Mirena coil and constant thrush infections!!

[louby44]

Anyone have problems with their Mirena IUD?

I've had it in for 4 years now and I am blighted with thrush, I get it once a month at least, often 24 hours after sex (not always though) and after my period has ended. I've had it TWICE this week.

I am so fed up of it. I also get terrible breast tenderness which I never had before. But the thrush is the worst! I had it fitted for heavy/irregular periods and although I still have a period it is VERY light and only last 48 hours or so. I am so tempted to have it taken out? Any experience ladies?

[RandomMess]

Is it def thrush? I found out (by having the thing removed) that it was just the threads irritating everything...

[magicstars]

I get recurrent thrush too, it's miserable . I have had a Mirena but didn't think there was any connection. The main way I can manage it through diet, avoiding too much refined sugar and yeasty foods. Have you tried controlling it with diet?

[louby44]

Well I get terrible irritation and then cottage cheesy discharge - so am pretty sure its thrush.

I've been to my GP about it repeatedly and had blood tests done - all normal. I was given a 7 day course of diflucan (the oral tablets) which made not the slightest bit of difference.

My GP basically told me to I'd just have to put up with it! My GP is a man!

[louby44]

There is a connection with the Mirena and thrush (and also BV) which I found doing an internet search.

I wouldn't know where to start with my diet. I probably have quite a bit of sugar in my diet through food/drink. But when I'm being mega healthy and trying to lose weight it doesn't make any difference.

[RandomMess]

Well I got my coil whipped out and it all stopped.

I insisted on a referral for womb ablation to sort out my heavy periods as I wasn't having anymore dc.

[Bellebelle]

I had this problem after my mirena was fitted. Resolved by a course of Clotrimazole over a few months (low dose once a week) and it's never come back (two years now).

Doctor thought that it was probably that I had it once, thought it had been cleared by normal dose of Clotrimazole but it wasn't properly gone and change in hormones when I got my period made it flare up again. I remember having an examination when I had no symptoms but the doctor said that there was some thrush there so I tend to think that's exactly what was happening.

So it might be that you're not getting it multiple times just not getting rid of it properly iyswim? I have no idea if the Mirena increases susceptibility to thrush though.

[Bellebelle]

Also wasn't taken seriously by GP (put up with it attitude) so went to sexual health clinic to see gynae who was so much better. She said that she hears lots of women came with similar stories if unsympathetic GPs which she said was understandable given that they don't have the specialist knowledge.

[louby44]

Right Belle so looks like I need to make an appointment at my local GUM clinic. If the thrush was sorted out I'd be so happy because otherwise the coil is fine.

[ilovechips]

I worked in a sexual health clinic and this is very common with both mirena and copper coils in my experience, although generally BV more than thrush. No real cause identified, other than possibly the body just reacting to having what is effectively a foreign object in situ...

Definitely worth visiting gum/sexual health to get swabs done and they will also look at a sample under the microscope while you are there.

[skolastica]

Thrush can be precipitated by hormonal imbalance - thinking of it as an infection sends everyone in the wrong direction. I had recurrent thrush for months, always only in the second half of my cycle. So obviously hormonal.

I treated it myself with a high quality vitamin B (contains biotin and B5 both of which help to eliminate thrush), a high quality vitamin c and royal jelly (Vit B5). The thrush disappeared within a month and nver recurred. I'm not sure which of the three supplements was most effective - but I bought better quality than standard high street/supermarket vitamins and spent quite a lot of money.

It really annoys me that the medical profession throw anti-biotics at this 'infection', yet all the 'bacteria' in the vagina are supposed to be there and all that has happened is that the balance has been lost.

[ilovechips]

Skolastica - antibiotics aren't given for thrush, the medication people have described on here are antifungals...(antibiotics in fact can exacerbate thrush)

[skolastica]

ilovechips - thanks for correcting me.

[ilovechips]

Sorry hope I didn't come across as being snippy or anything...just didn't want people to think clinics are giving out pills which in fact make thrush worse!

[hattyyellow]

I'd get it taken out to be honest. I had similar problems for months with the copper coil and in the end it just didn't seem worth it. Can you tolerate other contraceptive methods?

[magicstars]

Some good advice on here, I've found really simple things have helped. Cutting back on sugary and yeasty foods; cutting down on marmite has made a big difference.

[louby44]

I actually don't need it for contraceptive reasons. My GP suggested fitting it because of irregular/heavy/prolonged periods. And for that reason it's actually worked.

I've made an appointment with my local GUM clinic so shall see what they say.

I've always been prone to thrush since I was a teenager (I'm 44 now) but since I've had the coil fitted it has got progressively worse.

I'm at my tether with it and it costs me a fortune as I buy the tablets myself. I can't wait for a doctors apt as I work fulltime, plus they're cheaper at Sainsburys/Tesco pharmacy etc than getting a prescription.

