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pros and cons, redux
Mar. 1st, 2014 10:58 amSo, about 7 and a half years after I had it put in, I had the mirena IUD taken out.
I really don't regret my choice of having it done; it gave me some troubles, but overall it solved even more problematic ones. Problems it solved: endo, really heavy blood loss, irregular cycles, incredibly painful cycles, inability to tolerate pill/patch birth control. Troubles: weight gain, blood pressure increase, random twinges, strings that would poke. And gradually over several years, my libido tanked and my breasts felt like they were being stabbed all the time.
I was getting signs that the mirena itself was wearing out (originally only supposed to be in for 5 years, but my gyn said that the guidelines had been changed and I could leave it in for 10); I was getting more regular bleeding, and was feeling more twingey than usual. So I finally decided to have it pulled.
It's been a couple of months. Fairly immediately I stopped having painful twinges. Shortly thereafter, my breasts no longer hurt all the time, and more slowly... my libido is no longer that of a hibernating bear. In the mean time my cycle is much lighter without cramping, and miracle of miracles seems to be regular. No change on the weight/blood pressure front, sadly.
And thus, my consumer report of the day.
I really don't regret my choice of having it done; it gave me some troubles, but overall it solved even more problematic ones. Problems it solved: endo, really heavy blood loss, irregular cycles, incredibly painful cycles, inability to tolerate pill/patch birth control. Troubles: weight gain, blood pressure increase, random twinges, strings that would poke. And gradually over several years, my libido tanked and my breasts felt like they were being stabbed all the time.
I was getting signs that the mirena itself was wearing out (originally only supposed to be in for 5 years, but my gyn said that the guidelines had been changed and I could leave it in for 10); I was getting more regular bleeding, and was feeling more twingey than usual. So I finally decided to have it pulled.
It's been a couple of months. Fairly immediately I stopped having painful twinges. Shortly thereafter, my breasts no longer hurt all the time, and more slowly... my libido is no longer that of a hibernating bear. In the mean time my cycle is much lighter without cramping, and miracle of miracles seems to be regular. No change on the weight/blood pressure front, sadly.
And thus, my consumer report of the day.
