infection maybe TWO times in my life. I am an emotional wreck. I mean, right now as i'm typing, I'm tearing up because I thought that I was going crazy. My marriage is on the rocks because I'm so temperamental, and heck, my husband and I have been waiting for love making for LONG ENOUGH! My newborn is only 3 1/2 months, and I can honestly say that I've had only about TWO weeks total to delicate to the intimacy of my marriage (now keep in mind ladies, that the last two to three months of pregnancy are not ideal for an emotional "stress ball" to be having sex either, so you do the math). But I am PROUD to say that I WILL BE CALLING MY DOCTOR 9 a.m. MONDAY MORNING TO SCHEDULE MY REMOVAL.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had my mirena taken out on oct. 15 (placed on aug. 8) and my doc, like many of the other posts, behaved as though i were simply a hysterical female and said that NO ONE complains about it. I told him that i'd had lower back pain, loss of sex drive, fatigue, swollen breasts, nausea, stomach poking out, terrible smell, weight gain, mood swings, headache, achy feet, numbness on my face and dizziness. here's what's so sad, we are all so brainwashed by the current state of medical care in our country that we don't even think it's strange to be ignored for a flurry of symptoms. i mean, if he was so convinced that it WASN'T the mirena causing the problems, then why didn't he address the problems?! what's worse, it took me several days to even realize that my symptoms had been completely ignored! anyway, i'm still having the back pain and my cervix was sore when having sex the other day. i'm having weird abdominal cramps and am still very tired and moody and eating us out of house and home. i am hoping this will stop by thanksgiving.

I am so happy I found this site, I thought I was the only one. I always heard good things from other people but they must be like me, embarrassed to say anything because the side affects are so weird and embarrassing and personal. Every since I have had the Mirena I have been bleeding non stop,it has been about 2 months. It has been light bleeding but at times there are small clots. I am constantly sore down there I feel like I got hit something down there. I have no sex drive and even the thought of it makes me crying because of the pain already I can't imagine what it would be like if I did. I have been back and forth between having UTI's and yeast infection's I have only ever had a UTI before. I am constantly on edge I cant take care of my kids like I use to. I have let all my house work go, the cooking and my husband go bless him has picked up all the slack. He is an active duty Marine so it's not he doesn't have enough to do but he has to come home and do stuff that I would normally be doing but I have no interest in doing anything. I have put on wieght, my stomach is bloated all the time, I have acne problems that I have not had in a few years. My back constantly hurts, I feal light-headed a lot so I don't want to do much driving unless I know that I'm totally alert, after a lot of caffeine. My skin is really dry, I can't put enough lotion on and chap- stick. I think the thing that really bother's me the most is my mood swings, I have a history of depression and I was never told that Mirena could make it worse. I have had thoughts that I have not had in a very long time. Sometimes I have to just go to my room and not be around anyone because I don't want to start yelling at everyone. I am on 2 depression medications and for the first time I don't feel like it is enough. If anyone knows if there is anything that can be done to make sure that on a national level people are told and that the company take some responsibility let me know. I don't want anyone feeling the way I feel. I adore my children and my husband, but with this Mirena I don't want to be around any of them.HELP!!!

Can I first just say that I hope millions of women get to read this site and turn away from getting the Mirena, this thing is just plain horrible! I was well aware of all the side effects, but I convinced myself that those were just a few people with extreme circumstances. Boy was I wrong. I have only had this thing for 3 weeks and I am counting down the minutes for my Ob/Gyn office to open so i can get it taken out today. Yes, I have been bleeding since the day I had it put in, but in all fairness even the doctors warn you about that. What I was not ready for was the acne, the bloating, the weird pain during sex, my vision changing, losing over half my hair and one nasty yeast infection. My face within a few days broke out, and I have always had very nice skin. I am so bloated that it hurts to keep my pants buttoned sometimes. Sex just plain hurts, even my boyfriend says it hurts him, he says it is as if my vagina just swelled up and got so small that it hurts for him to have sex with me. I have had blurry vision lately and feel like my vision has gotten worse. I just started having sex again because the bleeding was so intense at first and the next day I got the worst yeast infection of my life. All of these things are horrible, but my last straw was when I lost my hair, so much hair that people have noticed, people that I barely know. I literally have a receding hairline, it is disgusting. i wish I went with my gut instinct which was to not get the Mirena put in, and now I can't wait to get it out. Please read all the information before you ever consider this, and if you have any doubts don't get it. I really wish I never did!

