Contraception Conundrum - Mirena & Anxiety?

[SLKB]

Hello,

Have just signed up and thought I would dive right in with my queations!! :)

My second Mirena is 5 years old this month so I was going to go and get another as I have found it fab (no periods!!) - I wasn't sure whether I'd be "allowed" a third so Googled to find out and found loads of anecdotal reports of Mirena's causing anxiety and depression. Upon a bit more investigation I find out that the drug company does list anxiety/depression as a side effect.

I had my first Mirena in Oct 2000 and my first real anxiety episode was.......Oct 2000 - coincidence?

Many of the ladies report that upon having the Mirena out they soon felt better.

So I am now facing a dilemma, could my anxiety/phobia be caused/exacerbated by the IUS? Should I have it removed? What to use if I do?

I wouldn't consider any other hormonal contraception as if the low dose of the IUS is causing problems then they are sure to as well.

So I thought about a "normal" coil (IUD) - but the things that bother me are that:

a. They can make your periods heavy and painful (mine were pretty painful before).

b. Aren't you technically "aborting" - as you still ovulate, the egg gets fertilised but then doesn't implant? I am not comfortable with that.

c. When I first had the Mirena I would get quite bad cramps once or twice a month with it, would a regular coil be worse for that?

DH is willing to have the snip but I would rather he didn't as that seems so final to me.

These are the sort of times when being a Libran and thus unable to make a decision does not make things easy!!

Thanks for reading,

Sarah

I'm a Libra too but I doubt that'll help much with this response!

I found that I did get very depressed when I had a Mirena coil. I tried it twice, both for over two years but just didn't really get on with them.

I found the normal coil to be absolutely awful, unfortunately. I've always had really light periods with little or no period pain (well, up until I had DD anyway) but with the normal coil they were much heavier (lasting a week instead of two days) and the pain was so bad that I had to take extremely strong painkillers. I kept it in for about six months and it didn't get better.

To be blunt, if you're unable to take hormonal contraception and the coil doesn't suit you then your options are limited to either condoms or a diaphragm/cap.

I have the same problem and am now having my tubes tied/being sterilized in November. I'm very nervous about this but I definitely don't want any more children and it seems to be my only option. Unfortunately.

I found this thread really interesting as 2 months after having the coil fitted I was diagnosed with severe postnatal depression. I was convinced it was the coil but the doctors assured me it was due to having my second baby.

I have suffered quite severe anxiety since. Thought it was just me going mad butnow wander whether it is all connected.

As I am also have zero libedo (if that's how you spell it) and finding out that that is also a side effect I am making an appointment to get it taken out and see where we go from there!

As my husband is happy to wear condoms, maybe that is the best option! No wierd hormones affecting an already chaotic lifestyle!

I had the Mirena coil removed 3 days ago and am feeling better already.

Where do I start, I had it fitted 11 weeks ago and over the last 4 weeks have started to feel anxious, very panicky, unsettled, headaches, nightmares, heat across the left hand side of my back and complete lack of sex drive.

I have a 6 month old daughter and am completely happy and settled so could not imagine what on earth was causing this, which was adding to my anxiety, I just happened to Google the Mirena coil and anxiety / depression and could not believe the stories I read, all stating the same side effects.

I still didnt think it could be related to the coil as I had had the mirena for 10 years previously, until I realised that during these 10 years I suffered with anxiety, depression hence I took anti depressants, you do the maths! If only I had known about the side effects then

I immediately made an appointment with my doctor to have it removed and they were not very keen but I insisted I wanted it out, I was literally shaking with anxiety in the doctors and they said that maybe it was post natal depression but I said I am the happiest I have ever been and that I felt completely not myself, I didnt want to tell them how bad I felt as I was worried they would want to monitor me looking after my daughter.

I cannot tell you how different I feel, back to my bubbly, confident self again and calm and peaceful again, my husband says the difference is clear. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE go with your instinct and do NOT rule out the coil giving you these horrible side effects, the doctors insist it is not the coil, but you only have to look on the internet to see different. I am going to write on as many websites as I can, even if it only helps one person, good luck.

Thank you! You have made a tremendous difference. I had my first mirena coil fitted 5 months ago. 8 days later, I had the first of many severe headaches with vomiting. I have been tearful, having bad dreams, waking frequently and most recently, a sudden onset of constant anxiety, so far for 5 days. Something I have never experienced until now, I visited my GP in tears and was prescribed Anti-depressants. I have been thinking that the Coil might be contributing to the headaches but maybe I was imagining it? I'm not sure why but I googled "Mirena and anxiety" today, My anxiety levels are so bad it is making it hard to function normally. I was amazed by what I found. Their must be thousands of people expeiencing similar reactions to me. I can't wait to get the coil out! Please could other people be so kind as to let me know their experiences of how long it took them to feel normal again? Or indeed if their symptoms remained. Thanks again. These posts are such a valuable resource.

Sorry to say, I had the mirena put in 20/10/11 and had an awful time with it, and Sandrena gels to rub in, double the dose. I got it out on 12/1/12, and I am going for counselling tomorrow, I am still off work with nausea, anxiety and depression - it is so frightening. I have been taking walks trying to eat, and sleep properly, but it appears I am not one of those ladies who felt immediately better, but better to get the Mirena coil removed..... You maybe lucky...