Progestin symptoms and conditions

I have PCOS, and was experiencing dysplasia of the endometrium. After some search, a doctor recommended the Mirena. This was November of 2008. The installation should have been a clue of things to come. I have never had children, and had a tipped uterus, and as a result they had to use the clamps that look like needle nose pliers to grab my cervix, and after 45 minutes of stuffing, got it in. It was excruciating. I was working out 6 days a week, 2 1/2 hours a day, and eating South Beach Phase 2- and had lost 80 lbs and had maintained for 1 year. I asked if it would in any way cause weight gain, and was told it would not. Within the first month my diet/exercise regimen failed, and despite working out 7 days a week and resuming Phase 1, I was gaining 10 lbs a month- which my Doctor would not discuss with me except to dismiss it. To make a long story short, after life threatening edema and bleeding 22 or 23 days straight and with my now discovered sensitivity to progesterone, I required a total abdominal hysterectomy to remove an enlarged, boggy, and fibroid riddled uterus. I am doing 200% better now, and I am sure there are some women the Mirena works well for, but I was not one of them, and I feel the Mirena actually endangered my life (that and the arrogant doctor who inserted it and told me to be patient. I had it in from 11/2005 to 7/2007- is that time enough?) Please, please,please. If something does not feel right, do not NO for an answer. I did not want children so I was okay with losing the ability to bear children, but having a TAH at 38 is a life change that most younger women would not want. Would I have had to have it anyway? Perhaps. But I could have been in a position to be navigator in my care rather than reactive as I was forced to be.

I never thought about the side effects of mirena. I had mine in over 4 yrs. and now I've realized the maybe everything that I've been going through could be because of it. I've been depress, moody, in pain all over and I feel like no doctor knows what is going on with me. I have gain a lot of weight, I'm heavier now than I was at 9 months pregnant. I'm a 36 year old married mother of four, my youngest is five now. My main concern is that lately, I've been feeling this terrible pain on my upper back and neck. I feel my bones crack with every movement, they crack even when I breath. A few weeks ago I went to the doctor and she order an x-ray of my neck and it showed some deterioration of the bones. I've been so worried, even thinking that it could be cancer or something. Now after finding this website I am wondering if it could be the Mirena.

I had Mirena placed in Sept 2007. I have 2 girls, wasn't ready for more at the time, was horrible with taking the pill (both in remembering to do so and with the side effects). Since Mirena is only a "local" hormone, I thought it would be a great choice for me. This past summer I got online to find out why my periods were so odd... brown, clumpy, really short but frequent... and came across this site as well as a few others. I couldn't believe the stories everyone was sharing! I could easily dismiss all of my symptoms away to something else... constant exhaustion (I have 2 kids under 5 and work full time, maybe my thyroid), anxiety and even a few panic attacks (started a new job), no libido (tired and stressed… How funny to spend so much money on birth control and have no desire for sex!!!), irritable (2 kids), hair loss (didn't even think of that one, but it is true), night sweats (maybe I am just dressed to warmly to go to bed?), unable to lose some weight (gained 5 pounds post insertion now that I think about it) even though I had joined a gym, was working out with a personal trainer and really watching my eating (maybe this is my new weight... I am 35 and my metabolism is supposed to slow down), weird pain/bloating in my lower abdomen (gas??? maybe something I am eating???), the described ‘Fog’… how true! I saw my doctor about 1 ½ months ago and we discussed taking it out. I had my thyroid checked first just to see if that may be the problem. It was, but after putting all of these pieces together I just needed to get this thing out!!! I had it removed one week ago. I felt better immediately. I am sure that was psychological, but who cares! Bled for a week and now it has stopped. Feeling some cramps still, but overall really good, especially emotionally. I asked my doctor about the ‘CRASH’ and she hadn’t heard of such a thing. I am kind of on the fence with this one… just waiting… hoping it won’t happen. If anyone is about 1 week out like me, I would love to hear more from you! I am sure Mirena is good for some, but I am sure it is not good for me. I am happy to be out of the fog.

I LOVE MY IUD. For those of you thinking about an IUD, I wanted to post a positive case study. I am sure there are more, but those people don't bother posting. Before I got my IUD, I did extensive research, not just internet or industrial propaganda, but peer reviewed medical journal articles. I decided on the IUD because of efficacy and minimal hormones. The IUD releases a steady amount of progestin that equates to about 20% that of the mini-pill (what breast feeding women take). Even less than 10% of a low dose pill.

