"i&#039;ve had my mirena for 4 months now. i&#039;m 26 and have never had a child or been pregnant. my periods prior to using any hormonal birth control, my periods were always inconsistent and sometimes heavy. my gyno recommended switching me to an iud since i have no desire for children in the future. the insertion process was extremely painful for me. i had awful cramps for a week after i got it. i even had to get the dr to write me a prescription for pain medication so that i could tolerate going to work. i consider myself someone that can tolerate a high amount of physical pain but getting the mirena put in it was a terrible experience. i do not want another one after the 5 years is up."