mirena coil or copper coil? side effects? which is better?

[Knax]

thinking of going on one of these two, have been on the pill before, but didn't like the loss of libido. Any experiences to share?

[ginnny]

Copper coil is best imo as there are no hormones involved.
Mirena has similar side effects to the mini pill, which I really didn't get on with.

[Malificence]

I've had copper coils for 15+ years, I've only ever had a problem when they reach the end of their life and my periods get much heavier and closer together. If you have heavy periods, they do get worse.
I was going to try a mirena but didn't fancy risking the side effects so my hubby had the snip instead.

There is also now a hormonal cervical ring, Nuva ring I think, perhaps that is worth a try as it's easier to get rid of than a coil in the case of side effects?

[BiteOfFun]

If you post this in Health you will probably get more replies than Relationships, you know.

[Lolabelle]

Side effects of the Mirena?? wasn't aware there were any was there??

[ginnny]

Lola I was on Cerazette (the pill from hell) and when I asked for the coil instead the nurse said that the hormones in Mirena are almost the same as in Cerazette so didn't advise it.
Yes I do get heavier periods on the copper coil and a bit of PMT (compared to none at all before) but I don't mind that at all compared to the hellish mood swings I used to put up with all month long!

[BigHairyLeggedSpider]

Oh Jesus, where to start with the Mirena.

I couldn't take the pill, problems with weight gain, migraines and depression, and they told me it'd have no side effects as it was localised to my uterus.

Bollox. I put on 4 stone in 4 months, had major headaches, no energy, pains in my back, legs, abdomen, migraines, and depression. Oh, and no libido. It was like the effects of the pill but worse. Over the two years I was on it I couldn;t loose the weight. Dr refused to believe that it was the Mirena.

After finding other stories similar to mine I went to a well woman clinic and had it removed. The nurse there told me she'd spoken to lots of women about this and there were loads who had the same experience. She said it seems that if you are sensitive to the pill, you'll be sensitive to the Mirena. Within weeks of it being removed I was loosing the weight, and the pains stopped.

Horrible horrible thing.

Google Mirena side effects and you'll find lots of stories similar to mine.

[BigHairyLeggedSpider]

gah, sorry. First sentence should read. "and they told me the Mirena would have no side effects.... "

[Lolabelle]

F**k just had it inserted!! I'm off to do a bit of googling....

[wheresmypaddle]

I went with copper as Mirena has hormones which I wanted to avoid.

Its a minefield trying to prove that hormones in the pill and coil can cause unwanted side effects but I am convinced the pill affected me badly (mood swings, weight gain, mild depression.......). However, I took it for years as the horrendous period pains I suffered without it were worse than the side effects (just!).

After having DS I was lucky to find I no longer had painful periods. Decided on copper coil, doctor at clinic who fitted it supported my decision and said it is her personal opinion that the hormones in Mirena can cause problem side effects but that officially the jury is still out.

I was warned that I may experience cramping while the coil settled down, painful and heavy periods. In reality my periods are a bit heavier than before but I have had no pain.

Fitting was a uncomfortable but shortlived- IMO its a fantastic choice as I am free of artificial hormones. Only got my own to blame now.....

[dizietsma]

Love my copper coil. Also have trouble with hormonal contraception, so went with the coil after trying, literally, everything else! Wish I'd tried it earlier as it's just great. Periods aren't heavier particularly, but a bit different than before. I tend to have one very light day then two days of heavy, whereas before I'd have 5 days of medium IYSWIM.

My experience of hormonal contraception has been terrible, whilst I know that a fair percentage of women take it with no side effects and even some benefits, I would always advise against them if there is a choice.

On the Depo injection, for example, I gained 4 stone, got dreadful migraine, depression, asthma got much worse, no libido to speak of. That was in just 6 short months. Depo is a progesterone only longer term contraceptive like Mirena, and I have heard similar tales of woe about Mirena so would deffo suggest copper coil instead.

[Jamieandhismagictorch]

My Mirena took ages to settle down. I had it in when DS2 was 3 months old and it felt like my uterus was grumbling for about 6 months - nagging pains and spotting nearly every day.

