Mirena Birth Control System Affects Patients Body Weight

Women have complained of significant weight variations while on Mirena’s intrauterine devices (IUD), industry experts reveal, quoting numerous consumer reports and medical sources. This birth control system has been listed as causing significant weight changes that affect a percentage of the women taking it. The changes in weight result from treatment differ in each person, with weight gains being more common than weight loss, but this side effect is only one of other serious side effects linked with this type of hormonal birth control system.

The Mirena intrauterine device is the commercial name for the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system of birth control. It is a device implanted into the body that releases small amounts of progestogen levonorgestrel directly into the uterus. Five years is the exact time that this device system was meant to last. Furthermore, Mirena IUD’s are often prescribed by doctors to also treat heavy menstruation in women. Losing and gaining weight are both side effects of being prescribed on levonorgestrel. Between these two, weight gain is accepted as the more common side effect.

The synthetic hormone levonorgestrel is the active part of Mirena’s birth control IUD, which is responsible for its therapeutic and contraceptive uses.It primarily affects the endometrial lining of a woman’s uterus which also prevents ovulation and the passage of sperm and thus preventing fertilization. This hormone has been proven to prevent menstruation in women and has been prescribed to them by physicians for treating heavy menstrual flow.

Other possible side effects of Mirena IUD are nausea, diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, fatigue, dizziness, breast pain or tenderness, and headaches. Allergic sensitivity to levonorgestrel is a potentially life threatening condition which should be informed to your health care provider; the symptoms of which include, hives, difficulty breathing, facial swelling, tongue, throat, and lips. There is also some concern over the possibility that even though the Mirena IUD might be able to prevent uterine pregnancy, it is uncertain in preventing ectopic pregnancy in the fallopian tubes, so women with active sex lives should beware of the signs of pregnancy even while on Mirena IUDs.

Any women who would consider being implanted with the Mirena IUD should seek adequate medical consultation first from a licensed medical professional. When any side effects from Mirena IUD implantation occurs, consult your doctor and explore other options for birth control because while other women may have tolerated the Mirena IUD system, others may not be so fortunate and may experience severe discomfort.

URL References:

livestrong.com/article/491144-mirena-and-weight-loss/
drugs.com/sfx/mirena-side-effects.html