IUD = weight gain, or is that just an excuse?

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Replies

  • EJOY1988
    EJOY1988 Posts: 254 Member
    I had Implanon (Implant) back in 2007 and gained about 20lbs. with it. I got it out and got pregnant immediately. I gained weight (100lbs.) during third pregnancy and after my fourth I had chosen on Mirena (IUD). I can honestly say I used Mirena as an excuse to gaining weight, but it was my pure laziness. Even though I was bloated, I don't think it made gain a significant amount of weight. It really opened my eyes up on this after I became active. I say this because even while I still had it (IUD) in when I started exercising and watching what I was eating I lost almost 40 lbs. 20 lbs. in the first two months. I had it in for three years and got it removed in April only because it was coming out. I have since then lost a combined total of 79lbs. So maybe it can cause some to gain weight, because it is a hormonal contraceptive and can affect people differently. But for me that wasn't the case so much.
  • katrkels11
    katrkels11 Posts: 115 Member
    I got the depo shot (I know not an IUD) and I gained probably about 30 pounds after getting it and I have had a hard time losing weight. But now that I am single I have gotten off of it and am hoping to lose that weight and my baby weight.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    I had a contraceptive implant put in about 3 months ago and have noticed myself balloon 2 sizes. My stomach looks distended and pregnant and my face is totally bloated. I am tired all the time, low esteem and energy. I have come back to MFP but am terrified to weigh myself but I know that I have put on at least 1 1/2 stones in the past few months. I don't dress to impress any more, I "cover myself up". I'm thinking of having the implant removed but im not sure if its definitely the cause of my extreme weight gain. I wasn't aware that I was eating or drinking more than usual, but then again I wasn't paying attention.

    Has anyone else with a type of IUD had this problem? Did you notice a difference when it was removed? Im getting really down about this.......
    Without any other changes to my diet or exercise, I gained 5 pounds the month after I got mine and in the three years I had it, I gained about 25 and COULD NOT LOSE it, not matter what I did.

    Prior to that, I'd lost 30 pounds and kept it off for two years with minimal effort. It seriously sucked. And the Mirena website does list weight gain as a side effect in a small number of users.

    I dropped 8 pounds almost immediately after having it removed and I didn't make any lifestyle changes.
  • slimteak
    slimteak Posts: 1 Member
    I have the mirena placed in one month ago today. And I absolutely love it! I haven't notice any weight gain from this device! Actually, I'm losing if that makes sense. :smile:
  • Collier78
    Collier78 Posts: 811 Member
    I'm on my 2nd Copper T IUD (they can stay in for up to 10 yrs) and I've never had any problems with weight in addition they are hormone free.

    +1

    I'm on my second Copper (Paraguard) as well..no hormones..my periods would last a little longer than with a hormone, but I don't have the crazy ups and downs...also I have noticed that with increased exercise activity the duration of my period has shortened. I have had no problems with weight gain and continue to lose steadily.
  • frood
    frood Posts: 295 Member
    I have an Implanon. I gained about a cup size.

    If you're unhappy, it's probably time to try something else. It's not worth being miserable. Can you have estrogen? Maybe a Nuvaring would work?
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    I'm on my 2nd Copper T IUD (they can stay in for up to 10 yrs) and I've never had any problems with weight in addition they are hormone free.

    +1

    I'm on my second Copper (Paraguard) as well..no hormones..my periods would last a little longer than with a hormone, but I don't have the crazy ups and downs...also I have noticed that with increased exercise activity the duration of my period has shortened. I have had no problems with weight gain and continue to lose steadily.
    If you have naturally heavy periods, you can't do the copper. It makes periods heavier. It's why I went with Mirena after the pill was causing me to have two-week long periods.

    Finally, I just had my tubes tied since I'm done with babies, anyway.
  • juliasays77
    juliasays77 Posts: 92 Member
    I'm on my second Mirena, for a total of just over 8 years. I've lost 67 lbs since March, so it has obviously not impeded my weight loss. I'm at goal weight, and at a lower weight than I've been in 15 years.

