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I had one pre-LO for 3 years and had another placed post partum. I had the second one for 2 years until we decided to TTC #2. I had a good experience both times. Unless I can be convinced that something else would be better I will do another one once this LO arrives. I had some spotting after placement the second time but after that no periods, which I enjoy! I don’t think it affected my weight.

I’ll be the dissenter, got mine at seven weeks postpartum and ended up having it removed about six months after. I was breastfeeding but could not lose the baby weight, once I got the mirena out I dropped it very quickly. I’m positive it prevented me from losing weight. Worse though were the other side effects. I had absolutely zero sex drive, like the thought of sex was actually repulsive. I also felt like mentally I just sort of floated in a fog, I felt detached and slow and anxious and depressed. It was awful but I attributed most of that to having had a baby. Until I got mirena out and it cleared right up.

For me the hormones just did not work and had poor side effects, everyone is different though!

I had mine for about a year and hated it, although it didn't affect my ability to lose weight. I started Atkins while I was on the Mirena and was able to drop weight very easily on that diet.

But it did seriously affect my sex drive. Not only was it really difficult to even get in the mood, it made me feel pretty numb and enjoying sex was almost impossible. But I think I'm in the minority for that side effect.

I'm on Mirena #3 and love it! Had some spotting again in the first couple month but that stopped. Hard to beat the reliability of contraception and no periods.

I'm on my second mirena and love it. Had one prior to DD for 6 years. Then got this one about 4 months ago after DS. I have no issues. But I do know some of my friends have had issues, one had an experience similar to @HappyBaker:

I got my Mirena about a year and a half ago, when DD was 8 weeks.

I have had no issues. Its been very easy. I love having no real period.

My only complaints are:
1) Spotting - I dont ever actually have to wear a tampon, tho I will randomly have a legit amount of blood when I wipe. So this summer it had me nervous wearing white/light colors. I suppose there is some regularity to it I should track - but its like literally 1 or 2 bathroom trips a month that this happens...so it feels very "random"
2) I hadnt connected the two...but I have been really struggling to lose weight...like really. Going to have to give this some more though.

Have you considered Skyla? It is made by the same company as Mirena, but has a smaller dose of hormones and will only last for 3 years. I had a Mirena after #1 and struggled with lots of spotting and cramping for the first three months, but then was very happy with it and able to lose 30lbs at one point. I got the Skyla after #2 because the plan is for DH to get a vasectomy and I wanted to encourage that to happen sooner than later.

Regarding weight loss, I was never able to lose significant weight while nursing, but lost the 30lbs with relatively little effort (diet and very mild exercise) after I stopped. In my case it was the nursing and not the IUD that made the weight stay on.

I had a Mirena in for 5 years pre-baby and loved it - no periods, no side effects, and no weight gain. I had a Skyla put in 12wks PP and while I didn't have any side effects, I would have regular periods plus an extra week of spotting every month. Not sure if it was the difference between the two that caused that or just a pre-baby vs post-baby thing, but having extra bleeding every month was super annoying. I had my Skyla taken out in May (we're TTC #2) and the spotting disappeared immediately.

So I had other yucky side effects and got it out after a few months but in terms of weight gain, nothing!

I've had Mirena for almost a year and I'm just starting to like it. I cramped and spotted for months. It was annoying. Everything is starting to feel regulated just this last cycle and I haven't had any random spotting. My periods are super light (like only need to wear a liner).

I am not experiencing any weight gain. I'm at my normal weight and haven't gained anything.

I am over 35, so my bc choices are limited. Until my husband is ready to go forward with his vasectomy, this is our best option.

I had mine for just over two years after we had LO1. I loved it at the time, spotted for about two months but then no periods until I had it removed. Got pregnant easily after having it removed. Didn't notice any mood changes while I had it. However, I do think it affected my sex drive and comfort during sex so I am really not sure what we will do next time. Hopefully BC will still be free w/health insurance at that time because otherwise it will be a tough decision for me! Everything else about it was the bomb.com for me.

I do think you need to give it a couple of months before deciding anything but I definitely think every person reacts to it differently. Just like regular BCPs make some people crazy and other people have the opposite effect!

I've had mine for a year and a half and I like it now. The first few weeks were awful for me. Super cramps and period like bleeding. When that settled I had spotting probably 75 to 80 % of the time during the first 6-8 months. Totally sucked. Then for a few months after that it was still spotty but not as much. The spotting finally stopped after like 13 months. Now I get a "period" for like a day and hopefully that will stop. Leading up to that day I get some serious PMS symptoms I never used to get (super sore boobs, mood swings) but that's currently my only complaint now. Some months I don't even have my period at all. Definitely not doing it again! But since the tough stuff has passed I like it now.

I've had it for about a year. It took 4-5 months for the spotting to stop, but now I love it. The spotting was really light and didn't even need a liner. I have a "period" about every other month, but I only need a liner for about two days with that. I haven't gained any weight. I've actually been quite happy with my sex drive for the first time in forever, but that might have more to do with the kids sleeping than my BC choice. Good luck! Clearly it's different for everyone, but the googling definitely scared me beforehand. In real life, I've heard more positives than negatives.