When it comes to avoiding unwanted pregnancy, the methods can’t be too effective. Such a way of contraception as installing a hormonal intrauterine device allows a woman to enjoy her time with a loved one without being constantly worried about the risk of an untimely impregnation.
Mirena is known as one of the most trustworthy brands of IUDs. But what earns it such a good reputation? Does its effectiveness as a birth control method make Mirena a silver bullet against all of the hormonal-related problems? Continue reading to find out!
Mirena is a small plastic t-shaped device that, when properly installed, provides reliable protection against unwanted pregnancy. This brand of the intrauterine device becomes more and more popular among women all around the globe, and here’s why:
The mode of operation of Mirena – a hormonal intrauterine contraception device – is simple. When inserted, Mirena releases the hormone “progestin” that is responsible for thickening the mucus in the fibromuscular tissues. This way, sperm won’t be able to reach the egg, which means that pregnancy won’t happen.
Aside from hormonal devices like Mirena, non-hormonal copper IUDs are available on the market. While all impregnation prevention methods have their pros and cons, hormonal devices included, Mirena still has significant advantages over copper IUDs:
Mirena’s effectiveness is claimed to be over 99%, which is a great result. However, in some cases, healthcare professionals recommend using Mirena in conjunction with other emergency contraception methods, such as birth control pills.
Condoms are also a must. Even though there is a ridiculously low risk of impregnation while using Mirena, this intrauterine device still doesn’t give any protection against STD.
The procedure of Mirena insertion is non-invasive and takes only a few minutes. It must be conducted by a professional medical provider in a health care center only. The same goes when a woman wants her IUD removed.
A doctor might recommend avoiding sex for two weeks before the procedure. However, the recommendations can be unique for each patient. The best time to install the device is within the first week after menstruation is over.
It’s necessary to understand that Mirena starts working a week after the installment, so unprotected sex must be avoided during this period even with a proven sexual partner.
Birth control pills have been one of the most popular treatments against acne for a very long time. Their effectiveness is based on their ability to lower testosterone levels – a hormone that is considered responsible for adult acne.
So, if Mirena is highly effective at preventing pregnancy, will it help with breakouts as well? This question isn’t as simple as it seems, so let’s take some time to explore the topic.
Unfortunately, there isn’t enough data on the connection between Mirena (and other IUDs) and acne. Anecdotally, a hormonal IUD is more likely to actually cause adult acne rather than prevent it. However, there are arguments both for and against its direct influence on adult breakouts.
Hormonal IUDs release progestin – a hormone that can significantly influence the hormonal balance in a woman’s body, thus leading to the rise of testosterone levels.
Keep in mind, however, that adult acne can be caused by a variety of reasons, including bacterial overgrowth, fungal infection, compromised moisture barrier, and even such skin conditions as rosacea, eczema, dermatitis, and so on.
When a woman gets her IUD installed, she’s more likely to stop taking her birth control pills on a regular basis. If the pills played a major role in keeping acne she was predisposed to from the beginning at bay, ditching oral contraceptives can cause pimples to return.
However, a lot of people make connections between acne outbreak and hormonal IUD insertion rather than with pills withdrawal. So the best decision will be to consult your ob-gyn and dermatologist before deciding to remove Mirena.
Just as any medical device, Mirena can cause a range of side effects. The majority of them are manageable and normally last for a short period, while the body adapts to the IUD:
The more serious side effects of Mirena are:
Although these adverse reactions are reported to be extremely rare, don’t ignore suspicious symptoms and stay in touch with your healthcare provider.
As effective and safe as Mirena is, some people are still recommended to choose other birth control options. Some of the contraindications include:
Be sure to consult your healthcare provider to learn more about contraindications before using hormonal IUDs, as well as other unplanned pregnancy prevention methods.
Mirena is a trustworthy and reputable brand of intrauterine devices that ensures higher than 99% of birth control effectiveness. While opting for this type of IUD is a good choice, it’s important to perfectly prepare for the procedure, as well as to follow your doctor’s recommendations after the insertion.
Mirena can be a really big help with not only child-bearing prevention but also with such things as heavy menstruation and, in some cases, hormonal imbalance. Its effects on cystic breakouts, however, are yet to be properly studied.
Before opting for Mirena, it’s important to be sure that there are no contraindications to using this device in particular and hormonal IUDs as a whole. If a woman pays necessary attention to her health and knows when it’s time to ask a doctor for medical advice, using Mirena will be nothing less but a satisfying experience.