I was just wondering if anyone else has a yeast infection type of effect from this. The insertion was horrible since it came out the first time they put it in. i was bleeding for almost 2 months and now spotting off and on. i have horrible itching and dryness. they thought it was a yeast infection so i treated it with the yeast infection medicine and did the 7 day one. then 2 weeks later it started again. she think i stopped using the hydrocortizone cream too soon. i don't think that's it. i think it might be the mirena and if it is i want it out asap. i've never had itching or dryness. anyone else had these side effects?

I had the Mirena inserted in July 2008 during my period (as I was told it had to be). I was also told to give my body three months to "get used to" it. Where should I start? I had some cramping, followed by contractions five days later - yes, I said contractions (ladies with babies, we know the difference between cramps and contractions); I had itchiness outside (vulva) and inside which was a yeast infection that was treated twice - once with OTC medication and then with antibiotics. My period ended in July; when I thought I was getting a period in August, it started as that thick brownish gunk. It was like this for 4 days; then I started bleeding, thinking I was gettting a normal period. Well, since August, the bleeding would come and dissipate - not totally go away - until within the last couple of weeks (since the end of August - beginning of September) it has become heavier. This is not normal or natural. I have bled through a pantyliner. I bled through to my pants using a tampon and maxipad. I've had to change the tampon and pad within one hour. I've had bleeding that is bright red followed by small clots and then one huge one (approx. 6 inches long, and 1.5 -2 inches wide). I repeatedly called the OBGYNs office throughout this ordeal; they have told me to give it time, this normal, "well this is better than the alternative - what would you do (re:pregnancy)" and have at times reacted as if I'm overreacting. Last week I went there to express the concerns, to have a checkup, and to express that I want it removed; the PA could find the strings and wrote me a script for a sonogram. But before I left the office, when I mentioned that I wanted this out, she said, "You really don't want to get this out - just give it some time- give it another 3 months - really, you don't want to take this out."
I went for the sono on Saturday and the tech asked when I had my last period. When I mentioned a brief synopsis of what has been happening, she mentioned that my uterine lining is very thick. I questioned, "Shouldn't it be thinning out if I'm having my period?" I also mentioned that it should be thinning out because of the Mirena. She couldn't afford any answers in regards to the Mirena but did confirm that during a period the lining thickens up and then thins out - sheds - but that mine was very thick.
Ok, now I'm totally freaked-out. I hope this isn't anything serious.

This site is helpful knowing that its not just me. I got my IUD around march. My fiance & I got engaged a month before I had it put in. I just got into nursing school, so pregnancy is not an option!
During this time I was feeling

Depressed

Anxious

Difficulty concentrating

30lb Weight gain

Decrease desire of wanting to kiss

An appetite that doesn't seem to be satisfied.

Vaginal ithcing (feels like a yeast infection)
I blame the itching entirely on Mirena. I haven't had sex with my fiance (waiting after we exchange our vowes), so its not because he is being unfaithful. Its sooo uncomfortable.
As far as the weight gain, I have been feeling really guilty, loss of self-control, not to mention the guilt that follows. I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one. In speaking with other ladies who have had an IUD. I can't blame Mirena entirely. I've heard pro's & cons.

SO far 7 months with this IUD. I think I'm going to take it out after reading all of these blogs & my own experiences. I thought I should give it more time but I'm getting married soon & I don't fit my wedding dress.

i had a merina inserted about 2 weeks ago and i had nothing but trouble since it was put in i got terrible cramping not long after it was inserted and the bleeding was shocking i then developed a yeast infection which lasted for a whole week and nothing touched it it was terrible..
it wasn't till last fri that i got shocking pains and could not urinate with out feeling immence pain..
my friend took me to the emergency hospital and they informed me it may be infected..
after 4 attempts it was finally removed and lucky it was as it was starting to embed itself into my cervix and much of the string was left for them to retrieve it..
my advice to any one is not to get this mirnea it is not a very nice thing

Wondering if any of the other women are experiencing leaking, clear fluid into their panties every morning. I have had my Mirena in for almost a year since the birth of my twins and every morning since I had it inserted when I first wake up and usually after I stand up a get a gush. I spoke to my doctor and he said it was because I didn't have enough estrogen to he put me on a patch for that. I feel like a true chemistry set these days. I am tired, feeling depressed, a TON of my hair has fallen out all round my face and my face broke out horribly. I am considering having it taken out but don't know if I should blame all these side effects totally on the mirena or if some of it not the hair portion is due to being a first time mom to twins.

Please let me know if anyone else is suffering from the morning gush. The best way to describe it is like the clear fluid that weeps from a wound.

