Mirena and Pain: What Users Say

• kar...
• October 19, 2014

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I had the Mirena inserted 7 months ago. It was a little painful and discomfort for a couple of minutes, but if you have been through normal childbirth, you can handle that pain, you can handle anything. After the insertion of the Mirena, which my doctor recommended because I was suffering from heavy menstrual bleeding that would last up to 2 weeks, I spotted a little after insertion and was also cramping the next day. It was all gone about a week after insertion. Then the bleeding was full-on for about 1-2 weeks, then it would stop for a few days, then the bleeding started again. It was constant: 1 week of bleeding, then a stop for another few days. I was so frustrated, as was my hubby. Now everything has settled. We are all different, you have to be patient."

• don...
• March 13, 2010

For Birth Control "I've had it for 6 days. I don't have kids, am young compared to most users, and have a tilted uterus. I chose not to use the numbing shot because my doctor said the needle would hurt just as bad as the insertion. I took 400mg of ibuprofen 1 hour before the insertion. It hurt but only for about 20 seconds. I had a kind of reverse contractions for 2 hours. I was directed to take 800mg of ibuprofen. I suggest going #2 before the insertion since it's very painful to do so after. Since insertion I've had minor spotting and very little pain. Do not use a tampon, it's so painful to remove. (I use a diva cup when I go out) Don't be scared off by all of the horrible reviews, most people only write a review when something goes wrong."

• Dan...
• February 24, 2014

For Birth Control "Alright ladies, my experience with Mirena entails no gruesome or terrifying stories that will make you run for the hills. My experience with Mirena has been fairly good. I got Mirena approximately 6 months ago. Beforehand I was entirely frightened due to the horrible reviews that people post on the internet. But let me just straighten this out. Some people do have bad experiences but those people are the ones who feel obligated to narrate their story to the world. So I'll be the one to write something positive. Slight pain during the insertion, nothing worse than cramps. A month of irregular bleeding. Only to be followed by four months of glorious period-free time. I occasionally get spotting but it isn't anything bad at all."

• KAN...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 19, 2019

For Birth Control "I had the Mirena taken out after a year. I wish I would have never gotten an IUD, and I wouldn't advise anyone to do so. It's been a month since I had it taken out and still do not feel normal. My main side effect is/was extreme fatigue and vision issues. My hair has started to fall out, and my back hurts all the time. I also have had pelvic pain that feels like contractions from labor. I have seen multiple doctors about my fatigue, and they all make me feel like I'm making this up because all my labs and tests come back normal. They try to say maybe it's just anxiety. :( So I'm praying in a couple more weeks to months I feel completely back to normal. It's sad to think an IUD can cause symptoms like this and make you feel like something is BAD wrong with your body. Hope this helps anyone suffering from the same symptoms."

• Lif...
• September 19, 2014

For Birth Control "I love, love, love Mirena. I had my first one put in when I was 21 due to debilitating periods, and I hadn't had any kids. Not going to lie - the pain was truly horrible upon insertion, and I did cramp for weeks afterwards, but after that cleared up 5 years of no periods changed my life. I just had my second one put in yesterday and it was nowhere near as traumatic as the first time since my hormones had leveled out. I HIGHLY recommend it for women who don't want/can't take high estrogen birth control or would like to stop their periods safely. It's been absolutely life-changing for me, and I hope Mirena and other IUD's continue to gain popularity as people see how great they really can be."

• Syd...
• May 28, 2020

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I got the coil to help with heavy bleeding. It went horribly from the start. I’d read it could be painful to get put in and varied from person to person, and an ibuprofen was recommended beforehand, which I took, however, the pain, which was described as a pinch, felt more like I’d been stabbed. The most nauseating cramps I’d ever gotten enveloped me - worst pain I’ve ever felt (only 19, by the way). I was in bed for the rest of the day because the cramps were so severe and constant. They continued for two weeks after. Immediately after inserting it, I began to bleed lightly - this continued on for a year nonstop aside from two days here and there. After three months, I had a check-up, and they assured me it was normal and would stop. I went traveling, hoping for the best and willing to give it a year, but last week marked a year, and the bleeding was still continuous. So I finally got it removed. That actually felt like a pinch and was much better than insertion."

