I've had my Mirena for just over 5 yrs. I got it to control my heavy bleeding not for birth control. My husband had a vasectomy after our second child. I've been very satisfied with it and have had little to no periods after the first few months. I was planning on having it removed and replaced until my dr said my current insurance won't cover it. We had a different plan five years ago. The cost for me to have it removed and replaced would be about $700. My dr said she would remove it free of charge since my insurance won't pay for it, but I would have to pay for a new one. She suggested I leave it in until after my vacation at the end of July since we don't know what will happen when I have it taken out. I was also wondering what happens if you DON'T have it removed after five years. Is there a risk of infection or anything worse? I've been researching how to file a dispute with my insurance company to try and get a new one paid for, but after reading this forum I'm having second thoughts. My dr always said my weight gain and lack of sex drive weren't side effects of the IUD, but like many of you nothing seems to work...diets, exercise, even herbal supplements that are supposed to increase libido. I'm really confused now about what to do. As someone said, only the people with bad experiences read and post on these forums. I found that out when I was reading posts about laser eye surgery too! I went with my gut and had it done and it's the best thing ever!! I was almost convinced not to do it after reading the horror stories some people wrote about.

I don't know what I'm really asking here...I guess I just wanted to share my situation and see if anyone is in the same boat as me!!

Anyone ever had removal go easy after 8 years with the original mirena? I am scared to death, actually this is not the first one I have had, but I didn't know how to word that right. the first one went horrible, well the removal of,,I ended up having to be put to sleep having like real surgery, because it and my other organs had made it a home is how they explained to me.. well apparently this one has done the same and moved right on in, just hopefully not in the same exact spot ouucchh!!! that would have to hurt ripping another where one was ripped 8 years ago. the reason mine has been in place for 8 years, is because like few of you,insurance issues. I am so freaking nervous I'm seriously debating on canceling my appointment, I just wish I knew the dangers of letting this thing just chill where it lays lol. IF ANYONE READING KNOWS THE DANGERS OF LIVING WITH ONE OF THESE, AND NEVER REPLACING IT WITH NEW ONE PLEASE PLEASE RESPOND, I HAVE GOT ABOUT FIVE DAYS OF SWEATING TO DO, NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS APPOINTMENT AT ALL. I wish I would have went with my original decision 8 years ago, I told them after the first try of yanking it out of my body, digging and hurting me, that if they ever found that one, and actually could remove it, I would never ever have anything placed inside me again, but we had to rescheldue for surgery, so from then till then, I had a week or so to think, and thought how wonderful life was now since I had met Mirena, because my body will not let me take birth control (pill), it goes into all kinds of fits, bleeding forever, feeling like crap,and pimples, like I'm in junior high, u name it, anyway I talked myself into getting Mirena inserted again, and now 8 YEARS LATER, I AM SCARED TO DEATH OF GETTING THIS ONE DUG OUT!!!!!