According to Womens Clinic Los Angeles, Mirena is an intrauterine device containing levonorgest, a progestin hormone. Released in small doses through your blood stream, this hormone works to prevent pregnancy. Mirena can remain in the uterus for a period of up to five years, making it a convenient form of contraception. However it is accompanied by side effects, which may give you second thoughts before choosing it as your birth control method.
Common Side Effects
Mirena has a tendency to cause specific side effects that are considered common and pose no serious health risk. Over time, these should pass or begin to subside. In the beginning you may suffer from abdominal pain, headaches, back pain, acne and nausea. These are all due to the hormones being released in your body. You may also notice a decrease in your sex drive, a milky vaginal discharge and breast pain. Yeast infections are also a common occurrence with Mirena.
Changes in Menstrual Cycles
According to eMedTV.com, some women may experience a change in their menstrual cycles after insertion of Mirena. Your period may be irregular for the first three to six months, or you may notice your periods becoming lighter. In some cases, cycles stop completely. Because pregnancy has been known to occur with Mirena, you should notify your doctor if any of these changes are occurring.
Possible Health Risks
Mirena can cause side effects that are actually indications of a serious health problem. If you experience one or more of the following, contact your doctor immediately. These side effects include severe pain occurring only hours after insertion, which is a sign of possible infection; depression; the onset of severe headaches; or migraines and jaundice, a yellowing of the eyes and skin.
Signs of Ectopic Pregnancy
No birth control method is fool-proof, including Mirena. While approximately two in 1,000 women using this method of contraception become pregnant, according to Drugs.com, half of those pregnancies end in an ectopic, or tubal, pregnancy. Signs of this include severe pain in your abdomen and unusual vaginal bleeding. Women with a history of ectopic pregnancies are at a greater risk; your doctor should be contacted at the first sign of these symptoms.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
According to Drugs.com, an increased risk of developing pelvic inflammatory disease is linked with the use of an intrauterine device. The risk is at its greatest shortly after Mirena has been inserted, typically 20 days. Signs of pelvic inflammatory disease include heavy vaginal bleeding that lasts for an extended period of time, pain in the lower abdominal area, fever, chills, unusual vaginal discharge and painful intercourse. Notify your doctor immediately if you begin suffering from any of these symptoms.
High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is also associated with Mirena and is considered to be another serious side effect. According to the Mayo Clinic, most people with high blood pressure display no symptoms, even when their pressure reaches dangerous levels. However in some cases you may suffer from dizzy spells, nosebleeds and begin having headaches more frequently.
