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Birth control pills or an intrauterine coil? This dilemma is eliminated by the modern hormone-releasing IUD – Mirena. It works by causing an inflammation inside your womb that kills sperm.
What is Mirena?
Mirena is a modern type of intrauterine spiral. It combines its features with those of the contraceptive pill. It has a small reservoir that gradually releases hormones over several dozen months. This solution is much safer for a woman than taking oral contraceptives. The effectiveness of Mirena reaches 100%, which encourages its application. However, the price may be an obstacle. Mirena is a relatively expensive solution – one-time cost is about PLN 600. It is worth remembering, however, that this is an expense for the next 5 years, and changes in the contraceptive effect can be quickly reversed. You can now buy an intrauterine device tailored to your needs at Medonet Market.
Putting on Mirena
The Mirena IUD is inserted in a gynecological office. The doctor places it in the uterus with the help of an applicator. Then he cuts the threads attached to the insert and leaves them in the mouth of the cervix. They are what indicate if Mirena is in the right place. When to put on Mirena? Gynecologists recommend application during menstruation, when the cervix is slightly open and the patient and the doctor are sure that she is not pregnant.
Mirena action – hormone release
Because the IUD is foreign, it causes inflammation. In the case of traditional IUDs, it is the excessively produced leukocytes associated with it that destroy the sperm cells. The Mirena insert, equipped with a hormone-releasing capsule, additionally supports the secretion of thick cervical mucus and immobilizes sperm. A progestogen, a hormone in Mirena, also changes the thickness of the endometrium and also inhibits ovulation. As much as 25 percent patients who have had this IUD are not ovulating.
Importantly, Mirena contains a much lower dose of hormones. This is determined by their local release and not, as in the case of contraceptive pills, by their passage into the liver. This increases the safety of using Mirena.
Contraindications for the use of Mirena
Although it collects positive feedback, Mirena is not a solution for everyone. Its use should be abandoned by women who:
- they suspect pregnancy,
- have vaginal bleeding for no apparent reason
- often have inflammation of the ovaries and fallopian tubes,
- previously recorded episodes of ectopic pregnancy,
- have reduced immunity caused by diseases such as AIDS or diabetes,
- have a pelvic infection
- a history of bacterial endocarditis or serious heart disease,
- have mucosal hypertrophy within the uterus,
- are allergic to chemicals contained in the insole,
- suffer from changes such as fibroids or birth defects of the uterus.
The Mirena insert can be used by women with heavy periods, young breastfeeding mothers and premenopausal women.
Mirena – side effects
The most serious side effects of Mirena include:
- frequent occurrence of vaginal discharge,
- spotting between periods
- increase in temperature in the body,
- painful and heavy periods,
- risk of perforation of the uterine wall and displacement of the IUD.
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