Zits symptoms and conditions

Yeah I don't know why physicians just put us on this Aviane because its "cheaper" than Alysse. Mine told me it was basically the same thing but it's obviously not because I've been breaking out in zits like crazy ever since I went on it. I also got harsh mood swings, intense fits of anger (broken furniture can attest to this) and it comes completely randomly; one tiny thing can set me into a fit of rage. I had previously been using Alysse since I was 16 (I'm now 22) and it worked perfectly - didn't have harsh breakouts, my moods were normal, didn't gain weight. I've been taking Aviane for more than six months now and the zits (which are often huge and painful) haven't gone away :( I wash my face day and night, haven't changed my diet at all... So I can only assume it's because of hormonal changes - which only leaves Aviane.

I'm definitely switching back to Alysse - hell I'll pay the extra five dollars if it means a clear complexion and my/my boyfriend's sanity!!!

Well I think that I have been the most dramatic person posting on this website.I have had the mirena since May 2007 and overall thought that it was the best thing in the world until I started putting two and two together. I have had bouts of major depression, hair loss with every combing, acne galore (Im 30 years old and have always been complimented on my clear skin), headaches,moodiness, been a recluse, no sex drive, when i did have sex it hurt my ex so bad that we just decided not to, and not to mention the weight.I work out twice a day on my bike, do weight lifting 5 days a week and do stomach exercises twice a day.All of this was done to my dismay because I have not loss a daggone pound. The straw that broke the camels back was when I went to see my doctor and he told me that I had to get a rx filled for bacterial vaginosis. (I don't have sex and haven't had sex in 6 months) so it couldn't have come from new or many sex partners(Im not that type of chick). He said that the hormone that the mirena delivers can make the normal bacteria in your body grow in excess. Well I just about lost it. I was so upset that I asked him to remove it. He told me that in order for them to do it I would have to wait until after the holidays. Well that wasn't good enough for me so I marched out of his office, drove home in a rage, and marched upstairs and snatched it out myself. I thought it was going to be painful but it actually didn't hurt at all. I haven't started bleeding as of yet but am prepared for it. The only good thing that I can say I will miss about the mirena is the absence of my period. I went the whole time without one. The thought of not having a period scared me as well. Regardless, this is my story and I know I went to drastic measures but i was extremely unhappy.

I have been on Yasmin twice now, with a 6 month break while using Yaz (got free samples). The first time was for about 2 years. Now it's been 5 or 6 months. Both times, I have had the following side effects, but did not realize they were the pills fault, until I started taking it again -- and noticed the trend. These side effects are particularly bad the first 3-4 months of Yasmin, and then my hormones seem to level out...

1. Weight gain. I have gained 5 pounds since restarting Yasmin this summer. I am dieting and exercising, and I think that if I weren't fighting as hard as I am, my weight gain would be significantly higher.
2. Facial and random body hair. Ok, gross and embarrassing. I have had random chin hair pop up, and one strange chest hair that comes right before my period. These were not an issue while on Yaz, or after my body became accustomed to Yasmin last time. I am not normally a hairy woman. Seriously!
3. Pimples. These were the worst pimples I have EVER gotten, and had to visit a dermatologist for serious medicine to counter my acne. I literally have ACNE SCARS from the huge, severe cystic acne that I have while on this pill. I do not normally wear makeup, but no makeup could cover these HUGE zits! This is awful for the first 3-4 months, and my skin flairs up on the 3rd and 4th week of the pill still. People didn't even know they were pimples, as they were so big and red. Beyond pimple size. I don't know how to explain this well enough -- literally quarter sized. I am currently on my last week of pills for the month (week before period) and have a large cystic pimple that doesn't even look like a zit, because of it's size!
4. Heavy, inconsistent periods. My period last month lasted 4-5 days (about average for me). I bled through tampons and actually had to double up. For example, I changed my tampon right before I left the house for work one day. I got to work (30 minutes) and had bled through my heavy tampon, panty liner, underwear, and into my jeans. This is NOT acceptable!
5. Grumpiness. Yes, I'm a bit grumpier and more emotional than usual, but counter that with increased exercise (also to fight the weight gain).
6. Sex drive. Point blank: I have not had an orgasm since being on this pill. I'm a married woman, and that would be nice to have once in a while.

