i got Mirena in March. I had my first baby in december. when I found out that my insurance would cover it I got it. when I had it placed I wasn't on my period because I had taken the depo shot at the hospital. I have been in pain ever since I got this thing. I have night sweats, hot flashes, cramps, painful sex not to mention 0 sex drive. There are times when I'm sitting still and I can feel this stupid thing. I donot recommend this to anyone. I cannot wait to get it taken out and to find a different birth control.

Don't be scared, just be informed! I believe Mirena does work well for some people, but for others, the synthetic hormones in birth control (perhaps all birth control) are problematic.

Know what to look for and be prepared to have it removed if you see warning signs. If I had known now that all the side effects I had were because of Mirena, I would have had it removed years and years earlier. Instead, I suffered the better part of 3 years with it until things got really, really bad and I made the connection.

Also make sure your doctor will remove it, no questions asked and that your insurance covers removal--a lot of women have had trouble with that.

things i wish i had known before mirena: the fact that it is t shaped and how close of a fit it is in the uterus. seriously google images of mirena. i was shocked how tight of a fit it is! i wish i had paid more attention to potential side effects. it is a lie when docs tell you the hormone is only released locally. my opinion is that is impossible!!! that my doctor received kickbacks for inserting mirena then the longer i kept it the more money she received. i wish i had known she would lie and say she could not find mirena when i went to have it removed, yet my second doctor found it in less than a minute. i wish i had found this forum because at least i would not have been so suicidal and bi polar schizophrenic and all my physical side effects. personally mirena almost ruined my life, i am still hoping my marriage survives. good luck!!! i tried to be impartial but it is hard not to be after the hell i went through. also look up pre menopause symptoms if you do get mirena.