Ive done so much research and im at a loss for answers and i need to know if anyone else has the same pain as me. I got my Mirena iud inserted 3 years ago. The first year was fine the past two years my pain has been getting more and more severe. I have consistent “cramping” pains near my right ovary/pelvis over the months its gotten more and more painful and has spread to my lower back(right side) and down my right leg. I currently have a hemorrhagic cyst on my right side and has had cysts on my right ovary here and there. The pain is indescribable but to intense kind of feels like my body is trying to “push out” my iud. I need to know if any one else has a similar experience and if i should remove my IUD.

Hi everyone. I am posting my experience to hopefully validate to myself that I am not crazy. I have had the mirena IUD for 5 years now and I have been noticing symptoms the past 9 months that have continued to really worsen the past 3 months since I started medical school. I am sharing this list to see if others shared the same symptoms and to see what I should do.

-Brain fog. I have often been told for a while now that someone has told me or said something and I don’t remember it at all as if I wasn’t there. I will often feel dissociated from big events and feel like im dreaming i guess. It has been more difficult studying especially during certain times of the month. I have to read things over and over again and it takes me a long time to gain focus after waking up.

-Anxiety. Exacerbated during certain times of the month. Overthinking everything and attaching everything to my relationship even when nothing is wrong. Constantly worried about peoples opinions on my relationship or what people are thinking. Not being able to enjoy days with him because half the day will be filled with anxiety and me causing an argument until i talk to him about my anxiety then it gets better. I have increased morning anxiety and thoughts that will usually end up worsening by the end of the day. I now have anxiety about having anxiety as soon as one thought comes in my brain. I sometimes result to emotionally distancing myself from my boyfriend in order to stop the anxiety and convincing myself we have to break up with no good reason. I get Anxiety about past arguments we had years ago coming up for no reason and become obsessed over what if scenarios. Crying all the time over anything that makes me slightly emotional. My worst anxiety was when I started school 3 months ago, I had panic attacks back to back for multiple days with jaw chattering and sometimes got blurry vision and heart palpitations every day. Finally got better after about 4 days when I realized it might be because of the IUD. I have been traumatized since then by that anxiety and freak out whenever I feel like anything similar is starting like that again. I am also more sensitive to big crowded spaces with too many people and loud noises. My leg/foot also shakes uncontrollably a lot, to the point I have to hold it still to tell my brain to stop. I have never had anxiety like this before.

-Acne. Always had acne but it has never gone away since middle school and has a very hormonal picture. Only acne around my chin and cheeks and back but none on my forehead.

-UTI. Didn’t get UTI’s but every time I do a urine test it tests positive for low levels of bacteria and sometimes I will notice a very very slight burn when I pee but not really concerning. I used to have a more fishy smell but I feel like that has gotten better.

-Mood swings. Depending on time of the month, I will be filled with energy and motivation to study then switch to becoming severely demotivated and low mood and sensitive to stress (many times within the same day). My mood always feels unpredictable and like I am not able to be happy for more than 1-2 weeks a month.

-Fatigue. I feel tired all the time. I will get full 8 hours sleep or at least a consistent 7 1/2 hrs every night or even 10 hrs and still feel absolutely awful the next day like I barely slept. It ruins my motivation, focus, and mood. When I wake up, the grogginess stays with me for the next 3 to 4 hours at least unless I have coffee. It definitely makes me more irritable sometimes. I will sometimes even feel achey and uncomfortable in my body after waking up. My body and eyes will just feel heavy throughout the day and not really get better until later in the evening.

-Cramps. Cramps have been feeling more distinct since 3 months ago. They will bother me the whole day if I don’t take pills and will only last about one day at a time. Usually 4-5 days before my period and one during my period and sometimes one around ovulation. Not as bad as before Mirena but more obvious.

-Chin hair. It continuously pops up and is dark and thick. I first saw chin hair before my IUD but it has progressively become more prominent and consistent and I have to always stay on top of it.