What shall I do about this? Nothing. Apparently Yasmin is supposed to be the best pill out there for weight gain, acne, and facial hair. So, they are telling me that other pills would be even worse...? Does ANYONE have a useful suggestion for a new birth control pill that will have fewer side effects?

I had my mirena inserted in Dec. 2007 (shortly after I delivered my daughter via c-section). My libido took a nose dive right away, I became really irritable, bloated, and I would get sharp pains just above my pubic bone. Not long after all that, my face started developing these little bumps, that short of resemble a zit, only they don't go away, and you can try to "pop" them like a zit. They started slowly, a few near my chin, and now they have traveled up to my cheeks, and under my eyes, and a few on my forehead. I had the mirena removed Sept 2008, and now a month. and an antibiotic lotion later, they are still there. I wouldn't have jumped the gun in thinking that the mirena had caused the bumps, until I started talking to a few of my friends. One who had hers inserted in Dec. as well, has even worse bumps on her face, and has an appt to have hers removed in 2 weeks., another who loves the mirena, but can't figure out why her face it getting these bumps!
They feel like zits, and kind of hurt, but when you mess with them nothing comes out, and they get more red, and spread. My fam doctor, prescribed Clindamycin, and it has done nothing but dry my skin out. Going to a derm today...wish me luck :)

I took it for around 8 or 9 months 2 years ago and my side effects were extreme and severe. I would bleed all different times of the month, my hands and legs would fall asleep all the time and painfully so when I was asleep, my hair was falling out at alarming rates, my right breast hurt for last 2 months I took it and the worst was I tried to commit suicide (I am not a suicidal person - quite the opposite) so that was it. And when I called my doctor and told him (or his nurse rather) this I was told I needed to continue taking it and come in. NOT! I just quit taking them and my husband had a vasectomy because my doctor would not tie my tubes since I've never had kids, which I don't want to and have told him this since I was 15 years old, but I cannot believe the things I didn't notice were side affects. My skin is not at dry and I don't break out with zits as much (I'm over 30 years old, too) plus all the other stuff stopped as well - I'm my usual happy self again.

my acne has gotten a lot worse. I never had zits in highschool and stuff i was a lucky one but since i started these its just out of control. The kind of acne thats like 3 zits in one spot and they hurt. It also seems like im more emotional than i was before im not 100% that its the pill doing though.

I have been on doxy for 2 weeks for acne. I am 44 and get cysts under my skin. Not noticeable to anyone but me really. Finally yesterday I realized that every morning I wake up extremely fatigued and a 1/2 lb heavier. I am somewhat of an athlete and watch my diet and found this very strange. I have dark circles under my eyes and this incredible bloated look and feeling unlike anything I have every experienced, It has to be the doxy because that is the only new thing I have introduced in to my system. Ugh. I have to stop taking it. I'll deal with the zits.

I have been taking Loestrin for close to two months now and its driving me crazy. The sole purpose for taking the pill was to regulate my excessively long periods (5-7 days). About four days after taking it, I started what is called breakthrough bleeding. My dr. said its completely normal and since then, I've been spotting everyday! It normally takes your body three months to adjust to the pill but I am not even sure I want to continue taking it. I am dating someone new and we haven't been intimate often because I do not feel comfortable doing so spotting. He's been extremely patient and he's great about it but I am getting the opposite results of what I had hoped for. I must say I have pretty decent skin and am usually pimple/zit free, but I've noticed I've been getting some zits on my face more than usual. I am unsure if this is a direct result of Loestrin or not. I am going to complete my three months and hope that I get fewer and lighter periods as the pill suggests. I've read so many different reviews on the pill that I am unsure what to think anymore!!!

I have had the Mirena for four months. I am 45 years old and finished having children. I cannot take the birth control pill because I'm a smoker. I talked with my physician about a tubal ligation versus Mirena. She actually recommended the tubal ligation but I was afraid of the general anesthesia. However, after the side effects I have experienced, I will be calling my physician soon to schedule a tubal ligation and have the Mirena removed. I have always been fortunate to have three, light days of a period each month. After the insertion of Mirena, I have 20 days or more a month of spotting which necessitates the wearing of a mini pad daily. I would rather have three days of light bleeding every 25-28 days than 20 days of pesky light spotting. Also, my knees are killing me. I feel like I'm 95 years old. I can hardly walk up and down steps without pain. This was not an issue prior to the insertion of Mirena. Within the last couple weeks, I've noticed an increase in acne. I have NEVER had acne problems so the three or four zits on my face now is very unusual and I can only attribute that to Mirena. I guess I need to overcome my fear of general anesthesia and get those tubes tied and end my birth control woes!