I had the Mirena put in Aug 4, 2008, l had light cramping and bleeding after it was put it. I got my period and it lasted for 7 days and spotting for 6 days now. I am so bloated right now, my 4 year old son said my stomach is getting big. I get headaches now which i never use to get before. I have a yeast infection right now. Right now I feel heavy. Im calling my doctor on Tuesday to get it removed.

I had the mirena put in about 5 months ago. I've had the annoying period side effects, having it last for 2 weeks or more. But, for about 2 months now I've been battling yeast/bacterial infections. I have never had a bacterial infection in my life!! I just googled bacterial infections and mirena and I'm shocked to see how many people are suffering from this! Plus, I've had severe mood swings and I've been trying to figure out why I feel like a crazy woman all of the time. I was prescribed clindesse for the bacterial infection, which gave me a yeast infection, after 3 yeast treatments and a diflucan I feel once again like I have a bacterial infection. I don't think that this is all coincidental considering that this is the first time in my life that I've had to deal with odor, discharge, bacteria etc. I'm getting this thing out!!

This site has been a god send. I had mine placed 2 weeks ago and its been horrible. I've been telling myself that everything is going to be fine, but its hard to believe that. Getting it put in put me in tremendous pain. I could barely walk and i had to work a 10 hour shift an hour later. After 2 days the pain went away but i started to notice random bouts of depression. Ive been a totally different person, Im happy and laughing one minute and the next im in tears over nothing! What made things worse was I was starting to feel nervous and shaky on top of wanting to cry all the time. I figured it had to do with Mirena because ive felt this way once before and that was when i tried the depo shot. Within the last few days ive noticed an unusual discharge and itching. Ive been thinking it might be a yeast infection but i have never had one. Its just one more thing im contributing to Mirena. I dont want to get it removed because its nice not worrying about pills or condoms but at the same time I think Mirena is making me crazy. Reading these posts really helped me regain some of my sanity. Ive also heard from many people who used to have an IUD that as soon as they had theirs removed they got pregnant. I know to use condoms but i dont trust them, accidents happen.

i had mine since 2004 and I thought it was great, I haven't had a period for over 3 yrs. just the pms , after insertion i had the cramping and then my light period went away completely but now in 2008 still now period but a spot that represents my periods and added to my fake periods yeast infections every month for four months now, i went to my doc a 3rd time and he said im having hormonal imbalance that might be causing the yeast infections and it might clear up on its own the 3rd one did clear up in about a week and half so this month guess what i had another yeast infection which makes 4 , so i have a appt me with my reg doc . besides the yeast infections, i have a white discharge , depression, fatigue .

It's me again!! Finally got Mirena taken out today. Yeah!! The doc didn't seem to think it was mirena, of course, that was causing my symptoms. However, I did have another UTI....2nd one since mirena insert 3months ago. But I did find that at the very bottom of the mirena web site...there's a list of ALL possible side effects. Almost every one i've had and read about on this site, is listed there. It says it's unlikely, but....we know it's a lot more common an they say. Hope everything goes well for all you other, poor, unexpecting women!!

I have had mirena since April of 2008. It took me this long but I decided to check out if there were side effects posted from people because I, like others have had almost the exact same symptoms of everyone who has posted here. I have been taking vicodin for the migraines, been depressed, have horrible acne (especially on my back which I have never had before!), very painful intercourse (actually started crying once because it was that bad!) bled for like 4 months and now I bleed like forever when I do get my period, which is still every month, and it is kinda like spotting but enough that I can't have sex! I even went to the hospital one night because the cramping was so bad! They did ultrasounds and everything and told me everything was fine. I, like many others, have been waiting for all these symptoms to go away! I think I will consider getting it removed at this point. And oh yeah, lately I have experienced alot of discharge and it kinda has a weird odor, not a yeast infection- I tested, and no symptoms with peeing so prolly not a bladder thing and def not an std-been with same partner for 6 years! What do I do!

My last post was on August 6th. I got my Mirena removed that day! OMG! What a relief! My cramping stopped as soon as the Dr. got it out! Couldn't believe it! I've started my period since then, but for the first time in a long time, I've had a normal period. I have not experienced not one severe cramp since it was removed and that awkward feeling of it in me is totally gone. I feel better, not as moody or tired all the time. I just can not believe the difference! Even the constant feeling of bloatedness is gone! I'm SO GLAD it's out of me!!!!

In June 07 I rushed into having the coil fitted, having had a double rollover with two beautiful babies successively, only 13 months apart. No 2 baby had his first birthday end-Mar 08 and as I was no longer breastfeeding I suppose I began to stop making "new baby" excuses for my moods, brain fog, lower back pain, extreme fatigue, irritability if not getting a nap in the day even though had good 8 hrs sleep on night and weight gain (dress size).

