Mirena removal & other bcp options

[UnderProtest]

So I finally scheduled an appointment to have my Mirena removed after 10 months. I hate the thing. Four months of continuous bleeding and now I have 9-11 day periods every 28 days. F that. The main reason I got it was to eliminate my period. Hell, it took 4 IVF cycles to get pg (male factor with a little unexplained infertility thrown in there too). So the questions are:

1. Do I have to have it removed during my period? The receptionist was an idiot and unhelpful.

2. Please gently tell me what could happen when I have it removed. Another post alluded to horrific things and I'm afraid to google.

3. What should I do about bc? I don't know that I really need it, but I REALLY don't think I could handle another kid especially now. I was on bcp for years before we began TTC.

[pugz]

1. I think I was on my period when mine was removed, kinda fuzzy now though

2. It was no big deal, like pulling out a tampon honestly, not painful whatsoever and I had no bleeding that I recall.

3. condoms?

[beaver12]

I just had mine taken out yesterday. I was not on my period. We are going the condoms route until DH gets a vasectomy.

[ssmjlm]

1. I had it done at the end of my period, but that was more scheduling luck than anything. The nurse said it wasn't necessary.

2. I regulated right away after mine. I actually had much better cycles after getting it removed.

3. I charted and we used condoms.

[Deleted]

I used the pill to decrease my periods - I always took two packs back to back, then one week off, which gave me 7 week cycles. There's no medical reason not to do this. I liked the pill and had no problems with it for the years I was on it. I just came off the mini-pill. I took that for a bit over a year, and it also kept my period at bay.

[DarcyLongfellow]

I didn't get my period while I had it in, so no -- it's definitely not necessary to be on your period when you have it removed. I suspect if you've seen that recommended, it's just to ease your body back into unregulated cycles.

Removal was seriously no big deal at all. Didn't hurt a bit -- like removing a tampon, only you could feel things a little further up inside you. And you've got a speculum inside you at the time :-)

I am not a fan of really ANY birth control options now that I've decided I hate hormonal BC of all kinds (including Mirena). DH and I are pretty much ready for kid #2, but wouldn't mind waiting a few months before getting pregnant. So we're sort of half-heartedly avoiding my fertile periods now. Not the best option if you really don't want to get pregnant. :-)

As far as Mirena withdrawal, yes -- some people have a rough time. I had a rough time when I had Mirena IN (low estrogen and anxiety/depression), so I was just happy to have the thing out. I did have HORRIBLY sore boobs for a couple of weeks after, and my anxiety/depression reared its ugly head again, but now (two months later) I'm feeling great.

[UnderProtest]

Sept 13, 2012 16:12:48 GMT -5 DarcyLongfellow said:

I didn't get my period while I had it in, so no -- it's definitely not necessary to be on your period when you have it removed. I suspect if you've seen that recommended, it's just to ease your body back into unregulated cycles.

Removal was seriously no big deal at all. Didn't hurt a bit -- like removing a tampon, only you could feel things a little further up inside you. And you've got a speculum inside you at the time :-)

I am not a fan of really ANY birth control options now that I've decided I hate hormonal BC of all kinds (including Mirena). DH and I are pretty much ready for kid #2, but wouldn't mind waiting a few months before getting pregnant. So we're sort of half-heartedly avoiding my fertile periods now. Not the best option if you really don't want to get pregnant. :-)

As far as Mirena withdrawal, yes -- some people have a rough time. I had a rough time when I had Mirena IN (low estrogen and anxiety/depression), so I was just happy to have the thing out. I did have HORRIBLY sore boobs for a couple of weeks after, and my anxiety/depression reared its ugly head again, but now (two months later) I'm feeling great.

So is it a really bad idea to have it removed right before I host two straight weekends of dinner parties and birthday parties?

[mlvmd]

I'm glad you posted this. I've had a very similar experience. 14 day periods every 28 days that have now moved to 21 days. So yeah one week out of every four without my period is not my idea of a good time. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, regular BC pills never affected my period, taking pill packs back to back never stopped it from coming. I think we'll go to condoms until we make our minds up about kid #2 or one and done.

[UnderProtest]

Sept 13, 2012 19:35:30 GMT -5 mlvmd said:

I'm glad you posted this. I've had a very similar experience. 14 day periods every 28 days that have now moved to 21 days. So yeah one week out of every four without my period is not my idea of a good time. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, regular BC pills never affected my period, taking pill packs back to back never stopped it from coming. I think we'll go to condoms until we make our minds up about kid #2 or one and done.

Have you gotten it removed yet? If so, how did it go? Both the actual procedure and any hormonal adjustments after.

[mlvmd]

Not yet, I have an appointment next month.