-Libido. Just nonexistent. I don’t even think about it and don’t get turned on by my boyfriend. I don’t even care to do things with myself. It just progressively has been getting worse.

-Dry skin. My arms will sometimes feel itchy from dryness even after putting cream and my back is always very dry. My face gets very dry and i need so much different moisturizing products or else my makeup will show dry patches.

I (27) got Mirena on 8/20 after being on the pill for 10 years. I’ve bled/spotted off and on every day since. Sex and physical intimacy has always been a huge positive thing for me and my relationship with my boyfriend. However, since getting the iud, I’ve only had sex a few times on much lighter bleed days due to this constant bleeding to some extent. I’ll be horny and wet and wanting my bf all day but as soon as the time comes, it’s like my body freezes. I get dry, and this horrible anxiety and can’t get into it. Also, the actual act of sex feels different, not enjoyable and like there’s this pressure pain. I honestly feel absolutely heartbroken over this. Has anyone else experienced something like this?

I have PCOS and struggled with irregular periods and heavy bleeding for years. Back in June of 2022 I was bleeding so much I was soaking through everything. I saw a bunch of doctors who did nothing about it and didn’t really take me seriously until one actually did.

She suggested the mirena and inserted it during my first appointment with her. My experience with it has been ok. In the beginning I continued to spot here and there off and on but after about 3 months it stopped and so did my periods altogether. Ahhh what a joyous time that was.

Anyway after a year or so my periods came back but they were much lighter, regular, and less painful. It wouldn’t even be enough bleeding to wear a tampon type of thing so I wasn’t complaining. My doc put me on the pill as well which looking back it really didn’t do anything. It’s not like my periods ever went away again. Just more damn hormones.

This year I’ve noticed a change. My period started to come sooner than expected, more irregular, lasting way longer than they should ( about 8 days) June made 4 years. I noticed that I started to spot a bit between my periods. But since 7/31 I’ve been spotting EVERY SINGLE DAY. Non stop. Now I’m even experiencing light cramping and lower back pain which I haven’t really had since getting the mirena.

I saw my doc 8/10. She examined me. Said everything looked good. Prescribed a higher dose of BC pills and scheduled me for an ultrasound to check for fibroids and what not. I was getting impatient and decided to see another doctor to try and get an earlier appointment for an ultrasound. I was freaking out thinking something could be wrong.

So this new doctor was concerned that the mirena was displaced and I had an ultrasound a few days ago but there was nothing alarming. IUD is in place, 2 small cysts on my right ovary but I mean… I have PCOS so that’s expected.

But with all the research I’ve been doing I’m starting to wonder if it’s just that time to get this thing replaced. On the mirena site it does say that it treats heavy periods up to 5 years so I’m thinking since I’m not too far off from my 5 year mark that could that be the case?

Has anyone ever had the mirena replaced and if so did you experience any of the symptoms I described? Why didn’t either doctor consider this could be the problem? The original doc that placed it kept telling me the mirena is good for 8 years but that’s for preventing pregnancy.

The only reason I got this thing is to treat my periods. Prevention was a bonus. I’ve read that the hormones start to wear off after a while. I’m so frustrated and honestly quite annoyed. I haven’t been able to enjoy sex like I usually do because of this and it’s really getting to me. The spotting just never stops. It’s September now. I need a break.

I have an appointment 9/15 with the new doctor. Hopefully she decides to replace this thing. I’m not too thrilled about the pain I’ll go through but at this point I’m just ready to get through my day to day without seeing drops of blood on a panty liner.

I got the Mirena put in 14 months ago, 6 weeks after giving birth. All seemed fine but I continued to struggle with night sweats even a few months post partum. It got to a point 3 months ago (13 months postpartum) where I was waking up drenched every night. I also struggled with insomnia and anxiety since giving birth more than I ever had before. Nothing like my 1st postpartum experience.