I had the Mirena IUD inserted 7 months ago after being on the pill for way too long. I had random cramps for a few months on and off, and had to readjust to being on my OWN cycle vs. the pill. I do get PMS every month, but I attribute that to my own body's cycle, not the IUD. I have not gained a single pound, am on a normal cycle, have minimal bleeding during my period and no spotting in between cycles. My partner and I are thrilled to have this option. Only you know your body, decide for yourself.

Now that I have had mine removed and can think clearly again, I just realized that I had anxiety at work all year long and felt so overwhelmed with everything coming at me all the time, feeling like I had developed Adult ADD and scared I would lose my job because I couldn't keep up or kept screwing up little things with my foggy brain. WOW - it was this IUD messing up my body and my mind the whole time. Why won't doctors listen to us and hear our cry for help???

I had Mirena put in about 5 weeks ago to control heavy periods. After about 2 weeks I started experiencing a foggy head feeling and bouts of dizziness. I didn't relate this to anything and thought it might be from lack of sleep. Last week I stated having spells of rapid heartbeat and nervousness that lasted anywhere from 10 minutes to 10 hours. Exercising is out of the question since it makes me now feel lightheaded. I feel like I can't think or concentrate. At first I didn't think the symptoms were related to Mirena, but since I am otherwise very healthy and don't take any other medications, I started doing a search online and came to this website. I called the doctor and told the nurse my symptoms and she called me back to say that they never heard of anything like that and I must have some other medical problem...They insisted it was not Mirena causing the symptoms. I mentioned that my symptoms are actually ones listed by the manufacturer as "possible" side effects. They disagreed with that. Now I'm thinking of going to another doctor to remove it, if they'll do it. Can anyone tell me if they had these symptoms and if they got "better" with time? Or do they just get "worse"..??? If I knew that they would improve I would hold on a little longer. Has anyone had improvement after the first few months?

Commenting on the post earlier today. I decided to look into the Norplant (see below for more details) Now i found that development of my Mirena was done in part by the maker of the Norplant? Which has been pulled in the US and the UK after 50,000 people filed a class action suit (which was settle out of court)

Development and studies of the Mirena Coil began in the 1970s. Schering Health distributes Mirena outside the United States, while Berlex distributes it inside the United States. Both companies have worked with the Population Council, a that has worked with other contraceptive manufacturers (including Wyeth, maker of Norplant).
Mirena was first marketed commercially in Finland in 1990, but not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration until 2000. It is intended to initially release 20 micrograms of levonorgestral per day and may be used for five years. Sound familiar?
Norplant is a form of birth control was first approved in 1983 in Finland. The original Norplant consisted of a set of six small (2.4 mm x 34 mm) silicone capsules, each filled with 36 mg of levonorgestrel (a progestin used in many birth control pills) implanted subdermally in the upper arm and effective for five years. The original (6 capsule) Norplant's production has been phased out; USAID's contract ran until December 2006.
The original (6 capsule) Norplant was approved by the FDA in 1990 and marketed in the United States in 1991 by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. Norplant distribution in the United States ended in 2002; limited supplies still remained in the U.S. until 2004. Norplant was withdrawn from the UK market in 1999.
Side effects
After three months of using Norplant, women will need to schedule a follow-up appointment to monitor blood pressure and discuss any concerns. Side effects may include irregular menstrual periods for the first approximately three months, including periods lasting longer than normal, bleeding or spotting between periods, heavy bleeding, or going with no period for the mentioned period of time. Common side effects include weight gain, nervousness, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, mastalgia, dizziness, dermatitis/rash, hirsutism, scalp-hair loss, headache, depression, and acne. Sometimes, pain, itching or infection at the site of the implant will occur. Ovarian cysts may also occur, but usually do not require treatment, although they can cause pain even if benign.
Norplant discontinued in the United States
By 1996, more than 50,000 women had filed lawsuits, including 70 class actions, against Wyeth and/or its subsidiaries, or doctors who prescribed Norplant. Wyeth never lost a Norplant lawsuit.
On August 26, 1999, after winning 3 jury verdicts, 20 pretrial summary judgments and the dismissal of 14,000 claims, Wyeth offered out-of-court cash settlements of $1,500 each to about 36,000 women who contended that they had not been adequately warned about possible side effects of Norplant such as irregular menstrual bleeding, headaches, nausea and depression. Wyeth said that most of the plaintiffs experienced routine side effects described in Norplant's labeling information. About 32,000 women accepted the out-of-court $1,500 settlements.
At least they warned the user of these side effects and the no longer offer Norplant in the US

