Mirena IUD and weight gain?

I'm also on year 6 (on Mirena #2 just replaced April 2012) and love it. My weight gain in the past is completely my doing with food choices and quantity.

I haven't done any research on it but I do know the Mirena has progesterone, not estrogen so I'm not sure if weight gain for some women is one of the side effects. Would be nice to blame something other than ourselves though wouldn't it?

I saw an OP suggest the Paraguard (non hormonal IUD). Ugh! While I would love to not have to worry about birth control for the next 10-12 years as opposed to 5, there is no way in h3ll I am willing to increase my blood flow by 75%. I'd have to sit on the toilet for 7 days straight........ :noway:

I had the Mirena for 4 months or so. Before it, my stomach (after 2 pregnancies) was getting back to almost flat. However, my body reacted to the hormones in Mirena and made my stomach "pop" like I was 4 months pregnant. Believe me - I was not imagining this. I even had to wear oversized clothes to work so people would not think I was pregnant. My doctor removed it immediately when I went to go see her and my belly bloat eased somewhat, but I am still having issues trying to get it back to where it had been before Mirena. It might work for some people, but it wasn't the right hormone for my body.

Eeeek. I had Mirena placed sept. 2008, removed april 2011. I started really trying to lose weight in Feb 2011, lost quickly like I usually do... then stalled in April around 168, I NEVER stall at 168. I had Mirena removed and lost 10 lbs in a week, didn't do anything differently other than having it removed.


They claim that the hormones in Mirena are so localized that there will be no systemic effects--I guess this could be true for some people, but most I have come across do have systemic effects. I had many more side effects than just stalled weight loss, my moods were everywhere, I felt like I was going crazy, my legs ached, my skin was getting worse and worse with acne, fatigued ALL the time...

I now have Paraguard (placed in March) , NO hormones! I love it! and it doesn't hinder my weight loss or mess with my moods.

It's all a personal preference, and I definitely got my money's worth out of my Mirena since I had if for almost 3 years.
That being said, I have seen a great deal of women struggling with weight loss while using any kind of hormonal birth control.
You might just have to work out that much more and watch what you eat that muc more if you decide to stick it out with Mirena.

Good luck:flowerforyou:

I've had Mirena since summer of 2009 and pretty much love it. I have yo-yo'ed a lot since then, but I've talked to my Dr and it is not tied to Mirena. Mirena's hormone levels are too low and that is not a common issue with it. The gain in weight is most likely in my case due to stress, age, and other factors. When I change my eating, sleep more, and exercise my weight does come down. I'm hoping to get back to my goal weight this summer. . .we will see!

My doctor told me the same thing, but the Mirena site says differently. I eat very healthy, low-cal, exercise, sleep fine -- everything I did before I got Mirena and had no weight problem. The month after I got it, my weight started shooting up and 20 pounds later I cannot lose, no matter what I do. I bounce back and forth between 152 and 154.

I got my mirena in january 2008 and gained 50 lbs in 4 and a half years and I am trying to lose 20 lbs of it right now (I had an eating disorder in 2005/2006 and started really eating after I got married in November 2007). No periods at all and if I do have my menstrual it lasts for 2 or 3 days which are very light. The IUD is very effective and it eases your mind about not getting pregnant.

I've had mine since sept 2011. Only gained 5lbs from bloating but it's definitely gone now! After the first two months it's been great. No major problems. In fact the few problems I had have been gone since eating healthier. But everyone's body reacts differently!

Another thing I noticed after getting off hormonal birth control and getting my copper iud, my libido definitely went up. I don't think I want anything else again.

It was the worst thing! I put on weight, I was an emotional wreck, cried every day, it caused bleeding every time with intimacy, periods stayed the same. Went to the Dr every two months because of the symptoms, then had it removed after 8 months.
Never again.

I've never had an IUD, but a friend of mine got Mirena after she had her son in 2008. Within 6 months she gained 30lbs. and couldn't for the life of her lose the weight until she had it removed 3 months ago... She has been steadly losing 2lbs. a week without changing her diet or fitness level. They are trying for a second child now and she swears she will never get an IUD again :-)

Relieved to see someone else has the sympton of the odd, gassy-like bumps, the baby kicking but no baby. Thought it was just one of the strange side effects for me. But I'm with you, it is creepy!

I had that before I had an IUD. It's normal.