    One caveat: Without hormones, I have very short cycles- 18 to 21 days, instead of 28-30. So my ob/gyn put me on birth control pills, on top of the mirena, temporarily to see if it would help regulate me. I was on them for 3 months and each month, the 3 weeks that I was taking the hormone pills, I would gain 1-2 lbs per week, then the week that I was off, I would drop as much as 10 lbs. So while I haven't had an issue with Mirena, I no longer discount the possibility of weight gain due to birth control.
  • teerae326
    teerae326 Posts: 150 Member
    I had Mirena in for 5 years, just had it removed in July. I have lost 30 lbs since I had it removed, but I doubt that was in relation to Mirena. I gained about 60 lbs since having it inserted, but I truly believe that was a by-product of my unhealthy lifestyle. However, I did have emotional issues that I couldn't explain. I was always moody, way too sensitive, irritable... It was like permanent PMS symptoms. Didn't have those issues prior to insertion and I don't have them now since I've had it removed. Maybe the minimal hormones in it didn't sit well with me, I don't know. I had to wear a panty liner every day just in case of spotting, which was common for me. Had almost no period for several years, but always had the cramping and bloating to go with it. Overall, not too bad of an experience for me. I loved that I could be intimate with my partner without additional protection. Try it out, see what happens. Seems like the experiences vary widely.
  • k8blujay2
    k8blujay2 Posts: 4,941 Member
    Isn't the arm implant a progesterone only form of birth control? If so, then that may be the reason you have bloated and gained weight... but the other posters are correct it is not an IUD nor is it similar in how it's used.
  • boe2004
    boe2004 Posts: 21
    Yes, I keep saying, I realise its not an IUD, I had one before and got a bit muddled, But regardless, thanks for the feed back, I am defo learning from the threads :smile:
    Isn't the arm implant a progesterone only form of birth control? If so, then that may be the reason you have bloated and gained weight... but the other posters are correct it is not an IUD nor is it similar in how it's used.
  • okgal247
    okgal247 Posts: 68 Member
    An arm implant is not an IUD (intra-uterine device). I have a mirena and have suffered no ill effects.

    ^I was going to say the exact same thing.

    I think a lot of BC issues are trial and error. I had a friend who used the patch and her boobs became ENORMOUS; I used a pill for a while that made me completely bonkers.

    I'm a big fan of Mirena as a long-term BC- 5 years, lighter periods, and you can take it out whenever you want.
  • hailzp
    hailzp Posts: 903 Member
    I had two IUD's (mirena) and had terrible side affects, weight gain and difficulty in losing weight, moods changed, no sex drive, depression, irritability, inability to cope with stress, period pain all the time!... The list goes on. The problem with it is that the affects are that it is different for everybody, though I have spoken to many women who have experienced the same as me.


    My advice would be to follow your instincts. Take it out if you think it is affecting you. I wish I had listened to my body sooner instead of waiting two years.
  • severina80
    severina80 Posts: 2
    An arm implant is not an IUD (intra-uterine device). I have a mirena and have suffered no ill effects.

    ^^^ This.
    I also have the mirena IUD and didn't see any weight gain/ill effects.
  • betrishy
    betrishy Posts: 52 Member
    I have had the Paragard (copper) IUD for a year and have lost 20 pounds,.
  • sweetpea129
    sweetpea129 Posts: 755 Member
    I've had paragard for over 2 yrs now and ive lost 125 lbs so, no, it hasnt hurt me!
  • arathena720
    arathena720 Posts: 449 Member
    The Paraguard has no hormones, so there's no way for it to cause weight gain. The Mirena does, and any introduction of hormones or change in the type of hormones might cause you to gain, lose, mood swings, etc. I have the Paraguard for exactly that reason.
  • christa0130
    christa0130 Posts: 102 Member
    I've had both with ill side effects from both! Horrible weight gain and even working out it was hard to shed anything. I ended up having to have a d&c 2 weeks ago to have it removed.
  • KenziesFrenzies
    KenziesFrenzies Posts: 1,014 Member
    I've had my Mirena for almost 2 years, and haven't suffered any side effects at all.

    The way my lady doctor explained it to me, is that hormonal IUD's circulate hormones only in the uterus, as opposed to systemically (like birth control pills). Shouldn't account for weight gain; but you'll never know, everyone's different.

    I had originally gone in wanting the Paraguard, but my gynecologist only really gives that one to married/long-time-monogamous women, since the Mirena has better protection against STI's via the mucosl layer it creates above the cervix.

    I <3 my Mirena.
  • aarar
    aarar Posts: 684 Member
    I gained weight on Mirena, however I'd say it was due to my binge eating and not the Mirena. I've also lost all my weight (see ticker) with it still in. I've had it for about 4 years now.

