How can mirena help endo if it doesn't stop ovulation?

First of all, I am miserable and that's why I am online looking up endo information. My pain is almost daily, there are rarely (if ever) days that I do not need a heating pad on. It is affecting my work, my friendships, and my relationship with my fiance not to mention my energy level and appetite. Everything seems to hurt - eating, sex, going to the bathroom, etc. I don't tolerate pain meds well so my answer has been to use heating pads and eat very little since being very full tends to aggravate my symptoms.

My gyno gave me the mirena in hopes of stopping my incredibly heavy, painful, and long periods and hopefully relieving my symptoms. I have had it for nearly three months and it appears to have stopped my actual period bleeding. I spot but don't have full on periods, even though I can feel when they would normally come about because of the other symptoms like cramping and acne, etc. Anyway, the main miserable time for me has actually seemed to be ovulation. I am pretty much bound to be stuck in bed and a complete mess when I ovulate. From what I understand the mirena iud doesn't stop ovulation so how can that really be helping my condition? If anything it is more difficult to me now becuase at least when I was having a period I could plan for when I was going to ovulate and not work for those few days. Now I have no idea where I am in any sort of cycle.

[Sanjivani Wanjari, MD]

HI,
Various kinds of medical and surgical treatments are available for management of endometriosis. Mirena contains the hormone levonorgestrol (progesterone) which helps to suppress the endometriosis. This has also helped you with your periods. If the ovulation pain is intolerable then you should consult your gynaecologist.
Hope this helps.