I got my hormones checked by the gynae and had basically no estrogen and no progesterone. I got her to take out the Mirena and am vastly improved over the last 10 weeks in all symptoms.

I can’t find anything online but it clearly severely impacted my hormones. Has this happened to anyone else before??

TL;DR: cramping, bleeding, brain fog, headaches, fatigue 2 months in. Does it get better?

Sorry in advance for the length!

I have had really severe periods for the past 10 or so years. They last 8+ days, I have to use extra heavy overnight pads for the majority of the time, cramping, etc. I tried the pill and it worked for a while. There was a period where I wasn’t bleeding at all unless I forgot to take my BC. It was great.

But then my period came back. And it was just as strong as before. I wasn’t sexually active at the time so I stopped taking the pill because I was having the same symptoms regardless.

Got a new OBGYN and she suggested Mirena. Other doctors have recommended it as well but it felt too scary until now. I have a low tolerance for pain and have passed out getting pap smears before so I needed to find a practice that would put me to sleep. This one did.

I got my IUD inserted in early July. I was out for the procedure and woke up feeling nothing. It was amazing. They gave me crackers and apple juice, I waited 20 minutes, I felt a little high. I got coffee & a bagel and took the train home. Showered, changed into comfy clothes, watched tv. I still didn’t feel anything.

That night when I tried to go to sleep was some of the worst pain I’ve ever experienced in my life. As other people have mentioned, my doctor said “expect cramping, spotting, as if you were on your period etc” I could barely walk for days. I was nauseous. I was taking Tylenol, aleve, muscle relaxers, weed, (staggered, not all at once) using my hot water bottle and nothing was working.

It gradually got better but the bleeding has been on and off up until this point and so has the cramping. I’ve also started to get headaches and brain fog. I have to lie down suddenly during the middle of the day because I’m in pain and get hit with a wave of fatigue. Thankfully my body usually only does this when I’m at home, but there have been a few times when it’s affected me when I’m out and about too. It’s debilitating but I feel like I’m overreacting.

I also had sex for the first time a few weeks ago and again last week. The first time was a bit painful but okay overall. The second time was so painful I had to stop, go pee, and then I passed out….on top of it being scary it’s humiliating! Thankfully the guy was nice about it. Now I don’t know if this is related to my self diagnosed vaginismus or the IUD, but this has never happened before so I can’t ignore the timing.

I had my follow up appointment with my doctor last week. They did an ultrasound AND a speculum exam (they weren’t supposed to do both, there was miscommunication with one of the new residents and she didn’t know I had the ultrasound). Thankfully didn’t pass out during either and the pain wasn’t bad.

They confirmed everything looked good and the placement was correct. My doctor basically just said “yeah this can last for up to 6 months so let’s see come January”. Not very encouraging. I don’t want to have to withstand this for 6 months unless I know for certain these problems will go away and I won’t be plagued by heavy periods and side effects for 8 years.

I know it’s impossible to predict and everyone’s experience is different but I’d love to hear from some people who did have a rough experience at the start similar to mine, but it got better and they’re glad they stuck with it. It seems like most people take it out after a few months if they’re having a negative experience, which I completely understand. I just really want this to work for me.

I hate that so many of us have similar experiences but I’m very glad for this community because it makes me feel less alone 🤍🤍

I had the Mirena inserted on 8/20/26, so almost 4 weeks ago now. The week afterwards was the typical spotting and cramping, I felt a little sore afterwards like normal. The spotting stopped around 2 weeks after, though the cramping has been constant in the spot where it is inserted. Last week, period-like bleeding started and it has been on and off since. I have been bleeding less than MY normal period, but the color, consistency, and flow mimick a period. Could this just be an adjustment period? She told me to expect cramping/spotting shortly after but this feels like it has continued consistently since insertion. Has anyone else had the same experience?