i started taking Yasmin after i had my 5th child in July 2002. i was about 70 pounds over weight and my gyno said i would lose weight on this new wonder pill. i did, i lost 30 pounds and felt better than i ever had.
My skin was clear, my period light and i just consistently lost weight. i did notice that i was urinating quite a bit but didn't think much about it. About 3 years into taking the pill, my pharmacist mentioned to me that i should be having potassium levels drawn with this pill. I was a bit confused because i had read the literature that came with Yasmin when i started taking it(im a nurse and i just always research new meds i take) and it never once mentioned blood work. i had to harass my gyno because he thought it was useless but to appease me and because i mentioned to him i take a lot of ibuprofen for back pain he humored me and did the test. It was a little high but nothing crazy so i let it go even tho i mentioned that i was getting horrible muscle spasms all the time. he said my calcium was probably low. i accepted that because i had had 5 kids and figured i had depleted my supply. he mentioned that i could take Yasmin continuously without taking a sugar pill to keep me from having a period, said it was completely safe. so for the next 3 years i only had periods about 4 times a year. i raved to everyone how wonderful this pill was. i was still having muscle cramps but it was a small price to pay for no zits, no periods, no water weight, and i could eat whatever i wanted and had lost 30 pounds after one year of being on it though i never lost any after that.i didn't notice my hair was greasier than normal but i never connected it to the pill. i wanted to take the pill forever! that didn't work out thought when i lost my insurance and was forced to go off it because i just couldn't afford 70 a month. within the first couple of weeks i noticed acne appearing all over my face especially my nose and chin. i was 36 years old! far past the acne stage! i also noticed i felt bloated and my first period that came was like someone had released a flood gate. i went through 2 boxes of super tampons and a bag of pads in 3 days. thats about the time i noticed the weight gain. slowly over a period of 3 months i put on 3 or 4 pounds a week to now a whopping total of 30 pounds in 3 months. i was devastated. i knew that there were side effects of any medication and you assume those risks while taking it but not from not being on it anymore! the only good thing to come from getting off of it was those annoying muscle spasms completely stopped. i had been to the point that i couldn't even flex my toes or they would charley horse i had even gotten them in my jaw from yawning! now they were gone and replaced by fatigue, extreme weight gain and horrible acne and periods. i started blowing up and it didn't seem to be mainly weight, it seemed like fluid. i didn't urinate half as much as i used to it was like my body forgot how to make its own diuretic hormone. i could take a water pill and lose 10 pounds in 4 hours of fluid i knew that was not a good thing. i was scared as well as baffled. i went to my internist and he was shocked when he saw me my lungs were full of fluid, i had put on 30 pounds and was short of breath he ordered thyroid function tests and guess what? out of the blue my perfectly functioning thyroid (i had levels drawn the year before in routine tests) had stopped working when i got off Yasmin! so now i have to take diuretics because i don't seem to make enough of my own which i believe is thanks to Yasmin and i also feel it damaged my thyroid since its mechanism of action is inhibiting your adrenal system and thats what controls your thyroid. i am seriously considering filing a class action law suit based on the fact that for 3 years i never had my potassium levels checked because it wasn't advised by the manufacturer and i have experienced damage from this pill that i was not warned about in the package insert or by my doctor. i had the right to be informed and if they didn't know then the fda should have never approved it. i feel like ive been a guinea pig, and if anyone feels the same my number is ****** if we stand together maybe we can make them take this off the market and find out what has happened to those of us hurt already

I just finished my first month on Le 24 and I am only taking it to regulate my periods (I am peri-menopausal). Unfortunately, I have now had break-through bleeding that I guess turned into a period (all of it HEAVY) for 14 days straight. My nurse-midwife assures me that it takes 3 months to allow this pill to work well and to let the body settle down, but I am tired as a dog and I am sure anemic at this point! Not to mention the zits! I do like the perkier breasts and my tummy is flat. Lots of blood but no cramping. I don't get it? I am getting a little depressed and this is KILLING our sex-life! I am going to keep reading this to see what other's experiences are and If things don't improve soon, I am looking for a better answer!

