I'm considering a Mirena and just wanted get the scoop from other IUD users (doesn't have a be a Mirena).

So any advice/recommendations/admonishments?

I have a non-hormonal IUD that is good for 10 years. Physically, I'm a complete wreck, and I have had absolutely no problems with it. It was a painless procedure, but I had some cramping over the following few days. They were like PMS cramps, but a little more painful. My doc gave me a handful of pain meds, so I was just fine.

I will never use any other birth control. Evah.

No advice, but I'm getting ready to fax my prescription for Mirena this afternoon. One thing I will say about it -- my OB told me it's overwhelmingly the personal contraceptive choice of women's healthcare providers.

I have two friend who have had IUDs and liked the convenience of them, but didn't care for actually having them. Both women had spotting and cramps and getting them out was an ordeal for both of them because they imbedded in their uterine linings.

I will never get an IUD. I was at the midwife's today, trying to figure out what kind of birth control to go on and I just don't know. I think I'm going to try the mini-pill. I'm still nursing.

i have had the mirena for about a year now... and am underwhelmed. it is my first foray into hormonal birth control. i chose it for the low hormone levels and the possibility of no/reduced "periods", as mine tend to the heavy/crampy side. initially it was annoying- i (less then my period) bled for about 8-10 weeks. then there were several months were things seemed fine, occasional weird twinges in my abdomen and light periods. after weaning, though, i have more or less not stopped spotting. i am really tired of it- my gyn said to take ibuprofen, which works after a couple of days, but then if i stop taking it and do anything (ie. vigorous exercise, have sex or an orgasm, wait two weeks) it comes back.

anyhow, not to discourage you, but it is not perfect, sadly. also my family (mom and sister, both) have weird sensitivities and difficulties with hormonal bc, so this is probably not typical. my sis uses the nuva ring and really likes it. (ps- sorry for the rant, i've just been really fed up with it lately)

I have a clotting disorder, and the pill almost killed me.

When Big O was 3 months old, I got a Mirena. I had no complications, and after a couple months of very light periods (they weren't heavy to begin with), I had nothing for the next 4 years.

When we were ready to go for #2, I had it removed at the end of Feb, apparently missed an ovulation during the 4 days they say No Sex right after the removal, then succeeded in getting pregnant the next cycle.

When Ebay was 2 months old, I got another Mirena, and it's been smooth sailing just like the first time. I would recommend it, but as Pocket says, everyone has different reactions to it.

I have the Mirena. It hurts like a mother to put in. And, it took six or so weeks for my body to get used to it. I have been happy with it since then.

What about the string that hangs down? Does that get in the way? Is it annoying? Is it bad if you can't find it? I think I would probably search for it daily.

Also, is it the same hormone that's in the minipill? So in theory the minipill could stop your periods too?

bap - I'm like the damn Princess and the Pea. I can feel everything - tags, lumps in bed, etc. The strings don't bug me at all. They are there so you and your doctor can check to make sure the IUD is still in the correct place.

I've had Mirena for one year - no complications - I don't even know it's there.

The Mirena is the no-horomones one, right? If so, I have it and like it. I have much heavier periods than when I was on the pill, however.

Lady Grey, I am opting for the Mirena after trying to do the minipill for two weeks. It was a total PITA when you've got a newborn and a full-time job and a million things to think about, because you have to take it at the EXACT same time every day. Just couldn't do it.

Might work better for someone less spacey than me, but I can't even be trusted to set my alarm clock. And I really, really, really do not need to get knocked up again anytime soon.

Lady Grey, I found that the patch worked best for me. You change it once a week for three weeks and then skip a week. It much easier that remembering a pill the same time every day. I switched to that after my second missed pill baby was born.

What about PCOS? After my babymaking is done I'll have to be on some kind of bc to keep it under control until I start 'the change'. Does Mirena do the same thing?

I want the Mirena very, very badly, but sadly the insurance doesn't cover it, so I'm still on the pill for now. But I'm so very tired of the pill. Except for pregnancy, I've been on some form or other of birth control pill for almost 15 years now.

But the pill I'm on is pretty great. I got on Yaz last year and basically I haven't had a period in over six months. And before that it was just one day of spotting and then back to nothing. So that's a plus, especially considering that I used to have very heavy, very crampy period that generally lasted a minimum of 5-6 days. And that was on the pill (Ortho-tricyclin). Before I went on it my periods were even worse.

My wife had an IUD for a while, and it really messed with her. I'm not sure which one it was, but she was crampy, and moody. I think these things affect everyone differently.

KS, I would so love to do Yaz 'cause I've heard great things about it, but your choices are so limited when you're breastfeeding. Boo.

Regarding hormones/moodiness & Mirena, from what I'm told the progestin in it has for the most part a very localized effect, restricted to the area of the uterus. Which is what makes it safe to use while breastfeeding.

My good friend had a Mirena and it got ***LOST*** in her abdominal cavity. It tore through her uterus and got LOST. The doc found it and put her on the mini pill. She promptly got pregnant and is now home with a newborn and a 15 month old.

I got pregnant on the mini pill the month I stopped nursing my daughter. Not that I blame the pill (well I do on a very emotional level- and not at all on a logical level) but the fetus was very sick and I lost it during my second trimester.

I hate the mini pill. I am afraid to get an IUD. Right now it is a non-issue b/c I want another child, but someday I am going to have a hell of a time finding birth control. I'm sure I'll be consulting with OS when the time comes.

One word: vasectomy!

Obviously not a choice if the factory is idle but open, but MAN I love not taking hormones, or dealing with any messy/painful/annoying.

My husband has sworn he is going to get a vasectomy when we are done. He is like, why wouldn't I? Since I can then most likely get off the pill. But I may make him wait until I am sure I don't want another one!

