Mirena - get rid of it?

Breast cancer is very very common. Most women who get it will not have a hereditary cause - the main cause is 'unknown'

My experience as a doctor is that many patients will tell me 'I think x caused my illness' - usually stress, another serious illness or a medication. At the time they are telling me, there is very little point in disagreeing or arguing. I am sure they go away and tell everyone 'the doctor said it was stress'. Actually I didn't know the cause but it is not a productive conversation.

The NHS has a clear webpage on the causes of breast cancer which makes it clear that for most women the benefits of HRT outweigh the disadvantages.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/breast-cancer-in-women/causes-of-breast-cancer-in-women/

Err, right, I'm sure one person's experience/anecdote outweighs all the wider research. You do you.

Mirena doesn't 'act as HRT' but it acts as the progesterone part of HRT which you need if you still have a womb.

It's oestrogen that actually deals with symptoms of menopause.

If Mirena isn't bothering you, then it is the ideal progesterone bit of HRT as it's the lowest dose, no cycles and very very little risk of additional breast cancers.

If you don't want HRT that's fine but be prepared to change your mind! I was all 'I'll see how it goes, think I won't need any medication' - few months of hot flushes wrecking my life and I'd changed to 'give me all the drugs NOW'

There is a very small increased risk of breast cancer if you are on combined HRT. There are conversely lots of health benefits of HRT such as reduced risk of osteoporosis.

Oral HRT increases risk of blood clots so gel or patches is usually prescribed first.

You can read about this on the NHS website:

www.nhs.uk/medicines/hormone-replacement-therapy-hrt/benefits-and-risks-of-hormone-replacement-therapy-hrt/#:~:text=HRT%20can%20slightly%20increase%20the,and%20the%20older%20you%20are.

Mirena is only useful for the progesterone part of HRT. And progesterone's only purpose is to protect your womb lining so you don't get womb cancer while on HRT.

You need oestrogen to stop the menopausal symptoms.

I've had one off and on for 25 years! Love mine and never had a bit of trouble with one

@pawpawgingins have you reached the stage of needing HRT, or was it just something your GP mentioned in passing?

Severe perimenopausal symptoms hit me like a freight train at 45, and I was glad that having the mirena coil meant that I just need to take oestrogen... it's been life-changing.

Weigh up the pros and cons for you of having a mirena, by all means, but don't make big decisions based on one or two bad anecdotes.

Do your research! www.themenopausecharity.org/2021/10/21/hrt-and-breast-cancer/

Think you've misunderstood OP - sometimes if you've had breast cancer, you are advised not to take HRT/hormones as it increases the risk of it returning.

https://www.nhs.uk/contraception/methods-of-contraception/ius-hormonal-coil/who-can-get-it/

Mirena coil has been fantastic for me. What rumours are you peddling OP? You've not linked to any research? If it works for you, why would you have it removed?

I've had one for four years and have got on with it ok, apart from being a bit spotty when I first had it and still get periods but very light compared to what I had before. No horror stories here.

Mirena works as HrT as the progesterone part of combined treatment (oestrogen and progesterone). You would need to have it alongside oestrogen to experience any benefit. (it’s the oestrogen that treats the symptoms, and the progesterone offsets some of the risks of the oestrogen). However if you don’t have any symptoms then you don’t need it.

I have had Mirena coils for more than 20 years now.

Stop that. Provide clinical causation for breast cancer, or take this thread down.

I couldn't say as I had just had a baby at the time, so I was permanently tired 😴

I didn't feel like myself when I had one . My emotions were just "flat" within 48 hours of it being removed. I was my normal self. Enjoyed the no periods though !

Well, if it's annoying you then absolutely. But you might well find it's controlling mood swings and you will notice when it gets taken out.

I love mine as its stopped me bleeding and I can use it with oestrogen for my HRT.

Also don't use it for contraception.

Mirena not for me. Tried for a year. Only felt better once it was out.

@Sahara123 im nearly 51 and have been taking the Mini Pill for two and a half years so am also on progesterone and ive seen different opinion on blood tests like hormonal contraception will skew the result. Started this thread recently https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/menopause/5045164-pharmacist-says-i-dont-need-mini-pill-any-more?page=1

Once I read a story about a lady who got a soft fruit pip stick in a tooth cavity without realising. According to the story, it grew and caused immense pain and difficulty in her jaw until they figured it out and operated to remove the plant in her head.

All sorts of things can happen - if you listen out only for the horror stories you will live a life based on totally inadequate risk assessment

Do some proper research, find out the actual risks, don’t just base your decision on a sample of two.

PS my Mirena has been fine for the past four years, it has been absolutely life changing for me (I’m 47).

Op I had a few pelvic infections but overall little bleeding 3rd coil. If you feel its not right.. for me it suits well. We all different