Over the last few months I have gone on to experience severe PMS symptoms (which I didn't have prior to coil), clearly a build up within the body for not being able to bleed regularly. These included crying spells (for no reason), feeling very flat/exhausted almost like "out of body" old woman (I'm 33) and feeling bloated/pregnant - they would last roughly two weeks and then I would get a day's bleed which explained the cause. I even took a pregnancy test although it was negative. For me the final straw has been the onset of migraines (a year on) lasting several days and just being constant.

Having two energetic toddlers and little family support, I simply didn't have the luxury of continuing with these symptoms and could no longer tolerate the thing inside me. Luckily, my hubbie agreed and so had coil removed on Friday (total of 14 months) . Already, 2 days on, the bloating and brain fog have eased off. The migraines are still present but am assuming it will take a while for body to sort itself out. I'm so looking forward to feeling like "me" again with and getting fruity with the hubbie.

Additionally, have had nose bleeds over last few months and a yeast infection - not sure if these are linked in!

Hi I am 35 and had the Mirena put in after I had my first baby and it was in for 1 year.....But I had the Mirena taken out about a month ago (there is no pain at all in taking it out)....within days my mood was better, I had numbness in hands and feet and that is almost completely gone....the pain in my side is gone....a month before I had it out I was told after my yearly I had Yeast Infection, Abnormal cells so I would need a biopsy and because of the pain in my side (and having the Mirena in a year) she did an ultrasound. I had a cyst....so I just went back for a recheck...cyst is gone, abnormal cells after biopsy are not abnormal....I did get another yeast infection (prior to Mirena I have never had a yeast infection) and I had 2 vaginal infections when it was in...and have one now....I will be honest it feels like I have toxins coming out of my system...I have had diarrhea once a day for a week and I start sweating even when sitting still...I do not regret for one second having it out....I already feel less bloated...also I had been going to the gym, eating well and gaining weight with the Mirena...I already feel like I have lost some....I will keep you posted....My friend had it in 4 years and she just had it out also....she had cysts, pain, bloating, weight gain, all the same symptoms.....the day before she had it out she was rushed to the ER for severe back and side pain and looking like she was 8 months pregnant....she has gone through all sorts of testing and everything came back normal....so I hate to say...but the Mirena may have a class action suit some day.....If it had worked it would have been great....but when something is too good to be true....there is probably a reason! Hope this helps you and I will post it out on the board for others!!!! Take Care Ladies! Michelle

A lot of people are complaining of the same symptoms, and saying they are going to get the Mirena out.....can more people update us with the results of having it removed? Did all the symptoms go away?
I've recently had a lot of the same symptoms (basically feeling pregnant--headaches, very tired, mild cramping, bloated, pants very tight around the waste, lower back aches, indigestion, and just a general yucky sick feeling like morning sickness--and wasting money on 2 pregnancy tests so far!), which seem now to have been PMS-related (PMS which lasted about 3 weeks before my period), though I've not had PMS like this since having the Mirena put in, and it's been over a year now. And my periods have been very irregular the whole time. I basically had spotting for about a year, then nothing for like 2 months, then this whole thing followed by a light period lasting 8 days.
I'm thinking about getting it removed, but would like to hear others' experiences with having it removed. Did these symptoms go away??

I got the Mirena inserted in May 2008, and had it inserted while on my cycle. Everything went fine and then I didn't stop bleeding for 1 1/2 months. I had severe cramping and even headaches. It is now 2 months later and now I am having tingling in my breasts and am bloated like nothing else. I feel like I am 4-5 months pregnant with how bloated I am. I have also noticed I am extremely tired all day every day. I try to please my husband but have no sex drive. I love the idea of not having to worry about any b/c for 5 years but I don't think the side effects are worth it. I have also taken 4 prego tests because at first I thought well is there a possibility. But all the tests were negative. I think it's just the Mirena. Can anyone relate to this?

I'm back.. I posted back in June when I've had my Mirena for a few weeks... I go to my GYN on july 29 for my check up.
I can actually be one in a million to say I'm very happy I had this IUD inserted. I have never been able to take the pills. I tried the shot once and had a period for 6 months straight... and that was only ONE injection....
The first couple of weeks I did feel like I had a yeast infection... it burned when I pee'd... It hurt to shower... I started to get frustrated..
I didi wait it out.... I told myself that I would tough it out until my check up appointment and IF I didn't feel better I woudll discuss removal ASAP !!!
but I'm fine ... I did cramp for a couple days after insertion. That is now gone .... I was moody for a few days ..... moodiness is gone.... I still get tired but I notice that is getting back to normal also....
I FOR ONE AM GLAD I HAD MIUD INSERTED !!!!
I say good luck to the rest of you...

