Re: Mirena side effects

Hi There!

So glad to hear you finally got it out!

I just wanted to weigh in with the vitamin deficiency thing. One of my biggest side effects with Mirena has been gastrointestinal distress, which only got worse the longer the IUD was in. Now that it's removed I'm having different GI issues, but I'm hoping they'll resolve as my hormones balance out.

Anyways, back when all of my aches, pains, and problems were still a bit of a medical mystery to me, my doctor suggested that all my symptoms were similar to B vitamin deficiency. This is linked to GI problems and improper digestion -- B12 is needed to properly absorb nutrients in food. I even had developed (and still have) small white dots all over my forearms and upper back which are symptoms of severe deficiency. My B12 tests came back in the normal range, but researching over the internet, it seems that the optimal B12 level is somewhat in dispute, and that blood serum levels might not be the best way to test B12 anyways. (sorry, it's been awhile since I looked this stuff up, google it for more technical language and info).

Also -- researching birth control and B vitamins online, ALL hormonal birth control can inhibit the body's absorbtion of B12. A lot of purely informational women's health websites (i.e. not forums, or pro/con-the pill) recommend taking a daily multivitamin while on the pill, to replace the nutrients that are not being absorbed.

Before having Mirena removed I had been on some form of hormonal birth control for about 7 years and had NEVER even had this mentioned by any healthcare provider, when it seems like such a basic thing!

I am currently taking a B12/B6 sublingual tablet once a day to replace these vitamins. Sublinguals are supposed to be as effective over time as a B12 injection which I'd prefer not to do, and like injections enter directly into the bloodstream. The body is not particularly good at absorbing these vitamins through the digestive system.

Anyways -- maybe this info helps, and I'm sure now that you've had Mirena removed things will continue to improve! Try not to be too discouraged by any "crashing", I'm just about 5 months post-removal and went through a major crash prior to my last period. Tweet