What You Need To Know About IUD Mirena
Mirena is an IUD – an intrauterine device, which is a tiny, T-shaped device that is insterted into the uterus. It must be placed in the uterus by a healthcare provider such as a gynocologist or a family doctor. It works to prevent pregnancy by keeping sperm from entering the egg. It also releases hormones into the woman’s body throughout the time it is in place, which can reduce menstrual bleeding or stop it entirely. It is for this reason that the IUD Mirena is also prescribed for the treatment of heavy periods. In the first few months of taking Mirena, spotting or light bleeding is common.
The IUD Mirena is chosen by many women because it is 99% effective, can remain in place for up to five years (but can be removed at any time), and doesn’t require taking pills daily like traditional birth control pills. In fact, about 2 million women in the United States have chosen Mirena as their primary method of birth control. If inserted within 7 days after the beginning of your menstrual cycle, it is immediately effective. If it is inserted at any other time, you must use another form of contraception for 7 days, as it will then take effect. It does not protect against STDs, however, so you must keep that in mind when using the IUD Mirena. Also, you should not have Mirena inserted if you just had a baby; you should wait at least 6 weeks after giving birth.
If you and your healthcare provider decide that Mirena would be an appropriate contraceptive method for you, you can expect a simple office visit. Placement usually takes only a few minutes, and some discomfort is sometimes reported. After Mirena has been inserted, your healthcare provider will make sure that it is in the correct place. Immediately after insertion, you may experience dizziness or cramps, but they go away quickly. If these symptoms last for more than 30 minutes, you should have your healthcare provider double check to see that it was inserted properly or if another IUD must be used. After insertion, if you experience severe abdominal pain, cramps, or the IUD falls out, you should contact your doctor immediately. Women who are pregnant or are prone to pelvic infections should not take Mirena. Talk to your doctor to see if Mirena could be right for you.
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I had the Mirena from June 2008-August 2011. During that period and my symptons consisted of bloating, cramping, irregular bleeding, headaches, dizziness, very bad mood swings, heart palipatations, swollen and tender breasts, pain in my ovaries, and exhaustion. In the summer of 2011 I started becoming so bloated that I looked like I was 6 months pregnant and my breasts were very tender, like if I were pregnant. I had went into the ER to get myself checked out and wanted the Mirena removed. Not only did he refuse to remove it, disregarded my symptoms; he also stated “What do you expect to happen by putting a device in that is full of hormones?”. He then proceeded to tell me it was constipation and it wasn’t. I went through the bloated symptoms for a few more weeks until I called the local health clinic to get it removed. When I had went in to my appointment this doctor also disregarded my symptoms, removed it, and also tried to get me to use the implant in my arm as a form of birth control. She said “Having the Mirena is better than getting pregnant”. She would not accept any of my issues that I blamed on the Mirena. It was very frustrating. I was fine for two weeks until I started bleeding so badly that I went through boxes of sanitary napkins, I was disorientated, dizzy, fatigued, pale, weak, and had ended up losing ten pounds. I had called the clinic where I had it removed and they told me to keep my feet above my heart and it was probably symptons from having the Mirena removed. I had also started experiencing panic attacks out of no where. I was driving and had to pull over to get through the panic attack I was having during one of them, until I was able to continue driving home. The panic attack that sticks out the most happened one morning after I went to a neighbors house for a cup of coffee. She lives 4 houses away from mine and after our short visit, I was walking home, and just before I got to my house my legs started to buckle. My heart started pounding, I could feel all my nerves all over my body, heavy breathing, and it felt like I couldn’t breath. I thought I was having a heart attack. When I was able to make it in the front door, I sat down in a chair that was next to it, crouched over, holding my head, and yelling “mom help me!”, I was very very disorientated. I was trying to stand back up to get some air and darkness took over, I only saw tunnel vision, and collapsed in front of my parents. I inched my way to the door, opened it, and layed there, breathing like I was having contractions. My dad picked me up and put me in the car, brought me to the ER again. They hooked me up to an EKG, pumped me full of saline, and blamed it on fatigue. I know that it was part of the crash because I never had these issues until the Mirena. During the past 10 months I have been having ovary pain, breast pain, nipple discharge, bloating, mood swings; crazy stuff. I recently just had an ultra sound done on my right breast to rul eout breast cancer. I got my results back today and they said it came back normal but my right breast is still swollen, sore, and lactating. Never in my life have I ever experienced these kinds of symptons and I am still not convinced that my breast is okay. I am going back in to get a more detailed explanation as to why this is happening to me. My ovaries still hurt and I have a feeling my hormones are so out of whack due to the Mirena that it has tweeked my whole cycle and my health in general. it has been a nightmare for me. Due to the adverse side effects of this form of birth control, I will NEVER use birth control contreceptives ever again.