Wow! I've done a lot of reading post Mirena and wish I had spent the time before instead of just relying on the pamphlet from the Dr's office.

I made it a whole 3 days!

Insertion was fine but it should have raised a flag when the Dr said "oops, it slipped out, hang on one more minute". I felt fine all that day (Wednesday). By Thursday cramping was pretty intense, vomitting, diarrhea, low grade fever, lower back pain, headache, rapid heartbeat. Called Dr "Oops" & told me I had a stomach bug, symptoms not from Mirena. Friday sucked, stomach problems went away but everything else just got worse.

By Saturday I was immobile on the couch, no other way to describe it than to say it just friggen hurt! Dr "Oops" closed on the weekend so I went to the hospital. ER doc couldn't find the threads to take it out and didn't have the "magic tool" required to fish them out. His solution was take antibiotics for possible infection and a narcotic pain reliever (3 mo old little boy at home, narcotics not an option) and have it removed on Monday.

Being stubborn, I insisted on seeing the on-call OBGYN who was upstairs waiting to deliver a baby. He was kind enough to come down and fish the strings out without this "magic tool". The relief was immediate, especially given that the Mirena had turned 90 degrees inside me. I'm lucky it did no damage. This Dr explained that the symptoms should not have been that bad had it been in correctly.

I've been bleeding heavy with clotting since Sunday, cramping is nothing compared to what it was. Think I have a yeast infection brewing from antibiotics, just to add insult to injury. I am just glad to have it out!

I would have to rate Mirena up there in the top 5 most unpleasant experiences of my life. Please do your homework and weigh your options before trying Mirena. The pamphlet from the doctor's office doesn't tell the half of it. And if you do decide to have it, consider having it done on a Monday to give yourself a few days to see how you like it before the weekend arrives. I'm sure having it come out of place is rare, but I'm proof it can happen. Good Luck to all :)

I had Mirena put in Oct 07 and loved it at first. After a while instead of having my period for 4-5 days I started to have it for 3 weeks!! It would be on 2 days then off for 2! SO ANNOYING!! Not to mention I have been dealing with a yeast infection for the last 4 months. My doctor told me it might be due to mirena. So I tried medicines to cure it and nothing worked. Then about a week ago I started to have cramps, back pain, and headaches. So I found this website and discovered I have been having a lot of the other symptoms other women are having! The doctor never mentioned that any of this could be related to mirena! So I went in and had it removed. It may all be in my mind, but I feel better all ready and relieved it is gone!!

I have had the Mirena IUD for 3 weeks... I had 1 significant cramp when it was inserted... otherwise I have had no cramps. I DO however have a major yeast infection that is bugging me.. Otherwise I love the idea of no worries about birth control and pregnancy issues. So far I'm very happy I had it inserted.

Well Hello everyone. I am glad I came across this site, because I thought I was going crazy...I am 35 and just had my first child March 2007. I have had the Mirena for a year now. I went to the Dr. a few weeks ago and told her I was feeling sharp pains once and a while, but other than that I felt fine. She ordered an ultra sound and they found some small cysts...so I go back for a recheck 6 weeks from that date to see if it's gone away?? That did not make sense to me....she said I also had a yeast infection (which I have never had), and pre-cancerous cells which she is biopsying next week. What I thought was completely unrelated was my back pain-sharp siatica pains and my numbness in legs, feet, arms, and hands...my friend told me I should see a neurologist...and I almost started down that road....until now...I think I will have the Mirena out first and see what happens. I also have some twitching in my fingers. I will let you know how I feel after it's out. Oh and Mood Swings....I always have this feeling that I don't know what to do....everything seems like too much!

Well here's yet another unsatisfied customer. I am so relieved to see I'm not alone but so angry and my doctors for not doing some simple research like this on behalf of their patients, so I could've been more adequately warned about the side effects of this product on some women. Basically, if you are sensitive to hormonal changes, which I am, then this product will really mess with your body. These hormonal changes can affect, among other things, changes in the ph level of your vagina which can lead to both bacterial and fungal vaginitis. Did anyone tell you that? Have you had more of those infections while on this and think you were crazy? You weren't. Symptoms of a bacterial infection include a thin, watery discharge and a fishy smell. Did you think you smelled different while on this but figured there's no way there could be a connection to Mirena? There is. Looking back now, how could I have trusted a pamphlet from the maker of the product? Obviously they want you to buy it. That was my stupidity. But how could my doctor trust the pamphlet? Why do they assume the hormone level is too small to make an impact when there are thousands of women having them removed and citing the exact same reactions. Demand that you be taken seriously as a women and a patient. Do not be bullied nor belittled by your doctor into thinking you must be wrong and a corporate drug company is right. Get it out.

