• The Mirena IUD is Manufactured by Bayer...
    ...the same company that has indicated to shareholders that it will reserve an additional $262.5 million to settle Yaz and Yasmin lawsuits over blood clots
  • Call the Mirena IUD Helpline and speak to a female medical social worker and a Mirena IUD lawyer
  • The Mirena IUD has had serious complications
    • Perforation of the uterus
    • The IUD can gravitate and become embedded in the uterus or abdomen
    • Pregnancy even with the Mirena inserted
    • Gravitation of the IUD, change in position
    • Ectopic pregnancy
    • Group A streptococcal sepsis
    • Infertility when the IUD becomes embedded
    • Need for surgical removal of the Mirena
  • The Mirena IUD is a flexible intrauterine device that is placed into the uterus through the vagina by a GYN. Mirena releases a continuous dose of hormones (levonorgestrel) to prevent pregnancy for up to five years.
  • Over 2 million women in the U.S. have used Mirena IUD for birth control.
    Mirena is one of the most common IUDs currently on the market.
  • Uterine Perforation Symptoms From the Mirena: If you have these symptoms see a physician immediately.
    • Lower abdominal pain
    • Heavy vaginal bleeding
    • Inability to locate the Mirena IUD string
    • Bloating, rigidity and pain in the abdomen
    • Nausea, Vomiting, Chills, Fever, Rapid heartbeat

More About The Mirena IUD, Mirena IUD Helpline Resources

Written by Mirena IUD Helpline on . Posted in Mirena IUD Updates

At the Mirena IUD helpline we are always looking for information online to share with our readers. We get calls daily from women with Mirena IUD complications interested in the Mirena IUD lawsuits. We found this and would like to share it with our readers on a forum run by ” Alice”

Despite the popularity of long-acting birth control methods in other parts of the world, relatively few American women use intra-uterine devices (IUDs) like Mirena. This may be due to several misconceptions about IUDs and who should use them. Today, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the World Health Organization (WHO) both approve IUDs, including Mirena, for women who have never given birth. However, the decision to use Mirena is you and your health care provider.

 

In the past, IUD use in younger women without children was mistakenly linked to complications like pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), infertility, and other side effects related to the placement of the IUD. However, recent research debunks these claims and concludes that the IUD is a safe and highly effective birth control option for women of all ages, with and without children. One concern about the IUD is that sometimes it can slip partially out of the uterus, a process known as expulsion. If this happens, the IUD is no longer effective and a woman can become pregnant. Expulsion is more likely in women who have never had a pregnancy — even women who have had a miscarriage or abortion appear to have better IUD retention rates compared to those who have never been pregnant. The possible risk of expulsion is not a contraindication for Mirena in women who haven’t had children, but it is something to keep in mind and discuss with your health care provider.

 

Another worry about IUD use in women without children is the increased risk of PID. According to current research, higher rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), not IUD use, are to blame for the increased risk of PID in this group. Women who have not had children tend to be younger and generally have higher rates of STIs like chlamydia and gonorrhea, which can lead to PID. Contrary to popular belief, Mirena and other hormonal contraceptives may actually protect against PID by thickening the cervical mucus and decreasing menstrual flow. On the other hand, Mirena does not protect against STIs so condoms are still a good idea. Your provider will need to make sure that you don’t have any STIs before inserting an IUD.

 

Like most contraceptives, Mirena does have some side effects. Side effects of using Mirena may include:

 

Cramping, pain, or infection after insertion

Expulsion (your health care provider can reposition the IUD properly)

Peforation of uterus (rare, and in most cases, happens upon insertion)

Reduced menstrual cramps

Light or absent menstrual flow (some women may welcome this change while others might worry about a possible pregnancy)

 

A common belief has been that an IUD can increase the risk of having an ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy where the fertilized egg implants in the fallopian tube, which can be dangerous for the woman). In fact, IUDs do not increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy. However, the IUD is better at preventing a pregnancy in the uterus than it is at preventing pregnancy in the fallopian tubes, meaning that ectopic pregnancy is somewhat less likely to be prevented by this method of birth control than a uterine pregnancy.

 

If you are looking for progestin-only birth control, the “mini-pill” is another option. For more information about the mini-pill, check out What are the differences among birth control pills? and Norplant vs. progestin-only pill. In addition, you might consider the copper-T IUD, which functions similarly to the Mirena, but uses no hormones. A health care provider can help you choose a suitable birth control method. At Columbia, students can call x4-2284 or log on to Open Communicator to make an appointment with a clinician at Primary Care Medical Services (PCMS). Off-campus, some health professionals are still reluctant to prescribe IUDs to women without children, so you may need to ask around to find a provider who is familiar with the new safety guidelines.