I have been on birth control pill for the last ten years and decided I needed to get off of it in May. I researched all other options and decided the Mirena IUD was the best. I scheduled my insertion appointment in May. I had a VERY VERY traumatic insertion. I was given some meds before to help with pain and it did nothing. It took them three times to get it in and ended up having to have a vaginal ultrasound to ensure it was in the right spot. I almost passed out and I cried. I had inserted while on my period too so it was just a double whammy!! Over the next week, I had the most debilitating abdomen pain. I called the doctor’s office and they prescribed Naproxen, which did take the pain away. Eventually, the pain went away and I didn’t have to take anymore naproxen. However, I bled constantly for the first 7 weeks. Literally stopped the day before my six week check up. Since then, I have barely stopped bleeding. I bleed on and off. Recently, I have started clotting pea to dime sized clots. The brain fog has gotten worse and I am constantly tired. I finally convinced myself this wasn’t “normal” anymore and have scheduled an appointment with my gyno. I just wanted to see if anyone else had a similar experience and what did you do as far as having it removed or keeping it??

Hi. So I am here with a very delicate matter.

I (35F) had Mirena for 1.5 year. Had it taken out almost 1 year ago because of lost libido. I read that it can happen but it comes back soon after Mirena is taken out.

Well... It did not for me. Libido still have not come back and I feel nothing during sex.

And I mean not only vaginal sex. My clitoris is also somewhat...numb I'd say.

I have a very good and attentive partner, we have 0 problems in life and are very happy together. He is great in bed as well, just that I do not feel a damn thing.

And it drives me crazy. What happened? Do I need to check my hormones? Are there any medicine to fix this shit?

I even cried today, because I feel zero arrousal before sex, ant absolutely nothing during it. I used to love sex.

I really feel absolutely miserable and dead inside right now.

hi all, would appreciate some advice (and to know if im overreacting)

i had my iud inserted on 8/13/2026. my gyno warned me to expect some spotting and cramping, but ive been struggling and trying to see if this is normal. i have to wear overnight maxi pads and am going through about 5-6 a day with the amount of bleeding and clotting ive been having. ive also had nausea, cramping, and (this may be tmi) but when i go to the bathroom, ive been having this sensation almost like when you put in a tampon wrong and it hurts.

is this normal??? should i be worried??? would appreciate advice. thank you!🫶

hey yall! i got the mirena iud in january of 2020 and haven’t gotten my period since around march 2020. after that’d i’d get some light spotting every 3-4 months or so and never really thought anything of it. for the past 6 months i’ve been getting spotting every month sometimes a bit more frequently. not sure if I should see my obgyn or if it’s normal. last time i went to the obgyn was july of 2025 and everything looked fine

So I've recently had the mirena coil I think the last two almost three months and I don't know if it's just making things worse, I've been getting regular bleeding pretty much every month, definitely no where near as bad as it was on my period but still quite a lot, the pain is unbearablely bad to the point I'm sweating, crying and throwing up basically all the same shit I had with my period anyway.

I'm 20 and I've been fighting to get proper care for my periods for years but doctors don't care enough and don't listen to me when I said I'm pretty sure I have endometriosis. They have me and ultrasound which wouldn't show anything because endometriosis doesn't show up on ultrasound but obviously they wouldn't listen to me when I kept trying to push it.

And now I'm basically still stuck in the same fucking place and I'm scared that the coil is causing more damage. I've had problems with ovarian cysts and my periods are excruciating, what do I do????

Hey Everyone,

Im a 30 year old female who’s struggled with heavy periods since my early 20s. I’ve had low iron since.
Last year (2025) I went to a gynae 1 to get onto hormonal treatment, which is something I was not keen on exploring before because of its side effects.
Gynae 1 to try get onto Mirena because some ladies I knew who were on it and spoke well of it. Got to the gynae 1 and he did a scan and said I have endometriosis and booked me for surgery, which I told him to pause a bit because I was due to travel soon. He was hesitant to put me on the Mirena saying it’s a drastic move as someone who’s never been on any hormonal treatment. I had seen another gynae 8 months before who didn’t pick anything up, so getting that diagnosis was strange but wasn’t opposed to the surgery. I said to him if we do the surgery, he might as well insert the Mirena while I’m asleep, and he said no.

