Can I get another IUD...
February 9, 2016 11:50 AM   Subscribe

... if I got the first one removed semi-arbitrarily?

I got a Mirena IUD about one year ago. After getting it, I was bleeding after intercourse, gaining weight pretty rapidly, and was sore in all my muscles and joints. So I got it out last October, after about 10 months.

Turns out the Mirena had nothing to do with the weight or the soreness, because I'm still gaining weight and I'm still sore. (Not bleeding after intercourse, but that wasn't so bad in the long run.) It's been about four months. I really miss the IUD-- I loved not getting periods and I loved that it helped regulate my stupid PMS mood swings. It was a boon during school when I don't want to worry about periods/pregnancy/being incapacitated during midterms.

If I ask my doctor to get another Mirena, what is the chance that she's going to look at me like an idiot? I have new insurance so I'm not sure how that will affect it, but if most insurance won't cover two IUDs within a certain space of time that is relevant to know, too.

I can see why a doctor would be reluctant to put in another IUD when I was unhappy with the first one, but now that I see that the initial problems I had were unrelated, I regret having it removed. Not looking forward to another insertion, but the rest of it, I miss.

If I did get a new one I would probably wait until either late March or early June, when I'm on break from school.
posted by stoneandstar to Health & Fitness (10 answers total)
 
You could probably get another one, but the question you need to ask is if your insurance will pay for it. Maybe call them and ask about coverage in this circumstance?
posted by Andrhia at 11:56 AM on February 9, 2016 [1 favorite]


Best answer: If I ask my doctor to get another Mirena, what is the chance that she's going to look at me like an idiot?

Oh man, who the fuck cares?! I'm not saying this to be all shame on you but more like, dude, if I had a dime for every time a doctor looked at me like I was an idiot I'd be able to pay for all the health problems I do actually have, thank you very much.

If your doctor in any possible way balks at giving you the gynecological care you have both a right to and deserve, fire her ass, complain about her in every corner of the internet you can find, and get a new physician who isn't such a self-righteous prig.

My only concern here would be the insurance, but if you're on a new provider it may not be a problem at all.
posted by phunniemee at 11:56 AM on February 9, 2016 [22 favorites]


I think you should double check, because your symptoms still sound mirena related. Also, don't you want to be healthy again?

Go to the doctor, but not for an iud. Don't live with soreness, pain, and weight gain.
posted by jbenben at 12:03 PM on February 9, 2016 [1 favorite]


Best answer: "If I ask my doctor to get another Mirena, what is the chance that she's going to look at me like an idiot?... I can see why a doctor would be reluctant to put in another IUD when I was unhappy with the first one, but now that I see that the initial problems I had were unrelated, I regret having it removed."

Your doctor's going to be like, "I'm glad you were able to rule out the IUD as the source of your discomfort and weight gain, let's get another one in there because they are extremely effective and reliable birth control that more women should be using!"

(Unless of course you need more than four months to definitively rule it out as the source of your problems, I have no idea about that part.)
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 12:23 PM on February 9, 2016 [3 favorites]


Response by poster: Just FYI, I have seen the doctor for the weight gain and joint soreness/stiffness. No answers so far. To be honest, I would trade joint soreness for not having a heavy, painful, mood-destroying period for half a month, every month, at this point.
posted by stoneandstar at 12:24 PM on February 9, 2016


You introduced a new variable (the Mirena), you had new symptoms that seemed likely to be related to it, you removed the variable to test if they were related, but they weren't, so now you want to put it back. That seems perfectly reasonable from a scientific standpoint to me.

I hope that this same doctor is acting like your investigative partner in this rather than just being the one to take the Mirena in or out, but even if they aren't and you are doing the directing, it's still reasonable.
posted by needs more cowbell at 12:57 PM on February 9, 2016 [1 favorite]


Best answer: If your doctor in any possible way balks at giving you the gynecological care you have both a right to and deserve, fire her ass, complain about her in every corner of the internet you can find, and get a new physician who isn't such a self-righteous prig.

Chiming in to say this might not be the best tactic. As others have said, there may be nuance that would merit your physician encouraging more than a one-sided discussion on the risks associated with intrauterine devices. That's no reason to avoid having this discussion with your doctor, rather than the internet, because this is very much a conversation your physician will have with you. Ask questions, be insistent on wanting a new one placed, ask about follow-up (you may need to have more follow up than you did before), etc.

Not saying this to be a jerk. Saying this because I work on the regulation of devices like Mirena, and your list of signs and symptoms would certainly give me pause were I your physician. I wouldn't advise you against it, speaking very generally, but I would ask you more questions and make sure you and I went through the FDA-mandated product insert (which does contain some warnings that you should be aware of, and that you should acknowledge and discuss with your physician before taking next steps). Bayer, the company that markets Mirena, has had a bit of a checkered history with this particular device, and that is good reason to seek the treatment you desire while also being open to input from your doc.
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 1:06 PM on February 9, 2016 [5 favorites]


If you only had it taken out in October, your doctor may ask you to wait a bit longer to rule out the issues you are still experiencing. But ask.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:09 PM on February 9, 2016 [1 favorite]


Yes to asking for another Mirena and talking it out with your doctor.

Also - make sure they've done a TSH and T4 test, and Lyme has been ruled out.
posted by barnone at 1:29 PM on February 9, 2016


Your insurance provider should have a phone number you can call to find out whether you're approved for another Mirena. You don't even need to mention the first one when you call them -- just ask if they'll cover your Mirena insertion.

That being said, your symptoms sound like really common Mirena side-effects...especially the joint pain. If you loved not getting periods, how would you feel about trying the pill? There are lots of different formulations, and you can always stop taking it if it causes an adverse reaction, and then go for Mirena. IUDs are wonderful -- but only if they're not making you sick.

Seriously, when will they come out with the miracle "reversible vasectomy" we keep hearing so much about so we don't have to worry about this stuff anymore?
posted by Miss T.Horn at 10:54 AM on February 10, 2016


« Older MAMA...ooooh...didn't mean to make you cry...   |   prepaid SIM for the entire US? Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.