To wonder if there's still hope the Mirena might work?

[Fourarmsv2]

Had a Mirena inserted in early October. Bled heavily until December (inserted for heavy bleeding not contraception).

Had a week of no bleeding in January :) :) :)

Lighter period than normal in January (normally horrific).

But still bleeding now. Not quite enough for mooncup plus extra protection but enough to be annoying.

Could it still work? Anyone had a change after four months? Having an ablation after Easter if no change.

[SpottyTeacakes]

I bled for six months with mine and then went to regularly monthly bleeding. I was told it could take up to six months to settle

[Samcro]

i had some trouble with it, got some tablets of the gp (nors....something) solved the problem

[Fourarmsv2]

ST - Thankyou. Hoping it does settle. How long did it take? Are your periods better than before the coil?

Samcro - when I took (norethisterone) those I had really terrible bleeding when I stopped and was slightly manic whilst I took them. :(

[ForeverLivingMyArse]

It took about 8 months for mine to settle down to one small period every couple of months.

I did have a 30 day bleed about 5 months after it was fitted. That was fun.

[SpottyTeacakes]

I never had particularly heavy periods so they were about the same. It was a while ago that I had it now though. I would give it some more time even though I know how crappy it is!

[Headofthehive55]

Bled for four months.
Haven't had a period now in four years!

[Fourarmsv2]

FLMA - :( I'm fed up of the constant bleeding. My periods are often a fortnight long but I'm fed up of feeling dirty all the time. Always having to be careful getting in and out of the shower etc etc.

I'll def give it until Easter. I either want it out under GA (cervical shock during insertion) during ablation or to stay so it's not going anywhere soon!

[Fourarmsv2]

HOTH - I'm so hopeful that happens to me!!!

[MountainDweller]

Not me but a friend... She said it was crap for 6 months then suddenly all was fine. Probably worth holding out for the two months if you can.

[Fourarmsv2]

It's so weird. I wonder why it takes 6 months....??? (Biology teacher!)

[Writerwannabe83]

I bled every day for about 4/5 months. Then it lessened to maybe 1 week of bleeding out of every 3 but I didn't completely stop bleeding until 8 months after it went it. This was my second Mirena.

With my first Mirena I bled on a X off for about two months and then it settled down to regular, but very light and short, periods.

The only reason I can think of as to why my second experience was so different is that I'm still BF'ing so maybe different hormones at play.

I completely empathise with feeling dirty all the time, it's just awful

[Fourarmsv2]

Could well be the BF. I've noticed if we have sex it triggers a massive bleed - anyone else notice this? Luckily (?) DH is only home two nights a week!

[whatevva]

(non biology teacher) I think it works by atrophying the glands that produce the cells for the new endometrium - it stops the oestrogen acting on them. It takes time because there is lining already there, and there may be a build up if endometrium has not been shedding efficiently. Individuals probably react differently. If there is too much atrophy, you may bleed because of that. (Normally progesterone appears mid-cycle and seems to have a different end result then)

This is probably the best I can work out - there is a dearth of information about how it is supposed to work.

I have read that 60% of women become period free, but after looking at the figures, it is 60% by the end of the second mirena. I think if you have it at the end of your reproductive life, you are more likely to be period free and you can use it with oestrogen patches/gel which helps.

[3phase]

I had it for a year and bled on and off the whole way through in no particular pattern. Hated it. Got rid of it in June. My every 25 day, 10 day long periods are marginally less grim. At least I know when they're coming.

[Fourarmsv2]

Whatevva - Thankyou :) That makes sense :) 60% by end of second Mirena isn't good though - I'll be onto the menopause by then!

3P - know :( I was hoping short term pain for long term gain but the short seems long right now! X

[whatevva]

s'ok sorry the info is a bit rubbish technically.

If you are heading for meno, then you are probably more likely to stop periods altogether, and when you need hrt, you just need to add oestrogen patch/gel. (you need it changed 4 yearly for this) That way is supposed to be the panacea - control of periods, then control of symptoms and no accidental pregnancy. Hope it works.

[Fourarmsv2]

If anyone else is struggling to sleep.... It's a bit sciency in places. I struggled with some of the words.

But I now know what oligomenorrhea means :)

www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/datasheet/m/Mirenaius.pdf

[Fourarmsv2]

In a study with women of reproductive age using MIRENA, oligomenorrhea (infrequent periods) and amenorrhea (no periods) developed gradually in 57% and 16% of women, respectively, at the end of the first year of use.

When MIRENA is used in combination with continuous oestrogen replacement therapy, a non-bleeding pattern gradually develops in most women during the first year.

The rate of total amenorrhea for at least 90 days is about 30% when MIRENA is used in perimenopausal women, and 50% in postmenopausal women after 1 year.

During prolonged use of MIRENA the amount of amenorrhea increases.

[whatevva]

That was interesting. I wish I had had one when I was ejected off the COC. At the time I was very cross and very sqeemish about the idea (had a friend who had a perforation - took 4 months to sort out ).

In theory, it does a good job of protecting your uterus without as much progestogen circulating. You have to have the progestogen with hrt.

I ended up of hrt with condoms and there is no way of knowing when to stop using the condoms

[FannyFanakapan]

Mine didnt settle - still bleeding after 8-9 months, only 4 weeks off in that time, usually for a couple of days at a time. Gynae said it just effects some women like that, its "like marmite - you either love it or hate it".

I had it removed and had an ablation - if you have finished having babies, then this is an excellent solution to heavy periods. A day of cramping after procedure, nothing since.

[whatevva]

My dd had that with an implant. She had permanent sludgy bleeding. FPC said the same. It seems to be a problem with LARC based on progestogen that they do not make clear, and cannot solve. I think that is why COC with oestrogen was developed in the first place.

Annie Evans say it can be sorted with the addition of oestrogen. That seems to be supported by the info that Fouramsv2 has found. And probably fine if you are perimenopause.

Not sure if that works for implant though they do temporarily solve the problem by using COC, but then you may as well give up on the implant and use the pill.

[icanteven]

Mine never really settled, until 4 years in I was on a drug trial for something COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY unrelated, and suddenly the 12 days of spotting every month disappeared.

It's coming out next week because it's at the end of its life anyway, and I'm going back to condoms.

Is there ANY form of female sterilisation that doesn't result in everything going to shit? I'm nearly 40, I don't want more children, and I would like my reproductive system to stop now, please.

[whatevva]

something COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY unrelated

In the fundamental interconnectedness of all things nothing is a coincidence (Dirk Gently)

[FeliciaJollygoodfellow]

I bled continuously for more than six months - now, I bleed very irregularly. Not enough to need a tampon, not enough for a pad, enough for a panty liner but they really irritate my skin.

I bleed off and on for two weeks out of every 4 it's very annoying.

Mine will be coming out in October this year as it will be 5 years old, I won't be getting another.

[Harveypuss]

Yeah, they say you either love or hate Mirena. I'm one of the ones who love it!

Have had two in 10 years. The second one insitu for nearly 6 years now and my periods still haven't returned - brilliant! Hubby has since had the snip, but I don't want to get the Mirena removed as it'll mean my periods will return, and who wants all that bother again! My GP says it's fine to leave it in and eventually I'll get a bleed again, and which point I'll have it removed.

Can't recommend it highly enough!