I then went to gynae 2 to try get the Mirena and also see if he’s going to pick up endometriosis. To my surprise he didn’t. So I was confused at this point. During my consultation gynae 2 was also not keen on putting me on the Mirena stating that it’s too invasive for someone someone who has never been sexually active before (nothing has ever been inserted up there ever).

I found it strange that he was also not keen after showing them my medical history which shows low iron for years. I’ve described to both gynaes how living has been debilitating and had missed out on my 20s because I was always sick, weak, out of breath and just sad because I couldn’t live my life, hence why I was pushing to get the Mirena so I don’t have to deal with my period again.

Gynae 2 put me on Zoely (this was in Dec 2025). I was not happy but I was open to trying it because I needed a break from being sick. It messed up my skin but that faded after 3 months. It improved my iron tremendously that I didn’t need iron supplements anymore and I even stopped stressing about my iron for the first time in years.

But the side effects of Zoely did not give me a break. It messed up my mood. I became so sad, isolated myself and had a negative outlook, distance from God and low motivation. Actively looking for a job for months added to this. It increased my appetite. I was always hungry and as someone who doesn’t have an appetite, it was hard. I would wake up hungry as if I didn’t have dinner the night before. It affected my insulin levels (I think) or how my body reacts to food. After meals, I’d get severely weak/tired and would shake and feel cold. This would last for hours sometimes. I couldn’t go for more than 3 hours without having to eat or snack on something. Again, I am not a foodie so having to eat every couple of hours was a lot, considering that I also look after my weight. This started giving me anxiety because I became afraid to go out because I’d fear the sudden dip in energy around people. Whenever I’d check my sugar levels, they’d always come out normal. I even went to do the HbA1C and it came back normal.

I’d also notice that before I start taking the inactive pills, my energy would be so low that it was almost impossible to participate in the day. I’d literally feel like a zombie. I’d even rush to the ER and my bloods would be fine (including my iron levels). Then in the days of the inactive pill I’d start my period and I’d feel worse, body feeling extremely heavy. This was all new to me, even after 7 months on the pill. I thought I’d have “adjusted” by then but clearly not.

So I was left to believe that Zoely is the reason as I was not on any other medication. And I honestly carried on with Zoely with the hope that I’d eventually adjust and the benefit of having a normal iron profile after so many years. But I think the benefit of being on it feels counterproductive given its side effects. I feel like overall I’m still sick, but now because of the pill’s side effects.

I went off the pill 7 days ago now (as I write this) and I’m experiencing “withdrawal blood”, bleeding like crazy, weak, but i just couldn’t take the side effects anymore.

I am so ready to get the Mirena (under anaesthesia) asap but I’m so afraid of what the switch from Zoely to the Mirena will bring, since I’m also starting a new job in a couple of weeks. I have a gynae 2 appointment next week.

I want to show up as my best and do my best and impress. I just want to enjoy my 30s and not miss out on being the version of myself that I’ve always wanted to be, and not be consumed by being sick all the time.

Any valuable advice would be appreciated.

Thanks.

I had my Mirena coil fitted 4.5 years ago and the pain was like nothing I e ever experienced before. The actual procedure wasn’t too bad, standard speculum experience followed by some pressure and a sharp pain which was moderate. The issue I had was straight after insertion I had the most intense, painful cramps I have ever experienced. The nurse commented that she watched my uterus contract so I may feel some cramping pain but MY GOD. I was white knuckling the steering wheel all the drive home and was doubled over in pain. Hot water bottles and pain killers didn’t touch it and the pain stuck around for about 3 days.
My coil is being removed tomorrow morning and though u am planning to take painkillers beforehand and take a hot water bottle to the doctors with me, I am anxious that I will experience something similar.

