IUD Mirena causing Vaginal Infections

Yeap we are all having issues. My doctor's nurses knows my problems so I just have to call in a get a pres. refilled. I cant stand the taste of the pills...has anyone took Flaglyn. I may have spelled it wrong...it is a horible taste. I have had mine in twice once in 2005 because I kept getting pregnant off the pill....then I had it removed and got back on the pill because of the infections were killing me. I didnt have any bad cramps...it was just that odor. And to me it doesnt smell like fish it smells like Ammonia very strong. Then I got pregnant again on that damn pill...so I said back to the IUD and I was okay for a while. I notice the smell came back after a year...I know I am not getting the pill again, the shot messes my period up, the patch leaves a rash so the other thing left is the ring...but I dont have insurance. SO what the hell...I dont know what to do but take the pills when I get it again. Has anyone also got a shot of Cefoxitin (Mefoxin) to clear it up...I heard this helps?

I had the Mirena put in in Oct 2009. From Nov 2009 to January 2010 I had three yeast infections (including my wedding week!). I had not had yeast infections for over 15 years, and now three in less than two months. As well, I had lower back pain the entire time. Needless to say, I had it removed last month Feb 2010. Unfortunately, I just recently got ANOTHER yeast infection and am wondering if it's due to the Mirena. Fortunately, my back pain has gone away.

Wish I had read this a couple of days ago! I just had Mirena inserted 5 days ago, after a friend recommended it to me. I hate taking the pill because I sometimes forget. Didn't like the shot - gained weight, the patch - fell off, the ring - gave me an infection every month. I went to the doctor on wednesday and had it put in, woke up thursday morning with the worst yeast infection of my life. I bought a 3 day treatment that day (four days ago) and today I still don't feel like it is any better than 4 days ago. And I am still getting a few cramps. (Going to call my Dr. tomorrow about it). Today I noticed that the discharge is tinged yellow. Not quite sure what is going on, but I am a little worried. My Dr. didn't mention any infection side effects. After reading this I fear BV. If this is a glimpse of what is to come, I think I'll go get it taken out. Just paid $380 to get it put in :-(

I've had BV for the last time. I had Mirena inserted in 2005, ever since then I have had so many issues with it. Pain during sex, hair loss, yeast infections, cysts, lower abdominal pain, no period for the past 4 1/2 years and bacterial vaginosis. I have been treated for BV 5 times in the last 6 months. I cant get past the embarrassment of the odor and discharge after sex. I am tired of going to the doctors and being treated for the same infection time and time again. I am currently taking antibiotics for BV now so I like I said this is the last time....I removed Mirena myself this morning. I figure I will treat the BV and make sure it doesn't come back. Hopefully my hair will begin to grow again and I never have another vaginal infection again.

For the person that paid $380 for the IUD....I would call the manufacturer and complain of your side effects and ask to be reimbursed. Most manufacturers do....doesnt hurt to try.

Just glad to know that i'm not alone with my experience. Thanks for sharing your stories!!!!

OMG thank you so much for posting! I am having the exact same problem....I had the mirena inserted in 2008 after my second son was born and I am having so many problems. I have a yeast infection at least every once a month and if I am lucky it'll skip two months but I always end up having them! I also have very bad discharge and a bad odor. I have also noticed that my husband sometimes has pain in his penis after we have sex. He went to the doctor the first time it happened and it turned out to be nothing. But the doctor did tell him he had a lot of men complaining of the same problem and all of them had wives that were on mirena! He is now experiencing problems again as am I of course so I think I really need to get rid of this mirena!!! Thank you so much for posting this because in all honesty I felt lost like I was the only one going through this problem! I truly felt like something was wrong with me!

I am 8 months in with the Mirena IUD. I was told give it at least 6 months to adapt to your body etc. I don't do well on birth control pills and was okay with Ring (only when it came out after changing my tampons and falling in the toilet). I decided to get an IUD. I do not have any children and don't plan on it for a while.

I experienced abnormal discharge a various times of the month as well as BV; which leaves you with a abnormally awfully fishy smell. I'm very clean and this is very embarrassing during sex especially if you have a new partner. If I can smell it, I'm sure he can too.
I've had cramps with no period, not sure what is considered a period anymore, lots of discharge, and now I have to wear pantyliners. I've never had any of the problems before! Yuck!

I've decided to remove it today at 4:30pm. I'm relieved to hear that I am not the only one with this issue. I will post an update regarding my removal.

I feel so relieve since i read this i am going to doctor to get this out of me. I recommended this to my sister i am going to tell her just use a condom everytime!!!

