The use of IUD is more likely to be known to cause weight gain. Yet, can the Mirena cause weight loss instead of gaining it? There is some probability for Mirena to cause weight loss with certain conditions. How can this hormonal IUD lose weight? Is it good for your health after long-term use? Find out more in this article!
How Does Mirena Work Inside the Uterus?
Mirena is one of the hormonal IUDs that has a T-shape with a plastic frame. This device contains an active ingredient, Levonorgestrel. Mirena is responsible for therapeutic and contraceptive effects. Mirena will release a type of hormone progestin with a job to prevent pregnancy.
The function of Mirena mainly is to be a birth control system that will work on your uterus. In the uterus, Mirena will change a layer of the uterus called Endometrium. This part of the uterus is responsible for affecting your ovulation cycle. Mirena will cause a thickening of the cervical mucus to block sperm’s way into the uterus.
Can the Mirena Cause Weight Loss?
According to a study directed by a university in Brazil, there is a journal about Contraception which was published in August 2000. This study analyzed a woman with an IUD for a 5-year testing period. The result of this study showed that there were no significant changes in the subject’s weight.
Therefore, the concern of can the Mirena cause weight loss is seemingly impossible. Yet, there is more proof that by using Mirena, it is possible to gain weight. This data was taken by comparing Mirena users and other birth control system users and showed no specific proof of weight loss.
There is a hormone called Estrogen that can make you lose weight. Unfortunately, within the Mirena’s ingredient, there is no Estrogen. For this reason, Mirena is probably unable to lose weight on your body even after years of usage. This hormone could increase the water level within your body instead of the fat.
On the other hand, the Oregon National Primate Research Center based at the Oregon Health and Science University has been taking another subject. The researchers used a group of primates which are monkeys and gave them different birth control devices to see the effect.
The same result came out to show there was no significant change in their weight after putting in an IUD. There is no exact answer to the question can the Mirena cause weight loss even with various research objects.
IUD Options for Weight Loss
Mirena included in hormonal IUD would make it impossible for weight loss for its users. Regardless, there are several options for you who want to use an IUD but do not want to gain weight. Birth control pills, birth control injections, contraceptive implants, and vaginal rings can be your options. Here is the explanation:
1. Birth Control Pills
You can take birth control pills instead of doing an insertion of an IUD within your uterus. You can take birth control pills such as Loryna, Ocella, Yaz, Yasmin, and Syeda. If you are going to take birth control pills, it is highly recommended you take combination pills.
This action is purposely to maximize the function of Estrogen and Progestin. The concern of can the Mirena cause weight loss will not apply to this method since it will work with two hormones. Those hormones will help you to lose weight while your birth control system is running.
This method will prevent pregnancy in three ways. First, it will prevent sperm from reaching and fertilizing the egg. The sperm will be immediately stopped when the pill already thickens the cervical mucus. When the cervical mucus has been thickened, there is no way for sperm to pass through the uterus.
Second, the birth control pills will be suppressing ovulation. It allows the egg not to be released from the ovaries and the sperm unable to fertilize the egg. Lastly, this method will thin the uterus’ endometrial lining after the egg is fertilized. In this case, the fertilized egg will be hard to implant.
2. Birth Control Injections
If you are not capable of consuming too many pills, you can take birth control injections such as Depo-Provera. This injection is also well-known as Medroxyprogesterone which is an intramuscular injection brand. Depo-Provera can be used as contraceptive injections and to treat irregular menstrual.
Additionally, this method can treat metastatic cancer or the Endometrium and kidney. When Endometrial cancer and kidney cancer occur, it could trigger Estrogen to grow uncontrollably. The uncontrolled growth of Estrogen can help you to lose weight and break the question “Can the Mirena cause weight loss” if you choose this option.
3. Xulane Patch
Further, there is an FDA-approved prescription hormone patch named Xulane to prevent pregnancy. This patch is contained by two major hormones which are Progestin and Estrogen. The contains of Estrogen within the product will answer your concern about birth control systems that can cause weight loss.
Xulane can prevent ovulation during the menstrual cycle which raises your probability of getting pregnant. When you choose this method, the vaginal fluid will be thicker to block the sperm from reaching the egg and fertilize. Once again, this option can break concerns “Can the Mirena cause weight loss”, which is impossible.
4. Contraceptive Implants
Nexplanon is an implant for long-term contraception options for women. This drug has an active ingredient which is Etonogestrel which has a similarity with Progestin inside the human body. The active ingredient will be able to prevent ovulation and change the cervix and uterus to make the sperm go slow and not fertilize.
5. Vaginal Rings
More likely to contraceptive implants Nexplanon, vaginal rings, or NuvaRing is a contraception device that can change the cervical mucus. It has Ethinyl Estradiol and Etonogestrel inside to prevent pregnancy. Nevertheless, if you are concerned about can the Mirena cause weight loss, you can use this method instead.
Is It Fine to Have Weight Loss with Mirena?
Can the Mirena cause weight loss? Basically, a hormonal IUD like Mirena has a lower possibility of causing weight loss. There is no active ingredient within the device that can help you to lose weight. Some studies have been implied to show that the effects of Mirena will be causing weight gain.
Regardless, the change in your weight is not part of the IUD side effects. This condition is just a normal condition in your body, for instance, the change in your immune system. Even if Mirena is impossible to cause weight loss, you can choose other contraceptive options to help you maintain your weight.
