Because Mirena has hormones, it is completely possible for you to be having these side effects. I'd advise the copper coil iud as it has no hormones and thus, almost no side effects.

I didn't have any real side effects with the mirena but if you are then go back to your doctors - you do not have to suffer these things because of birth control!

If your legs are hurting, you NEED to see your doctor about that.

I had some pretty nasty side effects on Mirena too. It is a great form of birth control, but just doesn't agree with some women, like all forms of birth control.

I suggest you give it a little longer and see if the side effects go away. Some sources say to wait it out for 6 months with mirena and the side effects should go away. I waited for about nine and then got it out as quickly as I could lol.

But read this first: from planned parenthood

"Serious problems usually have warning signs. Report any of these signs to your clinician as soon as possible.

* pain in the abdomen or chest
* severe headaches
* sudden shortness of breath or spitting up blood
* unusual swelling or pain in the leg or arm
* changes in the frequency, severity, or associated symptoms of your headache
* aura — gradual onset, yet short-term visual experience of arching, bright, flashing zig-zag lines
* worsening depression
* yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)
* a new lump in your breast
* unusual heavy bleeding from your vagina"

I had the Mirena for a year and about nine months, and it was HORRIBLE. That thing pretty much ruined my life, and I only recently figured out what was causing all these symptoms. My depression and moodiness (EXTREME irritability, snapping and lashing out at people for no apparent reason or for extremely minor things) ruined the relationship I was in when I got the Mirena put in, and it has nearly killed my current relationship. My face looks like a disaster area--HUGE, red, painful cystic acne all over my chin, cheeks, sometimes on my forehead. I would cry at the drop of a hat, just intense sobbing over NOTHING. Finally after googling "Mirena acne" and discovering how many other women had had these types of side effects from the Mirena, I realized what had been happening to me for the past nearly two years. It all suddenly made sense. I went to the urgent care center and begged for them to take it out. I cried twice at the hospital because I thought they weren't going to take it out for me or were going to make me wait three weeks to have it taken out. It's been out two days now and already I feel SO MUCH BETTER. It's like the difference between night and day. I can't say anything about your leg pain or your other symptoms, but Mirena gave me SEVERE acne, SEVERE depression, and SEVERE anger problems and irritability. The acne will probably take some time to calm down, but even the day of having it taken out, I felt so much better and like a normal person again. I haven't been all weepy or lashed out at my boyfriend, and I KNOW there have been things he's said or done since I've gotten it out that before would have made me cry or want to punch him in the face.

Long story short, I don't think your symptoms will go away. If anything, they will just get worse. Mine did. Please do yourself a HUGE favor and go get the despicable thing removed.

I am a HUGE fan of not having to worry about pregnancy, not having to but tampons at the monthly trip to Target (one box of pantiliners has lasted 6 months)and not having to ever consider birth control. LOVED THAT!!!

Here is the other side:

Insertion was REALLY painful. My child was 6 years old so it had been a while since anyone or anything had been near that cervix. I remembered the pain when I was pregnant and my doctor wanted to force dilate my cervix. OUCH! I got the sweats and almost passed out just after insertion. I was fine after about 10 minutes and glad that was over.

2 weeks after having it inserted (Feb 2008) I went back in with issues and was charged another $200 on top of the original $600-something to have it put in for an ultrasound because I was having the most intense right side pain that jolted through my body from my ovary area on the front to the "butt temple" directly behind it on my lower back. I was sure the thing had imbedded my uterus. NOPE...all was fine. Except for a NASTY bacterial infection, which cost me ANOTHER $125ish at the Pharmacy. So, back to home I go.

Finally after a day or two the "FUNKY SMELL" went away (WHEW!...only temporary though as you will see shortly) but I still had the intermittent stabbing pains and a constant ache in my lower back area. I started noticing my vision was become blurred on occassion. I contributed that to a late 30 thing....boy was I wrong.