The Mirena* IUD, which its manufacturer calls an IUC (intra-uterine contraceptive) is being heavily promoted to young women in the U.S. as a wonderful high-tech, no muss, no fuss, put-it-in-and-forget-about-it for five years form of contraception. But it’s really just a levonorgestrel uterine implant, the same old side-effect ridden progestin that was in Norplant, a tiny implant that is injected into women’s upper arms and then causes many of them months if not years of misery.
MIRENA IS SAME AS NORPLANT

\ i had mirena 9 months and that was enough i know myself very good, so when i started changing i knew it was mirena. i almost ruin my marriage, with my bad moods. but what worry me later was that if YOU BREASTFEED IT WAS WOREST, THIS IS WHAT I FOUND ON BEWARE REPORT ON MIRENA. I WAS VERY UPSET CAUSE I BREAST FEED MY CHILD AND MY DR. DID NOT INFORM ME THIS!

could find that followed breastfeeding infants exposed to levonorgestrel (Norplant) was done in Norway and found that they had higher incidence rates of respiratory infections, skin conditions and eye infections than the control group, and later were found to have a higher proportion of “neurological conditions.”

To me it’s unthinkable to even consider exposing a nursing infant to any type of progestin. I would call this a form of corporate sociopathy—marketing without a conscience to unwitting, under-informed women who are just trying to responsibly avoid an unwanted pregnancy. Since the FDA is unlikely to take action against this practice it’s up to the rest of us to spread the word.
IF YOU BREASTFEED AND HAVE MIRENA READ THIS ABOVE

Okay...so I first posted the day I had Mirena inserted, Oct. 1. ( and had wished i found this site prior to installment)
It has now been two weeks. So lets up date:
I bled for only a few days, maybe 5 days tops. Which was great, I just thought " hmm maybe I'm a lucky one, maybe they put it in right, or maybe my body is handling it better than I though it would" But then 5 days later I started bleeding again.
Like I said, I have had this thing in for TWO WEEKS.. and I've had sex.... TWICE! I don't even want to have sex, no wonder it is so good for birth control.
The first time was great. My boy friend didn't feel anything, and was enjoyable for the both of us.
Needless to say, the second time was great... until it was over.
The second it was over, I was doubled over in pain. Literally, 30 seconds after sex, I had a severe hot flash, and felt like i couldn't breathe. I started shaking, and started crying. I felt like the " insertion part" was happening allllll over again. ( insertion, is miserable.. that alone makes me not want to recommend it to ANYONE) I thought i was going to pass out, and standing felt impossible, I couldn't even roll over. A few minutes later I stood up and went to the bathroom, I was nauseated and felt sick. I tried to pee, and couldn't. It just burned and felt like my whole body was trying to squeeze this thing out.
I went back to bed and layed there for about 45 minutes in agonizing pain. My fiance was so sad, he felt completely guilty that he "caused" the pain... he thinks it should be removed immediately. And so do I.
The one word to describe this pain was INTENSE.

To add, I have noticed dry, itchy skin. And my skin is now sooo fragile. My scalp is sooo itchy that when I scratch I actually bleed and scab.. it is DISGUSTING. And yes, my hair is slowly getting worse. Everyday I notice a little bit more shedding than usual. My complexion is not getting WORSE, but the few pimples I have are deep, painful, and are actually scaring. Never before did I scar.

I also feel the extreme fatigue, and occasional mood swings, I will admit, I have Always had an attitude but this is a little more than even I am willing to except.
I have not gained any weight, but it's only been TWO WEEKS and, I have intentionally weighed my self everyday... and I am now fluctuating 6 lbs a day in water weight.My belly is 23/7 bloated. The only time I am not bloated is after the first pee in the morning for about 45 minutes, and then it starts allllllll over. People have noticed my fingers are chubbier, and are sore. For 2 days my toes and feet were a light blue-ish color... that "symptom" was enough to make me WANT to go to the E.R. but I opted not, as there was no discomfort.
A major discomfort, like i said was sex, and the random times throughout the day when I bend over or wiggle into a chair... it just feels like it is STABBING the right side of my body. There is truly no comfortable way to sit without favoring my right side.
It is weird, painful, and is getting really old.
I tried calling my doctors all day today, and it was still left on their " night time recording" so, I am a little angry.
I thought about pulling it out myself, but this time I read " REAL PEOPLE INFORMATION" and apparently its not a good idea. SO DON'T, if your thinking about it. lol.
Anyone that has had it removed, is it painful? Does it feel anything like the insertion? I am scared to death.. and I am a little upset that i have to continue to wait to get through to my nurse practitioner. I just want this to be over with. The last thing I need is to have it get " lost" like so many other women.
I tried, but I'm listening to my instincts, and this just isn't right.

