Mirena Manufacturer:

Bayer Schering Pharma Flinland

Mirena Information:

Mirena is non-hormonal birth control contraceptive. It is an intrauterine device (IUD) and works by releasing a small amount of levonorgestrel, a female hormone that regulates ovulation. In addition to being an effective contraceptive, Mirena also treats heavy menstrual bleeding. The generic name of this drug is Levonorgestrel Intrauterine System. This IUD does not prevent you from acquiring or spreading HIV, AIDS, or any other sexually transmitted disease.

Description of Mirena:

Mirena is a small, soft, flexible, plastic T-shaped contraceptive device. This contraceptive is effective for up to 5 years. Mirena is placed in the uterus by a qualified medical professional. If you are using Mirena as a contraceptive or to treat heavy menstrual bleeding, it is best to have the IUD inserted within the first 7 days of your menstrual cycle. Mirena is a prescription drug, i.e. you can buy Mirena only after consulting a doctor.

Advantages of Mirena:

The two biggest advantages of Mirena are its efficacy rate in preventing a pregnancy, which is more than 90%, and its duration of action, which is up to 5 years. In addition, implanting Mirena, as well as its removal, is a fairly simple process. Once Mirena is placed in your uterus, you don’t have to visit your doctor regularly to check if the device is in its correct place. Mirena comes with patient instructions that show you how you can perform these periodic checkups yourself at home.

How Mirena Works

Mirena works by slowly releasing levonorgestrel. The released hormone, in turn, prevents pregnancy in two ways. Firstly, levonorgestrel increases the thickness of cervical mucus. As a result, it becomes extremely difficult for the sperm to fertilize an egg. Secondly, levonorgestrel prevents any fertilized egg from implanting itself in the endometrium.

Safety & Precautionary Information:

You should not buy Mirena if you have:

• An uncontrolled or untreated vaginal, bladder, or uterine infection
• Breast cancer
• Liver disease
• Uterine or cervical cancer
• Cervical dysplasia or cervicitis
• Leukemia, AIDS, or any other disease that weakens the immune system

Before you buy Mirena, tell your doctor about your medical history. If you suffer from certain conditions such as diabetes, blood-clotting disorder, bleeding disorder, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, pelvic infection, or vaginal infection, your doctor may ask you to undergo special tests before he/she can adjudge the device as being safe for you.

This device is contraindicated in pregnancy as it can cause miscarriage, severe infection, or even death of the pregnant woman. You can use Mirena as a contraceptive while you are breastfeeding. However, you must wait for 6 weeks after delivery before you start using this device.

The most common side effects of Mirena are development of cysts in the ovary, irregular menstrual periods, or noticeable changes in menstrual bleeding. In addition to the above, some women who use this device may also experience pelvic or back pain, acne, nervousness, depression, headache, breast pain, stomach pain, vaginal inflammation, decreased sex drive, weight gain, or painful periods.

In rare cases, Mirena may trigger hair loss, migraine, mood changes, inflammation of the cervix and/or womb, oedema (swelling in the body occurring due to excessive fluid retention), or abdominal bloating.

Composition

A single sterile IUD contains levonorgestrel 52 mg.