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By Mayo Clinic staffYour health care provider will evaluate your overall health and do a pelvic exam before inserting Mirena. He or she may also recommend screening for STIs. You can have Mirena inserted anytime during your menstrual cycle if you've been consistently using another birth control method or you haven't had sex since your last period. If you are breast-feeding, have irregular periods or haven't been consistently using birth control, you may need to take a pregnancy test before Mirena is inserted or have it inserted during a period. If you have Mirena inserted more than seven days after the start of your period, you should be prepared to use backup contraception for one week.
Taking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), one to two hours before the procedure can help reduce cramping.
- Dean G, et al. Approach to intrauterine contraception. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 3, 2011.
- Kottke M. Nondaily contraceptive options: User benefits, potential for high continuation and counseling issues. Obstetrical & Gynecological Survey. 2008;63:661.
- Dean G, et al. Management of problems related to intrauterine contraception. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 3, 2011.
- Carusi DA, et al. Insertion and removal of an intrauterine contraceptive device. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 3, 2011.
- Mirena (prescribing information). Wayne, N.J.: Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc.; 2009. http://mirena-us.com/hcp/index.jsp?WT.mc_id=MIS119497&WT.srch=1. Accessed Nov. 8, 2011.
- Castellsague X, et al. Intrauterine device use, cervical infection with human papillomavirus, and risk of cervical cancer: A pooled analysis of 26 epidemiological studies. The Lancet Oncology. 2011;12:1023.
- Zieman M, et al. A Pocket Guide to Managing Contraception. Tiger, Ga.: Bridging the Gap Communications; 2010:82.
- Birth control methods fact sheet. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/birth-control-methods.cfm. Accessed Nov. 3, 2011.
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