This is by far the worst pill I have ever taken. Before Yaz I was on Nordette, Ortho Tri cyclen and Alesse. I saw the commercials and got sucked into trying this pill. All I can say is proceed with caution. I ended up taking this pill for the unhappiness 8 months of my entire life. I had problems with other pills causing weight gain (Nordette, Ortho Tri cyclen) or acne (Alesse). However, those symptoms are mild compared to what Yaz inflicted on me.

I have always been described as happy go lucky and Yaz gave me extreme moodiness, panic attacks about my future and life, and major depression. I did have the best skin of my life and lost about 5 lbs but I was an emotional MESS! I would cry at the drop of a hat and find fault in everyone and everything. This symptom didn't start right away but each month I was on Yaz got worse. My friends coined my "alter ego" "she devil." I almost felt possessed at times on this pill. I finally realized it was the pill and not life causing these problems when 3 of my girlfriends had the same problems and got off and the problems went away.

Prior to having this experience I thought people tried to blame too much on the pill but my experience showed me just how much these can mess with your body. I switched back to Alesse 5 days ago and it's like I am a different person--even my skeptical boyfriend noticed the change. As for the acne, I am going to go to a dermatologist to address that. I will be happy to have a few zits as opposed to being a crazy woman.

Proceed with caution on this pill and watch your moods carefully. Just because you've been on it for a few months doesn't mean you're safe. The majority of my emotional disorder started about 5 months in. I do have some girlfriends that like this but most have found it to bring out "she devil".

I am 24 years old and I have been using Yaz for four months now and I think it is the worst BC I have been on. When I first started, I took Ortho Tri-Cyclen because it helped with my acne. I was a little moody and crazy on that, but nothing compared to YAZ. Yaz has made me very depressed, angry, sad, have bad cyst like acne (as mentioned by an earlier post). I have stopped taking it, but just a couple days ago so it may be too early to tell if this is the real cause, but from what it sounds like, more than likely. I'm glad so many people have posted about it because for awhile there I just thought that I was going crazy!!!!!

I have just spent the last hour reading some of the post about Yaz. I have yet to read one that states she is diagnosed with PMDD and that is the reason for her dr. putting her on Yaz. Yaz is not only a birthcontrol pill but also effective tool in treading PMDD. PMDD is the more life effecting sever side effects of your menstral cycle. Some of the side effects people are experiencing on Yaz are those that I suffer with on a regular basis. You see I have been diagnosed with PMDD. I suffer every month for at least 7 - 10 days before my period starts. I literally hate human contact during this period. The slighest thing makes me uncontrollably irrate with things from fuzz on my carpet to the site of my husband. I experience svere road rage. Have absolutley no desire to do anything but eat and sleep. These side effects make life for everyone around me pure hell. Once my cycle starts they subside. I literally turn into cruella deville every month. I have been put on other antideppresants for the treatment of PMDD with no good results. I gladly welcome nasuea, headaches and break thru bleeding versus no sleep for days on end, halluctinations, memory loss, and flat affect all symptons I experienced on Prozac the most common treatment of PMDD. Not only do I suffer from PMDD but I have horrible horrible monthly periods consisting of major bledding with excessive clotting. I go thru 2 40ct. boxed of tampons each month and a box of maxi pads too. So if a headache is the price i have to pay for a few months I say bring it on. Any dr will tell you and the pamplet that comes with Yaz state that you may suffer some side effects until your body becomes adjusted to the new medication. You can't just pop one pill and say whalla my life is perfect now. I just started Yaz this week and so far no symptoms listed on this site have i experienced. Maybe some people need to be more patient. Medications are like diets, they don't all work and they were not intended to be overnight miracle workers. I will keep and eye on this site and further update with any success and or non success I have with this med. Remember talking a med used to treat an ailment that you don't have can make you suffer from worse side effects.

I'm 18 and I've been on Loestrin 24 Fe since august. I haven't experienced any weight gain, but although I've never had but the occasional 3-4 zits at a time, I've had to go on Proactive to combat the breakouts that keep trying to happen on my face. I've noticed that i will wake up and it will just be a aggravating day. But all of a sudden a switch flips and I'm the giddiest thing alive. And two more hours it's gone. Also I'll go thru a stage about a week and half before i WOULD get my period, if i still got one, my breasts will stay sore and tender so where i have to watch how i play around with my boyfriend. I only began having sex about 3 months before i was put on loestrin but i noticed that around my 3rd month or so on this pill (around November) i became VERY sexually aroused all the time. Honestly i think my boyfriend gets tired of it sometimes, but i just can't help myself. I've been seeing the opposite feedback from most posts on here, so if someone has a similar one please reply or post, Especially about the OVER SEXED part.

