Articles

What Mirena^® Users May Expect

What to watch for right after Mirena is placed

Some women may experience uterine cramps, bleeding, and/or dizziness during and right after Mirena is placed. To help minimize the cramps, ask your health care provider about medications that may be used before placement. If these symptoms last for more than 30 minutes, let your health care provider know. Mirena may not have been correctly placed and your health care provider should examine you.

Visit your health care provider shortly after having Mirena placed

As a follow up, you should visit your health care provider once in the first 4 to 12 weeks after Mirena (levornorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system) is placed to make sure it is in the right position. After that, Mirena can be checked once a year as part of your routine exam.

Your periods may change

For the first 3 to 6 months, your monthly period may become irregular. You may also have frequent spotting or light bleeding. A few women have heavy bleeding during this time. After your body adjusts, the number of bleeding days is likely to decrease (but may remain irregular), and you may even find that your periods stop altogether for as long as Mirena is in place. Around the end of the third month of use, you may see up to a 75% reduction in the amount of menstrual bleeding. By one year, about 1 out of 5 users may hay have no period at all. Your periods will return once Mirena is removed. If you do not have a period for 6 weeks during Mirena use, contact your health care provider to rule out pregnancy.

Why your menstrual cycle may change

The reason many women may have lighter periods or stop having periods altogether with Mirena centers on the uterine lining.

Typically, this is how your period works:

• Every month, the lining of the uterus thickens during the first half of your menstrual cycle
• The lining is shed as menstrual flow
• On average, a woman's menstrual flow lasts 3 to 4 days. It may be shorter or longer, depending on the woman

Once Mirena is properly placed:

• The levonorgestrel in Mirena reduces the monthly thickening of the lining of your uterus
• Less thickening means less menstrual flow
• Eventually your menstrual flow may stop completely

Once Mirena is removed, your menstrual cycle will come back

If you have not gotten your period or have other symptoms of pregnancy during the first 6 weeks of use, contact your healthcare provider to rule out pregnancy.

More Mirena Information

• Patient Prescribing Information
• Safety Information