My Mirena...IUD

 If you are a pre-menopausal woman and have been experiencing lengthy, irregular and/or heavy periods, you need to ask your gynocologist about Mirena.  Mirena is an IUD that has literally saved my life.

Four years ago, at the age of 42 and after giving birth to my second child (I didn't marry until I was 31 and therefore, had children later in life...but that's a whole other hub), I started experiencing extremely heavy periods which lasted for up to 3 out of the 4 weeks in a month.  It got to the point where I was wearing a super-absorbent tampon and a super-absorbent pad at the same time.  I would have to change the tampon and the pad up to several times an hour on some days.  I would spend most of my day at work in the restroom (and I work with men, so that was an uncomfortable situation to explain) and my social life literally came to a halt.  We couldn't plan family vacations or go anywhere (even for a day) because of my "gift".  Oddly enough, I didn't think to talk to my gyno because I thought this was something normal.

This went on for several months until I went in for my yearly checkup. Of course, "Aunt Flow" went with me because she was with me almost all of the time.  My blood test showed I was extremely anemic (duh) so I had to fess up to my gyno what was going on. I literally broke down and started crying when I explained to him how horrible my life had become.  He instantly suggested having the Mirena IUD inserted.  I have had my tubes tied and didn't need the Mirena for birth control but he explained that it contained low doses of hormones and would make my periods light and may even stop them altogether.  I was overjoyed and made an appointment that day to have the "procedure" done.

I had to get a prescription for the Mirena and go pick it up at the pharmacist.  The Mirena comes in a long box, about the length of an egg carton, because it not only contains the IUD, it also comes with its own insertion tool.  I took the Mirena to my doctor appointment in a big brown bag and I'm sure others in the waiting room were really wondering what I had in that big bag that I had to show the doctor.

The procedure was done right there in the gynos office.  It was a little painful, more like uncomfortable, during the 5-minute procedure to insert it, but after it was done, I was good to go.  No pain or cramping, although I understand that some do experience cramping.  I was lucky.

My period became lighter and shorter right away and within six months, I no longer had a period at all.  Every now and then, when I'm stressed out, I experience a teeny amount of spotting.  Never enough to use a tampon or full size pad though.  One thin pantyliner and that's all I ever need.  An added bonus, I've saved a couple hundred dollars not having to buy bulk feminine hygiene products.

The Mirena stays in for five years.  When the five years is up, it will be taken out and a new can be inserted in the same appointment.

If you are considering getting a Mirena IUD, go for it.  You will not regret it at all.