the mirena's got to go, but what are my alternatives?

[mum23monkeys]

I have had the mirena coil in for 8 months. I have bled almost constantly during that time (except one 7 week break, my skin is greasy and spotty, my breasts are swollen and uncomfortable, libido is at rock bottom. So I've decided that it has to go.

So what next?

I am 36, have finished my family, dh does not entertain the idea of the snip.

Before the mirena I had Cerazette (mini pill but with a 12 hour window for taking it each day) for a year. It worked really well and I had no periods. My gp assured me that the mirena would suit me then. I was unhappy taking Cerazette because I occasionally forgot it, and spent loads of time panicing about being pregnant.

So, I'm not that keen on hormonal stuff in case it messes me up like the mirena has, and I'm not that keen on having to take a pill each day. What else is out there? Condoms are not a contender, and I don't think I could handle a diaphragm.

Am I wanting the impossible? LOng term, no daily use, no hormones, reliable.

Any ideas?

[SOLOisMeredithGrey]

No answers for you I'm afraid, but wanted to say that I had my Mirena out two weeks ago and I feel so much better and I have lost a stone in weight which is probably to do with the fact that I don't feel hungry all the time, so not munching at stupid o'clock MN time.

I'm not in a relationship, so contraception isn't an issue for me, but I honestly don't know what I'd do in a relationship re contraception.

What about the copper coil? no experience of this myself, but there are loads of MNetters that have. Hopefully, they'll be along soon.

[BitOfFun]

Would you consider being sterilised yourself then? I'm curious to see what advice you get here, as I'm on the mirena and generally love it. I have bad acne though, which I didn't have before, and I've definitely put on weight.

[mrsmerryweather]

I think you ARE looking for the impossible- no contraception is perfect- all have either side effects, or the risk of pregnancy, or are "aesthetically unacceptable"!

In my time ( now post meno so need need) I have had the pill, the cap, condoms, and the copper coil.

None was ideal.

I think you have to be realistic, and be more open minded. The Pill might be okay but you might have to find one that suits you and is safe to take up until meno- I really wish I had continued with it, as I was taking the triphasic ones that really suited me, but at the time it was not recommended for the over 35s. Medical advice changes!- what about the combined pill, the copper coil, or sterilisation for you?

Why are condoms "not a contender"? Is it their lack of reliability of do you hate them?

[woodenchair]

I had my mirena taken out last sept After 3 years of almost constant pmt. Dp noticed the difference in me after about a week.
I now have a copper coil and find it really good don't have any problems with it.

[aGalChangedHerName]

I am having my mirena out and probably going to have an endometrial ablation.

No more periods ever and sounds like an okish operation.

[cositjustisok]

Same for me as you AGAL I had the mirena out a few months ago and just waiting for my appointment for the Novasure to come through. I struggled to find a contraceptive and mum23monkeys felt exactally like you always looking for the perfect contraceptive.....and I think it jsut does not exist......hubby like yours is not keen on the snip but I have really been though enough and feel he "Should" get it done....no nookie until he does...he is not pleased and think is wavering

[aGalChangedHerName]

DH has had the snip but i have the most awful periods hence the bloody Mirena

Will be seeing my GP asap and geting on the list.

[SoupDragon]

Either get sterilised yourself or tell your DH you will not be having sex with him until he has the snip.

[saramoon]

Mirena was dreadful for me too. Have had copper coil in for nearly 2 years and it's great. Yes, periods are heavier but no hormones and no remembering pills.

[mum23monkeys]

Thanks for the answers - so some more questions!

AGal - what is endometrial ablation?

What does female sterilisation involve?

I should google these, and will, but opinions from mners are really valuable.

Thank you all for taking the time to reply. x

[mrsmerryweather]

sorry to hijack the other poster, but endo. ablation is not a contraceptive- it is an op for heavy periods where the lining of your womb is literally shaved away.

Female sterilisation is when they put clips on your fallopian tubes to stop the eggs reaching the womb. You'll need a GA as far as I know.

Personally I would never have had it done as there can be side effects and maybe an earlier menopause, though best Google that one.