Over the course of 11 months, I dealt with the following:

**MAJOR Mood swings
**Suicidal Thoughts
**Depression
**Overwhelming Fatigue
**Minor weight gain (5lbs) but NO LOSS at all, even dropping down to 1000 calories a day and an hour of exercise DAILY...Not a dropped pound
**Bloating so bad I looked 4 months pregnant sometimes
**Patchy skin, like when I was pregnant
**Sore nipples
**Acne all over, even on my upper outer thighs...weird
**Complete disinterest in sex
**Not wanting to be touched or hugged....just stay away....by anyone, even my 7 year old daughter
**MAJOR snappishness
**COMPLETE LOSS OF INTEREST IN ANYTHING
**NON STOP Vaginal infections with horrendous odor (Plain greek Yogurt and apple cider vinegar on a tampon are much cheaper than a doctor...hint, hint....works in a day)
**Unusual "gush" of liquid discharge (About a teaspoon of cloudy water) every morning after getting out of bed (I KNOW>>>EWWWWWWW!!!!)
**muscle soreness

...I am sure I am forgetting something here...

So, today I had it removed. I will post in a few weeks to update everyone. EASY REMOVAL!! Small tug and gone. No pain.

I hope I go back to normal. I used to be a happy person with a healthy Vah-Jay_jay........

Be blessed all.....

I'm so amazed that I finally realize what has been happening to me these last few months... I have felt so completely out of control two weeks out of the month right before my period... excessive irratibility, uncontrolled anger... feeling so completely depressed and hopeless... I couldn't think (I'm one who thrives on routine and am able to stay organized for the most part and take care of things) I couldn't figure out what I needed to do first to get anything accomplished. I have been so exhausted constantly regardless of getting 8-9 hours of sleep every night, eating right and excercising. I have had the muscle soreness in my back that doesn't go away and cramping and nipple soreness like I've never had in my life! I was so depressed that I went to a counselor as I just didn't know what else to do and she advised I go on anti-depressants. I'm so glad that I started to research this since I was told like many others that Mirena's side effects are mild and few. I can't believe how many posts I have read from women all over the world with almost my exact story. I cannot wait to have this removed and be a normal and happy person again. I would have gone on the medication and wondered why I wasn't improving because the Mirena IUD was causing it all along! Thank you all for sharing and exposing this problematic form of birth control... Maybe it's ok for some, but if this many people are experiencing these things, it seems that more information should be given by the drug company and those who prescribe it.

I AM GOING TO GET THIS THING OUT!!! You ladies have helped me make my decision it sounds like such a relief. I have been in the most awful pain, and stinky and just plain miserable! Hope I really feel a change over night I am ready to be normal again.

Thank god!!!! My co-worker told me about a family memeber of hers and all the side effects she thinks is caused by mirena. I started reading all the blogs, and I too have a lot of the side effects. Weight gain, extreme moodiness, depression (even was put on depression meds), acne and periods that last longer than when I wasn't on any birth control. I am so thankful that all of you have blogged and let those side effects be known. I plan to get this THING out of me ASAP! Again, thanks

So, I have gotten to thinking lately about what has been causing my weight gain (I've always been thin, without effort) and bad acne on my face, back, and chest, which I also have never had a problem with! I suspected the Mirena (I've had mine a year), but was unsure because for the first few month's I didn't see any side effect's at all. But now reading everyone's comment's, I'm sure it's the Mirena causing it.

I can't say that I've had any of the mood swings, or depression, maybe cause I'm a grump anyways? Ha ha. But I have also noticed more vaginal discharge, it's clear, and doesn't smell, but still annoying, since I have to wear a panty liner everyday.

It's too bad that I started getting these symptoms, I LOVE not having to worry about taking a pill every day. Not to mention my period has been non-existent since a few week's after I had it inserted.

Mine is coming out ASAP!

ok so for the last two weeks ive been convinced i was pregnant because of all my side effects and was convinced that the three hpts i took were cheapos. im releived to know i am not really prego that mirena is just slowly but surely ruining my life with the oh so lovely mood swings, nasty acne, and my personal fave, constant constipation. i will be calling the doctor in the morning for immediate removal. thanks for all the personal shared stories ladies, VERY helpful.

had mirena out for 3months now acne will not go away will it ever?????? help me