"my friend and i, both 18, got mirena as birth control. she loves hers. the insertion was painful, but manageable- the side effects are what&#039;s really bad. before, my period was short, light, and i have never cramped. since getting my iud, i have consistantly bled heavily. daily, i have crippling cramps to where i can no longer continue to drive or walk. i often wake up moaning in pain and crying. i got an ultrasound yesterday and everything looked fine. i&#039;m not saying not to get mirena, but i strongly recommend considering other options or being okay with dealing with the side effects. this has been a terrible experience for me, and a great experience for my friend so you can never really be sure how it will be for you."