Make an appointment with Mirena
Every woman—and every woman's experience—is a little different. If you've discussed your birth control options with your healthcare provider and decided Mirena may be right for you, it's time to schedule your placement appointment.
Before placement of Mirena, be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you have signs of a vaginal infection or pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
When should Mirena be placed?
Mirena should be placed within 7 days of the start of your period. If you've just had a baby, Mirena should not be placed earlier than 6 weeks after you give birth or as directed by your healthcare provider. Be sure to tell him or her if you are breastfeeding and plan to continue breastfeeding after having Mirena placed.
How is Mirena placed?
Your healthcare provider will place Mirena into your uterus during an office visit. You may feel some discomfort during the procedure. Placement typically takes only a few minutes.
He or she will:
- Apply an antiseptic solution to your vagina and cervix
- Pass a thin tube of soft, flexible plastic (the inserter) containing Mirena into your vagina and then into your uterus
- Check to make sure Mirena is positioned correctly
- Withdraw the plastic inserter, leaving Mirena in your uterus
- Ensure that the two threads attached to the stem of Mirena properly extend through your cervix, which help ensure that Mirena is properly placed. This will also help with the removal of Mirena by your healthcare provider when that time comes
- Trim the threads to the appropriate length
What to expect right after Mirena is placed
- Some women may experience cramps, pain, feel dizzy and/or have bleeding during and right after Mirena is placed. These side effects are common and usually disappear quickly
- Let your healthcare provider know if your side effects are severe or last more than 30 minutes as Mirena may not have been properly placed. Your healthcare provider will examine you to see if Mirena needs to be removed or replaced
- Ask your healthcare provider about over-the-counter pain medications you can take to minimize cramps
Breastfeeding & Mirena
In general, there have been no adverse effects found in breastfeeding performance for women using Mirena, though isolated cases of decreased milk production have been reported. There have also been no adverse effects found in the health, growth, or development of nursed babies. However, small amounts of the hormone Mirena releases pass into the breast milk of nursing mothers and are detectable in the infant's blood.
Before you leave your healthcare provider's office:
- Have your healthcare provider show you how to check the threads of your Mirena
- Schedule a follow-up appointment with your healthcare provider within 4 to 12 weeks. He or she will want to check to see if your Mirena is properly in place
- Consider scheduling your annual check-up at the same time so that you don't forget. Your Mirena should be checked once a year as part of your routine physical
View common questions about Mirena before your placement appointment.
