Mirena and weight issues?

[ktgrok]

I obviously have lost weight in the last year to due to bariatric surgery. But even so, I'm a slow loser. Lots of bloat in the belly. I'm getting the Mirena out next week and was curious, so did some googling. Seems a lot of women lose weight when they get it removed. I know when I had Depo-Provera back in the day that caused me to gain 15lbs in a month, but didn't think the levels of hormones in Mirena could do that. But it seems a common thing, at least on the internet. Wondering if anyone else had that experience? I have to say, it would be nice if I lost a bit of weight after getting it removed, or if weight loss was easier. \

http://www.babycenter.com/400_weight-loss-after-mirena-removal_14417092_327.bc?startIndex=0&sortFieldName=rating

[Hypatia.]

I also gained a lot of weight on Depo Provera, granted this was many years ago. Since then it seems like my body has not tolerated hormonal birth control very well. I had the Mirena for a year (just got it removed about 2 months ago) and gained about 35 lbs during that year. Since getting it out my hair loss has returned to normal (it stayed at the post-partum hair loss rate the entire time I had the Mirena) and my weight gain has stopped and I'm slowly starting to lose weight.

[Carrie12345]

I gained, but mine wasn't removed under normal circumstances, so my experience would skew the data!

[wendy not in HI]

I had exactly one depo provera shot after baby #1.  It started a pattern of weight gain that I couldn't get under control until after baby #3.  I'm not entirely sure that I can blame the depo, as I was a young teen mom and would probably have gained weight at that time any way.  It also made me basically infertile for about 3 years.  Baby #1 and baby #2 are almost 4 years apart.  Looking back, it was a blessing that we didn't have kids closer together in age, but at the time it was a worry.

 

Lost weight after baby #3 and baby #4.  Got a Mirena IUD when baby #4 was about 3 years old.  I did gain a little weight, but about 10 pounds.  I was still pretty small.  I began to have some other odd things that I blamed on the Mirena - breast pain, and dark hair growth on my arms.

 

I got the IUD out after 3 years. We moved at about the same time and it was a difficult time for me. It's been 6 years. Over those six years I gained 30 pounds. I began to gain weight at that point and just could not stop the weight gain until just this year.  None of my "usual" tricks seemed to work. I could lose 5 pounds or so but no more, and then I would gain.  I don't know that I can blame the IUD for any of those problems, but I do think that I have some hormone issues.  (I have been dieting this year and have lost 40 pounds, and am back to my favorite weight)  I think maybe there's something going on with my body and I will need to be basically low carb/paleo if I want to keep the weight off.  Not so unusual for a 40 year old woman.  

 

This is just anecdotal.  And hopefully your experience will be completely different than mine.  

[Laura Corin]

I've had three Mirenas.  Whilst I've put on a bit of weight here or there over the last fifteen years, it hasn't been marked.  My current one expired over a year ago, so I don't think it's putting out many hormones - again, I'm not seeing any change.

[Lady Marmalade]

Ha.   I had been on Depo for 5 1/2 years, and we (my doc and I) decided it was time to switch to Mirena.  I'd slowly gained about 40 pounds over that time with the Depo, and she thought that if we switched to Mirena I might have better success at using diet and exercise to lose some of that weight.

 

:mellow:

 

I had the Mirena put in early November of last year.  That first month I was a raging psycho and spent a lot of time doing things alone because I knew it was the hormones.  We overlapped the Mirena and Depo so there would be no risk of pregnancy in there.  Depo doesn't just suddenly go away!  Once the hormones regulated and died back I felt much better and figured I was now on track to be positive and lose some weight.  I've not been actively "dieting" but following a No-S plan pretty successfully and limiting my portion sizes.  I put on about 25 more pounds in just a few months- even eating sensibly!  :glare:  I just about died when I went in for my 6 week check and they weighed me and had to move the big piece of the scale.  When I was PG with DS I topped out at 199 before having him and hoped I'd never be that heavy again.  I am just a hair over 200 now and completely mortified. 

 

I think the gain has finally stalled out.  Probably half of my clothes don't fit anymore- half are snug, but the next size up is too loose, so I guess that's good, except that nothing really fits me nice right now.

 

Since the gaining seems to have halted, I've been seriously following No-S and limiting portions.  I'm getting active outside now that it's nice, so I'm hoping to start reversing.  Unfortunately, hormonal weight is the hardest to get rid of, and on top of the original 40 that I had optimistically hoped to shed 30 of, I now have an extra 25.  Most of that 25 was within the first six weeks.  I really, really hope it's done and we can start going backwards now. 

 

 

[zoobie]

I was hoping removing it would help, but it didn't. I only lose with low low carb and low low calorie. :/ I miss not having periods!

[Katy]

I haven't had Mirena, but I've had several friends who worked in pharmaceutical sales (easy way to make $100k when you got a useless degree).

 

Everyone universally agreed that all hormonal birth control causes weight gain.  Some is rapid (Depo), some is slow (low dose progesterone only), but ultimately if you're on them for long enough you will probably gain about 60 pounds.  They didn't want that publicized, but both female friends with jobs selling hormonal birth control for different companies said the science said the same thing.  That was about ten years ago.  At the time they had no idea if the weight was permanent or not.

[ktgrok]

Mixed opinions! I've definitely read of people losing 10lbs in two weeks after getting it out, so it will be interesting to see if that happens. If it doesn't, it doesn't, but I'm interested to find out! I want to lose 10-20 more lbs, and they just are not coming off. Now, part of that is lack of exercise, but I'll take any bonus weight loss I can get!

[Joanne]

I had one for years (loved it). They happened to also be the gain weight/stay fat years.

 

I have lost weight lately (had it removed a while back) but I think that is more about getting my thyroid in order and a recent medical diagnosis.

[Carol in Cal.]

I hope it's nothing serious, Joanne. 

[MotherGoose]

I noticed nothing with it.

[Soror]

Another thought is that last you posted your thyroid numbers are still not optimal, a lot of people say that they cannot lose weight until their TSH is closer to 1.

 

I've never had an IUD, Depo made me gain weight for sure, I don't remember pills being so bad but the other side effects were horrible.

[Laura Corin]

I haven't had Mirena, but I've had several friends who worked in pharmaceutical sales (easy way to make $100k when you got a useless degree).

 

Everyone universally agreed that all hormonal birth control causes weight gain.  Some is rapid (Depo), some is slow (low dose progesterone only), but ultimately if you're on them for long enough you will probably gain about 60 pounds.  They didn't want that publicized, but both female friends with jobs selling hormonal birth control for different companies said the science said the same thing.  That was about ten years ago.  At the time they had no idea if the weight was permanent or not.

 

The thing is that the Mirena is so low dose that it's only expected to affect the uterus itself.  I definitely gained weight on the Pill, but I am a lower weight now than when I had my first Mirena 15 years ago (just after having my second child).  I've had to keep an eye on my weight, but it hasn't been a struggle - certainly not 60 pounds worth of struggle.

[Bluegoat]

My sister has had issues with all of the hormonal birth control and weight. 

[ktgrok]

Sounds like it really varies. I've read stories where it has no effect,a nd stories where women dropped 10lbs in two weeks after getting it out. I'll keep everyone updated on if anything happens!