There's a couple very large threads on here devoted to the mirena. I'd look at them.

Mirena is a really great thing to a lot of people, but some people have nasty side effects. You'd never know until you tried it. If your insurance covers it, I'd say, go for it!

Yay for you for getting off depo..... have you been reading up about the long term side effects of it?

No, not really. if it makes me sterile that's fine if that's what you mean.

I honestly love depo and am dissapointed that I need to get off of it. If it weren't for the weight thing and bone density I would stay on it forever.

I especially love the no period part. trying to figure out how to get myself a hysterectomy- don't really need a uterus if you don't want kids, so why deal with the rest of the reproductive bs.... Must be sooooo nice to be a man!

Lol- no actually I was referring to the bone density issues.

Why don't you get a hysterectomy? Insurance?

The mirena really does make you sterile. I never got my period while on it. But some do, so don't count on it.

I was one of the ones with the nasty side effects, though. But that's a risk on any type of birth control.

It really must be nice to be a man.

**Edited to add that I didn't mean it made you sterile indefinitely, just while it's in.

Because I'm 27 years old and the doctors think I'm nuts when I ask about it.

It's hard enough trying to find one to put the mirena in!

ahh, I see.

Good luck! They're getting a lot better about the IUD's, as far as I can tell...

I am 33 yrs old I have been on Depo for nearly 15 yrs with no period the entire time. I did gain about 20 pounds 4 years in, but have lost it since then. I have had my bone density checked with no issues. I have 2 friends that have been VERY successful with Mirena, one that had it removed, and another friend that had issues that are now subsided. I'm taking the plunge since my insurance covers it and hope it will work for me!

I'm going on my 10th year of Depo Provera. Every time I mention that I haven't had my period for most of that time people freak out and tell me it's really unhealthy. I like not having my period. The weight gain and bone density thing worried me for a little while but my weight went down a little over the years and my doctors did a bone density check and I'm good. Has anyone known someone that has been on it for this long and tried to get pregnant afterwards? I want to start trying to get pregnant around January of next year but I'm not sure if I'll be able to after all this time. Also, about a year ago I decided to get off it and didn't get my shot. Soon afterwards I got UTI's and my first yeast infections. It grew into a full blown kidney infection. My doctors said this could not be caused by stopping the shot but as soon as I got my shot again the problems went away. Anyone hear of side effects like that before? I'm worried it will happen again.

I was so interested in this post because I, too have been on Depo for about 10 years and I am thinking of switching to the Mirena. My doctor thinks I will continue to not have a period (which is my main goal as well). Like the original poster, I am what they consider "too young" for a hysterectomy (34) because I only have one child. I read the Mirena reviews and many of them seem to be similar side effects to the first few months on the depo shot. I want to hear from someone who has made the plunge from depo to Mirena, to hear if it was pretty seamless (did you ever get periods during the switch?) Also, can you feel it? That kind of creeps me out, the little strings hanging out. I also want to be sure it stays in during heavy activity (I take a lot of areobics classes, etc). If anyone has actually made the leap from Depo (after long term use) to Mirena, can you please let me know how the change went?

I was on the Mirena for a little over a year and I just switched to the depo. While on the Mirena the birth control part of it was great I didn't really have any side effects. I had no period the entire time although there were a few times that I spotted but very little. Getting it put in and removed was a breeze. My only problem was during intercourse the strings would hit the end of my boyfriends penis and it would hurt. Sometimes it would hurt him a lot. That is the reason why I had it removed. I had went to the doctor and they told me to have him move the strings to the side which we tried and it would work for a few minutes until they went back to where they were. I'm not trying to suade someone from not getting the Mirena because this doesn't hapen to everyone, but if it does theres not a whole lot you can do other than getting it removed.

Depo Provera is bad! It puts you in a menopausal state and increases your risk for bone loss, osteoporosis, weight gain and irregular bleeding. Mirena keeps the lining thin producing just a spotting period or no period at all. There is no estrogen in this method so it will not interfere with hypertendion or previous cancer diagnosis. If the strings bother you get them cut shorter.