It can take several months for your period to regulate after a Mirena IUD insertion. Some people may notice that their period stops within a year of insertion. While Mirena doesn’t stop periods in all people, it often makes them lighter.

Mirena is a type of intrauterine device (IUD). An IUD is a small device that’s placed in your uterus to prevent pregnancy.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Mirena for pregnancy prevention for up to 8 years. It’s also approved to treat heavy periods for up to 5 years in people who choose an IUD as their method of birth control.

Some people who use Mirena notice that their period becomes irregular or stops altogether. Healthcare professionals call the absence of a period amenorrhea.

Below, we’ll cover how long it takes Mirena to stop periods.

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The amount of time it takes to stop bleeding with Mirena can vary from person to person. According to Mirena’s prescribing information, about 20% of people using Mirena develop amenorrhea within a year.

Some researchers have further broken down when people’s periods stopped with Mirena. For example, a 2019 meta-analysis of nine studies looked into the prevalence of amenorrhea in the first four 90-day periods after Mirena insertion.

While the researchers found that few people developed amenorrhea in the first 90 days after Mirena insertion, prevalence began to increase in the next three 90-day periods:

  • 8.1% had amenorrhea in days 91 to 180
  • 13.6% had amenorrhea in days 181 to 271
  • 20.3% had amenorrhea in days 272 to 365

Overall, the researchers found that 18.2% of people included in the study experienced amenorrhea during at least one 90-day period in the first year after Mirena insertion.

Can Mirena stop your periods immediately?

Mirena doesn’t typically stop periods immediately. In fact, you may notice more changes in your period shortly after Mirena is inserted.

For example, your first period after Mirena insertion could be heavier or longer than you’re used to. You may also experience spotting and irregular periods.

Does Mirena stop periods in everyone?

Mirena doesn’t stop periods for everyone. The likelihood of your period stopping on Mirena could depend on how heavy your period was before Mirena insertion.

For example, a 2016 study found that whether and when someone experienced amenorrhea within the 12 months following Mirena insertion was associated with the level of their menstrual flow before having the IUD placed. In their analysis, the researchers found that:

  • 21% of people with light bleeding developed amenorrhea
  • 16.3% of people with moderate bleeding developed amenorrhea
  • 10% of people with heavy bleeding developed amenorrhea
  • 5.2% of people with very heavy bleeding developed amenorrhea

What if I continue to have periods with Mirena?

You may continue to have periods with Mirena. However, they may be lighter or more irregular than you were used to.

A 2023 study looked into the effects of Mirena on 105 people with heavy periods before Mirena insertion. The researchers found that Mirena reduced blood flow by a median of over 90% after 6 months of use.

Is there any way to stop spotting with Mirena?

It’s normal to have some spotting if you’ve recently started on Mirena. Spotting is basically light bleeding that you have between periods.

But how long does it take your period to regulate after Mirena? According to Mirena’s prescribing information, bleeding changes, including spotting, are most noticeable in the first 3 to 6 months after a medical professional inserts the IUD. After these first few months have passed, spotting generally becomes less frequent.

If you continue to have spotting, a visit to a healthcare professional may be in order. They can help determine whether another medical condition is causing it. If your spotting is really bothersome, they may also suggest changes to your contraception plan, including switching to a different type of birth control.

If you’ve started with Mirena and noticed that you have lighter or absent periods, you may be wondering where your period blood went. To answer this question, let’s briefly explain how Mirena works.

Mirena contains a synthetic form of a hormone called progesterone that our body makes naturally. Once inserted, Mirena releases very small amounts of this hormone over several years.

Mirena helps prevent pregnancy by preventing ovulation, the time when an egg is released by the ovaries. It also thickens mucus in your cervix, which helps block sperm from entering your uterus.

Another effect of Mirena is that it thins the lining of your uterus, called the endometrium. This is what’s released when you bleed during your period.

So the period blood doesn’t really go anywhere. There’s just much less of it with Mirena. Because your uterine lining is thinner while using this IUD, you may bleed less or not at all while it’s in place.

Mirena is only intended to be in place for 8 years for contraception and 5 years for heavy periods.

After these timeframes have passed, your Mirena IUD will need to be removed by a healthcare professional. If you still wish to continue Mirena treatment, a new Mirena IUD can then be placed.

If you’ve had your Mirena implant for a while, one sign that it may not be working effectively is if you have a noticeable change in your period or its symptoms.

For example, if you were previously having very light periods or no periods on Mirena and start to have heavier periods, Mirena may not be working properly.

Similarly, some people report lessening of period symptoms like period pain while using Mirena. If you notice some of these symptoms returning, Mirena may not be working well.

If you’re worried that Mirena may be wearing off, make an appointment with a healthcare professional to discuss your concerns. It’s possible that your IUD may need to be replaced.

In some cases, symptoms may be happening due to a medical condition and not because of Mirena. In this situation, your healthcare professional can determine what’s causing your symptoms and develop an appropriate treatment plan.

Mirena is a type of IUD that can cause your period to stop. This is called amenorrhea. About 20% of people experience amenorrhea within a year of Mirena insertion.

While not everyone’s period will stop while using Mirena, periods can become lighter. Having a lighter period prior to Mirena placement may make it more likely that you’ll develop amenorrhea with Mirena.

It can take a few months for your period to regulate after having a Mirena IUD inserted. However, if you’ve had Mirena in place for over 6 months and are still experiencing problems like spotting, make an appointment with a healthcare professional.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.