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What Causes Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding After Mirena Insertion?

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Posted on Wed, 5 Aug 2015
Question: I got an IUD placed a couple of months ago...the Mirena. My first month I got my usual expected period on day 28, but it lasted for 15 days. I was told this was normal. My second month, again. Got my period as expected, it too was lasting longer than usual. On around day 14 I passed a large ping pong size whitish piece of tissue, it was like gristle. So. Made an appointment with my OBGYN, he said this was normal and it was my body adjusting to the IUD, at his point. Told him to remove the IUD. I continued to bleed, but it was getting heavier and I was passing large clots.,around day 19 my period was heavier and it was dripping out of me, I was soaking through tampons and pads and the clots we're getting larger. I went to the ER where they took my history forr the past couple of weeks and gave me a presciption for,Provera, I have been taking this now for three days, the situation is not getting better, I am soaking through a tamplon and a pad every two hours and this morning I woke up in. A pool of my own blood. I was wearing a tampon and a pad too. I called again my OBGYN they said to give the Provera a chance to work, it can take up to a week. My concern is that I am usually anaemic anyway and this could make it worse. I have a few questions but mostly how do I find out what is causing the heavy bleeding and the clots. I have had to kiss three days of work because it is flowing out of me. The nurse told me that because of my aneanmia if I am still bleeding on Friday to call them back. I do have a follow up appt with my OBGYN next Wednesday.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Aarti Abraham (3 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Needs immediate attention.

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for writing to us with your health concern.
The amount of bleeding that you are having is not normal.
After the Mirena, yes, it does take time ( few weeks to a few months for some women ) to adjust to the hormonal effects, but the bleeding described by you is definitely not normal.
Also, if Provera has not worked for 3 days, and you are soaking through this way, you need immediate attention.
Yes, in an already anemic woman, it might precipitate collapse.
Please hasten up your meeting with a Specialist OB - GYN.
You need to know the reason for the heavy bleeding ( it is not the Mirena for sure ).
Please insist on an internal exam, a Pap smear, a pelvic transvaginal ultrasound scan and hormonal tests - FSH, LH, TSH, Prolactin.
An emergency curettage / endometrial biopsy also might be needed , that would be diagnostic ( yielding tissue for sending to the lab to know what is happening ) and therapeutic ( it scrapes off the lining of the uterus, thus stopping the heavy bleeding ).
Can you tell me why did you have the Mirena inserted ?
Also, have you ever had heavy cycles in the past ?
Do you have any ominous personal / family history other than this ?
What is your height and weight ?
Do you smoke ?
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Aarti Abraham (18 minutes later)
I am 41 and had my last baby three years ago.. Last summer I did have a miscarriage at 9 weeks, and my doctor recommended a D&c because of my anaemia. Following that procedure he asked about birth control. He recommended the Mirena so a couple of months ago I had one placed and that is when all this began. I had the Mirena 10 years ago and had it removed two years later, when we trying for another baby.i had no problems with that one My son is now,three years old. My cycles,have been regular with mild to moderate clotting and cramping. I am 5 ft 5 inches and weigh about 170lbs. I do not smoke.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Aarti Abraham (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
As below.

Detailed Answer:
Please have the workup as I suggested.
IF all the investigations are normal, you might need to remove the Mirena, and go for alternative birth control.
YOu can contact me anytime, using the following link -
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-aarti-abraham/64623
Take care.
Note: Revert back with your gynae reports to get a clear medical analysis by our expert Gynecologic Oncologist. Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Aarti Abraham

OBGYN

Practicing since :1998

Answered : 6004 Questions

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What Causes Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding After Mirena Insertion?

Brief Answer: Needs immediate attention. Detailed Answer: Hello Thanks for writing to us with your health concern. The amount of bleeding that you are having is not normal. After the Mirena, yes, it does take time ( few weeks to a few months for some women ) to adjust to the hormonal effects, but the bleeding described by you is definitely not normal. Also, if Provera has not worked for 3 days, and you are soaking through this way, you need immediate attention. Yes, in an already anemic woman, it might precipitate collapse. Please hasten up your meeting with a Specialist OB - GYN. You need to know the reason for the heavy bleeding ( it is not the Mirena for sure ). Please insist on an internal exam, a Pap smear, a pelvic transvaginal ultrasound scan and hormonal tests - FSH, LH, TSH, Prolactin. An emergency curettage / endometrial biopsy also might be needed , that would be diagnostic ( yielding tissue for sending to the lab to know what is happening ) and therapeutic ( it scrapes off the lining of the uterus, thus stopping the heavy bleeding ). Can you tell me why did you have the Mirena inserted ? Also, have you ever had heavy cycles in the past ? Do you have any ominous personal / family history other than this ? What is your height and weight ? Do you smoke ? Looking forward to hearing from you. Take care.