I was having problems with my birth control pill Marvelon, I just felt like I was PMSing all the time. One minute I was furious at nothing, and then I would just want to cry but about absolutely nothing at all and it was through the entire month not just before my period. I felt like I was going nuts. I had my doctor switch me and she put me on Alesse. But 6 months in my PMS like symptoms are still here but reduced, but now my skin looks terrible. My neck has completely broken out in what is almost a rash except it's all zits. This is what used to happen to me for years while on Tricyclen but the doctors would never believe me! They just kept saying it's meant to cure your acne (which I didn't even have before birth control) when I finally got off tricylin it all cleared right up and never came back after a full year of turtle necks and cover up makeup and that was 10 years ago. So I just had my doctor move me again, she's now prescribing Yasmin, which I hope will be much much better. One thing I do know is when they say it will get worse and then better, they don't know what they are talking about!! if you are still reacting to the pill after the first three months, then try a new one, there are so many options out there and living life with acne that will supposedly 'miraculously' eventually heal is just not worth losing a year of your life with no confidence because a doctor has a hunch it will all fix itself when it never really does. If you don't break out then stay on it and enjoy, but if you do then don't be patient and wait it out, don't be scared to tell your doctor you want to just try something else.

Took it out today after being on it for only 2 weeks. Noticed a change in my personality after one day. Have become increasingly withdrawn from friends and family, extreme irritability, complete loss of sex drive, can't sleep, loss of energy, increased appetite, aches in my legs and vagina, headaches, and zits like you wouldn't believe. The worst is the anxiety and depression which led me to this site after doing a search on side effects. I was on the pill for years and had some irritability here and there but nothing like this.
Had a baby 2 months ago and have been freaking out that I was just now getting post partum depression but I believe it is the ring!!! To those who will argue, the ring becomes effective after only 7 days which means that the meds rush into your system almost immediately after insertion.

Thank you all for sharing. I thought I was all alone.

I had the Mirena IUD inserted in September 2007... BIG MISTAKE! I paid $550.00 for the stupid IUD & another 225.00 for doctor fees!!
Okay here's my story.. I have three children, 26 yrs old, married, 120/122 pounds.. can stay in shape/get in shape easily, happy, VERY short 3-4 day periods.. BEFORE Mirena..
Now.. its been 7 weeks.. And even though I keep to the same diet, I have gained 8 pounds! I have been on a period & constantly spotting for 15 DAYS~ oh yeah.. AND bad, bad, bad, BLOATING!! Yesterday I had Severe Cramps- my doctor is out of town so the nurse actually called in muscle relaxers to help with the pain.. I was in TEARS yesterday. I NEVER EVER had menstrual cramps before.... to make things worse..I am so moody & I hate my quick temper. I have never had acne, but now I get a few spots.. not so bad, but I shouldn't have any. I feel like I don't have control over my body.

My appointment is for this Thursday.. I am getting this thing removed, so I can return to normal!

Before getting this awful thing ( which hurts when inserted & bad cramps afterward) I was using NuvaRing for two months.. I did not have any of these bad side effects with NuvaRing... I am going to try that again.

IN SHORT.. I PAID over $800.00 for severe cramping, 15 day long periods, constant spotting, brown discharge, EXTREME BLOATING, huge weight gain, and acne!! WHAT?!? I want a refund!!

I just finished my 2nd pack of Femcon . For the first 3 or 4 weeks I had headaches and was nauseous often. The symptoms were more avoidable when I began taking the pill at night. I occasionally still woke feeling nauseous, but it didn't last long and soon ended. My breasts have gotten bigger as I now have trouble fitting into some of my bras. I am not complaining though, since I was a small B cup before. They are still tender and feel tougher. I also did notice I was getting some big zits (3 or 4 at once when I usually have 1, if any, a month) the first few weeks were hell, but I am glad I stuck it out. I know the side effects can really be miserable, but I encourage you to try and stick it out, for at least a month and definitely try, if you can, to take your pill a couple hours before bedtime so you can hopefully sleep through the unpleasantness.

good luck! (:

I have noticed that I will get 1-3 zits around my mouth (hormone induced)right at period time on this medication - without fail; this isn't helped by the fact that I have my period 2x per month like clockwork on this pill. My period starts on the Monday of Week 2 and the Monday of Week 4. Never fails. Those have been my only 2 symptoms, but its not working for me. Loved Depo but have taken off weight and fear putting it back on.
Called my gyno today to switch pills.