I am sorry to hear about your trouble. Thank you for sharing your story.
Amy I am having the same thing with mine iud. I have had mine in since Aug ,15,2010 after my son was born . And this past may when I stopped feeding him I had the felling as if I was pregnant . Pain in my lower belly , ovary pain, breast pain, nipple discharge, bloating, mood swings; crazy fluttering. But when I go to the doctors she did a pt and a pap the nurse came in and told me that I was not pregnant . “The doctor said I bet you fell better now you no that your not right ” And I told her no cause I still fell that I was all the movement I had been felling in side . Then she asked me “Do you thank it could be all in your head ” And her it is now Oct,and I have gained like 40pounds in a month .and I eat healthy . I am still thank if I am not pregnant then it is the iud and if I need to go get it taken out . The doctor will not help you when you thank you maybe having problems with the iud . They just send you home like your crazy . So I need help do you all think I should thank it out or what ? the first iud got suck to my uterus and they had a time getting out so I think I am just cared . It will happen again. Thanks for your time .
You have no idea how thankful I am that both of you have written about your experiences w/mirena.I too have had all the same horrible syptoms, and I always think I am preg, because I am always horribly bloated, I eat barely any fat, just steamed veggies, grill chix, fish, salad..verrry healthy, and I can’t lose any weight for the past year and 1/2. Actually I stopped losing weight completley as soon as I got the mirena put in, now that I think about it. I waited about 6 months after my son was born, he was verry ill, and I just kept him in, nad tried not to do much besides care for him, and stay on top of all his dr. appts.I had my IUD in for 9 yrs,..and had it removed in Jan.2010.I was married in Feb. and by march I was out of work on sick leave, because I too would have to pull over, and would have alot of pressure in head, feel very dizzy, feel like I was fading, heart palps, all of the same syptoms, and I was a home health aide, and had to driveabout 50 miles or more a day, and I would get stuck places, pulled over, it was ttoo unsfe, but they said they had no idea what it was at the clinic. They checked my heart, it was fine, gave me meclizine for virtigo, which only means dizziness, that was my diagnosis, although in reality, it was a cop out, because its just a symptom of whatever the real prob was.Very frustrating..they make u feel completley crazy, when all your doing is trying to get your life back.The shakiness, feels like low blood sugar,..and I get sea legs..alot,..It feels like anxiety, and sounds like it, but I also never had any of these symptoms ubtil the IUD’s.My breasts are severely swollen and hurt, I too look about 6months preg all the time, and I dont no what to doI am scared to take out, because I have these issues, and in I seem to to. I will probably remove, and wait for hormones to return to normal, my husband offered to get fixed, so I could get better. Its nice to see I am not crazy, thanks for posting for others to see.
I can relate to this story a lil. I go to my doctor complaining reguraly about cramps, lower back pains, been to the ER bcuz of migrane headaches, sickeness like i was pregnant like throwing up and fatigued alot. But my doctor says its all normal. And all of this is while I still have the mirena in I’m a lil afraid to get it tooken out due to your story but I know I want this mess out cuz I can’t deal with this.
I am so sorry to hear about your suffering, thank you for sharring…I will never try Mirena…I have had a non-hormone IUD since 2010. I did have heavier periods for a few months and cramping, but they became less heavy over time. My period is slightly heavier than before the Iud though, and last 2 days longer. No other side effects that I can recall.I pray your body heals hun, try natural remedies to help restore your hormone balance…one love
i have the exact same issues! and i’m just finding out it’s the iud now basically after tons of medical testing and doctor visits losing my job from being sick, and the doctors convinced me it wasn’t the iud,
i had my 1st iud perferate my uterus and the geinocologist persisted to convince me it was my uterus that was too soft, and because all other birth controls werent very effective for me i fell into having it put in again,
it’s been about 2 years of pain and strange symptoms and sharp pains all over my stomach area and sides now ruining my quality of life and freedom and the pains are getting worse, ive finally got an appolntment to remove my iud and am now realizing that im not the only one with all of these strange symptoms together and that doctors arent always right. at least it seems that is the route of all these issues with timeline and all now.
