CAUTION: This is a LONG post but I am hoping to help someone and to stop the Mirena poisoning!!! If you can’t read all of the post, visit LadyComp website for information and products for NATURAL CONTRACEPTION!!! Since removing the Mirena, I have switched to this method of contraception. If this is too pricey then google “natural contraception methods” and you will find loads of alternatives.

In 2010, I had the Mirena IUD inserted after the birth of my second child, having suffered from horrible migraines and enormous weight gain on BC pill (Cilest and Microgynon). I did a brief research on the Mirena IUD and decided to use it as a form of BC. To be honest after having two kids naturally, the insertion wasn’t too bad just uncomfortable and I took some painkillers after to relieve the abdominal cramping. I bled on and off for the first three months which was I was told to expect. My prominent side effects were extreme fatigue (which I put down to being a working mum of two young children). The other prominent side effect was NOT LOW BUT ABSOLUTELY NO/ZERO SEX DRIVE which I then put down to extreme fatigue. This caused several disagreements between my husband and I, once out of frustration he said to me “sometimes I wonder if you are seeing someone else as you never want me to touch you”. This was one of the lowest points in my life and marriage.

Then I had a smear test in March 2014 and the results came back as normal. About 5 weeks after my smear test I experienced pain while urinating and was diagnosed with UTI and given prescription for Antibiotics which did the trick. A week later, I started experiencing a bout of symptoms which include:

- Abdominal pains
- Shooting pains through my rectum/back passage, these pains felt like strong labour pains which stopped me in my tracks (literally). I could be walking/running and would feel like my rectum was going to drop!
- Chest pain & palpitations
- Severe back pains (all parts of my back)
- Pain in hands/fingers
- Stabbing pains on left side of abdomen
- Insomnia
- Pain down my left leg
- Pain in sides of my breasts
- Pelvic/groin pain
- Craving sugary/fizzy drinks
- Lack of concentration
- Feeling nauseaous and loss of appetite
- Burning sensation under my feet
- Frequent urination in the middle of the night
- Ear ache
- Thin stools (though no blood)

So thinking I was about to die or had cancer!!! I booked a full BUPA health assessment (at my own expense). Had numerous blood tests and examinations, Doctor thought I might be pregnant even though I had the Mirena IUD but pregnancy test came back as negative (Phew!!!!). She found that lower parts of my breasts were hard so referred me to have a breast ultrasound as well as a pelvic (abdominal/vaginal) scan to check if the Mirena was still in place. I also had a faecal occult blood test (my stool was tested for blood), results were negative! Phew…

May 2014 – Had a breast scan, was normal except for a 0.5mm cyst found in my left breast though I was told by the surgeon that this was nothing to worry about. The symptoms listed above continued while I was waiting for a pelvic scan.

June 2014 – After doing extensive research online, I went back to my GP and asked that the Mirena be removed, she reluctantly removed it (this was painless) though she mentioned that it had moved and was quite low so could be why I was having those symptoms. She booked me in to have another Mirena inserted (she was slightly more concerned about BC than I was, not sure why but I didn’t turn up for the insertion appointment!). I was determined to solve the mystery of my symptoms before putting it back! Two days after the removal, I bled for two days which was expected I guess. Most of the symptoms above eased off but migraines set in (I never had this with the Mirena), I actually lost weight when I had the Mirena but I was now slowly gaining weight!!! Anyways, I was still having pain on left side of my abdomen, pelvic pain, abdominal cramps, pain down left side so went back to BUPA GP who referred me to a colorectal specialist.

July 2014 – The colorectal specialist did a brief rectum examination and booked me in for a colonoscopy and gastroscopy for the following week (I will spare you the details of these procedures). All came back normal. Also had a pelvic scan, technician said my uterus was tilted but she couldn’t see anything wrong. (I don’t remember having a tilted uterus before having the Mirena but hey…!). I also had a pelvic MRI scan but nothing sinister was found except inflammation on the sides at the back! All of these tests were done in one week (Monday, Tuesday and Friday respectively!). I guess it will take more than 6 weeks for these symptoms to totally disappear considering I had the Mirena in for almost four years! I am still having discomfort in my pelvis, lower abdomen and twinges all over my body!

I have read thousands of posts about the SEVERE side effects of Mirena but only about 1% mention natural contraception methods as an alternative, most people say “I went back to using the pill or got the copper IUD etc”. Luckily, I found LadyComp monitor; this and other forms of NATURAL contraception should be mentioned more often instead of those poisonous pills/IUDs. It is quite pricey but I believe it’s worth every penny/cent/dime, they have 3 different products and have a payment plan for affordability. I have searched all of the web and can’t find a single negative review for any of their products! I have purchased the ‘lady comp’ fertility monitor and look forward to a life of natural conception!!! I have only had it for a few weeks but I am loving it. Will keep you posted, thank you for reading (if you got this far) and good luck ladies! 