See, even if Mr. S were to get a vasectomy (I'm trying to get him to, but so far he won't), I'd still want to be on some kind of hormonal birth control purely for the lack of/decrease in periods.

Thanks to all for the input. Hotmama one of my coworkers had the same Mirena experience your friend did.

Right now I take the pill (Lo Estrin24FE). I was on Nuvaring for 3 years and loved it until it feel out (between the advised weekly checks) and I didn't notice. Enter 2nd kid. I'd love to get back on it but after I am hesitant to go back.

For me taking the pill daily at the same time isn't a problem. I'm just tired of spending $500+ a year for birth control.

I had the copper IUD put in--couldn't talk the man into the v-thing.

My only regret with the IUD is that I had wanted to try some Mayan Abdominal Massage for post C-section scarring. But they can't do it on you if you have an IUD.

Otherwise the thing is great, as far as I can tell. Way better than the pill if you're done w/kids.

I've had a non-hormonal IUD for almost 8 years - other than not having the predictable periods its been easy. I didn't notice any cramping after the first day and haven't had a problem with the string. MUCH easier than anything other than a vasectomy.

I know of two babies born while their moms had IUD's in. Like anything else short of being lasered, cauterized, etc., it is not foolproof.

AlphaGeek took the lead with birth control for us, because I get morning sickness from the Pill. Any pill. I've tried several. And quite frankly, I'm tired of puking. And 'accidentally' getting pregnant for me is not an option. So, AG got snipped and we are all happy campers.

My husband doesn't have any masculinity issues - he's remarkably secure, despite being married to a basketcase, but he cannot bring himself to get snipped. He says he will, but he's not ready. I told him that's what I want for our tenth anniversary.

I've had several MRIs since I got my IUD. The first time, I was scared out of my mind that it would rip out of my body and stick to the giant magnet. Irrational, but deeply disturbing, especially with the giant magnet hovering over my body for over an hour. I had a margarita for lunch that day.

Vasectomy. Damn. I always forget that one.

With Peanut Pants, I knew I wanted a long-term no-fuss BC (because I've had very bad luck with the pill. Even Yaz, the PCOS wonderpill, made my periods so bad I thought I was going to bleed to death every month), so it was down to the Mirena or Implanon. Because of my PCOS, I worried about Mirena making my already hideous periods worse, so I decided to go with the Implanon (which is kind of a second generation Norplant, and it lasts three years).

However, I had decided that in the very unlikely event of a C-section (I'd had two vaginals before, I was expecting another one), I'd get my tubes tied while they were out there in the fresh air anyway, because while the tubes being tied was my first choice (I was DONE with pregnancy. DONE.), I wasn't going to go after the baby was born and get general anesthesia and get them done. I have to say, I have been ecstatic over the tubal. No hormones, no pill to remember, and my sex drive is insanely high (I think it's because I'm not worried about getting pregnant).

Of course, the EASIEST answer is the snip for WBW, but Mr Ellie wasn't too thrilled with that option, and was probably secretly glad I got the C-section so that *I* got the snip.

the thing that puts me off the IUD is firstly everyone I know who uses it has cramps and very heavy periods. Also if you do get pregnant you can have an ectopic pregnancy (small chance) and die...anyway I got lucky and hubby had the snip. FREEDOM!!

Ellie, that's pretty much the reason I haven't had a tubal. I just don't want to go under general anesthesia and get it done, and I didn't have the c-section opportunity (which is generally a good thing, except for that). And again, even if I had one, I'd probably still be on the pill, just because I hate periods. Almost (but not quite) as much as pregnancy, and in fact, that was the ONLY good thing about being pregnant for me.

Hubby is going to get snipped after his marathon in October. But, I will probably still end up on the pill for long periods and bad cramps... I'm curious about the mini-pill. I didn't think about it's lack of effectiveness after weaning... Huh, have to look into that.

i take mini-pill, but i am absolutely lousy at remembering to take it on time. And then when we moved my computer desk, i forgot to take it for half a week... then when i remembered i was meant to, i couldn't find it. so i refilled the repeat script... and i haven't yet opened the box. So when i say "i take the mini pill" what i mean in reality is, i'm still nursing, DaD just had an arthroscope and we are still just dealing with that.. i'll take the mini pill again when i remember. (i keep waiting for monday to roll around.)

When the doctor asked if i wanted an IUD i read the booklets and totally piked, the idea of that much pain etc flipped me out. And i was only about 4 weeks post partum. Couldn't have done anything about it then anyway.

I took triphasal pill for a decade or so. I think it gave me a small fibroid. Not that i noticed or anything, until i went for the first ultrasound. Would prefer not to go back on it though, it makes me a little crazy.

Minipill didn't mess up my head too much when i was remembering to take it... but i really think if you can get your man to go the snip, do it. I've been doing all the birth control in this house for years, once we're done having babies, he can take the responsibilty for not having more. And i trust him not to lie, he knows what kids cost. :D

I just got a Mirena 2 months ago. I am still (very lightly) bleeding. I had cramps for about 2 days afterward, especially while nursing my baby, but after that I was fine. I also exercise a lot, which may jostle things around and increase the bleeding. As for the string, I can't feel it. My husband can though...but the Dr. said it is very easy to trim, which she will do in a couple of weeks. Also, it didn't hurt at all when it was inserted 6 weeks after delivery. It was definitely the right choice for me. Funny story though--in April of 2007 I tried to get the non-hormonal IUD because the pill messed with me so much. Well I hadn't had any kids yet, and they couldn't get the thing in. So my husband and I decided to just "be careful." Well...we had our little guy in April of 2008! And my new IUD was promptly inserted with no problems in June. Whew!