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I got a Mirena last week! So far so good. It was not painful to insert at all. A bit of cramping, but not much. If you've gone through childbirth and recovery, it will be NOTHING to you. I haven't had a period yet, but am still having irregular spotting that will go away at some point, I assume. I don't know if my partner can tell yet because I have a 7 month old who doesn't sleep so well.

I had A paraguard for about a year after my second child was born. No issues with insertion but my periods got bad. They stretched out to over 7 days and atleast 2 days was like I was bleeding out, full on massacre style. Leaked thru everything. I felt as if I was having some side effects related to it, daily massive anxiety, always felt like my brain was really cloudy and I had cramps a lot like more days a month than not. I had it removed and after a couple months everything seemed to go back to normal for me.
I can't do hormones because of blood clots or else I would have gotten a mirena one. I do love the ease of an iud!

I got a Mirena about 2.5 months ago, at 8 weeks post-partum. Honestly I'm still on the fence about it. When I had my first LO, I didn't get a period back until 11 months post-partum. With this LO2, I figured the same would be the case, but I didn't realize that all the spotting post-IUD-insertion would occur no matter what. So I dealt with the normal month or so of lochia, then about 5 weeks of light bleeding/spotting after the Mirena was inserted, and now at 4 months post-partum, I'm getting PMS symptoms and wondering if AF is coming back. I was hoping to be one of the lucky ones to just not get a period for 5 years but I just feel like I've been bleeding and/or hormonal for like months on end now.

Insertion was more painful than I imagined, but not worse than labor. I had crazy cramps afterwards but they went away after a few hours. I don't think my partner can feel the strings but we've had sex so infrequently lately that I don't really know. Poor DH. Like others mentioned, I think it kind of messes with libido (well, that plus all the bleeding, plus sleep deprivation from having a newborn).

@lamariniere: Bummer about the periods. What were yours like before getting the IUD?

@mfa_lady: Yup, I realized now that I basically didn't think about sex at all anymore. We did have sex bc it was important to me not to lose that connection but for months I never initiated bc I just wasn't thinking about it. Then finally my DH was upset so I was better initiating but only bc I'd be aware at how long it had been since the last time we had sex. Now that it is out it's like a light switch flipped back on. I hope you don't experience the same but I wish I had been more aware. I am still nursing and my LO didn't STTN til she was almost 2 so I thought that was more the culprit.

@lamariniere: Blargh that is no fun. I've been on some form of "period reducing/eliminating" BC for prob 8 years minus the few months I went off before getting pregnant with my LO and now. So I feel like even just a normal 28 cycle is basically constantly getting one's period ha.

Hopefully your DH will agree to a vasectomy sometime soon. We're about to TTC for #2 and my DH wants a 3rd (I don't right now) so I will have to figure something else post this not-yet-conceived baby...

@emilye519: I had the Skyla for just over 2 years and recently had it removed. It's the "little sister" of Mirena-smaller, and has slightly less hormones than Mirena. I had zero pain with insertion. I did still get a light period/spotting on it, but besides that I had no issues. I have heard some women say after the Mirena is removed they have a horrible first period. So far, though, this first period post-removal is heavier than it's been on the IUD, but not terrible. Can't tell you a lot about sex drive as I think having a little one at home/sleep depravation has more of an impact on that for me , but less hormones (and localized to your uterus vs systemically with the birth control pill) was awesome for me. Here's a link that compares Skyla to Mirena if you're interested: https://drjengunter.wordpress.com/2013/11/20/how-does-the-sklya-iud-compare-with-the-mirena/

@petitenoisette: how long did you have it in? I got mine at 6 weeks after my second baby and he's nearly a year and I have NO sex drive. I've been attributing it to nursing, not sleeping, etc but I wonder if it's the mirena. I actually feel like I could care less if I ever have sex again and I don't remember feeling THIS bad after lo1. And I just went on the mini pill that time. So idk but I love having no period and not thinking about bc

@Jennibenni: thanks for the feedback. I'm really starting to wonder if that's whats going on

@gotkimchi: and I feel you on loving no periods and not having to worry about daily BC. I think that's why I never blamed it for my lack of libido bc otherwise I loved it.

I'm on my second Mirena (had one after LO1 for 2 years and this one for nearly a year now). Insertion and removal was a breeze. This time around I have terrible hormonal acne though. Not sure if they are related but I'm guessing so.

@LemonJack: I never heard about this side effect of the copper IUD and was considering one!?! Why does it make periods heavier and longer??

@Jennibenni: ugh...that sounds awful. It seems like there are no good long term options. I have always been very affected by hormonal BCs, so I was hoping copper was a good option. But my periods are already horrible now, so I don't need help in that area.