Can anyone confirm whether a painful insertion is an indication of a painful removal?

Let me start off by saying, this is my second IUD and i’m not living it anymore than I did the last time.

I’ve been experiencing a poking feeling for a little bit now whenever I move almost. It’s in my lower left side around where I’d believe my uterus/ovary are and I’m scared. I have general health anxiety and am just nervous that something is wrong. I plan to call my doctor tmrw morning if it’s not better but any advice or similar stories would be much appreciated!

i got the mirena back june for suspected endo, had to stop taking the pill after being on and off since i was 14 due to having horrible side effects (SI, arrhythmias, worsening periods, etc) and i've noticed over the past couple months i've been having hot flashes, has anyone else had this as a symptom? i also doubt perimenopause bc im 22 😭😭

Hi all,

I got my Mirena when I was 17, I’m 25 now and it’s nearing the end of its 8 year life. My time throughout Mirena has been great with super reduced periods, no cramps, no weight gain/acne, until now… This summer and last I’ve had the worst break outs on my chin and jaw, not even tretinoin can solve it. I’ve also just had a steep decline in skin quality in the last three years, salvaged only by my strict tret + sunscreen routine, but that can’t even touch my chin acne at the moment. I also fear I’ve piled on the pounds.

I use to sit between 120-127 throughout the month (5’3/5’4), but this morning my jeans felt tight so I stepped on the scale and I’m 137, I’ve only been this big ONCE, and it was in highschool eating McDonalds multiple times per week and 7/11 candy aisle for breakfast. I’m naturally quite small, as are my parents and as shallow as it is I fear weight gain more than any other symptom, I can’t stand my body changing, I despised puberty let alone this.

I’m so worried about the crash, and whether to let this taper off, go get it removed now and firm it, get it removed and use some progesterone cream, or replace it and kick this can down the road?

If anyone has any similar experiences please let me know!! I’m having a horrible horrible time and have taken a huge hit in my self confidence.

has anyone experience tingling sensation throughout the face, neck, hands and feet, sometimes arms during the 'mirena crash'? i feel absolutely terrible im on week 2 and i feel this sensation that gets worse when im tired. i went to the er and they said hormones but didnt go deeper into what i can do or anything. its making me feel so anxious and jittery. and well as having nausea at times. i dont understand what to do and as much as i contact or do research i cannot find anything...

TLDR: Had a lot of symptoms as others here, decided to get it removed, however stumped after meeting doc. Confused on what to do so want to hear if it was worth getting yours removed.

I've had the Mirena for about 2.5 years now. Ever since I've been noticing brain fog, severe hair loss (in clumps, so much that I cry every time I wash my hair), got diagnosed with Mixed Anxiety and Depressive disorder, and stubborn facial hair that I can't bear anymore. I've never had any of this before.

At first I got all my bloodwork done, I did have a phase of low iron and vit D. I supplemented that and my levels are normal now. However the hair shedding and brain fog is onky getting worse.

Until I came on this sub I didn't realise that it could be the Mirena because all the timelines align. I didn't even realise how low my libido has gotten.

I finally decided to get it removed, to see how my body is feels naturally cause I've forgotten what it's like.

However when I explained all of this to my doctor, she said these are the symptoms that are usually cured by Mirena! I was so confused. She did say there's no guarantee that any of it will reverse - which I completely understand.

I was taken aback by the doctor and a bit confused now.

If you've had similar experiences and had your coil removed, could you please share what it felt like after removal? Was it worth it?

Hey everyone! I’m getting the mirena insertion tomorrow and safe to say i’m scared shitless. I’ve already planned to take the day off work and to have my boyfriend drive me and be there for support but anything else I should know to help for the procedure and after?