[mummytowillow]

Yep this happened to me with Mirena. I'd be itching constantly, white discharge and sex made it worse.

I'd get treatment, be OK for a week and back it would come

I had mirena out and not had it since!

If you Google loads of people have same problem.

[Canalside]

I had this problem too with the mirena coil. Had a prolonged course of fluconazole but it came back. In the end it went away when I had the coil out to TTC.
Now have a copper coil in, things are OK so far, hope they remain that way as it's the only form of contraception I can have (am a bit complicated).
If you're not willing to have it out once and for all (and I understand that) would taking it out for a month or two, having a decent course of thrush meds and then having a fresh one put back in when swabs clear work? Maybe something to discuss with your Dr.

[louby44]

Yes canalside I think I need to look at all the options. I don't want to take it out before exploring what else I could do.

Before I had the coil fitted my periods were all over the place, they would last 8/9 days, finish for a week and then start again. Or I'd come to the end of my period (or so I thought) DH would have sex and I'd start again, blood all over him, me, the bed (sorry if Too much info) I just didn't know where I was.

My period is only about 48hours long now and very light.

[RandomMess]

I would insist on being referred for endometrial ablation that what I did once I accept the mirena wasn't going to work for me. Best thing I ever did

[Lois3360]

I was SO pleased to read all of the above comments because i have had thrush every month following my periods for about 6 months.... Dr. said may be caused by un-diagnosed DIABETES !!! so I'm going to have a blood test next week but I've asked to have the Mirena coil removed because I'm convinced its to do with that.... I asked if she'd heard of that causing thrush and she said no.... yet here on this page are dozens of women.. all of whom have found it caused thrush and once removed, the thrush stopped ! Seems logical to me that if thrush is arriving monthly on cue...then it must have something to do with something hormonal ! Very interested to see if my thrush disappears !

[mummytowillow]

Yes me, it was awful.

Every time I had sex I'd get a flare up. If I wore anything tight or anything rubbed I get thrush.

Treatments would cure for a week or so and then back to square one.

I also had many other side effects and had it taken out. I've not had thrush since then.

[Vholt]

I would highly recommend Clotrimazole cream (inserted internally with the applicator and rubbed on the external areas surrounding the vagina) once a day for ten days. The packaging says 7 days but my doctor recommended 10 to make sure it's fully cleared. Just because your symptoms clear before then doesn't mean it's all been eradicated. Spreading it on the external skin is extremely important too because the fungus can live on your irritated skin and reenter the vagina after treatment, and you're back to square one. The flucomazole (sp?) tablet was not effective for me because it doesn't address the external fungus and I found it flaring up again time and time again with that pill. This was my experience a few years ago with chronic yeast infections. If you try the clo treatment and it still doesn't go away, I'd recommend the full gamut of STI testing, as many infections show systems of thrush. Stay safe/healthy!

[kimberly91]

Hello,with reading all this... Has put alot into perpesctive.. I have had the mirena coil for almost 6 months now. Since before Xmas last year I've suffered with thrush still have it now. Had vaginal tablets ,cream. ND a tablet what ya swallow n cream. Still hasn't cleared. Might book an appointment with doc ask see if can have coil out see if it does a difference. My only problem is what else would be the best contraception to go on because I don't wish to have another child nor does my partner due to our child got taken into care (wasn't our choice). Thankyou

[betty321]

Hi ladies,

Mumsnet was the most useful thing for me when I was having trouble with my mirena coil. Here's my story and a bit of advice I wish i'd received...

23 year old, healthy, not a mother and had the coil fitted for contraception purposes only. I had my Mirena fitted last year before I went travelling around the world, no periods, perfect! So you'd think...

The first month I travelled was non-stop bleeding, literally 4 weeks of period straight! But I was told by the doctor that it may cause some irregular bleeding so I put up with it.

After the bleeding stopped I suffered with BV, I never had it before so was mortified, after seeing the doctor and receiving antibiotics all was fine again for about 2 months.

Then the thrush started. I had it twice and treated it myself. But it returned the third time and never went away. The discharge was constant, thick, clumpy and lots of it. Itching was occasional, but not constant like the discharge. I had been treated multiple times by doctors and pharmacists, all insisting it was not the coil, ruled out any STDs, but nothing ever changed. Itching had spread to the outsides of my vagina causing 'fissures' and I was so conscious all the time!

I put up with this for 3 months doing everything the doctors had told me to do, even taking probiotics and changing my diet and no change! When I returned home I demanded that the doctor removed the coil, again he said it was not that causing the problem but low and behold, the next day after the coil was removed the discharge had stopped! The thrush went away and everything is back to normal!!!! just wish i had done it sooner!

Hope this helps for anyone having similar troubles.

Take care xx