I was prescribed Lisinopril for pre-hypertension at 10 mg a day. I've only taken it for 2 days and have felt so sluggish and tired but revved up on the inside at the same time. Had a headache too last night and blurry vision. It does work in lowering the BP though. Last night I felt as if I couldn't take deep breaths to relax myself and then I started having shaking chills and tingling in the hands and feet. Thought I was having a panic attack so I took my clonazepam. Then I felt like I'd have to throw up or go to the bathroom to get relief. The clonazepam kicked in after about an hour and knocked me out, but I still woke up a few hours later still feeling extremely anxious even though the clonazepam was still in my system (I take it twice a day for panic attacks) along with Lexapro for depression/generalized anxiety. I'm refusing to take any more of this drug. I will lose weight and exercise and eat healthy just to avoid this drug.

Hello,

I read about how YAZ birth control pill affects the body and psych and I am now scared. This is my 2nd day of YAZ (I've never been on birth control pills ever and I am 27 years old), it's all new to me but after reading all these negative posts about Yaz I don't know what to do. Before the birth control pills, I was depressed, annoying, serious weight problems - 210 lbs :~~((, low energy, low libido, always tired, terrible migraines every 2nd day, ridiculously increased appetite and excessive hunger, hair where it shouldn't be, menstrual blood clots, excessive cramping etc
I have all these problems for 3 years now and now that the family doc. put me on YAZ birth control pill I am even more scared - mainly of more weight gain, it would be a tragedy for me, I am fat enough already and what's worse I can't lose the weight, exercise doesn't help, diet doesn't help, NOTHING. Will YAZ birth control pill worsen my already tragic condition? I just don't know what to do and what to believe ... I appreciate any advice or help you can give me ... Thank You to all!

Everything everyone else said.

Got it 3 years ago. Within 2 months, went from 130lbs to about 155... break out all the time... mid-section weight where I never had it before.

By the time I figured out what it was - went to the doctor, and it's "stuck". Has grown quite attached to my uterus, I guess and after MUCH pain and an ultrasound, the doc says I need surgery to get it out.

The good side: very light periods. And... I'm not pregnant, but hey! What birthcontrol could be better than having a bunch of zits and getting fatter?? What's next? Are my teeth going to fall out, too????

Wasn't worth it. When this comes out, going back on Alesse birth control. I was thin and zit free...

MY doctor laughed in my face when I expressed my concern with the side effects that I was experiencing. "There are NO side effects" he urged. But still I would get sharp abdominal pains, the cramps were sometimes unbearable, my back broke out in horrible acne and since I've barely had 5 zits in my life this symptom is hard to ignore, the constant feeling of being bloated, the weight gain even with a change of diet. And the worse symptom of all, the mood changes. I constantly felt in whirl of emotions from crying reading a magazine to being so unexplainably angry with everyone. I could be fine one minute and the next watch out! My poor husband had to endure this type behavior for 6 months. My doctor still insists that there are NO side effects but i feel the proof is in the pudding.

I had my mirena inserted back in May 2007. The insertion was the most painful experience of my life. The Dr. could not get in on the first 3 tries! She said, "well, one more try," and got it in. I almost passed out from the pain. I can count on one hand since then the days that I haven't bled or spotted. I get mystery "shooting pains" in my abdomen a few times a week, sex hurts because of cysts on my ovaries, I have acne on my entire face, scalp, hairline, chest and back. I used to get a couple of zits (maybe) before my period, before Mirena. Now I have full blown acne that leaves scars, and I am never without zits. And to top it off, now I am getting cysts on other parts of my body, too. I don't even want to get started in on my lack of sex drive, or being always tired. I tried to let the staff know that I wanted the copper IUD instead, but they told me it was too late to change my mind. Getting Mirena was a huge mistake, and I can't even afford to have it removed, so I am stuck with it until I get insurance again. My advice, DON'T get Mirena!!!