My Mirena was placed on Oct 8th 2008. I had a very painful insertion. Since its placement I have had frequent yeast infections-one almost every other month. Prior to it's placement I had not had a yeast infection in years! I also bleed for the entire first month.( just enough to be annoying). Then every 2 weeks. Then another full month. Now every 2 weeks. In month six my breasts became extremely tender, swollen and itchy for the week before I began bleeding then just past the 6 month mark I have developed what seems to be an eczema rash on both of my legs ( this can be a side effect). I have never had eczema before and some days my legs itch so badly they burn. I had called the Mirena company to report the bleeding and was told that this was not unusual for the first 6 months. I have not yet spoken to them about the rash but plan to this week. On my last call they asked we what I thought of it as birth control and I told them "who would want to have sex while bleeding like this". I plan on seeing a dermatologist and if this is eczema this will be the last thing I can deal with. I strongly feel that the company owes us some money in refund for a product that can't be tolerated for even a year when it was sold as a 5 year birth control for over $500.00 !

I am a nurse and right now I cannot say I recommend the Mirena. I will probably soon have it removed.

I am a 34 yr old mom of 2 and have had my Mirena for 4 and 1/2 years. I actaully have been having a great experience, but again, have the same weight gain issues with almost no loss, no matter what. MY BIG QUESTION: has anyone else experienced mysterious vaginal discharge and symptoms? Starting about a year ago, I began having mystery discharge and have been to 7 different doctors who have tested for everything under the sun, and FOUND NOTHING. they can see it, keep giving me yeast treatments. etc, but in 2 or 3 months, it is right back. There is a pungent fish odor, especially after sex with my hubby, which Dr's have been saying is normal... MAYBE NORMAL FOR THEM, not me!! I actually thought it was due to a lack of hormones now that my IUD is ending is life.. However, I did have a couple of crazy panic attacks, which I have never had, the dryness for sex and friction is intense, and my hair has been thinning, which I thought was just me... Can anyone let me know if you've had the vaginal symptoms... I know no one wants to talk about it, but I have to ask!!

i have had my mirena out for 2 weeks now. i was bleeding heavily for 2 weeks and then it stopped out of the blue. my acne is better and i am slowly loosing wieght with little effort. my sex drive is coming back and i am enjoying a sex life with my hubby unlike before where i dreaded going to bed to only turn him down again. my night sweats are gone along with my cyst issues. my heartburn has lessened and my insomnia has disappeared. i am slowly going back to my normal self.

as for my new form of b/c; we are using condoms with spermicide, along with a lot of prayers. there is no way another form of hormones is going into my body again.

my yeast culture also came back today and it was shocking to the nurse. now i am on a double dose of pills to get the yeast down. i NEVER had a yeast infection before and can't wait for this to go away and me to be back to normal.

I am 34 years old. I went to the OB today after having Mirena inserted in August. I had a baby last March and was nursing her at the time. I had asked my OB a few months ago if fatigue was a side effect, as I have been just exhausted for months. She said no. I am exercising, eating exceptionally well, and losing very little weight. I have been extremely emotional--on the verge of tears all the time. My marriage is terrible right now.

I mentioned at today's appt that I had some irritation/itching/rawness feeling in my vaginal area. She did a culture of my discharge and said there was no bacteria/infection, but she saw some "premature" cells, (I don't know recall exactly what she said, is a blur, but she gave me estradiol vaginal insert tablets and told me to use them for 3 months. She said that maybe starting me on Mirena while I was nursing got my estrogen too low and that I "shouldn't have to be on this {estradiol} forever." Am I now experiencing premature menopause? No wonder I've suddenly sprouted gray hairs over the last 6 months!

Hey everyone,

I am 27 year old mother of 2 girls 5 and 1. I got Mirena in June of 2007. At first I had no side effects. About 3 months ago, I started having extreme vaginal dryness and itching. I thought it was a yeast infection so I tasted it. Then it came back a month later but worse, so bad my skin in the top fold of my outer labia was cracked. It went away after 5 or 6 days, then came back again. I had my annual pap today and my doc said that it was not related to Mirena and could possibly be herpes!!! I don't have typical sores or blisters, just dry and cracked skin down there??? Has anyone else had these side effects. I have been married for 7 years to the same man. Can anyone help??

