Who has experiance with Bipolar disorder and Merena IUD?

I’m very sorry I cannot help you but I wish you every success in finding a solution to your problem, it sounds like you are grappling with some big decisions.

I don’t have bipolar but a very close friend of mine for many years does and it can be a real roller coaster. I also don’t know of how much help someone else’s experience might be for you since each individual with bipolar responds so differently from another (sometimes the total opposite.)

BUT, I’m assuming that the info about the connection between Mirena and problems for persons with bipolar have been documented by clinical studies?

If you show that to your Doc, I’m sure she’d be willing to help you with an alternative method for BC. There are so many different options available nowadays that hopefully there’s something that won’t adversely affect your bipolar.

The friend whom I mentioned is pretty severely bipolar and something as simple as a cold or not getting adequate sleep for a few days can set his blood levels askew.

I guess I don’t have to tell you how different things affect people with bipolar totally differently. He’s has had to deal with it since the days before even Lithium was available and it’s a rough ride.

And perhaps if there really isn’t something that works for you, maybe hubby could take one for the team. A simple vasectomy shouldn’t necessarily be beyond the realm of consideration. Problem solved. Do you think he would be open to the possibility?

I don’t mean to pry; it’s just a thought (since your system really doesn’t need even more chemicals to upset your equilibrium.)

Anyhow, I sincerely hope you find a solution one way or another.

Disclaimer – I am a librarian not a medical professional.

There is a lot of anecdotal evidence on the internet – plenty of people who are claiming that they have adversely reacted to Mirena, causing a worsening of their bipolar symptoms. You may also want to note that all the ladies who have the Mirena and bipolar and have no symptoms are not likely to report their lack of interesting or controversial symptoms on the internet.

I looked on Medline, Cinahl and The Cochrane Review. All of these are top quality medical sources. There were no studies there that looked at this specifically, which either means that this is a new phenomenon – Mirena was FDA approved in 2001 so it has been around for a while – or that the evidence isn’t there. I only found one study which looked at Mirena and bipolar but it was looking at how well different forms of contraception were taken by bipolar patients. It’s worth noting though that Mirena users still had their IUDs after 1 year in 87% of the cases. (Continuation rates and complications of intrauterine contraception in women diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Berenson AB; Obstetrics And Gynecology 2011 Dec; Vol. 118 (6), pp. 1331–6.). I widened the search to mirena and mental health and found 8 studies. I looked at the abstracts for these and all reported either no link between use of Mirena and worsening mental health or reported that mental health improved. I know that this isn’t the same as looking at bipolar specifically but improving your mental health generally through symptomatic relief can improve the quality of your life.

It’s a hard decision – pregnancy can be a very tough time for the bipolar woman so if having a family is off the cards for you then you can consider the option of sterilisation. A major operation is a huge step though and would be irreversible. Your doctor is right that the first option medically is the Mirena, not sterilisation.

I have Mirena but am not bipolar. I suffered heavy periods for years and the Mirena is amazing, giving me such freedom from that monthly torment.

I know a few women who had a bad experience with the Mirena IUD. They were not bipolar, but it definitely affected their feeling of sanity and one friend lost hair while on it. I also know at least woman who was very happy with Mirena.

You can always try it and then take it out if you have bad side effects.

If I were you, I would try BC pills. The good old fashioned kind like Ortho Novum 1+50 or something similar with a steady hormone until the 7 days of no pills or placebos for your period.

But, before that you need an ultrasound and maybe a biopsy to rule out cancer. Also, I am going to assume you were tested for infections and do not have infectious symptoms. I have gone through years where I spotted daily, and it’s related to an infection. If you think that’s a possibility I can tell you more on PM.

@Stinley I think her primary concern is her bleeding. Mirena is supposed to reduce bleeding. It didn’t work for one of my friends who chose Mirena for that very reason, but I guess it does have that affect for some women.

My doctor wants to use the Mirena IUD not for birth control but for my uncontrollable bleeding. I’ve used the pill in the past but went into a psycotic mania.

I have had biopsy’s done, and ultra sounds, and pap smears. The doctor can’t find ANY reason for my bleeding so heavily everyday for over a year.

I’m never having children again and I have thought about getting a hysterectomy. I wanted to get opinions about the IUD especially for those with bipolar or a mental illness. Thank you so much.

Did your doctor suggest getting an endometrial ablation done? I’m not promoting the idea, I’m negative about procedures and surgeries in general, but it seems like that might be a possibility.

How old are you?

I’m 37 years old. My doctor said that I should not get and ablation done because of my age.

The IUD HELPED my daughters bipolar symptoms. It regulated her hormones she supposed.
The Depo shot, on the other hand made her crazy.

The doctor doesn’t want to do the ablation, but will consider doing a hysterectomy?

Does she have a theory why you are bleeding? Have you had a second opinion?

Did she test your hormones? Thyroid, pituitary, estrogen, etc.? Especially, your iron and CBC.

Got my answer today. My biopsy came in and I have cancer in my uterus. Thanks for all your input but it looks like I’m getting a hysterectomy anyway. This totally sucks!

Thanks again everyone!

Crap. I’m so sorry.

I’m so sorry to hear this.

Hopefully it has been detected in time.

Wait, what? I thought you had already had a biopsy to rule out cancer. Do you mean you were still waiting on the results? Or, had a second biopsy? Thank goodness she did the biopsy. What’s the prognosis? Hysterectomy and everything should be good? Will you need any further treatment? I’m so sorry to hear this. Daily bleeding is a classic sign of uterine cancer and many doctors don’t test young-ish women when they have that symptom.

I thought you might be interested in this link.

JLeslie This was my second biopsy. She said that I have early stage cancer and pre-cancerous cells. The hysterectomy should take care of it. I don’t know if their will be further treatment. I see her next week for the consult. I’m also glad she did the biopsy again. And thanks for the link.