I felt depressed during this time, but that could have been PND, or simply due to the pain. Was very close to wanting it out

BUT

I am on my 2nd one now, have NO periods, No pain, and only slight PMT. This was my reason for choosing the Mirena, and it has fulfilled its brief (I had very painful periods before)

I am a bit "dry" (sorry TMI), but libido is good

[Jamieandhismagictorch]

I meant my 2nd Mirena, and have had no problems with it.

[Jamieandhismagictorch]

Sorry me again - I found insertion VERY painful, (and I imagine copper coil would be the same), but GP told me that next time I can come in the week before and she'll prescribe heavy-duty pain-relief.

(I know not everyone experiences this during insertion)

[commeuneimage]

You hear lots of scare stories about the Mirena but I'm really glad I have one. It did take a few months to settle down and I was bothered by leg pain and some cramps. But now - fabulous. Horrible frequent heavy periods, accompanied by fearsome headaches, have completely disappeared. No PMT, no weight gain (lighter in fact than I have been for years) and no problems whatsoever with libido. Good luck if you go for it.

[FouxDuFaFa]

I just wanted to say how much I love my Mirena. No more uncomfortable than a smear having it fitted. I had no problems with it settling down - periods stopped instantly and still no side effects two years on. I do appreciate that I may have been lucky and I know some women have bleeding before it settles.

There are lots of scare stories if you google for them, but if you think about it, women are unlikely to start threads on forums saying "Hey, I've got no side effects - anyone else had this?".

[lighthouse]

I had a coil fitted and it was agony. 2 weeks of having pain when sitting down, discharge and no sex. Sod that!!!

Dont do it.

[lilacclaire]

I love my mirena coil as well, no periods yey!
It did take a few months to settle in, had spotting and some cramps, but definetly worth it for me in the long term, had it for 4 years now.

[BigHairyLeggedSpider]

I think the point is if the pill doesn't suit you, other hormonal contraception isn't going to suit you either.

I wish my Mirena had suited me!

[bunnybunyip]

I fit coils and probably fit around 9 mirenas for every 1 copper coil. I quite often have women asking me to remove the copper coil because of heavy painful periods, but if you can manage the first couple of months with the mirena (which can be annoying, with spotting or bleeding most of the time), then most women are OK with it (as with everything, you will find that the people who had problems are more likely to post so may get a skewed opinion).
But there is no method that suits everyone.

[differentnameforthis]

Lolabelle, goggle Mirena side effects!

[differentnameforthis]

I had..

Weight gain
Anxiety
Terrible mood swings
Depression
Spots on my face when I never suffered with before
Bloated
Insomnia
Painful intercourse
Increased vaginal discharge that didn't smell pleasant.

I had it out after 3 months & had to have 3 different antibiotics due to an infection (agonising cramps, so bad that I almost dropped my 6mth old lifting her into her cot!). It was also working it's way out.

Please research it well. If you have issues with other forms of contraception (hormonal) it could cause you the same problems.

The hormone doesn't always stay as localised as they claim & for me, it caused many many side effects. The hormone has been found to cross into breast milk, so that discounts that it stays localised! Also, drs won't believe that it is the Mirena causing the problems, so it can be a hard job to get them to remove it. My drs wouldn't & I ended up paying a sexual health clinic to take it out.

[Chaotica]

I hated the mirena Similar side effects to the very long lists already on here - it does seem to turn some of us into over-weight suicidal stroke victims with no libido (never had this much trouble with the mini-pill). By the time my face went numb and my vision blurry, I really couldn't believe that it was still licenced without greater warnings.

(I realise some people like it, but it just isn't for everyone and the info should warn about this.)

I had mine changed to a copper coil and it's great.

[differentnameforthis]

Chaotica, there is (was) a public class action (in USA or Australia) against the manufacturers to make them publicize the FULL range of side effects instead of just the common ones.

[missingtheaction]

It really depends on how you manage progesterone. If you are fine with it then the Mirena is (in my experience) fantastic; if progesterone makes you a fat hairy witch with a smelly fanjo then I'd avoid it unless you are auditioning for an xmas panto or have a husband you wish to get shot of.

[Chaotica]

missingtheaction

Differentnameforthis - thanks for that info. It is the first prescription I've ever had which has messed me up badly enough to fill in those 'yellow card' thingies to report the side effects.