I had my Mirena inserted in July 2007, exactly 1 month after my second child was born. I had it removed today, thank god! I had discomfort putting it in and horrible cramps. I bled heavily for a month straight afterward and haven't had a day in 7 months without some blood or thick discharge leaving my body. And I am talking THICK disgusting discharge. I have had severe acne flare ups, hair loss (falling out in clumps), severe headaches just about on a daily basis. I have suffered from anxiety and depression before but now it is 5 times as bad. Put back on Xanax which I used to take as needed which would be about 1 or twice a month to reaching for it 1 to 2 times a day! Most recently I have had leg, arm and back pain. Irregular heartbeat, very dehydrated. Absolutely unbearable mood swings from anger to sadness on a drop of a dime. I have never had suicidal thoughts or though about death but find myself in panic everyday thinking I am dying and I'm only 28! I could barely walk up the stairs without being utterly and completely out of breath. I did not do any research on this before I got it and I really wish I did. Thank god for all of you writing your experiences so I don't feel like a nut. My doctor said today oh I rarely ever have anyone with a problem. You should really get an EKG to make sure you don't have a heart problem...WHAT? Since I had it removed this morning I literally have more energy. It may sound crazy and it may be in my head but I feel better already. I couldn't even function before I was so tired. PLEASE LADIES DO NOT GET THIS....IT'S HORRIBLE!

After reading many of your experiences, I feel the urge to tell my story. I got my Mirena put in back in June 2007. My doctor had been encouraging me to try Mirena because I was having such problems with my periods while on the pill and I had tried different types and brands and nothing seemed to be helping me. So, finally after about 2 years of her telling me to try it, I did. Since I have not had children, she said I needed to have it put in while on my period so that my cervix was more open. I called her on the first day of my next period and got it put in. It was very painful to be inserted, and the horrible cramps lasted about 48 hours, but then went away. My period also got worse during that time, but then completely stopped two days later. I didn't get my period again until two weeks ago, which stunned to me. My doctor had said that I may have spotting the first couple months, but then that would stop and I would no longer get my period. Since it has been 6 months since I've had it, I thought it was very odd for me to suddenly be getting my period again. Along with the actual menstruation, I got the cramps, headache, bloating and everything else wonderful that comes along with a full blown period. I only had menstruation for 3 days (the shortest period of my life) but the cramps have continued constantly for the last 2 weeks. I decided I should look up the side effects of Mirena to make sure it wasn't abnormal. I got the same information from their website as I did from the pamphlet I'm sure we all got from our doctor - saying that only a very small percent of woman have any side effects at all. So, I thought I was making things up. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized all the things that have changed for me since I got it put in. That's when I stumbled across this site and found I'm not the only one and I'm not imagining all these things! I gained 30 lbs in the first 3 months - I blamed it on stress because we had just put our house on the market, however I had never in my life gained THAT much weight in such a short period of time. I am now over 200 lbs and I'm only 5'3". I have been desperately trying to take the weight off, but it won't budge and I'm only continuing to gain more. It is getting to the point where my weight is starting to cause other health concerns. Also, I have not had a single good night of sleep since I've had Mirena. I again blamed it on stress (but to be honest, I've lived through much more stressful times in my life without the tremendous weight gain and insomnia). After several weeks of trying OTC sleep aids, I went to my doctor and she gave me a 10 day supply of Ambien. The first 2-3 nights it helped, but then that also stopped working and I was back to sleepless nights. I found there is an herbal supplement that helps me sleep, but it only works for a few hours at a time, which obviously is better than nothing. I have also had cramps on and off throughout the last 6 months, sometimes they are very sharp stabbing pains that make me buckle over in two. I have also realized that I may be having depression - I don't feel suicidal, but I get very down very easily and stay that way for much longer than I ever have. I have actually had such horrible down days that I've called my husband at work crying and begged him to come home. I have never in my life done that until Mirena. I'm sure that I have more symptoms, but I have been able to persuade myself that they are "normal" or explained them away otherwise. I think that Mirena and the OBGYNs must be in cahoots. I was not warned about any of these problems - I was only given the small pamphlet and told it was so wonderful. I think there are a lot of other women out there experiencing all these side effects but their doctors are telling them it's normal or blaming it on something else. And they aren't realizing it is Mirena that is causing all these problems! I have an appointment for next Tuesday to get mine taken out and I cannot wait! I am finally going to be able to sleep again!