[flimflammum]

I sympathise with you 23monkeys (realise I read your name as 'twenty-three monkeys' ). I have used the cap in the past and found it fine, but since childbirth I would need a new size and can't face the thought of any HCP poking around up there. I was hoping to use the contraceptive sponge, which sounds ideal for me, but the beggars have taken it off the market it appears. Grrr...

[expatinscotland]

NuvaRing might work for you. It's new in the UK, but it's a ring you insert into your vagina instead of taking the pill. Then you pull it out to have a period and put another in. It's combined hormones, but as it bypasses the liver some people who can't normally take the combined pill can use the NuvaRing.

Or you can use the combined pill until menopause providing you don't have a history of DVT/clot, stroke, have hypertension or other medical conditions that contraindict the combined pill.

DH won't get the snip, either. And I can't use progesten-based contraception - had horrid side effects on Mirena and Cerazette.

Don't want to use teh copper coil because it works by preventing implantation rather than fertilisation.

I looked into sterilisation for myself but am not keen on more needles, another GA, having my abdomen blow up with gas, having deep surgical incisions (however small they are).

Right now, we're using condoms and Persona and abstain entirely during my fertile times.

[aGalChangedHerName]

Yes sorry it's not meant as a contraceptive

I had the Mirena for heavy periods. It has worked somewhat as the really heavy flooding is a bit better but my period still goes on for 10 days sometimes and the PMT is awful.

We def don't want/can't have more dc so the ablation is the sensible option for me.

[mum23monkeys]

Thhink I will go to the gp and discuss the nuva ring thingy. That sounds a possibility. Otherwise it's back to the pill. Although I did mention to dh that I was thinking about getting the coil taken out and maybe he should just have the snip to save me having to take hormones for the rest of my fertile life, and he said "I suppose I could". That's progress, from "you have to be joking!" I will work on him over the next couple of weeks...

Thanks for all the advice.

[expatinscotland]

A lot of GPs have never heard of it.

It's only been licensed for use in the UK for about 6 months.

So if you hear 'I've never heard of it' or 'it's not available' they're full of it and go to your FPC.

Because it has to be prescribed, but it's definitely available on the NHS.

Mine has excuse after excuse as to why he can't get the snip, but he was perfectly happy with my getting sterilised. Till I told him that was a crock.

[AnybodyHomeMcFly]

Innit mental how in this day and age contraception is still the woman's responsibility, sigh.

I am currently bfing our second and (probably) last dc and trying to work out what contraceptive to use when we get our sex life back on track (not using bf as contraceptive btw!)

Prior to dc1 I was on the pill and happy with that but was shocked that it took us a yr to conceive and am sure it was pill related. I ended up using temping and charting and became a lot more in touch with my cycle so I'm really not keen to mess with my body again. However I really hate condoms, does no-one have a good thing to say about the cap?

[mum23monkeys]

Yeah, McFly, I wondered about the cap too. But doesn't it lack spontaneity too - from what I remember you have to put it in just before sex. Romance is dead enough as it is in my household, I'm afraid that if I pop off to the bathroom that dh will be asleep by the time I get back! But maybe the cap has changed since I was last looking at long term contraception. Will go and investigate...

[AnybodyHomeMcFly]

It's less the lack of spontaneity which I object to with condoms (although it is a bit of an issue) it's more the horrid cold squeaky feel of them, urgh. I will look into this Nuva thingy too. Also suspect gps of being sponsored to promote coil as they all seem so pro it - that could just be my sceptical nature tho!

[smellen]

Isn't there an increased risk of prostrate cancer for me who've had the snip? Or is that just bollocks (so to speak)?

It's a hard decision. I'm using the mirena but having it checked next week as having odd bleeds. Can't say I have put on weight, but am quite bloated and not exactly a sex goddess - but this could equally be down to too many pies and sleep deprivation (respectively).

Be interested in hearing what you decide to do motherofmonkeys.

[smellen]

That should read "for men who've had the snip". I haven't, clearly, as no willy

[expatinscotland]

'Isn't there an increased risk of prostrate cancer for me who've had the snip?'

That myth has no basis in scientific fact.