Thankyou to whoever started this thread :-)

I've had a Mirena for 3 months. The spotting/bleeding never stopped - even after a course of provera. I mentioned the smell and the bleeding to the gyn who told me it's worth perserving - because when they work, they work really well. The smell got progressively worse. The bleeding has still not stopped - and I had the device removed 2 days ago - and was given 10 days anti-biotics to treat the likely infection, and treatment for thrush that will almost certainly follow. Mirena is BAD.

I have had my Mirena in since November 2008 and I have been having constant bacterial infections. I have been using medicines for the past 2 years to deal with it and it gets expensive. I have recurring prescriptions for metro-gel and at times my doctor will give me pills. My frustration is all the doctors (I have been to more than 1) all tell me it is not due to the Mirena but I have never had these kind of infections before and the smell if VERY embarrassing. After reading this site I just made an appointment to get it taken out this week and I am getting back on the pill.

ive never had a problem with the mirena and ive had it for 7 months.... and im a clean person

i have had mirena since jan 09 and since then i have had several problems. during the first six months of mirena i was perfectly fine. i loved it!! i didnt have to take a pill everyday or anything. however then i started to have horrible pains in my right side and directly above my uterus. i have been sent to many different doctors and have had many ultrasounds. all of these doctors have told me there is nothing wrong and that this is not because of mirena. i have never had these pains before so this is not normal. starting at about 1 year in i started getting yeast infections all the time. i mean i have had one a every other week religiously!! i have been to the doctor once and they just told me to go out and get the monistat. so i have not gone back to the dr since then. however they are getting worse and occuring more and more. i have scheduled an appointment with my dr for next week and would love to know if other people have had my same problems and what they have done. i really do not wanna have this taken out. it was very expensive and is a very effective and easy way of birth control. (also i have never been pregnant nor had a child) could this be a factor??

As I read all these posts, lights went off in my head!!!! (I'm 21) I got the mirena 5 months ago. I bled everyday for a month. I started getting really bad pain, it keeps me awake for days sometimes. One day, I started GUSHING blood like crazy, so I called my doctor. During the appointment my doctor refused to give me a vaginal exam or ultrasound (even though I begged). My doctor told me extreme abdominal pain and gushing blood is perfectly normal, and I shouldn't make an appointment if it happens again. I called many doctors, and no one wanted to take it out. It's funny because all of those doctors were more than happy to talk to me about putting it in. A month ago, I noticed a mild smell and discharge. It varies from fishy, mildewy, bad breathy, to cheesy. The discharge has been watery, thin, thick, clumpy, and clear to white...never with a color (graphic, yeah, I know) I have never had any STD/STI in my life. I've been monogamous for 4 years. So I passed it off as a yeast infection. I've never had one before, but I figured it couldn't be sexually transmitted. Over the past week it's been getting worse. I do not have insurance, and already have medical bills piling up from unrelated injuries. I keep very clean as well. These posts make me think it's probably BV as well.
Has anyone else had problems with doctor's being super helpful with the insertion... but no doctor wanting to help with any problems, or talk about its removal? In fact, all the doctors I call turn rude once I mention any problems. I'm usually told "The mirena cannot cause PID, infection, or gushing blood. Any problems would happen at insertion, and would be caught then or at the 6 week checkup." Which, I know is complete BS. I was not able to make ANY 6 week checkup appt with ANY doctor I called. I'm having more issues with doctors than this friggin IUD. I'm probably just going to call my doctor and say I went to a mass unprotected orgy and think I caught something... I'm sure I'll be seen. Thanks a lot for the posts.

I've had Mirena for about 3 years now and I've had one horrible yeast infection and BV at least 5 times. I've had it twice in the past few months. I don't even have to go to my Dr anymore I just call and tell them I have it again and they call me in a prescription. My first sign is the itching... then I notice the thin, greyish discharge. The smell isn't pleasant but it isn't so bad that I'm self conscious that other people can smell it. Of course, I don't put it off very long at all, either. I used to be embarrassed about going to the Dr or calling to tell them I had it again until I realized how common it is with Mirena. My sister gets them too. So far, that's the only problem I've had with my Mirena, besides some cramping. I'm thinking of having it replaced to see if that helps. I went without insurance for about 2 years and was able to go to the health dept to get my annual paps and the infections treated. I have insurance now and wasn't able to get into the Dr. that inserted the IUD so I went to another one and she has no problems with taking it out and replacing it.

I have had several BV's and im so sick and tired of cramping and the foul odor...mirena is NOT for me! I used to NEVER have this sort of odor and I know it is because of mirena. i've have it in for 5mo. and im making an apt to get it removed right away!

omg.. I have had BV like 4 times since getting my IUD put in a year ago.. I have a very important question here..

Those of you that have had your IUD taken out.. Did the BV stop recurring>??

Because this birth control is so darn convenient, but I would prefer to have a fresh as a daisy vagina and use a condom or take ap ill instead :p