I just got Mirena put in a few days ago and I already want this out! I have always been told I can handle a good amount of pain, but I have been having cramps as I did when I was in labor, and sharp pains all throughout my right side and around my belly button. I cannot stand up, sit down, wear a pair of paints that were too big on me before I had the Mirena inserted, I cannot even talk too loudly sometimes as it uses my stomach muscles, I also can’t eat because I feel when I do I get more pains from more room and pressureinside. I feel so bloated and constipated or something, who knows how to describe it, its horrible. Worse than when I piercedy tongue and lip, its nuts! I was wondering if the hopsital would take it out or urgent care becuase I know my Dr won’t be able to schedule an app fast enough, I want it out today. Would you think that it would be the Mirena and absolutely nothing else, from your experiance?
Hi my name is megan I had my mirena IUD put in June 2010 today I saw a commercial about it, being recalled. I still have it and appear to have no problem with it, I am not one to go to the doctor regular. Has it been recalled? When was it recalled? Now I am reading things about it being recalled from June 2009, I had it insearted in 2010. and if it was why didnt they contact me?
Hello Megan,
Thanks for your comment. The issue with Mirena is that there are reports that the IUD becomes “lost” once placed.
There is no formal FDA recall.
Hello my name is Natalie and i just got the IUD put in a well this year about 6months ago..And i was having real bad cramping like i couldnt walk when i got it put in then the day after i got it put in i was in the ER because i was in so much pain..and now i am starting to have cramping now where it hurts to do anything from walking,standing,laying down etc..anyways can you tell me why it has been recalled and when it was recalled? And should i get it taken out immediately? Please let me know thank you Natalie
Why are the putting commercials on tv if they have not been recalled by the FDA? Should I be concerned about mine? I’ve had mine 1 year and plan on having another baby. Do I need to get it removed immediately?
I just went to doctor told them about recall and she said no alerts have been sent to them.I supose to get one next friday.Been ready alot of comments on this and I’m getting scared
I had my iud placed in feb of 2009 and i still hve it in.. and I am having some of the same problems. I am soo bloated it ridiculous. I look as if im 6 or 7 months pregnant.,I cramp so darn bad it feel like the cramps is in my vagina easing down to my legs. I always have pressure in my head. I have been to the doctor office about it and they tell me its sinus issues.. which i never had before. My breast are sore off and on.. and Im always having headaches.. I always have panic attacks always very anxious.. I didnt know what was going on with me.. Im glad this is all starting to make sense.I still have it in and after reading all the comments im scared to have it removed.. I dont know what to do
Why now the mirena is a bad drug!when I been having it sent 2010! Now its a bad drug! help me out here would it stop me from having kids or what! Help me im scared:/ im thinking of going to go take it out!
So what do they suggest you do I had mine inserted in February 2010 got a Pap last week the new doctor I went to couldn’t find it so they did an ultrasound to find it .They found it just moved. He didn’t tell me I should worry but I saw a commercial on tv and have no idea what to do.
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I have had the Mirena/IUD since 2008 after having my son. I have had a lot of the same symptoms. I have went numerous time to the doctor because I fell like at time that I might have been going crazy. I feel tired all the time , depressed, and my breast stay sore and tender. I seem to hurt quite often in my lower stomach, and uterus area. Since I have had the Mirena I have completely stopped have a menstrual cycle. It has been over four years and this February I’m suppose to have it removed. I recently heard the new’s about the recall. I ‘m not really sure what to believe because if it has been recalled for awhile now way wasn’t I notified. I’m contacting my doctor to have it removed. I’m really nervous about having it removed I pray that I do not have any complication.
I’m so glad I found this. I had the I had the mirena iud put in by a gynecologist who seemed not to care, I had to be put on it because other forms of birth control wouldn’t work because I take topamax for migraines. I’ve had it for about two months now and lately my breasts have been so sore and I’ve been really dizzy. My doctor said its in place so no chance I could be pregnant but I’m really worried that I could be. I’ve been having severe abdominal pain too. I’ve seen the bad drug commercial and I’m to the point of just wanting it gone.