• Jhr...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 21, 2020

"This... omg, this has been enlightening. 1.) 30+ lbs. I have gained almost 50 lbs, but I lost almost 20 again. I have literally been working so hard to lose weight. 2.) Acne? Yes! Bad, bad cystic acne. 3.) Pain, tingling, weakness, and numbness on one side of my body. 4.) Infections. 5.) Mood swings/depression. 6.) Cramping/bloating. 7.) Stomach pain. 8.) Pain/cramping after sex. 9.) Low birth weight/premature birth of my daughter. 10.) I am honestly shocked, devastated, and determined to remove it after finding out this is all from Mirena. This is my 3rd Mirena, and I went from the 120s to the 170s and now am back to the 160-ish. I have been through so much with this, it’s unreal. Don’t do it."

• Dur...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 17, 2019

For Birth Control "I almost backed out of getting the Mirena because of these women on YouTube being so 'fear mongering' and, quite frankly, just scaring people. It is 2 days since I got it in, and I'm sore, and yes, it was really crampy, but I just wanted to say: Don't over-read like I did on the internet. Everyone's cervix and uterus is different, everyone has different pain levels. My pain tolerance is high (I've had spine procedures while awake), I've had wicked period cramps, and my NP said my 'perfect cervix' made the insertion extremely smooth. With all that said, did it hurt? Kinda. Was it uncomfortable? Yup. Was it painful? No. I'm sore, but I've barely bled, which is another plus, and I think a week from now I will be even more happy that I got it done! My point is - don't over-read. People tend to only post negative experiences online, but this is something that is already stressful enough. I don't think it's right to scare women before they get it done (and no, I've never had children)."

• Dur...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 17, 2019

For Birth Control "I almost backed out of getting the Mirena because of these women on YouTube being so 'fear mongering' and, quite frankly, just scaring people. It is 2 days since I got it in, and I'm sore, and yes, it was really crampy, but I just wanted to say: Don't over-read like I did on the internet. Everyone's cervix and uterus is different, everyone has different pain levels. My pain tolerance is high (I've had spine procedures while awake), I've had wicked period cramps, and my NP said my 'perfect cervix' made the insertion extremely smooth. With all that said, did it hurt? Kinda. Was it uncomfortable? Yup. Was it painful? No. I'm sore, but I've barely bled, which is another plus, and I think a week from now I will be even more happy that I got it done! My point is - don't over-read. People tend to only post negative experiences online, but this is something that is already stressful enough. I don't think it's right to scare women before they get it done (and no, I've never had children)."

• Kaw...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 22, 2013

For Birth Control "I have not had a single bad experience thus far with Mirena. I had it inserted about 10 months ago right after work. The whole procedure, start to finish, took about 15 minutes and was only slightly painful. It was done by a nurse practitioner, who was reportedly more experienced than any of the other physicians at the practice. Another ten minutes to catch my breath, and I rode my motorcycle home with no issues. I am in my early 20s and have never given birth. My periods immediately lightened up until they became virtually non-existent. Very little cramping, easily taken care of by ibuprofen. I can still maintain my intense workout schedule, lifting, cardio, abs, stretching included, with no fear of dislodging."

• Aub...
• February 8, 2017

For Birth Control "I love my IUD for many reasons. A lot of these reviews are just based off of the initial side effects and insertion. While I admit it was mildly painful for the first 24 hours and the spotting lasted 1-2 months, I am now 3 years in, and couldn't be happier. My period is 95% lighter and lasts only an hour, I never get cramps anymore, and I am comforted by the fact that it is so reliable! No weight gain or mood changes, and my skin is still clear. Some people say these cause infertility, but that is not true. IUDs have undergone many, many clinical studies which show that is not the case! Don't let people on here scare you :) If you want the facts, go to a credible source."

• Tri...
• February 16, 2020

For Birth Control "I got the IUD put in on 01/24/2020 and had little to no bleeding. I had a lot of cramping and pain. My OBGYN, whom placed it, checked it and ensured its placement. The whole time, I had uncomfortable pain and cramping to the point of tears. On 02/08/2020, my boyfriend finally took me to get checked at the urgent care. They stated that I had PID and BV due to getting my IUD. I was put on two antibiotics and further tests were put on order. After taking the meds for one week, I still had pain and cramping at the same level when I first got it. However, I had developed a fever and nausea. The urgent care doctor told me to go to the ER. At the ER, they could not find my IUD imaging. They told me to follow up with my OBGYN, and I still had PID and BV. I went to see my OBGYN the next day to find my IUD still inside me. When pulled out, it had bacterial growth on it. Right after being taken out, I felt better, and the cramping stopped. Please do not put this in your body!!!"