I had my 2nd child in June '08 and had Mirena placed on 8-8-08 with no discomfort or problems of any kind. I had already heard great things about it from two co-workers who LOVE theirs. This past weekend I finally started poking around on the computer because of my husband's constant complaints of the "whiskers" poking the head of his penis when we have sex. Lo and behold, I find this page and am BLOWN AWAY. I felt so relieved. I have never been one to have headaches, nausea, back pain or low sex drive. I had been attributing those things to a combination of being significantly overweight, having two babies under the age of 19 months and being on Prednisone (for rheumatoid arthritis). I also have been experiencing a lot of fatigue, night sweats/hot flashes, weight gain, swollen breasts, dizziness, swollen hands/feet, and crazy mood swings. I know that all of these symptoms can probably be explained away as being due to the prednisone, my weight, my life right now (two babies and working full-time) and any number of other things, but there are so many women who have Mirena who are reporting the EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS. I can't just be a coincidence. So anyway, I went to my doc today to have it removed and he, of course, told me that he doesn't believe that any of my symptoms are due to Mirena. I had it removed anyway, but he did tell me something I didn't know: the tiny amount of hormone is delivered locally, as opposed to oral contraceptives' systemic delivery in a larger amount. Go figure. In any case, I am disappointed and have mixed feelings, but I cannot wait to see if my sex drive returns and my lower back pain subsides. I also want control of my moods, weight and breasts again! We discussed the Essure, but I'm just not sure I'm ready to put something foreign in my body again right now. I don't want anymore kids (I'm 40 and have two already), but the options for 98%+ are limited. Everything seems to have a drawback. Oh well. I'll just be glad to see if the symptoms were related to Mirena. If not, I'll get it put back in.

Agree with the earlier post -- read the drug insert that comes with your Rx! Majority of these side effects are well-known. Blood clots are a very well-known potential side effect of hormonal birth control -- non common but certainly devastating if it happens. Chances are good that these individuals have a genetic tendency toward abnormal clotting. The only good news for these gals is that they've had a warning (it's likely to happen again).
Re sexual dysfunction, it is a VERY common side effect of all hormonal BC. But especially with Yasmin and Yaz -- the form of progestin in these BC pills has anti-testosterone action which is great for acne but lousy for your sex life. Unfortunately, you might not be able to have clear skin AND libido.
For those with serious mood disorders on the pill, consider non hormonal forms of BC -- copper IUD inserted by an experienced clinician is worth considering.
And gals in your 40s, guess what? PMS often gets worse with age and then slides right into perimenopausal symptoms (did u know 10% of women never stop having hot flashes?!). Normalizing with BC pills is an option, but the sexual side effects are even worse for us older gals.

I have been on Mirena since about March of 08 after I had our son. My Husband was overseas and we wanted something before he got home in June. We hate condoms and I can't ever remember to take the pill, so I decided to get this. Well since I have been on it I have been VERY moody and everyone can notice it. Hubby was the first to say it is probably the Mirena but I was like how can it give me mood swings? I still kind of don't understand how it has, but anyways, I called the doctor to get it taken out and tomorrow I am going to get this dang thing out of me. I am so tired of being moody, sweating all the time, i have cramps during my periods and I used to never have any kind of symptoms during my periods. You could never tell when I was on my period, now you do. I was having terrible back pain a few weeks ago and I never thought it could of been because of the Mirena but after reading some of the posts, a lot of other people have had back pain also.

I can't believe they will put something like this into you and advertise it as much as they do. I believe they should take it off the market. I hate being moody and tired all the time.

I AM SO HAPPY I AM GETTING MIRENA OUT OF ME TOMORROW.

OOOO and I also forgot to mention that I also have been getting headaches and I never got headaches before. I never thought it was because of it...how can this thing cause so much????