Thank you so much ladies for posting this! I have had my mirena for about 5 months now I have been pretty much bleeding ever since! I am making an appointment tomorrow to get it out! I have been having the movements and bloating, cramping everything you ladies named!
I have had mirena in since oct 2009. I can’t recall having any of the issues that some of you talked about. For the most part its been alright. Occasionally I have cramping especially after sex. My period completely stopped after the first 3 mo of having it. My only worry is that it will cause more problems after having it removed than when its in. or that my cycle will be messed up still and I won’t be able to get pregnant again. overall I like the ease of mirena but now I’m a little worried about having it.
I had the first IUD inserted 2003 after my third chird ,I starded have complication after 2 years bleeding cramping fatigue dizzyness .I called my docter,she puded me on birthcontrol pill, she said it going to stoped the bleeding but made worse ,I was on my period for 3 weeks .I went back to see she again she told me about this new IUD called MIRENA to try it ,she said I not going to have any problems I took her word for .Sometimes I bleeded for 2 days and stoped then starded back aftre 3 day stayed for week I called she again, she said it too soon ,my body needed to get use to the medicine.I did what she told me for about 3 months ,then it stoped complilly couple months .After that it started back again .One day I was in my kichen I started bleeded hard thru my legs always to the floor .That day I decided let it removed. 2005 i was diagnotic of inflammatory desease called rheumatism .I m on 6 medications for the rest of my life .
Hi. My name is Laura. I have had my iud since march 2008. Im having my iud removed in December 2012 and im so nervous. I have so many problems I don’t know where to start. Im 5’7 and before my iud was placed in I was a healthy weight even after having my 3rd daughter. Now it’s like im pregnant for the past 3yrs! The first 2 yrs went by with no problems after that complete opposite. I’ve been bleeding ever since 2010. Im not talking spotting. No its like full blown period that doesn’t go away. I have seen my doctor and he’s helpful to check it and give me something to ease the bleeding but nothing works. Im 25 and I feel like im dying a slow death. I get dizzy, sick to my stomach, headaches, back pain, stomach pains that feel like someone is stabbing me from inside. I’ve fainted 8 times. Once while my husband and I where at the park with our kids. When I came to I was in the hospital and my husband was by my side saying it was the next day!!!! When I saw my kids my oldest cried when she said she thought I went to heaven. That was when I decided that enough was enough. I begged by doctor to remove it but said that I had fainted due to dehydration. I don’t think so. I honestly only picked this birth control because of my heavy flows and it hasn’t done anything but make my life a living nightmare. Im a mixed race. My mother is Spanish from Spain and my father is native American. I have a tan completion naturally and since the iud I look pale and bloated. Im nervous to have it removed but im scared to death to leave it in. I just want my life back and have the choice to have another baby in the future. I don’t recommend the iud for birth control to anyone. Stick to condoms or get your tubes tied. That will be my birth control after my next and last child.
I had the Mirena put in Aug. of 2012. I was bleeding for almost 4 months. Now that the bleeding stopped. I have had the same symptoms, My ovaries are always hurting, I am always bloated with severe stomach pain. I often feeling like i’m pregnant with the mood swings. It has gotten so bad that my family often thinks that I am bipolar. I also have panic attacks. There are days I cry all day for no reason at all. I have become so fatigued and lazy its ridiculous. I am always tired, but can never sleep because all of the pains. Should I get the mirena taken out? I have been to the dr several times about it, and they literally argue with me that nothing is wrong. They seriously make me feel crazy.
I would get it out!! Unfortunatley some health care professionals(and I use that word loosely) are simply pill/device pushers for the pharmaceutical companies…They put profit over humanity…None of the women on this forum are crazy, you are victims of our society’s extreme capitalistic worldview…Always remember that Dr. offices get many incentives for selling these products, and they are literally useing YOU as a means to an end. Remember that you are the expert regarding your body…I pray this helps you…one love
I’m 23 yrs old I have had the mirena for about 8 months. I stopped having periods after having it for about 2 months. Everythings been fine until about 2 weeks ago. I’ve been having strong pains in my lower abdomen that feel like its moving down my right leg to my foot. I’ve been feeling dizzy at times and shortness of breath. I have also been spotting for the last couple days and pain during and after sex. I’m wondering if anyone else is having these same symptoms and has any answers for me? I’m goin to go to the doctors office tomorrow and see if they will take my iud out!