Thanks everyone! Maybe it's my imagination or maybe I just want to blame something other than myself for my weight gain! I just got it a week and 1/2 ago - having a constant feeling of PMS - which suchs because I'm mean when PMSing...lol. I've been tired also but then again I'm always tired. So I guess I need to get on the ball and get this weight off. Thanks again!

I don't think it's your imagination. Everyone's body reacts differently. I put on 5lbs of what I think was water weight, did eat a bit more after it was inserted, but I was also stressed to the max because my wedding was three weeks away. Since then I have started eating healthily and exercising. The weight has fallen off. I just didn't let it be an excuse for me to gain anymore weight. Now, 8 months later, I have no period at all. It is amazing. I would not trade the odd day of nausea and period symptoms with no flow for having a period again. Plus, I like not having to worry about birth control. But, like I said before, everyone is different. If you think you're gaining weight because of yours, it might be the hormones making you hungrier. Just tell them no and drink some water! Worked for me.

Sigh. I’m reading this and feeling really sad.

I had the Mirena placed at the end of May (2 months and a week ago)… I’ve gained 10 pounds and I’m generally a mess. I’m tired, grumpy, hungry all the time and my breasts feel like they did when I was pregnant. I was doing the Dukan Diet and was on track and had lost 25 and now I’ve gained 10 back. I should’ve known better. Whenever I put any kind of hormones into my system, this is the result. I tried Depo Provera years ago and went through the same thing, even started lactating randomly (I feel like I could now actually – they are tingling).

My Doctor talked me into it because I was having problems with cysts and polyps and between cycle bleeding. She thought it would be a good solution to my other issues. Now it’s causing more and I’m trying to be patient and let my body get used to it but I seriously can’t handle this feeling out of control and destroying the weight loss I worked so hard for.

OK - here goes. Had mine removed this morning but have to go for another scan to check a few bits and pieces out HOWEVER.....I spoke quite frankly to the GP who removed about weight (water) gain; breast tenderness; acne; foggy brain; feeling pregnant and she burst out laughing (in a nice way) and said "why did nobody tell you about this before it went in - that is what progesterone does - let's get it out and you can get back to normal"

I had it out and an old trusty copper one put back in (so I am awaiting my massively heavy periods to come back with a vengeance) but at the end of the day, I feel less foggy already so maybe. just maybe there is something in all this.

She said around 5lbs will come off almost instantly as the water retention dissapears and if the increased number of wees is anything to go by I think she is right.

Most importantly, trust your body, trust your own mind and if it doesn't feel right, have it removed. I will update again in a few days when I have had longer to get used to being without it!

Keep an eye on yourself for the next few days. I had a major mood crash when mine was removed (only had it 1 month). And no, that's not really what progesterone does, but it IS what progestins do. :-) Congrats!

Last week I had my Mirena IUD inserted....ever since I have been feeling so hungry! I want to eat all the time. The Mirena does have hormones in it that release into the uterus and some do get into the blood stream (just in case those of you who do not have one wanted to know). Anyone out there have a Mirena and did it cause you to feel hungry or gain weight? (or any other side effects that bother you).

Mirena is EVIL! Do a google search and you will find thousands of horror stories. I tried to take mine out myself it was that bad. I wasn't hungry I was BLOATED my stomach looked like I swallowed a basketball. No joke. And my doctor looked me in the face and basically told me I was crazy.
I'm telling you- do a google search (not just on here)!

I have been doing a lot of research and came across this page. I got my IUD placed 3 years ago after I had my second child and have gained weight ever since. I kept thinking I just was not trying hard enough but after downloading the fitness pal app on my phone and tracking my food and exercise I should be making some progress but nothing. Since I had the device placed my husband had a vasectomy so I am getting it removed at my next appointment. I'm a little nervous because my hubby never took in a sperm sample but I'm sick of waiting on him to do his part. He's made at me for not getting my tubes tied during my emergency c-section so we have tension.
Besides the weight gain this thread has helped me figure out why I am so tired all the time, have strange cravings for food, and lots of head aches. I almost had sinus surgery last winter thinking that was the problem. Ugg, cannot wait to have this thing out and be birth control free. I lost 50 pounds the last time I was off the pill (we were trying for kid #1). so I am hoping for similar success this time. Just hoping I don't get crap from the doc I am seeing. It seems like everyone in the medical field loves these things. I even have a friend who just had her 2nd one placed and thinks it great.