Mrena weight gain??

Itsnic

I had a Mirena IUD put in 4 months ago and have gained 13 pounds! I have kind of slacked off but I haven't been sitting around eating sticks of butter so that kind of weight gain seemed ridiculous. I weigh more now than I ever have, except when I was pregnant.
I spoke to a nurse at the doctors office and she said it wasn't that common but it does happen. She told me to wait 4 more weeks and if my weight doesn't plateau then I need to go ahead and come in to speak to the doctor and possibly have it removed.
Has anyone else had this experience? If I have to get it removed, how quickly do the hormones leave your system so I may be able to actually see some progress?
This is very frustrating. I am glad to know that it's not just me but it really would have been nice to know this before it was put in.

kr1stadee

I had the Mirena put in at the beginning of September, when I was brand new to this website. I have lost 13lbs in the last month.

I'd say if you aren't counting your calories/following any type of plan (slacking off), then it would explain the gain more than the IUD would.
The hormones don't go into your blood stream, they are localized so it does what it needs to do at the spot it needs to be done. I was told that if I wanted to have it removed to have a child, my cycles would be "normal" pretty much immediately.

The doctor said that 6 months is the general 'wait-it-out' time.
If I were you, I'd stick whole-heartedly to whatever plan you are using for the next month or 2, and see where you're at then.

Have it removed when you can, if you feel that it's hindering your success. IUD's aren't for everyone. I know for the money that it cost, I'll be keeping it in for a while lol

MrsJJUt

I gained weight right after mine was put in too. But after a few months it seemed to settle down and it came back off. Good luck!

Sabine_Stroehm

I gained weight. I don't believe for a minute that the progesterone is "local".

I had mine removed. Best decision I ever made.

Having one inserted was one of the worst decisions.

Itsnic

you are right about that! that sucker was expensive!
When I say slacking off, i don't mean over eating ect...I just haven't been as diligent as I was about working out. I have still been watching my calories, usually I am right around 1500-1600 as opposed to the 1200-1400 I was sticking to. Instead of working out 4 times a week I have been going like once a week and walking with my dog. So, I haven't totally let everything go, I just haven't been doing what I was before. At that rate, I can understand bouncing back a couple pounds but 13??
I am definitely going to wait the 4 weeks like the nurse said and see what happens. I would hate to have to get it out after I just spent all that money to get it in. After looking around on the internet it sounds like many, many people have had that problem but it is hard to figure out whats true and what's not.

Itsnic

@ Sabine, did you find it was easier to lose the weight after it was removed?
I never had problems with my pills, other than forgetting to take them :0 so I am surprised that the hormones in this can have so much of an effect but I have also noticed that I am MUCH, MUCH moodier than usual as well.

stephanne82

I had Mirena for 2 years and it didn't make me gain weight at all. I loved it!

lilsweetwright

The mirena really messed me up. I lost the following two pregnancies a year after I had it removed. I understand it works great for others, and I am sure it all depends on our individual initial hormone balance. It just wasn't helpful to me. I couldn't lose weight along with other health problems. Birth Control and I don't get along

ash5205

I gained 24 lbs in a year after having Mirena inserted. I had it taken out a month ago, and have lost 8 lbs so far. I had tried to lose weight while on Mirena and instead I just seemed to pack it on regardless of my eating habits and activity level. I also had horrible acne that was worse than anything I dealt with during junior and high school. My face has been clear since having it removed as well. I feel less bloated. I really just feel free from side effects since having it removed.

Joreanasaurous

I have had Mrena for about 4 years now and love it. It is the only birth control I have used (and I've tried a lot) that I haven't noticed any side effects besides lighter and shorter periods. I spot for a day and that's about it.
I haven't had any kids yet, so I HURT like the ****ens to get put in, but I love it.
Every body is different though.

kr1stadee

I have had Mrena for about 4 years now and love it. It is the only birth control I have used (and I've tried a lot) that I haven't noticed any side effects besides lighter and shorter periods. I spot for a day and that's about it.
I haven't had any kids yet, so I HURT like the ****ens to get put in, but I love it.
Every body is different though.

I had 2 large kids (both almost 10lbs), and the insertion was NOT nice!!

I am the same as you with the birth control. I don't have good experience with most!! It's been a month with Mirena, and the only side effects that I'm feeling is random cramping, a little spotting here and there, and I'm kinda moody.. lol
Liking it so far!! How often will you have yours replaced?

unknownndoll

I have had 2 of them so far. The one I had before pregnancy I did not gain weight, I also only gained 15 lbs during pregnancy, and one after and I did not gain weight from either. It is low dose of hormones, lower than the pill. I contribute the 40 lbs i gained to my own fault after getting divorced and drinking/eating too much, etc. I have since lost the weight fine with diet & exercise and still have my IUD and will be getting another one next year to replace this one.

murphy612

Was there a reason you chose Mirena? If it was just that you wanted an IUD you could have gotten the Paraguard (Copper-T) it doesn't have any hormones. I've had mine about 6-7 years now. I avoid BC hormones at all cost, too many side effects.

purpleipod

You said yourself you changed your habits/slacked off. That's a lot more likely to cause weight gain than birth control.

suegmune

I have had it for almost two years now and have lost over 30 lbs. WHen I had depo, I gained 30 lbs in less than 6 months.

So, Mirena has been great thus far. Oh, and no periods. Don't hate. LOL.

