Experiences With Mirena

[Maleth]

Hi guys,

Has anyone had any personal experiences they would like to share with the IUD Mirena? I'm pre-everything but I absolutely cannot stand that time and it brings so much dysphoria on me. I have been thinking of asking the parents to schedule a gyno visit and I checked to make sure that it is covered under my insurance and it is, so I'd be all set, I just need to schedule an appointment. Before I do that though, I have been curious how it works with us FTMs. I want to have an IUD so that I don't have to deal with heavy weeks and dysphoria associated with it but I'm not sure whether this would mess up the levels of estrogen and testosterone in my body. I already suspect that I have a good amount of testosterone in my body so I wouldn't want to do anything to mess that up and add more estrogen/testosterone than my body actually needs. Either way, what have been your experiences with this IUD? Is it effective at stopping or (at least) lightening that time of the month?

[Alexthecat]

I use depo-provera and dont have periods.

[LJ3]

I'm pre - T too. I've had mirena for about 7 years. It completely stopped my period. I was supposed to have it removed after 5 years but I didn't hav insurance. Anyway even after it "expired" the periods didn't come back. I've been wondering the same thing tho, if the hormones are going to mess up my T when I get it.

[Maleth]

Thanks for the replies so far. Afaik both Depo Provera and Mirena releast progestin or something like that but I don't know whether it affects testosterone/estrogen levels in the whole body and messes up that balance. I'm mainly interested in Mirena or another hormonal IUD because I'd rather get it over with once through the pain of insertion and only check on it myself every month or so than having a shot (depo provera) every 3 months or so.


Also, LJ, do you remember how fast it stopped your shark weeks? And did you have spotting for like a month after first inserting? That's what I've heard happens, too with the Mirena...

[LJ3]

For me it stopped immediately but I hear that's uncommon.  My shark week was pretty light to begin with.

[Ayden]

I never had an IUD since my husband is snipped and I never had insurance. But, I did work in healthcare and I wanted to add that IUDs are not usually given to people who haven't given birth. Unless you have outstanding circumstances I've never heard of it being given otherwise.

[Maleth]

Ah okay :-/ Thanks for the insight, Aiden. Would they make an exception for people with heavy periods or the like?

[LJ3]

Yah I was thinking of adding that part, but my friend got one and she had never given birth. I think she had serious problems with her period tho and so they finally let her try it, but then it ended up giving her worse problems because she had never given birth....  IDK.

[Maleth]

Yah I was thinking of adding that part, but my friend got one and she had never given birth. I think she had serious problems with her period tho and so they finally let her try it, but then it ended up giving her worse problems because she had never given birth....  IDK.

Did she get PID (pelvic inflammatory disease) or did it puncture her uterus? either sounds painful and unpleasant... I really need to get something that can lessen my periods but at the same time it cannot be estrogen based.

[Ayden]

Ah okay :-/ Thanks for the insight, Aiden. Would they make an exception for people with heavy periods or the like?

I'm not sure what the requirements are. I do know of one person who got an IUD due to period issues, though it was tertiary knowledge so I don't know the whole story. I'm sure that there are exceptions, but only a doctor would know for sure. Have you contacted a doctor with a clinic or planned parenthood yet?

[SWNID]

I think you may search around for a provider that is willing to give it to you. One of my cis female friend got hers from planned parenthood, 18 yo, never had given birth.

[Jace]

I have Skyla. It's like a smaller version of Mirena and is for people who have never given birth. Though really Mirena works just fine even if you haven't. Look stuff up and you'll find that having to give birth first is a bunch of BS. But yeah Skyla was specifically made for people who haven't given birth, it's smaller and only lasts 3 years.

I just got mine over the summer so I've still been having periods, but they are much lighter and my cramps aren't nearly as bad. I think they are getting shorter. The actual insertion really isn't that bad either. The worst part for me is just having the speculum in, which happens at any gyno visit. I hate that thing so much. The insertion itself is like a very strong cramp. I love my IUD and definitely recommend it.

[Taka]

the reason why they want you to have given birth first, is that the hormones do mess up your natural hormone balance and cycle, and could make you sterile. so they really don't want to take that risk with young women who will most likely want children ten years later.

but you should be able to get it if your period is so bad that you can't stand it, and you also have no desire of ever getting children.

it shouldn't make any difficulties for later testosterone treatment, as long as you don't try to use that at the same time. dosages have to be adjusted to each person after all.

[Maleth]

I've never heard of Skyla. I think that it could be a bit better suited since I've never given birth or anything of that sort. I did a little research on Mirena and it seems that it releases progestin or something like that but only locally in the uterus. So I don't think any feminizing effects should take place at least I'd hope not.

Jace, thanks for sharing the info about Skyla, since I had never heard about it prior. Is it uncomfortable for you? Like.. can you feel it on a daily basis or is most of the pain just from insertion on the first day? And I know this is a stupid question, but have you experienced any feminizing effects? I just ask because in the past I've been afraid to take any birth control (ie the pill) since it puts more estrogen into someone's system and I definitely don't want that.

I don't think the IUD in regards to sterility should be a problem since I don't plan on becoming pregnant ever.

[pianoforte]

I haven't tried an IUD, but the progestin-releasing Nexplanon implant can also stop periods from happening. Mine worked for about a year and a half with no maintenance at all.

It probably would have solved the problem for the entire 3 years if I wasn't overweight, which can affect the hormone levels.

[Jace]

I have no pain with my Skyla. For the first week or two I would get small cramps but they weren't bad at all. I can't feel it either. I forget I even have it sometimes. There are strings for it to be pulled out with by your doctor but they curl up so unless I'm really trying to feel them I can't even find them.

I tried birth control pills once and they did wacky crap to my emotions and I hated it and it was just plain awful. Because Skyla only releases hormones in the uterus I don't have any more experiences like that. I haven't had any feminization effects what so ever. Like I said I forget I even have it.

A good idea would be to schedule an appointment with your Gyno and talk things over. I had no idea about Skyla till I went in and asked about birth control options. If you're really scared about hormones there is a copper IUD, but if you have bad periods it can make them worse.

I really like my IUD.