Contraception

Mummalex · #1 (**permalink**) 29-09-2008, 08:37 AM

My doctor is trying to talk me into the Mirena. She says it will help me a lot as I have really heavy periods. Apparently it can eliminate periods in some cases!

I don't know, to a degree I don't like messing with a bodies natural processes. Is it considered safe iykwim??

**Nyree** · #2 (**permalink**) 29-09-2008, 09:00 AM

Personally, I don't feel comfortable with the idea of eliminating periods, but others are happy to.

If you do an internet seach on "mirena safety", heaps of info comes up.

Mummalex · #3 (**permalink**) 29-09-2008, 09:39 AM

Yeah I was just more worried about the ramifications of no periods!

cath3boys · #4 (**permalink**) 29-09-2008, 11:24 AM

Hi Mummalex,

I am in the same situation. I suffer from endometriosis and a mirena will in theory stop or significantly reduce the flow of my periods. Therefore eliminating the horrendous pain I get when I bleed.

However, during a recent D&C, the gyno perforated the top of my uterus while measuring its depth in preparation for the mirena to be inserted. This meant I couldn't have it inserted and had to spend 24 hours on IV antibiotics and be away from DS#3 overnight. Luckily I had extra EBM stored away.

Anyway, I recently saw another gyno, (I had lost confidence in the first one!) to seek advice on a long term management plan for my endo and he also suggested a mirena and wanted to put it in there and then!

I am still having second thoughts about having one inserted by the second gyno. He explained to me that I should expect cramping for up to a month as my uterus will naturally try to expel it. Also to expect irregular bleeding for up to 9 months until my body 'gets used to it'.

A friend of mine had one inserted ans suffered what she thought was excessive cramping for 6 months. Turns out, the mirena was not placed correctly!

There is my 2 cents worth, let me know what you end up deciding.

Cheers
Catherine

**Nyree** · #5 (**permalink**) 29-09-2008, 11:36 AM

OK, so Mirena is progestin-only. Basically tricks the body into thinking it's pregnant - hence less bleeding. Generally safe - only minor bone loss, so not recommended if under 18 or over 45. Problems occur if combined with oestrogen therapy. Any hormonal contraceptives will place an extra load on the liver, too.

I've been trying to find info I had on the effect of long-term ammenorrhoea, but can't find it now :(

Mummalex · #6 (**permalink**) 29-09-2008, 12:07 PM

Ok I think you are all putting me off lol!!

Clover · #7 (**permalink**) 29-09-2008, 12:24 PM

What about a diaphram? I am thinking of getting one especially since reading the book "The Pill" . Have a look in your library. It shows how scary contraceptives really are.

emd · #8 (**permalink**) 29-09-2008, 12:27 PM

Wow Catherine, thankyou for your reply. My ob suggested Mirena at my post-baby check-up. I have had a ruptured uterus and a scar dihescence during the last two pregnancies, so his suggestion was to make sure I don't have an unplanned pregnancy. But hearing about the potential damage to the uterus, I don't want anyone poking around in mine. Plus I've managed to get pregnant on another progesterone-only contraception in the past, so I like having a period to tell me I'm not pregnant.

I have heard a lot of women have some improvement in pain levels with endo after seeing a naturopath and making dietary changes.

cath3boys · #9 (**permalink**) 29-09-2008, 01:21 PM

Thanks Emma Once my period returns

I will be taking myself off to see a Naturopath. My body has been riddled with synthetic hormones for the best part of 16 years (minus time for three pregnancies and 3 lots of breastfeeding!).

Jakaluma · #10 (**permalink**) 29-09-2008, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Yeah I was just more worried about the ramifications of no periods!

Modern woman have a lot more periods than necessary (which means a lot more iron loss over our lifetimes). (Having children later in life and not as many children are both big factors.) So physically not having periods not something to worry about. Also, the Mirena has nothing "new" - it is just a different way of administering the same drug (as pill and injection - progesterone), so from that point not a problem.

That said, I don't want any hormones stuffing up my system anymore! Depends on how seriously you need your contraception to work, but diaphrams are much the same (in)effectiveness as condoms.

Modern IUDs also release hormones.

Abstinence? lol