Getting it put in was fine too. But, then again, I've had 3 spinals (from 3 c-sections) and a bacterial infection that landed me in the hospital for 2 weeks when my baby was a week old. So. Maybe I'm not a good judge.

myriahj84

I had Mirena two years ago and I noticed weight gain. They told me it wasn't because of the Mirena but I hardly ever gain weight. I had gained about 20 pounds in 6 months! When I took it out the weight started coming off. Everyone is different so listen to your body and take it out if it is making you feel funny.

JenniBaby85

I have it, and have lost weight. I heard it causes water retention and water weight. Not fat gain. Check your thyroid levels, and insulin levels (Possible insulin resistance). That can cause weight to spike, FAST.

DeMarraDontStop

Glad to hear this as I was considering getting this will stay where I am!!

determined_01

I didn't gain weight at all and joined MFP about 2 months later and have had no problem losing.

wonderish

I've had the merina for almost 2 years now, and besides the cramps and the first 3 months, I have loved it! I dont know if i've gained weight because of it or not - I just gained.

I know when I first started this journey I was trying to blame everything else but my eating habits on why I was gaining... Now I just know it's me whos reponsible and if I dont change that, then Im just going to be fat.

kcragg

I have had my Mirena for 12 months, no weight gain, I have constantly lost weight eating healthy with exercise. It did take a few months to regulate, but now I absolutely love it .

_SusieQ_

I had mine done about two months ago. The first month I saw the scale go up and up with little change to my diet and exercise. But things have started to level out, I feel better and the scale is going back down.

I should be honest and say I'm not sure honestly though if it was the Mirena, or if I was slacking more than I thought I was b/c it made me feel so bad those first few weeks. No energy, cramping, pain in my back constantly. Now I feel good, it just takes some time for the body to adjust.

mashanda

I didnt get mirena. I was on DEPO for two years gained 60lbs, was depressed feeling all the time, had night sweats...all kinds of stuff. so If you switch to somehting DO NOT Switch to Depo shot.

FindingFit127

I have had the Mirena for two years now and I absolutely love it!!!!!! Its the only birth control that I've tried that hasn't made me sick. I rarely have a period, its pretty much completely stopped and its amazing! The only thing that ever scares me is i actually know 5 people that have still gotten pregnant while having a mirena IUD, so sometimes i get paranoid that I could possibly be pregnant.. but never am! I have gained weight but I honestly think that is completely my own fault because I know my eating habbits have taken a turn for the worst and I'm more sedetary then I used to be (until now since I'm trying to do something about it). I also think the weight I have gained could be from my hypothyroidism as well. But all in all I absolutely love the mirena and havn't had absolutely any problems! It's ironic that this was posted because a friend of mine actually just told me TODAY that she heard that the mirena IUD has been recalled so I'm going to be calling my doc to see whats up! I hope that's not true becaue I love the darn thing and I just can't think of any other birth control I'd feel comfortable switching too! The pill made me sick and get ovarian cyst and I have heard terrible things about the shot ugh why can't guys deal with this crap! Hopefully its not recalled! Has anybody else heard that???

rmchapman4

I had Mirena for 2 years and it didn't make me gain weight at all. I loved it!

I had mine for 10 (2); I did not gain because of it--I gained because of my unhhealthy eating habits!

lovemykids58

I had it years ago for about 9 months.. I had it removed due to bleeding the entire time it was in. I gained like 5lbs the forst month then lost it

Whatever you do- DO NOT GET THE NUVARING if you have the mirana removed. That ring is the devil :indifferent:

LAS_1980

I have had Mirena since February and have lost 65 lbs since then. I did ALOT of research on it before having it done just for this very reason right there! And also, because the reason I am overweight now is because of birth control pills!! Good luck, hopefully you will start losing quickly after you have it removed. :-)

kit8806

I've been on Mirena for about 3 1/2 years. It hurt like hell at first, but I was never on birth control before, so I was told to expect some cramping.. otherwise, I haven't had many side effects.. every so often I get really bad cramps, but I pop an advil and once it kicks in, they are gone.. I did gain weight after I had the mirena put in, but it could have been for a number of reasons.. just after I went on birth control, my b/f for a year and a half broke up with me, so I was upset, my daughter just turned 1, her father and I were back and forth to court every 3-6 months (no I'm not exaggerating) and I just got lazy and my eating habbits sucked.. so I can't say the weight gain is from mirena, but I have lost 10lbs so far since being on mfp (almost 2 months) so just give it some time and let your body adjust and maybe adjust your calories or exercise..

Good Luck!

MisKaren1

I gained weight. I don't believe for a minute that the progesterone is "local".

I had mine removed. Best decision I ever made.

Having one inserted was one of the worst decisions.

This. I was actually supposed to have the Paraguard inserted, but my Dr pushed me into Mirena with horror stories about bleeding while I was already IN THE STIRRUPS. Grrr.

Mirena altered my whole body. I'm sure it's great for some, but like any drug our bodies all respond differently.
With the Mirena in, I actually thought I was going insane. Horrible mood swings, thoughts of hurting people. Feeling nauseous, headaches. I seem to react horribly to BC hormones in general, but this was the worst.

The weight gain was there, but hard to say because I felt so awful and "not myself" that I didn't even try to lose any until after I had it removed.

I've lost 25 pounds since having it removed in May and the "crazy mom" thoughts are gone too. Never doing another hormone BC again.

rnhoppe

I've had mine for 4 years. Never gained on it or had any side effects...I actually lost 100 lbs on it. Love it! Done having kids so was not worried about conceiving after it is removed...haven't had a period in over 3 years!

fbmandy55

You said yourself you changed your habits/slacked off. That's a lot more likely to cause weight gain than birth control.

This. The only thing that causes weigh gain is increased calories and decreased activity. Not an IUD.