AIBU to ask about experiences of the hormonal coil?

I have a Mirena and it's been really great. I have intermittent very light periods with much less PMT than previously. I didn't enjoy getting it put in but it was super quick, perhaps a minute or two. I'll be getting another one when this one expires.

The mirena somehow coiled itself backwards and caused me pain and bleeding. Once removed I was fine. Never again.

The Mirena was terrible for me - well more like it was terrible for those around me, as it gave me awful mood swings and I'd be horrible to everyone. It did stop my periods though and the physical side was fine and I've never found it painful to have them inserted. I think all hormonal contraception has a bad effect on my mood, though it took years for me to figure that out.

I have the copper coil now and that's been great, no effect at all on my moods. I'll keep my current one in until I don't need contraception any more. If the snip is an option I'd go for that, DH has had it done and I like the fact that it means he likely couldn't go on to have a second family if we ever split.

I’ve had mine in since September. I still get periods but they are much lighter and for the first time in my life they are pain-free. I can’t say I’ve noticed any other side effects.

Worst experience of my life. They didn’t fit it correctly, had to go to hospital for an internal scan, they said it had to come out but they couldn’t do it and I had to go back to the sexual health clinic to get it removed. They had no appointments for 2 months. I was in agony and thankfully my lovely female GP removed it for me even though they aren’t supposed to!!
do not do it!!

Was fantastic for me.
No side effects whatsoever and no periods.

Personally loved it, not great getting it put in but when you’ve gone through childbirth, root canals and smears you just breathe and suck it up really!

This is almost exactly me! I love my merina coil!

It made me massively depressed, like couldn’t function depressed, completely killed any sex drive I had, made loads of my hair fall out which never grew back, and my periods carried on as normal so there wasn’t even that benefit! It was a massive mistake for me.

Another note for a copper coil. I begged for my Mirena coil to be removed as it made me feel so ill and low. The copper coil was amazing with no side effects.

Oh and I never got on with the pill at all

Had one fitted when I had my endometriosis operation. Brilliant. No periods. Use it as part of my HRT although I take extra progesterone on top

I'm on my 2nd merina coil and it's been life changing, no periods (mine were heavy and long) no side effects and no PMT. Insertion and removal a bit uncomfortable and caused some cramping but took paracetamol beforehand and was fine after a bit.

I had mine fitted in January due to heavy breakthrough bleeding and whilst not completely settled yet I'm glad I had it. I suffered ginormous clots for a short while after which was 😳 also I have increased discharge which is normal apparently. The absolute best part is no pain anymore! I have fibroids and it must of been those fuckers but since the day after insertion I haven't had any pain at all. I fact, I didn't know I was in so much daily pain until I wasn't.

I have mirena and am evangelical about it, it absolutely changed my life and freed me from heavy periods

I'm also on my third one - love it. No periods in over a decade, no side effects. Getting it in/out isn't much fun but after the shock of the first one I know it's over quickly now. Has been a game changer for me, nothing else agreed with me.

I tried the Mirena coil but it caused mental health problems and made me extremely anxious and tearful. I had it removed fairly swiftly and was back to my old self within a week. Never again.

Love it! Had a Mirena to help with endometriosis symptoms and have kept it for HRT.

The only issue I had was when a GP removed one but couldn’t fit the new one so I had to go to a specialist clinic.

Make sure that all pain relief options are provided, if you are someone who finds smears painful/ uncomfortable. They normally offer the lidocaine spray as standard now, but there is also an option of a cervical block (3 injections). I had both of these and still found the whole procedure extremely painful. Luckily the nurse and doctor were very caring and compassionate throughout, which made the procedure (just about) bearable.

ETA: you can also use it as the progesterone part of HRT, so you won't need to remember to take the tablets!

I have had it just over a year, I take it as part of HRT (I am 45). I bled on and off (it was only light) for about 6 months and now stopped. I love it!

I tried the mirena and it didn’t work for me - but prior to that I’d never used hormonal contraception so just couldn’t get used to my own body chemistry and emotions feeling “different.” If you generally get on well with hormonal contraceptives, that might not be an issue for you.

I’ve had the copper coil for about fifteen years now and for me, it’s had no downsides at all (bar the discomfort during fitting - and even then, I cycled home after my appointment, so it wasn’t debilitating.)

ETA: if your family is complete, would your partner consider a vasectomy or would you consider tubal litigation?

Bled for 5 months after it was fitted, then would develop bacterial vaginosis about every 6 weeks until I had it removed a year later. Would not recommend 😂

Had three Mirena coils in a row when they were to be used for five years. No periods, no side effects, no problems with insertion or removal.
Apparently the number of hysterectomies has decreased since Mirena came on the market.

I’m 45 and had the Mirena for nearly two years, it hasn’t been great but it’s better than the alternative (endo, heavy periods and awful pain) so I’ve persevered.

I still have light periods, but very irregular. They last around 2-3 weeks but can get another two weeks later, and then nothing for a few months. PMT is pretty bad, very sore boobs and mood swings.

When the 5 years is up, may go back on the Depo injection as that’s been the only alternative to really work for me.