Hi ladies! I started Yaz in June 08 after taking Ortho-Tricylcen-Lo for 6 years (It wasn't treating my cramps or mood swings anymore). The first month was bad. I had mood swings, breast tenderness, lower back pain, anxiety, weight loss, and no sex drive. I didn't attribute this to the pill, I associated it with a very, very emotional and difficult experience that was currently occurring in my life. By the second month, I put 2 and 2 together, and realized it was Yaz. I am a pharmacist, so I am well aware of the types, mechanisms, and incidence of these side effects. I knew that these side effects usually disappear with time after the body adjusts to a new/different form of progestin. By the third month, all of the side effects had subsided, except for the inability to gert aroused, which is very unusual for me! It wasn't so much the lack of interest, but the lack of physical arousal ("getting wet"). I almost got off the pill just because of that, but I decided to tough it out just to see what happens. By the fourth month everything is back to normal and I feel great. I lost a little weight, my breasts don't get swollen and tender during the third week (like a tricyclic pill), a don't have unusual mood swings, and my period is average in length and heaviness. It was a bumpy road, but that is to be expected when you mess with the body's natural balance. It takes time to recalibrate hormones, during which time you will not feel yourself! Weird stuff will happen! I think Yaz is a good drug and patients should stick with it for at least 5 months ( or at the digression of your physician of course), unless you experience a side effect that alerts you to a serious problem (severe leg cramps, difficulty breathing, or suicidal ideation). As for the fact of it being "new and unstudied", that's not completely true. Yasmin is a higher dose of the same drugs as Yaz and it has been around practically forever. This is an excellent forum, but don't be scared off or expect a cure-all from a low dose hormone. Good luck!

I am 35 years old and LOVE my Mirena. I have NEVER felt better. All these "side effects" sound so crazy to me. I know 10 women who use this product and not one of the complain about anything. They all love it. Its their word of mouth that inspired me to look into it. I have had mine since March 06. I fear for all of you who are having "side effects" that you might be blaming this product, and ignoring that there can be some thing other than the IUD causing your problems. All of these comments are hell bent on blaming Mirena. I'm not saying that its not causing any of these side effects with some of you, but for some, I am wondering if your too busy blaming it, then finding out if there is really something else wrong. I didn't think it hurt that bad at the insertion, a little crampy, but nothing we as women couldn't handle. After I saw this site, I literally contacted the women that I know use it and they all were shocked that people were having such a hard time with it. You would think 1 out of us 10 would have something to say if there was a problem. The only thing in common that we all have is that we went to the same Dr. So maybe that could be an issue with some of you. I didnt bleed for weeks or months. And the pill NEVER could regulate me . Within 3-6 months I had a 90% decrease in my periods ( just like this product states it would do) i had used the vaginal ring before this and that caused some moodiness and was a bit odd during sex, But Mirena has made me feel free, not moody, no pain, no period, I have a strong sex drive ( mainly because I no longer have the worries such as did I remember my pill? Is the ring still in place or did it fall out?) My boyfriend never feels it or the strings ( and I have a short cervical neck!) Nor have I heard such things from my friends and family who do use it. I think if I was having some problems and stumbled across this website I would panic and blame Mirena as well. But in my opinion all these symptoms are things we as women will have happen due to stress, age or routine ob/gyn issues. i actually read in one of these comments someone asking about a lawsuit.... Are you kidding me??? If I were all you with these problems I would seriously check with your doctors and make sure there is nothing else causing your issues...Don't just blame a product with out making sure you know everything thats going on within your own body. I wouldn't take that chance but I am not the one with any problems. I'm sure this method isn't for everyone but my point is that I hope you don't overlook a more serious or undetected problem. good luck to all.

First off, your OBGYN is a moron if they told you it only takes a month to adjust to the pill. It is more common for the body to regulate to the pill at a minimum of 2 months and 3 months is not uncommon. So it can easily take 3 months for your body to adjust to your pill. And sometimes longer if you were on another pill and switched to another OC.

Amenorrhea(no Period) can happen on Loestrin 24. Notice the first for letters of amenorrea are AMEN. Is that a bad thing? To put this in the most basic lay terms....Birth Control tricks your body into thinking its pregnant. Thats it!!! Do pregnant women have periods? ..Of course not.

Regarding your lack of sex drive comment...that is ridiculous. The progestin in Loestrin 24 is norethindrone acetate. That is androgenic...it is one of the few pills that increases your sex drive.

I suggest if you want a pill that lowers your sex drive try yaz or Yasmin. It is anti-androgenic and lowers sex drive. It also is the ONLY pill that has extra warnings by the FDA for hyperkalimia. ...basically extra dangers if you take it my Advil, Tylenol or ANY NSAID. REMEMBER THIS PILL HAS only been around for 10 years and has been tied to several deaths in Europe. Google search yaz or Yasmin +death.

Loestrin has been around for 45 years. tried and true.

ALSO if anyone is a smoker and takes birth control you are guaranteed to have Bleeding and spotting.