• Jch...
• August 20, 2014

For Birth Control "I believe myself to be very pain tolerant. I got one of these inserted, and it caused me so much pain I nearly passed out. Keep in mind, however, that I have never been pregnant before. If you have not been pregnant, your uterus does not have as much elasticity. Also, my uterus was set back in a position that made for a difficult time for my gynecologist to get to it. (This happens when you have not been pregnant sometimes.) The nurse said she had never seen the gynecologist actually have to utilize the ultrasound to insert it. One day after insertion, and now I am completely cramp-free. Don't let the horror stories scare you. The ease of use, cost (completely free), and effectiveness of this product are phenomenal."

• Kay...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 8, 2019

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I've had Mirena since April of 2016. I will finally be getting it removed next week. Benefits: *I haven't gotten pregnant in 3 and a half years on my Mirena. Consequences: *I bled for 11 months after having it inserted. *I gained back 60 pounds that I had worked two years to lose. *Lifestyle/diet changes, intense exercising with a class, and drinking only water for over a year has helped me to lose 2 of those 60+ pounds. *I have extremely irregular periods now. Sometimes 2 in one month (lasting 1-2 full weeks), and sometimes no period for 6-10 weeks at a time. *For two years, I have dealt with fairly constant/daily 'cramps' and pain I used to associate with PMS. *For a year now, I have dealt with breast tenderness and pain. *For the last six months, when I lay on my stomach, it feels like I am being stabbed just below my abdomen. My OBGYN says every single one of my symptoms is normal. I am miserable."

• Bri...
• September 24, 2014

For Birth Control "Had it for years and love it. Changed it out after not having a period for years, and boy it was painful. My first Mirena was nearly painless - just a little tuck. This time it stabbed me hard a few times (quite painful), but each time it was over in seconds. I had menstrual cramps for an hour, and that was it. I didn't even get my bleeding back (just a little right afterwards). Yeah! My advice: if you choose the Mirena, be patient - the first year I constantly bled off and on, but then my period disappeared. Find a doctor who has done this a lot - I believe experience is the key! Also - have it done when your cervix is dilated during your period. I took Misoprostol for that the night before, but that did not help."

• iro...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 14, 2014

For Birth Control "This amazing device has well and truly changed my life. I used to suffer from extremely heavy periods with cramps and sickness that meant I had to take a minimum of half a day off work a month. I now barely have periods and no longer have to plan my life around those few days each month. I have only given it a 9 because it was pretty painful to insert, otherwise, I would have definitely given it a 10."

• Mir...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 31, 2020

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I had the Mirena inserted in early November. It is now a week from January, and I have had daily bleeding since insertion. I came to the forum because I was concerned. I know that the bleeding timeline varies per person, but who wants a light period for about 8 weeks?! My period has been light, which is the main reason I chose Mirena. I've had extremely heavy periods where I would have to wear an ultra tampon and overnight pad, changing both out in about 2 hours because they were both saturated for years. I am not in pain, although the insertion was very uncomfortable/painful but was a short procedure. Cramps afterward were horrific but passed. Tylenol helped. I have an amazing gyno, and when I called about the duration of my period, he did show concern, asking if I had an odor or pain, which was a no. I will go in for a check-up but am a bit nervous. I don't want to remove it unless absolutely necessary, especially if I am close to my body adjusting to the Mirena."

• Asp...
• November 10, 2013

For Birth Control "I had the Mirena IUD for 2 years, and I LOVED IT! Yes, getting in was a tad painful, had cramping the rest of the day to where I just wanted a hot pad and to lay down, but after that, I was happy that it was in, never had to remember to take a pill. I did feel like it upped my sex drive, my husband never felt the strings at all. I'm not sure if this was part of it, but I felt like I lost weight easily, my periods were sometimes nonexistent, and when I did have them, they were never heavy at all. A pantiliner was all I needed, and my period seemed to last a couple of days vs. 5 days to a full week. Cramping when it did appear was a little painful at times, but nothing a hot pad couldn't fix. After having a baby, I'm going for it again!"

