So, after years of problems with my monthly cycle, a definite worsening in warning signs and nothing else we've tried helping my doctor has suggested Mirena. I know a few people on here use it so I wondered if anyone would mind answering a few questions that I didn't think of asking while I was there.

1. How long does it generally last for?
2. I've had three children (natural births) will this make it easier to insert? More likely to fall out?
3. Is it likely to effect my libido? If so, How?

Any answers, anecdotes and personal experience tales will be gratefully received.

I did some research on Mirena before we decided to go with FAM for contraception -- I don't have any personal experience with it (so, of course, this is all third-hand anecdata now), but I do have four friends other than Norq who're on it, and not a single one reported even the least dissatisfaction with it.

* One girl did report that it did NOT stop her periods, but it did make them substantially lighter (like, only pantiliners necessary = "lighter") and easier for her to live with.

* Two of the gals had had problems (lowered libido was one, don't remember the others) with their daily BC pills (sorry, don't recall what brands) that disappeared with the Mirena, presumably because it's a lower hormone dose.

Ultimately decided against the Mirena for a couple reasons that are (presumably) irrelevant to your position, e.g. planning on pregnancy within 5yrs.

I have had two Mirenas with the second still inserted. I have never had children and they hurt like a bitch to get put it. Like OMG ow. But, with my first Mirena, I rarely got a period, mostly just spotting every 3 months or so. This one, I started having periods again in April. Not sure why, but whatever. My cramping was almost nonexistent with the first Mirena, but I have normal cramps now. My libido didn't go up or down when I got it. When I got the first one out, I didn't even feel it. I had some very mild cramping for about an hour afterwards.

I recommend the Mirena to everyone. If you aren't worried about STD's, it's super convenient and cheap. They last for 5 years and if you decide to have kids, you don't have to wait a long time for fertility to return.

I can't say for sure yet, but I'm (supposedly) getting a copper IUD tomorrow! Won't really answer your Mirena question, but it's definitely what I'm thinking about.

Saw your answer on my smart phone, and forgot to come in and reply.  I don't know much about hormonal imbalance as a primary diagnosis.  However, I do wonder if any/all of your symptoms might be endometriosis related.  I can identify with quite a few of them, and I can tell you that getting THAT treated also resulted in a huge uptick in my libido.  Endo is such a common and bizarre disease, and looks like a lot of other conditions.  Hell, mine showed up a little differently between each one of my surgeries - same condition, same body, different symptoms.  The only things it really shared in common were menstrual cramps, heavy bleeding, and a constipation/diarrhea combination that cycled monthly.  Other than that, the pain changed location, quality, intensity, and duration, I did or did not have midcycle pain, I did or did not have associated leg pain/heaviness, I did or did not have migraines, loss of libido...you get the idea.  With that history, it may be easy to see a pattern where none exists, but it may also be useful, so I'm throwing it out for your consideration.  Frankly, I hope it's totally useless; I'd really rather you were able to fix this by putting in an IUD and forgetting it was ever a problem.  Best of luck.