I am not a Mirena user, but was seriously considering it until I came across this site, and read all these comments. I also came across a site warning that Mirena is a levonorgestrel uterine implant, the same progestin that was in Norplant (which is several small implants that are placed under the skin in the upper arm). Once I read that, I definitely would not try this form of birth control. I had Norplant implanted in my arm, many years ago, after the birth of my two children. It was horrible, there were maybe a few days out of the month that I had no bleeding or spotting. They said my period should regulate within 6mths, well I gave it almost 14mths, and couldn't take it anymore. Romoval was not quite as easy as implantation. I used to joke...that it was great birth control, who'd want to have sex when you have your period all the time, well it was no joke.
Read all these warnings, do research, glad I did. I would have made the same mistake I made 15yrs ago, with Norplant.

I'm 23 and have been on Loestrin 24 for about a year and a half now. For the 1st month I was on it I was feeling really sick as if I was pregnant having morning sickness so I called my doctor and she said its takes about a month to get in your system so I should continue taking them, well after that month went by everything was great I got my periods on time every month they were longer than normal but I was fine with that, the pill even made my hair grow but about 2 months ago my period came but I was spotting for a day or two then last month I didn't have a period at all and I took a pregnancy test and of course it was negative but now i'm starting to get scared because since I started my period at the age 12 it has been normal and now all of a sudden it's gone and I know i'm to young to not have one at all, can anyone let me know if there going thru the same thing and what I should do. Oh yea I'm also experiencing the lack of sex drive my fiance thought I was cheating on him and was more interested in the other person (That doesn't even exists) LOL

I had mine inserted the first week of July. Yes, it was freaking uncomfortable getting it done and I had cramping the rest of the day, but my OB warned me of that and I made the decision to go ahead. I'm not in a position to complain about it now.
I bled/spot for 2-3 weeks after insertion. Only heavy enough to require a tampon for the first week, but I had it inserted when I was supposed to be starting my period anyway. Again my OB suggested this and warned me about the possibility of bleeding for up to 6 months. Again my decision to go forward!
Since then I have had cramping once a month like I'm going to start my period and never do. Within the last few weeks I've started getting the acne and an oily scalp. It's all over my back and not poppable. I'm hoping it will eventually subside when my body gets used to the new hormone level I'm giving it. If you think about it, it's the same thing in puberty (ie change in hormones) that kicks off the acne so it doesn't surprise me that this is a side effect. If it doesn't subside I'll make a decision then whether or not to have it out.
I have not had any of the other side effects. In fact I had terrible headaches and neck pain before I got this and those have gotten much better.

I was on the pill for 15 years before getting mirena and I had much worse side effects with that (extreme moodiness, loss of sexual desire, bad cramps, long periods, etc). I tried multiple brands of pills and never found one I was 100% happy with. But I dealt with it because I made the decision to go on B/C.
I'll take the acne over those any day! (not to mention I got pregnant on the pill!!!)

I understand that these side effects suck, but you act like it's the company's fault. They specifically list the common side effects and the majority of the ones you're complaining about are listed in plain site Taken directly from their website:
Menstrual changes
Lower abdominal pain (cramps)
Acne or other skin problems
Back pain
Breast tenderness
Headache
Mood changes
Nausea
Ovarian cysts have been diagnosed in about 12% of Mirena® users. In most cases, the enlarged follicles disappeared spontaneously during two to three months of observation.

Did you think that's just for show? Did you ever stop to consider (before getting the product) you might actually get those side effects and what you would do if you did? It is your body... YOU are the only one responsible for what goes inside it. No one held you down and forced you to do this. Mirena didn't hide anything from you or trick you into it. Take some responsibility for your actions! Quit blaming others. This is a great example of what is wrong with our society today!

Take responsibility! Do your research! Make your own decisions and deal with the consequences of them without blaming others!

If you look at the mirena website it gives you the FDA number to call to report side effects. If you're having major ones call the FDA and report it so that more than just people that stumble upon this forum know about it!

I hate this pill. Im nauseated, cramping, bloated, angry, have high axiety, cry at the drop of a hat, leg pain, headaches, bubbles in my stomach. and it even gave me an infection canadisis (like a yeast infection of the skin). which I found out was actually a symptom of this pill! I want to switch so bad. But i have been on and off this freaking pill three times this year. Im worried that if i switch to a different birth control I'll just experience new horrible symptoms. Luckily no weight gain though. but horrible break outs as well.