• xra...
• September 23, 2013

For Birth Control "Having read all the reviews here, I nearly canceled my appointment to have Mirena fitted. I was terrified not having a high pain threshold. Anyway, I decided to go and have a chat with the doctor first. I took 500 mg of naproxen an hour before my appointment. My description of it is this: to start with, it feels just like a smear, then slight stomach cramps (not as bad as my usual period pains), then another bit of cramping, then done. I was so shocked at how quick it took and how little it hurt. I really was expecting to be in a lot of pain. Now, 2-3 hours later, I've got no bleeding and a bit of a dull ache like period pain. I'm really glad I plucked up the courage to go, it was nowhere near as bad as I was expecting."

• Sar...
• July 26, 2014

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "The Mirena was a really good decision that I made. But getting it inserted was the most painful thing I have ever experienced in my life. The pain was so bad when the doctor was inserting it I thought I was going to pass out. I bled for a few days after it was in, minor spotting but very intense cramps. I got it almost a month ago, and I am just starting to spot a little again now, so assuming this is my period that is normally very extreme due to my blood disease I have and not being able to clot, the Mirena is working well for me."

• Dom...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 28, 2020

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "Lots to say about this one. I have focal adenomyosis of the uterus, so it really hurt to get Mirena inserted. I was physically sick immediately after, and I'd like to think my pain threshold is pretty decent considering I live with adeno pains every day. The aim of using Mirena was to try and suppress my pains. Nothing changed in that area, unfortunately, and I ended up with more complications to add to it. My symptoms were constant headaches, brain fog, constant fatigue, moody, weird pains in my legs even though I'm not doing exercise at the moment, always feeling hot and sweaty, night sweats, unable to sleep properly, dry, itchy area down there, constant spotting every single day. The only positive for me was that my periods were lighter, which was outweighed by the fact that I was spotting every day for 5 months. Gave it a good try, and it was not for me! Trying Kyleena next."

• Cho...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 1, 2013

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I am 40. I had to change my birth control pills when I got 40. They weren't strong enough for me because I bled really heavy and for 7 days and every other week. So I decided to let my OB/GYN insert the Mirena, which she had tried to get me to get before trying those lighter birth control pills. It's only been a week, but I love not having to think about taking the pill. Also, I was on my period when it was inserted, my period became light the same day and was for three days. For me, the placement was a 3 on a scale of 1-10 with pain. But my cervix is pushed far back and to the side, and they had to pull it towards them to place it, and that pain was a 7. So far, no regrets, only wish I had done it sooner."

• Jea...
• June 27, 2014

For Birth Control "I had Mirena inserted two years ago, after I had my fourth child. When it was inserted, I did not feel anything at all, I even had to ask the doctor if she was finished, lol. For the first year or so, I had unexpected periods-some short, some long, some heavy, most very, very light. For a short while, I was able to predict when I was going to get my period because my mood swings would go crazy. Now it's been two months that I get less than a day of periods. It is only a little spotting done. I feel good, I have not gained any weight, no pain, no more mood swings. It does not interrupt my sex life with my husband. I would recommend Mirena to anyone."

• Ano...
• August 5, 2013

For Birth Control "I had the Mirena in place for a little over three years. I LOVED it. I did not experience any of the severe cramping or pain after getting it placed, due to the fact I had mine placed after a procedure. (I already experienced discomfort due to this procedure). My period stopped almost instantly (no period for 3 years, can't complain). The hormones Mirena released also helped speed up metabolism, I lost close to 30 lbs. My only reasoning for getting mine removed is because of the recurring bacterial infections. What most people are not told is that the Mirena is for monogamous couples, apparently I was the only one in my relationship who was monogamous. Only finding this out after my removal."

• Kat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 19, 2019

For Birth Control "I am 3 months postpartum, I have 2 children. My doctor recommended I get Mirena. I did not want it, but she kept insisting that it was the best option and very safe. The day I was getting it, when she placed the Mirena inside my uterus, my whole abdomen felt a HORRIBLE cramp, which lasted a few seconds, then it was over. I went home with only mild cramps. The next morning I woke up, I was in severe pain, I couldn’t walk or sit. My whole abdomen was swollen and hurt if I barely touched it. My entire body felt sore, I was freezing cold and shaking, I went to the ER. They took my blood and checked my vitals, I had a fever and an infection. They took X-rays and an ultrasound, the Mirena was out of place and one of the T’s was poking into my abdomen. I was getting bags of antibiotics and morphine for pain, which didn’t help my pain at all. The pain only went away after it was removed 2 days later. Now, 4 days after removal, I am still cramping, in pain, bleeding, and very nauseous."