I have just had a Mirena IUD inserted about 2 weeks ago. The first couple of days were fine with only a bit of cramping and slight spotting, but over the last few days I have been experiencing low abdominal cramps and heavier bleeding. I mean it is not as bad as I used to get, but nevertheless worrying and today i had a clot like my other periods. The whole idea of having the Mirena fitted was to give me some relief after years of painful periods.Could someone please give me some advice,as I have been very moody and depressed and it's not fair on my husband and kids.

I have had the exact same experience:
vaginal dryness and no sex drive. I cannot find any medical sites on the web that deal with this. I feel like doctors don't acknowledge that women have a sex drive nor that it is important. I want more information on this side effect issue with Mirena and can't find any.

I wish I had found this information when i was originally researching the Mirena IUD. I read all sorts of stuff about the pain encountered during and after it's insertion, but didn't see anything about it affecting one's mood.

Before Mirena, I used Triphasil for birth control. I have used Triphasil since I was a teenager, and stopped using it when my (now ex) husband got a vasectomy (that was heaven). After our divorce, I went back in Triphasil, but since I was spoiled to not having to take a daily pill (I don't take drugs for anything), I found I kept forgetting to take the pill. I didn't plan on having any more children, so the 5 year thing was also attractive.

So.. I looked for other alternatives.

I originally asked my Ob-Gyn about a new method I read about where they put an insert into your fallopian tubes - I don't recall the name of it. She said their office didn't do it (but recommended a doctor in town that would.) She mentioned Mirena and gave me info on it. I read up on what I could on the internet - the idea of having contractions during insertion that are reminiscent of giving birth didn't excite me, but I dismissed that because it wouldn't last long.

Now that I have had Mirena for about 6 weeks now, I think maybe I should have added to my original Internet search "mood swings" - holy COW!

With no past of mental illness, the past 3 weeks have been hell. Mirena seems to be the only thing that could cause this. (Explain to me, tho, how my birth control contained the same ingredient - Levonorgestrel, but didn't seem to have quite this effect on me??) I've been seeing my boyfriend for a year and several months now, and I find myself waking up in his arms happy, but later break into hysterical crying and want to end the relationship. I hate to admit that one night I found myself thinking about life without me in the world. The only thing that kept me from doing anything drastic was that I thought about what it would do to my daughter.

At least now I can contribute these feelings to >some cause<... I feel better about that... I guess my question is - has anyone out there had these horrible mood swings, but then had them subside and life went back to normal?

First I'd like to say I am mortified that I did more research in buying my laptop than I did getting an IUD inserted into my body! I just listened to my doctor - "it's the latest type, it's really great, blah blah blah" and believed him. I checked out the Mirena website, but of course they didn't list any of these side effects. I've only had this thing for about a month but I've been thinking I was going crazy because I totally feel pregnant. (with 3 kids 6 & under, I remember it all too well). I am so tired all the time - it's unreal. Not to mention the non-stop spotting. Thank goodness for this site and for all of your posts. I am making my appointment to have it removed Monday.

Good luck to you all.