I am 27 and am on my second IUD. I had my first put in in 2003 after my daughter was born. After 5 yrs I had it taken out and was pregnant pretty much immediately for what they can figure I conceived with in a few days of the removal. So I had another put I. After my son was born. I have been experiencing side effects and didn’t realize it was because of my IUD. I have acne which I didn’t have as a teen but do now and it is very painful. Severe cramps or pain during or after sex, mood swing like crazy and heart palpitations. I have been happy w/ my IUD because it is fool proof and I can’t mess it up. But it makes me wonder if I should have it taken out, I don’t like feeling like I am crazy but I don’t trust my self on any pill (I was on the pill when I got pregnant with my daughter, I am not good at remembering to take the pill, obviously, lol) I tried the depo shot and was bleeding for over 6 months straight! I know everyone’s body reacts differently to different meds but I have met a lot of ladies who say the same thing. One of my friend said she was having mood swings and felt like she was crazy and got really sick ended up in the ER and they had to do surgery to remove her because it went thought the uterine wall, once it was removed she started to feel like her normal self again.
I have the Mirena in. I’ve had it in since Sept 2009. it hurt when they put it in for a few seconds. I had a period once a month for about 6 or 7 months. And then they stopped. I haven’t had a single cramp, dizzy spell, I have very very mild mood swings…nothing more than I had BEFORE the Mirena was put in. I feel so bad for people with all these horrible symptoms but I haven’t had one problem with my Mirena!
I’ve had the mirena since Jan 2009 and at first I loved it light periods no cramping. but since Aug 2012 I have had horrible problems. sore breast, bad bad bad lower back pain, pain in my ovaries to were I have fallen to my knees crying they hurt to bad n when I get the pain it’ll shoot down into my thighs. I’m a cna at a hospital n once while I was at work I started getting hot sweats like I was 55 yrs old I’m only 24 then I started feeling super dizzy n light head I started seeing black then I went n sat down n one of the nurses told me it was my blood sugar mmmmm no. And esp lately I have been having the worst worst mood swings ever I clash out on anyone and not even meaning to I feel like such a horrible person I have an amazing 4yr daughter n lately I have felt like a pos mom for all these mood swings that I can’t control. I’ve felt so depresses too. its now its also starting to take a toll on my love life with my ovaries hurting so bad they hurt even more during and after sex to were I have to stop. I feel that this bc us ruining so many peoples lives and bodies not to freak any one out but what it thus bc can cause other problems like cysts on our ovaries or who knows what else. I’ve gone to 2 drs n begged them to remove it and. both refused I did go n get an ultrasound but nothing showed. one told me it was constipation. what am I paying these drs for I no my Damn body n it has nothing to do with my Damn bowels. I still have yet to find a dr that’ll take it out I feel like I’m losing everyone close to me cuz of this bc. I have also lately felt so dizzy to where I just fall over. I hope the next Dr I go to will take it out or ima take it out my self
I’m just do glad to hear I’m not the only one going thru all this insane stuff. good luck to all yu ladies!!!!!!!!!
I had the Mirena inserted in 2007. I had many of the symptoms others have had. I developed ovarian cysts in late 2008. To shrink them, my OB prescribed birth control pills. At that time, I had a complete exam, including a breast exam. Nothing there. In May 2009, I found a breast lump, and it turned out to be DCIS – Breast Cancer! I was only 40 years old! From when I found the lump to when I had surgery – 45 days, the lump had grown, and spread to my lymph nodes. I had to have Chemo and Radiation. In 2010, I had a total hysterectomy and my gall bladder was removed. I thought, it’s all good, I can move on. WRONG. In March 2012, the cancer returned to my bones, and now I am Stage 4 with, at the most 5 years to live, and I’ve already lived one of them. There is no BC in my family and I tested negative for the BRCA gene. I know in my heart that Mirena caused this – with the hormone, and the birth control pills to shrink the ovarian cysts. No lawyer will help me, but there are more and more ladies that had the Mirena that now have BC and they are young! In their 30’s! There has to be a correlation. I’ll probably be dead and buried by then. But even Bayer has added to their information that anyone that has had BC should not use the product. They know something and they’re not saying.
