Did you lose weight after having the Mirena taken out?

I have posted this on another thread but I think my story might be helpful. I have had 3 consecutive Mirenas, about 12 years straight. I had absolutely no issues I identified with having it until this last couple of years. I have definitely put on weight in that time and I don't know if it's connected or not. The first 2 I had I remained very skinny and fit. This last one has coincided with back pain, joint pain, unprecedented weight gain, very sore and swollen breasts (when I was younger I would have paid good money for the swollen part), and significant abdominal cramping (identified in hospital as kidney stones except there were no stones). I cannot unequivocally say it's because of the IUD but I have just had it removed so we'll see if anything changes. I wonder if my body reacts different because I am older (46 years old), or I have used it for so long, or maybe my issues are related to something else entirely. I have had full bloods and I according to those results I am super healthy. I will post again with anything new to report.

Sorry, I just ran across this thread on google and I'm SHOOK. This Steph girl was straight replying to everything for YEARS and just stumbling across this, I feel so compelled to chime in. This is the craziest thing I've seen lately on the internet. She really seems like she has personal stock in Mirena or some pharmaceutical company. She doesn't even think studies have any limitations? That clinical trials can be flawed? Peer-reviewed articles and scientific proof has been defied over time with other drugs in the past. I've just been reading through and I think that's so wild that anyone would care that much. It was an entertaining read, but really weird. Obviously, if someone is on a forum they (the majority) would want to share anecdotes more than scholarly articles. We can all access PubMed if we so choose. The reason someone would rather read this thread than PubMed or any scientific resource is probably because the studies are not reflecting them specifically. That does not mean their problems are non-existent The replies that were made to people were completely condescending as well. It is one thing to be like "well here's some articles" but to vehemently swarm like a buzzard over every comment is weird?? A lot of the people involved didn't ask for clinical trials or scholarly articles. Not everyone's experience will be reflected in a study, as sample sizes are not the 7 billion people on earth. We would be remiss not to rejoice in the studies of the past that have been funded by companies and have turned out to be utter lies. I love science and I'm passionate about the scientific method, but laws are only made in science after several repetitions of an experiment and are rarely created or known. Anyone who is a logical, rational, person knows this. Yes, a doctor should never consult his patients using anecdotes, but that is also due to the risk involved in doing so -- not that personal experience is ALWAYS invalid. The problem with CICO is that finding your "calories out" can be nearly impossible and science is beginning to regard this model as too simplistic. If that were the one factor in everyone's weight loss, I'm sure the obesity epidemic would be solved. Did you consider how calorie intake actually is not reflected by the numbers we estimate for certain foods? Studies on microbiota and hormones are helping us understand this. Something may be 150 calories, but you actually extract 120! This information is new, and I believe this could lead us to seeing that calories are more than just calories (in a study rats that ate raw sweet potatoes received less energy than those that ate cooked potatoes for instance). I know this is only tangentially related, but I truly believe we will find that energy extraction is not as simple as the labeled calories. It's so dynamic! And it's exciting! The fact that this is not considered or mentioned in the answers alarms me. My point is that we are still beginning to understand obesity, nutrition and the human body. Science doesn't even have it all figured out, so I don't understand how @sezxystef would have all the answers. This is preposterous, but I hope you've grown since this. The Mirena may be causing problems for people that science cannot explain or understand. If anyone is on this thread in recent days, don't let some wanna-be scientist tell you you're crazy. I do not have Mirena, so I'm unsure, but I AM SURE that you're not just crazy especially if SO MANY WOMEN are congregating and reporting similar things. That would be some odd case of mass hysteria, which is more unlikely. Good laugh, though a bit concerning.

det_lady_freckle_bryan wrote: »

SezxyStef wrote: »

I really just have to shake my head at this...I can't imagine using an expired drug...wow ladies you are really taking chances with your health aren't you to what avoid weight gain that is due to increased eating.

Funny how people wouldn't dream of eating a food after it's best before date but think nothing of using expire drugs...might as well start ignoring expiration dates on other things too.

you really just want to seem smarter than everyone... new research has shown it works up to 7 years???? like you're so mean??? it's just that they DIDNT KNOW it could last that long. Like other things companies may NOT KNOW when a drug is newer and all the information is not out there yet. You're just so so rude? I can't. I guess that's why you have like 15,000 things, you have no life outside of one-upping women on the internet and trying to find ways to make them feel idiotic/small. Even back then, doctors never have given a caveat citing it would be harmful to leave it in since these continued use studies date back to the 90s. Idk if you're on MFP anymore, I'm not going to read your replies since I have other things to do... but how sickening...

No friends, only these two posts..and it seems all targeting me.

How interesting....and how odd and entertaining that you, since 2014 have kept off the forums and only posted these 2 things.

It actually appears you don't have anything better to do....I fully expect a response because if you took this much time and effort for the former...then ...

As for why I replied because we need to take control of our own bodies and our own medications and not blame others for our folly...and if you read all my posts I did say that some weight gain is expected but you cannot blame excess weight gain on a medication, but to take into account the side effect of "increased appetite".

esp for a "woman" who has never had a mirena and links no studies to prove yourself...

anyway ...I am not going to go further with this as it is silly as it is clear as to what this really is....*insert grin here*

ps the manufacturer still says have it removed after 5 years...
pps you sound like someone I know...interesting.

Purely anecdotal, but I can't stand my Mirena. I have used non-normonal IUD's throughout my entire adult life as hormonal birth controls make me batshit crazy--why I switched from the pill to an IUD in the first place. It seems non-hormonal IUD's have fallen out of favour since I got my last one though so I had a very difficult time procuring one when it came time to renew. My doctor convinced me try Mirena instead and I HATE IT.

