Mirena

Ectopic pregnancies happen when a fertilized egg implants somewhere other than your uterus. They're very rare, but can be life-threatening and sometimes need to be treated with surgery. Progestin-only contraception, including the Mirena IUD (levonorgestrel) IUD, can raise your risk of ectopic pregnancies. Pregnancy is rare with all IUDs, but if you do become pregnant while the Mirena IUD (levonorgestrel) IUD is inserted, the chance of it being an ectopic pregnancy is high. If you experience unexplained or severe pelvic pain along with unusual vaginal bleeding, let your provider know.

Sepsis is when bacteria infect your bloodstream, and it can be life-threatening. Your risk of getting this infection goes up if Mirena IUD (levonorgestrel) wasn't placed using proper antibacterial technique. Sepsis would typically happen shortly after the device was inserted, sometimes even within a few hours. Tell your provider right away if you have pelvic pain, a high fever, or any other symptoms of being sick shortly after the device was placed.

IUDs raise your risk of developing pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) because there's always a small chance bacteria can get into your uterus when the device is placed. Because of this, the Mirena IUD (levonorgestrel) IUD isn't safe to use if you've ever had or are prone to PID. If you start to experience any unusual pelvic pain, funny-smelling discharge, unusual vaginal bleeding, sores or cuts in your genital area, or a high fever, call your provider right away.

There's a very small chance that the Mirena IUD (levonorgestrel) IUD can uterine injury (perforation), which is extremely dangerous. It also prevents the Mirena IUD (levonorgestrel) IUD from working properly, meaning you can get pregnant if this happens. The risk of perforation is higher if you've the Mirena IUD (levonorgestrel) IUD placed less than 6 weeks after you give birth to a baby. Your provider will need to remove the IUD if there's an injury, and this might require surgery. Tell your provider right away if you can't feel the threads that hang freely inside your vagina after it has been placed.

There is a small chance the body can eject the Mirena IUD (levonorgestrel) IUD from the uterus back into your vagina. If this happens, the device won't be working and you can get pregnant. Your risk of having this happen is higher if you have the IUD placed less than 6 weeks after you gave birth. If you notice your menstrual bleeding suddenly becomes heavier than usual, this could be a sign your body is ejecting the Mirena IUD (levonorgestrel) IUD. Tell your provider if this happens and use non-hormonal protection (e.g., condoms, diaphragms) until your provider places a new device or tells you the device is in the right place.

The Mirena IUD (levonorgestrel) IUD can cause you to experience irregular menstrual periods. Most people will have heavier or longer periods for the first 3 to 6 months after the device is placed, followed by very light or no periods. But, you might notice changes of any kind to your menstrual cycle while using the Mirena IUD (levonorgestrel) IUD. If you're worried about the changes to your periods, talk to your provider, especially if you're having sudden or unusually heavy bleeding after the first 3 to 6 months. This could be a sign that the device is not in the correct place. If you don't get your period within 6 weeks of your last one, take a pregnancy test to make sure you aren't pregnant.

Since Mirena IUD (levonorgestrel) is located within the uterus, it can sometimes lead to the development of ovarian cysts. Although most ovarian cysts don't cause any symptoms, some might cause pelvic pain or pain during sex. In most cases, the cysts go away on their own after a few months, but your provider will keep an eye on things just to make sure. Surgery is usually not required for these.