Mirena questions

[IwasTessoftheAngels]

I'm sure these questions have been asked before but please could you lovely ladies help me out.
I've been advised to have mirena due to heavy periods and the added extra of contraception.
I know everyone is different and most peolpe post here with problems but I'd like to hear experiences good and bad so I can weigh up the pros and cons.
Also those that have it, how long did it take for bleeding to settle after fitting?
Can your partner feel the strings during sex, especially if your partner is on the larger size?
What side effects have you encountered?
Thanks in advance.

[IwasTessoftheAngels]

Also meant to ask, does it have to be fitted whilst on your period?

[SpottyChristmasCakes]

I bled lightly for six months then had regular periods until I got pregnant.

Partner could feel the strings with his fingers but not otherwise

I didn't have any nasty symptoms or anything.

I think it's one of those things that either suits you or doesn't and there's no way of telling until you have it.

[SpottyChristmasCakes]

I didn't have mine fitted when I had my period think it was mid cycle. It was more than uncomfortable but bearable.

[SoloXantiaClaws]

Hated mine. 17 months I had it fitted for.
9 months of constant, dirty looking, thick bloody discharge and that was when I wasn't actually on a period which was heavy.
Weight gain. Greasy hair. Acne (in my mid 40's! and never had spots before). The bitch from hormonal hell to my Dc's. I could probably go on, but I'll have nightmares!
I'd never recommend it from personal experience, but I also know that two of my friends (one childless) loved it.

[ilovepowerhoop]

was uncomfy but not sore to get fitted - took painkillers beforehand as advised by the family planning clinic

I never had much bleeding at all afterwards and still dont get much but was on the mini pill beforehand which had stopped my periods anyway

Dh used to sometimes feel the strings but then the strings went awol and now I am having to get multiple scans and xrays to find out where it has got to.

I have got spottier around the chin area and have been losing a lot of hair recently and I put that down to the mirena.

I have to go for a trans vaginal scan tomorrow as the coil is apparently in my pelvis but not where it should be. Have had an ultrasound and an xray but they couldnt pinpoint exactly where it was. Once they find it I want it removed.

The coil can sometimes get embedded in the tissues of the womb or can migrate through them and end up in other parts of the body - dont remember them telling me that when I got it fitted!

[IwasTessoftheAngels]

Thanks ladies. It's good to hear of unexpected side effects. I'm currently on tranexamic acid to help with periods but have found it gives me nasty headaches and a kind of distant feeling.
I suffer from migraines so not able to take the pill.
I don't think there are many other options for me other than the mirena. Not exactly thrilled by the prospect of the side effects though.

[SpottyChristmasCakes]

Give it a go, you might love it

[secretsantasquirrels]

I have had 3 mirena coils over many years to treat flooding.
I believe mine was miraculous and saved me from a hysterectomy.
Yes, painful to fit, but compared with all the monthly problems I had before it was worth it's weight in gold.
No side effects apart from the fact that periods went from a 10 day flood to a 2 day spot.
I believe they prefer to fit them at the end of a period.

[nbee84]

I'm on my 3rd mirena. The 1st I had light bleeding on and off for 6 months before it settled down, then virtually no periods at all, just a bit of spotting once a month. 2nd one - no light bleeding, no periods, just spotting. Unfortunately I'm having problems with my 3rd - I've been having full on periods since it was fitted - every 21 - 28 days and up to 13 days of bleeding each time so far. I had it fitted at the beginning of August and at the 6 week check was told to give it a bit longer to settle down. I'm waiting for a scan as it's possible it's sitting too low in my womb and not doing the trick of thinning my womb lining. I hope so and that it's just a case of having another inserted into the proper place as the benefits have outweighed the one negative I've experienced - sex drive has tailed off! But that could be down to my age and relationship, but I have read that for some a Mirena can affect their sex drive.

It's bliss having no periods - I've saved a fortune on san pro (as I'm discovering at the mo!) and it's also got rid of my pms.

[BunnyRuddingtonDoesChristmas]

Another one who used to have long heavy periods here and I'm now down to 5 days of spotting each month, that's after the initial 3 months of spotting.

I know people who swear by there's but for me I've got depression, brain fogginess and am generally just not nice. Then there's the weight gain and vaginal dryness too.

[insideout]

I had mine put in 4.5 years ago really comfortable and with no side effects BUT (really huge but) I am now 8-12 weeks pregnant . It has either fallen out or disappeared upwards! It is rare but definitely something to be aware of.

Aporox 1 in 125 women will become pregnant on the mirena ( that includes missing coils, shifted ones and ones which remain in place!) The mirena needs to be changed every 5 years and my dr did wonder if the length of time mine was in place was a factor.

[Bramblesinforrin]

Best thing ever. No periods for 8 years. A couple of small issues but so much better than crippling heavy periods.

[BunnyRuddingtonDoesChristmas]

Oh God powerhoop that is terrible! Can't remember having that explained to me either.

inside not sure if congratulations are in order... Know a few other Mirena babies. Just hope it doesn't happen to me, am way too old to be thinking of more DC.

Over the weekend I decided to speak to the GP about my low mood, crabbiness and brain fog, last night I googled mirena and depression and it seems like lots of women may be experiencing the same effects. Have got an appointment booked for later today and I'm going to discuss having it removed. If it is the side effects its a real shame as my periods and extreme pms are both much better.

[PositiveAttitude]

I've had mine about 2 years now. Yes, a little more than uncomfortable being fitted and for a couple of days after. Then had bleeding for nearly 6 weeks. I was at the point of giving up and asking for it to be removed when it settled down. Since then I have literally had 3 "periods" which lasted less then 2 days and incredibly light! Love not having periods, not having to spend out on "monthlies", no PMS. I have not experienced any depression, or any of the other side effects discussed on here. Maybe a bit of weight gain, but I suspect that is far more to do with my greed rather than the mirena!

For me it has been brilliant and would recommend it on my experience, but I do know that other people have problems with it.

[IwasTessoftheAngels]

Thanks for your responses. I hope your scan went well and they have found your coil powerhoop.
I'm very surprised at the high rate of pregnancy and the more severe side effects. My doc told me it shouldn't cause weight gain but clearly it is a common side effect.
I'm going to go back to my doc and discuss it. It really does seem like it is just not suitable for some people and I won't know how it will be for me untill I give it a try.