I had the Mirena put in a week ago. I think I'm having a laundry list of side effects, but two are a major concern for me: mood swings and odor down below. I stopped spotting five days after insertion but theres an odor that just doesn't smell like me. My sex drive is null and void. My breast hurt or itch depending on the day. Is anybody having the same issues esp. the odor issue? Thanks
stj

I had my Mirena put in on Oct 18th. There was some cramping the first day but not again after that. The only thing I am having trouble with is the bleeding. I have bled every day since it was put in and I just want to know how long it will last. I'm really tired of it. I have one other friend who has Mirena and she said she bled for the first day and thats it. Can someone please let me know if this is normal

I had the Mirena IUD inserted on October 10th. I had it switched from the copper IUD because I was spotting dark brown blood prior to my period, so my gyno recommended the switch. I spotted for the rest of the day, then stopped for two days, then began what I would call my period, since I was due for it later that week anyway. I am still bleeding, but I'd like to believe I'm nearing the end, since it seems to be lightening up. I expected my period to be fairly long after insertion.

The day after insertion, I experienced severe itching and swelling down there, and decided that I must have a yeast infection, but both symptoms are listed as side effects on the sheet I got from my pharmacy. I treated the infection, but still itch from time to time... I'm wondering if it's the hormones in the IUD.

On the weekend of October 19th, I lost my appetite, my sex drive, all sense of sexual pleasure and my ability to acheive orgasm. I ate three meals all weekend long, and only because I felt that I should eat, not because I was hungry. Sexually, I felt friction and not much else. Upon trying to climax 4 seperate times over the course of the weekend, I failed at all 4 attempts and all I got from my efforts was sore muscles, frustration and tears from being so upset by it. I have never experienced problems with sex or climaxing in the 14 years I've been with my husband. However, a couple of days before insertion, we had had sex and it was fabulous, as always. I climax every time we have sex, so it's been very upsetting.

I weighed myself today, just out of curiosity, and since the insertion, I've lost 7 lbs. I'm not dieting, not exercising, not even trying to lose any weight.

Upon calling my gyno and discussing my symptoms with her assistant, I was told that it couldn't be the Mirena, because the amount of hormones in it are so minute that they wouldn't affect anything outside of the uterus. I was told that something else in my life must be causing my sexual problems. !!! I don't think so! The IUD is the only thing that has changed in the past 2 weeks! And how do you explain a sudden loss of 7 lbs??? She didn't want to say it straight out, but she was trying to tell me it was all in my head.

I've had sex again since my failed attempts, and it's getting better, as is my appetite, so I'm hoping that my body is simply adjusting to the new IUD and getting used to the hormones. I have not been on any medication or hormones in the past two years, as I've been pregnant and then breastfeeding, so it might be quite a shock to my system.

If my inability to acheive climax continues, I am going ot have the IUD removed and have another copper IUD put in. My sex life isn't worth this.

I have been on mirena now for 10 months. I was on the depo for 10 years prior. I loved my depo adn only went off of it after Kaiser said I could not do it any longer. I was told that mirena was a god send and a lot like my depo. I can say that the combination of depo and mirena I have not had any period at all. but that is where the happiness ends. I have experienced moths of breast pain. it hurt to touch them let alone put anything on them. after about 6 months and numerous trips to the vet it disappeared. then I got a small rash on my neck and by my arms. went to dermatology and since then I have been there, or to my primary or an allergist every week since then. the rough severley itchy skin is constant. remarkably every 29 - 32 days it fades for 2 days or so and just when I am sure it is going away wham back it comes and each time it is getting worse and worse. having never had any skin problems before I believed the doctors tha tit was folliculitus, then they said dermatitus, then they said uticaria and then hives or the last straw i was causing it that it was in my head. i just got a new allergist and while she doesn't knwo if it is my mirena she can tell me I have histamine levels that are off the chart. my husband is allergic to a lot so we already use free & clear everything and my housse is spotless but I am still being told it is soemthing I am doing to myself. I have also been reevaluating my things and I relaize I have been experiencing a lot of numbness and joint pain. so much so that my primary sent me to a rhuematlogist and he ran every test for lupus, and many other diseaeses adn even cancer. I was going crazy. Iwas beginning to think maybe I was mental. I have since been researching mirena and I am finding it so much more than what the pamphlet says. I finally got the nerve to call my ob, adn she ahs since been researching things with me and we know for sure that no matter what next week I get my mirena removed. I am just feeling so alone and depressed. I am 33 years old and instead of enjoying my new marriage I am contemplating a divorce becasue I do not want him to be stuck with soemone who might be crazy. seeking support and anyone else who feels this way.