    So as far as my personal experience goes, I'd say it's an excuse. I can't speak for others though since everyone is different :flowerforyou:
  • jadesaville27
    jadesaville27 Posts: 1
    I have had the copper iud in for almost a year now and it has only recently dawned on me that it could be the cause of my "non-weightloss".
    At full term pregnacy with my daughter (who is now 2) I weighed 117kg. Since having her I have dropped to 79kg, flucuating between 79 and 83.
    I train pretty much everyday, cardio and weights and I eat really clean. I was asked yesterday why I hadn't lost any weight over the past year, and it occured to me that the only difference is that I have an iud - and this is the problem.
    Since having it inserted I have been uncomfortably bloated, making me look pregnant at times and am in a lot of pain, it makes me feel full, as if I have already eaten, I get bleeding after sex on occassion and it often feels like the penis is in my stomach. I am getting it removed next Monday so will let everyone know if this makes a difference to what I thought was my year of plato.
  • laura7743
    laura7743 Posts: 3
    I had a copper iud for about 1 1/2 years after my son was born and I didn't gain any (extra) weight. With it I was able to go back to within 5-8 pounds of my original size. Is yours copper or the Mirena hormone one?
  • 4leighbee
    4leighbee Posts: 1,275 Member
    I had Mirena two years ago, and it was a complete disaster! I gained weight suddenly, was bloated - tummy was huge! and I was running regularly - uncomfortable (gastro-related) all the time ... I had it taken out after about three months, and I truly do not believe I've been the same since. Nightmare.
  • breahremington
    breahremington Posts: 42
    I got the mirena about 5 months ago. I. LOVE. IT. of course that doesn't mean everyone would or that everyone would have as great an experience as I did. but...love. lovelovelove. no ill side effects in my case, and i appear to almost be done having a period (have only spotted sporadically and not really had a period for 3 months).
  • jcast92
    jcast92 Posts: 144 Member
    Also important to note that if you are on birth control pills and switching to an IUD, then even a hormonal IUD is going to be a lower hormone dose and have less averse effect on your body. The hormones are localised to the uterus and the dosage is much, much lower.

    The mirena is amazing. It can be very painful to insert but if you have a good doctor that shouldn't be a problem. I have a very light period which I expect will eventually go away. I've had it for only a few months and am so pleased with it!

    I have a few friends who are also on the mirena, none of whom have suffered any side effects, and certainly not battling with weight gain as a result of having it inserted.

    I wholeheartedly second this post! I am also on the Mirena and have had no ill effects. In fact, my cravings for sugary foods (which I had while on Ortho Tri Cyclen Lo) disappeared and now I'm able to eat more normally!
  • lizj0nes21
    lizj0nes21 Posts: 115
    An arm implant is not an IUD (intra-uterine device). I have a mirena and have suffered no ill effects.

    ^^^ Agreed.
    I have the Mirena, I have had it for almost 2 years now and I have not had any weight gaining side effects. I have been on MFP for a few weeks and my weightless hornet is going great. Eating within my calories and seeing a change, both in inches and on the scale, have made me feel better than I have in years since I had my son in 2011.
  • KayNowayJose
    KayNowayJose Posts: 138 Member
    I have the Nexplanon implant. I've had it for almost a year and a half. In less than a years time I gained about 15-17 pounds. But I do not attribute it to the Nexplanon. I attribute it to my own personal lifestyle changes during that time. Because now, I still have it in, and I now weigh less than I did BEFORE I had it inserted, in a matter of 4 months. I've had not a problem shedding weight. I've now surpassed a weight I used to plateau at before it was inserted, so I also don't think its stalling my weight loss.

    I just think it depends on the individual.

    Edit: I also just recalled that doctors do recommend/state the hormones from the nexplanon aren't fully adapted or something of the sort to your body until about a year in (thus why they recommend waiting a year if you have problems with it) so this may also attribute to my weight loss/weight gain results.
  • luckydays27
    luckydays27 Posts: 552 Member
    I have the Mirena IUD and have had it for about 3.5 years. I did not gain weight but I was over 200 when I had it inserted. I am down to 155 and the weight came off pretty much as I expected it.

    The insertion was not the most comfortable but not terribly painful. I spotted for about 4 weeks afterward but have not had a period since.

    Since I did not gain weight on Mirena I cannot comment on the weight gain associated with but it is a known side effect of birth control so everyone should be aware that its a known issue.
  • hstoblish
    hstoblish Posts: 234 Member
    Your arm implant is not an IUD.

    I have the copper IUD (non-hormonal) and have no difference in weight. It also doesn't impact my moods or give me migraines like hormonal birth control does. I love it.
  • krawhitham
    krawhitham Posts: 831 Member
    I had a copper IUD placed September 2012, and I had a LOT of pain. The pain and bleeding (normal side effects) lasted a couple of months and this caused me to stop working out. It was too painful even to walk around the block, and I ended up sitting at work all day because I was so uncomfortable.

    I'd say it took me 2 months to get over that discomfort, and I started to walk 3+ miles a day but didn't lose any weight. Between 2012 - 2013 I went from 160-ish to 171 at my highest (then I came onto this site!)

    I realized that I was absolutely using the discomfort as AN EXCUSE. I have had the copper IUD in for over a year now and I never feel it, sex is normal, periods are normal and I have been lifting weights and working out more than I have in the past three years.

    When I am sick, upset or in pain I eat. This is just what happened after I got the IUD put in, and that's the only real reason for my weight gain. A piece of copper can't make you gain weight. It's the best thing that has happened to me in terms of birth control!

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