Hi, I have had the mirena since 2009. I am just now having terrible problems with it. Severe cramping. I was at work lastnight doubled over in pain crying. The cramps went from round my back to my stomach. I never cramps like that. I havent spotted in a year. Last week i took a pregnancy test. I really thought i was pregnant. i felt like i was. Bloating tiredness mood swings. I thought from all the pain i was having a miscarriage. I went to the drs today. My dr wanted me to be seen asap by a gyn. Tomorrow i will go and get it removed. this whole thing is terrible. My dr told me to get it out and to not get it again. Im happy she actually listened to me.
I had a mirena IUD from 2007-2012 and it worked great, drastically reducing my heavy bleeding. I got my 2nd one placed in October 2012, went for an ultrasound in Dec 2012, and it was not seen, I thought due to fibroids and enlarged uterus.
I was advised to get another US in 6 mos. Dec-Jan Feb my periods became very heavy, painful cramps, and passing clots. The doctor couldn’t find the IUD on pelvic exam. I really think I would have noticed if it had been expelled. I am having a 3D US next week to find out where it is. I
I’m so glad I found this. My name is Erica. I had the Mirena IUD put in by my gynecologist after my first child in July 2011. I feel that I made the wrong decision by having the IUD placed because I have had so many problems. After having it placed I cramped and bleed for a month straight. When I sat down I felt like something was poking me in my left ovary at all times. I also had the bloating, VERY bad mood swings, bad headache and lost of sex interest. With the mood swings and lost of sex interest was starting to make my other half question me and that made if worst!!!! I had become so lazy and tired all the time that my mother was always questioning what was wrong with me. I have gone to my gynecologist (which I love and she is very nice) and had it checked to make sure it had not moved and everything was in place, so I was told to give it a week and that we may just need to have it removed. So the problems continued and I went back and my gynecologist tried to remove the IUD in the office and saw it on the ultrasound but the string had doubled up in my cervix and she could not remove it in the office. So she was going to put me to sleep and go in with a scope and remove it. After I woke up from being put to sleep, my mother was telling me that they had to cut me and laparoscopically had to have the IUD removed.
I first had the Mirena placed in 2002. The main reason was its convenience and the fact that it was supposed to help my migraines, for which I took Imitrex. For nearly the entire five years, I had no memorable problems. So I went for another round on the ‘5 year plan’. This time, after about the first year in, I started having severe bloating, cramping, and began getting ovarian cysts. I suppose I was lucky, my cysts ruptured on their own, nearly sending me to the emergency room due to excruciating pain and near fainting. At least I didn’t have to have them surgically removed. Then, out of the blue, in 2008, I was in the emergency room for unexplained pain, vomiting, fever etc… subsequently went in for emergency gallbladder removal. I NEVER had an iota of gallbladder issues, not even heartburn. Hmmm, I just hit 40, ok, I’m old. Two years later, I go to the emergency room with high fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, extreme delirium, only to be told I ‘may have’ a bladder infection. I was sent home with antibiotics, only to return the next day to the ER. The doctors had no idea what could be wrong, so they did a pelvic exam, looked ok.. off to an ultrasound. Wow.. tons of unknown fluid in my abdominal cavity…off to emergency exploratory sugery…just over two liters of nasty mystery fluid removed from my abdominal cavity with no known source. Well Victoria, yes you could have died from what we’ll call Peritonitis of an unknown source, but hey, you didn’t. Bonus! I still have headaches, cramping, bloating, backpain, weight gain, dizziness, etc.. but wondering how a previously very healthy female would start having all of these unexplained problems. My second Mirena is now due to be replaced, and I have decided to just remove it. All these years I’ve made excuses for these problems and just accepted them as ‘annoying side effects’ of a super convenient method of birth control. Sad, what we sometimes allow ourselves to be put through without questioning it sooner. Maybe this will help another woman realize that she hasn’t been ‘over reacting’ or ‘hallucinating’ her body’s signals. Yours have helped me! : )
I got my iud put in a year 3mons after my son was born in November. 2009 got it put it in February 2011 i have had no real problems. just so times i have real bad pain in my palivc area should this been a concern i should warry about I’m only 26 and i want more children put in planed on keeping. it in for the five years but now I’m not so sure what to do hlep