I have been on loestrin for 2 months now. For the past month I have been an emotional wreck, and for the passed week I have had anxiety, heartburn and stomach cramps just below my ribcage. My lower back is killing me and my stomach is spasming. I just took my last birth control pill this morning and start the reminder pills tomorrow. I totally don't feel myself. I haven't got my period since i've been on it. My doctor put me on it because I was bleeding abnormally heavy for me two weeks after my period. I really want to not start a new pack, but i'm nervous that i will bleed heavily again. the anxiety is causing me no to sleep.................I hate this pill

Let your body heal from child birth before you get Mirena, that is my opinion. I didn't get Mirena until my son was over a year old and i haven't had any crazy side effects, at first the bleeding and spotting for about a month and then my period stopped. i love it so far and reading some of these comments i realized the common theme in them is that many of the women have had problems got the Mirena right after having their child. i really think your body needs time to process all the hormone changes and get back to normal before you add birth control to the mix.

I have been taking this pill for almost a year now. Recently in the last few months, I have experienced insane mood swings, irritability, heart palpitations, headaches, and anxiety. I even went to a cardiologist the heart palpitations were so bad. My heart is completely healthy. I have not had a period in like 7 or 8 months which is great but now I am thinking that this pill is doing more damage than good. My poor sweet boyfriend has taken the hit the most and its unfair I dump all my irritability on him. I am calling my doctor in the morning to change. After reading all these negative responses, I think this pill sucks.

I think it is interesting the symptoms that you mention here. I have been on birth control pills since the age of 19. I am now 28. Over the past year I have had similar symptoms. I have been on so many different BCP's that is is hard to keep count. They don't seem to work the way they claim to. The last BCP I was on was orthotryciclen. While taking these I began to experience severe heart palpitations. So bad that they would wake me up at night. Because I wasn't sure if it was an anxiety attack or just being in my head I decided to ignore it. Four months passed by and it seemed to get increasingly worse. I had enough and decided to go to my PCP. She wasn't really much help either. Although I was tested for Mitral Valve Prolapse, which I was told affects younger women my age. There was nothing found. What I thought was interesting is I really felt that it was the birth control pills, but I couldn't find it as a side affect on the information that was provided in the box. The tech who was doing my echocardiogram began to tell me she also experienced the same feelings and found out it was her BCP. Once she confirmed what I thought was right, decided to stop taking them. After three months the symptoms began to disappear. I figured it was just the particular brand. I began to take loestrin 24. I started to feel the same symptoms again, just not as severe. I would feel my heart beat when I would like down in my back and my stomach. My heart rate would reach 90 to 100 sometimes. I know this is not normal. When I visited my gyno yesterday she told me it was impossible that it was a result of the BCP. Maybe it was just anxiety and or perhaps I should get checked out by a cardiologist. That is serious stuff when you are talking to a young person about getting there heart check out. I think if there are any other women out there who are experiencing any similar symptoms should speak up. So these doctors won't keep telling us it is all in our heads and help to take care of this problem.

