I Removed My Mirena Iud After 5 Years: My Horrible experience and What I Wish I’d Known( Part 1)
Disclaimer:
This article reflects my personal experience with the Mirena IUD. Everybody reacts differently to hormonal contraception. What worked or didn’t work for me may not be the same for someone else. This content is not intended to replace medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding your own health and contraceptive choices.
Introduction
After having it for five years, I had my Mirena IUD removed almost a week ago, and I can honestly say that I am very relieved and happy I finally did it. I decided to write this article for women who are thinking about removing their Mirena, or for those who are simply questioning it — especially women who, like me, have had it for a long time and are unsure how to feel about it.
My goal is not to scare anyone, but to share my personal experience with the Mirena IUD, in hopes that it may help other women feel less alone in their decision-making process.
How Did It Start?
In October 2020, during childbirth, I had to undergo an emergency cesarean section. I was 29 years old at the time. After the C-section, a nurse explained to me that if I were to become pregnant again within less than a year, my uterus could be at serious risk. She told me that my body needed time to heal properly.
That’s when she mentioned the Mirena IUD. She gave me a prescription and instructed me to purchase it and bring it to my next appointment with my gynecologist.
At that moment, Mirena felt like a form of protection — not just against pregnancy, but for my uterus and my overall physical recovery. I trusted what I was told, and I agreed to it without questioning much. That’s how my journey with the Mirena IUD began.
Mirena IUD Insertion Experience
The insertion of the Mirena IUD was somewhat painful, but not unbearable. The gynecologist who had followed me throughout my pregnancy warned me that I needed to relax as much as possible, explaining that tension could increase the risk of uterine perforation.
The insertion took place about one week after my delivery. I felt discomfort and some pain, but it wasn’t extreme. At the time, everything felt medically necessary and justified, and I didn’t think much beyond that.
Symptoms After Getting the Mirena IUD
When I returned home after the insertion, I can’t say that I experienced symptoms immediately. However, during the first week, I did notice subtle changes. There was a noticeable shift in my mood — a kind of gray, heavier emotional state that felt unfamiliar to me.
Did I have expectations? Not really.
Was I informed about possible symptoms? Very little. I was told that I might experience some bleeding, but that the Mirena IUD was generally well tolerated.
I intentionally avoided reading reviews or other women’s experiences at the time. I didn’t want to scare myself or regret my decision. Instead, I chose to observe my body and my emotions quietly, telling myself that I would wait and see how things unfolded.
Changes I Noticed Six Months Later
Around May–June 2021, I distinctly remember starting to feel different. I found myself crying often — which was very unlike me, as I had never been someone who cried easily.
I also gained a significant amount of weight, but once again, I attributed it to what felt like logical reasons at the time: I was breastfeeding, and we were in the middle of a global pandemic. In a different context, I might have questioned whether the Mirena IUD was playing a role, but back then, I didn’t make that connection.
I became noticeably withdrawn and deeply tired — not exhausted in a way that made daily functioning impossible, but emotionally and socially drained. I never felt like going out or seeing friends. Social interactions felt overwhelming, and I slowly isolated myself without fully realizing it.
I genuinely believed I was experiencing postpartum depression. I consulted a psychiatrist for six months and was prescribed antidepressants. After careful evaluation, the psychiatrist assured me that I was not suffering from postpartum depression. My emotional state had nothing to do with my baby or with motherhood itself — even though people around me assumed that it did.
It Never Crossed My Mind That It Could Be the Mirena IUD
By June–July, I truly no longer felt like myself. I had gained weight, felt like my body was in a constant state of hibernation, and my anxiety had intensified. The fatigue I was experiencing felt eerily similar to the exhaustion I had during the final weeks of pregnancy.
I was eating constantly, always feeling hungry, and crying came much more easily than before. Everything felt heavier, emotionally and physically.
Between 2021 and 2024, I still didn’t make the connection. I went from weighing 130 pounds to 165 pounds. I was chronically exhausted, crying frequently, and felt as though I had become emotionally hypersensitive to everything people said to me.
Looking back now, I can say with certainty that I was no longer the same person. When I describe my symptoms today, it’s clear to me that something had fundamentally shifted — even though, at the time, I couldn’t identify what was causing it.
A Light at the End of the Tunnel in the Summer of 2025
Between February 2025 and the summer of 2025, something began to change. I started losing a significant amount of weight without making any conscious effort. I wasn’t crying the way I used to, and my anxiety had noticeably decreased.
Then one day, purely by coincidence, I found myself on Reddit and came across a forum dedicated to women who had used the Mirena IUD.
I clearly remember the very first post I read. A woman was sharing that after five years of having the Mirena IUD, she had suddenly lost a lot of weight without trying. As I kept reading, I realized she was describing exactly what I had experienced after five years — almost word for word.
That’s when things started to feel both interesting and unsettling.
For years, I had avoided blaming the Mirena IUD. I didn’t want to point fingers or assume anything. But the more testimonials I read from other women, the more I recognized myself in their stories — not only in the physical symptoms, but also in the mental and emotional ones.
For the first time, I allowed myself to wonder whether the Mirena IUD might have played a role in everything I had been experiencing.
The Moment I Started Questioning the Mirena IUD
Even though I had just discovered a forum where women were openly discussing symptoms identical to mine, I didn’t rush to remove my Mirena IUD. Naively, I told myself that things would improve over time.
I knew that the Mirena IUD releases levonorgestrel, a synthetic hormone, and that the daily dose gradually decreases — from about 20 micrograms to around 5 micrograms over the years. I genuinely believed that as the hormone level dropped, my symptoms would slowly fade as well.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.
Even though I was starting to feel better physically and more comfortable in my body, I was still experiencing frequent mood swings and deep, persistent fatigue. There was a heaviness that kept coming back — something I couldn’t fully explain, but that I felt regularly.
At some point, I realized I didn’t want to keep waiting to see if things would improve. I no longer wanted to live with these side effects. I was tired of feeling exhausted, unfocused, and emotionally weighed down.
That’s when I decided to take action and booked an appointment with my doctor
Mirena IUD Removal Experience
I decided to book an appointment somewhat on impulse, but deep down, I knew it was the right thing to do. The night before, I had spent hours reading testimonials from women who had taken the step to remove their Mirena IUD, and many of them said they felt significantly better afterward.
When I arrived at the doctor’s office, I simply explained that I no longer felt comfortable wearing the IUD. I mentioned that I was experiencing frequent light bleeding, lower abdominal pain, and fairly intense mood swings.
The removal of the Mirena IUD went smoothly. It was not painful at all — especially when compared to the insertion. The procedure was quick, and overall, it felt much easier than I had expected.
This is where my story pauses for now. I’m still in the process of listening to my body, observing the changes, and giving myself the time I need to heal and reconnect with myself. It’s only been a week.
I’ll be sharing the rest of my experience very soon.
