How long did you have your Mirena IUD in for?

September 17, 2015 9:14 PM

I've been having more spotting and "breakthrough bleeding" recently, and I'm wondering if this has to do with my Mirena getting "older." Are there any signs that it's time to get a new one?

So I had the Mirena (my very first) put in August of 2012. Given that it has a lifespan of 5 years, I should be good until August 2017. But recently I've been having some more spotting and other symptoms of having a period. It just got me thinking about whether the 5 year rule holds true for everyone, and is there a way to check its efficacy? Because of my paranoid nature, I've actually been taking a pregnancy test every 2 months since getting the Mirena, just to make darn sure it's working.

Thanks.

posted by madonna of the unloved to Health & Fitness (8 answers total)

My doctor said that the research shows they're good for at least 7 years, and they're replaced at 5 just to be extra safe. I think that if the spotting etc. is concerning you, you should probably talk to your ob/gyn.
posted by wintersweet at 9:22 PM on September 17, 2015

A friend started having breakthrough bleeding somewhere around the eight year mark with her Mirena, and was only able to get it out after it had been in there for more than nine years due to insurance issues. She used a barrier method as backup during those last few years to be safe. The current research does show that they should be effective for seven years, which would have been good to know at the time.

If the length of the cord you can feel has changed, that's worth looking into, and if you're unable to check the string, it's possible to have a transvaginal ultrasound to make sure the Mirena's properly in place.
posted by asperity at 9:52 PM on September 17, 2015

I also had similar symptoms three or four years in. For me the spotting was a slight hassle (yet much less so than not having one) but not a concern. It's likely that your Mirena is still effective as a form of birth control. However, you could always make an appointment with your OBGYN to double-check on things. IUDs are incredibly effective but, if you're not comfortable enough with one method of BC alone, you could always back it up with condoms or another barrier method. I got a new Mirena IUD earlier this year and went back to not having a period after an initial period of spotting.
posted by smorgasbord at 10:12 PM on September 17, 2015

I had periods the whole time I was on an IUD with hormones, though they were lighter than before.

My sign that my Mirena was wearing out was that a) my cramps came back and b) it was nearing five years.
posted by jb at 4:58 AM on September 18, 2015

The first time with Mirena, I did have some spotting toward the end but with this second one, which I'm pretty sure is in year 4 I've been fine so far.
posted by Medieval Maven at 6:22 AM on September 18, 2015

I had my first Mirena for 5.5 years, with only occasional spotting for the first 4.5 years, and somewhat more spotting in the last year. If it's in place, it should be effective. Can you feel the strings? Your doctor can use ultrasound to make sure it's still there.

Also I read in the drug information on the manufacturer's website that the amount of progestin released by the IUD is highest in the first few years, and lower later on. Maybe your body could be reacting to the lower progestin dose? I am not a doctor, just speculating.
posted by esoterrica at 7:50 AM on September 18, 2015

I had spotting increase near the six-year mark with mine, which pretty much stopped when I replaced it (and when I say spotting i mean that's all that was left of my period). You could certainly get it replaced if it will make you more comfortable, though it should still be a highly reliable form of birth control—my very-up-on-the-research gyn told me that people tend to get breakthrough bleeding near the five-year mark, but that studies show it's still a reliable form of birth control for seven.

Also, a side note... Taking a pregnancy test every few months for years while you're on the world's most reliable birth control is leaning towards life-affecting levels of anxiety—and I say that as someone who's been there, believe me. Maybe condoms in parallel would help with the fear? As someone who's always been anxiety-prone, using two parallel birth control methods really helped me feel safe. I felt like at that point I had done all I could, and if I somehow magically got pregnant I would be able to terminate with no self-recrimination, so I don't worry about the possibility. (also, backup birth control was enough to calm my anxiety around pregnancy issues, but honestly 10mg of paxil also solved my anxiety around everything else, and I wish I had done that way earlier. Not at all saying that's at all necessary in your case, but it changed my life for the better, so I thought I'd mention it if it has any possibility of applying.)
posted by you're a kitty! at 8:31 AM on September 18, 2015

Thank you, everyone. It's good to know that they're already being extra careful by recommending the 5 years so I can breathe easier.
posted by madonna of the unloved at 5:35 PM on September 18, 2015