Hi,

Firstly great news that you have an attentive doctor and one who listens to you...that can make a huge difference when you have a long term condition and ongoing (and often changing) symptoms.

I had the mirena put in after my second lap (have had four laps) to see if it might help with the pain etc. I too had been on continuous bc and although this helped at first it soon lost its effect.

Unfortunately the mirena didn't agree with me at all and I had to have it taken out after three months but in answer to your first question I certainly didn't feel it once it was in. I know it has really helped some women which is why I was so keen to give it a try, I just wasn't one of them :(

I would say it is definitely worth giving it a shot, it may save you having another lap which has got to be worth it. Different things work for different people, you have to try them to know what works for you.

I hope you are able to come to a decision that is right for you.

Please feel free to ask me any more questions you might have about the mirena and I will do my best to answer!

Helen x

I know I've participated in other threads about Mirena in the past, so look for them to see what info/advice was given then.

For me, getting the Mirena inserted was one of the most painful things I have ever experienced. After that it helped, I think. Recently I've had two 2+cm cysts on my left ovary, which my gyn explained OCPs (which I was on for years first) generally prevent by preventing ovulation but the Mirena doesn't. So at the moment I still have the Mirena in and am also taking a low dose continuous OCP. No verdict yet on how that will work.

I am getting the Mirena DURING my lap this Friday, which I was so glad they could do, as I was also worried about the insertion pain. I have also been taking continuous birth control. I switched to higher dose pill...maybe you could try that first if youre not already on a strong one?
I was worried about my periods coming back while my body adjusts to the Mirena but my doc thinks they might not at all since the lining of my uterus is already thin from taking bcp continuously for over a year. I can let you know if I get a full blown period...though I'm sure I'll have some spotting from the surgery at least, so I might not know for a while.

I refuse it leads to infections which I already suffer enough from thank you very much and also makes your body bleed like crazy for the first 6 months to a year. I also don't like you cant just stop it when you want but have to go into the doctor to get it out. Not for me.

I had a Mirena for 2 years before TTC. It helped, it felt like I didn't even have stage 4 endo. I did have some pain 2 years later but it seemed to be a one off and I took it out soon after anyway because I wanted to get pregnant. After I get pregnant and give birth I'll be putting it back.

I don't know if insertion hurts because I had it in with my lap. It didn't hurt when I took it out. You don't feel it's there at all and makes your periods really really light, (if you have any at all).

I think you should try it, I know for some people it doesn't work but for me it did. Like I said, I didn't even feel I had endo for those 2 years and if it doesn't work you could always take it out.

Good luck :)

thanks for sharing all your experiences and advice :) i feel much better about moving forward and trying mirena. i mean, if it doesnt help then im still in the same position i am now, so its worth a try.

I had Mirena for 4 years after the birth of my daughter. The insertion was definitely uncomfortable. I had it put in 5 weeks after giving birth and I was still bleeding at that time. I continued to have spotting/ light bleeding for about 9 months after getting it. After that I would have an occasional period but it would be very light (my cycles are very long and irregular anyway so not sure if that's why they were infrequent or bc of iud).

Issues I had with Mirena:
Horrible acne (never had prior)
Horrible anxiety
Depression

The depression and possibly anxiety could have been postpartum depression, I can't say for sure but I feel it was more likely caused by the mirena. That said, I have friends who love mirena and I have sisters and friends who had experiences similar to mine. One friend developed such bad acne she had hers removed after just a few months. My sister has horrible anxiety that she didn't have before but she also has a lifestyle that may be causing some of that (ie: drinking A LOT)

You could certainly try it and I would definitely say give it at least a few months before you decide how you feel about it. It takes time for our bodies to adjust to hormonal changes. If you decide to have it back out it is super simple to have removed I didn't even feel it come out. My ob/gyn actually took I it out for me at work (i'm an ob nurse) and I went right back to patient care.
Also before you decide to go for it if you haven't already, do some research bc there are definitely risk such as having it grow into your uterus or even rupturing it.
A nurse practitioner I see at my integrative dr's office also works in another office with a woman who has endo and has a mirena with excellent relief from it. So everybody responds differently.

Loved mirena itself (I hate having to remember to take a pill at the same time every day). ~ but it was horrible for my endo.

My specialist (who worked and trained under the world renown "father of microsurgery" Dr. Victor Gomel), said that the pill is almost always the best option for endo despite people being in pain or reacting differently to different things.

But again, I SAY, sometimes that's not always the case and sometimes the pain isn't worth it. Do what feels best for you. Research, try it out, and if it doesn't work then get it pulled.

*Feels like a contraction when they put the IUD in