Switching from Mirena to ?

Which Method?

So, this might be a little long, but I am truly at a loss and completely overwhelmed.

I am a 27F and I have been on birth control since I was around 12 years old. I started by taking the pill, which I was never great at due to ADHD & depression. (TW: I got pregnant at 16 and got an abortion). After that, I was getting the shot every few months, and when that was no longer sustainable due to the long drive and not having my own car, I switched to the implant. I had the implant for maybe a little over a year with no period, no problem & then randomly started bleeding for 2 months straight. I was scared and didn't know what to do so I had the implant removed. I was so fed up with everything that I simply didn't want to have to deal with birth control for a long time, plus the trauma of going back to planned parenthood to get birth control didn't help, so I decided that the IUD would be the best way to go because at the time it lasted 3-5 years. I ended up with the Mirena. After 5 years I called planned parenthood, where I got it inserted, planning on getting it replaced with the same thing. They then tell me that the very same birth control already in my body is now good for 8 years. I find it odd, but essentially I thought "sweet, don't have to think about it for another 3 years". Well, the 3 years have flown by and as of this past July it has been inside of me for 8 year and time is up.

I feel like I never did proper research about birth control 8 years ago and was never properly or thoroughly informed by school, doctors, or family. I was left to figure it out on my own. I now find myself an adult, with no insurance, and not a clue as what to do. I've been trying to do my own research, but there are so many varying stories from so many different individuals and I am exhausted by the idea of the unknown. I am so upset thinking about how there is so much we still don't know about birth control, yet half of the population uses it on a daily basis for a good chunk of their lives. But besides that, through my research, I have come to the conclusion that many things I have been experiencing could have been being effected by my birth control, something that I have given very little thought to because it's always been talked about as a "set it & forget it" method. I have had depression & anxiety since i was in 7th grade. PTSD since I was 16. I have experienced a loss of libido, constipation, weight gain, lack of motivation, exhaustion, back pain, constant bloating, irritability, mood swings, acne, and who knows what else. I feel angry that there is only 1, ONE, non-hormonal birth control available in the US today. And from what I can tell, it's not an ~amazing~ option, not to mention that it is only one size & as we all know, this is not a one size fits all scenario! It's infuriating to me that it feels like birth control is at a stand still and there is no progress on better solutions that are nicer to our bodies in general. I feel like there is still so much that is unknown about birth control and how it actually effects each individual. After doing so much reading and research, I personally would much prefer a non-hormonal method due to the fact that my mental health has already always been an issue for me. And maybe if I was better informed 10+ years ago, I may have chosen to go a non-hormonal route in the first place. Not to mention the "Mirena Crash" that our bodies go through at the end of the life of the IUD, which I was never once informed about and am now being left to deal with. But now I sit here and realize my options are few.

I haven't had my period the entire time I've had my Mirena IUD aside from a few short spottings over the years. I have enjoyed not having to deal with bleeding but now I'm wondering if the trade offs are worth it. I am debating replacing Mirena for the only non-hormonal option available, the Paragard copper IUD, but I have no idea how I/my body/mind will react after a lifetime of being pumped with false hormones. I'm also terrified to go from not bleeding at all to potentially having the worst periods of my life with terrible cramping and who knows what other side effects. I hate that these are my only options. I guess a lot of this is mostly a rant, but if you've made it this far & have ever switched from Mirena to Paragard copper IUD, I'd really appreciate hearing your experiences in the transition and how your life has changed, if at all or any other feedback or knowledge would be appreciated. Thank you all in advance!

Posted Sep 13, 2025, 10:58 PM UTC

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