Mirena IUD and vaginal dryness

Side effects: cystic acne & overall acne, metallic vaginal discharge, low libido & irritability. It was difficult to tell if IUD was in place since the doctor cut the strings too short. Went into OB & Planned Parenthood, they couldn't find it and were unsure if it fell out. This didn't give me a great deal of security as a BC since I couldn't tell if it was there or not...

I first got my Mirena IUD when I was 13-14 for hormonal-induced migraines. The insertion was very painful, but the cramping did not last too long after insertion. I had mild spotting for a few months, then my period stopped completely for 5 years. Last year, my period came back and has been irregular since. Overall, my period has been much lighter and my PMS symptoms and menstruation symptoms have been minimal. I also have noticed more stability in my mood and have had decreased migraines since starting my IUD.

The Mirena was great for stopping periods- I was 18 when I had it inserted and loved not having a period. I did not know of any of the side effects and when I discussed with my doctor, she said that these were not symptoms brought about by the IUD (so she put me on medication to combat the symptoms I was experiencing). I decided to remove the IUD last month- my hair has stopped falling out in clumps, I’ve lost weight and am never bloated, I am never constipated, my sex drive and sexual function are back to normal, my skin has cleared up, my body hair is not growing in as thick, and I have not gotten any yeast infections, vaginal irritation, abnormal discharge or smell. The worst part about this IUD was that it hurt to get it inserted and removed and my pain and anxieties were not taken seriously by medical professionals- if this birth control is right for somebody, make sure you go to a doctor who understands what this birth control method is, what it can do (good and bad- it can work super well for some people), who might not be a great candidate for this (because some people just aren’t), and especially how to help their patients manage discomfort, pain and anxiety during the insertion and removal processes.