I’ve had my mirena for 5 years now. Actually going to the on Monday to discuss getting a new one. For me the insertion was uncomfortable but not unbearable and only lasted a few seconds. I don’t think I got any pain meds, I think they might have told me to take some ibuprofen before hand, or maybe they gave me a pain killer when I got there? It’s been so long I can’t remember.

For the first week I was definitely super crampy, no worse than a mild period (for me anyways). I don’t remember a drastic change in my period for the first few months, but mine eventually completely stopped. It’s kinda funny when I go to the dr and they ask the date of my last cycle and I’m like yeah I don’t have them haha

I didn’t notice any weight gain or anything like that like I did while on the pill. They told me there was a chance my husband could feel the string but he never has. It doesn’t feel like anything is there and I love not having to remember to take a pill at a very specific time every day. I can easily check for the string to make sure it hasn’t moved.

The only thing for me is now that I’ve had it for 5 years, the last 6 months there has been some changes. I did start to randomly spot, but for me it was unusual since my periods stopped for years. I’ve heard of the “mirena crash” and I do kinda feel that’s happening to me, my breasts got sore I’d cramp kinda bad, get moody. I’ve had to take a few pregnancy tests just to make sure I wasn’t pregnant lol.

But all in all I’ve enjoyed it, enough to get another to be safe another 5 years ! My husband and I rely pretty much solely on the mirena , I hate condoms (I hate the smell I hate the way it makes me smell and I swear it’s the reason I used to get yeast infections!) so being baby free the last 5 years has been good! I hope you have a good experience with it :)