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Mirena & trouble with weight loss

December 2008 - Mirena inserted (no weight gain)

October 2011-serious car accident, no exercise for 3 months (gain 15lbs)

February 2012-start exercising again 

 I've had a really hard time losing the weight I gained although I eat well & exercise frequently (many of you know I am a group fitness instructor). I've lost a few pounds in my stomach (abs look awesome) but it just wont come off anywhere else =( Scale isn't moving, clothes fit the same and I'm incredibly frustrated. 

Has anyone else had trouble losing weight on Mirena?  I'm thinking my body could be holding on to the weight due to the hormones (esp since it is concentrated in my breasts, hips & thighs).

DH & I plan to have it removed  in October 2012 (so I have a year to get back to hormonal norms before TTC October 2013) but I don't really want to wait until then to get this weight off! 

Thanks for listening to me vent and if you have any suggestions let me know! 

Re: Mirena & trouble with weight loss

  • Just my experience, but I *hated* Mirena.  It was inserted in January 2009.  I gained about 15 lbs when DD weaned from breastfeeding in February 2010.  Had a really hard time losing the weight despite calorie counting / exercising.  I had it taken out in August 2011 and lost 10 lbs pretty easily doing exactly what I had already been doing.  I feel a million times better without it and don't think I will go back on any sort of hormonal birth control.  Just didn't work for me (I had trouble finding the right pill before DD as well).   Good luck to you!
  • Thanks for sharing! Almost everything I have read about it says that people either gained weight b/c of it or had trouble losing weight once they were on it. It could also explain the migraines I started getting around the time it was put it (IDK how I didn't put that together before). We were going to get it removed in October but maybe we will move that up....

  • A close friend of mine was a triathlete, very fit. She got the mirena a few years ago and put on a few lbs during the offseason (like she usually did - about 15 lbs total, which was not much on her frame). The next training season she was unable to lose the weight, despite even more intense training than prior seasons. She's a very competitive person, and it was very disruptive to her life. She spent 2 seasons too heavy, and her performances suffered during what would/should have been her prime years.

    She had the mirena removed and was able to lose the weight the next season.

    I'm really anti-mirena. I believe that in terms of IUD, Paraguard (non-hormonal, copper IUD that is just as effective) is a superior choice. 

  • Were you on BCP or another bc with higher levels of hormones before this?  Some women, especially those with PCOS, end up gaining after they stop BCP.  My doctor explained it once, can't remember which hormones come into play though.   

    Visit The Nest!baby development PitaPata Dog tickers image
  • I'm having mine taken out on 5/9 for just this reason.  I am holding weight in my boobs and midsection while the rest of me just gets muscular.. and not losing a pound in the process. 
    Lilypie Second Birthday tickers Lilypie Fifth Birthday tickers
    Goblin Gallup 5k 10/30/11 - 36:46
    Turkey Trot 5k 11/24/11 - 35:14
    Festival of Lights 5k 12/31/11 - 33:13
    Love the Run You're With 5k 2/13/12 - 31:58
    Backyard Burn 5 miler 3/11/12 - 1:08:42
    Cherry Blossom 10 Miler 4/1/12 - 1:58:22
    Wine Country HF 6/2/12 - TBD
    Spartan Race 8/25/12 - TBD
  • WhooWhoo member
    100 Comments
    I will be following this thread.  I went back to my Dr. in November to have mine removed for this reason but she talked me out of it.  She said I am getting older  (now 40) and it is natural for my metabolism to slow down etc.  Mirena helps me from having super heavy periods so it has its benefits for me.  However, I am currently trying to lose weight and it has been a very slow process.  She told me to go home and exercise and try again and then re-assess and if, at that point, I feel like it is causing weight retention she will remove it.   I do have midsection fat that I have never had before.  I have always carried weight in my legs and arms not my stomach so I am trying and we will see.  Please update if you or anyone else responding has it removed, to see if it made a difference to you.  I am trying to decide what is more important in my life right now- carrying around an extra 10 pounds or dealing with heavy periods each month. :-(
  • WhooWhoo member
    100 Comments

    Jay-Tea

    I am curious how long you had the Mirena in?  I am just wondering how long it took for one to notice the weight gain ( a year, 2 years,  a few months) 

  • Just chiming in to say I have had Mirena for 2 years with no issues.  I have lost 20 lbs (more if you include baby weight) since having it placed 
  • imageWhoo:

    Jay-Tea

    I am curious how long you had the Mirena in?  I am just wondering how long it took for one to notice the weight gain ( a year, 2 years,  a few months) 

    I've had it almost a year.  That being said, I track my calories, don't eat sugar or fried foods, gave up soda and exercise minimum of 3 days of week for an hour at minimum - usually more like 5-6 days a week.  I run, crosstrain and do body pump.

    I haven't lost a pound since last July.  So for me, it's not necessarily gain - it's the inability to lose weight.  Since exercise helps my mood, I've even eliminated all medications that I take.

    Lilypie Second Birthday tickers Lilypie Fifth Birthday tickers
    Goblin Gallup 5k 10/30/11 - 36:46
    Turkey Trot 5k 11/24/11 - 35:14
    Festival of Lights 5k 12/31/11 - 33:13
    Love the Run You're With 5k 2/13/12 - 31:58
    Backyard Burn 5 miler 3/11/12 - 1:08:42
    Cherry Blossom 10 Miler 4/1/12 - 1:58:22
    Wine Country HF 6/2/12 - TBD
    Spartan Race 8/25/12 - TBD
  • imagejay-tea:
    imageWhoo:

    Jay-Tea

    I am curious how long you had the Mirena in?  I am just wondering how long it took for one to notice the weight gain ( a year, 2 years,  a few months) 

    I've had it almost a year.  That being said, I track my calories, don't eat sugar or fried foods, gave up soda and exercise minimum of 3 days of week for an hour at minimum - usually more like 5-6 days a week.  I run, crosstrain and do body pump.

    I haven't lost a pound since last July.  So for me, it's not necessarily gain - it's the inability to lose weight.  Since exercise helps my mood, I've even eliminated all medications that I take.

    Oh, and I'm currently 160 pounds, 5 foot 4.5 inches with a small frame.  Prior to getting pregnant and then getting Mirena, I was hovering around 140.

    Lilypie Second Birthday tickers Lilypie Fifth Birthday tickers
    Goblin Gallup 5k 10/30/11 - 36:46
    Turkey Trot 5k 11/24/11 - 35:14
    Festival of Lights 5k 12/31/11 - 33:13
    Love the Run You're With 5k 2/13/12 - 31:58
    Backyard Burn 5 miler 3/11/12 - 1:08:42
    Cherry Blossom 10 Miler 4/1/12 - 1:58:22
    Wine Country HF 6/2/12 - TBD
    Spartan Race 8/25/12 - TBD
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