Gunter does acknowledge that the studies are small, but she also acknowledges that their results are pretty impressive: She cited one recent study that followed women using Mirena 2 years past the expiration date. Those women reported zero pregnancies between years 5 and 7, she said. That's a catchall term to denote when doctors prescribe meds for a different use than originally intended. Here's a more in-depth explainer. But for others, extended use could be a huge boon.

Take women whose IUDs aren't covered by insurance, for example. For some individual people, that's going to make a difference.

I was really curious to know if the 5 year recommendation by the obgyn was the end all, be all and was stoked to find this article!! Thanks so much for the info!! Thank you! I am absolutely tortured each time I change it in or out. Sounds like I am being murdered. I now can wait to endure that again. Thank you. Around nine years with mine so far, still no period and still no babies. I think I will actually get it replaced this year though.

This contraception is the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me! I have had my Mirena in for 8 years now and have no trouble with it. No period, no problem. Have never had any trouble with it. Louis for a trial after my 2nd pregnancy. This is such good news for me! I love my Mirena because it relieved my previously disastrously heavy periods. My daughter had a Mirena and got pregnant after 5 years.

Needless to say she was shocked! Fortunately she had a healthy little girl. She was heavier then. She had read before they would last 5 years but that was not the case for her! My Merina is 7 years old and I am just wondering if it is safe to leave it for longer. Hence finding this chain of comments doing my research. I have had regular periods just lighter.

I am slightly suspicious that it has recently moved which is why I researching whether it is safe to keep them for more than 7 years. It has served me well and I am reluctant to have it removed. In August of this year, I will have had my Mirena for 8 years. I havent had a period in 7 years. And no pregnancy. Highly sexually active. No signs of premenopause either. So, I guess it is still working? Thank you so much for this information.

I am currently on my 2nd Mirena IUD. I had my first put in and kept it for the 5 years I believed and was told I could keep it for. Your health care provider may discourage use of Mirena if you have:. If you do conceive while using Mirena, you're at higher risk of an ectopic pregnancy — when the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, usually in a fallopian tube.

However, because Mirena prevents most pregnancies, women who use it are at lower risk of having an ectopic pregnancy than are other sexually active women who are not using contraception.

It's also possible to expel Mirena from your uterus. You may be more likely to expel Mirena if you:.

Your health care provider will evaluate your overall health and do a pelvic exam before inserting Mirena. You may be screened for STI s. If you have Mirena inserted more than seven days after the start of your period, be sure to use backup contraception for one week.

Taking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication, such as ibuprofen Advil, Motrin IB, others , one to two hours before the procedure can help reduce cramping.

The Mirena intrauterine device IUD is inserted into the uterus by a health care provider using a special applicator.

Short strings connected to the device extend beyond the cervix into the vagina and allow for device removal. Your health care provider will insert a speculum into your vagina and clean your vagina and cervix with an antiseptic solution. Special instruments might be used to gently align your cervical canal and uterine cavity and to measure the depth of your uterine cavity.

Next, your health care provider will fold Mirena's horizontal arms and place the device inside an applicator tube. The tube is inserted into your cervical canal, and Mirena is carefully placed in your uterus. When the applicator tube is removed, Mirena will remain in place. Your health care provider will trim Mirena's strings so that they don't protrude too far into the vagina, and may record the length of the strings. Mirena can be removed at any time, which will return the user to baseline fertility.

Still, normally, young couples are found to conceive about four to six months after getting the Mirena removed. The Mirena IUD lasts for five years , after which it will have to be removed or replaced. If you would like, a new device can be reinserted.

The side effects of reinserting Mirena is much the same as the initial insertion.