I am 25 years old. A mother of 2, and i have now been on the NuvaRing for 5 years. I got on the NuvaRing the day of my postpartum check up after i had my second child.. I loved the NuvaRing at first thought it was the best thing in the entire world, hell all you had to do was put it in leave it for 21 days days leave it out for 7. Go on your period and other then that everything was great. About 2 months into using the Nuvaring i started having HORRIBLE HEADACHES that would last 3-5 days at a time without letting up. I could not stand to be around noise, light or anything that had a strong smell or it would get my head pounding to where i just could not take it anymore. So i called my doctor and told him about the horrible headaches that i have had. Explained to him that before a bad headache would come on i would have this horrible burning sensation in my head that would make you want to die.. And the doctor told me just hang in there and give the Ring time to work, so i did and then as time went on i started having other side effects along with the headaches.. Such as BAD ACNE that scars after clearing up which has made my completion not so good. Breakouts on arms, back ,chest. So i got some neutrogena soap to help with that and it has worked.. But then i got more side effects such as BREAK THREW BLEEDING right after my period was suppose to be over and after intercourse.. Then i totally HAD NO SEX DRIVE which caused lots of problems in my marriage cause my husband began to think i wasn't sexually attracted to him anymore.. And i began to think that also. Cause i had lost my sex drive didn't want to do it, the thought of it made me cringe. After being on the NuvaRing after so long you began to develop this THICK DISCHARGE that is annoying then as time goes on you get another type of discharge that is thin WATERY DISCHARGE that is aggravating cause it almost feels as if you have peed your pants a bit almost feels like a yeast infection with out the smell. Which brings me to my next awful side effect which is the Yeast INFECTIONS and the number of UTI's i have had while being on the NuvaRing never had a UTI or a yeast infection before the nuvaring. Not having a sex drive because you cant because intercourse is too PAINFUL sex it hurts like FRICTION and STABBING because of the DRYNESS the Nuva Ring causes. So i called the doctor he told me that i would have dryness at first and to just use lube so i tried that. Didn't work still had pain from the dryness so i called the doctor again and told him about the pain so he wrote me a prescription for a numbing jelly that you use right before intercourse and that was suppose to help with the pain.But that didn't work either just made everything numb till where you couldn't feel rather anything was out or in so i quit using that and hoped to god that my body would adjust to the Nuvaring. Still today after intercourse it causes STOMACH CRAMPS similar to the ones when your on your menstrual cycle,and PRESSURE similar to the pressure you have when your 8-9 months pregnant. Going to the bathroom after intercourse is a total NIGHTMARE i have had times it has burned so bad that i have pinched my stomach as i peed to take some of the PAIN AND BURNING away.Dont always work! Another side effect that i have had is DEPRESSION i have noticed that i have been unhappy and just got to where a lot of times i don't care about things that matter to me because i don't feel that i have the energy to do so.. I also have ANXIETY ATTACKS which i have never had until i got on this NuvaRing. CHEST PAINS that i thought the first time i was having a heart attack it hurt so bad. I had to take little breaths to breathe which would then lead into a PANIC ATTACK cause i felt like i was unable to breathe like i am suppose to.. So yet again called the doctor who told me that i need to be on prozac to handle this. Never got on the prozac just delt with it hoping that it was just a little side effect and that my body would adjust to the NuvaRing, but guess what NO never did.. Another side effect that i always hate is getting SICK AND THROWING UP caused by a medication, guess what i still have this after 5 years i get to cramping so bad and headaches tied onto being MISERABLE and BLOATING and DIARRHEA and DRY MOUTH so bad that you cant stand it seems no matter what you drink to get rid of dry mouth nothing can quench your thirst and this is all hours of the day. So i would take Midol which would only help for a few hours and then i was right back to square one with the B.S caused by the NuvaRing. So i call the doctor and get told "well you will have that." the side effects will be less obvious the longer your on the NuvaRing." So stupid me stays on the NuvaRing hoping this is true! Which i have found out is not. The only good thing that i have noticed is the NuvaRing is easy to use and you don't have to remember take a pill everyday! I never had any weight gain or loss while on this dang thing. Pretty well maintained the same weight as i have always been. I have tried to get off the ring several times, but always get back on it, Because while the ring is out for 7 days i am miserable mostly with a headache that last 3-5 days untop of the TERRIBLE MOOD SWINGS that i get. i truly think that my body has been on this hormone so long that i have HORMONAL WITHDRAWALS when i don't have the ring in. Cause i am fine after the ring is inserted again. People can say what they want and say that this is a issue and that they haven't had problems and that is understandable and different people adjust to hormones in different ways but the time that i have my ring out i always get my sex drive back 1-2 days before i start my period. I am not asking anyone to believe me about any of this and if the ring works for you then great, i thought that it was going to work for me also but it didn't. . I have taken the nuvaring out this last past Sunday and have no intentions on putting another ring back in.. Yet again i have had 3 days of a SEVERE HEADACHES some thing that i believe is HOT FLASHES or NIGHT SWEATS,BLOATING,DEPRESSION,CHEST PAINS,ANXIETY ATTACKS,YEAST INFECTIONS, and BAD MOOD SWINGS and i am hoping that all this will pass and my body will go back to the way it was before the NuvaRing came along... I would not suggest anyone to get this as a form of birth control i would actually tell then that the pill is better off to have in the long run.. This has caused me nothing but a miserable life that i have tried to deal with and i am just not going to do it anymore. I hope to see in the near future the NuvaRing go off the markets and not able to sale anymore.. The only reason that i was put on the nuvaring is because my doctor had a hard time finding a birth control method that my body would accept I was on Ortho- Tri- Cyclin and got pregnant and had a girl... My postpartum check up with her i was given the Orthra- Evra patch and i got pregnant with my son. Tried IUD and my body rejected it. So the doctor says" lets try this new birth control"you insert yourself leave in for 21 days leave out for 7 and have your period," the longer your on this NuvaRing the lighter your period will become and the side effects which aren't many will fade also.". "So how bout it." Well i thought this NuvaRing was a dream come true, BUT IT WAS A NIGHTMARE WAITING TO HAPPEN..