I was promised less cramping, less spotting, eventual cessation of menstrual flow, no bloating, no weight gain, no mood effects. SO NOT TRUE! I cramp more than ever, often unrelated to my TOM, I spot about 60% to even 75% of any given cycle (yes, I spot for up to 3 out of 4 weeks!), I am constantly bloated, I have put on a few pounds I just can't seem to shed despite no other changes in my regimen, I am batshit crazy again and my sex drive is way down, and I still get a period even with all the spotting--I'm not even sure where all this menses is coming from for god's sake. My doctor had me wait at least a year because "the symptoms will go away after your body adjusts to it" but that simply has not occurred.

I'm getting it yanked and looking into other forms of non-hormonal birth control, maybe a diapraghm. I'm 44 and wish my nethers would just dry up and become non-functional already so I could stop worrying about all this >.<

I have a mirena coil and i find it suits me very well. I have, however, had absolute nightmares with other forms of contraception, specifically the implant ( can't remember the name offhand, Nor-something ) I was so angry and depressed all the time, didn't notice any weight gain but I had that bad boy whipped out pretty quick once I'd realised what was happening! I also had problems with 2 different contraceptive pills. See your doctor and try something else. There's plenty of options, no need to suffer!

I know I had shared on this thread before but since it’s active again felt like updating. I’ve still had zero negative side effects on my third Mirena. I got Mirena to treat endometriosis in my 20s and I’m almost 40 now.

I hit maintenance this week and Mirena in no way affected my ability to do so. I also have Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and am in early peri menopause. While my CO may be a little lower than some with similar stats due to my personal health issues it still came down to CICO to get here.

My doctor will be removing my Mirena this year because I’m peri menopausal now but having it has been a positive experience for me overall

I gotta say, this has been a very entertaining read.

I got mine taken out not long after my original comment on this thread. I haven’t lost weight but I’m not constantly bloated so I look and feel better anyway. I’m also less bonkers, my sex drive has returned, I not all crampy and I don’t have almost constant spotting. I’m glad I had it removed. I did learn that diaphragms are no longer a thing so we’re getting by with condoms; not much fun after so many years of not using them but better than babies for sure.

I love my Mirena and it probably literally saved my life because I was suffering from really, really bad Menorrhagia for a few months and became extremely anaemic. It also affected quality of life in a big way because I basically had a continual period, had to wear dark clothing all the time, sleep on towels and was scared to go places that might not have good toilet facilities. Plus I was burning through sanitary products like there was no tomorrow. The mirena put a stop to the bleeding - in fact, my period has pretty much vanished altogether. I've actually lost all my weight (32kg) while having the Mirena in so it's definitely not impaired weight loss in any way.

I'm lucky though - I have friends who can't have Mirena because it affects their mood/mental health quite badly ...

myfitnesskelly wrote: »

Gained 10kg in the past five years. I've been able to shed a few kilos when i go on extreme diets, but i hate that, it's so unhealthy. I cycle 22km per day 3-5x per week, i walk 10-20k steps daily, for the past 6 weeks i've been eating 1200 calories per day and what? 1.5 kilo loss. In SIX weeks. I've had Mirena for 6 years (on my 2nd) and I think it's quite clear the doctors are mistaken when they say it cannot lead to weight gain.

it actually says in the side affects "may cause weight gain" and most doctors tell you this...

But if it is real weight gain and not just water retention then it's because you are eating too much not because you are using BC....

I am on my 3rd 5 year Mirena and I absolutely love it!!! I have never had any problems. It's been great for me. I wouldn't say my periods completely stopped, but they definitely became very light, almost non existent. I could always still feel my body going into "ovulation mode" but then very light spotting sometimes for less than a day. And not having to worry about birth control, hardly even giving it a thought was great!

I have struggled with anxiety and depression since I was a child, I never felt that the Mirena affected those things one way or another. I gained weight, but I feel that was my own poor eating habits and sedentary lifestyle more than anything else.

I went through a major transformation years ago and lost upwards of 80 lbs with the Mirena. Unfortunately over the years I slowly gained it all back, but happy for me 🙂 I finally got my butt back in gear in August and have officially lost 35 lbs, again, with the Mirena.

My sex drive did also take a hit, but again, I blame my poor eating habits. It's hard to feel attractive with all that extra weight, even with a very supportive and loving other half. To this day, even though my daughter is now 16 and a little more independent of the family and home (lol), I have always found it hard to switch from "mommy mode" to "sexy wife". I do sometimes have pain and cramping during and sometimes after sex, but nothing that made it unbearable, sorry if this is TMI but if there is pain, he "switches angles, or slows it down" and the pain goes away. It really seems to only happen at a specific angle.

I turn 40 in 2 days and have recently started having heavy, painful, and abnormal periods again. I'm wondering if its pre-menopause, endometriosis, or some other hormonal type changes. Reading through all these posts makes me wonder if maybe the Mirena does have something to do with it, maybe because my hormones are changing, Mirena might not be right for me anymore? ....but more likely it's just a normal part of getting old.

The time stamp is almost up on Mirena number 3, and I have been considering keeping it out for good this time. Again, I've never really had any problems with it, but maybe it's just time to [as one other member said] let nature take its course.

FrecklePatch wrote: »

I had mine removed last week and today I stepped on the scale 9 pounds lighter.

Congrats but I suspect it was mostly water weight as losing 9lbs of actual fat is not healthy nor reasonable if you ate any food at all...

Mirena like all birth control says that the side effects can and do include weight gain, water retention and increased appetite...*shrughs*

Anyone who is choosing a medical process such as this needs to take some responsibility for educating themselves..

It took about 3-6 months for all my Mirena related problems to subside, but I have an immune response to silicone (And Mirena was how we discovered it...), which seems to have been the root of the problem and all the water weight. I also had to ditch my contact lenses. >_<